Shinjuku… Shinjuku Station."
Koji Shimizu turned and prepared to get off with the crowd.
Tetsu Moroha snapped back to attention at the announcement. After a brief hesitation, she silently prepared to get off as well.
However, she had no intention of letting Koji Shimizu notice.
A thought had formed in her mind.
Perhaps it was curiosity about the secret behind his growing strength.
Or perhaps she simply wondered why a first-year high school boy would come to Shinjuku late at night.
Shinjuku was not a small place—
It created legends.
Ten minutes later, Tetsu Moroha stood silently among the crowd as she watched Koji Shimizu head toward the direction of Kabukicho Ichibangai.
Following him from a distance, her eyes gradually grew cold.
So he was that kind of person after all.
Only a first-year student, yet already frequenting places like this.
Her brows knitted tightly as she admitted to herself that appearances could be deceiving.
At the same time, a nameless anger rose in her heart.
Why could someone so worthless possess such extraordinary talent in kendo?
Why?
Grinding her teeth slightly, she followed again.
Although she was almost certain, she still didn't want to believe that someone stronger and more talented than her could be—
In the end, Koji Shimizu did not enter Kabukicho Ichibangai itself.
Instead, he stopped in front of a building with a pink neon sign reading "Polestar," which looked no different from the host and maid cafés nearby.
Standing at the entrance to the alley, Tetsu Moroha turned and left without looking back.
He was just a stranger.
She swore that if Koji Shimizu ever used her business card to contact her, she would make sure someone threw him out without mercy.
—
Koji Shimizu had no idea that hundreds of meters behind him, hidden in the crowded streets, a girl's gaze had been quietly tracking him.
Her strength was, in some ways, comparable to his. And because of certain circumstances, she had learned from childhood how to hide herself well.
Walking into the Polestar Club, the familiar scent of alcohol mixed with the perfume of mature women filled the air.
Without changing expression, Koji Shimizu walked past the bar and entered through the corridor behind it.
Diana stood waiting near the dressing room behind the stage, just like last time. When he approached, she was anxiously checking her watch.
Even after living in Japan for decades, foreign women often retained the straightforward and open personalities they grew up with.
The moment she saw him, Diana visibly relaxed and immediately walked toward him with a bright smile.
It looked as if she instinctively wanted to give him a big hug.
But she quickly realized it might not be appropriate—mainly because Koji Shimizu wouldn't like it. Still, she showed no embarrassment and approached him naturally.
"Oh~ Koji-kun, you look even more charming today. I really mean that."
Her tone was sincere and surprised.
Koji Shimizu simply nodded silently, neither agreeing nor denying.
Diana didn't seem discouraged. In fact, this was exactly the reaction she wanted.
She reached out and straightened his collar. Her manner was close and natural, and surprisingly he didn't stop her.
After only a few seconds, she withdrew her hand.
With a gentle smile, she stepped aside.
"Go on. Don't worry—I'll make sure you stay safe."
With that, she passed him and disappeared into the dimly lit hallway.
Koji Shimizu glanced back at her before entering the dressing room and changing into his black performance suit.
At 180 centimeters tall, young and slightly youthful yet masculine in appearance, with a cool and composed aura, he looked like a piano prince from a novel.
Looking at himself in the mirror, Koji Shimizu paid little attention to his appearance.
He had noticed the lingering worry on Diana's face, but since she hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't ask.
Still, he felt some curiosity—and another strange thought.
It seemed likely that Diana or the club had run into trouble, though it probably had nothing to do with him.
Yet the last job he had planned to take had been destroyed before he even started—the entire company burned down.
Did he have bad luck?
Koji Shimizu shook his head and pushed aside the thought.
He stepped out right on time and took the stage under the silent anticipation of the watching women.
—
On the second floor was an elegant and luxurious room reserved for VIP guests.
"Can I meet him later?"
Though phrased as a question, the woman's eyes, tone, and posture made it sound more like a declaration.
Standing beside her in a black-and-white maid outfit, Asano Anna looked through specially made glass toward the boy on stage, maintaining her professional smile.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Hatamoto. Our club can't decide that. He only works here part-time."
"Part-time means he works for money. I'll pay one million yen."
Hatamoto Akiyo's hoarse voice sounded firm, but Asano Anna simply smiled without responding.
"Heh, aren't you asking for too much?"
Hatamoto Akiyo's expression darkened.
She had been in a bad mood recently after receiving little from an inheritance settlement.
She had even quarreled with her husband, though as a daughter of the Hatamoto family she knew he depended on her completely.
Perhaps that was why she had come to this club after such a long time—and why she couldn't take her eyes off Koji Shimizu the moment she saw him.
Her face darkened with irritation.
For a woman already in her thirties with ordinary looks, the expression made her seem almost ugly.
Seeing Asano Anna unmoved, she gritted her teeth.
"Two million."
"Three million."
"I'm sorry, Ms. Hatamoto—"
"Ah!"
Hatamoto Akiyo snapped.
Already like a powder keg ready to explode, she threw a cup of hot coffee straight into Asano Anna's face.
"Don't think you can look down on me just because I'm not the family heir! Everyone knows what kind of place this is!"
She ranted hysterically, saying things Asano Anna barely understood.
The coffee wasn't extremely hot, but being splashed suddenly in the face stung the eyes and was deeply humiliating.
Still, Asano Anna could endure both the pain and the insult.
But as she fell to the floor rubbing her eyes, she failed to notice that Hatamoto Akiyo was about to stomp on her face with the heel of her shoe.
Bang!
Suddenly, the door burst open and slammed violently against the wall.