Chapter 287 - The Dream-Chasing Me and the Watching-Over You
(1)
"Congratulations on your marriage, Watanabe-kun."
"Congratulations."
Airi and I were greeting the Watanabes.
"Haha, that's old news for us. More importantly, congratulations to you. Winning the Asian Championship."
"That's right. Toya, congratulations."
This was supposed to be the after-party for the Watanabes' wedding reception, but somehow it had turned into my victory celebration.
"I feel bad, hijacking your celebration, Watanabe-kun."
"It's fine, it's not like anyone besides us Unity members is here. Let's skip the formalities."
They told me to come to the third party too. Apparently there was something important to talk about. What could it be about?
"Still, Katagiri-senpai just wasn't good enough! I get losing your cool after a mistake, but senpai is a national team player. He should coordinate more with those around him..."
Even at a time like this, Sakura's lecture continues.
"That number 7 was a real threat. If he'd built up more stamina, he could have been dangerous."
Tasuku said.
"That's got nothing to do with it! Trying to go man-to-man with that giant frame against Katagiri-senpai was the whole problem to begin with."
"Then how would you, Sakurako, counter Toya?"
"Use a triple team to suppress his three-pointers and give up the two-pointers. Of course, while applying pressure on senpai."
"But that method didn't work, did it?"
"Wrong. You choose a defense that at the very least prevents senpai from shooting threes. Instead, you make sure your own team scores solid twos. It's useless if senpai steals the ball."
Because then you get pulled into their winning pattern, Sakura-san said.
"So in the end, you can't win unless you stop Toya? In that sense, China was right, wasn't it?"
"They must have studied Japan thoroughly."
The judgment to try and stop my three-pointers wasn't wrong.
Only the method was a failure, Sakura-san analyzed.
Sakura-san's analysis continues, but this is supposed to be for Watanabe-kun, right?
Well, I'm just here to enjoy the food, anyway.
Oh, I'm holding back on the alcohol.
Won't make the same mistake as last time.
"I get that, but about us..."
No, that's not okay! You're the guest of honor!
"...Who's next?"
The room fell silent.
"If we're going in order, it'd be us. We're planning on Christmas Eve in December."
Manabe-kun said.
"Christmas Eve, huh... you picked a troublesome day."
"Is something happening?"
"Of course we've gotta party two days in a row!"
Mika-san said. I guess that's her standard.
"Looks like the end of the year is gonna be busy!"
She's already planning on throwing a year-end party too, huh.
"Ah, about the third party after this..."
Watanabe-kun started talking into the microphone.
"I have something important to discuss. Those who can come, please do."
Important talk? What's that about?
"Ugh..."
Airi groaned.
By the way, let me clarify. After I got back to Japan, I made sure to give Airi plenty of attention.
I don't think she's feeling lonely or anything.
I wonder what's wrong?
"Airi, what's the matter?"
"It's just that everyone's getting married... I heard Hiyama-senpai is having a ceremony next year too."
Huh? Really? But...
"So what about it?"
"I dunno, I feel like we're being left behind. Ah, it's not your fault, Toya-kun. I'm just being selfish."
"Should we do it this year? Get married?"
"Eh?"
"If I turn pro, we can get married right away."
"Ugh... I don't want you to lose, Toya-kun. I want you to follow the path you love."
"Then, it's going as planned."
"Mm."
"I'll keep my promise, for sure."
"Mm."
So Airi has her own struggles too.
(2)
The third party was held in a karaoke party room.
Nobody burst into song right away.
There were people eating, though. That was me.
"The talk has two points. First, about a circle called Urbanity."
"Urbanity?"
Everyone seemed to know about it already.
"It looks certain to be a new circle started by Emperor."
When Watanabe-kun said that, Emi-san, Makoto, and Kosei nodded.
"It's a members-only circle. It took some doing, but Kosei and I infiltrated it."
"The content is a bit different, but it's the ideal form of Egoist."
Makoto and Kosei said.
What Kosei said, "ideal form of Egoist," caught my attention.
