Chapter Four

“Is your problem solved?” he asked as he picked up the dishes. Akira grimaced as he remembered his meeting with the boss and replied, “No” David shook his head and went to the sink to wash the dishes. As he was doing so, a voice remarked, “Don't worry, I won't bother you any longer” David washed the dishes silently, returned to the room, and sat across from Akira.

After a few moments, he said, “Do you have a place to stay?” Akira shrugged and said, “My house is damaged, there is no security, our office is being repaired, and I can't go to other people's houses either. The boss said to come to my house, but I'm not comfortable there; I'll probably go to a hotel or a guest house.”

David shook his head and said, “It's hard for you to go under your employer's debt. If you want, you can stay here until you find a house.” Akira looked at him with surprise and said, “Are you okay? Until last night, you were shooting at my shadow, but now Are you inviting me to lunch and saying that I can stay here?”

David sighed and said, “Don't worry, I haven't been hit on the head. You yourself say that your house is damaged; probably your house is rented, so you have to pay compensation to the owner of the house. If you want to go to a hotel or a guest house, you will have enough money left for a Will you get a good house?” Akira thought for a while and said with a frown, “You're right, I hadn't thought about the cost of the compensation; if that happens, I'll have to find a faraway or small place to get the money, but I don't want to trouble you more than that.”

David shrugged and said “I've tolerated you for a few more days; it won't hurt. I just told you last night that you've already gotten me into trouble, so I'd best help you so I don't feel bad for you later.” Akira was embarrassed and said “I'm sorry, I really didn't want to cause you any trouble.”

- It's been done; for the time being, go gather your clothes and portable stuff and then call your house owner. I'm not leaving anywhere today, so finish your work and return.

Akira stood up, nodded, and said, “Thank you; you are very sincerely as a foreigner.” As he was putting on his shoes, David approached him, handed him a piece of paper, and asked, “What did you write here?” Akira wondered and said “Can't you read?”

- I recently moved to this country, and intense programs only teach communication and speaking abilities, with little emphasis on writing and reading.

- Does that mean you have a translator at the university?

“PhD courses are taught in English,” he smiled and added, “now tell me what you wrote here?” Akira shrugged and replied, “I just thanked you and left my contact number so you can call me if you have any problems.”

David nodded, putting the paper in his pocket, and as Akira walked to the door, he said, “Take care.” As he opened the door, he frowned, “Are you my mother? I can handle myself; no one dares attack Shinka the thunder. See you” and left the house. David, who was alone again, sighed and said, “I really hope so.”

***

Akira had contacted Ichiro and Arata to meet him at the front door on the way, and they were waiting for him when he arrived. Both of them bowed and said, “Good day, Aniki.”

- Didn't you two idiots have a problem last night? Was there no one following you?

They stared at each other, surprised, and shook their heads in denial. “Alright, let's go inside; there's a lot of work,” Akira mentioned as he opened the door and the three of them entered the house.

Arata said in surprise, “Aniki, what's going on here? Has there been an earthquake?” And Ichiro's added with anxiety “it looks more like a haunted house,” Akira smacked them both on the head and said, “Idiots, don't you see that red spider? It's the work of those Nakayama’s bastards!”

Ichiro said “Really?! You told the boss?” Akira frowned and nodded bitterly. Arata said curiously, “So we're going to fight them?” Akira answered with a frown, “No, the boss told us not to do anything so that he could follow up!” Both of them said in surprise, “Why?!” And they answered angrily, “Don't be so confused! Be quick and start the work! I will collect the healthy things; there are a few boxes in the room closet; put all the broken things in them so that when we want to leave, we can put them in the trash can,” and then they started cleaning.

All of the damaged things were collected in roughly two hours. Akira was down to two pairs of underwear, a black t-shirt, and a pair of healthy black slacks. He also put his glass, chopsticks, towel, and toothbrush in a handbag. Apart from these, there was nothing else in the house that was useful or healthy.

He called the owner of the house after finishing work and while his men were carrying out the garbage. When the owner of the house, a 60-year-old man, saw the condition of the walls and the house, he was shocked, but when Akira assured him that he would pay for the repairs, he was relieved and scheduled an appointment with him to cancel the contract and receive the repair fees, then handed over the keys.

The lads were waiting for him in front of the building's entrance; he went to them and said, “You did well; you can go now. Be careful not to go anywhere alone, especially at night, and be sure to let me know if anything happens.” Arata nodded and said, “But where are you going? Our office building is under repair.”

- Don't worry about me; I have an acquaintance. I will go to him until I find a home. So don't forget; if there is news, let me know quickly.

