Tokyoites don't have martial virtue

Could it be that... the daughter's bad habits have relapsed, and she has done something outrageous at school again?

"You might as well be more explicit," Madam Yagawa said sternly, probing, "What mistake did Sakibun make at school?"

“Yes, she has indeed made an unforgivable mistake. If it isn’t corrected in time, she will go astray.” Kyushu Makoto noticed that Mrs. Karakawa was very concerned about her daughter, so he used her as a starting point to spread alarmist rumors:

“She abused her power as the ‘Minister of News’ to extort and threaten other students. For students who disobeyed her, she would deliberately spread rumors on campus to make them ostracized by the entire student body.”

The Karakawa couple both showed surprised expressions, as if they were hearing about this for the first time.

"You were unaware of this?" Kyushu Makoto asked, puzzled.

“Of course we know that Saki has become the Minister of Information, but this is the first time we’ve heard of such a thing.” Mrs. Karakawa’s expression turned somewhat grave.

“That’s true… You can’t just brag to your parents about extorting classmates like that.” Kyushu Makoto nodded slightly, indicating his understanding. But he then suggested:

"Our student council recently received complaints that the news department is doing some shady things behind the scenes. That's why I'm here on behalf of the student council to visit you two, hoping to find some useful clues to stop Senior Ya Chuan from continuing her wrongdoings and help her turn over a new leaf. Could you please have a private talk with Senior Ya Chuan, whether it's to find out any information or to persuade her to turn back from her wrong path?"

Kyushu Makoto casually borrowed the name of the "student council," figuring that an elite organization like the student council wouldn't take a nobody like him too seriously.

As for helping Karasukawa-senpai to reform... if Kyushu Makoto can defeat the newspaper club in next week's "class trial," he will naturally follow his usual style and give Karasukawa-senpai a chance to "reform."

Of course, if she is unwilling to repent, then Kyushu Makoto can justify letting her fall into the abyss.

“Chatting with my daughter…that’s a bit much…” Mr. Karakawa scratched his head helplessly and sighed, “Saki hasn’t talked to us much since middle school…”

"Not talking to your parents... is it a sign of rebellion?" Kyushu Makoto asked tentatively, narrowing his eyes.

"Perhaps... but since it's a request from the student council, we'll try to talk to our daughter about it over the next two weeks." Mrs. Karakawa nodded in agreement, then added with a hint of concern:

"However, regarding my husband's past involvement with the underworld..."

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," Kyushu Makoto assured him confidently. "After all, if this kind of topic gets around at school, it will have a significant impact on Karasawa-senpai's reputation, right?"

A decade or so ago, being a "gangster" was considered incredibly cool and a fearsome identity. But now, with the decline of organized crime, "gangsterism" has become a universally despised debuff.

If a high school student is exposed to have a family background involving organized crime, the first reaction from his classmates will not be respect, but rather exclusion and discrimination.

"In that case, please allow me to apologize on behalf of my husband for his rudeness just now." Hearing the other party's promise, Mrs. Yachuan said politely:

“We were always afraid that Saki would face discrimination at school because of my husband’s past identity, so we got agitated just now.”

"Oh, not at all, I'm the one who should apologize!" Kyushu Seiya chuckled sheepishly, lowering his guard and giving each other face.

"Please don't take killing gangsters to heart. It's all my fault for being frightened by Mr. Yagawa and accidentally saying some harsh words. I'm truly sorry."

The two men each took a step back, and the atmosphere at the table gradually eased. Then, Kyushu Makoto suddenly asked:

"Speaking of which, what kind of person was Senior Karakawa in junior high school?"

"Hmm... Saki was a very troublesome and mischievous kid in junior high." Karasawa Maiko paused for a moment, then said uncertainly, "If you ask me, she's changed a lot since then."

"Troublemaker? Is he a delinquent or something?" Kyushu Makoto pressed.

"Not really?" Madam Yakawa hesitated, seemingly reluctant to answer.

"Do you know why?" Kyushu Makoto pressed, "Why did Karasukawa-senpai change so much after starting high school?"

