"Gen'ichiro-san, I didn't expect you to come visit me."
The moment Shibusawa Eiichi saw his former personal bodyguard paying him a visit, a warm, nostalgic smile spread across the elderly man's face. As the two reunited, memories of the countless assassination attempts they had weathered together inevitably resurfaced.
The man whom the elder addressed as "Gen'ichiro" had a head of white hair, appeared to be in his thirties, and wore a neatly kept beard. He was full of vigor, and his hearty laughter—"Ahahaha!"—had hardly ceased since his arrival. Sitting nearby, Shibusawa Eiichi's granddaughter covered her ears with both hands, her round eyes fixed curiously on the two men.
"Eiichi-sama, have you ever considered letting the White Qilin study under me?"
"You're a step too late, Gen'ichiro-san."
Shibusawa Eiichi replied at an unhurried pace, "Tatsuhiko-kun has already chosen a teacher. And this teacher is no ordinary person. The very first time they met, he managed to knock the arrogance right out of my Tatsuhiko and left him completely convinced."
Having already passed eighty years of age, Shibusawa Eiichi had gradually begun entrusting the family's affairs to the next generation. Even so, his authority remained unquestionable, and in name, he was still the head of the Shibusawa family.
The white-haired man sitting across from him carried no sword. Upon entering, he had entrusted his weapon to the Shibusawa family's retainers for safekeeping, a gesture that spoke volumes about the respect he held for Shibusawa Eiichi.
He stroked his beard in surprise.
"What unfortunate timing."
Shibusawa Eiichi chuckled.
"You're nothing but a brute. If you were the one teaching my grandson, aren't you afraid he'd end up discouraged instead?"
The white-haired man scratched his head.
"I have to at least give it a try. We've been having a hard time recruiting new people lately."
Shibusawa Eiichi shook his head.
"Your Hunting Dogs are simply too harsh on new recruits. Anyone who joins must undergo ability enhancement surgery, pushing their bodies to the absolute limit at the cost of shortening their lifespan. Even if it grants them tremendous power, it's only temporary. They'll never be able to reach the realm of a Transcendent."
A true Transcendent was a force equal to ten thousand soldiers.
A single individual could stand on equal footing with an entire nation.
Only those who stood at the very pinnacle possessed the power to determine the outcome of wars.
The white-haired man's real name was Fukuchi Gen'ichiro. To the outside world, however, he was known as Fukuchi Ochi, the commander of the government's elite ability-specialized military unit, the Hunting Dogs.
His expression darkened.
"It can't be helped. They're simply too weak."
The Great War had claimed the lives of countless ability users, leaving the government's gifted forces severely weakened.
The younger generation of ability users was still in the midst of growing stronger.
Having trained in martial arts since childhood and renowned as Fukuzawa Yukichi's equal, Fukuchi Gen'ichiro burst into his trademark hearty laughter once again.
"Eiichi-sama, why don't you tell me about the person the White Qilin has chosen as his master? I'm quite curious."
Hearing the question, Shibusawa Eiichi recalled what Tatsuhiko had told him.
"I don't know the details myself. Tatsuhiko-kun never told me the man's name. Once they had settled on a date, I instructed one of my retainers to contact him through the Special Division for Unusual Powers. From what I heard, that person even set three conditions before agreeing to take Tatsuhiko as his disciple."
Fukuchi Gen'ichiro froze.
"And you simply agreed to that?"
Had he known that choosing the White Qilin's teacher would be decided so casually, he would have paid a visit much sooner.
"You haven't seen how determined Tatsuhiko was," Shibusawa Eiichi replied with a smile, "He looked the same as always on the surface, but just to become that man's disciple, he actually came to me for help. That's something that happens once in a century."
Fukuchi Gen'ichiro asked, "What were the conditions for becoming his disciple?"
Shibusawa Eiichi answered, "I imagine they were tests of character or something along those lines."
The kindly old man summoned one of his retainers and asked what Tatsuhiko had been doing lately.
The retainer replied, "Young Master Tatsuhiko has been making clothes these past few days."
Shibusawa Eiichi blinked.
"...What?"
Seeing the family head completely baffled, the retainer lowered his head, hiding the expression on his face as though he had just witnessed a ghost.
"Young Master Tatsuhiko ordered a batch of kimono fabric and sewing materials. He shut himself in at home and spent three days making clothes by hand."
Fukuchi Gen'ichiro laughed so hard that he nearly doubled over.
"Hahahaha! Don't tell me that was one of the conditions for taking him as a disciple?"
Shibusawa Eiichi could not help but laugh as well.
This was simply too amusing.
Tatsuhiko... actually making clothes.
The White Qilin, who normally held himself above everyone else and looked down on the world with unrestrained arrogance, had actually reached the point of sewing garments by hand. Without ever meeting the teacher in person, Shibusawa Eiichi had already caught a glimpse of just how remarkable the man was, and could not help but admire him.
"Next time, this old man will have to try on a set of clothes Tatsuhiko-kun made himself. I wonder if I'll be fortunate enough to have that chance."
In the courtyard, pale pink cherry blossoms bloomed gently beneath the spring breeze.
