Tokyo Crazy Paradise
Hana to Yume
1997 vol. 2; episode no. 12
Translation by Yuki-chan

It’s Morning.

Tsukasa, asleep: “Toshi... No fair~~ I want to eat some of... that too~~” She starts chewing on something. {..... It’s hard....} She’s half awake now. {...A hand?} “Ow.” Tsukasa is fully awake now, and sees that’s Ryuji’s next to her in bed, smoking. [Before you get alarmed, she’s clothed but without her protector on, and he’s wearing pants of some kind.]

Tsukasa: “!! !! !! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SLEEPING NEXT TO ME?”

The Kozuki brothers get up for school. Christmas was over, and Taku prepares breakfast.

Sho: “Hey Takunii.”

Taku: “What?”

Sho: “Did something happen to Sandaime?”

Tsukasa was sitting on the floor lecturing him in the next room, right in front of the doorway.

Tsukasa: “The harassment got a lot worse yesterday. Up until now, I let it go since you only talked, and took no action. But what was it? When the date changed to the 25th... You started harassing me more as if you were possessed by something.” What she interpreted as just “harassment” was actually Ryuji trying to make a move on her.

Ryuji: “...You said... that you didn’t hate me...”

Tsukasa looks perplexed. Taku, however, starts at this.

Tsukasa: {...Did I say something like that?} Since she was drunk, she didn’t remember anything. Kaya asks them to move so that they can get to the dining area for breakfast.

The meal is a bowl of rice, miso soup and takuan [a kind of pickled vegetable I think].

Sho and Toshi turn to Taku with silent tears streaming down their faces.

Taku: “Don’t complain! That’s all we can afford now that we’re independent. There are others who are more hungry than us.”

Tsukasa, with a river of tears from her eyes: “Ohhhh! Rice! It’s white rice!!! Miso soup and takuan, what a gorgeous breakfast~~!!!” To her, the food is sparkling, and she sees little stars.

Toshi: {Oh, I see.} “Tsukasa... While you were away from us did you have such a bad eating lifestyle?” {Kaya-san used to make us real good stuff.}

Tsukasa thrusts out a package: “Nutritional capsules.”

Toshi: “By any chance, you’ve been surviving only on that...?”

Tsukasa: “Yeah, ‘cause at this guy’s place every time I eat he adds it to our debt. And there are times that he’ll force feed me--- Thanks to him the debt is just increasing.”

Sho: “Tsukasa... About the debt, it’s probably...”

Taku: “Sho, stop talking and hurry and finish eating.”

Toshi and Sho: “---...” {...Sometimes we wonder... maybe Takunii isn’t pleased with Sandaime...}

Taku and Ryuji are sitting across from each other. As Tsukasa leans over and steals Toshi’s last piece of takuan, starting an argument, Kaya notices that sparks flash between Taku and Ryuji.

Later.

Tsukasa, looking really cute: “Onii-chan, I don’t have enough money to get to school~~~” [onii-chan = older brother]

Taku: “Fine. Here, don’t waste it.”

Tsukasa: “Yeah!” Sho tries to do the same to Toshi but gets no results. Tsukasa looks at the money. “...Taku... Is this money borrowed from someone?” Taku starts. “...If you’re borrowing for our schooling, then I... could drop out you know.” She looks worried.

Taku: “Ba--ka! If you don’t finish high school these days, you can’t get a decent job. Didn’t you want to become a cop?”

Tsukasa: “-----Yeah...”

Taku: “So don’t think about dropping out! You don’t have to worry about the debt okay?”

Tsukasa thinks this over in the subway. {It’s bad enough that we have to borrow money to go to school and even for living expenses, but thanks to this guy who makes me a bigger debt ...} She’s sitting on a seat and Ryuji just happens to be standing in front of her. “It’s all your fault!!” She kicks him in the stomach.

Bun-san and Kamo-san look on not knowing what to do or say as Ryuji falls forward onto her. [Actually, it looks like he’s trying to kiss her.]

Tsukasa: “Ahhh! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I was wrong!!”

Sho, to Toshi: “...It seems like they’re in a good mood....” Toshi agrees. “...Maybe it’s too late...”

Toshi: “What Takunii said this morning?”

Flashback.

Taku: “---Toshi... Sho... I told you this before. I’ll admit that since our parents died that Sandaime assisted us a lot. ...But while Sandaime’s Kuryugumi’s kumicho, he’s still our parents’ enemy. ...So I want to have to owe him as little as possible...”

Toshi: “I know. That’s why we moved from Sandaime’s resort right?”

Taku: “Toshi... Sho... I want you to promise me one thing.”

Toshi and Sho: “What?”

Taku, looking dead serious: “I don’t want Tsukasa to be any more friendly with Sandaime than she has to... So I don’t want you to let Tsukasa know about you know what.”

They got off the subway now and are heading for the school.

Sho: “‘You know what...’ Could that be referring to the money we’re borrowing for our schooling?”

Toshi: “Yes, the money that Tsukasa thinks we’re borrowing from some company.”

Sho: “Is it actually Sandaime?”

Toshi: “So that the debt that she thinks is outrageous is actually valid?”

