2026-04-24 17:51:13It's nightfall already but Hiroshi hasn't slept. He was lying on the couch. He kept thinking about all that had happened H within the last three days. He thought about Hana, about how lovey dovey their relationship used to be until recently. He thought about how he was framed and the unknown system that had recruited him. “Now, I can afford to take care of my mother and everyone else around me. The system will remain a secret for now. I will pay up the three million credits debt and tell them I took another loan as usual.”
Hiroshi stood up from the bed and took his notebook and a pen. He wrote down a to-do list.
Pay the three million tomorrow
Pay Ren’s overdue rent tomorrow
Move into a more comfortable apartment soon
Look for an insider that works for the Kuroda empire or used to work there. I need information I could sabotage them with.
Form a group that would help me in this mission.
He hit the under of his pen and said, “Pretty much enough things to do for now.” He dropped it and went back to lay on the couch.
Hiroshi left the house early and found a payphone down the street. He didn't want to use his own. It will be too easy to trace.
He dropped some coins in and called the Manager of the apartment, Mr Yamota. He is a man in his fifties. He has been working for Kuroda's for about ten years now. He had a lean body built and five feet tall. He manages about ten apartments for Lord Kazuo.
"Yeah."
"Calling about Ren Suzuki. How much does he owe?"
"Who is this?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Forty thousand back rent. Fees on top. Sixty total."
"I'll pay for it. Wire transfer. Tell the Kurodas it's done."
The manager laughed. "You got sixty thousand just sitting around. Who are you to that foolish boy anyway?"
"Yea. But not your business."
Hiroshi hung up. He walked two blocks. Found another payphone. He first sent the money to another account so it remains anonymous before transferring it to Mr Yamota. Then he walked back.
Ren was on the steps, pacing back and forth. Hands in his pockets. Eyes down.
"The Manager called," Ren said. "Someone paid my debt. Won't say who."
"Good."
Ren looked up. Eyes squinted. "Is it? Some stranger pays my rent and I'm just supposed to feel good about it!
"Debt's gone. Just celebrate."
"I want to know who did it."
"Does it matter?"
"I don't like owing people I don't know."
"You don't owe anyone."
"Sixty thousand says I do."
Hiroshi shook his head and said nothing.
Ren stared at him. "You sure you don't know anything."
"Nothing."
Ren shrugged and looked back down. "Whoever it was. I owe them."
Rain came back.
"We have to move," Hiroshi said. "Those guys with the bats came right to the door. They'll come back again for me, cuz I pissed them off."
"I don't have money."
"I have some money saved already ."
Ren looked at him. "You were a broke student. Your mother was sick. You had nothing."
"I found a way."
"What way?"
"I took more loans. From loan sharks."
Ren stood up slowly. "You're lying to me. Who in his right senses will lend a Class F citizen money."
"Well, guess I have some potential then."
"You're hiding something. You are definitely not telling me the full story. Oh wait! Are you now dealing with illegal substances like hard drugs?"
Hiroshi had nothing back for that.
Hiroshi shook his head in disbelief and walked out.
Ren called out after him.”Hiroshi, stop walking. You have to answer me. Hiroshi!.”
Yuki was sitting on the floor. She'd cleaned the counter.
"What happened?"
"Nothing," Ren said. Dropped onto the couch.
Hiroshi came back downstairs.
Yuki looked at Hiroshi and didn't know what else to add to the ongoing conversation.
"We're moving today," Hiroshi said. "Three rooms. Better area."
From the couch Ren laughed. "He's got it sorted."
Yuki felt the thing between them but didn't ask.
"Leave it," Ren said. "Let's just go."
“And yea, you all can stay. Ren, there is no need for you going back to your apartment. Move your things in with me. Sell off or throw away what you don't need okay buddy.” Hiroshi said and then smiled.
He grabbed his bag and shoved everything in. Shirts. Jeans. Charger. Yanked the zip.
Yuki folded her blanket and laid it flat in her bag.
Hiroshi packed last. A few shirts. His mother's photo. His father's watch. He held the watch a second and put it in his pocket.
The phone went off. Court message.
Notice of Debt Collection
Outstanding Balance: 3,000,000 Credits
Payment Due Immediately
He paid for it. He didn't think much about it. Just sent it.
Three million gone.
Payment Received. Thank You.
Your Class-F status has been lifted. You are now a Class-E citizen.
Class E! Still low. But better than F.
Yuki was watching him.
"What was that?"
"Oh yeah. I just paid the Kurodas the three million credits I owed them."
"What! Hiroshi! Ren! Come here right now.”
Ren rushed to meet Yuki. “What happened?”
Hiroshi rubbed his hand on his head and clenched his teeth.”Really Yuki. It's not a big deal. Relax okay.”
Yuki said,”Hiroshi just paid the three million credits to the Kurodas.”
