Chapter 9
I was watching Senji.
It had been a week since I met him in the park. And I can only think that he's an extremely strange person.
His thoughts on death are a little unusual.
Once I asked him what his vision for the future was—trivial things like marriage and starting a family.
He told me he wasn't interested in that. But that his mother would surely pressure him to marry and have a family. So he'd never be single.
Or...
He said that if he were to die young, it could be stated that he remained single his whole life—even if it was a short one. In the end, he would have died single and never had to marry or start a family.
Someone you could call terrifying.
Well, that same boy was now playing and having fun kicking the ball with other kids.
"Homura, heads up!" we heard the smack of the ball as Senji kicked it toward another kid with blonde hair and violet eyes. Unfortunately for him, the ball hit him square in the face. "Homura! I told you not to stop the ball with your face!"
"Senji, you idiot! I'm not using my face to stop the ball! You should control your strength when passing!"
"You can argue later! Homura, pass me the ball!"
Another boy arrived near Homura. His name: Kuze Masachika.
I had met two of Senji's friends. Along with another very lively girl.
"Hahaha! Senji, send another pass to Homura!"
Her intention was surely to see the tearful face of the one she calls "brother."
"Don't say that, Ayazato!" Homura growled, rubbing his face, nearly on the verge of tears.
Ayazato Suzuka is a very lively girl. At school, she likes to be constantly moving. She plays soccer, basketball, and was even named "Class Rep" because of her friendly personality and how well everyone gets along with her.
"Kukuku!" Ayazato began to laugh disturbingly. "What do you think, Ai-san!?"
What do I think…?
Seeing my confused face, she repeated the question.
"What do you think about Homura's pitiful state? His physical ability is pitiful. His hobby is building model cars. Something he used to do with Izayoi-nii before he disappeared. He even built some headphones he gave him before vanishing like dust."
If it's that… it's true that Homura Saigou has poor physical ability. But now I know he spends more time sitting than doing any physical activity, which takes a toll on the body. Like now, in Homura's case. He gets tired faster than the other boys chasing the ball across the grassy field, running from one end to the other to score a goal.
Homura always falling behind them.
"...If he just did a bit of exercise to improve his cardio, he wouldn't be in such bad shape."
That was my answer. Watching Homura fall exhausted onto the grass and complain that he wouldn't run anymore. The other kids mocked him for a while, then returned to focusing on the soccer match.
Ayazato also laughed at Homura for a moment.
Half an hour passed, and Senji's team won the game. All the kids were tired and sweaty until a man around thirty arrived with a cooler filled with water—neither cold nor warm—handing it to each of them to quench their thirst, though some splashed themselves with it instead.
"See you tomorrow in class."
"Bye."
"Take care, Homura-san, Kuze-san, Senji-san, Ayazato-san, and Hoshino-san," one of the kids said before leaving.
One by one, they began saying goodbye.
"I'm heading off too," said Kuze, wiping sweat from his neck. "See you at school tomorrow."
In the end, only five remained: Senji, Ayazato, Homura, me… and the man who brought the water. Or so I thought, until he received a phone call. After a few seconds, he nodded, put away the phone, and looked at Senji.
"We have to go, Senji-sama."
"Alright." Senji started saying goodbye, shaking hands with Homura and Ayazato. "See you tomorrow. By the way, Ai," he turned to me. "Do you want me to drop you off near your house or will you stay here?"
It was Sunday. I had nothing pending, and Homura and Ayazato would likely return to the orphanage, which is their home. If I stayed, I'd be alone in the park… and I didn't feel like that.
"Of course!" I replied with a bright smile, waving goodbye to Homura and Ayazato and starting to follow Senji.
"See you tomorrow, Homura-san! See you later, Ayazato-san!"
"See you tomorrow, Ai-san!" Ayazato waved energetically as always.
"See you tomorrow," said Homura more calmly, waving faintly before lowering his hand.
We reached a gray car parked next to the park. The man opened the back door and we both got in. He then walked around and sat in the driver's seat. When he started the engine, the air conditioning began to fill the car, which felt like instant relief.
The ride wasn't long. I lived near the park, but going by car, with the cool air and comfy seat, was the best part of the day.
When we arrived, I opened the door slowly and got out.
"See you tomorrow, Ai," said Senji with a calm smile.
I smiled back.
"See you tomorrow."
I watched the car drive off, turning the corner until it disappeared. Then I walked to the door of my house.
My mom opened the door.
"Oh! You're back early, Ai-chan!"
"I know! As soon as the game ended, everyone started leaving. No one was going to stay in the park! And Senji was leaving too! So he dropped me off on the way home while his driver took him somewhere else."
