章節 24: CHAPTER 23 - Akihiko's friend (2)
"What are you doing?" Akihiko asked, observing Ichiro sitting in a chair, seemingly idle. They had just finished lunch, and Akihiko was surprised that, after they had tidied up, Ichiro hadn't asked for his permission to leave.
"Nothing," Ichiro replied, not having any particular reason to go home at the moment.
"Let me guess, is your family bothering you again?" Akihiko inquired.
Ichiro hesitated before responding, "Well..."
"Just leave then," Akihiko suggested.
"Sorry, unlike you, Master Akihiko, I don't have the luxury to just leave my home," Ichiro explained.
"Why not?" Akihiko asked, puzzled.
"I don't have a single cent on me," Ichiro confessed.
Akihiko was taken aback. It was surprising that a young master from a wealthy family didn't have any money. What surprised him even more was the fact that Ichiro's late mother should have left him some money. She was a well-known hero; surely she had saved enough for Ichiro to live comfortably.
"Don't you get any money from your mother's inheritance?" Akihiko inquired.
"My uncle said I can't access any of it until I'm 18," Ichiro explained.
"WHAT?" Akihiko exclaimed.
"That's what he said. Once I'm an adult, I can access the money my mother left me, and I can do what I want," Ichiro explained further.
"Do you know that since your mother's death, you're probably entitled to a substantial amount of money?" Akihiko pointed out.
"What money?" Ichiro asked, bewildered.
"Think about it. How do you think I can live on my own?" Akihiko questioned.
"Your family is supporting you?" Ichiro guessed.
"Tsk, that's true, but think. Who else is supporting me?" Akihiko prodded.
"But isn't your mother deceased as well?" Ichiro countered.
"That's true, but my mother was like your mother as well. She fought for our country, and guess what? She saved a lot of money for me and my sister," Akihiko revealed.
"You mean..." Ichiro began to understand the connection, realizing that they shared more in common than he had initially thought.
"Idiot, what rock have you been living under not to know about it?" Akihiko scolded.
"Well, my uncle said..." Ichiro began to explain.
"Idiot," Akihiko interrupted, turning back to face his computer screen. He couldn't believe someone could be so clueless and foolish.
"But I can't leave without any money. I'm sure my uncle won't give it to me willingly," Ichiro lamented.
"Then fight for it," Akihiko suggested.
"Young Master Akihiko," Ichiro paused, smiling awkwardly at Akihiko, "What you're suggesting is like me putting my head in front of my uncle's axe."
"Why are you so scared of him?" Akihiko inquired.
"He's currently the head of our family. Don't you know that my grandfather, the patriarch of our family, is currently sick and in seclusion somewhere?" Ichiro explained.
"Idiot, I didn't mean fight him to the death. Legally..." Akihiko tried to clarify.
"Legally?" Ichiro asked, still puzzled.
"You really are an idiot," Akihiko sighed, pausing his work on the screen to face Ichiro. He noticed how confused Ichiro looked and continued, "Seriously, just go to court and request all the things and money your mother left you."
"Please, as if I have the money to fight my family. Remember, I'm broke," Ichiro replied, feeling trapped by his financial situation.
"How much do you need?" Akihiko asked.
"Excuse me?" Ichiro looked dumbfounded at Akihiko. He couldn't believe Akihiko was suggesting something he wouldn't dare do.
"You need the money, right? I'll lend it to you," Akihiko offered.
"Please, as if I can use your money," Ichiro replied, hesitant to accept such an offer.
"It's not like I'm lending it for free. You'll pay me back twice the amount. I'm sure with your mother's status, you'll have more money than me."
Ichiro realized that Akihiko's intentions might not be entirely noble. He knew Akihiko well enough to suspect that there was more to the offer than met the eye. "I knew this wasn't for a good intention. He's not that type of person," Ichiro thought to himself. He looked at Akihiko and responded instead, "Even if I had the money, I wouldn't have a good lawyer to fight for me. I'm sure our family has outstanding people to handle all those dirty work."
"Then ask Emi for help," Akihiko suggested.
"Sato?" Ichiro was confused as to how Emi Sato had suddenly become part of the conversation. "Wait, did you just call Sato-san by her name?"
