Chapter 2. Loan sharks and school

Chapter 2. Loan sharks and school

After that things went smoothly for Ren and his family. With the help of detective Yagami, Ren was able to quickly collect his reward money.

After all the taxes, the money he received was 75% of the total amount meaning he received a total of 7.5 million yen.

Ren was sad because of this and cursed the tax department for a whole night but he was able to recover from that.

But the next blow Ren received was bigger than before. In his happiness, he had forgot that he still had a debt to pay.

After a day of getting the money, the debt collectors visited his home.

"Hey, kid I heard you have made a fortune. How about paying your debt back now"

Seeing big burly men in a black suit standing in his house was not a pleasant thing.

Ren knew he can't hide from them, so he decided to confront the situation head on.

"I will pay the 2 million debt"

"2 million? Kid, are you joking with us"

"What do you mean joking? I am paying the debt, so take it and get out from here"

At those words, the burly man with red hair who was the leader snickered and said.

"Hey, kid the debt is 5 million, not 2 million"

"5 million? Are you on drugs, my father only took 2 million from you"

"Hehehe, your father certainly took 2 million but the amount written in the IOU is 5 million"

The red haired man said as he showed Ren the copy of the IOU.

After reading the IOU, Ren's eyes were bloodshot and veins were throbbing on his forehead.

"You have tempered with the IOU"

"Tempered! No, kid it was your dad who didn't read it through as he didn't have much time"

The debt his father had taken was because of his grandmother. At that time, she was in the hospital swinging between life and death.

To save her, his father had taken a debt but before his grandmother operation, his father had died.

Unable to handle the death of the son, his grandmother had also died.

The hospital hadn't returned their money saying that it wasn't their fault that his grandmother died.

It was a tragic story that had destroyed his family.

"I will go to the police"

"Police! You can certainly go to them but you should know that we also have our connections"

Ren was in a bind now, he wanted to call detective Yagami but he knew the situation wasn't in their favour.

The loan sharks have all the right documents. Even if he take this case to the court, it was not certain that he will win.

Moreover, he didn't have much money to spend on the court and the lawyers.

In the end, he had to gave away 5 million Yen to the loan sharks. It was his money but the loan sharks had snatched it away.

He reluctantly transferred 5 million to the loan sharks and got the original IOU in return.

"Thanks and if you want to take a loan, you can contact us"

As the men was about to leave the house, Ren yelled.

"Wait a minute"

"What kid? Are you angry now"

"Yeah, want to have a go with us"

"You all think that it is the end! You have dare to snatch my money, I will not let you go"

"Ha, you are being gutsy, kid. Let me teach you a lesson"

A man said as he moved his legs to punch Ren but he was too slow.

Before he knew it, a punch had attacked his stomach and he was on the ground.

Ren improved senses has made his fighting capability increase tremendously and because of his part time jobs, his body was sturdy and strong.

He can easily take care of some adults.

"Ha kid, you want to fight, huh"

"Let's give this kid a lesson"

"Yeah, he think too highly of himself"

As the burly man were going to fight Ren, their leader stopped them.

"It's enough. We got our money. Let's end it"

The burly men helped the man who was on the ground to stand and before going, their leader glanced at Ren and said.

"You got guts kid but your guts can't do much in this dark world. If you really think that what happened with you was unfair, then become a man with both power and money, then I will bow down to you and apologies to you"

With that the burly man left, leaving Ren with the IOU and the rest 1.5 million Yen. It was good that his brother and mother wasn't at home or they will be shocked to see Ren sitting helplessly on the ground.

* * *

Ren was depressed because his money was taken away but he knew that if he can earn money once, he can also earn money twice.

He wanted to show the loan sharks that he can rise in this dark and lonely world just because of his guts, he also wanted to give his family a good life.

After being robed off his money, he was only left with 1.5 million Yen.

With this sum, he rented a good house for his family and they soon began living there.

The house was spacious with three rooms and the neighbours were also good. It was also close to his brother's school. It was perfect for them.

But Ren received another shock when his mother report was revealed by the hospital.

* * *

"What do you mean? Why does my mother have to be admitted into the hospital"

Ren stared at the doctor in from of him as asked. The doctor can see a hint of fear in Ren's eyes.

Ren had make his mother do a general check-up as he was worried about her health but the results are way beyond than what he thought would be.

"Don't worry, your mother would be fine after some months of rest in the hospital"

"I wanted to know what type of illness my mother had?"

"Well, in particular your mother didn't have any major illness but her body is too weak"

"Weak?!"

"Yeah, she already have a weak constitution and after doing three jobs in a day without taking any break, her body had become too weak"

"So, what can I do, doctor"

"You have to admit her in the hospital for at least a year if you want complete recovery. If you don't, then she will probably collapse"

"No, doctor please admit my mother in the hospital"

This way, Ren's mother was admitted in the hospital. Ren was very concerned about her mother's health, so he immediately admitted her in a good hospital.

Although it was expensive, he can still afford it with the money he had.

* * *

"Ren, I told you I don't want to be admitted"

"No, mother your health comes first. What if something happened to you….."

Ren was currently in the hospital ward of his mother. He had admitted his mother into this hospital but his mother was reluctant to be admitted in a expensive hospital.

"I am fine and what about the money. That money will not last for a lifetime"

"Don't worry mother, I will do a part time job"

Although the remaining money was enough for them to live for some time, it wasn't enough to last a lifetime.

So, Ren had to again work hard to make money from his part time jobs.

