Tokyo, My Childhood Friend is a Ghost Story

Chapter 103 I don't want to put Kasyapa in a difficult position.
Walking side by side with Jia Yezi on the street, they happened to run into Xiao Hei and Xiao Fujiang, who had been out having fun and had come to pick someone up.

"Simply put, that's how it is, Jia Yezi, if you..."

"Does Kasyapa need me to go?"

Before Uta Kassapa could finish his sentence, which he had been editing, Kayokawa suddenly interrupted him.

"I"

Jiaye raised her hand and stroked Uta Kasyapa's eyebrows, gently combing them in an attempt to smooth them out.

"Don't make things difficult for me. I don't want to see you, Kasyapa, in a difficult position."

Just then, Xiao Fujiang, who was placed on Jia Yezi's chest, poked her head out.

"Why doesn't that Haruko Higa have her younger sister go? If I remember correctly, she does have a younger sister, right?"

Xiao Fujiang's complaints left Uta Kasaya speechless. If she remembered correctly, her younger sister wasn't very useful except for causing trouble.

"Don't be angry~ I'm just taking a walk outside... I'm fine. Before, when I was collecting trash, I also... walked alone~"

Since moving into Yujiaduo, Jia Yezi's mental state has visibly improved. At least her speech is no longer fragmented like before; she can now speak relatively continuously.

"It's okay, I'll be with you then."

"Hmm~"

When asked about Utakayo's request, Kayokawa didn't even consider why she would put herself as bait to face something so dangerous.

She simply wanted to help Uta Kasyapa solve his troubles.

It was this unconditional trust that made Uta Kasyapa's heart grow heavier and heavier.

Arriving at the market, they bought the beef and seasonings that Fujō wanted, and Utada Kayō didn't forget to buy sashimi that Kayō liked.

During their time together, Uta Kasaya discovered that Kayano didn't really like cooked food; she preferred cold rice balls and sashimi.

This eating habit is likely related to eating leftovers.

Uta Kassapa happened to see some rabbits on the way, so he bought two to take home.

"Kasyapa, do you want to raise rabbits?"

Looking at the puzzled Jiayezi, Uta Kasyapa lifted the rabbit out of the bag.

"It's for you to eat."

"Eh?"

"Huh? You can eat rabbits?"

Xiao Fujiang couldn't help but wonder, is this really in a normal person's diet?

Uta Kassapa smiled at their confusion.

"Cold-cooked rabbit, you haven't heard of it? It's made with rabbit, but it's a bit spicy. I'll prepare it for you later."

"You like cold food, so cold-cooked rabbit is just right."

After hearing what Utakayo said, Kayokawa was taken aback at first, then happily lowered her head, took his hand, and gently shook it.

Kasyapa, have you noticed that I like to eat cold food?
The sweetness of being noticed and remembered filled Jia Yezi's heart. In the half month since moving to Yu Jia's house, Jia Yezi felt happier than she had been more than ten years ago.

"what about me?"

Seeing that Uta Kasaya remembered Jia Yezi's preferences and what Fu Jiang liked to eat, what about her?

"You're something else. What did you think this potato was for? It's for making beef mashed potatoes for you."

"Hum~"

Xiao Fujiang stood in the middle of Jiayezi Mountain, arms crossed, and hummed smugly.

After taking a taxi home, Uta Kassapa went straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner for the group.

Little Black was lying at the entrance of the cat's bed, hugging a big dried fish and wagging its tail as it gnawed on it.

"Did Kasyapa tell you?"

"Ah."

"You agreed?"

"Yes, I... I don't want to put Kasyapa in a difficult position."

Leaning against the sofa armrest, Fu Jiang crossed her fair legs as she looked at Jia Yezi, who had changed back into her home-appropriate underwear.

"Are not you afraid?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Yezi nervously clenched her hands into a fist, her toes, clasped tightly together in her sandals.

"Afraid you'll still agree?"

"I...I don't want to put Kasyapa in a difficult position."

Jia Yezi's weak reply made Fu Jiang sigh. How could a child so humble as to be in the dust care about her own thoughts?

Snapped.

Fujiang slammed the comic book shut and looked up at Jia Yezi.

"Our family doesn't care about making things difficult. Just tell me directly, are you willing or not?"

Seeing this, Jia Yezi nodded vigorously, somewhat nervously.

"Yes, I'm willing!"

