An Old Man (Part 2)

After the hour-long grueling speech consisting of the magnate discussing money, politics, and business, Makoto walked dejectedly out of the auditorium. He didn’t even bother trying to “talk” with Hyōdō after the session like many of the others did, for Hyōdō might’ve publicly identified him as one of the suspects of the fight, which would secure him a one way ticket behind bars, and not of the chocolate kind.

Not to mention that if he was ever identified as being involved in the cafe incident, dropping out of college, changing his name, and moving to the countryside in pursuit of starting a new life as a rural farmer sounded like a decent option.

You’ve got mail!

Makoto unlocked his phone to see a calendar notification. Of course, there had to be a Wingman Squad meeting at 6:15pm. If it wasn’t for this accursed club, right about now he would be networking with the right people, attending business oriented clubs, and eventually conquering Takaoka Uni. But now, he was stuck playing discount Romeo.

He opened the alleyway door solemnly and was greeted by the presence of every member in party hats and blowers.

“And now, please welcome our newest recruit!” roared Ebi as confetti began flying around like firecrackers. “Please take some cake up front before getting situated,” he said, blowing on his party horn.

Well, the cake never hurt anybody, thought Makoto sullenly, grabbing a slice and taking a bite, and breaking a couple of his teeth.

“PRANKED!” Ebi exclaimed in delight. “It was actually wood disguised to look like cake! It’s ironic ‘cause usually it’s the other way round. See Makoto, if you can master not falling for tricks like this, you’ll be a pro at dodging trap questions from women as well!”

“You better be a pro at dodging my mighty right fist, cause you’re gonna need some good medical insurance real soon otherwise,” snapped back Makoto, shaking his fist.

“Alright alright, calm down man, my b, jeez, why so aggressive?” placated Ebi. “Anyway, let’s get started folks– hey Nishinoya, stop spanking Orochi!”

“Looks like everyone is here, sar!” said Gorou.

“Good. Now, before we begin today’s lesson, we have a guest speaker today. He should be here soon.”

Guest speaker? Was it gonna be like a testimonial from some successful ex-memb- Wait. What was this feeling?

Without warning, the ambience of the room suddenly got oppressive. ゴゴゴゴ (Menacing). The temperature almost seemed to rise a couple degrees and … was that boss music playing in the background? Actually no, that was just the student orchestra club ‘practicing’ nearby. A presence loomed just outside the alleyway door, so intense that it squashed Makoto and the squad down like a bunch of insignificant mosquitoes. The power level was over 9000!

The door squealed open as the omnipotent aura pushed itself in, revealing … a decaying sack of flesh and bones dressed in baggy clothes, a gold chain and black shades.

“What’s good in the ‘hood, homies?” he said, making a gang sign and biting his lip.

“Ah, so good to see you, oh most senior member!” exclaimed the captain. “Welcome back! How’d the speech go? Surprised you got out so quick.”

Huh. Guy seemed a little old to be giving a testimonial, thought Makoto. Wait, did Ebi just say ‘speech’?

“Yeah well, security got involved after some bloke fell at my feet begging me to sign his nipple, so I was able to make a beeline straight to here.”

Hol’ up.

Makoto turned back to look closer at the shriveled up coot’s face, which was now starting to look suspiciously similar to the expired tart he had seen not too long ago. What in the name of the finance gods was Hyōdō Tonegawa doing here?! Did the billionaire businessman take a wrong turn on his way to the private jet?

“So this is this year's incoming class, eh?” Hyōdō remarked, walking up to the front. “Excellent. I’m glad to see the club has been going strong since my days. The main reason I came back on campus was to be here, not at that stupid auditorium I built.”

B-bakana!

“That’s right,” Hyōdō continued, catching the shocked look off of Makoto’s complexion. “I suspect some of you might know me already, but on this occasion, let me formally introduce myself. I am Hyōdō Tonegawa, age unknown, billionaire entrepreneur, father of two, CEO and managing director of Tonegawa Enterprises, and most importantly the founder and first captain of the Wingman Squad!”

“I-Impossible,” gasped Makoto, “you’re t-the head of a m-multibillion dollar b-business conglomerate?! What is a man of your caliber doing here?!”

“So what if I am here?” the old tycoon replied coolly. “The greatest teachings in my life came not from my university economics teachers, business partners, or even dear old mom and pop, but from this very club itself! Without the profound experiences I’ve had here, I would’ve never become the mogul I am today!”

“The times have changed immensely since I was but a wee lad running around on the streets here in the 60s,” continued the old man, “Skyscrapers rising, technology dominating consumerism, the economic stagnation of the 90s due to the asset price collapse… But the one thing that has remained constant in the hearts and minds of the countless individuals here is the desire for lifelong companionship! To find that special someone to be with you for the rest of your life!”

“But can’t you get any girl you want with the amount of wealth you have?” asked Orochi.

Hyōdō sighed. “Do you think paper bills are the key to success in life?” he asked, looking off into the distance. “I can live without money, but I cannot live without love. No amount of money can buy you true love, for true love is priceless.”

“M-Masaka, you mean to tell me life is not all about making bank?!” stuttered Orochi.

The old geezer sighed. “Of course, you need a baseline amount of money in order for anything to work out. But, millions, if not billions of dollars? Of course not. But know this – if you choose money over what gives you true fulfillment, you shall always remain poor.”

Jeez, no wonder businessmen become good politicians. A smooth-tongue is required for both of those professions. Makoto made a mental note to take a communications class.

