Kure-nai

Chapter 2-9

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Volume 1
Chapter 2-9

As for the whereabouts of Ginko, she was by the school paper’s clubroom. There was a plaque that read News Paper Club next to the entrance but in actuality this was a complete lie. The only member was Ginko and as expected she was also president. Ginko wanted to keep the entire room to herself. It had not always been this way, at one point there where other members but Ginko chased them off with her att.i.tude. Selling personal information, that was the basis for an information broker’s work. If Ginko were interested she could expose all the secrets of the students around her. This was part of the reason she was able to get a teacher as advisor for the club and even how she got her budget to an extent.

Ginko was alone in the clubroom and yet it was fully heated. Ginko, who was on her laptop, took one glance at Shinkurou, who had just entered the room, and then immediately returned to looking at her computer screen.

“Would it kill you to knock”

“This is practically my club room too”

“This here, is my club room. Were you not informed?”

Since it seemed that she was not actually bothered by it, Shinkurou lightly knocked on the door.

“Come in”

Shinkurou, having received Ginko’s permission, closed the door; Shinkurou pulled out a chair and sat down where he could see Ginko’s back. From outside of the window Shinkurou could see the many trees by the side of the school changing color, spelling the change in season. The tumult outside had almost all but disappeared. It was as if time had stopped in the room and everything had fallen silent. The equipment that the former newspaper had once used was gone, now the only things that remained were a table and a few chairs.

Shinkurou sat his bento on his lap and opened it up; Ginko while still looking at her computer screen then said,

“Disgusting”

“What is?”

“That, Yuno gave it to you right?”

“…Word travels fast doesn’t it”

“Repulsive”

“Yea but what is?”

“I hate that person”

Ginko loathed both Benika and Yuno. If one were to say what Ginko and Yuno had in common it would certainly only be their hatred for Benika. Shinkurou said that it was good that his starting of his current life and his ability to have this life come to fruition was thanks to both of them. Ginko was probably unable to stomach this idea.

When Shinkurou decided that he wanted to become a dispute mediator, Ginko, who at the time was not an information broker, looked at him with a grim face as she gave her thoughts on the matter.

“Do you remember what you said when we were younger? ‘When I grow up I want to open a ramen shop up with you Ginko’ do you remember saying that? That is what you are best suited for. That is you your limit. Dispute mediation? While this seems a lot like you, you will have to hit, kick and wound people, all the while people will hit, kick and wound you; do you think that you can go on living like that? Do you honestly believe that you can live like that? If you think so then you are an idiot. You are a real idiot. An idiot in need of help. Seriously, just go wherever you please and go die however you please. Just die!”

When Ginko had said that Shinkurou was at a loss for words.

If he were to have said something, would it have been okay? Shinkurou did not know at the time and therefore said nothing.

Even now Shinkurou still did no know.

Shinkurou took a pickled plum from his bento and put it in his mouth; it was not the cheap kind, the bitterness of it caused Shinkurou to grimace. The simmered taro had the nostalgic flavor of his times at the Houzuki house. The flavor of the honey stewedkabocha1. Shinkurou had long forgotten the taste of his mothers cooking however he still remembered the taste of the Houzuki’s cooking.

Ginko had already read today’s paper and had it set on the table. Due to the nature of her job, she kept a close eye on everything reported by the media. What Ginko said on the matter was that she checked incase something important were to happen. I keep the most important information in my head is what Ginko claimed; she had been in school for less than ten years but her results on her school work proved what she had said.

Shinkurou picked up the newspaper. The clubroom was a quiet place to pa.s.s time; because he could also read a newspaper, Shinkurou would occasionally visit. If Ginko were in a bad mood she would drive him out; essentially she would overlook his presence, this probably being because they had know each other for so long.

As Shinkurou looked at an article on professional baseball he turned the page, the entire page was about a suspect for the a.s.sault of a pregnant woman who had finally been caught. The culprits were just ten-year-old boys. It seemed that they were not aware of their crime, “Her huge stomach was an eyesore” was what one boy said and so it seemed that they attacked her on such grounds. “This is a failure on the part of the education system and shows that it must be immediately reformed” was what one politician said and following that, “These types of unusual thoughts will always be a possibility in youth. There is no need to try to snuff it out” was what another politician said in reply, to which the mothers of the boys added, “Our sons are the victims of society” and finally it was brought to a close with a comment from a critic, “There are all sorts of value systems, this is a characteristic of modern society.”