Mom looked at me with a smile as she slung her purse over her shoulder. She was about to go shopping—I could tell from the crumpled list and her usual reusable bag in hand.
"Senji-chan is a nice boy," she said suddenly, as if making a casual remark. "It's a shame we're not the same age… because honestly, I wouldn't mind dating someone as nice as him."
"What!?" my voice came out louder than I wanted, but she just laughed softly.
"Sure, sure, I know what you're thinking," she added, opening the door with a mischievous smile. "But seriously, Ai-chan… if you like him, you should get your hands on Senji-chan before someone else does."
"Mom!" I almost tripped taking off my shoes. "Don't say stuff like that!"
"What? You brought him home already, that's a sign," she teased, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Good guys don't stay single for long, and Senji-chan seems like a real gem."
I stayed silent, mouth slightly open, not sure whether to laugh or close the door and pretend none of this happened.
"Besides, you talk about him a lot. More than anyone else. Just saying," she added as she walked out. "Don't let him slip away, okay?"
And with that, she closed the door behind her, leaving me alone in the hallway.
I sighed, leaning my forehead against the door.
My mom and her jokes…
Though I don't know if she was really joking.
❅──────✧❃✧──────❅•
Kukui, who was now my chauffeur, took me to the city port.
We walked together among the docks, surrounded by cranes and containers freshly unloaded from the ship that had arrived that morning. It took us a few minutes to locate the one that belonged to us.
"Senji-sama," Kukui called after checking the number on the side, "I found the container."
"Good. Let's go."
We stopped in front of the massive metal structure. I pulled out the key I had been given beforehand and unlocked it with a soft click. The doors slid open, revealing the dark interior, with a single object standing out in the back: a large, heavy safe bolted to the floor.
I walked in and approached it.
I entered the numeric code on the front panel. After a sharp beep, the mechanism unlocked, revealing its contents.
Gold bars. Fifty in total. They gleamed with a dull tone under the container's dim light.
"What do you plan to do with the gold, Senji-sama?" Kukui asked from the entrance, watching cautiously.
"Money laundering," I replied naturally, without taking my eyes off the gold bars. "We'll use some as a donation to a charitable foundation. The rest... will go toward building a casino."
"A casino?"
"One that operates both legally... and illegally." I turned to him. "If the Muramasa Clan has a positive public image, no one will bother to dig deeper. A respectable front gives us the freedom to operate in the shadows."
I took a moment to close the safe again, listening to the locking mechanism seal it completely.
"As long as we maintain public perception in our favor," I added, "we'll be able to move freely on the other side of the coin."
Kukui nodded respectfully. He knew what I had just said wasn't just a comment—it was the beginning of a long-term strategy.
Muramasa Clan Meeting
The meeting room was full, though an attentive silence prevailed. The division heads, accountants, legal advisors, and external representatives of the Muramasa Clan occupied their respective seats around the long, dark wooden central table. The ceiling lights were soft, but couldn't mask the pressure in the air.
At the head of the table, sitting upright and firm, was Senji Muramasa. In front of him, a folder with documents detailing the clan's recent movements, expansion plans, figures, and a couple of financial projections. To his right, slightly distanced but missing no detail, sat his father: the current patriarch of the Muramasa Clan.
Senji opened the meeting with a clear voice:
"The fortune I was given will not remain idle. I will multiply it."
The murmurs stopped.
"The gold we received will be laundered through carefully selected channels. The first step will be a major donation to the Fukuzawa Foundation, which supports homeless children and victims of domestic violence. That amount will be made public. And it will resonate in the media."
One of the attendees quickly jotted something down. Another raised an eyebrow but didn't interrupt.
"At the same time, we are starting construction on two casinos: one in Osaka, the other in Sapporo. Both will operate under legal regulations, but will also include areas that allow for more discreet operations. Each facility will have an impeccable front. Advertising, investment in tourism, job creation."
Senji lifted his gaze and scanned the room.
"The Muramasa name will be associated with economic development, social responsibility, and progress. So when the time comes to make more... delicate moves, no one will question our intentions. Because we will have built an untouchable public image."
A solemn silence took over the room.
At the back, the patriarch observed in silence. He didn't interrupt, didn't add anything. He simply watched calmly. That boy who once seemed indifferent to the family legacy now spoke as if the weight of the clan had never been foreign to him. A strategist. Cautious. Ambitious.
"When the day comes that I must step down," his father thought, "I'll be proud to hand him the helm. Not for the money. But for how he carries the Muramasa name without flinching."
Senji closed the report and looked up once more.
"With this, we begin the new phase of the Muramasa Clan. One that no longer needs to hide… because it already dominates the stage under the spotlight."
