Sanzu Spring Swing Night
As noon approached, Yuko stayed at the dojo for lunch.
The four people, master and disciples, sat at one table.
Seta, a retired police officer, is now an honorary professor at Bunkyo University. His wife passed away from illness many years ago, and his only son, also a police officer, died in the line of duty at the age of thirty.
Logically speaking, he shouldn't be taking Yuko, who has a criminal background, as his apprentice, but Seta Hachidan greatly admires Takiya Hideo, the president of the Meteor Society.
Making money through underground industries such as prostitution, protection tax collection, casinos, and loan sharking is considered illegal and criminal by respectable people.
However, the Meteor Society upholds its bottom line and does not allow the circulation of prohibited drugs. Any organization that joins the Meteor Society must abide by this principle.
As Takiya Hideo once said: "Gambling and customs are forms of entertainment that people need. But drugs are not. I will not allow such disgusting and filthy things to appear within my jurisdiction."
It is precisely because of this bottom line that Seta 8-dan holds Takiya Hideo in high regard.
"How's your dad doing?" Seta Hachidan chatted with Yuko during their meal.
Yuko respectfully replied, "Yes, my father is in good health, thanks to you."
"It seems he can still work for a few more years. Let him retire early, lest he lose his life. Don't forget the lesson of almost dying from being shot back then." Seta 8-dan was referring to that chaotic year when Takiya Hideo was ambushed and shot, and almost didn't make it.
Gang conflicts are actually quite common; even the Meteor Society only became the number one gang in Kanto after overthrowing the old leaders.
Retired police officer Seta 8th Dan has seen it all before. Generally speaking, the lifespan of an organization is usually only a few years. Every 7 or 8 years, a major conflict caused by the change of the old and the new will break out. The fact that Meteor Society has lasted this long is considered very long-lived.
Upon hearing this, Santu couldn't help but glance at Yuko. The girl was holding a wooden bowl filled with miso soup, about six-tenths full, and was taking small sips. When she noticed him looking at her, she looked up at him with an innocent and naive expression, like a fawn drinking water by a stream.
Despite living in a privileged family, she seemed untouched by worldly affairs, her eyes clear as she looked at the world, as if every creature in the darkness would have nowhere to hide under her gaze.
Santu looked away, feeling somewhat uncomfortable; these kinds of people made him feel nauseous.
"Teacher, please don't say these things in front of the children." Ichikawa looked at his master with some distress.
Seta slammed his chopsticks on the table: "Of course, children should understand their parents' situation. Nowadays, kids are too complacent. They have no idea how hard their parents work away from home. They have no gratitude at all and are spending their parents' hard-earned money on stupid things."
The elder reprimanded Santu and Yuko, who, as juniors, immediately stopped what they were doing, sat up straight, and listened attentively.
Seta Hachidan crossed his arms and said to Santu, "What's with your blond hair, kid? Did you join some biker gang? You're the kind of bad guy who rides a motorcycle around disturbing the peace and causing trouble!"
Yuko/Ichikawa: Oh no, the teacher's gone into lecturing mode…
Ichikawa quickly explained, "That's popular among young people these days."
"Nonsense! Listen to me! As disciples of the Heavenly Heart School, you must not only have a sword in your hand, but also one in your heart. You must constantly hone and sharpen it to keep the blade sharp so that you can cut down the disloyal, unjust, and unrighteous in the world!" The old man's eyes were like torches, and the hardships of life had not eroded his belief.
"A pure and tranquil mind" is the core of the Heavenly Heart School, as resilient and unyielding as a sword, and as invincible as a blade.
"yes!"
"yes!"
–
After lunch, Yuko said goodbye and went home.
Back home, she changed out of her loose T-shirt and casual pants into a pink and white dress, Mary Jane shoes, and tied her hair up with a braid. Grabbing her bag, she went out again to Emma's house.
Asanuma Nono, who had nothing to do during the summer vacation, also gathered here, along with others such as the venue.
The boys all came to see Mikey.
Yuko greeted everyone one by one.
They were preparing to go out for a gathering at their usual shop, and Nono seemed to have some errands to run, so she asked them to come along. However, it would take her a lot of time to go and come back, so they decided to send everyone along, since staying at home would be boring. Emma and Yuko also went.
The boys all rode motorcycles, and as usual, the venue was responsible for giving Nono a ride, while Emma rode in her brother Mikey's motorcycle.
Apa, being the stubborn one, silently started his motorcycle and drove off after learning the destination, ignoring everyone's shouts from behind. Yuko, on the other hand, hesitated. She didn't really want to ride a motorcycle, and if she had to, and had a choice, she preferred Mitani's bike because he had two helmets and, for some reason, seemed reliable.
“Emma, go ride in Draken’s car,” Mikey suddenly said.
Emma, who was about to climb onto her brother's motorcycle, paused at his words and asked, "Why?"
Mikey glanced discreetly at the person reflected in the rearview mirror and casually replied, "No reason."
“That’s ambiguous. You’re weird, Mikey.” Emma looked at him with her hands on her hips.