"Ideal form?"
"A members-only high-profit circle. Because it's members-only, they can legally collect fees. It's divided into male and female sections. Low-ranking Bones are used. Both sections use male and female Bones. Both have decent-looking plants of the opposite sex."
That doesn't sound like a circle at all anymore...
"The content is just a club. It seems like it could be in violation of the Entertainment Business Law."
Kosei spoke flatly.
"Doing something like that must require patrons, right?"
When I asked, Kosei nodded.
"The investor backing them is the Sudo Group."
Another group I've never heard of.
"On the surface, it's just a corporate entity. But behind the scenes, they're involved in various crimes. They even have groups resembling the yakuza."
"I see..."
"I think everyone knows, but that incident at the karaoke place a while back, the sexual assault, was also the work of those Urbanity guys."
When Watanabe-kun said that, everyone stirred.
"That's not all. They've committed multiple sexual assaults since then. Some matchmaking circle they are."
When Watanabe-kun said that, the women showed their anger.
"There's no way we can let that slide! That circle is an enemy of women!"
When Akira-san said that, the other women chimed in with agreement.
"But I have a question."
When I spoke, the women's gazes turned to me.
"The women are the plants, right? So why would they sexually assault them?"
"There are plants mixed in, but there are also ordinary women who joined. It seems they sometimes have mixed parties. Women who entered without knowing anything seem to have been victimized."
"Then aren't those women just getting what they deserve? Shouldn't we just leave them alone!"
"Haruki, you really don't understand women's feelings at all, do you? ...Don't make me laugh, talking about wanting to get married with that attitude."
Sakura-san said.
Hiyama-senpai fell silent.
"Well, it's true that it's not entirely the women's own fault. They seem to have some kind of entertainment angle too."
"But there are also women who join without knowing anything! I think it's wrong to blame everything on women."
Watanabe-kun tried to defend Hiyama-senpai, but Sakura-san was relentless.
"...So, I've been thinking about what we should do."
I don't think this is the kind of topic for a wedding third party.
I thought while nibbling on some french fries.
"It's not like they're using our name, right? I don't see the need to get involved."
"What are you saying, Katagiri-senpai? It's because we don't recruit members that people try to join circles similar to ours! I won't let you claim we have nothing to do with it!"
"We've talked about this before. We don't have the capacity to accept everyone. We're just an inner circle. I think I said that on TV, didn't I?"
When I said that, Sakura-san fell silent.
"But it's definitely an unforgivable group. Isn't there anything we can do, Watanabe-kun?"
When Ai-san said that, Emi-san spoke.
"This time our opponents are the yakuza. We might be putting everyone in danger again. We can't recklessly intervene."
"How about we make an exposure website? That would at least act as a deterrent to some extent."
Makoto said.
"That's one idea, but it wouldn't solve the root problem."
Watanabe-kun said.
"I want to do something about this too. After all, Kosei and I are partly responsible for creating the foundation of Egoist in the first place."
Kosei said.
Well, we have to deal with our comrades' messes.
"Are you thinking of a plan, Watanabe-kun?"
I asked.
"No, I haven't come up with anything."
"Then let's go with Makoto's exposure website idea. But just the current information isn't enough. We need deeper intel. For example, evidence that links them to Emperor."
That would be fatal evidence.
"Do you think we should take action, Toya?"
"This is our last big job, since we let Emperor slip away. Let's finish this for good. Besides, there's the matter with Kosei and Naru."
"Toya! I was waiting for you to say that!"
"Toya gets it!"
"Toya-kun! As expected of you!"
Kanna, Mika-san, and Airi said.
Last big job, huh.
I hope it really is the last.
"Do you understand the scale of this?"
"The Sudo Group has always been a huge underground organization, a more troublesome opponent than the Takahashi Group... So, moving on to the next topic."
Emi-san said.
Come to think of it, she said there was one more thing.
"The next matter is that Sakura-san's father was laid off."
Watanabe-kun said.
