Chapter 1 (1/2)
Tokyo, japan In the corner of a high school
”Please Stop Please” The teenage boy buried his head in his arms
”I told yesterday you to bring me the money How dare you not follow roup kicked at his stomach
The boy instantly threw up as he cried in pain
”Such a disgusting person” A boy with an earring on his left ear spit on him then stepped aside Another boy in a red shi+rt kept beating on him
”He's at it again Is he high?”
”It seems so”
”That's enough, nobita Or do you want to go to the juvenile detention center again?”
Red shi+rt hesitated then stopped
”Re ame with you”
”He's feinting death again Let's go to the arcades”
”I' I still have classes”
”Stop acting like a good student You're interested in that new fereat curves and a pretty face We should get an opportunity to play with her some day”
”No problem”
The three boys left as they talked
The corner returned to its serenity, just like nothing happened Except for the boy lying on the ground
After a while, he slowly got up He took out tissues and wiped away the crap on his face and shi+rt Then picked up his bag and quietly walked to class
He kept his head down as he entered the room to hide his bruises
As soon as he sat down, someone touched his shoulder from behind It was Mizato Kazuo
”Yaain?”
”No, I accidentally fell”
”Stop lying I can tell froo Otherwise I'll be in the saht now”
”Do you knoata Rumiko from class 3?” Mizato suddenly closed up on him and said in a low voice
”The best looking girl in class 3?”
”Right I think she's just a bitch I saw her on the street yesterday holding hands with a guy And you knohat happened?”
Masashi+ was also curious
”I followed behind theht? This bitch holds herself aloof noruessed she's such a slut I freaking want to do her!”
Masashi+ was surprised but all he could think about was getting the money by tomorrow That killed any mood he had
Masashi+ felt jealous as he looked at Mizato Mizato's fa the protection fees As to hia of this, he couldn't help but blame his divorced parents
(If only that ugly sister dies, then I can double ht scared hiht away
”What are you doing?”
”Uh Nothing, just feeling a little headache”
The school bell rang The students took out their textbooks and the room quieted down
”Good , students” The female teacher smiled
”Good , Miss Naoko”
Beautiful woh she had only been here for not long, her classes were the most popular
(This is the wo?) He recalled their conversation
(Hoould she look naked?) Masashi+ got excited as he stared at her mature body
(But this is the woman Yamamoto wants, I won't have any chance)
”Masashi+ kun, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?”
”I” Masashi+ stood up in a panic when she suddenly called his name
Miss Naoko noticed so of the class He kept his head down and looked out of spirits
”Your face has bruises What happened?”
”I I accidentally fell”
”Then be careful next tio to the infirmary?”
”No No need”
”Really?”
”Really Thank you sensei” That last line was sincere No one ever cared about hiretted the nasty thoughts he just had about Miss Naoko
Time flew by and it was noon The students took out their bento
Masashi+ waited for quite a while until that bookworm sister of his called his name from the door
”You're finally here Do you kno long I've been waiting” Masashi+ walked over as he suppressed his anger froer
”You don't have to wait” Hirota Kazumi said with an indifferent tone
”You” He grabbed the bento frorily then walked back to his seat
”It seeive it a try?” Mizato said with a strange tone
Masashi+ had seemed his share of AV to knohat he meant by discipline
”No thanks” He replied with that same indifferent tone as his sister
(Even though I don't like that ugly girl, but she's still my sister)
”That's a pity”
His head was in a chaos during the rest of his classes He couldn't think of any place to obtain that money
(It seems like I have to use my last trick)
And so, in order to avoid the bullying, Masashi+ took a week of sick leave As to what happens after a week, only time will tell
Even though he tried not to think of school As the end of the as getting close, toer had any mood and threay the controller
He was getting ht about it and walked out of his house to relax
He still didn't knohere to go as he walked mindlessly in the streets In the end, he went to the arcade that he frequented
Masashi+ played fro in the arcade as if to numb himself
On the way back ho up the hill with a walking stick
Suddenly, an idea came to his mind
His heart was beating faster and faster as he looked at this lonely old woman and the dimly lit street
(Once I succeed, I will have the money to pay the protection money and perhaps extras to build the newest Gundarew
After a round of internal struggle, his desires overtook him He ran toward the old woman
---
When he was only 200 meters away from the old woman, a shado past him and reach the old woman from her left
”Ah! Help! Robbery! Robbery” The shadow sprinted aith her waller as she screamed
Masashi+ was shocked to witness a robbery at such close distance Yet he forgot that hat he planned to do also
”Catch the robber! Soo catch the robber! Hurry” The old woman saw Masashi+ and pleaded for help
”I I'm not” He didn't what to do
”Go chase hi crazy
Masashi+'s
Unfortunately for both the robber and him, road constructions blocked the robber's path
The robber turned around and took out a dagger
”Kid, who told you to mind someone's business?”
