The Bad, The Bidder, and the Daughter (KBTBB)

Baba: One

KATSUMI POV

"Sweetie! Breakfast!" My mother shouts from the kitchen.

"Coming mom!" I run out of my room with my suitcase to see Mother holding a plate of pancakes with strawberry syrup and an omelette. Yes!!

"Thanks, Mother!" I grab the plate and inhale the sent of my food before scarfing it down.

"woah there, kiddo. Slow down. You don't have to leave for another half hour."

"I know, I just wanna get there early. Mizuki and Ume are almost there and I wanna meet up with them."

"Still, though... you know how hesitant I am to let you go on this trip. Especially since it's a week long. The city is a dangerous place..."

"Mom," I say, "the only other place I've been in my entire life besides Fukuoka is Kyoto to visit Auntie Miyu. I've spent my whole life in a small town. Let me explore a little."

She sighed, "for how much you look like your daddy, you sure act like me when I was your age. Just, please remember to stay safe. And take my advice on this, don't break any expensive statues. Okay?"

"What does that mean? Like, when I'm at the museum in Tokyo? Okay, I won't break anything."

Mom gave me a stern look, "I'm serious." She looked at the clock, "well, you best get going. Be safe and have fun, dear." She gave me a big hug and kiss then put my empty plate in the sink. The train station isn't too far. I packed you some food for the trip. 15 hours, nearly. So long... anyway, give me a call before and after you leave. I want to make sure you're safe. Text me when you wake up each morning and when you go to bed. Otherwise I'll have a panic attack. Alright?"

I nodded, "okay, Mother. I love you."

Her warm smile gave my heart the butterflies of "dann I'm gonna miss her" as she said she loved me too. And with that, I left my small house, and started running to the train station; book bag on my back and suitcase in hand.

......

"Miss Kobayashi? Miss Kobayashi?" I woke to the sound of the head teacher, Mr. Shinichi.

"Huh? Are we here already?"

He nodded his head, "your friends couldn't wake you up so they asked me to do it." He pushed up his glasses that fell slightly from nodding.

"Gotta say, I'm impressed though. Nice work sleeping for ten hours straight. I'm so proud."

"Mizuki!"

My friend Mizuki popped up from behind the math teacher.

"Ume's got our luggage. We're taking the bus to the hotel. Better hurry."

"Miss Kasahara is correct. You have about five minutes. I suggest you hurry." And with that, we ran off the train to the bus.
...

"Geez, I can't believe you slept for over ten hours. Talk about lazy."

"You aren't ever gonna let that go, are you Mizu?"

"Nah."

Ume rolled her eyes at us. "Mizuki, you once slept for two days without waking up. You cannot judge others."

"Hey, I had a big game before that! Soccer is tiring man. Especially considering that we lost because of our lousy goalie. Ugh, we happen to be the most prestigious school in Kyushu island, let alone Southern Japan in general, and we can't even win a soccer match!"

"Well, we know it's not you, Mizu. That's for sure. Besides, you know that all boys school next door? I heard a rumor we might be merging with them. They have a great soccer team."

"Yeah, but that doesn't change the fact all the girls suck."

"Mizuki!" Ume smacked her on the arm with a book.

"What? It's the truth!"

We all laughed and got weird looks from the other girls.

"Oh bug off! You ain't ever seen a gal and her friends talkin' 'bout sports?"

The other girls rolled their eyes and went back to their conversation.

"The Akita accent is strong in this one."

"What can I say, Scholarship Bud?"

See, one of the reasons Mizuki and I became friends is the fact we both were able to attend the school we go to is because of a scholarship. Mine being academic, her's being sports. Because of Mizu, the school was able to win several games for once in a decade or two. Ume and I are convinced that she'll play for a famous team or something when she's older.

"You two... honestly," Ume sighed.

Mizu and I became friends with Ume later in the year. She's the smartest girl in our year two class, some say smartest in the school. A while back there was a rumor about her and the English teacher, Mr. Sera, "seeing" each other. The rumor was totally true, but Mizu and I were able to make sure everyone "knew" it was fake. And that's how we became friends. By covering up the fact she was *bleep*ing the English teacher.

Ah, true friendship.

"Anyway, what hotel are we staying at?" I asked.

"The Tres Spade's Hotel and Casino. Though, we are strictly prohibited from going to the casino and/or the I.V.C."

"Lame." Said Mizu.

"Well, that makes sense. I can't wait. It's one of the best hotels in the world, though I've never been. My mom used to work there, I think. I found an old maid uniform for the Tres Spades underneath her bed one time."

"That's so cool! We know it's now for roleplay since it's not sexy at all! My cousin worked as a bellhop a few years back. Said the maid uniforms were some of the unsexiest things he'd ever seen."

"Mizuki, I swear to God..." Ume threatened.

"Calm your ti–"

"We're here!" I shouted as the Tres Spades came into sight. I have a good feeling about this trip.
....

FOUR HOURS LATER

This is the worst trip of my life.

"And for our next item, a young, healthy Japanese girl! Use her as a pet, use her for parts, it's up to you! We'll start the bidding at 5 million dollars!" Said a guy in a creepy ass Mad Hatter costume.

I miss my mom.