Everyone looked suspicious.
"I heard he was an elite in a general contractor. If he's motivated, we can take him in."
Akira-san said.
"I'm sorry. When I talked to my dad, he was up for it. He said it's far better than a company like that."
Sakura-san said.
"That general contractor company Sakura-san mentioned... is it?"
No way...?
"Katagiri-kun, you're perceptive. It's a subsidiary of the Sudo Group. Sakura-san's father got evidence of the Sudo Group's crimes there. When he confronted his boss directly, he was laid off."
"That's horrible!"
When Akira-san said that, Airi shouted.
"In that case, maybe we could apply pressure too."
"I've been thinking the same. I'll have my father cooperate to shake the Sudo Group."
When Emi-san said that, Hiyama-senpai spoke.
"If it's the Sudo Group, the Shiratori Group is also somewhat involved. Maybe we can cooperate."
Rich people are all so different...
"If the yakuza are involved, maybe my dad knows something. I'll ask him."
Airi said.
Maybe I should ask my father too?
"Looks like we've reached a decision. Then, everyone, let's party from here on out."
With that, everyone got excited.
(3)
A tedious school lesson.
I allocated this time to recover from the lack of sleep from the celebration the day before.
Even though I was sleeping, the noisy teacher's voice still entered my ears. It was being hammered into my head. Sleep learning, I guess.
Since the commotion on the first day, no one had tried to mess with me or even talk to me. It was a convenient place.
Occasionally during breaks, I checked on Naru.
Naru seemed to have made friends.
She was chatting with them.
When she noticed me, she waved.
I waved back, and her friends teased her about it.
Naru fell silent and looked down.
Naru was fine now.
Thinking that, I was about to return to my own classroom when someone grabbed my arm and dragged me into Naru's class.
"The groom has arrived!"
A boy shouted, and laughter filled the classroom.
Were such low-level taunts still in fashion?
The boy pushed me out in front of Naru.
Naru supported me.
Another boy pulled Naru and put his arm around her neck.
"You punks think you're so tough just because you're transfer students. You know what'll happen to her if you resist, right?"
The boy said smugly, cracking his knuckles.
"I'd like you to tell me what will happen, actually."
With my words as a signal, Naru acted.
She elbowed the boy in the solar plexus, grabbed the collar of the boy who doubled over, and threw him.
She stepped on the chest of the thrown boy with a composed face, and looked at the boy in front of me.
Everyone misunderstands.
It's not that Naru can't resist. She simply chooses not to.
She just doesn't want to get involved in low-level fights.
But if they involve me, Naru will act.
"So, what will happen?"
When I looked around, most of the students in the class were surrounding us.
Overwhelming numbers?
Doesn't matter. If any of the students were armed with stun guns or pistols, that would be a different story.
As if on cue, Naru and I pressed our backs against each other.
"Go," the boy ordered, and they attacked all at once.
Well, it was one person each for me and Naru.
Occasionally some fool would attack both of us at once, but just dodging their attacks made them trip each other up or, at worst, hit each other.
By the time the break ended, it was mostly over.
"Aren't you going to fight?"
I provoked him.
But just before the boy attacked, we heard a teacher's voice: "What are you doing?!"
From the looks of it, we probably seemed to be the ones in the wrong.
I had intended to hold back, but Naru doesn't know moderation. She's been taught to show no mercy to those who oppose her.
Because for a woman, if you don't shut down potential threats, it can be fatal later.
The teacher, unaware of these circumstances, pressed me: "Did you do this?"
"Yes, I did everything."
It wasn't that I wanted to steal the credit. I didn't want to cause trouble for Naru.
"Self-study for the next period! Shinra, come with me."
And so I was called to the student guidance office.
"Kosei!"
I replied to Naru's words with just a wave of my hand and followed the teacher to the student guidance office.
The next period was lecture time in the student guidance office.
Both the guidance teacher and the class teacher demanded an explanation.
"They hit me, so I hit back."
I gave a rough summary of the situation.
I mostly admitted to their version of events.
