Volume 5, Chapter 11: I Got Involved in all Sorts of Trouble, Part 2

No, Yuzu-chan, you dont have to come every day you know!?

From that day earlier onwards, Ive been waiting for that delicious *cough*, for that wonderful person to come to dad-chans ramen shop, because I couldnt go meet in the places where hoodlums gathered.

I think dad-chan thinks that Im apologetic and thats the reason I come every day.

Should I extend my net to the other shops too?

Yuzu, you, what did you do?

Thats rude, Kotone-chan.

I am waiting for that lovely man to come.

Heeh Yuzu likes older men. Its honestly a bad hobby.

I dont want to be told that by Kotone

Since I was here so often, I began to assist the shop along with Misa, and the number of customers seems to have increased.

I will help my onii-chan and make this ramen shop a splendid one.

Yeah, thats amazing, you can do it Misa.

Yeah, Yuzu-chan.

Misa is the same age as me, but I felt like she was cute and young like if she was my little sister.

As I was kneading the cheeks of the cute Misa, Kotone, who heard Misas declaration came in.

Before that, is this shop going to stay in business forever? I hope that it can continue until he can run it alone

Eh? Why? Therere a lot of customers.

The harassment from the hoodlums had also been decreasing.

As soon as the hoodlums who were harassing the other shops came around to this place, I entertained them, and they all became honest. Before I knew it, the harassment to the entire shopping district was reduced.

Its a lucky break? Or maybe something a little different.

Hey, the shopkeeper is getting pretty old, no? He said that he would return to the countryside and retire once he couldnt make soup. He has good skills too, but its important for the customers to trust the shopkeepers taste.

Yeah, Ojii-chans ramen has a kind taste to it, dont you think?

I too, like grandpa-chans ramen.

Its not going to turn out well. Trust in the product or perhaps I should say it differs from selling.

Will it sell if peoples complexions turn green?

One day, the chauffeur didnt come to pick me up due to mothers circumstances.

Although I called a taxi and it was okay, only Ooba-onii-chan had returned when I got home, and onii-chan had to eat ramen with me while we waited together.

Both Father and Mother seemed to know about dad-chan and Misa. I knew, but I couldnt do much more to lend a hand and say that we wont stop involving ourselves, its a subtle position.

The adults were not being honest.

Im going to buy some juice~

Dont go too far~

Yes~

Its not a matter of me wanting to drink juice particularly, but recently, its been getting hotter, so dealing with the roaring fire in a ramen shop is tough.

I have become much stronger, but from the point of view of others Im still considered weak.

Haa how refreshing

Its comfortable at night. As always, Im not very sleepy. I might be turning nocturnal.

I dont feel afraid of the night like a normal child, and since I havent had any more run-ins with random attackers as well in this half-year, its been a relief.

Something came unexpectedly on such a night

While I was chilling my forehead with the cold tea that Id bought from a vending machine, I saw a black cat in the side alley in the shopping area.

A jet-black cat with silver eyes like the one I saw at the shrine From the depths of my heart, something came out, and I felt like there was something itching in me.

Who are you?

When the words fell from my lips, the black cats silhouette was getting further away.

Wait.

I started chasing after it once I noticed. My legs arent fast. But I will follow [Him].

[Him]?

Kyaa

Uwahh

I suddenly bumped into someone. The other party was also tiny, but I was weak so I fell over and landed on my bottom.

ah

The black cat was nowhere to be found.

Yuzu-chan?

Ah, Kouki-kun?

The person I bumped into was Kouki-kun. At the corner of the road?

Would it be better if I was holding bread in my mouth?

What are you talking about?

Kouki-kun reached out his hand to me to support me up, even though he didnt understand what I was saying.

Sorry, Yuzu-chan but, why are you here?

Kouki-kun. I was at a shop with which I was acquainted and then I went for a walk.

I too went for a walk.

This lie, Ill endure it. Its a somewhat strange atmosphere Ah, come to think of it, he had a poor relationship with his grandfather over that land speculation ruckus, no?

Then, goodbye.

Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?

Kouki-kun raised his voice in shock as I tried to escape quickly such a toublesome fellow.

With this flow, isnt it like listening to a story?

No, its troublesome.

Thats way too honest! Youre kinder and more friendly in school.

A troublesome man, you are.

How mean.

He seems more like a little cat than the scion of a distinguished family I remembered that Id lost sight of the black cat because of this.

Understood. Speak.

Yuzu-chan sure moves at her own pace. Is this your core?

Thats right. I am a narrow-minded person.

