Evening. At the dinner table.
As the three of them ate dinner in silence, Tsushima Kagami, having observed the situation over the past few days, felt that the treatment of his predecessor was a bit subtle.
His predecessor's adoptive father had treated him better than a biological son, not at all like a typical mukoyoushi—an adopted son-in-law.
One must understand that although in Japan, an adopted son-in-law legally holds the same status as a biological son, in reality, the zaibatsu families have a complete system of election and impeachment within the family and board of directors. This is to create checks and balances, preventing the son-in-law from seizing the family's entire fortune—literally 'eating the extinct household'—and ensuring he serves the financial group effectively. They can kick you out at any time, leaving you with nothing.
This is probably the darkness of the Toyokawa family.
Precisely because of this, while Japanese matrilocal sons-in-law look glamorous on the surface, they aren't actually much nobler than the Tokyo University student next door; they all have to live with their tails between their legs.
Could it be that I've stacked some kind of 'Real vs. Fake Young Master' buff?
Just as Tsushima Kagami was letting his imagination run wild, Mrs. Yukinoshita suddenly spoke.
"School starts the day after tomorrow. Pack your things tonight; we are returning to Tokyo tomorrow. I've already asked someone to rent an apartment for you to stay in."
"Eh? Aren't we transferring to a high school in Chiba Prefecture?" Yukinoshita Shizuku asked, a bit surprised.
"You are already in your second year of high school. Transferring and suddenly changing environments at this time wouldn't be good for you. It's better to finish your studies in Tokyo."
"But the family's current situation..."
"That is not a problem you should worry about."
Saying this, Mrs. Yukinoshita put down her bowl and chopsticks and looked at Tsushima Kagami. "Kagami-kun, I'm entrusting Shizuku to you in Tokyo from now on."
Tsushima Kagami also put down his bowl and chopsticks and looked at Mrs. Yukinoshita. "I understand, Mother."
Mrs. Yukinoshita nodded slightly, then prepared to stand up and clear the table.
Tsushima Kagami immediately stood up as well. "You've worked hard. Let me clean up."
"I'll trouble you then."
After Tsushima Kagami cleared the dining table, he washed the dishes in the kitchen, while Mrs. Yukinoshita took out a ledger and began checking the accounts at the table.
At this moment, Yukinoshita Shizuku secretly leaned close to her mother and whispered, "Mother, do you think Kagami really lost his memory? Could he be faking it because he's afraid everyone will mock him for failing to commit suicide? Though, he really does seem like a different person these past few days."
The mother, still calculating the accounts, frowned slightly. "Shizuku, you are not allowed to mention this matter again in the future. Being alive is more important than anything."
***
Tokyo, Bunkyo Ward.
This ward is famous for its low crime rate. Because it houses numerous higher education institutions and cultural organizations like the University of Tokyo, there are fewer sex industry establishments and pachinko parlors. Police officers and koban (police boxes) are densely distributed, with patrols occurring almost 24 hours a day. It is considered the top choice for women living alone or for families.
Inside a high-rise apartment, Yukinoshita Shizuku and Tsushima Kagami had finally finished unpacking and arranging all their luggage. The space wasn't large, but it was a perfect two-bedroom, one-living room layout—one room for each of them—and it had been cleaned before they moved in.
For a 2LDK apartment like this, even in Japan—where housing prices fell through the floor after the bubble burst and still had eighteen levels of hell waiting below—the monthly rent and management fees were still not cheap.
Added to their other living expenses, this was undoubtedly another heavy burden on the cash flow of the Yukinoshita family, which had just started over in Chiba Prefecture.
Tsushima Kagami walked out of his room holding a black-and-white cat. This black-and-white cat was the one that couldn't bear to leave after eating the cheesecake yesterday. It followed Tsushima Kagami wherever he went, so in the end, he simply adopted it and brought it along to Tokyo.
Since it was a little female cat, and with its 'Dark Clouds Covering Snow' pattern looking like a cow, Tsushima Kagami simply named her Yukino. Even Yukinoshita Shizuku thought it was a good name.
Tsushima Kagami carried Little Yukino to the living room balcony. The midday sun of early April shone on his body, warm and pleasant. Looking down, he saw a park filled with a ginkgo forest, and beside it, a large lake.
It seems the life of a matrilocal son-in-law is pretty nice. If I had a reclining chair right now, petting the cat while reading manga would be such a beautiful thing.
Tsushima Kagami, oh Tsushima Kagami, how can you let yourself become so depraved? You cannot sink into the sugar-coated bullets of the son-in-law life. You must be an independent man, achieve financial independence as soon as possible, repay the kindness the Yukinoshita family has shown you these past days, and become a free man.
Tsushima Kagami took out a bankbook again. Mrs. Yukinoshita had given it to him before they left; inside should be the living expenses for the two of them.
I should give the bankbook to Yukinoshita Shizuku. It's not easy for her either. I'll go look for a place hiring part-time workers later this afternoon.
"Kagami, are you done unpacking?"
"All done. By the way, this is for you."
Saying that, Tsushima Kagami handed the bankbook in his hand to Yukinoshita Shizuku.
"You handle the living expenses from now on. I can't be bothered to manage it."
Yukinoshita Shizuku first looked at Kagami in surprise, then didn't say anything more. She simply gave a hum of acknowledgement and put the bankbook away safe.
"By the way, I happen to need to buy some things. Come out with me for a bit."
Tsushima Kagami nodded and followed Yukinoshita Shizuku out of the apartment.
*
Shinjuku Ward.
Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku stood before the Shinchosha headquarters building.
The two intended to submit the novel manuscript from before while they were out shopping.
In Japan, if one wants to become a pure literature author, the only path is to submit to the five major pure literature magazines and debut by winning a newcomer award.
The five major pure literature magazines are Shinchosha's Shincho, Kodansha's Gunzo, Shueisha's Subaru, Bungeishunju's Bungakukai, and Kawade Shobo's Bungei.
Among them, the judging panel of Shincho has always been the most conservative of the five awards, focusing most heavily on the writing skill itself. Its ability to market authors and secure the Akutagawa Prize is the highest among the five; it can be called the industry leader.
Gunzo is considered second in domestic status but first internationally. Its political stance generally leans left, and it has the most winning works translated into foreign languages. However, it also loves giving awards to foreigners, and its winners generally don't sell as well domestically as the winners of the other major awards.
Subaru has nothing much to speak of other than its prize money being double that of the other four. It doesn't put much heart into cultivating new authors, leading to a severe loss of many award-winning writers.
Bungakukai has the most right-leaning political stance. While quite a few of its authors win the Akutagawa Prize—which has a lot to do with Bungeishunju being the 'biological son' of the Akutagawa Prize founder, Kikuchi Kan—what they are most famous for is actually Shukan Bunshun, which dares to expose any scandal, also known as the so-called 'Bunshun Cannon'.
Bungei belongs to the weakest tier among the five literary magazines and always loves to use gimmicks. Their winners over the last decade or so have all been under 20 years old. However, although the Kawade Shobo behind it isn't a huge business, their book-publishing capability is strong, and their editors are extremely serious and responsible in cultivating new authors after they win awards.
Tsushima Kagami considered again and again, finally giving up on Kodansha's Gunzo, which was also in Bunkyo Ward, and came to Shinchosha to submit his work.
With the manuscript paper sealed in an envelope, the two followed the security guard's guidance and left the novel at the reception room. Later, a specialized staff member would hand it over to the editors of Shinchosha.
After coming out of Shinchosha, the two continued with their subsequent shopping. Starting tomorrow, they would return to school to continue their high school life as second-year students.
____
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