“But nevermind this banter, for I have a business meeting I need to attend soon. Let me give you my brief speech. Play the music, Gorou,” directed Hyōdō.

“Yas-sir,” he saluted as he clicked the play button on his computer. A low meditative hum filled the room, as a solo flute began playing a melody.

“Your time with us will be like a pilgrimage. It is a long journey, into the unknown, to search for and gain meaning on that which is true love. It is about stepping into the beyond, to go outside of your comfort zone. That is what a pilgrimage is.

“To remove the bondages from yourself, you should always be moving in life, not settling. If one day you become stagnant, well, stagnation always stinks, as you all are well aware given your 18 year existence on this planet with the inability to get with women.”

Ouch, now that was a roast if Makoto had ever heard one.

“You are all here because you are aware of your own limitations with respect to the female specimen. And you are here with the strong desire in wanting to step into the beyond – to learn what it takes to win a woman’s heart. And for that, I must commend you.

“Otherwise there’s nothing wrong at all. You can claim your love for the 2D, or whatever else, and live for the rest of your life like that. There’s nothing wrong with that, just that it is limited.

“But just know, there will always be a hole in that heart, waiting to be filled. Some will realize this early on, and others may realize this upon their deathbeds. But nobody in this life will go unrealized. Let this pilgrimage become a source of aliveness within yourselves, so that such hole no longer exists within yourself.”

He threw up his hands. “And with that, I formally welcome you to the Wingman Squad, the most prestigious underground club here at Takaoka Uni! I have come here to bless you on your journeys. Ancient and secret written techniques which have been formulated since my time will be passed on to you, in each of your quests for true love.”

So this is where funding for the club came from?! Maybe Makoto had been a bit too hasty in filling in the job applications of the farming sector. What were the other alums like? Were they even on this side of the plane of existence?

“Makoto, I have heard much about you,” Hyōdō continued as an aside. “The determination you have in your eyes, the way you carry yourself… Looking at you now is like looking at my past self! You seemed to be a worthy one!”

“Then I got to witness your scheme with that future wife of yours, and l realized I was wrong and you were a daft oaf.”

Chuckles could be heard scattered around the room. Oooof…

“But that’s okay. That is why you are here, to learn how to deal with the female specimen.”

A flow of tears ran down Makoto’s cheek. If only had been able to get Uyeno then, how much hope and help that old man would have given him now!

“But do not worry my fellow pupils. I have convinced the dean of the university to withdraw the police investigation, and I was able to wipe security camera footage and bribe the cafe workers to not out the perpetrators, with my connections of course.”

This man was like a god!

“What about the government investigation?” piped in Akashi.

“That was taken care of as well. You are all in the clear.”

Forget that, for all intents and purposes, this man was an actual god!

“But why?” asked Nishinoya. “Why would you do such a thing for random college students like us?”

Hyōdō looked up a bit, with his fists out. “You are no random college student to me. You all are Wingman Squad members. And you all showcased to me the most important virtues of those part of the squad – that which is the power of friendship and camaraderie. A true wingman is there to help the main man in need, no matter what embarrassment or pain he must undergo in the situation.”

He turned to Ebi. “I’m glad you found such strong, suitable candidates for this year.”

***

Makoto walked down the hall, still waiting for the punchline. A day had passed since he had learned of the true identity of Hyōdō Tonegawa and that fact was just as hard to wrap his head around as it had ever been. Either way, lady luck had finally handed him the sugar and soda to make lemonade from his lemons. Well, not his lemons, those would not make lemonade. But whatever. This was his chance!

Never in a million years had he thought he would have a chance to make Hyōdō Tonegawa a personal contact. That man could take him places, and for that, Makoto was ready to do a lot more than just play along with the wingman charade. He smirked internally as he walked with swagger in his step, reaching the elevator and pressing the UP button. That’s right, he would soon be a king amongst these peasants and nobody could stop him. Muahahahaha!

The musings of the madman were rudely interrupted by the elevator door sliding open with a clank, revealing none other than… Uyeno.

Cli-cli-click-cli-click.

Uyeno furiously pressed the close button, but to her dismay, he was too quick and entered the lift.

Makoto took a deep breath, ignoring her attempt to thwart him. Not even she could ruin his good mood today.

“To the fifth floor,” muttered Makoto as he went up to the dial pad. However, he found the number 5 button had already been lit up. He turned to her. “You’re going to see Professor Konidarisu too?”

Crickets. She was staring extra hard into her phone. Ugh, why did she have to be like this, even when he was trying to be nice? Oh well, at least it’ll only be a couple of seconds till he’s set free.

As the elevator doors came to a close and the lift began its upward ascent, he couldn’t help but sneak another glance at Uyeno. Of course, she was probably disgusted with him after what happened at the cafe, and rightfully so…

But she was looking cute as hell today, her hair knotted in a ponytail as she chose to wear the same glasses as when they met last time.

Makoto felt a gentle tug from the center of his chest. His heartbeat hastened a small sliver. He recalled the words from the wise Hyōdō – was this his heart telling him to go fill in its hole?

Well that question had to wait, as without warning the elevator started trembling, enough for even Uyeno to look away from her phone in concern.

Then it jerked up and down as if it were having a seizure, the lights flickered on and off, before it came to a complete halt, the lights holding on dimly to dear life.

A moment of silence followed.

“Bad things always happen when you’re around,” she muttered.

“No kidding,” he agreed, his heart beating faster for different reasons now. He tried pressing a couple of buttons, but nothing responded.

Well, shit.

The elevator broke down mid-ride.