Chapter 1 - Family

"So, you really want me to sleep with your wife?" I asked, clasping my hands together as I looked at the couple sitting on the sofa in front of me.

The man, a chubby guy with his hair combed to one side and stiff with gel, nodded while a few drops of sweat trickled down his forehead.

His wife, still in the prime of her middle-aged beauty, blushed slightly and avoided making eye contact with me.

Sensing my hesitation, the man quickly tried to explain.

"This is the only way she and I can have a child together!"

Now, you might be wondering how I ended up in this situation. Well, to start with, you need to know that I was pretty screwed.

My family wasn't rich, but growing up, my father always supported me, my mother, and my sister. He was a great father. But when I started high school, my mother fell seriously ill. Lung cancer. Ironically, she had never touched a cigarette in her entire life.

The medical bills piled up, and my father, who was already working double shifts at a factory, knew he couldn't handle everything alone.

I had a younger sister, three years my junior, who was still too young to work. So, I started skipping school and took a night job to help with the expenses.

It wasn't anything fancy — just a night shift at a convenience store. The pay was better at night, and I even had time to study when there were no customers. It was a good job.

But after a month, I was fired. From then on, I hopped from one job to another, sometimes juggling two part-time jobs just to make a decent living.

I worked all kinds of regular jobs — karaoke attendant, janitor, car wash worker, telemarketer, and many others. I never resorted to anything illegal. My mother wouldn't have approved.

Months passed, and school became an afterthought. So did my friendships. The only one who stuck around was Carl, a foreign exchange student. His family wasn't rich yet either and sometimes he worked with me.

I didn't hate working. In some ways, it was more fulfilling than school.

But I couldn't say I had a normal teenage life. While other kids went to McDonuts after class with their friends, I was scrubbing floors.

This didn't do me any favors with the girls, either.

Anyway, almost two years went by, and the day I dreaded most finally arrived. It all happened so fast I could barely process it.

One day, my mother's blood pressure dropped suddenly, and she was rushed to the hospital. By the time I arrived, it was already too late. She had passed away.

That day, it felt like my heart shattered into a thousand pieces. I spiraled into self-blame, guilt gnawing at me for not being more present in her final years. I wished I had talked to her more, listened more — even to her awful singing while she cooked—because now, I would miss it for the rest of my life.

Of course, my whole family was devastated. But my father took it the hardest. It made sense — after all, they had met in high school, gotten married, gone to college, and worked hard to buy a house and start a family.

She was my mother, and losing her hurt. But I couldn't even begin to imagine the pain of losing a wife — the person you thought you'd grow old with.

As an unofficial will, my mother had left each of us a letter.

In mine, she thanked me for everything I had done to keep her from worrying about leaving us in debt — even after her passing. She told me to take care of my sister, support my father in the difficult months ahead, and, above all, keep studying. She wanted me to find a good wife and chase my dreams, whatever they might be.

I had no expectations of finding a wife anytime soon, nor did I have any idea what my dreams were. But I did my best to focus on my studies — to make my mother proud.

During my third year of high school, I only took part-time jobs, studied hard, and looked after my father. He nearly fell into depression but found motivation in his work.

I applied to countless universities, took a ton of exams, and spent countless sleepless nights. Fortunately, all that effort paid off.

I got accepted into several colleges, including some in Tokyo. Coming from a small town in Nagoya's countryside, this was a big deal — a huge change. I felt torn.

Leaving my father and sister behind to move so far away didn't sit right with me. Plus, the financial burden would be heavy — rent, food, tuition… everything was more expensive in Tokyo.

So, I thought, 'Maybe I should try for Nagoya City College again next year!'

While cleaning my room, my sister found my five acceptance letters. She showed them to my father, and together, they convinced me that I should go. They said it was the best choice for my future. Big companies were more likely to hire me if I graduated from a prestigious college, which would lead to a better career.

And somehow, that's how I ended up here.

"I still can't believe it," I told Carl over the phone while unpacking boxes in my tiny new apartment. "I only have enough money for one month of tuition, and I already paid three months' rent upfront. I've got, like… ten thousand yen left to my name."

"Hm… Nishida, you're gonna need a job. Fast," Carl replied, his Japanese still tinged with an accent.

"Yeah, but I have no idea how I'm supposed to support myself with all these expenses."

"Can't your dad help?"

"I can't do that to him. He worked himself to the bone paying for my mom's treatment—it nearly ruined his health. If he had to work even harder just to support me through college, I'd feel like coming here was a mistake. That's why I told him I had savings and that he didn't need to worry."

"If that's the case… I think I can help," Carl said.

Immediately, I straightened up, listening intently. "What've you got for me? Are you gonna hook me up with your dad's company?"

"You know I can't. They only hire people with experience and a college degree."

"I know, I know. Sorry for asking again. So, what is it?"

"A guy I used to work with moved to Tokyo last year. He said he joined a group."

"A group?"

"Yeah, one of those YeahChat groups. And don't laugh when I tell you what it is, okay? It's a… natural insemination group."