Collision of Heaven and Hell ✅

Chapter Four

June 2nd, 2029

Mama wasn't happy that we were all invited to the otsuya. Mama felt that our presence was not appropriate because Papa was only a shatei and we were not directly related to the Awaosamu family. Mama felt that such an invitation was only appropriate for Papa, and not for Mama and I.

"Awaosamu-sama...Aniki said that his widow asked that all of us attend," Papa said sadly. "But it not just be us, other members are also bringing their whole families. It will be quick, I promise. I'll present the koden to Bon, we'll bow to the Oyabun, and then we'll come home."

Koden was a white envelope of condolence money that was offered by visitors during the otsuya. Mama said that generally 5,000 or 10,000 yen was offered in the koden depending on your relationship with the deceased, but both Papa and Mama decided to give 100,000 yen in our koden, as a way of showing appreciation to Awaosamu-sama for everything he had done for the family. He had been the Oyabun of the Awaosamu-gumi since before Papa joined and before I was born, so I knew that Papa felt deeply indebted to him for everything.

"Baku, Nobuto-sama is the Oyabun now, isn't he?" Mama said softly. "Remember to refer to him as Awaosamu-sama, not as Bon."

"I know, Tae..."

I didn't want to go. I respected Awaosamu-sama, but I had never seen a dead body before. I knew that Awaosamu-sama would be on display during the otsuya, and I didn't look forward to seeing him. The last time I saw him before he died was when he publicly reprimanded his son Nobuto for his treatment towards my family. I felt awful for thinking so, but I really did not want to se Nobuto again. I knew that he had lost his father, but the one and only time I met him he made me feel so uncomfortable.

But Momiji Awaosamu had personally asked us to attend her husband's otsuya, at their family compound. Not just Papa, but Mama and I. An invitation like this was not something we could refuse.

But we are only staying for a short time. That's all. I won't leave Mama's side.

Papa had bought a new suit for his boss's funeral. Mama had a black kimono, and they bought me a black dress. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to wear my Shirahime uniform to the funeral of a Yakuza boss. The actual service (or sougi) was for blood-family and the highest-ranking members of the Awaosamu-gumi only, but the otsuya was for the entire syndicate to attend and pay respects. I knew that the otsuya would take a few days because of how large the organization was, and that the sougi would happen afterwards. We would only need to go for one day.

Mama and I had never been to the Awaosamu family compound, and it looked like something straight out of a movie. High walls and a traditional stately mansion, so pristine and perfect. Not even the stone walkway leading to the front door had any cracks in it. It was definitely not a house I expected to see right in the middle of Ebisu of all places.

Traffic had stopped completely on the road in front of the compound; cars parked on both sides of the road and even down the center of the road, and we saw dozens of broad-shaped gentlemen wearing black suits and hard expressions filling both sides of the sidewalk. Mama took my hand in hers as we followed Papa towards the house. Every so often one of those hard faces softened and they stopped Papa to shake his hand to give a pleasant greeting. I was impressed that Papa knew so many of these men, given that he had been a shatei even before I was born and was perfectly content with maintaining this position.

But he has been with the organization for so long. It's not really surprising that he knows some of these people.

I saw other civilian family members; other teenagers close to my age standing around talking solemnly. Many of them wore black uniforms that identified them as attending Yashin High School. I wasn't surprised, there were other school-aged kids about and they were not in uniform. Yashin was probably the only school that wouldn't care if their uniforms were seen at the otsuya of a Oyabun. Particularly the Oyabun of the Awaosamu-gumi.