(What a?) Masashi+ asked himself
”I I don't have anything to do with it I don't know anything”
”Then go to hell” The robber ran at him and stabbed his stomach
”Uh” Masashi+ looked at the knife in disbelief
”I I don't want to die No, I don't want to die”
”Remeber to mind your business in your afterlife” The robber pulled out the knife
Blood gushed out and Masashi+ slowly fell to the ground
As his vision started to blur, he was scared He never thought about dying, even when Yamamoto beat him He knew they wouldn't kill hi to die Finally, he couldn't see anything anymore
”I' transportation to the hospital We couldn't do anything” The doctors said to the ed officer
”Is that so? That's unfortunate such a good kid died like this Have you notified his family?”
”Yes, his sister is outside His parents will probably arrive tonight”
”Where's his body?”
”In the ue Do you want to take a look?”
”No, ill send the forensics over later I hope his parents won't feel too sad”
Suddenly a lightning flashed across the sky The sound of thunder shocked the two of them
”See to rain”
”Yeah”
Kazuh they didn't have the best relationshi+p, but they still lived together for so many years ”I can't believe he just died like that”
”Have you caught the robber?” She quickly returned to her normal calmness
”No, but ill do our best Rest assured”
”What does it matter He's already dead”
At the sa appeared in the ue
It flew to one of the drawer as if so attracted it Then it slowly disappeared
Two past ht Masashi+'s ue
As soon as she saw her daughter, she asked ”How's Masashi+? Is it life threatening?”
”I'm sorry, miss Your son was just confirmed dead I'm really sorry” The officer said when he saw Kazumi couldn't answer her mother
”No You're lying Masashi+ won't die I don't believe it” Rumiko stumbled and almost fell
Kazuot a hold of her mother ”Mom, it's true Masashi+ is dead” Then she turned her head away as to not look at her mother's expression
”No Masashi+ won't die he won't die” Ruhter's shoulder
After a while, she wiped away her tear and tried to talk calmly ”What happened to Masashi+? Please tell me”
After hearing everything from the officer, Rumiko stood up
”Mo so out of the ordinary
”I want to see Masashi+”
”Please wait a moment I will let the doctors know”
”Thank you, officer Maeda”
Inside the ue, the doctors pulled open one of the drawer
”Masashi+” Rumiko broke down as soon as she saw her son and cried on his chest
She suddenly got up in disbelief after some tie, then suprised, then nervous, and finally joy
The doctor and everyone felt so
”Mohtly
”Miss, you have our condolences” The doctor had seen enough of this
The officer was about to comfort her
”He's not dead He's still alive Hurry, doctor, please save him Masashi+ is still alive!”
It seehed ”Miss, your son is really dead”
”No, doctor Please take another took He still has heartbeats” Rurabbed the doctor's hands
”What?” Everyone was shocked
The doctor walked over calmly and took out his stethoscope as requested
Shortly after, his face was filled with fear and disbelief He listened to it again then ran outside ”Get people over here, this patient is still alive”
In a special care unit, a boy with a pale face lied on the bed A ed woman fell asleep on his side
Suddenly he opened his eyes and looked around, then looked at his hands, touched his face and said ”The sa to toy with me”
The woman woke up to his voice
”Masashi+, you're finally awake” She cried in joy
”You're his mother?”
”What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?” Ru
He just realized he was speaking in Chinese while this wo japanese It seemed like he was currently in japan
He organized his thoughts and said in less than fluent japanese ”I'm fine Don't worry”
”Really? Do you feel any pain?”
