Chapter 1258. Afterglow / Reconciliation (Cont.)
Chapter 1258. Afterglow / Reconciliation (Cont.)
「 You see, the assistant of mine in Kudou detective agency gets young people from the Kouzuki SS sent to her every day, right? 」
In the dining room next to the party dining room.
Kudou-Papa speaks to me as we sit in front of the oven.
Apart from us, Misuzu and I, who aren’t paired together most of the time, listen to Kudou-papa’s talk.
「 Oh, that one back in May, where there were young men and women 」
I remembered.
Recently, Kudou-papa’s working alone basically, but…
When I met Kudou-papa, he sure had an assistant.
When Jii-chan or chief Yazawa wants the young people from the Kouzuki SS to “let them see what it’s like to work behind the scenes,” they send them to Kudou-papa.
「 There are two more new guys. Those guys are…well, let’s say that they’re beyond saving 」
Kudou-papa said.
「 Well, for the first day, I invited them to karaoke to deepen our friendship 」
Kudou-papa, karaoke?
「 Well, I’m not a demon, and it’s the first day, see? Well, I thought of trying to match with the younglings and so I sang a standard joke of “Come back” by Matsumura Kazuko, and mixing it with “Ultraman Has come back” as the lyrics 」
A standard joke…
「 Then, those guys…well, they’re young so I don’t mind if they don’t know Matsumura Kazuko’s “Come back,” but to think that they don’t even know the “Ultraman has come back,” unbelievable 」
Err.
「 So, I showed them the image of “Ultraman has come back,” on my phone and then one said that he doesn’t know anything about Ultraman, and the other said that it’s Ultraman Jack. You’re kidding me! When I was a kid, we used to call him “New Man,” or “Returning Man.” “Ultraman Jack” started around the time of the Grand King Movie! I even watched the highly controversial Six Ultra Brothers vs the Monster Army when it was in theaters! 」
「 Oh, I see 」
「 So, since I was pissed off, I tried to sing the lyrics of the second opening of Magic Fairy Persia, “Fashionable Mesaruna,” from the “Great Mazinger” 」
What do I tell this old man?
「 The new assistants were speechless, right? 」
「 Yeah, they were left speechless. Completely out. The two of them look at me really cold. Then, thinking that I don’t care whatever happens anymore; 」
What did you do?
「 I sang the dub song of “Space Pirates fighting under the Skull Flag”
?Sumo Wrestles in the Sea?
?My Endless Longing!?
?Sumo Wrestlers are the Hawks?! 」
Err.
「 What’s that song? 」
「 Eeeeh?! You don’t know either?!! 」
Someone bring Nei here!!!
Ya-chan’s the only one who can keep up with this otaku talk.
Oh, Misuzu and Ai have their mouths wide open in surprise.
「 Haaa, this is why Haruka hates me, I keep doing things like this 」
Kudou-papa sighed.
Err, you can watch what’s going on in the dining room from the kitchen.
I can hear Kudou Haruka’s voice on their table.
『 But still, Parents have a strong influence on their children 』
Rodulfo Seiko-san said.
『 Right, when I started Karate, my parents forced me to go to a dojo, I didn’t understand why kids on the side were playing around and yet I have to do it seriously 』
Poron-san said.
『 They’re all so selfish that they would get in a foul mood if Mother or I tell them what to do 』
『 Hmm, you continued practicing Karate and you came to love it in the end? 』
Francie asks out of interest.
『 I realized that I could kick and slap my father as much as I want in karate training. That’s why all I did was think about how to get stronger as soon as possible and overtake my father 』
『 Huh, could it be that you beat up your father? 』
Snatch asks Poron-san.
『 Yes, I beat my father in my fifth grade. I’m talented after all 』
Poron-san smiles.
『 I believed that I can’t be a professional unless I surpass Father 』
『 Oh, I should’ve punched him when he was still alive too 』
Monkey Mimi-san said.
『 You can’t just forget it all because he’s dead after all, the memories of suffering I mean. If you punch his tomb, then it’ll only hurt your hand 』
Then, Kudou Haruka;
『 True, parents can die suddenly one day so you should return whatever you can while they’re still alive 』
『 Yes, as expected, you have to put a straight fist to their face 』
Oh right, they’re drinking on that table.
