Chapter 135: The Hardworking Her, the Broken Home
This was the first time Hikigaya Hachiman had seen Sakiko's father, but this initial meeting left him with an extremely poor impression.
It was no wonder Sakiko worked so hard—not only did she have to work part-time jobs, but she also had to write songs and submit them. It turned out she was stuck with such an unreliable father. To be able to drink himself into this state in broad daylight, the kind of person this man was could be easily determined.
Moreover, Hachiman remembered hearing from Miyuki that Sakiko's father also had a gambling problem. Gambling and alcoholism—in an instant, all the elements of a "scumbag father" were gathered.
For Sakiko to fall from a family background that allowed her to attend Tsukinomori Girls' Academy to her current state where she could only attend a commoner school and live in a low-rent area, it was easy to imagine their plight. They already had very little money, yet he squandered it like this? He still had money for booze?
Where did the gambling funds come from?
It was likely that Sakiko was working to both subsidize the household and provide pocket money for this useless, waste-of-space father. Hachiman couldn't help but feel a surge of pity for Sakiko.
In truth, there were quite a few people like this in Japan—adults who neglected their duties and spent their days squandering money in pachinko parlors or other establishments. This was "pachinko," a form of gambling permitted by the government. Pachinko parlors were ubiquitous in bustling districts. Hachiman didn't understand what was so fun about those little silver balls or how they could hold such an attraction. Almost every day, people lost everything and wailed at the doors of those parlors.
However, a gambler deserves no sympathy.
Hachiman had zero interest in gambling, but he knew that a second-year student at Tokyo Jujutsu High named Hakari Kinji was particularly fond of it. Hakari even harbored the delusion of using Jujutsu High's influence to legalize gambling; one could only say he was dreaming. This was also why Hachiman wasn't familiar with those two second-year students. He didn't want to associate with gamblers.
Gamblers weren't worth pitying.
Seeing the state of Sakiko's father, Hachiman even began to worry about whether Sakiko's money was safe. That five million yen was a solid five million—nearly 40,000 US dollars. Togawa Sakiko had only obtained it after selling all the copyrights to the song she had composed.
While five million wasn't a huge sum to Hachiman, it should be a significant amount for the current Sakiko household. If that five million were used sparingly or invested, Hachiman estimated it would be enough for Sakiko's university tuition. In this day and age, those who impulsively quit school to become idols could only be described as rash. Although academic credentials were devaluing, if everyone else has them and you don't, that's a lack of competitiveness. In Sakiko's situation, studying was the best investment.
But all of that was predicated on the assumption that her father hadn't touched the money.
It was hard for Hachiman not to imagine how excited her father would be upon seeing that five million yen; he would likely immediately incorporate it into his gambling stakes. The pocket money Sakiko usually gave him certainly wasn't as much as five million. If Sakiko's father knew his daughter had earned five million and didn't have some crooked ideas, Hachiman wouldn't believe it.
Hachiman felt he should remind Togawa Sakiko later. If that five million really was taken by her father for gambling, not a single yen would ever be recovered. If money could be made through gambling, they wouldn't still be living here.
Never test someone else's bottom line.
"You brat, open the door! Are you not back yet?"
"You're going to starve your father to death!"
Hachiman's attention was drawn by the sound of thumping on a door and shouting. He looked up and saw Sakiko's father, drunk as a skunk, pounding on his own front door.
Hachiman realized he had arrived early. Sakiko wasn't back yet. He watched the scumbag father knock for a while before grumbling and fishing a key out of his trouser pocket. The cursing only vanished once the door slammed shut.
Hachiman felt a bit lucky. He had brought a cake for Sakiko, but if that scumbag father was there and it was given to Sakiko ahead of time, it would probably end up in his stomach. It would be better off in the trash. Hachiman had zero good feelings toward this father, only disdain. He was a parasite living off his own daughter; it was impossible to feel even a shred of goodwill toward such a person.
