A NEET's Bizarre Adventure Part 3: Eastern Wind

Sins of the Father

A hush fell upon the group for a considerable time before the elderly man finally broke the silence, clearing his throat before he spoke again.

"This is Kasen Ibaraki. To safeguard her true identity, she adopted her father's family name." The man, who was struggling with a coughing fit, paused briefly before continuing. "She's only 17 years old, but she's quite spirited. Please prioritize her safety. I don't think I need to reiterate how vital this mission is."

Removing the cap from her head, the girl unveiled her shoulder-length pink hair, adorned with two Chinese-style buns. She barely had any makeup on, save for a very light dusting of eye shadow and, of course, no lipstick. For a young woman in this era, her attire was quite modest. She wore a lime green skirt, black thigh-high socks that matched her maroon pumps, and a red and pink Chinese blouse with a long maroon tabard running down the middle, decorated with a gold flower pattern.

"I've never met my mother. Since I was born, I've been raised alone by my father in a small town in Shizuoka Prefecture," Kasen said, bowing slightly.

"It's no secret that our kumicho has been an enigma. No one has ever seen their face; we only receive orders from them. But to imagine they had a daughter..." Yukari trailed off, a hint of surprise in their voice. These were the revelations she never imagined she'd witness in her lifetime. Only the most loyal of the kumicho's underlings ever had a faint glimpse of Japan's most notorious crime boss's secret life behind the scenes. Those who dared to ask too many questions were met with severe consequences. And yet, here they were, face-to-face with what must have been the closest connection anyone outside could have to the enigmatic head of the organization.

"Some months ago, a man named Kenji Ibaraki, who was battling cancer in a hospital in Shizuoka, embarked on a quest to find his child's mother, Hanako Takahashi."

"Sadly, he never found that woman. It turned out that Hanako Takahashi was just one of many aliases used by our kumicho. I can't help but imagine how he would feel to discover that the woman he loved was the matriarch of Japan's most prominent Yakuza organization." The elderly man said.

"For the boss, having a tangible link that traces back to them is too risky. I suppose I understand." Yukari said.

"Things are taking a turn for the worse. We have information that some rogue elements within our organization are attempting to leverage Kasen here as a means to reach our kumicho somehow."

Yukari pondered the situation for a moment. The revelation that they were aware of the boss' daughter's existence was unsettling. The extent of their knowledge remained an enigma. Moreover, the discovery of Big Brother's fortune on the remote Ooshima Island further fueled suspicion that this rouge element was closer to the truth than the boss was comfortable with.

"If this order was intended for Big Brother, then those traitors must also be Standmaku users, right?" Yukari glanced at her team. They immediately understood her meaning. This wasn't going to be an easy or a simple babysitting assignment. Blood would be shed, one way or another.

"I strongly advise you to leave Ooshima as soon as possible. These traitors are aware of Kasen's appearance, and they'll be searching for her."

"Team, let's move out," Yukari said as the group dispersed.

*****

"Did you hear? Big Brother has committed suicide." A smirk tugged at the corners of the woman's lips as she read the news on her screen. She paused, hovering her hands over the keyboard, contemplating the words she wanted to type next.