Gambling Slaves

Mika stepped onto the morning train headed toward Shibuya Station. She clutched the bag full of cash close to her body in the midst of the chaotic atmosphere of the crowded train cars. Her eyes flickered between the variety of people aboard the train; ranging from students to businessmen. Everyone was in their own little world, yet there she stood, with more money than most of these common folk could only dream of.

Her gaze landed on a mother and her child. The young daughter was crying softly, while her mother stroked her back, offering the little girl a piece of bubblegum.
"It's okay, sweetie. We'll buy plenty of groceries when Mommy gets paid, okay? Here, you love bubblegum, don't you?"

The small girl thoroughly chewed the sweet treat, leaning against her mother's shoulder.

Mika stepped forward, unzipping the bag around her shoulder. It may have been due to familiar sympathy, but Mika desperately wanted to help. She handed the mother one hundred thousand yen as if the amount were nothing to her.
"Here... for your groceries."

The mother's eyes widened in horror. She recognized the rose-patterned suit that Mika had been wearing.
"N-no, thank you! I'm not interested in a loan..."

Mika stuffed the cash into her hand, softening her expression into a gentle smile.
"It's okay... It's not a loan. I don't know your name or address. I have plenty; just look in my bag."
She opened her messenger bag just enough for the woman to catch a glimpse of the money inside.

The mother let out a loud gasp, quickly stuffing the money into her purse. Her eyes filled with tears as she smiled at Mika.
"Thank you! My daughter and I haven't been able to eat in days... I'll never forget this, Bara-gumi."

Mika shook her head.
"I'm not in the Bara-gumi... I'm just wearing their clothes. My name is Umeda Mika; remember it."

The woman's young daughter playfully hopped up from her seat, raising a piece of bubblegum up to Mika.
"Thank you, kind lady! This is my favorite treat!"

Mika let out a soft giggle, taking the piece of gum into her slender fingers.
"What is it? Some kind of pink chocolate?"

The small girl shook her head, demonstrating how to blow a bubble in her mouth.
"You chew it until it's soft! Then, you can make big, pink bubbles! But don't swallow it! Mommy says if you swallow gum, it will stay in your tummy forever!"

Mika plopped the delicious bubblegum into her mouth, focusing her gaze on the girl in front of her. She chewed thoroughly, letting out a soft sigh of satisfaction from the delicate flavor.
"It's really yummy. How do I make a bubble?"

"Like this! Flatten it around your tongue, and use your breath to blow into the gum!"
The little girl blew a bubble the size of a bowling ball, popping it all over her face.

Mika laughed, following her instructions perfectly. She blew a large bubble around her face, watching it pop all over her nose.
"I think I'm getting the hang of it. Thanks for the gum, but this is my stop."

The woman bowed her head low, her daughter following suit.
"We'll never forget you, Umeda Mika."

Mika stepped off the train, blending in to the hustle and bustle of the big city. She checked her cell phone, following the GPS to her coordinates. On her way, she stopped at a convenience store, noticing the large selection of various bubblegum flavors that lined the candy aisle. She loaded her arms with as much as she could carry, bringing it to the checkout counter. The cashier grimaced upon seeing so many packs of gum.
"Cash or card?"

"Cash."
Mika plopped a stack of one hundred thousand yen onto the counter, making the young cashier gasp in shock.

"Young lady, this is too much! You don't even owe half of this!"
He quickly pushed the cash back into Mika's hand, taking a single bill from the top of the stack.

"I see... so gum is cheap? I'm still learning about prices."
Mika stuffed her change into her pocket, taking the bag full of gum in her free hand. She plopped another piece into her mouth, letting out quiet squeaks of happiness as she savored the fruity flavor.

She arrived at the gambler's hall around noon, stepping past the large bouncer after he recognized her her rose-patterned clothes. The room was filled with stale smoke and the heavy aroma of whisky. She stood idly by the table, blowing bubbles of gum as she cranked the volume in her earbuds. Her eyes flickered between the game of richi mahjong on the table, and the man next to her, wearing a brown, knuckleduster trench coat. He had bright, green eyes and unshaven stubble around his chin. Mika defiantly popped her bubble.
"Do I have something on my face?"

"Seven hundred thousand yen... And you're late."
The man expectantly held his hand out to Mika.

Mika reached into her bag, pulling out seven stacks of cash and handing it to the mysterious man at the table.
"Big spender, huh? Don't you know, gambling can get you killed?"

He ignored Mika's truthful words, placing five hundred thousand on the table in front of him. Mika let out a silent scoff, putting her earbuds back in her ears. She couldn't help but watch the men gamble. Her eyes followed the beautiful mahjong tiles as they were sorted among each person.

"Pon!"

"Kan..."

"Chi."

Mika was growing increasingly irritated by the unfamiliar words that the men had been calling out. She wondered what was so thrilling about gambling in the first place. Her mind filled with thoughts of Hidaka Jin, and how his terrible addiction brought an end to his own daughter, Nozomi.

"Richi!.. Tsumo!"

Mika watched as the man she had just loaned seven hundred thousand yen lost in an instant. Her face was stuck in disbelief. Grunts of displeasure filled the room, causing three of the four men at the table to walk over to Mika.

"One million..."

"Seven hundred thousand, please."

"I'll take five hundred thousand."

She counted their money, slipping their requested amounts into their hands. Just as she handed the green eyed man his five hundred thousand yen, he sliced the leather strap of her bag with a knife, and ran off with half a billion yen.

Mika quickly pulled her revolver from her suit pocket, sending two quick shots toward the door. The remaining men ducked in fear, making a beeline toward the hallway for cover.
"Someone, stop that man!"
Mika shouted as she ran to the exit, noticing the crowded streets parting like the Red Sea as the man in the knuckleduster forced his way through the chaos.