Sho: “...I don’t see what’s so bad about telling Tsukasa about all this~~~” {Even if it makes Tsukasa hate Sandaime less.}

Toshi, agreeing: “Being around Sandaime has changed my view towards yakuza.” {It’s like why is Kamo-san a yakuza...}

Sho: “Maybe Takunii feels like a father who has a daughter?”

Toshi: “...Meaning?”

Sho: “Well Tsukasa is a girl, so maybe...”

Voice: “Ryuji---!!”

Asago comes running: “You’re finally here---!!! I missed you---!!!” She grasps him in a fierce hug, sending him falling back. Unfortunately, Tsukasa who happens to be behind Ryuji also falls back. Ryuji catches Asago, but Tsukasa finds herself squashed under the weight of two people.

Asago: “...How could you? You weren’t home yesterday or the day before. Where were you and how could you leave me behind like that?”

Sho and Toshi are still there.

Sho: “...Maybe by some mistake, Tsukasa may end up like that right...?”

Toshi: “...Tsukasa and Sandaime?” They both picture them together, naked mind you.

Sho, laughing: “That might be interesting.”

Toshi, crying from laughing too much: “I wouldn’t stop it!!” {I wouldn’t mind seeing a feminine Tsukasa....}

In class.

Asago, blushing a bit: “Ryuji, where were you this weekend? By any chance you weren’t alone with this guy were you?” Pointing at Tsukasa, she’s almost in a panic.

Ryuji: “I was with Tsukasa’s brothers and about 50 people.”

Asago, confused: “.....Doing what?”

Ryuji: “Having a Christmas party.”

Asago: “Eeeeee!? Why didn’t you tell me!? I would have arranged a fabulous party for you!! Why did you spend your first Christmas with people you don’t know----!?”

Tsukasa is ignoring them, flipping through a book.

“Tsu-ka-sa-kun!!”

Tsukasa looks down and two of her former classmates Yabu and Izushi [both last names]. “It’s the first time we’ve talked since we changed classes. I thought you guys were avoiding me or something.” They had come into the room crawling, so that they wouldn’t be seen by Ryuji.

Yabu: “No, no. But you’re with Shirogami-san all the time [Ryuji]. We didn’t dare come near you then.”

Tsukasa: {Hmmmmm.}

Yabu notices the book she’s flipping through and asks if she’s looking for a job.

Tsukasa: “Yeah.”

She thinks back to what Taku had said to her earlier. ‘If you don’t finish high school these days, you can’t get a decent job.’ {...Then what about Takunii who dropped out of school for us? Taking all the burden himself.... It’s originally my fault that we have a debt in the first place.... I don’t want to sacrifice one person just to that I can lead a happy life.... I want Takunii to be with us on that path...} She flips through the book. {But there’s no decent job a student can do that will help decrease a debt. Looks like a night job like what Takunii, Toshi and Sho have is the only way...}

Yabu: “Money problems?”

Tsukasa answers, barking like a dog. Yabu and Izushi smile and pass her an electronic business card. It was for a modeling job.

Tsukasa hands the card back: “I don’t wont to make money using myself as a show piece.”

One of them: “Why are you saying such a girlish thing?”

Yabu and Izushi tell her they’re going to check it out. They leave the card with her and crawl back out of the room. She thinks for a moment when Ryuji pulls the card out of her hand.

Ryuji: “Modeling?” He glares at her.

Tsukasa: “What?”

Ryuji: “You’re going to do something like this despite what happened before?” He slaps the card against her cheek and she tries to push him away.

Tsukasa: “I’m not okay?”

Ryuji: “Whatever.” He hands the card to Kamo-san to get rid of it. “We’re going to Ginza tonight.”

Tsukasa: “Work?”

Ryuji: “Date with Asago.”

Tsukasa, waving her hand: “Oh. Have fun.”

Ryuji, giving her a strange look: “...You’re coming too.” Asago returns telling him that she okayed it with her father.

Tsukasa: “...Are you sure...? Isn’t it date?” {Isn’t Asago going to kill us?}

Ryuji: “You’re a bodyguard so you’re expected to follow.” {How about feeling a bit of jealousy? Didn’t you say that you liked me?} [He had upgraded “I don’t hate you.” To “I like you.”]

Later in the evening.

Asago puts her hands around Tsukasa’s neck and begins squeezing: “So Ryuji told you to come, but did you really have to!!?”

Tsukasa: {I forgot. I’m the only one who’ll be killed by Asago.} “But Kamo-san and Bun-san.” She squeaked.

Asago: “Those two are okay!! They’re men!!” {One woman, me, is enough!!}

Tsukasa: “What a selfish girl. I bet you don’t have any friends.”

Asago: “Shut up!! We don’t need you here so go home!!”

Tsukasa turns to leave but Ryuji grabs her by her jacket collar.

“Where are you going?”

Tsukasa: “Home!!”

Ryuji: “Do your work”

Tsukasa: “Asago’s telling me to go home!!”

Ryuji: “You’re my bodyguard. All you have to do is obey my orders.”