After finishing their conversation, Fukuchi Gen'ichiro strode toward the courtyard exit with his usual brisk gait. A drifting cherry blossom landed softly on his shoulder. He brushed it away with a flick of his hand, yet he found himself unable to share in the tranquil serenity of the scene.
So, it failed after all.
Then again, he had never truly expected it to succeed.
Shibusawa Eiichi's decision conveyed one thing above all else—he did not think highly of the Hunting Dogs.
After Gen'ichiro left, Shibusawa Eiichi no longer felt the need to keep Tatsuhiko's recent activities under wraps. Curious, he asked, "What has Tatsuhiko been up to today? Is he still sewing clothes?"
The retainer recalled his conversation with a member of one of the branch families before replying, "He's been reading. He hasn't gone out."
Shibusawa Eiichi pressed further.
"What kind of books?"
"Books on black magic."
Shibusawa Eiichi was thoroughly astonished.
Was Tatsuhiko pursuing magic again? At his age, wasn't he embarrassed by it anymore?
No matter what, this mysterious teacher had brought him one pleasant surprise after another.
Changing a person...
Always begins with the smallest of details.
April 8th marked the first day of the new school term for elementary and middle schools across Yokohama. Surrounded by the beauty of spring, the incoming students stepped through the school gates to begin a new chapter of their lives.
Unlike the nervous first-years, the returning students chatted excitedly about their holidays and complained about their homework. Their greatest worry was simply that school had started again, meaning they could no longer sleep in every morning.
The members of the Sheep put on their dark blue school uniforms one after another. The appearance of juvenile delinquents melted away, making them look like gentle lambs living peacefully in an ordinary society. They stood there stiffly, all turning to look at Nakahara Chuuya in unison. Chuuya himself was equally at a loss—after all, this was his first time setting foot in such a normal school environment.
Putting on a confident front, Chuuya slung his shoulder bag over one shoulder and took the lead.
"Let's go!"
The lead sheep guided the flock forward.
Inside the spotless new classroom, the words "Welcome, New Students" were written across the blackboard. More than twenty desks and chairs had been arranged in neat rows, each bearing a name card to guide its owner to their assigned seat.
The moment Chuuya saw the scene before him, his nose stung, and his heart trembled.
He knew just how much of this had been made possible because of Asou Akiya.
Even if some of it had been accomplished with nothing more than a single instruction from him, that didn't diminish the thought he had put into it. Asou Akiya had understood exactly what they needed, exactly what they longed for, and every arrangement had been made with those feelings in mind.
For example, hanging on one of the classroom walls was a piece of calligraphy by a renowned master.
"Knowledge is Power."
But how many people could truly grasp the meaning behind those words?
Among everyone present, Nakahara Chuuya felt them the most deeply, because there were simply too many brilliant, high-IQ monsters around him.
The boys and girls in the classroom ranged from seven or eight years old to fifteen or sixteen. They were nervous for only a brief moment before breaking into excited cheers.
"We're finally going to school!"
"I thought this was going to be awkward, but we're all together again. It's not awkward at all!"
"Chuuya, I think the seats are arranged by height. You're sitting in the front row! Hahaha!"
Nakahara Chuuya: "..."
It was as though the world never missed an opportunity to silently remind him of one thing:
He absolutely had to grow taller.
The bell rang, and everyone hurried to their assigned seats, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their teacher.
They all hoped the teacher would be as gentle and kind as Akiya-san, and that they would teach them knowledge that would truly be useful.
The Japanese language teacher, specially recruited from Tokyo with a generous salary to teach this class, stepped into the classroom.
His gaze swept across every student, and he quickly formed an impression of them.
So these were his students.
His thoughts drifted back to the words spoken by the man dressed in a black suit.
"If you can't find the future you hoped for in this society, why not try teaching a group of special children? They've lived through disasters and grown up surrounded by uncertainty. Whether they step into the light or descend into the darkness depends entirely on what you and the other teachers can do for them."
The teacher had asked in confusion,
"Aren't you a member of the Mafia? Why would you do something like this?"
"Because only those who have lived in darkness truly understand the value of light. I hope you'll mainly teach them Japanese, but also teach them how to live as decent human beings. Show them the beauty and selflessness that still exist in this world, and help each of them find their own dream."
After finishing those words, the man in the black suit answered a phone call. He seemed extremely busy with work, yet he still smiled at the teacher.
"After that, let them choose their own future."
"Who wouldn't wish that someone had appeared to guide them when they were young?"
Yes.
That was the true meaning of education.
The Japanese language teacher emerged from his memories, drew a quiet breath, and stepped up to the podium.
"Nice to meet you all. I am your teacher, Tsurumi Fucking. My family has lived for generations near the Tsurumi River in Yokohama, and my name was taken from that river. From today onward, I will be your Japanese language teacher, helping you with your studies and guiding you through any difficulties you encounter. Children of Suribachi City, it's a pleasure to meet you."
The man standing at the podium had an ordinary appearance and a stern expression, yet he carried himself with the poise of someone educated at a prestigious university.
