Chapter 24: The Hanged Woman (1)

#

We arrived at Inaba. It's fogging tonight. I looked towards Izanami, she only shook her head. Indicating that this fog is all natural. So tonight nature will take her course huh.

It's late night. The electronic clock chimes at 12:00. Signifying a new day. And then the monitor in my room shines brightly. The static noise is so noisy that I'm surprised it didn't wake anyone up.

The screen shows a woman's silhouette. This should be Saki, the first victim after Yu's arrival. Maybe that's just the world correcting itself. I wonder what Yu's doing right now. I send Romulus through the wall. And I share my vision with him.

Yu in his room is watching the monitor with curiosity. He then slowly reached out a hand. The said hand when it touched the screen, was sucked in slowly. As surprised as he is, I found it funny that he's taking his sweet time toying with it, sticking in and out his hand, then he also tried peeking with his head. I don't really know what he saw though. And then, suddenly, a thunder struck. Scaring Yu, he managed to back away from the TV. Good news, he's safe. Bad news: it knocked his monitor over and broke it.

The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual. I go down towards the kitchen to see Izanami is already up and is making breakfast and with Nanako.

"Good morning, izanami, Nanako, what's for breakfast?"

"Good morning Akira-Nii"

"Good morning Akira, we're making toast with eggs and bacon."

I helped them a bit in making breakfast. Before sitting down and eating myself. It seems that they made breakfast for 4 people. Before I could ask.

"Yeah, dad's have to leave early today, it seems that there's an incident today."

"Oh I see..."

I apologize for being inconsiderate. As we're having that conversation Yu came down and ate with us. After a simple breakfast, we are on our way to our respective schools. It seems that Nanako's and Izanami's school are close. so , after all this time I finally have a peace of mind when Nanako went to school.

I somehow feel a bit older after the proposal. Silently glancing at my ring and rubbing it. Yu realize my new accessory and give me a knowing look.

"Don't say it."

"WAOW! THAT'S A NICE RING!"

A wild Chie appears. She excitedly held my hand to take a closer look.

"Hey look Yukiko! He's got good eyes on rings right?"

"That's a nice ring. I have to say, You're not the type to wear those kinds of accessories? Did someone give it to you?"

"Yes, In a matter of fact someone did give it to him"

Answer Yu, right now Chie is hanging off my arm like a koala, and i'm trying to shake her off. it's just a ring come on.

"Really who gave it to him?"

Chie said excitedly expecting to have a good gossip.

"His Fiance."

"HIS WHAT!? You have a fiance?"

Shocked faces of Chie and Yukiko are cute. So, on the road to school, it seems that both Chie and Yukiko can't stop questioning me. Which Yu happily answers. God Damnit Yu. I can't do anything to you right now because you're my Player, but after this, muehehehe. I'm going to have my revenge on valentine.

Yu suddenly feels a chill in his spine.

-----

Classes progress as normal, it's easy but not boring, so in my spare time, I draw up plans for the Yakuza, from the time tables to the funds needed. I can just forward it to Iwai tonight and let him handle the rest.

As I was making a time table, I overheard the Investigation team discuss what they saw on TV, I said team but there's only : Chie, Yu and Yosuke. There's strangely a lot of Y's in the team. Get it YS, the game, no? Ok. (WN: Recently played YS:8 gotta say i'm surprised it's quite good.)

From what I heard, they're going to Junes right after this. Should I go with them? Nah. it'll be bad if I was somehow found out and I still have a lot of planning to do so I'll skip. Just as I was about to leave Yu approaches me.

"Akira, we're going to Junes to try something, you want to come?"

"No, you guys have fun though"

"Ok."

"Oh and Yu, Catch."

I threw a card towards him. It's a credit card, with THE WORLD as the cover, JOJO style. I just had Iwai make me two copies, one that i just gave to Yu, the other was held by Izanami.

"Have fun"

Well that should even the playing field right? Since Adachi right now is higher up the command chain and all.

"WOW! Is that a credit card!"

"What's with the drawing on the card though?"

"I suddenly have all the reason to reject my humanity"

Said Yu. Oh Yu.

As i leave them to their devices, I hurry home, but to my surprise there's a row of men in suits standing in the neighbourhood. As I came close, everyone bows toward me.

I have the sudden urge to bury their faces on the ground pulling stunts like this. And this is a cops house for god's sake what would they say if they see you. But seeing their badge I can safely assume they're OA. so that must mean something important has happened else they can just call me up.

Just as I say that I arrive at my door, a man in the suit opens it for me before bowing. As I enter the house I can finally see the culprit. It's the guy who ask for my plan the day before who was he again.

"Ah! You're back, Akira-sama, I'm sorry for barging in like this."

"What's done is done, but don't scare away the neighbors, and you do know this house belongs to Inaba's police chief right?"

"Who is also your uncle and guardian, and yes we knew, after the greeting they're to greet the local enforcers, briefing them the situation, so in turn they will not bother you in any way."