"Part time job. No, you will not do it again. You have been suffering for 2 years. I want you to live a normal life"

"I am still living a normal life mother, working for my family is not a hard job"

"No, you think I don't know how much pain you suffer everyday to earn money for us. Ren….I am sorry that I can't give….you a normal life"

"…"

At this time, Ren can just hold her mother in his arms and assure her that he will be okay.

* * *

After all the things, Ren returned to one place where he didn't want to return at all, his school.

He had been skipping school for at least two weeks, so he felt a little unfamiliar with the surroundings.

After he walked in the classroom, all eyes were glued on him.

He could even hear whispers between some students.

"Hey, what is he doing here?"

"I don't know. I heard he was expelled from school"

"Yeah, there was also a rumour that he was involved with the police"

Strange rumours have started in the school about Ren's absence.

Ren wasn't surprised by this. Various rumours have circulated about him in the school, most of them which are bad. He had been treated as a troublemaker both by students and teachers.

That's why he didn't have any friends.

"Oh, I thought that I will not see you till my retirement"

Ren smiled when he heard the familiar voice behind him. He turned around to see Shiki sensei standing there looking at him with angry eyes.

Shiki sensei was a old man closing his 50s and the only person in school who genuinely cares about Ren.

After knowing his family situation, he had helped Ren quite a lot.

He was also favoured by the students because of his good attitude and care.

"Let's talk in the faculty room"

Seeing the eyes of the students around him, Shiki sensei led Ren to the faculty room.

After they reach the faculty room, Shiki sensei sat on a chair and stared at Ren.

"You are in big trouble, you know"

"I know"

Ren obviously knew he was in big trouble. He had skipped school for two weeks without any notice.

"If you know, then you must also have a good reason for it"

"Yes, I have"

"Tell me the reason, if it's feasible, then I will talk to the principal"

Ren smiled as he started narrating the events that happened to him in these two weeks and the more he told, the more surprised Shiki sensei became.

"So, you are saying that you paid off your debt and got involved in capturing a murderer, and your mother is in the hospital right now. That's why she can't come to the school"

"That basically what's happen"

"You are saying the truth right?!"

Shiki sensei said with a doubting gaze.

"You could ask the police and the hospital if you don't believe me"

Shiki sensei called the police and the hospital to confirm Ren's words and he found out what Ren was saying was the truth.

After contemplating things, he looked towards Ren and said.

"You know it was dangerous, right"

"I know but I was able to pay off my debt this way"

"Yeah, it is good, you can not gain profit without taking any risks"

"It is certainly true"

"You can go now but make sure to come to school daily, now that you don't have to worry about your debt"

"Thank you sensei"

Shiki sensei sighed as he saw Ren going back to the classroom.

* * *

Ren entered the classroom admist the gazes and whispers of his classmates.

He didn't care much about what his classmates think of him as he only have to attend this school for this year.

From the next year, Ren would be a high school student. Although he didn't want to go to high school but his mother wanted him to continue his education. So, he can't slack off.

The next periods went by quickly. Ren just keep sitting on his seat at the back and listened to all the lectures.

Some teachers were stunned by this as Ren always sleep in class and teachers also ignore him. Their English teacher even asked him if he was sick.

The truth was that he was too tired because of his part time jobs and because of the boring lectures, he quickly fell asleep in the class.

Like that the lunch break came. Students were eating their tasty lunches but Ren only had a bread to eat.

He was eating just a plain bread to save some money. For him, every penny was important.

He wasn't just eating his lunch but also thinking about what to do about his family situation.

He can easily sustain his family by doing part time jobs but it will be too time consuming and inefficient.

Now, that he have some money, he can choose a more efficient job that will earn more.

As he was thinking about what to do, he heard the voices of some students close to his seat.

Most of the students talking were geeks and otakus with glasses. Even in this world otakus are a thing.

They were talking about a topic that greatly interest him, AAO meaning Ancient Age Online.

"Hey, have you heard that the official release date of the game has been announced"

"Yeah, I have heard of it. We will be high school students by the time it will be released"

"I have already decided to save my pocket money to buy the headset to play the game"

It was about the release date of the game.

'It seems like AAO will be released the next year' thought Ren.

For some days he was busy with moving houses , that's why he didn't knew that the release date of the game was revealed.

He continued to listen to the conversation of the otakus.

"Do you plan to become a pro gamer?"

"Pro gamer! I have not thought about it but it seems like a good idea"

"Yeah, why not we create a guild"

"Guild? The method of creating a guild still hasn't revealed yet"

"We will find about it once we start to play"

Their conversation was about becoming pro gamers. Otakus who hate the reality will really like the idea of becoming a pro especially in a VR game.

Their conversation also greatly intrigued him. He was stuck on a word 'pro gamer' as he continued to listen to the conversation.

"Hey, can we also join the conversation"

As their voices was loud, it had attracted the attention of some of the normies as they also joined the conversation.

The normies headed by a handsome boy whose name was Minami joined the conversation.

AAO is a game which everyone is interested in, whether they are students, teachers or married women.

The otakus probably wanted to disagree seeing their expressions but they coincided seeing the cute girls.

"Pro gamer hah, it can be a good job"

"Yeah, we can have fun and earn money too"

"Hehe, if Minami-kun made a guild, I will surely join it"

"Yeah, I think Minami can be a good guild leader"

"You think so"

Ren snickered hearing the conversation of the normies.

'It doesn't mean you will be good in games especially a VR just because you are slightly popular and have a handsome face' thought Ren.

The conversation was now being controlled by Minami and the otakus can just watch.

It was the outcome of having a good and popular speaker in your group. Every conversation will automatically be led by him.

Ren wasn't interested in their talks now, he already got the answer he has been looking for.

He will become a pro gamer.