Chapter 7: My Name Is Kaiseki
"Let them chase the name. Tomorrow, they'll find out who I really am."
December 14, 12:43 AM Shinjuku, Tokyo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rin's ride home was a slow, aching push through Tokyo's half-awake veins. The e-Beat's battery gauge glowed a dim, stubborn warning as he coasted up in front of the apartment. Rain finally died down to a sticky mist that clung to his bomber jacket and his dreads, a last stubborn grip from the city.
He took in the greened-up entryway, warm lights spilling from the glass doors, balconies stacked with potted bamboo, and a fat trail of vines even the landlord couldn't kill. Somewhere behind him, a taxi idled, and the only other soul on the street was a salaryman hunched under a limp umbrella, cursing life with every soggy step.
Rin thumbed the automatic door button. The glass doors whispered open. He stepped inside and let the hush of the lobby settle over him, the outside world erased by carpet over marble, the low hum of hidden AC.
Only one person in the lobby tonight, the old security guard, a permanent fixture, hunched over his battered paperback, blue jacket two sizes too big, chair big enough to swallow him whole.
The lobby's warm gold lighting glinted off the older man's glasses, but he barely looked up, just raised a hand in a slow, tired salute as Rin passed.
"Makes sense why Chiyo pays extra for security, with those assholes still trying to harass us. I'll make them pay… and one day, I'll find out what happened to Dad." The thought of pure frustration flashed across Rin's face as he passed.
The click of the doors behind him faded, and the outside noise went with it. Tokyo's pulse was replaced by the low hum of elevator cables and distant, muffled footsteps somewhere above.
He caught a look at himself in the reflection off the marble: mud-stained sneakers, socks squelching with every step, bomber jacket streaked with city grime, dreads stuck to his forehead. "Damn, boy, I look straight up homeless. I'm surprised Yunaile didn't just run the other way after seeing me at the hospital…" He gripped the little slip of paper in his pocket, the one with her note, time, and location scribbled on it, still surprised she'd even talked to him in the state he was in.
His stomach gave a traitorous growl as he hit the stairwell. He always took the stairs, maybe superstition, maybe habit, maybe because the elevator was slow and he hated waiting. Steps thudded under his feet, the rhythm echoing up through tired legs. At each landing, he let his shoulder slump a little more, duffel strap digging into his muscles.
By the time he reached their floor, he was running on fumes. He paused in front of the apartment, keycard in hand, and took a long, slow breath, the kind that let his mind try to catch up with the day. The door beeped open, and he slipped into the darkness cut only by the green glow of the stove clock and a faint strip of light from under the twins' bedroom door.
The first thing he noticed was the smell of soy sauce and curry, something hearty, still clinging to the air. Made him pause a second. He flicked on the kitchen light, blinking against the glare, and found Chiyo's note on the counter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food in the fridge. Field trip forms are on the counter.
I'll get the twins at 6. At the office all night, call if you need anything.
And sleep. Seriously, Rin.
I saw that the Tochi application was the best choice you've made.
Old man Gato means well, but you're too smart to be working at a WattsUp station.
You're your mother's son, and your father's too.
You'll be an old 1st year, but there are classes to catch you up. I pulled some strings, but from here my influence drops.
Prime Minister Yazuri already outlawed family ties to the top academies, so the Tabuchis can't touch you there.
I filed charges and got the restraining order after what happened with Tabuchi's men showing up.
Love you, Rin. They won't hurt our family promise.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rin almost laughed. Chiyo always worried about lists. "If only it were that easy… You only know half of it. I'll handle it. I don't need them targeting anyone else." His eyes lingered on her handwriting, steady and bold, every stroke spelling out the kind of faith she had in him, he sometimes couldn't even muster for himself.
Rin peeled off his jacket, shoes, and socks, tossing them in a heap by the mat. Padded barefoot to the fridge, grabbed the foil-wrapped curry, nuked it until the kitchen filled with real food smell, not just cheap soy or leftovers. He wolfed it down at the counter, barely chewing, mind stuck in a replay hospital, rain, Loop notifications, Yunaile, Eren, and his mother.
After rinsing the tray and dropping it in the rack, he finally let himself slump into the old kitchen chair by the window, Chiyo's battered plant still hanging in the corner, his dad's desk sitting squat against the glass, and the Tochi entrance packet sitting right on top. He thumbed the edge of the packet, eyes squinting at the date: December 22, 7:00 AM.
"Nothing like a good old-fashioned test to make you question your life choices. Why couldn't the entrance exam be something easy, like a foot race, or eating ramen the fastest?" He let out a little chuckle, tired and honest, before tossing the packet back on the desk.
He dropped onto the couch, letting his head fall against the worn cushion. The TV was on mute, rolling through esports highlights. London Spire's last match. Transfer rumors. Yuna's new track "Shadow Drive" is playing over a slick promo for the Winter Bash.