And then, turning his back on them as he waved his hand in farewell, he walked towards David's house.

***

When the doorbell rang, David was gathering his papers for tomorrow's class. He stood up and opened the door after looking at the clock, which read 19:20. The yellow-headed boy stood behind the door, clutching a black bag. The foreigner boy stepped aside without saying anything, allowing him to enter. “Once again, I apologize for bothering you,” Akira remarked as he removed his shoes.

- No worries. Was this all of your gear? You lead a very simple lifestyle.

“The only things left intact,” he murmured as he tossed the bag into a corner and slumped down on the floor. David nodded, took a seat on the opposite side of the table, and went about his job. “Are you always so quiet?” Akira said after a few moments. “I don't usually have company,” David continued without looking at him, “and if I do, I can't think of anything to talk about.”

- Don't you want to know about my situation and why I came to your house in this manner?

- I dislike snooping. Furthermore, if there is anything I need to know, you will undoubtedly inform me.

Akira frowned. Why was this boy so oblivious to him while helping him at the same time? the boy Avoiding looking at him, Akira didn't look harsh or scary. The women and girls of Shinjuku always complimented him on his beautiful face, which did not suit his job at all. As he was thinking, he touched his hair and said under his breath, “Is it because of my hair color?”

Meanwhile, David said without introduction, "Don't you want take a shower" Akira, who was surprised, paused and said, "Shower? Do I smell?" then started to smell himself, when the foreign boy said again, "You definitely shouldn't smell; you went and cleaned the house today; you must have sweated a lot, so you better go take a shower." Akira thought and said, "You're right, okay. So I'm going to take a shower." He got up, took his towel and underwear, and walked to the bathroom when David said, "Don't take too long; dinner will be ready soon." Akira nodded and entered the bathroom.

He opened the hot water faucet in the small tub, and as it filled, he took off his clothes and placed them in the laundry basket. He used the water shower to wash his head and body before entering the tub, which was slowly filling.

The heat of the water was wonderful and gave him a good feeling, despite the fact that it was smaller than his own bathtub. He pushed his hair back with his palm and glanced at the waves on the water's surface. Why couldn't the boss realize that Nakayama was the mastermind behind all that happened in their area? Despite the fact that they skillfully left no evidence, Akira was certain that it was their job based on the minor indicators and his inner instinct.

He moved to Tokyo nine years ago in search of a better life and to leave his past behind. He began his career in restaurants and then worked as a host in women's bars. He was 20 years old when a brawl broke out at one of the bars, and he was on the verge of being fired for assaulting a customer's husband.

It was fortunate that the bar was under the influence of Yonkiko's group, and the boss who was present that day admired his bravery and fighting spirit and invited him to join his group. From then until now, over the past 7 years, he has done his best to repay the boss's favors and keep the group strong. Since he began working as a kyodai at the Shinjuku branch building a year and a half ago, the profit of the shops has improved, as has the security of the area.

But, with the changing of the Nakayama group's leader, this steadiness was abruptly disturbed, and it distressed him day by day. He gradually came to the conclusion that the previous week's surprise attack, in which they ambushed him from behind like cowards and beat him to death, was also their work. He cursed beneath his breath and smacked his fist on the water's surface.

At the same time, the bathroom door was knocked on, and the foreign boy remarked from behind it, “Akira-san, food is ready.” He climbed out of the tub and said, “I'm coming now.” He got out of the tub, grabbed a towel, and began drying himself. He put on his underwear, tossed the towel over his shoulder, and exited the bathroom.

The foreign boy was sitting at the table and arranging the dishes. As he entered the room, David raised his head and said with a surprised expression, “May I ask why you are naked?” Akira said as he went to his bag, “I always take a bath like this; now that the weather is hot, you don't catch a cold.”

- You were always alone, but now you have a roommate.

“So what?” Akira asked, poking his head through the collar of his T-shirt “We're both men” He was going to take his seat at the table when David interrupted, “You don't want to wear pants?!” “No, because I don't have comfortable pants and these pants I have left are also warm.” Akira sighed, then stroked his T-shirt with his fingers and continued, “You have seen me like this before, so what's your problem?”

David got up, went to his closet, and came back with a short. He held it out to Akira and said, “Use these; it might be a little long, but you can adjust the waist with the elastic.” As he reluctantly took the shorts, He said, “Are all foreigners weird like you?” But David remained silent and sat behind the table. Akira sighed, put on the shorts, sat facing him, and said, “Are you satisfied now?” David nodded, got his bowl, and poured some soup into it.