After carefully confirming that Jia Yezi's eyes showed no sign of distress, Fu Jiang leaned back on the sofa again.

"That's good."

Seeing that Fu Jiang's attitude had softened, Jia Yezi breathed a heavy sigh of relief. She was still a little scared, afraid that if she displeased Fu Jiang, he would kick her out.

That way, that way.
She had nowhere else to go.
She couldn't bear to part with it; she couldn't bear to part with the room that had been specially prepared for her, and the things that had been bought specifically for her at home.

There was also Kasyapa, who was concerned about and worried about himself.

At dinner time, Fujang looked at the slightly charred beef in front of her with a look of disgust.

"It's almost burnt."

"It'll have to do. Isn't medium-well close to this state?"

"Heh, your medium-rare dish has a charred layer?"

"."

Uta Kassapa took a kitchen knife from the kitchen and scraped it off for her.

“Not anymore.”

Fujang rolled her eyes, cut off a piece with her knife and fork, and put it in her mouth. Seeing her displeased expression, Little Fujang complained from the side.

"Just eat. You don't do anything, yet you're the one responsible for the food and you're blaming the chef. Did you pay for this? Do you think this is right?"

"You just keep spoiling her like this."

Xiao Fujiang's吐槽 (tu cao, a Chinese internet slang term for sarcastic or critical remarks) made Fujiang's lips twitch, and she casually flicked a grain of rice at him.

Unfortunately, I didn't win.

Jia Yezi was quietly enjoying the sushi in front of her when she suddenly heard the sound of rain.

It's raining again.

The group looked over at the sound, then turned back to continue eating.

This time, there's no need to worry about a girl helplessly curled up and squatting in the middle of the trash can.

In Osaka, where the rain was pouring down, pedestrians hurried home.

In an old building, garbage was piled up in a corner, and flies were buzzing around it.

The boy, whose hair hadn't been washed for days and was stuck to his scalp like a pancake, lay on the tatami mat, his stomach rumbling.

The boy's lifeless eyes flickered slightly. He slowly sat up from the tatami mat and limped along with his deformed left leg into the filthy kitchen.

I boiled a kettle of water and simply made a cup of instant noodles.

The boy turned to look at the black and white photo of his mother on the altar, and the few remaining buckets of instant noodles beside it.

Next to the instant noodles was an unopened bottle of sleeping pills.

He drank the last drop of soup, then lay down again, like a corpse.

Just then, the sound of a door closing came from the entrance.

"Da ne?"

"Koji, I'm back~"

It had been years since he had heard that voice, etched into his soul, suddenly came to his feet and staggered to the door.

Looking at the 'mother' who was wearing a black suit and whose face looked much older than her age due to hard work, Koji's mouth twitched.

"You silly child, how come you've made such a mess of things after being away from home for a short time? Honestly."

While complaining, the 'mother' turned on the light and began cleaning up the trash in the house.

"Instant noodles again? Wait a moment, Kassan will cook you something right away."

Half an hour later, looking at the clean and tidy house and the hot food on the table, large tears gradually fell from Xingji's stubble-covered, numb face.

"Why are you crying? Eat your food, or it will get cold."

Warm fingers brushed away the tears, and Koji's body trembled.

"Okasan"

"Hey, let's eat quickly. Kassan doesn't have much time; he has to leave soon."

With gentle encouragement, Koji began to eat heartily.

When Koji had almost finished eating, his 'mother', who was cleaning up the trash, smiled at him.

"Kasan is leaving. Koji, take good care of yourself and don't keep giving up."

After saying that, the 'mother' turned away with a reluctant smile.

"Kassan!! Take me away, take me away, please, take me away, Kassan!!"

The mother was taken aback, and spoke sadly.

"No, Koji, Kassan has already..."

Before he could finish speaking, Koji grabbed its legs from behind in anguish.

"Take me away, Kassan... Please, I'm in so much pain, please. They despise me, they won't come near me... Please, take me away."

Upon hearing this, the 'mother' slowly turned around, helped him up, and gently embraced him.

"Don't cry, Kassan. We'll take Koji away now, and then there will be no more pain."

In a gentle voice, the 'mother's' kind face turned ferocious, her eyes were replaced by darkness, and her hands, which were holding Koji, dug deeply into his back.

"Then let's go!"

His terrifying features grinned as he looked at the woman kneeling on the ground beside Xingji, groaning in agony, a woman no one could see or hear.

(End of this chapter)