009 The gods just laugh it off

In this world, some are born in Rome.

But Nagasawa Keisuke believes he was born a beast of burden.

He didn't have a notable family background to speak of; his parents grew potatoes in Hokkaido.

Fortunately, Nagasawa was a hard worker.

Always had been.

He believed that hard work pays off, and that with enough effort, doubled and redoubled, he would eventually get everything he wanted—money, status, fame. Sooner or later, all of it would be his.

Nagasawa Keisuke was ambitious and aspirational; he wouldn't just lie down and rot away like most men of his generation. So what if his beginnings were humble? What did it matter if social classes were rigid and hard to ascend?

He studied hard, burying himself in books and acing his exams, all to secure a chance to study abroad.

He worked hard, staying overtime till the wee hours, and his excellent performance earned his superior's favor.

He pursued Miss Nagao relentlessly, dogged and even sacrificing his dignity, to gain the favor of the president's only daughter.

Beyond these presentable exertions, he had done many things that were better left unsaid.

But so what?

So many people in this world have everything handed to them from birth, while he was merely struggling with all his might, using every means at his disposal to climb higher. What was wrong with that?

Under the tireless efforts of Nagasawa Keisuke, everything was progressing in the right direction.

If all went well, he would be able to marry Miss Nagao next year. And after that, he might even have the opportunity to become the vice-chief and then be promoted to department head.

Should the old president step down or, unfortunately, pass away, he could even have a shot at becoming the new president of Shimizu Corporation through his son-in-law status!

Rising above others, emerging from the crowd.

All of it was within reach, almost at his fingertips.

This was the result of his many years of hard work!

All of it was his due!

Therefore, he absolutely couldn't let a stupid mistake from his student days and some inexplicable brat ruin everything.

He simply couldn't!

"Mr. Nagasawa, what are you thinking about? You're grinding your teeth. If the skewered lantern becomes cold, it won't taste as good. Or would you prefer that I continue eating on your behalf?"

The voice of Kamiyagawa pulled Nagasawa Keisuke back to reality from his complex train of thought.

Now, of course, Nagasawa had no appetite for delicacies, so the last skewered lantern also went to Kamiyagawa.

"Although essentially it's the ovaries and immature eggs of a chicken, the taste of skewered lantern is really not bad at all, utterly irresistible."

"Forget the skewered lantern, you still haven't answered my question." Nagasawa Keisuke was getting impatient with Kamiyagawa's leisurely attitude, "What do you really want? Money?"

"Oh? How much can you give me?" Kamiyagawa raised an eyebrow, looking genuinely interested.

"2 million Yen. Take the money and disappear immediately. Let's never see each other again and let that matter rot in your stomach. How's that?"

The izakaya was not crowded, and the waiter was far away, but when Nagasawa Keisuke spoke, he still kept his voice very low.

2 million Yen, for an underage teenager, was undoubtedly a huge sum.

"Mr. Nagasawa is quite generous, no wonder people say you're young and promising."

As Kamiyagawa said this, he bit off the last skewered lantern from its stick.

With his chewing, the juice burst in his mouth, mixing with the fresh egg yolk, the meaty parts springy and becoming more aromatic the more he chewed.

Nagasawa Keisuke adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, perhaps feeling that his offer had taken a hold of the teenager in front of him; he spoke with more confidence, and with a paternal tone:

"But I still have to warn you, after reaping the benefits, it would be wise to quit while you're ahead. Moreover, extortion is illegal, young man."

Human greed is a hole that can never be filled, and where there's a first act of extortion, there will inevitably be a second one.

Nagasawa Keisuke knew this all too well.

If this brat before him was smart enough to take the money and disappear, keeping the incident to himself, that would naturally be best.

Nagasawa Keisuke wouldn't mind spending 2 million Yen to avert disaster and protect his bright future.

But if Kamiyagawa became insatiable and repeatedly used the incident to blackmail him for money,

Nagasawa Keisuke, after stalling the other party with money, would have no choice but to resort to some extreme measures, like finding a way to silently sink this brat to the bottom of Tokyo Bay.

Kamiyagawa swallowed his grilled lantern, started sucking on the skewer stick: "2 million Yen, huh, for just a few screenshots printed off the internet, I'm making a killing."

"You understand, that's good. It seems we have come to an agreement, you accept my offer?"

"No." Kamiyagawa put down the finished skewer stick, showing off a smile he thought was quite charming, "I refuse."

This was a completely unexpected answer.

The corner of Nagasawa Keisuke's eye twitched, and he was stunned for quite a while. After a dozen seconds or so, he finally composed himself and reconsidered his offer:

"Is the money not enough? 3 million, 3 million Yen at most. Kid, I advise you not to be too greedy."

"It's not about the money, I don't want your money."

Kamiyagawa said this, but what he was thinking was: stop raising the price, big brother, I really might be tempted.

"Don't want the money? Heh, then what do you want?" Nagasawa Keisuke didn't seem to believe this kind of claim.

"Didn't I tell you? I received a small commission from Miss Kurayama."

Nagasawa Keisuke didn't reply; his gaze through the lenses of his gold-rimmed glasses landed on the young man's face in front of him, uncertain and changing.

He was increasingly puzzled by what this inexplicably appearing brat was really up to.

The atmosphere turned eerie and oppressive.

For a moment, the only sound was the rustling from the huge wall-mounted television.

The black-and-white dubbed "Romeo and Juliet" was playing, at the scene where Romeo and Juliet meet in secret, the two actors emotionally reciting their lines, celebrating their beautiful love—

Juliet: "Who directed you to this place?"

Romeo: "Love prompted me to inquire after this place."

Romeo: "Love lent me counsel, and I lent love eyes. I am no pilot, yet, wert thou as far as that vast shore washed with the furthest sea, I would adventure for such merchandise."

At the dinner table, it was Kamiyagawa who first broke the silence.

"Mr. Nagasawa, I'm curious, did you really ever love Miss Kurayama? Do you feel guilty about her death?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Nagasawa Keisuke's gaze intensified, his expression uncertain.

"No special meaning. From when I found you until now, the thing you've been most concerned about is how to shut me up, isn't it?" Kamiyagawa shrugged, "I just think that maybe you ought to show some guilt, even if just a little bit."

"You..."

Nagasawa Keisuke's gaze turned icy, and he fell silent.

Then, all that was left was the sound from the black-and-white dubbed "Romeo and Juliet"—

Juliet: "Oh Romeo, do you love me? I know you will say 'yes,' and I will believe you. But perhaps you swear only lies."

Juliet: "They say that jests, paltry as they be, are given by heaven to ease the vows of lovers."