And then the lecture began.
I was tired of this kind of lecture.
Because since my first day as a transfer student, I had been labeled a "problem child."
Once you get a label, it's a pain to peel it off, and that kind of effort is too troublesome.
When the lecture ended and I left the student guidance office, Naru was watching with a worried look.
If she stayed in a place like that...
Sure enough, Naru got scolded too.
Naru took it in stride, letting it wash over her.
When we returned to the classroom together, the taunts started again.
I safely delivered Naru to her classroom and returned to mine.
As usual, my classmates maintained their indifference toward me.
Old news.
I fell asleep again.
When school ended, I waited for Naru outside the classroom.
When Naru came, we walked out of the school.
Under cold stares, we got into the luxury car waiting outside the school gate.
A daily ritual.
I'm used to it by now.
As the car started moving, Naru seemed tired, leaned against me, and fell asleep.
Then the driver said one thing.
"We're being followed."
I looked back.
A man in a full-face leather riding suit was chasing us on a motorcycle.
"Can you lose them?"
I asked the driver.
"I've been trying to, but..."
I looked at the scenery. Indeed, it seemed like we were passing through a different route than usual.
"Can you lure them to the public housing construction site ahead?"
I said while fiddling with my smartphone.
"Understood."
The driver said.
The public housing construction site was a dead end with only one entrance. A perfect place to lure someone.
When we arrived at the public housing site, I said to the driver, "Wait here. Look after Naru," and got out of the car.
The man who had been on the bike was now holding a stun gun.
He checked the voltage and then approached me.
"Wait, you're a Knight, right?"
When I said that, the man seemed to laugh.
"Not anymore."
"Then what do you call yourself now?"
"Now I'm 'Chariot'!"
With that, the man raised his stun gun and attacked.
It's no good showing such a flashy move.
It gives away your timing for a counterattack.
And it was also a mistake to think I would come to a place like this alone.
"What do you think you're doing to a kid?"
Watanabe-kun appeared behind the man and grabbed his wrist.
The man tried to pull out a knife with his other hand and stab Watanabe-kun.
But that hand was also caught, and when his wrist was twisted, he dropped the knife.
"I really didn't want to have this kind of real combat experience, you know."
Sakai-kun said, kicking the knife away.
The stun gun was already taken by Watanabe-kun.
I picked up the knife and pressed it to the man's throat.
"Is your backing Urbanity?"
The man remained silent.
"I had a rough day at school today, so I'm on edge. I think it'd be best if you talked honestly."
I said, lightly pressing the knife against his throat.
The knife seemed exceptionally sharp. A red line oozed out.
"Y-yeah! The brat's right! I was ordered by Emperor!"
"Could you tell us that story in detail?"
When Watanabe-kun said that, the man silently complied.
"I'll leave the rest to you guys, Watanabe-kun. I have to take Naru home."
"Yeah, good work, Kosei."
As he said that and started to take the man away, the man suddenly started his bike and fled.
But we didn't flinch.
Watanabe-kun called Emi-san.
"Emi-san? It's me. Things are proceeding as planned. I'll leave the rest to you."
He hung up.
"Was it okay to really let him go?"
"Even if we made him talk, by tomorrow that guy would have been replaced by the 'Hanged Man.' He's just a sacrificial pawn."
If he's going to be hanged anyway, it's better to probe the inner workings.
"Well, sorry to trouble you, Watanabe-kun, since you're busy."
"Don't worry about it. See you tonight."
"Roger."
I watched Watanabe-kun and the others leave, then got back into the car.
"It's taken care of. Let's go home."
When I told the driver, he started the car.
"Kosei, more trouble?"
Naru seemed to have woken up.
"Looks like a snake came out of the bush."
"Be careful."
"Got it. I'll play along to a reasonable extent."
Looks like the second term won't be boring.
(4)
That day, I was called out to a family restaurant.
"Actually, an enemy made contact with Kosei today. We let him escape as planned."
When Watanabe-kun said that, Ai-san spoke up.