Regardless of wealth or social status, being a teacher was a sacred profession.
The little Sheeps looked at him quietly. In their eyes, which had learned the ways of the world far too early, there shone a yearning that children their age should never have needed to possess.
Only Nakahara Chuuya's gaze was different.
It was calmer.
He respected teachers and was eager to learn, but he also understood that his future would not be spent within the walls of a school forever.
Quietly, he clenched his fist.
Ever since staying by Mr. Fukuzawa's side, he had felt his gravity ability become much gentler.
The burden weighing on his heart had lightened considerably. The negative emotions that had once clouded his mind had gradually faded away, leaving him with the ability to appreciate the good things in life—
No.
More accurately, it had given him the energy to argue and bicker with Ranpo every single day.
Recently, he had resolved to work hard on writing poetry, gather enough poems together, and publish a collection before Ranpo did!
That was all.
Such was the youthful King of the Sheep's utter contempt for Ranpo's writing ability.
...
Money made money, and profits generated even greater profits.
There was no place better suited for making money than the Mafia.
Asou Akiya's status within the organization continued to rise, yet the pressure of his work had actually decreased, leaving him with ample time to complete the study plan Natsume Souseki had prepared for him.
"The ones who should be in school are at school. The ones who should be working are at work. Everything is proceeding smoothly."
Seated in his office chair, Asou Akiya spun around once before marking several important dates on the calendar: Chuuya's birthday at the end of April, the Seishun Award competition in early May, and the opening days of several publicly listed companies.
"...No."
"My wife at home still hasn't been coaxed into forgiving me."
Asou Akiya set down his pen and took out his phone to check Randou's latest text message. The only thing on the screen was an angry emoticon. The man still refused to accept that Akiya intended to take Shibusawa Tatsuhiko as his disciple.
"I really don't keep a cat," Asou Akiya muttered in frustration. "I only asked Ranpo to help me raise my fish. I've already entrusted my entire fish pond to him!"
"As for Yosano... I'll have to think it over a little more. The Armed Detective Agency hasn't even been established yet."
"I wonder what sort of apprenticeship trials my teacher will set for Fukuzawa-san and Mori-san. Ah, I can't wait. There's something so satisfying about watching other people suffer."
"Next month, just how many future literary giants will the Seishun Award bring to light?"
"Let's see..."
"Who will become the rising star of Japan's literary world?"
Suddenly, Asou Akiya's delight at the prospect of celebrating the literary world came to an abrupt halt. Looking at Ozaki Kouyou, who had just knocked before entering, he smiled.
"Kouyou-kun! Have you ever thought about becoming a writer?"
Ozaki Kouyou shot him a sidelong glance.
"I came because I need to discuss something with you."
"What I'm talking about is important too," Asou Akiya replied. "I really think you should try your hand at writing."
Ozaki Kouyou walked over with graceful, measured steps.
"If you can solve my problem first, then I'll consider your suggestion."
"What happened?"
"We've reached an agreement with that ability doctor."
"Is there a problem?"
"The Boss has ordered me to attend to him. Since that man has a weakness for beautiful women, I'm part of the payment."
"..."
The playful expression vanished from Asou Akiya's face.
After a moment's thought, he carefully chose his words.
"That can't be right. It doesn't make any sense. Paying him money is one thing, but why would he demand a person as well? You're the sharpest blade the Boss has painstakingly cultivated over so many years. After investing so much effort into training you, why would he simply hand you over?"
Sending a young female ability user to sell her body in exchange for medical treatment...
Has the Boss lost his mind?
Then again...
It really wasn't impossible.
"It's true. I've run out of options."
Ozaki Kouyou walked up to Asou Akiya. Lowering herself, she unexpectedly knelt before him. The emotions she had been suppressing finally burst through their dam.
"Just like in the novel you wrote... Please tell me—what should I do so that I won't regret it for the rest of my life?"
Ozaki Kouyou did not want to betray the Port Mafia.
But she had nowhere left to turn.
Run away together.
Escape the Boss's control.
Go somewhere filled with light and free herself from all these revolting things lurking in the darkness.
The urge to flee grew wildly within her. Had the novel not foreshadowed the ending of her elopement, she might already have rushed to Hazama Kan'ichi's side.
Asou Akiya quickly pulled Ozaki Kouyou to her feet, refusing to let her continue kneeling before him.
"Stand up!"
With reddened eyes, Ozaki Kouyou looked at him.
"I'll help you. Listen to me, don't be afraid. I'll find out exactly what's going on right now. Don't do anything reckless. Things aren't as hopeless as they seem."
Asou Akiya took out his internal employee ID card and slipped it into his pocket, preparing to seek out the others.
His hands gripped the orange-haired girl's shoulders firmly.
"Calm down. Stay here in my office and don't go anywhere. Can you do that?"
"...Yes."
"I'm going to see the Boss."
"Be careful..."
Ozaki Kouyou remained standing in the office, watching the only person who could help her walk out the door. After standing there alone for a long while, she quietly wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve and began to cry in secret.
This year, she was only fifteen years old.
Before the happy future she had dreamed of could even arrive, it was already on the verge of shattering.