“I won't be back until 6 p.m. tomorrow,” he stated as he returned the bowl and filled his own bowl. “The spare key is located next to the front door, behind the mailbox. If you leave the house after me, please lock the door, and if you arrive before me, you know where the key is.” Akira ate a little portion of his soup before looking at him and asking, “Why?” David replied without looking at him. “What, why?”

- Why do you put your faith in me so quickly? You don't know who I am; you met me by accident; you don't know anything about me, but you helped me last week, last night, and now. You are now allowing me access to your home. Why do you trust me?

David took a bite of his soup, paused, and said, “I don't know; maybe I'm just stupid or too caring and kind; who knows?” and continued to eat. Akira, who was not convinced, asked again, “But you are a stranger in this country; you don't know anything about me except my name; aren't you worried that everything I said was a lie and that I will steal from your house when you are not here?”

“I'm not a humanist; I'm not social; I prefer to avoid people,” David sighed, “but now that I met you by chance, it's my choice to trust you, but it's your choice to betray my trust.” Akira, who was taken aback by his words, sat quietly.

He had always remembered one thing since moving to Tokyo: don't trust anyone, not even those closest to you. He felt at ease with the group members, seemingly trusting them, but no one in his life had earned his total trust. Now this big foreign boy, who had only met him a few times and knew nothing about his past or present, was claiming that he trusted him and that it was his fault if that trust was incorrect. “Do you like this country?” he asked offhand.

David took a bite and said, “Japan is a good country; I've been interested in it since I was a child, especially because of anime. It's true that reality is different from movies and anime, but I still think Japan is a good country.”

- What about its people?

- I don't have an opinion because, as I already stated, I don't like to mingle much, I know very few Japanese people, and they treat me nicely and respectfully.

Akira put down his bowl and said, “Can you pay attention to me for a moment?” David put his bowl on the table, sighed, and raised his head. The Japanese boy said softly, “If you knew I was a criminal, would you still help me?” David indifferently said, “Ordinary people are not chased and forced to hide somewhere far from their acquaintances, am I right?”

Akira said in disbelief, “Despite all that you knew, you helped me?!” David nodded and started eating again. But he still looked at the foreign boy in disbelief. Was he crazy? He was about to say something when David said, “Please eat your food; it's getting cold. We have a lot of time to talk.” Akira sighed and started eating.

***

When sleep time coming, David chose the floor again, but this time Akira sadly said, “You slept on the floor last night, without a pillow or sheets! You sleep on the bed; I have no problem sleeping on the bare floor,” David nodded and said. “Don't worry, I have an extra bed; I just had to spread it out last night, so I slept like that.”

He walked to the closet and pulled out a light mattress, a sheet, and a pillow, which he put out on the floor. “This is your home,” Akira remarked. “You don't have to trouble yourself because of me; I sleep on the floor.” Just as he was about to sit on the bed, David said with a blank face, “If you want to sleep on the floor, you have to sleep next to me. So choose: sleep on the bed or on the floor next to me.”

Akira, knowing that the big boy was bluffing, smirked and said “You think I'm a kid? I sleep on the floor” then he sat down on the bed. David paused for a moment, then turned off the room light, and sat on the bed next to him. As he was lying down, Akira said in surprise, “Why are you sleeping here?! get on your bed!”

- I told you, if you want to sleep on the floor, you have to sleep next to me, do you want me to hug you too?

Akira jumped up and sat on the bed, exclaiming, “Why are you doing this?! Do you like boys?” he spoke as he turned his back on him. “Who knows? Anyway, as the old adage goes, my ground is my law. So remember, you sleep on the bed while you're here, and if you come on the floor, you're the one who likes boys.”

Akira frowned as he lay down on the bed. “You're so cunning,” he continued with a sigh, “but thank you; even though I might cause more trouble to a foreigner than a Japanese, you're still helping me.”

- I didn't do anything special, I just gave a yellow-headed high school boy a place to sleep.

- You told me high school boy again?! I....

- I know, I know. Akira-san is older than me. You don't need to be nervous.

- Do you realize you shouldn't irritate someone like me?

- Why? Do you have a cardiac condition? Is it possible to have a stroke?

Akira half stood and said, “No, Mr. Yummy! Because I'm a yakuza!” David paused and, without turning to him, said, “Aha, well done. Now please go to sleep, Mr. Yakuza. I'm a student, and I have to get up early in the morning.”

- Do you think I'm lying?!

- Good night Akira-san.