Hachiman planned to wait at the Shirogane house next door for a while and leave once Sakiko replied to his text. Usually, Miyuki would go to work after school; Hachiman knew his good friend definitely wouldn't be home. As for Kei, her part-time job was usually in the morning delivering newspapers to help with expenses. But after school, because she was doted on by her brother, she didn't work in the evenings and usually stayed home to cook dinner or do homework.
However, Hachiman didn't know if Kei was back yet. Even if no one was home, he could just wait in the car.
Hachiman walked up with the cake and knocked on Shirogane Miyuki's door. A response came quickly, though the tone wasn't particularly friendly.
"If you're here to collect the TV license fee, sorry, don't bother. I've said it many times: we don't have a TV."
The employees of NHK in Japan were the most annoying; even if you said you didn't have a TV, they would try to charge various fees. Hachiman felt helpless and replied:
"Uncle, it's me."
Hearing the response from inside, Hachiman knew someone was there. Based on the voice, it was likely the father of Miyuki and Kei. Sure enough, when the door opened, he saw a stylish middle-aged man. Although he looked weathered and a bit aged, his spirit was quite good. This was the father of Kei and Miyuki.
While this old man was also a bit unreliable in small ways, he was much better than the one next door.
Kei's dad was very wary when he first opened the door, only opening it a crack as if ready to slam it shut at any sign of danger. But once he saw it was his children's friend, he relaxed considerably.
"Oh, it's Hikigaya-kun."
Kei's dad lost his guard completely and opened the door wide to let Hachiman in.
"Uncle, long time no see."
Hachiman smiled helplessly and showed him the cake in his hand. "I brought some cake."
"Sorry about that. I thought it was the TV fee collectors. Those people are so annoying," Kei's dad said, clearly having been pestered by them frequently. "I told them we don't have a TV, yet they keep coming."
Hachiman could only respond with a dry laugh. This situation was indeed common in Japan, but since his fees were paid on time, no one ever came to his door for money.
"Hikigaya-kun, you've come at an awkward time. My daughter and son are both out. There's only this old uncle to host you."
Kei's dad placed a glass of water in front of Hachiman.
"It's fine," Hachiman shook his head. Last time he visited, this man hadn't been home.
Actually, Hachiman found it a bit hard to deal with this uncle because his train of thought was quite erratic, similar to Fujiwara Chika's. However, this man was even more skilled than Chika—he could say many improper things with a perfectly serious face. Usually, if Kei were here, she would tell her father to go back to his room, feeling her "idiot father" wasn't fit to be seen.
"Hikigaya-kun, you really didn't need to bring so many things."
Kei's dad had a very good impression of Hachiman. Politeness was one thing, but more importantly, Hachiman's manner of speaking was much more mature and experienced than his own two kids. Furthermore, he heard from Miyuki that this friend had started from scratch and earned all that money by himself. It was something one couldn't even learn; the boy was truly talented and lived off his brilliance.
The collaborative development copyrights for just one Legion of Hachiman's Warhammer series had brought him immense profits. In the industry, Hachiman was called the "hen that lays golden eggs"—even laying golden eggs wasn't as fast as his money-making.
"When Kei grows up, we'll be one family."
Kei's dad spoke while secretly wiping away tears, clearly having already imagined marrying Kei off to Hachiman.
"Ahem."
Hachiman felt helpless; this uncle had once again said something incredible with a straight face. If Kei were here, she'd probably want to sew her father's mouth shut.
Why did he blurt everything out? Hachiman couldn't respond to that, so he just smiled and took a sip of water.
"By the way, Uncle, I just saw a drunkard. He seems to be a resident of this building, but I haven't seen him before?" Hachiman pretended to mention Togawa Sakiko's father, but he was actually fishing for information.
"Oh, you mean him."
Hearing the word "drunkard," Kei's dad immediately understood who Hachiman was talking about.
"He's from the Togawa family next door. I don't know his name."
Despite living so close, they weren't familiar. It was clear Sakiko's father did nothing but drink. When he was sober, he went to gamble; when he wasn't, he drank until he was hammered. With such a cycle, it was natural he wasn't familiar with the Shirogane family next door and had never interacted with them.
"But his daughter and mine hang out quite often. That girl is very sensible and smart."
