Teaching Kendo in Tokyo 1980

Kazuma had no idea that his casual words had just nudged a wayward youth back onto the right path.

—Though honestly, with just a few lines like that? Not even television dramas would be so unrealistic.

No, scratch that. Even TV wouldn't write it that way.

Having sent the kid off, Kazuma returned to the dojo and resumed teaching the two girls their sword techniques.

The afternoon passed quickly. It seemed that Nanjo-san had some sort of social engagement with her parents that evening, and her family's chauffeur arrived at four o'clock sharp to pick her up.

"Grandpa Suzuki! Come see the new move I learned!" Nanjo beamed as she tugged on the butler's hand, eager to pull him toward the dojo.

But Butler Suzuki stood like an immovable pillar at the entrance, unmoved despite her pulling.

Nanjo trained seriously in kendo—her strength wasn't much less than Mikako's—so for her to be unable to budge him meant the old butler's stance was rock-solid. As expected from a Matsubara-ryū 67th-generation master from Okinawa.

"I'm sure you've learned something wonderful, ojou-sama," Suzuki said warmly. "But let's get to the point—how much is the tuition?"

Nanjo's smile grew even brighter, cheerful as a little girl. "I don't know! You can ask Chi-chan about that. Oh, and Grandpa Suzuki, could you also talk to the folks over at the Akutagawa Dojo for me?"

"Of course. The master won't hear a word about this from me," Suzuki replied with a polite smile, though his sharp gaze remained locked on Kazuma.

Kazuma could tell the old butler had a lot he wanted to say, but there wasn't a chance to speak openly at the moment—so for now, it was all conveyed through that gaze.

But Kazuma understood well enough. The old man adored Nanjo and was trying to give her a taste of youthful love—no doubt about it.

A young lady like Nanjo had no freedom when it came to marriage.

Kazuma had read plenty of stories in his previous life about progressive youth fighting for love against the shackles of old traditions. Though by the time he'd grown up, arranged marriages were still common in many circles, things had improved considerably compared to the past.

But here in Japan, such feudal remnants were still stubbornly entrenched. Powerful families still clung to rigid patriarchal systems. For a young lady from such a family, marriage wasn't a personal choice—it was a duty, a mission assigned by the family.

Thinking of it that way, Kazuma couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Nanjo-san.

He didn't bother hiding those feelings and met Suzuki's gaze with open sincerity.

Suzuki had been with the Nanjo family since before their rise to prominence, serving the current head, Nanjo Hiroshi, from the start.

To him, Nanjo Honami was like a granddaughter.

And it pained him deeply to think that this dear "granddaughter" might never experience true love—forced instead to marry some stranger for the sake of family duty.

So when he realized she had taken an interest in a certain young man, he immediately had the boy investigated.

The results were surprisingly positive. The private investigator's report even described Kazuma as "bearing the spirit of an old-school swordsman."

Now, Suzuki was trying to probe Kazuma's true intentions with a steady gaze.

If the young man was only toying with his beloved "granddaughter," Suzuki would stop at nothing to drive him away.

But the result defied all his expectations.

Kazuma met his gaze with eyes full of compassion and understanding.

Of course, Suzuki didn't realize that Kazuma was thinking of Thunderstorm by Cao Yu and The Torrent Trilogy by Ba Jin.

To Suzuki, that compassion seemed entirely for Nanjo Honami's sake.

This young man was trustworthy—Suzuki reached that conclusion.

Though it seemed Kazuma was somewhat entangled with two girls at the moment, Suzuki didn't think it was the boy's fault.

He himself had been quite popular in his younger days, after all. Drawing on his own experience, he found Kazuma's situation entirely understandable.

Still, some words of caution were necessary.

"Please go change, ojou-sama," Suzuki said. "I'll discuss the tuition with Kiryu-san and his sister."

"Okay! I'll leave it to you, Grandpa Suzuki!" Nanjo replied happily, skipping back toward the dojo.

Suzuki bowed respectfully to her retreating figure, then turned to Kazuma. "Kiryu-san, if you ever make her cry, I won't forgive you."