You can think of this however you please. While Ouji-kun is someone whos easy to be with, Yuzu-chan is the only friend I have with which I can discuss difficult things.

Well, that might be true. Because were surrounded by ordinary elementary school students.

What about Yonjiuman Yuuki-kun? That person seems to understand, but

That guy is even more insistent on doing things at his own pace than you. Certainly, he feels like he doesnt have time for other people.

and Im free?

Well, well, I dont mean that. But you seem to be soft-hearted, and theres also the fact that you dont deeply involve yourself even if you do know the story, Also

Kouki-kun scratched the end of his nose with his fingers as if he was feeling a little shy.

Kako trusts Yuzu-chan I was wondering if she hated me because she kept a distance from me, but Yuzu-chan told Kako something, did you not?

Well

Hoho the misunderstanding has been unraveled, and the distance with his fianc has shrunk all at once?

Yuzu-chan please stop grinning like that, you look like my mother.

Well, its alright. Its all good.

Yup.

My good friend Ouji-kun was becoming a handsome young man, and it was unfortunate that he was getting clung onto by the onee-samas in the upper years like a god of rot.

Kouki-kuns story was, as expected, about his grandfather.

As expected, he didnt talk about the land speculation, but it seems like they were gathering a ridiculous amount of money for a return to politics.

Kouki-kuns father was his grandfathers secretary and wanted to oppose the idea but he had found a bride in Germany when hed gone overseas to study, and ignored the marriage that he had been forced into by the grandfather. Because of that, it seems like his father wasnt in a position to speak out against his grandfather.

Kouki-kun hates his grandfather?

I dont hate him, but I dont like him either. As a politician I think hes amazingly upfront, but I dont have any good memories of conversations with him, and he treated my mother quite badly.

Fuhn~

Generally, the problem with my grandfather is having done things with the secretaries and the butlers for a long time, its the problem of Kidou

Kidousan?

According to what Father says, it was a person that was willing to do anything for my grandfather, and it would have been good if that had been the only person, but when his son started to help out at work, he began doing unmentionably cruel things

Kidou-san and his son? These two people are the problem.

ah,

Did you hear that voice?

From the other side of the road, came the sound of multiple mens voices.

They came to look for me Sorry, Yuzu-chan, but thanks for listening. I was able to be happy for a while.

Just listening to the conversation? I cant do anything you know.

Hahaha, thats fine, then, Ill see you in school.

See you again.

Kouki-kun disappeared into the dark residential district after shaking my hands lightly Although hes a distinguished son of a high-ranking family, its still dangerous. I cant say anything about other people, though.

Maybe, a little bit of the problem thats plaguing this shopping district can be seen?

Kidou, hows it going with that shopping district?

In a luxurious office, an old man directed a sharp look at a young one.

There were three people in this room. An old man wearing traditional dress was sitting on the sofa, and a man in his prime stood near him, while the young man stood by the door which was further away.

The eviction rate has exceeded 30%. Although it is taking a while

That time is a problem. How much time do you think remains until the next election? And 30%? That hasnt even increased by 5% over the last month!

But, sir. There are only a few shopkeepers who own their shops remaining. If we clear them off, the other stores will accept being cleared out.

The man in his prime~ Kidou, had served this master since his fathers generation.

He was a rather arrogant and ambitious man as a politician, and it wasnt just for money that he was doing land speculation; he understood that it was necessary for the development of the region, and felt an impatient hatred for the shopkeepers who were reluctant to leave.

Shops like that should just be pushed onto the tracks with those usual guys.

Sir, we cant do that. In the current situation where the media is still paying attention, if an incident related to the speculation occurs, then they will suspect that it is linked to you, sir.

That is no way to speak.

with all due respect.

It was the young man who had kept silent up until then.

Control yourself, Kyoji, youre just a youngster.

No, lets hear your opinion.

The old man stopped Kidou and turned to look at Kidous son, Kyoji.

The shopping district, has begun to regain its vibrancy recently. The people whove gotten involved with it have become strange and the development is delayed.

What is there?

We have not been able to investigate, so its currently still unknown. Although its just a shopping district, if the uneasiness has disappeared and the vibrancy has returned, then all we need to is to add more uneasiness.

However, wont we have to worry that this case involving a gang will be linked to us?

Yes, it would be best if incidents that have nothing to do with land speculation were to happen. for example,

Catching the sharp gaze of the old man directly, Kyoji laughed faintly.

The children in the shopping distrct going missing how does that sound that?

Authors Notes:

Next time, Onzada-kun takes a leading role.