At Shuchiin Academy, the incident involving Ko Ogino had officially been settled. Public opinion was also under Takamine Rinji's control. Technically, once his suspension ended, he could return to a normal school life.
However, he had no intention of letting Ko Ogino off so easily. Rinji had never been lenient toward anyone who caused him trouble.
Standing at his front door, Rinji slipped on a trench coat from the rack.
"Ishigami, I'm heading out to deal with something. Play as much as you like, just remember to save the game. Don't lose the equipment we worked so hard to get."
"Relax, I've got experience."
These days, Ishigami came over almost daily to play games. They'd game from morning till noon, go out for lunch, then continue until school would normally end, after which Ishigami would return home.
Today was Friday, so Ishigami had probably already told his family he'd be staying over with a classmate.
Rinji checked the time—it was around 4 p.m., still early for dinner.
"Where do you want to eat tonight?"
"How about you grab some instant noodles?"
"Instant noodles are boring. I'll buy some groceries and cook."
"You can cook?"
"I know a little."
"Alright then. Let's split the cost for the ingredients."
"Whatever."
Rinji smiled, fastened his coat, and walked out the door.
He hailed a cab on the street and headed to a remote part of Shinjuku, Tokyo.
After getting out of the cab, he glanced around.
Unlike the bustling area where he lived, this place felt old and run-down, with some abandoned factories and warehouses. Normal people wouldn't come here.
He pulled a business card from his pocket and headed toward a multi-story office building listed on the card.
Before long, he saw several rough-looking men smoking on the stairs.
Two of them tossed their cigarettes, blocked his path, and sneered:
"Hey kid, what're you doing here?"
"This isn't a place for someone like you."
Rinji calmly looked at them and replied, "Mr. Bandō sent me."
"Bandō?"
"You… you're with the Washimine Group?"
[Note: Washime Group is from the Anime "Black Lagoon"]
The two goons were clearly startled.
"I'm here to talk business with Inugane Demon Kimanjirou. May I go in?"
"O-of course."
They quickly stepped aside.
"The boss is inside. I'll take you to him."
"Much appreciated."
Led by one of the thugs, Rinji arrived at an office with a wooden plaque that read "Inugane Group." The goon knocked, got a response, and opened the door.
Inside was a relatively luxurious space. On a plush sofa sat an elderly man with a pencil-thin mustache, leisurely smoking a pipe.
"Boss, someone from the Washimine Group is here."
"Oh?"
The old man looked up and saw the goon and Rinji.
"Well, if it isn't Mr. Rinji. Been four years, hasn't it? Please, come in."
"It has been a while, Mr. Inugane. You've even changed offices, I see."
After the goon closed the door behind him, Rinji stepped in, sat directly across from the Inugane Group boss, and lit a cigarette.
"I heard you've completely given up on turf wars and switched to the idol business. How's that going?"
"Great. Idols are very profitable," Inugane chuckled. "Why, interested in investing?"
"Maybe I'll chip in symbolically, depending on your development." Rinji smirked. "By the way boss…"
"Hey now, don't call me 'Boss' anymore. I prefer 'Professor Inugane.' I've taken a liking to composing lately."
"Nice hobby. But let's get to business, Professor Inugane. I heard you've got connections to Thai gender reassignment surgeons?"
"That's right, I know a good one."
He grinned, taking another puff.
"Thanks to that surgeon in Thailand, some of the 'girls' in my group have made me a lot of money as idols."
[Note: So for those who don't know. "Inugane" is a yakuza group from the anime "Back Street Girls". So they basically turn Thier own yakuza members into girls through surgery as a punishment for major failures and send them to become idols.]
"I see. I want to recommend someone. Can you take him in?"
"Oh? Who?"
"A young man named Ko Ogino. He's at the perfect age to debut as an idol."
Rinji smiled. "Since you're in the idol industry, you need trainees, right?"
"That's true… How's this Ogino kid's qualifications?"
"Pretty good. He's in the drama club at school. Loves tricking clueless girls and caused me a little trouble."
"And he's still alive?"
"Someone like him should've been dumped into Tokyo Bay."
Rinji exhaled a smoke ring, a cruel grin on his face.
"But I promised not to kill him, and I keep my word. Since he likes messing with women, let's turn him into one. Put him in a group with other 'women.' As a drama club member, he could even debut in the idol world. Isn't that wonderful?"
"Oh~ Mr. Rinji, you're too kind."
"Hahaha, aren't I? We're not demons, after all."
"Well said! I'm no demon either, hahahaha!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA…"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA…"
The chilling laughter of the two echoed through the office building.
"Alright, I'll handle it. Thanks for the referral. What's your commission?"
"Talking money hurts friendships. Consider it free."
"HAHAHA, you're straightforward!"
Thus, the fate of Ko Ogino was sealed with just a handshake.