Gao Sijin and Uzuki sat in the back seat, heading toward the apartment in Meguro Ward.
Originally, Gao Sijin had hoped to meet Hayabusa after such a long time apart. But now, after returning from Karuizawa, Hayabusa was nowhere to be found. In his place was Hayabusa’s distant cousin, Eiko. This left Sijin somewhat at a loss. Moreover, no matter how you looked at her, Eiko was a top-tier gyaru, which only added to his pressure.
“Miss Eiko, what kind of work did you do before?”
“Me?” Eiko turned the steering wheel, merging the car onto the main road. “Like Hayabusa, I’m an illustrator. The Katakura family is a long-standing lineage, you know. After that scumbag in the family died, Hayabusa and I got back in touch. We discovered we had a lot of common ground, and since then, we occasionally help each other out with work. For instance, a few of the illustrations in your latest volume are my work.”
“There’s your art in my second volume too?” Gao Sijin was mildly surprised. “I thought all the art styles were consistent and Hayabusa did them all by himself.”
“Our art styles are indeed very similar.” Eiko smiled with a hint of pride. Her every gesture inevitably reminded Gao Sijin of Katakura Hayabusa.
“Eiko, when is Hayabusa coming back?”
“He didn’t tell me.”
“He said he wanted to travel alone to clear his head… I’m a bit worried about him…” Gao Sijin lowered his head. “That guy didn’t tell me anything. What if he actually runs into trouble? Knowing his personality, he’d definitely try to solve it on his own. Even if he gets beaten black and blue, he’d grit his teeth and push through without ever telling me…”
Eiko couldn’t help but turn her head back, casting a meaningful glance at Gao Sijin.
“Hayabusa is one of my few close male friends here in J-Country,” Sijin continued. “I hope that when he runs into trouble, he’ll rely on his buddy a bit more, instead of shouldering it all alone.”
“On behalf of Hayabusa, thank you, Teacher Gao Sijin. Hayabusa often tells me how honored he is to be your friend. But people always have secrets they don’t want anyone to know. So, Teacher, please try to understand him.”
“I know. Still, I hope he doesn’t treat me like an outsider. I don’t have many friends to begin with.”
“You really don’t have many friends. The key point is that you have a huge harem. Men like you are probably blessed by the heavens, born with a natural quality that attracts women.”
“I’m really not that popular with girls…” Gao Sijin scratched his head. Before coming to the University of Tokyo, he had never even dated anyone.
Uzuki put her hands on her hips and retorted.
“Sijin, aren’t you being far too modest? Excessive modesty is a form of arrogance! If even you don’t count as popular with girls, then there isn’t a single man on this planet who is.”
“We’re at my place.”
While they were chatting, Eiko had already driven the car up to a luxury apartment building.
The scenery here was serene and secluded, far from the chaotic downtown bustle. For someone who makes a living through illustration, it was undoubtedly a fantastic environment.
After parking the car in the underground garage, Eiko led the way, with Gao Sijin and Uzuki following behind.
“Sijin-sensei, please don’t be too nervous. My little sister has read your light novels too and gave them very high praise. Please have some confidence!” Eiko patted Gao Sijin on the shoulder to boost his spirits.
“I’m honored your sister enjoys my books.”
They took the elevator upstairs. Previously, Katakura Hayabusa had roughly explained the layout of his new home to Gao Sijin. He had adopted some orphaned children, housing them on an entire floor below, while he and his sister lived on the floor above. They had even connected the two floors with a staircase, making it a duplex apartment. Just looking at it, it must cost a hefty sum.
For Katakura Hayabusa to be able to live in an apartment like this made him a successful man in the eyes of ordinary people.
At least in Gao Sijin’s eyes, Katakura Hayabusa was a success.
Eiko pressed the doorbell.
—Ding Dong!
A moment later, footsteps echoed from the other side of the door. A little girl, less than 1.6 meters tall, opened it.
“Welcome back, Sister Eiko! Uzuki and Sijin-sensei, welcome too! It’s been so long!”
“Long time no see?”
Gao Sijin had no memory of ever meeting this little girl. Seeing his confusion, the girl immediately recalled Tsukiyuki Rio’s previous instructions and corrected herself.
“Brother Hayabusa often talked about you, Sijin-sensei. And I’ve read your light novels too, so I feel like I already know you! I’m so honored to meet the real person today.”
“I see. I’m honored to meet you too. You’re Kazue, right? Hayabusa is always bragging to me about how well-behaved and thoughtful his little sister is. I’ll call you Kazue then, is that alright?”
“Of course.”
Kazue welcomed the group inside. In the clean, brightly lit living room, several children were playing with toys. The quiet girls were working on puzzles, and the competitive boys were battling spinning tops to see whose would spin the longest.
When they saw Eiko, they immediately stood up and shouted.
“Good afternoon, Sister Kitagawa!”
“Who’s Kitagawa?! I’m Eiko! Eiko! You little brats, stop giving me nicknames based on 2D characters or I’ll beat you up!”
Eiko fiercely grabbed a metal baseball bat, but the children weren’t scared of Katakura Eiko at all. Instead, they doubled down, calling her Kitagawa until she stormed out the door in a huff. However, Gao Sijin could tell the children really liked Eiko; otherwise, they wouldn’t have crowded around her the moment she arrived.
“Would you like something to drink, Sijin-sensei?” Kazue walked respectfully over to his side. “We have tea, coffee, and beer.”
“Any barley tea?”
“Of course.” Kazue headed toward the fridge. “Uzuki, lemon tea as usual, right?”
Uzuki nodded.
Sitting on the sofa, looking at the ten-plus children, Gao Sijin guessed Katakura Hayabusa might be strapped for cash.
Raising ten orphans from now until they reached adulthood undoubtedly required immense courage. The staggering expenses could crush any family.
So that’s how it is…
Hayabusa, you bastard, hiding your troubles from me like that.
“Here’s your tea, Sijin-sensei.”
Kazue placed the barley tea in front of Gao Sijin.
“Kazue, I’ve suddenly made a bold decision. I want to donate all the royalties I earned from my second volume to cover these children’s future expenses. I have no worries about food or clothing now. Money I earn should be used to help those who need it more.”
His aunt often told him to help those in need as much as possible. During the Wenchuan Earthquake, his aunt had donated a thousand yuan, an event that deeply influenced Gao Sijin.
If Hayabusa was now worrying about money problems, Sijin could absolutely not sit idly by. He wanted to be a kind person, just like the male lead in his own light novels, who would give his earned gold coins to the poor at the start of the story. Even if his kindness was called “naive” or “saintly,” he would stick to his principles. If you decide to do the right thing, you shouldn’t care about what others say.
That was Gao Sijin’s inner conviction.
Kazue stared blankly at him for a moment, then tilted her head and smiled. Lowering her voice, she said.
“Perhaps this is what Uzuki likes about you. Actually… Hayabusa-niisan’s trouble isn’t about money. It’s…”
