Chapter 317
2-IN-1 chapter
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There are only two situations in which someone in Japan would call another person by just their surname without honorifics: either their relationship had completely broken down and was hostile to the point of total disregard—or they were extremely close, like former classmates or sworn brothers.
The former was clearly out of the question. So it could only be the latter.
However…
Based on the way they addressed each other, it was clear that while Takemura viewed the other as a close friend, the other party did not feel the same—at least not to the point of dropping honorifics.
Leo's gaze sharpened.
That was interesting.
Oda glanced at Leo for a moment but didn't linger on him. His attention quickly returned to Takemura.
"Takemura-san, my time is limited, so please use the fewest words possible to convince me why I should help you—an acknowledged traitor of Arasaka."
Takemura bowed slightly once again. "Thank you, Oda."
But Oda Saburō remained cold. "You have one minute."
Takemura stiffened. Time was tight, and Oda clearly wasn't here to reminisce. Treating the situation like official business, Takemura finally began the explanation he had prepared in advance.
"Over a month ago, I accompanied Saburo-sama to Night City. We met with Yorinobu at Konpeki Plaza—"
"Fifty seconds."
"Saburo-sama was here for the relic, which Yorinobu had stolen from Arasaka's Hokkaido lab—"
"Forty seconds."
Oda's expression grew colder by the second. He wasn't even pretending to be polite anymore. If Takemura kept going like this…
He was going to walk away.
Takemura noticed the growing impatience and quickly pressed on: "Saburo-sama told me to leave the penthouse. Only he and Yorinobu remained inside."
"I waited outside with a man named Adam Smasher, no more than a few minutes, before the red alert rang through Konpeki Plaza. When we returned, Saburo-sama was already dead."
Oda's face, which had remained distant and perfunctory, now showed a flicker of intensity.
He didn't mention the time limit again. Instead, he said, "Continue."
Takemura, sensing the shift, didn't hesitate. "Yorinobu claimed Saburo-sama was poisoned. But he was the only one present. He even stopped me from approaching the body."
"In the following days, I felt I was being followed. Then, after I reported to Yorinobu that I might have found traces of the killer—I was immediately targeted by Troy agents."
"From that moment, I became Arasaka's enemy. A disgraced traitor."
"Everything I've said can be verified by Leo here. We worked together and narrowly escaped Troy's pursuit."
Takemura didn't lie—everything he said was true.
When he turned to Leo with hopeful eyes, Leo nodded, arms crossed. "Yes. I can confirm that."
Takemura visibly relaxed. "Oda…"
But Oda Saburō suddenly shouted, cutting him off.
"Enough! That's enough from you!"
Takemura's relief froze on his face.
He stared at Oda in disbelief as the latter clenched his teeth, rage in his expression like a man betrayed.
"I trusted you—and you bring in some nobody to lie for you?!"
Oda pointed at Leo, but his eyes never left Takemura.
"Who the hell is he?! What does he do?! Why should I believe a single word from some random man you brought here?!"
Leo calmly pushed Oda's hand aside. "Don't point. Didn't your parents teach you it's rude to point at people?"
Only now did Takemura realize the serious mistake he'd made—the kind of mistake every man eventually makes.
He had overestimated human nature.
So many people take drunken promises from their friends as ironclad, imagining that when they're truly in trouble, those friends will step up.
But the truth is—
The poor go ignored in the city square. The rich find relatives even in the mountains.
Takemura spoke, emotions surging: "How can you pretend not to see? Because of this, I was branded a traitor by Yorinobu! He wanted to eliminate the witness! Even if you don't believe him, don't you believe me?!"
But Oda grew even colder.
"Enough, Takemura! That kind of talk will only bring your own death."
"But it's the truth. Hanako-sama must know—"
As their argument escalated, Leo finally understood why Takemura had contacted Oda Saburō.
Takemura wasn't just trying to clear his name—he wanted a new master.
The one Oda now served:
Hanako Arasaka.
That's why Takemura had risked betrayal to meet Oda in person.
But Oda's reaction had clearly disappointed him.
He didn't believe Takemura's story and had no intention of helping him reach Hanako.
If Oda's thoughts had to be summarized in a single sentence:
He regretted it. Deeply.
His relationship with Takemura was one of mutual respect—almost like student and teacher.
Oda hadn't always worked for Arasaka. He had once served another Japanese company—Tsunami Defense Systems.
Tsunami's headquarters was in Japan. They had been Arasaka's rival for over a century.
After Saburo Arasaka rebuilt the company into a juggernaut, they had tried multiple times to absorb Tsunami entirely.
But Tsunami was backed in secret by the Soviet military-industrial complex, military technology firms from the New United States, and other megacorporations that opposed Arasaka's dominance.
Even if Tsunami couldn't offer those companies much in return, they still provided overwhelming support.
Why? Because they wanted a counterbalance inside Japan—a force to keep Arasaka from ruling uncontested.
Even if Tsunami couldn't win, slowing Arasaka down was worth the investment.
So the support kept flowing.
After the Fourth Corporate War, the two companies battled each other for over a decade—until something unexpected happened.
Arasaka and Tsunami signed a truce.
Because both sides realized total victory was impossible, and continuing the war would only benefit outside companies.
In secret meetings, Arasaka and Tsunami's executives came to an understanding.
No one knows what was discussed. What the world saw afterward was this: two mortal enemies suddenly joined at the hip.
During the conflict, Tsunami had organized multiple assassination attempts on Saburo and his heirs.
