Chapter 39: We Are All Family!

Hearing Kitahara’s question, Hayami Rina hesitated slightly before speaking:

"Kitahara-kun, don’t spread this around, but my sister’s marriage partner seems to be... bent."

"Nani? Bent?"

"Yes, bent. My sister has been suffering since the very beginning of her marriage. After struggling for over half a year, she’s recently decided to end it!" Hayami Rina nodded in confirmation.

"This...? How can something like this happen? To actually run into this — the odds are so small! Did your sister never have relations with that person before marriage?" Kitahara was astonished.

"No. That man looked gentle and refined. He didn’t make a move, and my sister couldn’t exactly take the initiative either. The man’s circumstances were quite good, so my sister muddled her way into marrying him. Who knew it would turn out like this!"

"So what’s the situation now? Can she get a divorce smoothly?" Kitahara was very concerned.

"The man doesn’t want to divorce. He wants to maintain the marriage on the surface. He said my sister could even find someone outside — as long as she doesn’t make it public. But my sister doesn’t want to keep tormenting herself. She feels disgusted. She doesn’t want to stay in that house a single day longer. She’s already gone back to my parents’ house." Hayami Rina felt heartbroken over her sister’s misfortune.

"This...? Rina-nee, is there anything we can do to help your sister? Oh right, I still don’t know her name." Kitahara asked.

"My sister is called Hayami Rena. Come to think of it, she’s the same age as you, Kitahara-kun. Sigh, right now the man is still dragging things out. We’ll see how it gets resolved later!

My sister says she wants to deal with this matter as quickly as possible, and then she might come to Tokyo to find a job, temporarily leaving that place that breaks her heart.

When that time comes, she might stay with us for a while. Kitahara-kun, what do you think..."

Hayami Rina looked at Kitahara inquiringly.

Kitahara gave her a firm look:

"I absolutely support it! Rena-chan is so pitiful. We must help her, let her feel the goodness and kindness of this world. Help her walk out of this unfortunate shadow!"

"Mm, Kitahara-kun, you’re so good. Thank goodness for you — otherwise I wouldn’t be able to help her even if I wanted to. Come to think of it, this time you gave me so much money, letting me buy gifts for my parents. They both liked them very much, and they’re happy that I’ve found you to rely on.

I gave part of the remaining money to my sister — at least it can help solve some of her living problems. My good news also helped dilute some of the gloom at home."

Hayami Rina was deeply moved.

Thank goodness she had met Kitahara-kun.

If this time she had gone back as before — raising little Aya alone, struggling to even live — how could she have talked about buying gifts for her parents and helping her sister?

In that case, both sisters would be living so miserably. How sad would their parents be?

Now at least her life had improved, and she could put them at ease.

"Rina-nee, no need to be so polite with me. Your family is my family. We’re all one family. When facing difficulties, helping each other is only natural."

Kitahara believed he had to help this Rena-chan — had to. Even Jesus couldn’t stop him!

He said it!

Hayami Rina was so alluring — her sister naturally couldn’t be any worse!

He really wished she would come stay soon!

...

The next day, Kitahara and Hayami Rina and her daughter finished breakfast and left the house together.

Hayami Rina took her daughter to kindergarten.

Kitahara, meanwhile, took his new book’s manuscript to "Shueisha" publishing house to find his editor.

"Shueisha" headquarters wasn’t far from where he lived. After taking the tram two stops and walking a short distance after getting off, he arrived.

Today was Monday. It was still early, and the streets were full of corporate slaves hurrying to work.

These corporate slaves seemed driven forward by an invisible force.

Looking closely, their attire was uniformly neat and proper. The men wore well-tailored, spotless suits paired with shiny leather shoes.

The fewer women wore elegant suits or professional skirts, their makeup exquisite but unable to hide their exhaustion.

Everyone’s pace seemed so hurried, as if a single second’s delay would bring serious consequences.

Most of their faces wore serious expressions, brows slightly furrowed, lips tightly pressed, eyes revealing an indescribable pressure and anxiety.

Those tense faces were like puppets tightly bound by life, having lost their proper ease and freedom.

And from their slightly heavy footsteps and occasional yawns, one could clearly feel the exhaustion they carried.

This exhaustion didn’t come only from physical fatigue — more likely, it stemmed from a deep inner weariness and helplessness toward work.

These were the Tokyo corporate slaves of the post-bubble era.

They basically all carried massive housing loans, the enormous pressure crushing them until they couldn’t breathe. They worked desperately, yet still faced the risk of being laid off at any moment.

Comparable to cattle and horses!

Compared to these people’s hurried steps, Kitahara strolled leisurely, admiring the morning scenery of Tokyo, and incidentally checking if there were any women who caught his eye.

"Huh? Isn’t that who I think it is, just passing by?"

About to reach "Shueisha," Kitahara suddenly stopped in his tracks as if struck by a immobilizing spell.

He quickly turned around, casting his gaze behind him. What appeared in his sight was a tall, slender girl.

This girl’s face was as tender as a flower newly blooming in spring, her pure beauty captivating.

Her figure was graceful, her long legs beautifully lined, her slender waist seemingly graspable in one hand. The fresh, natural aura she exuded was like the warmth brought by the first ray of morning sunlight.

The key was that Kitahara recognized her — wasn’t she Sakai Izumi?

In his previous life, the Japanese women Kitahara knew were basically all from the adult industry.

Sakai Izumi was one of the few clean Japanese girls he admired.

She was the "national goddess" of Japan!

Why was she here?

What was she going to do?

How could he make contact with her?

Three philosophical questions instantly arose in Kitahara’s mind!