Sakiko stared angrily at her head-lowered, cowardly father. Her eyes were filled with disbelief as she shouted loudly,
"Didn't you tell me you wouldn't gamble again? Then what is this? You've been lying to me, haven't you?"
Sakiko clenched the IOU in her hand. Because she gripped it too hard, veins bulged on the back of her fair hand.
Her eyes were filled with disappointment and resentment. Emotions surged in her heart, wanting to explode but unable to do so.
Did Sakiko regret it? She truly regretted it.
She only blamed herself for being too young back then and not understanding the dangers of gambling.
When her father was thrown out of the Togawa Group like garbage, she had been angry at her mother for being heartless and angry at the Togawa Group for completely disregarding their past relationship.
So at that time, she chose to leave the Togawa Group. Even if she had to live a poor life because of it, she had no regrets.
No matter what, he was still her father. Although he had made a mistake, he had promised to change.
He had also worked for the Togawa Group for many years. Even if he had no achievements, he had put in effort. Why couldn't her mother and the Togawa family give him another chance?
Now Sakiko finally understood.
Everything gamblers said was nonsense. They would never change, and they would never truly regret it. As long as they had money, they would gamble. If they had no money, they would borrow from loan sharks.
For such a useless person, she had lived frugally for over a year, eating only half-priced or even expired rice balls every day. Her meager income had to support this incompetent father.
What did all the suffering she endured count for? What did cutting ties with her former friends for his sake count for?
She paid such a huge price, only to receive this result?
Falling from a wealthy young lady to poverty did not make Sakiko give up.
Working diligently every day as a customer service representative while studying, facing those angry and insulting customers, she still smiled.
Even when she heard her former friends perform "Kasuga Kage" at the live concert and felt heartbroken, she did not give up on herself.
But the final blow from her family completely shattered Sakiko's heart and made her collapse.
Tears slid down her cheeks uncontrollably, but the girl's crying received no sympathy. It only drew the rampant laughter of the yakuza members.
"Look at this useless man. You used to marry into a wealthy family and live above others."
"Back then, when we brothers saw you, we might have even had to bow and scrape and call you sir."
"And now you've even sold your daughter. If you're not useless, what are you?"
"Tsk tsk, Boss, this young girl really looks pitiful. Honestly, I'm a little reluctant to send her to the pleasure district. How great would it be if I could keep her as a mistress."
"If you can repay that fifty million for this useless old man, you can keep her as a mistress however you want."
"Fifty million? Forget it. The most expensive pleasure district only costs one hundred thousand yen per visit. Fifty million is enough for me to go five hundred times. Is she made of gold or diamonds? Fifty million is not worth it, not worth it."
The yakuza members kicked Togawa Kiyotsugu to the ground.
The slovenly middle-aged man revealed a fawning smile, a disgusting smile that made Sakiko feel nauseous.
Togawa Kiyotsugu looked at his daughter and pleaded,
"Sakiko, please, save Father. Just this once. I promise you, I really won't gamble again in the future."
"I saw how poor our family has become and how much you're suffering, so I couldn't bear it. I just wanted to borrow some money and win it back."
"Father really did this for your sake, Sakiko. You can't just watch Father die."
Sakiko stared at the disgusting man in front of her in disbelief.
Was this really her father?
She had never imagined that a person could be so repulsive.
She said angrily,
"Save you? By selling me to these people to save you?"
Togawa Kiyotsugu knelt on the ground and sobbed.
"Sakiko, I can only rely on you now. If you don't save me, they will harvest my organs."
The yakuza members said maliciously,
"This old man's organs are probably already ruined, right? Drinking like that every day, I wonder how much they can even sell for."
"You... you can call the police!"
Sakiko said while trembling all over.
"Haha, young lady, you said call the police? If our Matsuba Society wants someone to disappear without a trace, the police can't do anything."
"Sakiko, they're telling the truth. The police can't handle this kind of thing. They will definitely dissect me and sell my organs. For the sake of Father raising you for so many years, save Father this last time."
Another yakuza member said in a strange tone,
"Although this young girl lacks a bit in figure, she was once the young lady of the Togawa Group after all. Charging one hundred thousand yen per visit is still fine."
"As long as you sell yourself five hundred times, the debt will be repaid. Of course, you better hurry. As the interest grows, it might become six hundred or seven hundred times."
Sakiko hesitated.
After all, the man in front of her was her father. Could she really watch him die like this?
Seeing Sakiko's expression, Togawa Kiyotsugu thought there was hope and continued crying and begging.