Ren chuckled and said, “Hiroshi has been doing things lately. I just hope he doesn't get us all in trouble. As for me, I am tired of stressing my head about it.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
“Yea.” He picked up his bag and walked out. Hiroshi and Yuki followed.
The new place was two hours away.
Three rooms, a real kitchen, and a bathroom door that closed all the way. Windows with no cracks.
The landlord was an old woman. Black hair. Missing front tooth.
"First month fifty thousand credits. Deposit on top."
Hiroshi counted it on the table. Fifty thousand deposit.
Her eyes went wide. She held the money close to check it.
"You're not going to cause me problems."
"No problems."
She handed him three keys.
"You bring trouble, you're out the same day!"
"Understood!"
She nodded and walked off.
They moved in that evening.
Empty rooms. Clean floors. Nothing else.
Ren walked through each room. Touched the walls. He looked out the windows.
"Not bad."
"Furniture tomorrow," Yuki said. "Something to sleep on."
Ren took the small room. Yuki took the one by the window. Hiroshi took the last room at the end of the hall.
He sat on the floor. The carpet was thick. His back didn't hurt.
For the first time in a long time, he had a room to himself.
He took out his mother's photo and looked at it. Set it down beside him.
Took out the watch. The metal was cold.
The phone buzzed.
[New Quest: The Boy Outside]
[ There is a boy sitting alone in the stairwell of this building. He has been there for three hours. He is crying. His father lost his job last week. They are being evicted tomorrow. He is twelve years old. He is too scared to go home and tell his mother.]
[Reward: Unknown]
Hiroshi stared at it.
He was tired. His mother was in hospital. Ren was angry. He just wanted to lie down.
He put the phone face down.
It buzzed again.
Hiroshi closed his eyes.
He thought about being twelve. His father dying. Sitting alone in stairwells with nowhere else to go.
He got up.
Yuki was in the kitchen.
"Where are you going?"
"Stairwell."
He kept walking.
It's cold there. Light flickering. A boy sat on the third step. Knees to his chest. Face in his arms. Shoulders shaking.
Hiroshi sat next to him and said nothing.
The boy looked up. His face was wet and eyes were swollen.
"Who are you?"
"Someone who used to sit in stairwells."
"Why are you here?"
"Someone told me you were."
The boy looked at his hands. "My dad lost his job. We're getting kicked out tomorrow. I can't tell my mom."
"What's your name?"
"Kaito."
"How much does your dad owe?"
"Three months. About a hundred fifty thousand."
Hiroshi took out his phone.
“So you have his wallet address?”
The boy replied, “Yes.”
Alright then, let me have it. It's sent.”
Kaito's phone buzzed because he was holding the fathers phone. He looked at it. Mouth open, nothing coming out.
"What is this?"
"Your dad's rent. It's paid."
"Why."
"Someone did it for me once."
Hiroshi got up and walked back.
He went into his room. Sat on the floor.
The phone buzzed.
[Quest Complete: The Boy Outside]
[Reward: 3, 000,000 Credits]
[Stat Boost: Perception +1]
He put it down. Lay back. Stared at the ceiling. “Perception. No strength or agility today. Hmmm. Sounds good.”
Across the city Kazuo Kuroda sat in the dark in a glass tower. Rain kept hitting the window glass.
A man came in with a tablet in his hand. Hands not steady.
Kazuo waited.
"Hiroshi Tanaka. He paid everything. Three million plus interest."
"Where did he get it?"
"We don't know. The account didn't exist three days ago."
Kazuo went to the window. He looked down at the city.
"Broke student! Dying mother! Three days and he's moving millions!"
"Yes."
"Find out where it's coming from!"
"We're looking."
Kazuo turned around. Face calm. Eyes not.
"Look harder!"
The man left.
Kazuo sat back down. Rain kept coming. He didn't move.
Knock at the door.
"Come in."
Yuki stood in the doorway with arms folded.
"You're going to tell me what's going on. One day."
"One day."
"Ren thinks you don't trust him."
"I do."
"Then tell him."
"I can't. For now, all you have to do is trust me, alright?"
"Why."
"Because, it's the right thing to do. It's all you can do right now."
She came in and sat on the floor next to him. Didn't say anything for a bit.
"Figure it out. Then tell us."