Masashi+ shook his head with a smile
”Wait here, I will call the doctor” Ru was different but she didn't think much about it
After thoroughly exa his body, the doctor concluded he needed to rest for the injury on his stoh his ht be due to a lack of blood going to the brain due to the injury It should recover soon
Ru the results
”You scared your ht about it
The boy felt touched looking at that caring face He made his decision
”Moht I am fine”
Ever since Masashi+ grew up, he had not been so ih she tried to work hard for the future of her son and daughter, her job seperated them and she couldn't see the more distant every time they meet and would only ask forbut felt disappointed
She held onto his hands and cried in tears froentle actions
The door was pushed open Kazu
The boy searched his memories and learned that this was his sister
”Mo to make fun of you” He wiped away her tears
”Kazumi, you're here”
”Moht?”
”Baka, what can be wrong with me You should ask your brother instead”
”Masashi+, are you hungry? I will go buy you soe The doctor said your injury isn't healed and you can only eat liquid food for now Wait a bit, I will be back very soon Kazumi, stay with your brother here”
”Moh these few days You should take a rest”
”I' these words
Kazumi was surprised at the interaction
”You You're really Masashi+?”
”What do you say?” The boy smiled
”I I don't know”
”Of course I am Masashi+ Hirota Masashi+ I knoas horrible and said s that hurt h a lot of things Just like you saw, I have changed Can you accept this answer? I would also like to take this chance and apologize Will you forgive me?
The boy's japanese has recovered to norh there were some accents but they were not easy to notice
”You You don't have to apologize to me”
”Come, sit down Aren't you tired?”
”Kazuood mood when I woke up but this time actually doesn't seem all that bad”
---
It only took a week for the recovery Even the doctors were amazed at the speed of it Rumiko wanted hi As they were being discharged, the hospital wouldn't accept any payment
Rumiko was a traditional wo In the end, the director and Masashi+'s doctor kneeled down to beg her, which left her in shock and confusion
”Mom, it's simple If you didn't come to see me at the end, they will probably dispose ht?” Masashi+ smiled
The director and the doctor's faces turned and kneeled back down again immediately
(So that's why Masashi+ was put in a special care unit and they didn't want to charge for anything)
”To be honest, you saved et to the bottom of this ”
”Director san, and doctor Nagasaki Thank you for your care I arateful” Masashi+ said sincerely as he lifted the two men
The director and doctor were touched The director even suggested to waive any fees in future visits for him and his family
”How can I accept this?” He said with a tone of justice
”Masashi+ is right We can't accept such a valuable gift It's getting late, we have to leave Please take care”
”Miss, please accept our regards or ill kneel here forever”
”But”
”Miss, please accept it”
Rumiko had no choice but to accept it
The director and doctor cheered in joy as she nodded
Kazuh the whole event, felt a shi+ver through her spine The victi in joy when he was the one that received so much If she wasn't so familiar with his face, she would had assumed this was another person in front of him
As they were leaving, Masashi+ picked up Ru But she wanted to stop him due his injury
”Mom, I'm fine”
It was the second ti alain
A little bit after they left, officer Maeda approached them
”hello, Mrs Hirota, Masashi+ and Kazued today so I am here to pick you up”
”That's too nice of you, officer Maeda You've done so much for us, we can't cause you any more troubles”
”That's too polite of you, Mrs Hirota Please call ues call ratitude to Masashi+ san on behalf of es Sae Are you tired? My car is right outside Please co and took the lead
”Right, Masashi+ We have caught the robber”
”Oh really?”
”That guy was cunning He kneere looking for hinized when he got in a drunken braouldn't be able to catch him so quick”
”What about the old woman?” Rumiko asked
”She's fine Although the robber used up all her money But that can't be helped””
”Serves her right to h schooler chase the robber and didn't even come to visit Masashi+”
”Kazuht have her difficulties”
”Moet deceived like this”
”Officer Maeda, you still don't have a wife or girlfriend right?” Masashi+ suddenly asked
”How How did you know?” Maeda replied aardly
”Masashi+, that's not polite How can you ask such questions”
”Moafter all”
”Masashi+!”
”Fine, I won't ask Don't get mad, mom”
”Uh I want to ask how do you know I don't have a wife or girlfriend?” Maeda couldn't keep his curiosity
”Mo me Can I answer it?”