But Sakiko only hesitated for a moment before making up her mind.
She said firmly,
"No. I will not sell myself for you!"
She shook her head resolutely. At that moment, it was as if she had undergone a transformation and finally made a true decision.
Togawa Kiyotsugu, who had been crying and begging moments ago, instantly changed his expression. He pointed at Sakiko and cursed,
"You... You don't even care about your father's life. I raised you for nothing, you ungrateful brat."
Sakiko sniffed and said calmly,
"If I really agreed to this, then my life would truly be ruined."
The smiles on the yakuza members' faces disappeared, replaced with grim expressions.
They kicked Togawa Kiyotsugu hard and said fiercely,
"Old man, this isn't what you told us."
"Didn't you say that if you begged her a few times, she would definitely agree?"
"Ms. Togawa, this matter is probably not up to you. You have a family relationship with this old man, so the money he owes is the money you owe."
"Even if you refuse, we can only force you."
These loan sharks had truly spent fifty million yen. If they could not recover the money, the ones who would suffer would be the three of them.
Sakiko looked terrified and stepped back again and again.
She thought that as long as she refused, nothing would happen. She did not expect them to resort to force.
Now she only wanted to run out and call the police.
However, how could a weak girl like her compete with these strong men? Before she could reach the door, she was surrounded.
Sakiko fell into despair.
Just then,
"Not bad. Not bad. I thought you would still sacrifice yourself for this piece of trash, Sakiko."
"Your ability to make such a righteous decision and sever ties with your family proves that you have truly grown and matured."
"Remember this. Never trust a gambling addict. He will only drag your family into ruin."
"If you really agreed to him and gave him a source of money, he would only gamble even more crazily."
"And once you fall into depravity, you will completely give up on yourself, and your life will truly be over."
Toru slowly walked into the house.
He had actually arrived long ago but had not shown himself, just so Sakiko could realize it on her own.
If she did not think about resisting herself, Toru could save her once, but he could not save her for a lifetime.
"Fujiwara-kun?"
Seeing Toru, Sakiko felt as if she had grabbed the last straw.
The yakuza members looked at Toru with surprise and uncertainty.
"Boss, he... he seems to be that Fujiwara Toru."
"I know that without you telling me."
The boss cursed his subordinate.
He hesitated for a moment before saying,
"Brother, this is a matter for our Matsuba Society. I hope you won't interfere."
The Matsuba Society was a very famous yakuza group in Tokyo. He hoped the name would make Toru back off.
Mainly because he did not dare confront Toru head-on. The video of Toru killing more than a dozen people had spread widely online, and the three of them did not believe they could defeat him.
"Who is your brother?"
Toru frowned.
I'll give you three a chance. Leave now and admit your mistake. I'll pretend I didn't see anything.
The second-in-command said,
"It's only right to repay debts. He owes fifty million, so he must pay it back."
"Your debtor is right there. Go ask him for the money. If that doesn't work, then sell his organs like you suggested."
The yakuza members' expressions turned ugly.
Setting aside how difficult and risky organ trafficking was, their talk about selling organs had only been threats.
Moreover, this old man's lifestyle was terrible. His organs were probably in horrible condition. Even if they tried to sell them, there might not be any buyers.
"Friend, it seems you really want to oppose our Matsuba Society."
The yakuza members sneered.
"You can protect this girl now, but can you protect her forever? We'll find a chance, and we'll make her repay the money."
Sakiko looked frightened. If she were truly targeted by a yakuza group, she would have to live in constant fear.
Toru sighed.
"You're right. If you don't cut the weeds and remove the roots, they will grow again with the spring breeze."
"Sakiko, this isn't far from my house. Go to my place first."
"Fujiwara-kun!"
"Listen to me."
Toru glanced at her.
Sakiko hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself. She knew that staying here might only cause trouble for him.
She gritted her teeth and cried,
"Then... then I'll go to your house and wait for you."
She opened the door and ran out.
The yakuza members did not chase her.
Just as they said, they would have plenty of opportunities to catch Sakiko later.
"Alright. What happens next might be a little bloody. Since Sakiko has left, I don't need to waste words with you."
Toru slowly reached into his clothes and smiled as he pulled out a pistol fitted with a silencer.
The three yakuza members froze. They still doubted whether the pistol was real or fake.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
Three shots rang out almost simultaneously. The yakuza members' eyes widened. Bloody bullet holes appeared on their foreheads as they collapsed to the ground.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)