No one spoke. Just nods—some discreet, others firm. The Muramasa Clan had turned the wheel. And at the front… was already the next patriarch.
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NHK News | Breaking
[Muramasa Group donates 800 million yen to the Fukuzawa Foundation]
"An unexpected act of philanthropy shakes Japan."
"Young Senji Muramasa has donated 800 million yen (approximately 5 million USD) to the Fukuzawa Foundation, which supports homeless children and victims of family violence."
"The sum is one of the largest private donations of the year and has drawn the attention of both national and international media. In a brief statement, the Muramasa Clan's spokesperson said this act reflects 'young Senji-sama's commitment to a more just society, as instilled by his father and lineage.'"
"Simultaneously with the surprising 800-million-yen donation, construction began on two hotel complexes in Osaka and Sapporo. Although details remain confidential, it's been confirmed both will operate under the commercial name 'Muramasa Hotel & Resort,' promising luxury, tourism, and local employment."
…
In a temporary office set up on the Osaka construction site, Kukui reviewed the blueprints spread out over a large white table.
The main building would rise 24 stories high, featuring luxury rooms, a spa, a convention center, a gourmet restaurant, and a panoramic rooftop. But what no media outlet mentioned — not even in open legal documents — was what lay beneath.
Using a metal ruler, Kukui slid his finger along the blueprint of the second basement level: a zone marked with restricted access, perimeter armor, and hidden cameras. There, the private casino would be built — inaccessible to the general public, operated by invitation only.
"Everything is in order," he murmured while making a call. "The engineers have begun according to the planned design. The special sector will be completed ahead of schedule."
On the other end of the line, a calm voice responded:
"Perfect. While the city sees a hotel… we'll be building the real core underground."
Kukui hung up, rolled the blueprints carefully, and smiled slightly.
The sun shone over Osaka. And the name Muramasa was finally being written under a new light.
Years later…
The hall glittered with golden lights, red carpets, and an atmosphere filled with emotion… and desperation. Kukui, now dressed in a flawless suit and with a commanding presence, observed from a distance as a man shouted in rage.
"This is a scam! I lost millions! I demand my money back!"
It was a ruined businessman, his shirt unbuttoned, the sweat on his face betraying not only tension… but humiliation.
Kukui slowly approached, hands crossed behind his back.
"A scam, you say...?"
Kukui's voice wasn't loud, but it was firm. Just enough for several people to turn and look. The man faced him with fury.
"I've lost everything! This is rigged! No one can lose that much!"
Kukui didn't flinch. He looked at him with a mix of disapproval and pity. Then he smiled, as if watching an insect crawling before him.
"You came here of your own will. You gambled of your own will. And you lost of your own will. And now you blame our staff for your mistakes?"
The man stammered, not knowing how to respond.
"Pathetic," Kukui stated. "If you don't know when to walk away, then the problem isn't the casino. It's you."
Just then, from another table, a shout of excitement echoed:
"I won! We won five million yen!" a young man exclaimed, hugging his girlfriend as the roulette lights flashed.
The crowd applauded, and even the staff celebrated with them. Kukui turned his head calmly, gesturing toward the scene with a simple nod.
"See? There are those who know how to play… and win. You just had bad luck. Nothing more."
Kukui leaned slightly toward him, whispering with a chilling smile:
"And in our casino… luck isn't lent to losers."
Kukui returned to his office, closing the door behind him. The walls were covered in dark wood panels, adorned with modern Japanese art. From the large screen, the entire casino floor could be seen — the kingdom he helped rule.
He took off his jacket and hung it on a rack. Just as he was about to sit down, his phone began to vibrate. He instantly recognized the name.
Haruka Nishida.
He answered immediately.
"Haruka?"
His sister's voice came through clearly and directly, with her usual calm tone that hid a strong character.
"Kukui. Senji-sama has announced he will be departing for Europe."
Kukui raised an eyebrow.
"Business?"
"Business… and something else," she answered after a brief pause. "He didn't give any details. He only told us we'll be in charge during his absence."
"'We'?"
"Exactly. Each regional leader will manage their own territory. You know what that means."
Kukui nodded to himself, as if expecting those words.
"Then we'll hold the line. Everything here remains under control."
"I know. I expect nothing less from you."
There was a short silence before Haruka added:
"Don't cause unnecessary trouble. But if something gets out of hand..."
"I'll make decisions as Senji-sama would," Kukui replied firmly.
"That's what I'm counting on. I'll handle everything in the Kantō region. Take care of yours as you know how."
The call ended with a soft beep.
"Europe, huh…"
He looked out at the casino's noise through the large screen.
"Looks like this board will stay in my hands a little longer."
And so, the game continued.