Speaking of Sakiko, Kei's dad couldn't help but sigh. She was a good girl, just stuck with such a scumbag father. But it was understandable; you could tell from her speech that she had received a good education before their fall. He guessed they were like them—hit by a sudden bankruptcy. It was a miracle she hadn't lost her mind after such a rise and fall.
But this man was also a gambler and often drank until midnight, causing trouble for his daughter. He was a completely incompetent father. Even if he didn't drink at an izakaya, the beer cans at home filled bag after bag.
Hachiman asked a bit more about Sakiko's father, but since the uncle didn't know much, he stopped asking. Fortunately, Hachiman saw a reply on his phone stating Sakiko was almost back. If Hachiman sat for a bit longer, Sakiko would likely arrive. She would probably need to go back and change clothes.
Togawa Sakiko was quite surprised to learn Hachiman was downstairs. However, she understood the "sensei's" intention—he was there to pick her up for dinner and help reimburse her travel costs. She walked much faster on her way home.
"Then, Uncle, I won't stay any longer."
Hachiman checked the time and stood up.
"Hmm? You just got here, stay for a meal before you go," Kei's dad suggested. "According to the time, Kei should be back soon too."
"No, no, I have plans for the evening."
Since Sakiko was almost back, Hachiman figured he might as well wait in the car. Besides, he had only brought some cake; it wasn't anything precious. Seeing that Hachiman insisted on leaving, Kei's dad didn't press him.
"Alright then."
Hachiman walked out and returned to his car.
The place Hachiman and Togawa Sakiko agreed upon wasn't a high-end restaurant, but a regular, slightly better one. Hachiman and Sakiko were quite familiar with each other, so there was no need for something expensive; practical was better. However, the view in that area was superb; when night fell, one could see the Skytree. A truly high-end restaurant might have made poor little Sakiko nearly cry when it came time to pay. Plus, it would be a huge loss if they ate a tiny, expensive meal and weren't even full.
Hachiman didn't have to wait long before he saw Sakiko arrive. She was still wearing her Hanakaoka school uniform, and her face was flushed, likely from walking quickly and being out of breath.
"Sensei, sorry to keep you waiting."
Hachiman had been reading the report the Kamo family sent him regarding Togawa Logistics. Last time, he had inadvertently seen a manned mecha released by this company fighting a Cursed Spirit, and he was quite interested in the enterprise. Now that Togawa Sakiko had arrived, Hachiman set the documents down.
"No need. It was my own doing, arriving too early. Sakiko, shall we go directly?"
Hachiman looked at Sakiko.
"Yes, let's go directly."
Togawa Sakiko looked up at her home. The window she had opened in the morning for ventilation was now closed, so she knew her scumbag father was back. Going up now would only lead to more arguments. She would also have to clean up after him—Sakiko's head hurt just thinking about it. As for whether her scumbag father would starve, she had left some change on the table before leaving in the morning.
Initially, Sakiko wanted to change her clothes and take a shower, but she had to give up on that.
"Alright, hop in," Hachiman said, letting her in. "I bought this at the shop just now. I thought if you went back, you could put it in the fridge. Now it seems, Sakiko, you'll just have to eat it."
Hachiman made a synchronized prediction, making Sakiko accept it proactively.
"This is an ice cream cake. If you don't eat it soon, it will melt."
"Alright then." Sakiko wanted to speak but was shut down. She could only smile helplessly. "Thank you, Sensei."
"No need to be polite between us."
"It's delicious."
Sakiko was a bit hungry after her light run, and this small piece of cake relieved her hunger. Once he saw she was almost finished, Hachiman inquired:
"Sakiko, do you know that the Jujutsu Association has recently been investing in mecha for fighting Cursed Spirits?"
"Mecha?"
Togawa Sakiko was a bit dazed by this; it was clearly the first time she had heard of it.
"Yes," Hachiman nodded. "I had someone look into it recently. The enterprise that developed the mecha is 'Togawa Logistics'."
When she heard the name from her sensei, Togawa Sakiko froze instantly.
Wasn't that her former home?
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