They’re telling Kudou Haruka something unnecessary.
「 Maybe I should go home? 」
Kudou-papa looked at the monitor and muttered.
「 You shouldn’t… 」
Ai told Kudou-papa.
「 You…already came to…celebrate your daughter’s…victory…so meet her 」
「 No, but… 」
「 She says that…but the truth is…she’s happy… 」
Ai’s doing her best to persuade Kudou-papa.
Ai was born from her mother who had a relationship with a man before marrying her husband.
She doesn’t know who her real father is.
「 If it was Ai…if Father comes to celebrate…then…I would be happy 」
The top beauty, named Ai among the freshman in our school.
She’s staring at Kudou-papa with moist eyes…
「 R-Really? 」
「 Yes…I’m sure 」
Misuzu too;
「 I believe that you shouldn’t overthink it. It’s a rare opportunity after all 」
「 Yeah, I think that you should at least show up. Just tell her that you came to congratulate her, I think that you can improve your parent-daughter relationship from there 」
I said.
Kudou-papa came to cheer her on her match.
Kudou Haruka doesn’t know that.
「 Right! I should take the chance while I have it 」
No, it’s not like you’re going to slam or break her, but still.
「 Okay! I’m going!! 」
Kudou-papa slapped his face and fired himself up.
Then, he goes from the kitchen to the dining room.
We also left the dining room to watch Kudou-papa.
Then.
「 A lone hell car!! 」
He jumps in, forward roll, and then rolled until he reached the dining room floor.
「 There!! 」
He stood up and made a pose.
「 Who’s that guy? 」
Monkey Mimi-san mutters.
A 40-year-old man broke into the scene in the middle of the fun talk.
The dining room froze.
The man with a thin black suit and colored shirt is…no matter how you look at it…bizarre.
「 Father, so you were here too 」
Michi, who’s near the wall at the back of the dining room speaks with a blank look.
「 I’m asking just in case, that girl’s your little sister, right? 」
Monkey mimi-san asks Kudou Haruka.
「 Could it be? 」
Francie and everyone’s gaze turned to Kudou-papa.
「 Yes, he’s my father 」
Kudou Haruka’s face is blushing out of anger and embarrassment.
But, the father;
「 Hey Boy! Exotic Bomber! Woah!! Entry Number 1! Kudou Yuusaku!! A ballad for my daughter, an alternative version of Captain Tsukasa! 」
He speaks with his usual lopsided smile.
「 Ah one! two! Three! Four! Zunzun Chacha! Zunzun Chacha! 」
Then he started singing.
「 ……?There you see a walking horse?
?Doraemon’s here, making noise?
?Cho-san, Nakamoto? Takagi Nishimura?
?The rumors of him makes Katocha buzz?
?And besides, they have snacks?
?Paul Macini, Shiranui Meiser?
?Dash, Dash, Dandandan!?
?Knock, and down!?
?Let’s decide it right now! Inazuma Drop!!!
?In this moment! I’ll become Super! Super! Super! Super! Diamond!!!!!!
?Dai-dai-dai-dai-diaman!
?Dai-dai-dai-dai-diaman!
?Explode!?Explode!!?
?Chemistry Formation Diaman!!ッ!!!?
I!!! Love Tokyo!!!!!! 」
Somehow, it feels like the song changed halfway.
「 W-Why did you come here!! 」
Kudou Haruka stood up and rushed to Kudou-papa.
「 You…always, and always… 」
She punched her father with a flushed face, but…
「 Haaa, harahorehirehare! 」
Kudou-papa used his arts to avoid his daughter’s attacks.
「 Kuuu, let me punch you at least once 」
Kudou Haruka shouted, but…
「 Sorry, but I’m still a professional, I just can’t let you hit me 」
Kudou-papa avoids his daughter’s punches and kicks while making silly poses.
「 You!! 」
Kudou Haruka speeds up her attacks.
「 Oh, you upped your gear, your fists, backhand, and spinning kicks show no gap, but I won’t lose you know!! 」
「 I hate how you always play it off like that!!! 」
Kudou Haruka’s burning in anger, but her attacks don’t land on her father.