He got down from the bed, knelt down next to him, and said, “Now you are thinking that this boy with this height, body, and age cannot be a yakuza, right?!” But there was no response. He said angrily again, “Don't pretend you're asleep; I know you're awake!” and shook his shoulder with his hand. David turned to face him, lifted a corner of his bed sheet, and stared him in the eyes. Akira said confusedly and stammered, "Wh-what?!"

- As I previously stated, coming down signifies you want me to cuddle you; therefore, I made a place for you to sleep close to me.

Akira immediately turned back on the bed and said, “You're crazy!” “Maybe,” David said as he turned his back to him, and with a slight pause, he said again, “Good night, Akira-san.”

***

He awoke at 6 a.m. as usual, had a shower, drank a glass of milk with a biscuit, and began to dress. His Japanese guest was fast asleep, his lips wide. His thoughts returned to last night's chat as he stared at him while getting ready.

True, he did not trust this boy's words at the time, but after putting the events of the previous week together, he recognized that they were not far from his mind. He was beaten, had special tattoos, strolled along the street with people that looked like His subordinates, dyed his hair to make himself more special, and was wanted. Certainly not by the cops, who would have forced him to flee to a safer location.

He sighed and picked up his backpack, walked down the hall, put on his shoes, and walked out the door, wondering how he'd gotten himself into trouble.

Summer was approaching, and the weather in Tokyo was becoming increasingly hot. He had to hand over the transcript of his paper to the professor today; if all goes well, he should be able to finish the piece before the exams begin next week and send it to the preferred publication for evaluation. He satisfied himself, nodded to himself, and proceeded towards the station.

***

- David, your work is excellent. All of the portions are well written, and I can't see any flaws from a scientific standpoint; just work on improving the wording and grammar first, and it'll be ready to send.

“In these ten years that I have accepted students as a professor, I can boldly say that I have seen a few people who work regularly and patiently without pressuring the professor; they are on the right path by themselves,” the professor said as he returned the laptop to him, “and you, my son, are one of those few.”

With a mixture of pride and shame, David half-bowed and replied, “Thank you, Professor; you are very kind to me.” The old man laughed and said, “No, my friend, you are really good, and I have high hopes for you.” Then he hesitated and continued, “I forgot, a 3-day international conference will be held at Tohoku University in Sendai in the middle of August. I'd want to write a letter of recommendation for you to participate in it; is that okay?”

“In Sendai?! I'd love to go, Professor! If you could, that would be great!” David expressed his delight. the old man joked, “I didn't know you were so interested in conferences” The boy smiled shyly and replied, "Actually, I'm more interested in seeing Sendai itself."

- Oh, really? Why?

- I had studied a little bit of Japanese history in the past. One of my favorite historical figures in Japan is Date Masamune. I always wanted to be able to go to Sendai and see his tomb.

“It's interesting that a non-Japanese person is interested in our history's great leaders,” the professor said, nodding and smiling. “Okay, then I'll handle the correspondence. You may return to work,” and as he walked away, David bowed properly and said, “Thank you, Professor.”

***

He opened his eyes slowly, blinked to focus, and then looked at the time. He grumbled and sat slowly on the bed as the clock read 10:30. He stood up, stretched, went to the bathroom, washed his face, and returned to the room when everything was tidy and clean. When did the foreign boy leave without his knowledge? He scratched his tummy and went to the refrigerator, opening the door and peering inside. He didn't want to make breakfast.

He picked up his phone and dialed Ichiro's number. After two beeps, he picked up the phone and said, “Good morning, Aniki!” He impatiently said, “Good morning, fool number one; is that fool number two with you?”

- Yes, Arata is here too.

- Very well, be in front of Naoki's shop in half an hour; I'll see you there.

- Sure Aniki!

He hung up the phone and threw it on the bed. He took his pants out of the bag, and as he changed his pants, he thought to himself how strange this foreign boy was. He had unbalanced behavior, both avoiding him and helping him. He said ridiculous things and probably didn't even believe that he was really a yakuza.

He had pushed one of his legs inside of his pants when the thought occurred to him, "Trusting you is my choice; betraying it is your choice." He grumbled to himself, thinking, "Stubborn boy, he wants to teach me morals and knowledge." He put on his pants, went to the mirror to comb his hair, and suddenly remembered the serious look he had given him when he had pulled up the bedclothes.

He was so serious that for a moment he thought that he really wanted them to sleep next to each other. He shook his head to get the thought out of his head. he combed his hair, went to the hallway and put on his shoes. He left the house and as soon as he reached the staircase, he remembered that he had not locked the door. He went back to the house, took the key from behind the mailbox, locked the door, put it back in place, and walked to his meeting place.