It was during that time that Takemura and Oda had crossed blades repeatedly.
Their duels had bred a deep, mutual respect—like Achilles and Hector.
When peace came, Takemura recommended Oda to Saburo personally.
Saburo, impressed, agreed.
And so Oda was recruited into Arasaka.
Oda didn't disappoint. At Arasaka, he rose rapidly, earning Saburo's trust through merit alone.
Eventually, Oda was appointed bodyguard to Hanako Arasaka.
Oda had always been grateful to Takemura.
He hadn't done badly at Tsunami, but his status at Arasaka far exceeded what he could have reached there.
To him, Takemura was a senior figure.
Takemura had told Oda to drop the honorifics—just call him by surname.
In turn, Takemura did the same.
They had been friends for nearly twenty years.
Until the day Oda, stationed in Japan protecting Hanako, received a thunderclap of a report:
Takemura, who had traveled with Saburo to Night City, had allegedly betrayed Arasaka—and Saburo was now dead.
Yorinobu had immediately declared Takemura a traitor.
At first, Oda didn't believe it.
Takemura's position at Arasaka was unmatched among ordinary men.
No other corp could offer him better terms—even with effort.
Oda thought: Takemura would never do such a thing.
So when Takemura reached out to him, he came with cautious hope.
But now, after hearing Takemura speak, all Oda felt was fury—like someone who'd been shat on by the one person he trusted.
Takemura had done so much for him.
But that didn't mean Oda owed him his future.
He was Hanako's bodyguard. A samurai. His only duty was to his master.
He had no intention of being dragged into Takemura's political mess.
Yes, Saburo's death was suspicious. Oda had always had doubts.
But never once did he imagine it involved Yorinobu Arasaka.
Had he known, he wouldn't have come here at all.
If anyone discovered he'd met with Takemura in secret, it would ruin him.
Oda's fists clenched. His face grew increasingly cold.
He began to calculate how much he'd gain if he took Takemura's head right here.
Leo, sensing the shift, remained outwardly calm—but inwardly alert.
He didn't move his right hand, but slid his left foot slightly back, turning his body.
The motion both reduced his exposed area and let him quietly bring his left hand toward the scabbard of Murasame at his waist.
He wasn't about to die for Takemura.
They weren't close. But he understood the saying: "If the lips are gone, the teeth get cold."
He'd said he wouldn't be Takemura's bodyguard—but if Oda drew his blade, it meant neither of them would be spared.
In that case, defending himself—and incidentally defending Takemura—was acceptable.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Takemura wasn't his enemy. Better he lived than died.
But maybe out of old respect, Oda didn't attack in the end.
"Enough, Takemura-san. Everything you just said—I'll pretend I didn't hear it. But if you keep spouting nonsense, don't blame me for what happens next."
Takemura clenched his fists. "Even if you close your eyes and ears, you can't deny what's going on inside Arasaka!"
"I won't deny it. But I don't care. I care only about protecting Hanako-sama in this cursed city."
Takemura paused. "Is Hanako-sama in danger?"
Oda didn't hide it—Takemura could easily guess, having been Arasaka's elite.
"Right now? No. But at Saburo-sama's memorial ceremony? Definitely."
Veins bulged on Takemura's forehead.
"I've told you the truth, and you're still worried about a goddamn ceremony? Fool!"
Oda sneered. "I'm not like you. I haven't forgotten the oath of loyalty to my master."
By traditional samurai code, a warrior should commit seppuku after their master dies.
Of course, in modern times—not even Arasaka expected that.
Oda said it out of anger, furious at being dragged into Takemura's mess.
"The only thing I regret is meeting with you. Your head's worth a fortune. The fact that I haven't taken it to Yorinobu-sama already is a kindness."
He paused.
"If you were me, what would you do?"
Takemura replied without hesitation: "I wouldn't help you. I'd take your head straight to Yorinobu-sama."
Was Takemura just too blunt? Too literal? Couldn't he just say something nicer?
Especially when Oda had just said he wouldn't actually kill him?
Leo honestly had no idea where Takemura got the confidence to talk like that.
His Arasaka cyberware had been remotely disabled—he was just a regular man now.
Meanwhile, Oda's implants were still active.
Leo didn't know how they compared in strength before. But right now? If they fought, Takemura would get destroyed.
Oda snorted. "Lucky for you I'm not you. I won't help you. But I will make sure you both leave the city safely."
"Next time I see you, I won't be so polite."
Leaving that line behind, Oda Sandayu turned and left without another word.
Takemura, however, called out after him, "Be careful, my friend. After all, we are far from home."
But Oda didn't even acknowledge him. He just got in his car and drove off.
Only after the car disappeared into the tunnel, the engine noise completely fading, did Leo finally speak.
"Some friend you've got. Can we trade him in?"
Takemura crossed his arms, his expression full of disappointment.
"He's the only one I've got."
Leo knew it was hopeless.
But he didn't say it out loud.
Unexpectedly, Takemura continued on his own.
"Even though Oda refused to take us to Hanako-sama, that doesn't mean we've come away with nothing."
Leo narrowed his eyes.
From those words, he could tell that Takemura wasn't ready to give up.
"What do you mean?"
Takemura walked up to a concrete pillar at the edge of the pier and looked across at a high-rise building bearing the unmistakable Arasaka triple-sakura crest.
"Oda said just now that once the festival ends, they're returning to Tokyo. Which means the Arasaka Obon Festival, in half a month, is our last chance."
Leo looked over. "You're planning to make a move at the Festival?"
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