After staying with Hitomi for about three or four days, Takashi was kicked out.

Why? Because ever since they got together, Hitomi had noticed her work efficiency had plummeted, and her sleep was severely lacking.

After returning to Tokyo, Takashi found himself with nothing to do.

He had plenty of scheduled work—but after that last event, it had all been postponed.

This was both Ogitsu Yoshiko's opinion and that of the contracting party.

They needed their team to reassess the risk level of Takashi.

It's true that Takashi had massive popularity, traffic, and data metrics—but he was just too active.

Take the "One-Day Police Chief" charity event, for example.

It was originally meant to show how hard police work is, encourage people to stop calling them "tax thieves," and promote positive energy.

Then Takashi showed up.

Boom—it turned into a yakuza promotional video.

After that day, yakuza membership numbers skyrocketed, giving people flashbacks to the gangster boom of the 1970s and 80s.

The Yamaguchi-gumi, Sumiyoshi-kai, and Inagawa-kai were like: It's back. It's all back.

Three days later, the police launched a massive anti-gang operation—and everything went back again.

Also worth mentioning: the group leading the charge during the crackdown was none other than the Ryuju Clan.

Uncle Cap tipped off the cops with "Rewards for reporting!" and the Ryuju Clan gave up every brother they knew.

Their statement was 10 pages long—just names—basically "Your Name," but in yakuza edition.

The Yamaguchi-gumi was so furious they wrote a thousand-word rant, fiercely criticizing the Ryuju Clan.

The Ryuju Clan replied:

[I had no choice before. Now I just want to be a good person!]

That really pissed off the three major bosses of the yakuza.

You damn brat—trying to be a good person by selling out your brothers?

The whole situation delighted internet onlookers.

People started begging the Japanese police to do another collaboration with Takashi—they wanted Season 2.

That livestream also produced several iconic memes, such as:

"Three strikes break the bullying spirit—Sir, I'm just an honest man!"

"I'm Takashi from Japan—I beat up punks till they cry!"

"Japan has its own Running Man!"

The Japanese police actually wanted to take the video down since it harmed their image, but the investors wouldn't allow it.

They didn't care how it affected the police. They only cared about profits.

The video stayed up, which was a big reason Takashi's popularity remained sky-high.

Of course, it would be a lie to say it didn't affect Takashi at all.

Both Ogitsu Yoshiko and the partners became much more cautious when it came to inviting Takashi to events.

Everyone wanted their talents to have life, but Takashi had too much life.

With no jobs lined up and only a few days left until the Yulong Cup, Takashi found himself with nothing to do.

He figured he could resume his "Fireworks Festival" mission.

That particular system mission had to be completed before the fireworks festival ended.

Japan's final fireworks show would be on October 5th—Suwa Lake Fireworks Festival in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture.

It was early September now. A few shows remained, and he had to use them wisely.

Tokyo and Chiba's fireworks festivals were already over, so he had to pick one in a farther city.

Considering the Yulong Cup was just around the corner, Takashi ruled out small towns and ultimately chose a fireworks show in his hometown—Hokkaido.

"Let's see who the lucky girl is today... Hmm, alright, it's you!"

…

"Huh? We're going to Hokkaido to watch fireworks?"

That night, Kotonoha was soaking in her bathtub when she got a call from Takashi.

"Yeah, that's right."

"Hokkaido, huh..."

Kotonoha looked a little troubled.

If it were Tokyo or a nearby city, she probably wouldn't even hesitate and would've agreed right away.

But Hokkaido... that was really far.

It wasn't like she'd never been abroad before—but those trips were always with her parents.

She'd never traveled alone with a guy.

Why does it have to be Hokkaido? Kotonoha wondered.

If Takashi had asked her a while back, she might have said yes without a second thought.

But lately, Takashi's indifference toward her had stirred up feelings of sadness and resistance.

Even though they still texted often, cold lines of text over a screen were no longer enough for her.

She longed to see Takashi.

To hold his hand.

To feel his warmth.

She'd been wanting to meet him in person for a while, but Takashi always used his busy schedule as an excuse.

Kotonoha knew Takashi was a big celebrity and that he was busy.

But if he was so busy, why did the tabloids keep catching him out with other girls?

He even appeared on TV with Momo!

In the last livestream, even though Momo wore a mask, Kotonoha still recognized her.

That really hurt.

She'd grown up with emotionally absent parents—both busy with work. They gave her tons of money but little love or attention.

Children raised like that might turn out accomplished—but they're always starved for love.

They crave companionship.

And Takashi... clearly wasn't giving it.

"Hokkaido is my hometown," Takashi said.

He knew what Kotonoha was thinking—and he knew he hadn't given this love-starved girl enough time or attention lately.

But what could he do?

He was just one person.

He couldn't manage the emotional needs of every girl around him. The source of this content ɪs ⓝovelFire.net

And women—especially the rich girls in his circle—valued emotional support more than material gifts.

"This is my hometown's fireworks festival. I want to see it with you."

Though he couldn't manage all the rich girls' feelings, it didn't mean he couldn't do anything.

"I want to show you my home."

"To show you the place where I grew up with my parents."

"Miss Katsura, would you like to visit?"

His home?!

All the sulking in Kotonoha's heart vanished in an instant.

"I wa—"

"Kotonoha, who are you talking to in there?"

Just as she was about to say yes, her mother's voice rang from outside the bathroom.

"No one, Mom—I was just talking to myself," Kotonoha made up an excuse on the spot.

"Oh right—there's a dinner party tomorrow." Katsura Manami didn't question it. She knew her daughter was introverted.

"Tomorrow?"

Kotonoha looked troubled.

It was rare for Takashi to make time for her.

And he even wanted to take her to his hometown.

Now her mom was telling her there was a dinner party?

"Yes. Why?" Manami asked, puzzled.

"Do I have to go?"

Kotonoha really didn't want to.

What dinner party could be better than going to Takashi's hometown?

"Yes, it's Shinomiya Kaguya's birthday. The Shinomiya family invited us. Our whole family must attend."

The Katsura family remained politically neutral. They didn't align with any faction, but this was a party they couldn't decline.

"Alright…"

Kotonoha was a good girl.

And good girls don't usually say no to their parents.

"Then it's settled. Don't soak for too long in there." Katsura Manami said before leaving.

Kotonoha waited a moment before saying softly and dejectedly, "Takashi, I might not be able to go home with you tomorrow."

"Oh, I see."

Takashi's voice sounded cold.

As if he were displeased with her refusal.

"I'm hanging up then."

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