"This..." The Karasawa couple both wore solemn expressions. After a long while, Karasawa's wife finally spoke, "I'm sorry, we have absolutely no clue either, but I will talk to Sakifumi."

"I'd like to ask one last question. Do you think my senior was influenced by Mr. Karakawa?" Kyushu Makoto pressed on.

"I don't want to be too rude, but Senior Karakawa's behavior at school is probably starting to resemble that of the underworld."

“The yakuza… Impossible!” Mrs. Karakawa’s expression was solemn as she shook her head resolutely. “Actually, Saki has always hated the yakuza and also hated Dad. That’s probably why she’s distanced herself from us.”

"I see... I understand the general situation now." Kyushu Makoto stood up, while also giving Etori-sensei a wink:

"Thank you for taking the time to talk to us. If there are any new developments, please contact Teacher Jiangniao."

Immediately afterward, Kyushu Makoto bowed politely. Etori-sensei also nervously stood up, bowed, and scurried away from the Karasukawa residence after Kyushu Makoto.

After leaving the Karasawa family home, Kyushu Makoto walked to the station, with Etori-sensei following behind him at small pace.

The Yagawa couple seem to be hiding some important information, which they cannot get out of their mouths no matter what.

At this time, school club activities had already ended, and Karasu-senpai could return at any moment. Kyushu Makoto didn't intend to linger at her house any longer and had no choice but to make a tactical retreat.

However, this home visit was not without its gains; Kyushu Makoto uncovered two major secrets about the Karasukawa family. Each one was a shameful secret that could severely damage her reputation and cause her to lose face at school.

However, Makoto Kyushu still had other concerns, especially about why Karasukawa-senpai had transformed from a delinquent girl into the seemingly respectable "news queen" she is today.

"Huff..." Teacher Jiangniao seemed unable to walk any further and leaned against the wall to catch his breath.

"Are you alright, Mr. Jiangniao?" Kyushu Makoto noticed the situation and quickly turned around to check on him.

Teacher Jiangniao's face was deathly pale, her forehead was covered in cold sweat, and her legs were trembling unsteadily. She was clearly still reeling from the terrifying gaze of the underworld patriarch.

Those were genuine gangsters! She, a mere female teacher, was actually in a room with gangsters, talking to them, and even being glared at by them! If it weren't for Kyushu Makoto protecting her behind her, she probably would have fainted on the spot from fright.

"You have such a weak mental fortitude, teacher!"

Despite saying this, Kyushu Makoto still helped Ms. Etori to a nearby coffee shop and bought her a hot coffee for 300 yen to warm her hands.

"You're the one who put me in this tiger's den. I thought I was going to be killed..." Teacher Jiangniao took the hot coffee, her face showing a tearful expression, and said in a resentful whisper:

"Don't suddenly act all nice to me again, like you care about your teacher a lot..."

"I never expected that Karasu-senpai would have such a secret." Kyushu Makoto sat opposite Etori-sensei, leaning on the table with a sigh:

"But you were her homeroom teacher for a year, yet you didn't even know that her family was involved in organized crime. Isn't that a dereliction of duty on your part, teacher?"

"I..." Ms. Jiangniao was speechless. She was indeed a teacher who didn't care much about her students, only about "performance." Otherwise, as the homeroom teacher, she should have gotten to know a more outstanding student like Karasawa Sakifumi better.

"You've worked so hard today. I'll need your help again tomorrow," Kyushu Makoto continued.

"Eh...Eh eh eh eh!" Teacher Jiang Niao was so frightened that she almost jumped up and ran away at lightning speed. Her face, which had just regained a little color, turned deathly pale again.

"Please, please spare me! The teacher... can't take it anymore... another home visit like this will kill me!"

"Don't worry, next time it won't be a home visit," Kyushu Makoto said.

“Your teachers must have connections within the industry, right? I’d like you to try contacting a teacher at Seiran Girls’ Junior High School in Chiba Prefecture.”

Makoto Kyushu took out his phone and found Karasukawa-senpai's "delinquent girl high school photos".