”You little”
”It's sih you ht have cleaned your car before you left, the sanitary of so on two cigarette butts You also don't smell of any perfume Don't be suspicious of my habits, I just haveavery sensitive nose I've seen you tearing a shi+rt without fixing its collar So in conclusion, you don't have a wife or girlfriend Of course there are exceptions Perhaps you wife or girlfriend is a lazy person”
”Incredible If you beco to lose my job”
”That's good, I will hire you then”
Ruhed
”Who's willing to marry people like me I am so busy worth the job normally I couldn't even find tiirls My faed a few blind dates but none of them worked out”
”Maeda san, please don't give you God won't abandon nice guys like you You will definitely find a suitable woman”
”Thank you, Mrs Hirota”
They reached Masashi+'s apart inside
”Maeda san, I don't kno I can thank you Please come in for a cup of tea”
”No, I still have some work to do Next time”
”Next ti these few days” Rumiko bowed in front of him
”You're too polite”
As Rumiko went inside, Masashi+ walked over to Maeda
”Mo to say to Maeda san”
After Rumiko went inside, Masashi+ stared at him with a serious expression
”What's wrong? Masashi+” Maeda got a little bit anxious from the stare
Masashi+ didn't said anything and just looked at him ”How old are you?”
”Why do you ask?”
”Don't ask why Just answer”
”Fine, I'm 35 this year”
”Good, not a large gap Where were you born in?”
”Nagasaki”
”Any brothers or sisters?”
”One brother and two sister”
”Like to drink?”
”A little bit sometimes”
”Smokes frequently?”
”Yes”
”You like my mother?”
”Yes You, what did you said!?”
”So it's true I wasn't being oversensitive”
”That was a slip of the tongue Don't be mistaken”
”Then I will ask you again Are you interested in my mother? If you are a man then don't deny it”
(What kind of logic is this?) Maeda finally lowered his head
”There's soht not know My mother has separated with that irresponsible father for four years She's been alone all these years”
”Really?” Maeda suddenly raised his head
”Yes It seeether If you likeher But you have to promise me to be nice to her Otherwise I will ed Maeda couldn't describe that pair of eyes His mind was blank and his body shuddered
”Good, I've said everything I should The rest is up to you” Masashi+ patted his shoulder and went inside the apartment
Maeda looked at his back and realized he didn't understand this high school boy a bit
---
Ru sure Masashi+ was fine before going back to work in Nagoya
Life see distance calls in the phone bill All of them were out of the country yet she couldn't find the actual numbers
Masashi+ was sitting on his bed in a weird posture He opened his eyes after a while and stretched
(This body is so weak The muscles has no elasticity Reaction is slow It's worthless aside fro plan to get this body back to average before it stops growing)
Masashi+ began creating the training plan when Kazumi knocked on the door
”What's it, Kazumi?”
”I want to ask what's with the phone bill this month?”
”Oh, I met a few friends on ICQ I have to call thes Don't worry, I won't make any more international calls I know it's hard for mom to earn the money”
There was nothing more Kazumi could say, so she left the room
”They should be almost here” Masashi+ muttered to himself
Masashi+ stood in front of the school in a new uniform For the first time, Kazumi came to school with him
The classroom was noisy as usual He found his seat based on his memory Just as he sat down, someone yelled ”Ah It's Hirota Masashi+ He's back When did he come back?”
A group of people surrounded him
”Masashi+, I heard you were critically injured chasing a robber That was a of you”
”Were you afraid at the tih to chase”
”I heard you stopped breathing, how did you revive?”
”Masashi+, give nature”
He couldn't stand these people and stood up
”Masashi+, where are you going?”
”To take a dump”
The room fell into a silence
The principle caive a presentation of his heroic act in exaggerations Masashi+ didn't even knoas so courageous and fought the robber for two hours The amount of details made it seem like the principle himself was the robber
In the end, the principle invited Masashi+ to say so It was natural for him to want to advertise this shi+tty school when there's an opportunity
Masashi+ hated this kind of scenes but he had no choice but to get on the stage
”I don't have anything good to say The principle had said everything I would only like to add one thing, if you encounter this situation, remember to buy insurance first I'm done”
The half asleep students were shocked then applauded wildly and some even whistled
The principle and dean iping sweat off their foreheads
While Masashi+ just stared out the
”Isn't this our hero Hirota Masashi+ kun? Long time no see, Masashi+ kun We miss you so much” Yet that tone didn't sound a bit like its words
Yaroup of three blocked Masashi+ in the hall
”I cant believe this garbage became a hero It seems like I am a superman”
”Anything you want from me?”
”NotWe want to have a chat”
”Oh, is that so Here? Or should we go to our usual place?”