OKOSHI | JOJOLION

016 | milagro man's bills.

★ . . . THE TRIO OF MEN CARRYING Joshu didn't even notice you following behind them. The music and din of the nightclub receded into a low thrum as the men hauled Joshu out into the foyer. Once there, they dropped him unceremoniously on the ground and Joshu groaned loudly. Two of the goons stepped back, folding their arms in front of them. The third man, who you realized belatedly was the nightclub's owner, looked down in distaste at Joshu.

"I'm sorry, but what's going on?" you said.

The owner glanced at you, his jaw tightening.

"Nothing!" Joshu shouted, scrambling to his feet. "Unless playing around with girls is a crime."

One of the guys thrust a piece of paper into Joshu's face. He took it with a scowl, scanning it quickly. His eyes widened and you grabbed it from him. The numbers made your stomach drop.

450 000 yen.

"There was real gold in that champagne?" Joshu exclaimed. "You didn't tell me that!"

"You would've heard if you hadn't been throwing peanuts down someone's cleavage," you sniped. You read over the rest of the bill—peanuts, mineral water, service, not one bottle of champagne but ten. Anyone would have staggered at the amount, but the owner shouldn't have had anything to complain about. It said Joshu had already paid the amount in full.

"Where did you get this money, sir?" the owner asked tightly. He extended a small tray, where all of Joshu's banknotes were neatly piled.

Sweat beaded on Joshu's face. "You should have stopped me before I bought fucking ten bottles of that champagne" Joshu muttered to you. To the owner, he said, "I should have paid you enough. I'm pretty sure I did."

"That's not what I'm talking about," the owner said, the tray of money still extended. "What I'm asking is where you got this money from."

Joshu's tone turned prickly. "Where? Why do I gotta answer that? Money is money. Just tell me how much I'm short by and I'll pay."

"Do you think I'm just going to take this money from you like it's no problem?" the owner yelled. "I've known about the Milagro Man for a long time, you piece of shit!"

Joshu frowned. "Who the hell is that?"

"What I want to know is did you meet the Milagro Man or not? Did you get this money through him?"

"Sir, we don't know who that is," you cut in. "We didn't get that money from anyone." Not that you could recall, anyway.

"You must really think I'm stupid or something," the owner said. He raised his hand, and you tensed, expecting him to strike Joshu. Instead, he jammed the stack of banknotes into Joshu's pocket. "I'm giving this damn money back! With interest!"

"If he didn't pay enough, I'll cover," you said, stepping between the two of them. "We're not trying to make trouble. I have the money. You don't need to—"

The owner didn't let you finish. "Slam him in the elevator," he said to the two goons. "Make sure he knows what happens the next time he brings his ass to my club!"

The two goons jostled you aside as they rushed for Joshu. One of them hooked his arms around his neck, dragging him backwards into the elevator. The owner and the other goon looked ready to throw themselves on top of him, but then two bolts appeared on the wrist of the goon restraining Joshu.

It's Joshu's Stand.

The goon's hand detached itself and found the button panel of the elevator, pressing the button for the doors to close. The guy restraining Joshu startled, allowing Joshu to slide to the floor. Wasting no time, Joshu swung up his arm, catching the jaw of the owner and shoving him into the second goon. Bolts appeared on either of the faces and they shrieked as their heads were attached together.