He stared at her face, studying the pink hair, the sharp look in her eye. "No way, right? I'm not tripping … but…" He shook his head, a crooked smile tugging at his lips. "Still… if Yunaile's half as good in HGO as she mentioned, this might get interesting." He pulled himself back from the edge of it. "I can't go making the same mistake twice, fool. Eren was nice at first, too." He thought out loud
Trust didn't come easy, not after what he'd given up. Rin knew better than to hand out clues, not with a world quest that half the city would kill for.
His phone buzzed, screen lighting up with Loop notifications, half the scene blowing up after midnight.
Rin picked it up, not having checked it much since he left Sakura Arcade.
[LOOP - @HGOesports | 12:33 AM]
🚨 BREAKING: Haruto Murayama (@Haruto7) leaves Kansai Black Lotus.
Team captain Eren Tabuchi now faces four open slots ahead of the new split.
[@Haruto7]
"Not re-signing and looking forward to Winter Bash. If you're reading this, you know who you are. See you at the Bash."
Rin blinked, thumb pausing over the feed.
"Yeah, I saw that one coming," Rin thought, scrolling through the comments. Haruto's leaving was bound to happen. That team had been falling apart since… well, since they started running Eren's 'borrowed' build. And whose build was that, again? … But let's not start that drama. Got enough on my plate already."
His chest tightened as he glanced at the green HGO drive that sat with his keys on the table. A little spike of old anger, mixed with a kind of sad pride, twisted in his gut. He'd sold that idea to Eren when things were desperate, thinking it would fix things. It hadn't worked out for him, not for his mom, not for Chiyo and the twins. But he'd learned what Gato always used to say: "Never sell yourself short. Never let someone else play your hand." Something like that.
Rin smiled, half-bitter, half-grateful, remembering the old WattsUp station's miserable shifts, sure, but something about the grind had felt safe. The idea of being on a real esports stage, of winning with his family watching, even the dream stung a little. Not everyone would be there, and the thought of his dad crept in, snuffing out the hope almost as soon as it sparked.
Rin thumbed through more comments, memes, call-outs, and half the city guessing who was behind the world quest, who really made "Eren's Build."
"Funny how they never mention my name, just 'the OG builder or that Tochi cafeteria rumor. Maybe that's for the best."
Rin stood up, walked softly down the hall, and peeked into the twins' room. Both kids were knocked out, arms tangled in blankets, faces soft in the dim glow of their nightlight. He watched them for a second, heart squeezing tight. "Momo and Taji, you two keep sleeping. I'll figure this out, promise."
Back at the desk, he sat down, phone still in his hand. Opened Loop stared at his old account for a long moment. Barely any followers, just old relooped videos from back when he thought streaming might be his way out. Nothing worth keeping.
If he was going to do this, really do this, he needed a clean break.
Deleted the account. Started over. Fresh username:
[@Kaiseki_HGO]
[LOOP PROFILE]
@Kaiseki_HGO
Birthday: March 11th, 2028
Bio: COMPETIVE HGO VR PLAYER | "If you're scared of losing, you're not ready to win."
Following: 5
Followers: 1
Grabbed a goblin avatar off the net, slapped it up as his profile pic, and followed @HGOesports, @Yuna_N9, and a handful of indie crafters he'd watched for years, the folks who made legendary gear, not the pros, but the real backbone of the game.
A notification pinged almost immediately.
[Yuna_N9] followed you back.]
Rin arched an eyebrow. "Well, damn. That was fast. Either she thinks I'm the real Kaiseki, or she's just that thirsty for world quest clout." He set the phone down, not wanting to overthink it, but feeling the adrenaline spike anyway.
He glanced over at his Haya e-Beat key and the green HGO drive on the table, the last pieces of tonight's chaos, then flicked the TV off mute just in time to catch the commentator wrapping up:
"London Spire takes the Crystal League Season 3. Rumors swirl that Haruto's a free agent, Eren's rebuilding, and Yuna's new single is shattering records. And in other news, HGO confirms the Winter Bash prize pool."
Rin let out a long, shaky breath.
"Tomorrow, I start the grind. Tonight, I need to sleep."
Rin set his alarm for noon. The twins were off with Chiyo for three days, no distractions, no excuses. If he was ever going to catch up, it was now.
He crashed onto the couch, tossing an old hoodie over his face to block the city light. Somewhere outside, sirens cut the quiet, a train rattled by, rain ticking against the glass in a slow, insistent rhythm. He let his breathing settle into it, arm thrown over his eyes, every muscle finally letting go.
"Tomorrow, the real fight began."
END OF CHAPTER 7
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER 8: THE SECRETS OF THE GOBLIN SORCERER PART I
"Some secrets haunt the brave. Others choose their own moment to return."