Tsukasa is crouched on the ground: “Why do I have to be yelled at?”

Bun-san crouches beside her and pats her on the head: “Come on hurry and go back to work. Sandaime’s life is easily threatened in places like this.”

Tsukasa: “Then why come to places like this?”

Bun-san: “How could you be a yakuza and be scared of losing your life?”

Asago: “...Ryuji... I’m sorry... for acting like that...” {It’s not like I’m Ryuji’s bride yet or anything...}

He pats her on the head.

Asago: “...Hey Ryuji, did you really just eat and drink at the Christmas party?”

Ryuji: “Yeah.”

Asago: “Really? You’re not hiding anything are you?”

Ryuji: “.....” He thinks back to when Tsukasa got drunk. “No... nothing...”

Asago: “.....That’s strange...”

Ryuji: “...Why?”

Asago: “Because you’re smiling...”

Ryuji: “...What do you mean...”

Kamo-san: {How sharp of her to notice.} (-_-;)

Tsukasa glances at the crowd: {Is it my imagination or did I see those guys over there before?} She glances up at Ryuji who nods.

Hands clap into prayer.

Taku: “Dad, Mom, please forgive us for doing a job like this even if it is to survive.”

Toshi and Sho: “Please forgive us.” They all have tears streaming down their faces. They’re in the casino area of Ginza, and apparently this is their daily routine just before going to work.

Taku: “I’ve told you everyday but don’t follow some old guy who’ll offer you a 5 million yen chip.”

Toshi: “You too Takunii! Don’t you follow some rich lady with so many diamonds that you can’t even see her fingers!!”

They go to leave for work, when Toshi and Sho are stopped by a man. They’re offered a job as a model. They try to run off.

The man: “Hey! One day and you can get half a million!!”

Toshi and Sho stop in mid step. “Half a million in one day?”

The man: “Are you interested?” He pushes cards into their hands, telling them he’d wait until the end of the month for an answer.

Toshi and Sho watch the man leave, deciding that there’s something fishy about him. They go to throw out the cards when suddenly something small and hard lodges itself into the side of the garbage can. Looking up, they see people scattering as bullets are being fired into the crowd.

Toshi and Sho: {It’s Tsukasa and Sandaime!!!}

Kamo-san whips out his gun as Ryuji and Asago move back.

Tsukasa: “Kamo-san, stop!”

Kamo-san: “E?”

Tsukasa: “Please! Don’t use your gun! You’ll hit other people!! You and Bun-san aren’t like Ryuji and make a hit with only one shot!!” {You suck so much that it makes me scared to watch! Asago’s even much better.}

Kamo-san: “H... How blunt...”

Bun-san, sarcastically: “Sorry that I suck...” (-_-;) Tsukasa suddenly darts in front of Bun-san and heads for the attacker. “Hey!! Tsu-bo!!”

The attacker looks at her as if she’s insane and starts firing. A bullet grazes her left cheek and Toshi and Sho watch on in horror with their mouths open.

Tsukasa: “You SUCK too!!!” She does a flying kick, sending the guy flying into his accomplices

.

Sho: “Hey... Toshi... Weren’t we thinking that Tsukasa had the easy job...?”

Toshi: “...Yeah...”

Ryuji: “What’s this? You got hit by a bullet? How manuke of you!”

Tsukasa: “So I’m manuke... Leave it alone...”

Toshi and Sho face each other suddenly.

Sho: “If we leave Tsukasa by Sandaime’s side, she’s going to die someday! She’s going to die!!!” Both have tears in their eyes now and are holding each other for support.

Toshi: “We better hurry and clear up the loan and get her away from him.”

Sho: “But we can’t do much more than the jobs we have...”

They both start at the same time. “This is the solution!!”

At the Kozuki residence. Iruma is helping Kaya to move her stuff into the Kozuki’s residence. She originally was going to live on her own but the Kozuki brothers offered her a place with them.

Iruma: “I suppose it’s lonely if you were to live on your own.”

Kaya: “There’s that too...” {Seeing them try to live on their own made me think that I can’t have Ryuji-kun protect me for the rest of my life. So...} She’d asked Ryuji back on Christmas Eve not to spoil her as much, that she thought she could try again to live like when her sister was around.

Masa comes bursting into the room all of the sudden. “Dad!! There’s a strange person hanging around outside.” He finds out that they’re Kaya’s bodyguard. “Oh, I thought it was one of those kidnappers.”

Iruma: “What’s going on?” [Iruma’s place has no TV]

Masa: “Something about a man offering a good paying job to kids. There’s been about 10 cases yesterday and the day before. Students go to ask about the jobs and don’t come home.” [He’d went to Isahaya’s place to go watch TV]

Iruma: “Hmmmm.”

Masa: “Dad, you don’t think the Kozuki brothers would get caught by one of those things do you?”

Iruma: “I don’t think so...”

Masa: “But when you have money problems like that...”

Kaya: {---It should be okay... It’s okay right? Those kids are pretty strong and all... It’s nothing to worry about.}

Kaya is putting shoes on to go outside to share tea with her bodyguard. Her shoelace breaks all of the sudden.

{A bad omen....}