---17---
When he reached home, he saw a man looking around by the door.
Sales? Upon taking a closer look at the man's face, a name appeared in Masashi's head.
"Father?" It felt awkward saying this noun again after several hundred years.
"It's Masashi, you're finally back." Hirota Katsutoshi was delighted.
"When did you come here?"
"This morning, but no one answered the door."
"Kazumi should be doing grocery at this time. Come on in first."
Masashi poured a cup of tea for him then turned on the TV.
"I heard that you had to stay in the hospital for an injury, is that true?"
"Yes, but that was the past. I am very well now."
"I am really sorry. I was out of the country for business at the time. I only learned of this when I came back." Katsutoshi looked apologetic.
"There's no need to mention it. What are you here for today?"
"Nothing special. I got a few days off from work so I came over to see you. Are you doing well?"
"Kazumi and I are doing well. Thank you." Masashi said calmly.
It was difficult for him to have any feelings for a stranger. Their conversation was polite but had no warmth.
Just then, he heard the turning of the door. Masashi knew that Kazumi was back.
The door opened and Kazumi came in with a bag of items.
"Kazumi, father is here to see us." Masashi said to her.
Kazumi's face turned pale as soon as she saw Katsutoshi on the sofa.
"Long time no see, Kazumi. How are you doing?" Katsutoshi said with a smile.
"Get out! Get out of here now." Kazumi sounded extremely angry.
"Kazumi, how can you speak like that. He's our father." Even though Masashi had no feelings for this father but that was too much.
"Kazumi, I…"
"I told you to get out, didn't you hear?" Kazumi yelled then threw her bag at him.
Masashi was shocked. He had never seem her in such a state.
Is this the same Kazumi that was normally quiet and indifferent?
"It looks like I should leave." Katsutoshi walked to the door.
Masashi followed him out.
Katsutoshi sighed and said. "It looks like Kazumi still haven’t forgiven me for leaving you. But, what else could I have done."
Masashi felt something strange but he didn't think much of it. "I think Kazumi just can't accept it for now. I will talk to her after she calms down."
"Thank you, Masashi. You really grew up. I will stay in a hotel nearby these few days. Give me a call if something happens."
Masashi nodded.
After he returned inside, Kazumi's doors were shut.
He had to order take out for lunch then.
After lunch, he told her through the door that food was left in the kitchen, but there was no reply.
Let her calm down by herself. Masashi thought.
He didn’t know where to go as he walked on the street. Too bad that Hei and Changan were in the U.S. or they could have gone out for a drink together.
Something suddenly came to his mind and he entered a bookstore.
"Hello, how can I help you?" The receptionist asked politely.
"Do you have any books on stock investment?"
"Yes, please follow me."
Masashi followed her to a corner full of books on investment.
He randomly picked about ten books and entered the reading room.
Masashi adjusted his breathing then began flipping through the books. His speed was increasing by the second and before long, he finished a book and went on to the next one.
The book became printed in his mind. It was an ability he discovered when he was bored.
When he adjusted his mental state and focus on reading, he could memorize all the words and pictures vividly.
Soon, the whole stack of books were finished printing. Masashi went on to take another stack of books. He finished all the books on investment in just three hours.
After organizing the information in his head, he came to a conclusion about all these analysis theories and techniques, complete bullshit.
The spread of internet gave consumers a lot more choices, but the core of investment didn't change. Many of these so called new techniques were just lies.
It was better to just research a company's condition, assets, and debts.
---18---
But where can he get these information? He could give a call to Sakura Mion but he didn’t want to get in contact with the gang.
Then he saw an entertainment mall and an idea came to his mind.
Following the memories of the previous Hirota Masashi, he opened up the webpages and quickly researched a lot of information on listed companies.
Since there were so many publicly traded companies in Japan, he only researched a small portion by dinner. The whole thing would take a week.
Fortunately, it was summer vacation so there was a ton of time.
Kazumi was making dinner when he returned home. She looked as indifferent as always, like nothing had happened.
After dinner, Masashi entered the kitchen and talked to her. "Kazumi, I want to have a talk with you."
"If it's about that person, then don't bother me."
"Kazumi, he's your father."
"I don't have this kind of father." She bit her lips and she was shaking.
"Tell me, what really happened?" Masashi felt it was not as simple as he thought.
"None of your concern." She calmed down and went back to her room.
Masashi continued the research for the next several days. He couldn't think of a way to deal with Kazumi so he had to wait for mom to come back and ask.
One afternoon, he saw Hirota Katsutoshi backing out of the house as he returned home.
Kazumi charged out after him, holding a knife.
Masashi almost doubted his vision. He couldn’t have imagined a girl like Kazumi would do something like this.
There was no time to think. He ran over and grabbed his sister.
"Let go of me. Let go of me…" Kazumi struggled.
Masashi couldn't take it and slapped her.
"You're all scumbags!" She ran back inside holding onto her cheek.
"Masashi, I…"
"Can you leave first? It's not the time to talk." Masashi was feeling annoyed.
"Fine, we will talk after a day or two." Katsutoshi left.
Upon entering the house, the floor was ravaged and full of broken items.
"Kazumi, can we talk?" Masashi walked to her room.
However, there was no reply coming through the door. He had to give up after a while.
Things were definitely more complex. He took out the address Katsutoshi gave him a few days ago.
9PM. Masashi arrived at the hotel Katsutoshi was residing in. The receptionist told him that Katsutoshi hadn’t been back yet.
"Do you know what time he usually comes back?"
"I am sorry, but we don't know."
"Are their any bars nearby?" Masashi remembered the smell of alcohol on Katsutoshi.
"There are three bars nearby. The closest one is only 400 meters away. You should see it if you take a right and walk straight."
"Thank you."
After a bit of walking, he saw the bar.
The inside was dimly lit. Figures were twisting their bodies along with the screeching metal music.
A girl in translucent underwear and bra were dancing around a pole in the center stage.
The atmosphere reminded him of an animal farm.
"Nii-san, first time here?" A bunny girl walked over.
"Have you seen a man in a suit, wearing a gold colored frame glasses, about forty years old?"
"There are so many men like this here. Buy me to a drink and we will go look for him one by one, ok?" She thought Masashi was being shy.
"I am not here for sex. Help me find this man and the money is yours." Masashi slapped 10,000 Yen on the table.
"Wait here for a bit, I will go ask other people." Bunny girl immediately ran off.
By the time Masashi was on his third glass of alcohol, she came back.
"There's a man that looks like your description. I can bring you over but you can only peep through the door. I will be in trouble if you anger a customer." Bunny girl stared at the money on his hand.
Masashi finished the glass then stood up. "Let's go."
Bunny girl brought him to a room then lightly opened the door.
He could hear a man and woman's laughter and knew he found the right person. Masashi pushed open the door at once.
"Ah. Who are you? Who let you in?" The woman sitting on Katsutoshi's lap screamed.
"What, what happened?" Katsutoshi asked drunkenly.
"How can you be like this. Didn't I tell you not to interrupt them?" Bunny girl yelled.
"So it's you, Yoko. I will tell the manager."
"No, Haruko. I don't know this brat. I…"
"The two of you shut up. I know this man. I am here to bring him away." Masashi carried Katsutoshi up.
"No, he's my client. How can I let you take him away like this."
Then she stopped talking after Masashi threw her 20,000 Yen.
---19---
Katsutoshi threw up twice on the way back to the hotel. Masashi would have thrown him on the streets if he wasn't their father.
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