Ah the thoughtful kind. I kind of like this guy. Toshimitsu Kubo huh, he's a young man in his mid 20s, blue hair well kept hair, with matching blue eyes. Intelligence, that's what I see in his eyes.

"Ah right what's the important thing that you're going to talk about? That it cannot wait nor use a phone?"

"Ah right, this!"

He shows me a paper, inside it is a visualization of media trends and whatnot.

"Why are you so adamant on having a software company? Aren't real estates more secure and scalable?"

"This only shows me how nearsighted you are. In less than 5 years everyone will have a phone. Be it young, or old. And by that time, we will have yourself the entire nation as a customer, not just the select few who can pay. Tell me, what do you have a portable phone?"

"You mean this?" He pulls out a flip phone.

"Yes. but that's the domestic marketed phone, have you tried this? As I pull out my iPhone 5"

I begin to explain the basic function of the thing, he's a fast learner that's for sure. But the concept of apps is still too complex for him to understand. But he still nodded nonetheless. So after what feels like an hour, he finally convinces himself.

"I see, so are you betting, no are you really going all in, for this 'smartphone' to boom?"

It's still 2011. It's understandable that people are still sceptical.

"Yes, so are you in or not? If you are, I'll make you the head of the IT department."

Ah I can see expectation in his eyes.

"But… for the first 2 years you will not ask me about why I do what I do."

"That's a bit …"

"Funds will come from both of our families, not the OA. Later when we succeed we'll use OA's money, but we'll start small and use ours first. I won't bleed you dry. You can tell me if it becomes unbearable."

"Tch… Alright."

Good. So without further ado, I tell him my plan. It's nothing fancy, I just asked him to buy a few domains, to research and develop softwares. My first project is the LINE project. It's an instant messaging service. Explaining it to Kubo-san though is a pain, he kept asking what's the difference with email, and other elderly people's questions which I totally get. And I also ordered him to secure a development team as soon as possible with a minimum of 50 programmers consisting of 40 fresh grads and 10 veterans. Oh young lambs, prepare yourself, for i will bleed you dry. muahahahaha.

So with that done my last order was for him to secure an import channel for phones. Since right now japanese's market for phones is still dominated by domestic products, in a few years it'll change for sure.

So with that our discussion is over, I didn't even look at the time, nor did I notice that both Nanako and Izanami had already come home.

"Very well then, Young master, Young mistress, and Little Mistress, please take care!"

And he left. Ah finally. As I sat on the couch I finally let myself go. That's tiring. Well that's one plan done, now that's left is the media, and the security firm.

"Izanami, Nanako-san, how's your day?"

"It's good, I joined the singing competition today, and the teacher said that I sang really well."

"Fu fu fu, of course Nanako is the best at singing."

"I'm back"

As we're sharing what we've been doing throughout the day, Uncle Ryo came back."

"Welcome back, Papa/ Uncle Ryo"

"Akira, I got a call telling me that there's people in suits here just now, what's that all about?"

"Oh, the OA just came to greet me."

"Are we expecting trouble?"

"No, not at all. They just came to warn the rest not to cause us trouble. By the way, ever since yesterday, how's security been?"

"Good, too good in fact. Only OA remains, the triads and JingWeon have all retreated."

"How's public security?"

"HAHAHAHA! With the Demon King here, who would want to cause trouble?"

I just smiled sheepishly.

"Jient Won? Tyrad? What's that papa?"

"Nothing to worry about Nanako. Nothing to worry about, so what's for dinner?"

While i was talking and explaining my plan to Kubo-san it seems that Nanako and Izanami made Udon with miso soup. It's very delicious. Too bad Yu hasn't come back yet. Speaking of which.

"Akira-nii, where's Yu-nii."

"He's out with his friends, he's at Junes."

"Junes? Why didn't he invite Nanako? :("

Ah it seems like Nanako still likes Junes. "He's reviewing study material with his friends, we came to school mid semester after all."

"Ooooh, Nanako understands"

Yu owe me one. Get it? No? (WN: Sorry for the puns). With that said I continue to write my novel in the living room, while Izanami seems to be having fun with nanako, she's teaching her stitching this time.

"*Yawn* I'm going to bed, Nanako, don't forget to wash your teeth, and don't stay up too late."

"*Yawn* I'm going to bed too Papa!"

"Alright, come along, you two don't stay up too late or you'll be late tomorrow."

""OK!""

The father and daughter duo left us downstairs to sleep.

{"Your Clairvoyance is clearly cheating!"}

{"What do you mean?"}

{"You know what I mean, Yu is very strong. Stronger than i thought when i welcome him into this game."}

{"Ara ara, are we having cold feet now?"}

{"tch. It won't change a thing though"}

Now she's pouting.

{"So what did you and Kubo-san talk about just now?"}

Ah shit! another granny, here we go again.

# By the way, I'm having a dice roll to determine Saki's fate. With a d20 and challenge rating of 10 with +0 modifiers. Will she live? Or will it be like cannon? Find out in the next episode of DragonballZ.