Chapter 4 „ Their Method of Survival “

(...............? Someone stands next to the management company. An unfamiliar face. Doesn't look like he's from around here. )

Man : „ ...... “

( A tall guy with sharp eyes. He looks like someone with authority... Someone with power. He is good-looking but there is something edgy about him. )

I : „ Excuse me... “

Man : „ ? ,Yes ?“

I : „ Why are you looking at this building ? “

Man : „ The building ? Why are you asking... Do you live here ? “

I : „ This is my home. “

Man : „ ....... “

Ryosuke : „ Why are you standing there ? Come in. “

I : „ Oh, this guy right here has been looking at the company building for a while. “

Ryosuke : „ A guy ? Who ? I don't see anybody.“

I : „ Oh, really ? “

( But there is nothing. The guy who was just talking with me is gone. )

I : „ He was here... He was even talking to me... “

Ryosuke : „ Were you daydreaming ? You seemed a little exhausted these days. Maybe, you should take some health food to boost your energy. “

I : „ Health food ? What are you talking aboout for someone broke as you.“

Ryosuke : „ Me ? Broke ? Not any more! “

( Ryosuke is waving an envelope in front of me. )

Ryosuke : „ Woo Hoo! I made some money working part-time! I'm gonna save up all my earnings and become rich!!! “

* A little while later *

( Ryosuke is rolling around on the living room floor. He looks pretty happy with him smiling time to time. )

Ryosuke : „ What a happy day! I'll save this amount, and with the remaining, I'll buy snacks! Going to buy some good food, too!“

* Bang, bang, bang, bang!! * ( the sound of someone knocking on the door )

Gangster 1 : „ Hey, are you there ? I know you are there. “

Ryosuke : „ ...who ? ...Ooh... I think I do recognize the voice! One of the thugs...“

Gangster 2 : „ Open the door!! “
 

*Click*

Gangster 1 : „ You are so slow! “
 

Gangster 2 : „ You didn't think about running away, did you ? “

Ryosuke : „ Who ? Me ? Never ! “

Gangster 1 : „ You did not answer my calls so I came here in person. “

Gangster 2 : „ You need to pay your debt! “

Ryosuke : „ I was busy working to pay off your debt! “

Gangster 1 : „ Oh, I see. Did you make some money ? What that, the envelope in your hand. That's money that you'll pay back to me, right ? Give it to me!! “

( The money in the envelope includey Ryosuke's pay from his part-time job and living expenses for the month. We will starve for the month if he takes the money!! )

I : „ NOOOOOO!!!!! This is our living expenses!!! “

Ryosuke : „ What ? “

Gangster 1 : „ I don't care. You pay your debt. Give it to me!!! “

( We can't let go. But he is a thug. What do we need to do... )

I : „ ? “

Ryosuke : „ Mirai!!! Had nothing to eat for THREE days!!!“
 

( So who straved... )

Ryosuke : „ Told her she needs to eat something but refused saying we have to save money to pay you back... poor girl... Mirai!!! Don't die!!! “

I : „ Eh ..... ? “

( Ryosuke suddenly pushed me down forcefully and started to cry. When the thug was not looking, he winked to me as a signal. )

Ryosuke : „ Mirai! Mirai! “
 

( Oh, I see. He is acting. I have to play along with him... )

I : „ Ahh... Ahh... I feel.. .....croak. “

Ryosuke : „ Mirai!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “

Gangster 1 : „ What, what is it... “

Gangster 2 : „ No, I was... You need to make a living too... I, I'll go! See you next time. “
 

* Clank *
 

The thug left in a hurry.

Ryosuke : „ YES! We did it!!! Amazing! You understood my signal! It was like you were inside my head!! That was AWESOME! Hahaha!! “

* A while later *

Ryosuke : „ I quess we kept our money after all. Then, we are okay for this month ? “

I : „ We protected our living expenses so we won't have any problem.“

Ryosuke : „ Anyway... There's something that I'd like to ask you... Where do you get the guts to do all that ? I mean.... what goes through your head in those situations ? “

I : „ ? “

Ryosuke : „ Well... You live alone, don't know how to cook, and have an enormous amount of debt. Isn't it better for you to just sell off the building than being constantly threatened by those monkey ? “

I : „Why sell a good building ? “

Ryosuke : „ But... I don't see any other way out. Or, is there another reason that you cannot sell this building ? “

I : „ Oh.... Oh, that is because... “

( The reason is, I wanting to expand this business... That's my reason for obsessing about this place... I told Ryosuke about my dad's dreams and about my grand dad who collapsed.)
 

* A while later *

( Ryosuke after listening to my story looks sadly at me. )

Ryosuke : „ So...that's why... Your promise with your dad, and his dreams.... Sounds like you are carrying a lot of burdens because of your family. “

I : „ ? “

Ryosuke : „ ...I am not sure... I am not sure about my feelings toward my family... Do I feel betrayed ? Disappointed ? ...or, simply hate them... “

(Ryosuke told me he was an orphan when we first met.)

Ryosuke : „ To tell you the truth.. I want to be a star because I want to find my parents... If I become famous, my parents would one day come find me....“
 

( Oh... you had that hope. The hope of finding your parents. )

Ryosuke : „ And if I meet them one day... then I will take revenge on them... for abandoing me... “

I : „ ..... “

Ryosuke : „ But you! You are willing to go through all this hell for your dad's dream... for your family. Seeing you want to do that for them, makes your look almost angelic.“

I : „ Oh... oh ? Me ? “

Ryosuke : „ I think I am a little jealous of you... Because you have family that's worth all this sacrifice. “

I : „ ..... “
 

( Somehow Ryosuke's smile looks sad, is it because that's how I feel ?... )