Shinkurou could not sympathize with attacking a pregnant woman but in this society one is able to be pardoned for nearly anything; Shinkurou really could not sympathize with them.

“Ginko what do you think about a persons true character and being normal?”

“A persons true character and being normal are both a will to be a certain way that one decides and then continues to uphold.”

It was obvious that she was not listening but from the tone of her voice it was probably good that he received some sort of answer. Normally when Ginko was not in a good mood, she would simply ignore him. She’s already lowered her guard a bit; maybe we can become friends thought Shinkurou but when he looked at their current situations and how unlike him Ginko did not have any close friends, Shinkurou realized that they were not on equal grounds in that regard. Ginko had been socially cut off from the rest of the cla.s.s and Shinkurou was a forgettable shadow. It was in this way that the two of them met; it probably would not be likely that those around them would even notice.

Somewhere there are scientist working on making a machine to measure one’s true self but are failing, as Shinkurou thought about such trivial things Ginko, who was still looking at her computer screen spoke to him.

“I still need time on that request that you made”

“Are that Kuhouin’s that difficult to get information about?”

“They are”

It must have been true because Ginko’s response was very frank.

Being the greatest plutocratic family in j.a.pan they must have developed some way to cover up their tracks.

“Others like the Kirinzuka and Koganomiya are like that too however these plutocrats are all strong in that respect. Naturally they house immense power and influence. They keep their secrets well hidden. For example, have you ever seen the face of the Kuhouin family head?”

“No, I never have. …I don’t even think that I have seen him in the newspapers or on television”

“Do you understand why?”

“Not really”

“Those who truly have power do not show themselves in public”

A question. Who is the most powerful person in this country?

The answer. The prime minister.

This is what most people honestly believe, likely since they were in elementary school.

But who’s really the most powerful person in the country?

The answer, “who knows.” It’s unknown who they really are. Whoever and wherever kind of person they are is unknown. It’s for that reason that those who hold power are so great. Those who truly hold power are not well known by the ma.s.ses. In that respect they are much like a G.o.d that looks down on the world from heaven.

Exactly like those who reside above the clouds huh…?

If Ginko knew that I was living in the same room as a daughter of the Kuhoin what kind of face would she make?

Shinkurou thought about these things but as expected he could not come to any real conclusion.

“Still, you should be careful.”

“Of what?”

“You have you heard of the Aku Company haven’t you?”

“Ah, for example…”

The Aku Company were a so called staffing agency. However in the underworld it was common knowledge that they were a company that specialized in supplying skilled personnel rush in at a moments notice. Fighting, murdering, casting spells, collecting payment, escaping, guarding and much more, they were an organization that employed people with various skills.

“As long as one has the money, they will aid with any crime. If they view you as a nuisance they will crush you”

“I do not compete with them so they will probably have no interest”

If the Aku Company, which dealt in international crime, could be likened to an enterprise then Shinkurou was like a small shop in the low-lying parts of a city. Shinkurou did not think that he would ever have a confrontation with the Aku Company because if he were to describe his job it would entail catching underwear thieves and stalkers as well as taking care of noise complaints for his apartment manager and stopping fights.

“I have decided that what I do is good; you have more to worry about than me. It is not rare for information brokers to be silenced”

As a standard Ginko only bought and sold information through the Internet, this allowed her to avoid danger as much as possible. Ginko’s grandfather was confident in his physical strength but Ginko was a lost cause when it came to exercise. Once during P.E on a day when Ginko was supposed to be out sick, she unexpectedly came. That day there was an obstacle race and Ginko decided to do it at her own pace, that very day there was a three-minute difference between her time and the first place time. No matter how many times Ginko fell down as she ran Shinkurou cheered her on yet in return all he received was a slap. Ginko hated seeming inferior and ever since then she has not partic.i.p.ated in any event like it.

“If you run into any trouble please tell me. I will give you top priority”

“What is your rate?”

“The usual amount is fine, since it is you after all”

That instant Ginko stopped typing, soon after though she began again.

“…You really are an idiot after all”

Ginko did not call Shinkurou stupid because she disliked him, it was something from when they were younger.

Shinkurou had once decided to be referred to as that but had stopped at some point.

He was certain that her calling him now was probably from that time.

Translation Notes and References

1. 南瓜 (kabocha) a type of j.a.panese squash often referred to as j.a.panese pumpkin.

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