Chapter 143: I Can Accept Your Sins

"Toyo Electric Power… I've heard of them," said Rinji.

He immediately knew who they were.

A massive real estate and industrial conglomerate in Japan. Though their assets weren't limited to Japan—they operated mainly overseas, since factories require huge land areas and Japan simply didn't have the space.

Rinji had dealt with them briefly two years ago, during which a small conflict occurred.

"For their company to grow, they have to expand, and those land parcels are essential to that," Rinji explained. "Their CEO, Hayami Katsumasa, is ruthless. He often bribes underworld types to threaten landowners who won't sell—or outright threatens their families."

"So he used the Tojo Group to kidnap Momo to make me hand over the land?"

"That's likely. Land means nothing to small yakuza groups—unless someone was backing them from the shadows."

Rinji rubbed his temples.

Back then, his collaboration with the Ryujuka Group was just a personnel training project—not very lucrative. But it was his first job after arriving in Japan, so he took it seriously.

The kidnapping had caused internal strife within the Ryujuka Group. So to keep business going, he had personally wiped the Tojo Group out from top to bottom.

He thought it was over.

But now, four years later, it turned out there had been a powerful corporation pulling the strings.

"Rinji, this is a major problem," said the Ryujuka patriarch. "Toyo Electric is huge and ruthless. They won't give up just because of one failure. That's why I want to unite several Kanto groups to oppose them."

Rinji was a little stunned. He looked at Yukio, his eyes silently asking, Do they not know who I am?

Yukio gave a gentle smile and shook her head.

He understood—these people only knew he was some local IW branch project lead.

"I'll handle this myself," Rinji said calmly. "All of you just make sure Toyo Electric doesn't get any openings. Their real goal is your land, Uncle Ryujuka, so make sure Momo's security is tight."

"Tch~"

Momo gave him a sidelong glance.

"I thought you were going to personally protect me."

"Rather than guarding you directly, I'll remove the root cause. That's the most efficient solution."

He completely missed the hint in her tone.

"There's about a month until school starts. That's when they'll likely make a move—so I'll resolve everything by then."

"A month? But…"

"Don't worry," Rinji said with a smile. "By the end of summer, there won't be a Toyo Electric Power anymore."

—

After summoning all the yakuza leaders, the Ryujuka patriarch naturally hosted a banquet.

Yukio held her wineglass with elegance, laughing and conversing with the other bosses.

Though she was the youngest among them—and a woman—she was the undisputed leader of the most powerful yakuza group in Kanto. She had inherited the group back in high school and grown it from a minor gang into a dominant force. In the underworld, she was a legend.

Momo sat beside Rinji, with the refined elegance of a true heiress. It was hard to imagine she was the same girl who slacked off at school, playing mobile games on a beanbag after club activities.

She was pouring him a drink—okay, it was just cola.

"Could you pour me some sake?"

"Shut it. You're underage."

"…"

Rinji was used to her temper.

After dinner, the leaders left with their entourages. Yukio smiled and invited Rinji to visit her place sometime.

She'd always doted on him since he arrived in Japan—perhaps too much.

But Rinji didn't think much of it. He had plenty of doting aunts.

—

After dinner, he sat outside on a garden recliner, staring at the moon.

Not for any sentimental reason—just resting.

"So this is where you were."

Still in her kimono, Momo walked up and sat beside him naturally.

They'd known each other for four years—longer than he'd known Ai Hayasaka.

"I thought you went back to your room, Senpai."

"It was stuffy inside, so I came out," Momo said.

She hadn't really paid much attention to the conversation about Toyo Electric and the rest of the mess earlier.

Like most Shuchiin students, she came from a noble family but wasn't that involved in its affairs—yet.

But unlike most, she had been kidnapped four years ago. That experience taught her that family business wasn't something she could completely ignore.

"You used to be so proud and untouchable… How'd you turn into such a dork?"

"Dork? I think I'm still sharp as ever."

"Really? Is that why you got so elegantly rejected when you confessed?"

"You really love bringing that up, huh, Senpai?" Rinji smiled wryly.

Ever since hearing about his failed confession from four years ago, Momo kept teasing him about it.

She looked at his expression, then suddenly stood up, walked over, and grabbed him by the collar.

"Of course you were rejected. Most girls wouldn't keep talking to someone after hearing the things you've done."

"That's true."

Rinji had always been someone who gave up on morality in pursuit of profit. He knew a guy like him dreaming of love was wishful thinking.

Then Momo suddenly pulled his collar, yanking him close.

Their faces were now barely a hand's width apart.

"But you don't need to worry," she whispered. "Because I can accept your sins."