"So what, Emi is Emi, nothing special about it," Akihiko shrugged.
"Fine, why her?"
"She has good connections. One of her friends in school's family runs a law firm."
"And how do you know about this?"
"The young lady of that family is my brother's fiancée."
"You mean, the man earlier is engaged? He looked so young?" Ichiro remarked, surprised by the revelation.
"Whatever, just ask her for help if you want to live on your own," Akihiko suggested, appearing somewhat exasperated.
"As if that's easy as well," Ichiro replied with a sigh.
"How hard can it be?" Akihiko looked genuinely puzzled. He couldn't comprehend why it might be challenging to talk to Emi, especially when it seemed they had a good relationship.
Ichiro pondered for a moment. Akihiko's plan had made him reconsider his desire to live independently once he reached adulthood. He now realized that his uncle would likely not willingly hand over all the property and money his mother had left him.
"What should I do?" Ichiro asked, seeking guidance.
"Just do what you think is best," Akihiko suggested, turning back to his screen to finish his work.
It was well past dinner when Ichiro left Akihiko's place. He walked back home with a heavy burden on his shoulders. Akihiko had persistently urged him to seek Emi's help, even offering to call her over. However, Ichiro lacked the courage to take that step.
"Is he crazy or what?" Ichiro muttered to himself as he walked along the bustling street.
The streets were filled with people heading home, and cars lined the roads, creating a typical busy urban scene.
"Who would have thought that the two were childhood friends," Ichiro reflected, contemplating the unexpected connection between Akihiko and Emi.
Ichiro had been making his way home, his thoughts heavy with the weight of his impending decisions, when he noticed a commotion ahead. As he approached, he saw a group of drunken men harassing two young girls. The girls looked terrified, their faces filled with distress.
Ichiro hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to get involved in a potentially dangerous situation, but his conscience wouldn't let him walk away. He couldn't ignore the pleas for help he saw in the girls' eyes. Taking a deep breath, he decided to step in.
With quick and determined steps, Ichiro approached the group of men. His presence seemed to go unnoticed by the drunkards who were too focused on their intimidating advances toward the girls.
Without warning, Ichiro launched a precise and lightning-fast strike at the leader of the group. His punch landed with incredible accuracy, hitting the man square in the jaw. The force of the blow was so powerful that the man's eyes rolled back, and he crumpled to the ground, unconscious, before he even had a chance to react.
The sudden turn of events left the other men in shock and disbelief. They stared at Ichiro, mouths agape, unable to comprehend what had just occurred. Before they could gather their wits, Ichiro swiftly moved to incapacitate another of the aggressors with a well-aimed kick to the midsection, sending him tumbling to the pavement.
The remaining men finally began to react, but they were too slow and disoriented to mount any defense. Ichiro's agility and precise strikes left them incapacitated one by one, each falling unconscious to the ground.
With the threat neutralized, Ichiro turned and walked away, leaving the bewildered men behind. He knew he had to disappear quickly to avoid any potential retaliation, but he also didn't want to draw attention to himself.
The girls, still trembling with fear, exchanged glances but didn't see Ichiro's swift intervention. They watched as the group of men who had been causing them distress lay unconscious on the ground, bewildered as to how their predicament had suddenly turned around.
Ichiro continued on his way, a silent guardian in the night, leaving behind no trace of his heroic act but the memory of a young man who had come to the aid of those in need.
Little did Ichiro know that amidst the chaotic scene, a young girl from a distance had been silently observing the unfolding situation. She had been out with her friends, and they had stopped at a nearby store while she stepped aside to take a phone call. It was during those few minutes of her absence that the troubling situation had arisen, and her friends had found themselves harassed by the drunken men.
As she finished her call and returned to her friends, she was taken aback by the scene before her. Her friends were visibly shaken, but the aggressors were now unconscious on the ground. Confused and bewildered, she looked around, searching for the one responsible for this sudden turn of events.
She had noticed the man fast and precise movements, his decisive actions that had swiftly incapacitated the drunken men. It was clear that he was the one who had come to the girls' rescue, and he had done so without seeking any recognition or thanks.
Curiosity filled her mind as she wondered who this mysterious young man was.
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