Mikey shooed him away in a flat, monotone voice: "Stop nagging, hurry up and go."
Emma couldn't refuse him. She had ridden in Draken's car before, so she didn't feel embarrassed about it and readily went to find Draken.
Yuko looked over at them and saw Emma get into Draken's car. She sighed with satisfaction, thinking that Sano-kun was a good older brother who would help his sister out.
Mikey turned his head and looked at Yuko.
Uh… Yuko didn’t understand why he was looking at her, and subconsciously avoided his gaze.
Yi Hu urged from the side, "Why is Xiao Youzi still standing there? We're going to chase after Apa, come on up."
His implication made it impossible for Yuko to leave without him; given their friendship, it was indeed more appropriate for her to ride in Ichigo's car. But just as she took a step, the sound of a motorcycle starting up rang out, and Mikey had already sped off quite a distance.
"Mikey, you ran away too!"
"Don't worry about him, he's definitely chasing after Apa. Why compare him to a child?"
The venue and Draken think so.
However, those who were more perceptive, such as Ichiko and Nono, sensed something. The two glanced at Mikey as he walked away, and then at Yuko, who remained completely oblivious.
"This is not good."
"This is really..."
The two spoke one after the other, and then both sighed.
No one present could understand their cryptic message.
Mitani noticed Yuko rolling up her skirt and handed her a helmet, saying, "Yuko, you'd better sit sideways in that skirt. And your hair will get blown around if you don't wear a helmet."
It was rare to be understood and have someone speak her mind, and Yuko looked at Mitani with emotion. She thought to herself, "Finally, someone normal! My gut feeling was right; Mitani-kun is truly reliable!"
Seeing this, Nono laughed and said, "Mitani is so handsome~ Be careful, Yuko might fall for you."
"Oh, really? Then I'm truly honored." With a pure heart, Mitani handled the teasing with ease.
Perhaps because he has two difficult younger sisters at home, and because he is the head of the hand-knitting club at school and has a group of girls under his command, he is more comfortable dealing with girls.
In other words, Mitani is very popular with girls.
He's a great cook, an expert at housework, and has a strong sense of responsibility. Like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, Nono felt that Mitani was the better match for Yuko. She continued, "I could rest assured leaving Yuko in Mitani's care."
"Nono..." Yuko, who had put on her helmet, knew that Nono was joking, so she couldn't argue with her seriously. She just called her name helplessly.
"If we keep talking, Apa and Mikey will leave us behind," Yihu interrupted at the right moment.
The group then set off to give chase.
They dropped the three girls off on the next street because Nono saw a raffle being held in the shopping street.
"These are reward tickets from buying things; it would be a shame to throw them away," Ye Ye explained to them.
"When did you become so keen on this?" The host's mom also loves redeeming lottery tickets; in fact, most housewives love them.
Ye Ye shook her finger at him: "The third prize is a washing machine. I heard Auntie complaining last time that her washing machine wasn't working well. You'd better wish me luck."
For a moment, he didn't know what to say, and even he hadn't noticed his mother's usual complaints. He awkwardly said, "Okay."
"So, will you come over after you're done playing, or will you find a place on your own?" Draken asked.
"We'll go over after the lottery draw," Ye Ye said to him.
After they left, Ye Ye pulled out thirty lottery tickets from her bag, looking determined: "I'm definitely going to win!"
Then the three of them went into the lottery booth, where there were already many housewives and elderly people in front of them.
"Nono, do you really think you can win with your bad luck?" Emma wasn't very confident in Nono's abilities. Asanuma Nono was known for always winning when drawing Joker cards, and she was destined to get the worst luck card ever when praying at the shrine.
The African man, Ye Ye, patted his two friends on the shoulder: "That's why we need your help too."
Finally, it was their turn, and Ye Ye rolled up her sleeves and started spinning the lottery machine.
"Congratulations, a pack of tissues."
"Congratulations, a pack of tissues."
"Congratulations…"
She'd won so many consolation prizes she was practically overwhelmed; she'd already used up all thirty raffle tickets, leaving only two. Ye Ye angrily bit her handkerchief: "Why?!"
Emma held the lottery ticket between two fingers, like a master swordsman, with a knowing smile on her face: "Africans, step aside. Now it's the Europeans' turn to perform."
Ten seconds later.
"Congratulations, here's a pack of tissues." The staff member smiled and handed Emma a pack of tissues.
Emma, looking very serious, said, "...There's something wrong with this lottery machine."
Nono: "You're the one with the problem!"
"Yuko, we're counting on you!" Nono looked hopefully at the last hope of the entire village.
Yuko was under a lot of pressure, and she really wanted to fulfill Nono's wish. But luck is something that can't be controlled. Yuko placed her hand on the joystick and gently turned it, praying in her heart that she could successfully get the third prize that Nono wanted.
"Thud"
A golden bead was ejected from the lottery machine.
The staff member picked up a bell and announced, "Congratulations! Congratulations to this guest for winning the grand prize! A luxurious three-day trip to Okinawa for ten people!"
Yuko/Emma/Nono: "Eh?!?!?!?!"
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