「 Hmph, hmph, hmph! You’re still a long way to go, Haruka 」
Kudou-papa smiles like he’s having fun.
「 Dammit! You! 」
「 It won’t hit you know! Time to spank your butt!! 」
Oh, the two of them are getting closer to the food table.
This is bad.
Kudou-papa’s okay, but Kudou Haruka’s legs are getting unsteady.
Then.
「 That’s enough!!! 」
Michi gets in between her father and sister and puts her fist in their vital points.
「 Michi, did you just get faster? 」
Kudou-papa asks Michi.
「 Far faster, far stronger, far precise. Since many here have skills to learn, we learn new ones through daily training 」
Michi told her father, then to her sister;
「 Aneue too, you may hate Kudou arts but I’m sure that you can use some of Father’s techniques you just saw in your Karate 」
She speaks with a straight tone.
「 Are you telling me to do that weird poses? 」
Kudou Haruka gets angry.
「 That’s not it, this is what she meant you know 」
Edie still dressed as a winner of a beauty pageant steps forward, removing her crown and velvet cape.
Then.
「 One two three, tan-ton-pa, you move your feet with that rhythm. Michi’s papa purposely makes his upper body look weird that you’ll find it hard to understand, but this is how it looks when you simplify it. 」
「 That’s interesting 」
Grace Marinka, the female wrestler is watching’s Edie’s footwork enthusiastically.
「 I already learned it so I can use it. It doesn’t have to be in Kudou arts fashion. All you have to do is watch their techniques, steal them and make them your own. If you have a narrow vision like Haruka, then you won’t be able to learn new skills 」
「 I-I’m in Karate so I don’t care if it’s just Karate 」
Kudou Haruka tries to rebut Edie, but…
「 Your Karate is something like this, right? 」
Edie shows Haruka a perfect replication of her karate moves.
「 I remember it since I saw it already 」
She smiles while throwing a punch and a roundhouse kick.
「 So, if you incorporate Michi’s Papa’s moves in this… 」
Edie then fused Haruka’s karate and Kudou-papa’s footwork.
「 See? It’s still Karate. Not Kudou arts 」
Yeah, even if you change the footwork, it still looks Karate.
「 The karate you learned isn’t so weak that it will break by adopting techniques from other martial arts 」
「 If you’re not more flexible then you won’t be able to progress Aneue 」
Michi also told her sister.
「 I don’t mind if you hate me but if you don’t have the greed to take advantage of whatever’s available, then it’ll only be tough for you. Haruka 」
Kudou-papa told his daughter.
「 And so, well, congratulations for your victory 」
He smiled wryly out of embarrassment.
「 Well then, I’m going back! Sorry for the fuss! Oh boy, excuse me, harahorehirehare, harahorehirehare! 」
Kudou-papa walks out of the dining room as if he’s dancing.
「 H-Hey! Wait! 」
Kudou Haruka told her father.
「 Be good to everyone, everyone too, please be kind to my daughter! Bye Bee! Byenara!! Until we meet again!! 」
Kudou-papa already went off to the corridor.
「 I’m going after him. I’ll offer Kudou-san his food and drinks in the other room. 」
Katsuko-nee told me with a smile and left the dining room.
「 Somehow, he’s a bit of a weird old man, but he’s a good father 」
Monkey Mimi-san told Kudou Haruka.
「 It’s not just a bit, he’s quite a weird person 」
Francie said with a smile.
「 We took an overall victory but I think that he was worried about Haruka-san’s defense after watching yesterday’s match. Look, Haruka-san was still taking heavy blows from her opponents 」
Margo-san said.
「 No, that man’s… 」
「 Kudou-san was there yesterday. We met at the guest seats 」
I said.
「 Isn’t that right, Kuromiya-san? 」
I ask for Kuromiya-san’s testimony.
「 Yes, he looked quite worried during the match 」
「 That man? 」
Haruka’s surprised.
「 I mean, he values Michi more than me, doesn’t he? 」
「 Father doesn’t really worry about me that much 」
Michi said.
