Chapter 1: A Hope
January 11, 2015, 09:57 AM | Katsushika District, Cemetery :
The winter air pierced straight through to my bones. I stood frozen, wrapped in a black kimono that felt far too heavy for the body of a nineteen-year-old girl. Before me, a fresh mound of earth had just become the final resting place of the only person I had ever leaned on in this world, my father. And now, I was truly alone.
The funeral was quiet, attended only by a few of my late father's coworkers.
Among them, Uncle Goshabu stepped forward. He gently held my trembling hand, looking at me with sympathy.
"Call uncle if you ever need anything, Reika."
I lowered my head, my swollen eyes struggling to hold back the tears that had already dried upon my cheeks.
"Thank you for everything, Uncle Goshabu."
Uncle Goshabu gently stroked my head like a father, offering me a sincere smile as though trying to pass on the last of his strength.
"If you want... you can stay with your aunt and me. You're welcome anytime."
"Ya... Thank you..." I couldn't bring myself to look up. I could only give a faint nod.
One of Father's coworkers said softly as he gently patted my shoulder.
"Your father... was a good colleague. He'll be alright up there."
Another added, trying to give me the strength to endure.
"You look just like your father. I'm sure you're a strong girl."
A middle-aged woman gave me a brief embrace before saying her goodbye.
"My deepest condolences, dear. Stay strong through all of this."
One of Father's coworker's children said with a warm smile.
"Come visit us once in a while... I'll make you a delicious bowl of soup."
One by one, Father's friends took their leave after offering their condolences, prayers, and words of encouragement that barely registered in my ears.
Before leaving, Uncle Goshabu slipped a thick envelope filled with financial support into my hand.
"It isn't much... but I hope this will be enough for the next few months."
"Thank you..." I whispered softly to his retreating back.
At last, the cemetery was empty. Only I, the cold winter wind, and Father's gravestone remained. I slowly knelt on the frozen ground. My hand gently rested against Father's gravestone, caressing its surface as though I could somehow feel his warmth one last time. I remained there in silence, surrounded by the stillness, until the sun gradually sank below the horizon and the shadows of night slowly swallowed Katsushika.
***
January 11, 2015, 08:57 PM | Katsushika District, Apartment :
I sat against the frame of my bedroom window, cradling Zoro in my arms, still dressed in my black kimono. My eyes remained fixed on the light drizzle that continued to dampen the ground outside.
I gently stroked the soft fur of my female black Persian cat, my empty gaze lingering on the darkness beyond the window.
"Zoro... Do you think the two of us can get through all of this on our own?"
Zoro looked up and rubbed her head against the palm of my hand, as if she understood my sorrow.
"Meow..."
I hugged Zoro's warm little body tightly and gently kissed the top of her head, searching for the last remaining strength within my heart.
"I won't give up. I'll work hard to pay off our debts and make our dream come true. Someday, we'll have a home and a shelter for all your friends who are still living on the streets, alright...?"
"Meeoww~"
Zoro purred softly in my embrace, as though promising that she would always stay by my side.
***
January 20, 2015, 01:00 PM | Roppongi, Yuki Spa :
Only nine days had passed since Father's death. The harsh reality and the ever-growing burden of debt forced me to make a painful decision, to drop out of university. At nineteen years old, I was now fully devoted to working, struggling to survive while paying off my family's debts.
I bowed ninety degrees with courtesy and respect toward the customer who had just finished her treatment.
"Ah... Certainly. Thank you for visiting us. It was our pleasure to serve you..."
A young female customer smiled with satisfaction before walking out of the beauty spa.
"The service here is always wonderful. Thank you, Reika-san."
I politely opened the spa's glass door for her.
"We look forward to seeing you again... Goodbye."
After the customer left, I stepped onto the front terrace to breathe in some fresh air. However, my movement came to an abrupt halt when my eyes accidentally drifted across the street.
My heart pounded violently.
Standing across the busy road was a broad-shouldered man dressed in a formal black suit. He was one of the loan sharks who had lent money to my father at an outrageously high interest rate.
The loan shark stood silently beside a utility pole, staring directly at me with a cold expression, watching me without pause as if making sure I wouldn't run away.
Iruka, one of my coworkers, suddenly asked as she tapped my shoulder from behind after noticing that I had been lost in thought.
"Reika-san? What are you looking at out there?"
Startled back to my senses, I immediately tore my gaze away from across the street and hurried back to the reception desk.
"Ah... It's nothing..."
However, the tension was far from over. Suddenly, the silence inside the spa was shattered by the furious shouting of a customer who stormed out of one of the treatment rooms, loudly complaining.
The customer shouted in rage as she violently grabbed the young therapist's arm, causing the girl to wince in pain.
"What kind of service is this?! My skin could be ruined if this is how you do things! You! Get over here! Don't you dare run!"
She kept bowing over and over, her body trembling with fear.
"I'm sorry, ma'am... Please forgive me... I'm truly sorry if I made any mistakes..."
I immediately ran over to them and bowed deeply before the customer, hoping to calm her anger.
"M-Ma'am... Please calm down and tell us what made you dissatisfied with our service...?"
Ignoring everything we said, the customer continued shouting hysterically, deliberately looking for an excuse to demand compensation.
"Oh, stop talking! The point is, this stupid therapist's massage left every muscle in my body aching! I want compensation for my medical expenses right now, or I'll report this place!"
The therapist explained in a trembling voice from behind my back.
"B-But... I performed the scrub treatment and massage exactly as you requested, ma'am... I also adjusted the pressure according to your preferences from the beginning until the treatment was finished..."
I remained calm and bowed politely while presenting the signed treatment request form that the customer had chosen herself.
"We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, ma'am. Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention if there was indeed any shortcoming on our part. However, according to your treatment records, every procedure was carried out exactly as you requested. The massage techniques and pressure applied were also in accordance with the request form that you personally approved before the treatment began."
The moment she saw the written proof I presented, the customer fell silent, unable to deny it any longer. Her face flushed red with embarrassment and frustration.
"Tch! This damned spa! The nerve of you people!"
The customer cursed furiously, refused to pay a single yen, then stomped away and stormed out of the spa.
As soon as the customer left, the therapist collapsed onto the floor and burst into sobs, shaken after being falsely accused.
"Shhh... Hey, it's alright. You didn't do anything wrong. You followed her requests perfectly."
I knelt down and wrapped the crying therapist in a comforting embrace, gently rubbing her back before leading her to the staff room so she could calm down.