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Chapter 28
The forest was thick. Their branches blocked out the sky. The only light came from the moon, thin and pale through the leaves.Hiroshi walked slowly. His feet were quiet on the dead leaves. His eyes were actively scanning and his ears were listening to pick even the faintest sound.The System's blue light flickered in his vision.LitRPG:[Children's Location: 200 meters ahead. Old hunting cabin. Hostiles: 2 armed men.]Hiroshi nodded and stopped waking. He pressed his back against a tree to peep what's ahead.He saw a small cabin made of old wooden walls. The roof was rusted. A single light glowed from the window. Yellow but dim.He could hear their voices before he even saw them.First was a man's voice loud and angry tone "I said move faster! We do not have all night!"He could hear children's voices crying loudly.Another voice. This one sounded calm and younger."They are just kids. They cannot move fast.""I do not care! Move them! Now!"Hiroshi moved closer. He crouched behind
Chapter 27
Mr. Endo spoke again. His voice was tired. "What do you want us to do?"Kazuo walked back to his chair. He put his hands on the back of it."Go home," he said. "Make your calls. Reassure your investors. Tell them this is a conspiracy. Tell them we have the situation under control.""And if they do not believe me?" Mrs. Fujiwara said."Then they can leave," Kazuo said. "And they can lose their money. And they can watch us rebuild without them."Mrs. Yamamoto stood up. Her chair scraped against the floor. Her sharp eyes were fixed on Kazuo."And if we leave?" she said.Kazuo smiled. It was not a nice smile."Then you will regret it," he said.Mrs. Yamamoto stared at him for a moment. Then she sat back down.The meeting continued. People argued. Kazuo listened. He did not raise his voice nor did he lose his temper.But his hands, which were hidden behind his back, were curled into strong fists.Back at the apartment, Hiroshi was sitting on the couch.He had his feet up on the coffee tabl
Chapter 26
Ren was sitting on the couch with his phone in his hand. His eyes were wide. His mouth was open."Yuki!” he said. "Come here."Yuki was in the kitchen. She rushed to the living room. "What?""Come here. Now."She walked over. She looked at his phone. Her face went pale."Oh my God. Ten billion credits," she said with a shocking expression. "In less than six hours."Ren scrolled down. "It says the police received evidence. Paper evidence. Someone mailed it to them."Yuki sat down next to him. She leaned over his shoulder."Organ trafficking," she said. Her voice was quiet. "They were trafficking organs. In the containers."Ren nodded. He looked at her. His face was pale."The Kuroda empire," he said. "My goodness Ren. These people are evil.”“Actually, they are finished. Though, the police are yet to carry out a thorough investigation. Only God knows how this leaked to the press.”In the Kuroda Empire, the conference room was full.The long table was surrounded by men and women in expen
Chapter 25
The officer's fingers moved to the zipper. It was loose. He then zipped the bag open.Inside were not drugs. Not powder. Not anything illegal. It was a clear bag filled with new clothes. Shirts. Socks. Underwear. Brand new. All folded neatly.He blinked. He reached inside and pulled out a shirt. He held it up. It was a plain white t-shirt."What?" he said.His face was confused. His jaw was dropped. His mouth opened and he closed it immediately."What is this?" he said to no one in particular. His voice was flat.The female officer stepped closer. She looked inside the bag. She pulled out a pair of socks.She raised one side of her cheeks. "They are just clothes," she said. Her voice was a whisper. She looked at the tall officer.Ren exhaled so loud he almost choked. His shoulders dropped. His hands fell to his sides. He looked at Hiroshi. His eyes were wide.Yuki let out a sound. It was more like a laugh. Half sob. Her hands were no longer over her mouth. She was smiling. She was cry
Chapter 24
Hiroshi squatted to the level of Himari. He rubbed her hair and wiped her tears with his finger. “I will be right back,” he said. “Okay?”Himari nodded and said meekly. “Promise?”“Promise,” he smiled and turned to leave the hospital. He had his hand on the exit door."Excuse me sir. At the entrance door," a voice called out.He turned. A nurse was walking toward him. She was young. Her hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail. She was holding a clipboard with papers attached."Are you the one who brought in the boy?" she said gently."Yes. I am."She handed him the clipboard. "I need you to fill out these forms. Medical history. Next of kin. Insurance information."Hiroshi looked at the forms. Then at the nurse. "He is not my brother. I do not know him."The nurse blinked. "You do not know him?""No. I found him in an alley. He was attacked. His sister was with him. The little girl over there."The nurse looked at the girl. Himari was sitting in the waiting room, her eyes red. She wa
Chapter 23
Ren dipped his hand into his bowl of popcorn and threw a piece at Yuki. It hit her on the forehead and bounced into her lap."Hey!" She picked it up and threw it back at him. It missed him by a mile and landed on the floor somewhere."Terrible throw huh," Ren said as he laughed carefreely."That was a great throw. You just have bad reflexes, you know.""Bad reflexes?” He leaned back and placed his feet up on the coffee table. "I caught three pieces earlier. Three pieces. You were right there.""You got lucky three times.""Luck is just skill in disguise."Yuki shook her head and grabbed the remote. She flipped through channels until some old black and white movie came on. A man in a hat talking to a woman in a dress."What is this?" Ren said."No idea. It was just on.""Change it please. Looks boring.""You change it.""Girl, you're holding the remote."Yuki looked down at the remote in her hand. Then at him. She threw it at him.He caught it. One hand. Didn't even look up."See?" he
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