"This...this is Karakawa-kun?" Teacher Jiangiao was immediately shocked when she saw the photo.

“Yes, this must be from when she was in junior high school.” Kyushu Makoto nodded.

"Where...where did you find the photo?" Teacher Jiangniao stared at Kyushu Makoto warily, feeling uneasy.

"Karasu-senpai used to be a delinquent, but now she's become a model student and incredibly cunning newspaper editor. Don't you think that's quite a change?" Kyushu Makoto didn't answer the question, but instead stared intently at Etori-sensei.

"I feel there must be some reason behind this, and I want to try to dig deep into these secrets. Perhaps then I can obtain more leverage to deal with the news department..."

"So, I'd like to ask you to contact a teacher at Seiran Junior High School in Chiba Prefecture, preferably one who taught Karasukawa-senpai before and knows about her family situation."

Teacher Jiang Niao took a deep breath and replied in a defiant manner, "I know... I can't refuse you anyway."

After speaking, the two sat in silence at the coffee table. A moment later, Ms. Jiang Niao gave Kyushu Makoto a wary look and asked in a low voice, "Um…you said you killed gangsters…that was a lie, wasn't it?"

"Of course it's a lie~" Kyushu Makoto thought for a moment and answered honestly:

“How could I do something so cruel? They were saved after two days of intensive care.”

"Eh... Huh?!" Teacher Jiangniao finally breathed a sigh of relief, but then her hand trembled so much that she almost spilled her coffee on the floor.

Seeing his teacher's panicked expression, Kyushu Makoto thought for a moment and then said sincerely, "Teacher's reaction is really interesting~ I was just lying earlier. I've never actually dealt with the yakuza. I was just bluffing to scare the Karasawa couple."

"You brat... how dare you tease your teacher like this..." Teacher Jiangniao picked up her coffee cup, her voice trembling, and took a sip. Her tone turned resentful again: "Why did I have to encounter a student like you, a devil..."

34. The Son of a Mafia Family

At Kyushu Makoto's request, Edogori-sensei contacted a teacher at Seiran Girls' Junior High School in Chiba Prefecture.

Two days later, Mr. Etori called Makoto Kyushu to his office.

“Um… Kyushu-kun,” Ms. Jiangniao said wearily, “I’ve already contacted a teacher at Chenglan Middle School. She happens to be my classmate from teacher’s college.”

"Oh, what a coincidence!" Kyushu Makoto smiled. "When can I meet that teacher?"

“She said tomorrow night is fine,” Ms. Jiangniao said helplessly. “However, the commute from Tokyo to Chiba Prefecture will take about an hour, so you’ll have to rush there after school.”

"It's not me, it's us," Kyushu Makoto reminded them.

"Eh... I want to go too?" Teacher Jiangniao exclaimed in surprise.

“That teacher is someone you know, after all. Teacher Jiangniao can’t let me go alone, can he?” Jiuzhou Cheng instructed, “I’ll go and talk to the owner of the part-time job beforehand and ask him to give me a day off. We’ll go together tomorrow.”

"Sigh... I understand." Teacher Jiang Niao could only nod reluctantly.

......

The next day after school, the two boarded a JR train bound for Chiba Prefecture and arrived at the teacher's house before dark.

"Jingye, sorry to bother you!" Teacher Jiangniao seemed to have a good relationship with her, as he could address her by her first name.

"Is that you, Ryokiko? It's been a long time!" A female teacher of similar age and slightly plump figure came out to greet her.

Out of courtesy, Kyushu Makoto went to the supermarket beforehand and bought a box of discounted chocolates, which he asked Ms. Etori to give as a gift. This surprised her quite a bit; she hadn't expected that Kyushu Makoto, this devilish problem student, would be so polite.

"Welcome, welcome! It's been so long since we last talked!" Teacher Jingye beamed as she accepted the chocolates, warmly welcoming them inside.

"Ryoko, how are you doing over there?"

"Not bad, the students all like me." Teacher Jiang Niao glanced guiltily at Kyushu Makoto and smiled.