"As planned? Letting him escape defeats the purpose!"
"Wait, Ai. Calm down and listen."
Emi-san soothed her.
"I planted something on him, you know. A transmitter."
Watanabe-kun smirked.
"We've already pinpointed the location. He stopped at a family restaurant in the city."
"A family restaurant?"
"Yeah, a family restaurant near the local university."
"What happened after that?"
"It looks like he was dumped by the local river."
"...That was on the news tonight..."
"Yeah, no doubt."
The news was about a man who had been beaten to a pulp and left near a bridge by the local river.
The method was the same as Egoist's. Apparently, they had even left a message: "Don't mess with us — Unity."
Watanabe-kun had been questioned, but it seemed the investigation was proceeding on the assumption of a feud between circles. Thanks to Airi's father's help, he was released quickly.
I knew about this because Airi's father came by late that night and explained it to me.
And then.
"This time your real opponents are the yakuza. You should be careful," he warned me.
I explained this to the Unity members.
Of course, even knowing that, the Unity members weren't about to back down.
"Bring it on! We'll take them on! Right, everyone!"
When Mika-san said that, everyone got excited.
"We're not the type to get scared just because some gangsters show up now," said Kanna.
"We must not let our guard down!" said Ishihara-kun.
"This time it's different from just punks. Everyone needs to prepare defensive measures."
"I'll assign one of my soldiers this time too. But avoid unnecessary outings!" said Akira-san.
"Yeah, let's tighten up this time," said Watanabe-kun.
"I'll probe their servers as planned with Kosei. It's time for Makoto-kun's special virus," said Makoto, laughing.
"Emperor... Chariot... Strength... Hanged Man... Justice... I see their goal now."
When Naru said that, I nodded too.
"Yeah, their endgame is probably that."
When I said that, Naru gave a relieved smile.
"Then, I'll contact you if there's any progress. I'll say it again, everyone, please don't do anything reckless."
When Watanabe-kun said that, everyone nodded.
And then we dispersed.
"Hey, Toya-kun?"
Airi asked.
I could roughly guess what it was.
"You and Naru-chan looked like you were cross-checking answers, but I didn't understand it at all..."
"Want a hint, Airi?"
"Mm."
"A new Pope and Hermit have appeared. The Wheel of Fortune has begun to turn as if following a predetermined script. The Fool travels with the Devil and Death. The Star, the Moon, and the Sun cycle, and the Tower will be shattered by the lightning of Judgment."
"Ah!"
Airi seemed to catch on.
"The World of the End... you mean?"
When Airi said that, I smiled and nodded.
"Yay, I got it," Airi rejoiced.
But what they mean by "the world they desire" still isn't clear.
Literally the world, or...?
And in reality, we haven't gotten any solid leads.
We have to deal with not only Urbanity, but also the Sudo Group.
We went home.
When we got home, we changed into loungewear and had a can of beer while watching TV.
"Hey, Toya-kun?"
"What?"
"Your dream is almost reality now, isn't it?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Well, what else? All you need is a gold medal at the Olympics, right?"
Don't say it like I can just buy it at a convenience store.
"I think that step might be the hardest..."
"Is it really that far away?"
Airi hugged me from behind.
"Then, I'll watch over you until the very end. Your dream, Toya-kun."
"That might be impossible, you know?"
"Why?"
Because my dream isn't the Olympics.
"My dream is to stand next to you, Airi, in a wedding dress, you know?"
You can't fulfill that just by watching from behind, right?
"I see..."
I held Airi's arms that were wrapped around me from behind.
"Toya-kun, you really don't need any proposal words, do you?"
"Why?"
"Saying you want to stand next to me in a wedding dress is plenty of a proposal, isn't it?"
Ah, I blew it.
Airi was smirking.
"I'll pray that your dream comes true... so please make my dream of this wedding come true too."
"Yeah, I know."
The moon is beautiful tonight too.
We advance by the light of the moonlit night.
But sometimes the gears of fate go astray.