A necessary warning—standard protocol, whether or not it would actually come to that.

But Suzuki hadn't expected Kazuma to shake his head. "I'm afraid that's not something I can promise, Suzuki-san. You know it better than I do, don't you?"

On the surface, Suzuki remained composed, but in that instant, his body subtly shifted—ready to unleash a Matsubara-ryū strike as fierce as a Shōryūken if need be.

Still, he chose to give Kazuma a chance to explain himself.

"Oh? Then please, go ahead," Suzuki said politely.

He noticed Kazuma's gaze flick upward, as if reading something over his head.

Kazuma had sensed the change in Suzuki—and saw the words hovering over the old man's head.

—Seriously? Of course this old guy would have a "boosted state."

The status tag above Suzuki's head read: "Anyone who makes ojou-sama cry must die." Simple and brutally clear.

Understanding what triggered it made things easier to handle.

Kazuma continued smoothly, "Suzuki-san, you know better than I do what awaits Nanjo-san in the future. The more happy memories she makes here, the more painful it will be later."

"Don't give me that 'better to have loved and lost' nonsense. People are greedy. Once she's known real love, no arranged marriage will ever satisfy her."

"She'll cling to the memories of this summer."

"Of course, I believe she's strong enough to turn that pain into personal growth. But if you're asking me to guarantee she won't cry—I can't do that."

"It's the tragedy of being the daughter of the Nanjo family."

Suzuki was stunned. He hadn't expected such an argument.

Kazuma thought to himself, Sure, I was born too late to experience the great revolutionary era, but I was raised under the red flag. I've been steeped in these ideas since childhood. My grasp of theory is miles ahead of these feudal relics.

That's right—the true source of this tragedy is the rotten old system! The root of all evil!

Of course, he couldn't say that out loud. It was still 1980. The Special Riot Squad formed to suppress leftist movements hadn't even been disbanded yet.

Being too ideologically pure would just attract trouble.

So Kazuma suppressed the urge to burst into "Smash the old world, paint the new in bright colors!" and took a more neutral tone.

"Just now, Nanjo-san recited Dickens' poem 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day' with such feeling."

"Do you know it? No? Doesn't matter. The point is—she recited it knowing full well this summer will end in tears."

"So I'm sorry, Suzuki-san. I can't promise you she won't cry when it's over."

Kazuma barely held back the urge to add, "Unless we smash the old world!" and stopped there.

Suzuki was deeply moved.

Such honesty. Such integrity. This young man truly deserved the praise "bearing the spirit of an old-school swordsman."

—So this is the young dragon who toppled the Tsuda-gumi? Truly impressive!

Given time, he would surely rise even higher, turning the world on its head.

I must report this to the master, Suzuki thought.

He knew about Kazuma's wager with Kanto Union boss Uesugi Sōichirō. But now, Suzuki felt certain—Kazuma would get into Tokyo University.

If he graduated from Todai and passed the special national civil service exam, he could join the Metropolitan Police Department as part of the legendary Gold Badge Corps.

Only graduates of Tokyo University or Kyoto University who passed that exam could enter elite positions in the Tokyo or Osaka police forces.

Todai grads went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

Kyoto grads went to the Osaka Prefectural Police.

That was the famed Gold Badge Corps.

Graduates from other universities could also take the exam, but even if they passed, they'd be posted to provincial departments—and it would take at least a decade to reach a major city.

To join the Gold Badge Corps, one needed both: a Todai or Kyoto degree, and passing the special exam.

Entering the MPD through ordinary recruitment, even as a Todai graduate, didn't count.

Suzuki reassessed Kazuma with new eyes.

If he becomes part of the Gold Badge Corps, marrying ojou-sama would bring immense benefit.

Even that stone-hearted old Nanjo Hiroshi—her grandfather and the real head of the family—would be tempted.

Suzuki smiled.

He'd seen a future where ojou-sama wouldn't have to cry.

Now, all he needed to do was gently steer things in that direction.

"I understand," he told Kazuma. "You're absolutely right. But in the end, it's ojou-sama's choice."

"Now, let's talk about tuition."

(End of Chapter)