「 I’m much stronger than Father, and I’m blessed with a good Master. Father has nothing to worry about me 」
Michi is Kouzuki Misuzu’s bodyguard.
She’s in a much stable status compared to Kudou-papa who works behind the scenes for Kouzuki SS]
She lives with us in her daily life so there’s no need to worry.
「 Aniue is already independent, and so I think that Aneue’s the only one Father worries about nowadays 」
「 I… 」
Kudou Haruka;
「 Is he not worried about Mother? 」
The mother ran away with another man.
「 Father and Mother are already divorced. Father can’t do anything about Mother anymore 」
Michi said.
「 But… 」
Kudou Haruka isn’t convinced.
「 If you’re worried about Etsuko-san, Kouzuki SS is tracking her so we know where she is 」
Rei-chan speaks kindly.
She’s a former employee of the Kouzuki SS and even tried to sell off information to the Kansai Yakuza together with her lover, Yamaoka.
Michi and Haruka’s mother will be monitored all the time.
「 Kudou-san should know that too 」
「 Where is Mother right now? 」
Kudou Haruka asks Rei-chan, but…
「 We can’t tell Haruka-san that 」
Rei-chan replied.
「 Why? I’m her daughter 」
「 Aneue, Mother already abandoned us 」
Michi said.
「 It’s not right for us to go and see her 」
That’s right, she’s a mother who abandoned her family and ran away with a man.
She abandoned Kudou-papa, Michi, Haruka-san, and their elder brother, Shinichi-san…they shouldn’t be looking for their mother.
「 Etsuko-san is also a karate expert, and so, for the time being, she’s not living a life Haruka-san worries about 」
Rei-chan said.
Meaning, Michi and Haruka’s mother are still with her lover.
Or maybe, another man.
That’s why they’re not telling the details to these girls who are still students.
「 I see 」
Sensing that there’s something behind Rei-chan’s words, Kudou Haruka backs off.
「 Let’s brighten up the mood, Megumi-chan, sing something 」
Margo-san told Megu with a smile.
「 M-Me? 」
Megu’s surprised.
「 Yes, Entry Number 2, Megumi-chan. I think that you should be doing your performance now. 」
「 Yes, we’ve been waiting, Megu-chan 」
Nei smiled.
「 O-Okay, I understand. Well then… 」
Megu sang a jazz a cappella.
This was a brothel, and so there’s a karaoke machine in this mansion.
But for today, having a cappella is better as it is a homemade party just for friends.
「 Continental? That song was used in the Fred Astaire movie 」
Margo-san said.
It’s a bright-tone song that can calm down the atmosphere.
「 You’re good 」
「 That’s great! 」
Everyone clapped their hands for Megu.
「 Well then, I’m singing next 」
「 We’re singing next 」
Eri and Rie stood up.
「 Entry Number 3, Song for Children! 」
「 Here we go! One! Two! 」
The twins then used the Mary had a Little Lamb tone.
「 ?Meriken-san has a son? 」
「 ?Little Son, Little Son? 」
「 ?Meriken-san has a son? 」
「 ?It’s called Meriken Flour?! 」
What the hell?
「 ?Rasputin has a son? 」
「 ?Little son, Little Son? 」
「 ?Rasputin has a son? 」
「 ?Rasputin Cock?! 」
Hey!
「 ?The helpful man has a girl? 」
「 ?Little Girl, Little Girl? 」
「 ?The helpful man has a girl? 」
「 ?A helpful little cunt?! 」
The twins laughed.
「 Hey, that’s a load of crap 」
「 You girls aren’t fit to become comedians if dicks and pussies are everything you talk about 」
Snatch and Francie laughed.
But…
「 What does that song mean? 」
Kuromiya-san asks.
Oh, as expected, it didn’t go through the young ladies.
「 D-Don’t mind that weird song! I’ll sing too! 」
Kudou Haruka stood up.
「 Somehow, the mood got worse because of me so…well, it’s a song I often sang when I was young, so… 」
Then, she started singing.
「 ?Sumo’s sea is the sea of Gold?
?My endless Longing?
?Sumo Wrestlers are the Hawks! 」
What, this is a much better song than earlier.