Chapter 523: The Difference Between Role-Playing and Scenario-Playing
Half an hour later...
"...So, Kawaki-kun, how did you come up with this kind of script?" Otose complained with a speechless expression.
"Considering the short time, thinking up this kind of script is already pretty good," Kawaki shrugged nonchalantly, responding, "These boring streets of yours, along with those childish wars and those boring love triangles, I'd rather just sleep, you know? But honestly, even if it erupts, it can hardly be called a war, right? It's just a brawl on the street. Of course, if you're not satisfied, I could send a challenge directly to Edo Castle to help you start a real war to conquer the world, which might be quite interesting~"
"Hehehe," Jirocho chuckled softly and then pondered while stroking his chin, "Well, forget it; it does sound interesting. Is this the kind of PLAY young people like nowadays? I was just about to go back and spend time with my daughter, so it wouldn't hurt to learn a bit about what young people are into."
"No, this isn't the kind of soft, fluffy PLAY," Kawaki shook his head, then looked serious, "It's story-play!"
"Hey, what you're talking about is even softer..." Tsukuyo retorted from the side, "In every sense of the word."
"Well, since it's a farewell to an old acquaintance, I'll help out too," a voice came from the ceiling, "Kawaki~ see? My... my skirt~ Ah~ I'm so embarrassed~"
Boom!!
"Phew~" Kawaki blew on the tip of his umbrella, ignoring the blasted ceiling, and Saigou, who had fallen to the ground, then said, "Anyway, that's it. Your street's neighborhood brawl will end tomorrow. Goodbye..."
After Kawaki left, Saigou got up, dusted himself off, sat down as if nothing had happened, and said, "How about that? The man I fancy is not bad, right?"
"The control of force was too perfect," Jirochou took a light drag of his cigarette, "If it were me, I definitely couldn't have done it to the extent that you wouldn't get hurt at all. But that kid did it."
"Goodbye, and remember to send me the performance fee tomorrow," Otose said without turning back as he stood at the door.
"Ah, I'll send you flowers so beautiful, they'd be enough for a funeral," Jirochou joked.
"Don't worry, I'll use the flowers exactly as they are for your funeral," Otose responded without missing a beat.
Then, the two of them laughed together.
"I feel kind of superfluous right now," Saigou muttered to himself.
...
On the other side, at the Kabukicho seaside docks.
Members of the Dobunezumi gang gathered around, all looking maliciously at Gintoki and Chin Pirako, who were still in the trash can.
"Finally got back that old debt," Kurogoma Katsuo approached with a toothpick in his mouth, touching his slicked-back hair, "I told you before, I always repay my debts; I borrow three and pay back seven."
"That, I don't remember ever borrowing anything from you or lending you anything; you must be mistaken," Gintoki casually replied, "And besides, the slicked-back style is out of fashion now. How about we shave it all off for a stylish bald look? Eh?"
"Don't bring that up again! Do you know how the juniors in the gang look at me after that incident?!" Kurogoma Katsuo exploded, clenching his fists angrily.
"No, they don't seem to think so," Gintoki glanced at the young gang members behind Kurogoma Katsuo, "The disdain in their eyes is not disguised at all, the three-seven... no, the slicked-back guy who couldn't even pass if Okaasan gave full marks."
"I was born perfect! My slicked-back hair is perfect!" Kurogoma Katsuo shouted back, then turned to his juniors, "You think so too, right?! In the Dobunezumi Gang, besides the boss, I'm the most handsome, right?!"
"Yes, that's right, absolutely; in my heart, bro is the most handsome!"
"Yes, don't give up, bro! Even if outsiders think you're the worst, in our hearts, you're the most handsome!"
"Bro's horse face, the scar, that slicked-back hair that looks like it hasn't been washed in days, the deliberately kept dirty little mustache, always furrowed brows that look funny to others, and the toothpick that just fell on the ground but picked up as if nothing happened, and the Kansai dialect that doesn't fit the underworld at all, Bro is the most handsome in our hearts!"
"Yes! Don't mind others' opinions! Bro! As long as we think you are the most handsome, that's enough! Others' objective evaluations don't matter at all!"
"You're the most handsome, Bro!"
"All of you want to die, don't you!" Kurogoma Katsuo shouted, "Just now, someone denied my whole face, didn't they? All my features were denied, weren't they? Who? Who exactly?! What do you mean by others' objective evaluations? Where is it objective?!"
The young gang members looked at each other, then turned away and whistled, none of them responding.
"You bastards—" Kurogoma Katsuo cursed.
"So let's go bald; that's your true look, you know, when you first came to this world, you didn't have much hair on your head. Now making your hair into this disgusting slicked-back, your mother resting in her hometown would be sad," Gintoki pointed out with the few fingers he could move towards a bald man behind Kurogoma Katsuo, "Look, being like him is fine; his mother must be proud of him now! Although he became a gangster, he didn't forget his roots! He's a good kid!"
"Shut up! My slicked-back hair is even cooler than Odagiri's! It's a stylish slicked-back that even makes the old mother in heaven feel relieved!" Kurogoma Katsuo retorted, "Fashion is just a cycle of rebirth, constantly repeating!"
(Note: Joe Odagir, a Japanese male star known in the entertainment circle for being stylish and unique, especially with his hairstyles.)
"Wait, wait, that's not important. This idiot little girl incited me; she told me to use plaster," Gintoki casually replied, "And besides, those two guys have nothing to do with me; I was even kindly treating those two brothers who broke their bones, though without plaster, but also correctly applied cement to fix their broken bones if you hadn't come too fast, those two broken guys might have healed by now. Did you understand? You dirtbag Odagiri."
"Who are you calling dirtbag Odagiri?! Who would believe that kind of thing?! Do you think I'm an idiot!" Kurogoma Katsuo grumbled, then spread his hands and laughed lightly, "Did you and your underlings make some sort of deal? I know, you agreed to fill my boss's head with red flowers, right?"
Suddenly, Gintoki's expression changed, and dark lines appeared under his eyes, "How do you know?"
"Can you tell your bro?" Kurogoma Katsuo looked at Chin Pirako, similarly stuck in the concrete trash can, "What exactly is the red flower?"
Upon hearing this, Gintoki slowly turned his head, stumbling over his words, "Birako... that... could it be... you..."
"Bro, my boss is originally related to Jirochou, an old acquaintance," Chin Pirako explained without turning her head, "Ever since I was little, I've been taught about the chivalry among chivalrous people, the great chivalrous Jirochou's deeds…"
Speaking of which, Chin Pirako recalled when she was little, sitting under the eaves swinging her little feet, listening to the uncle watering the flowers, and talking about Jirochou…
"Most of the recent chivalrous men are just messing around, but he's different; he uses his power only when carrying out justice; that's true chivalry."
"It sounds so complicated; I don't understand~" young Pirako replied while swinging her feet.
"Hahaha, sorry, I said too much. It seems cheap, but in short, Jirochou's chivalry is blooming with flowers. Your mother must have been attracted by this, too. I wonder from when his flowers started to wither…"
Thinking of this, Pirako took a dagger from her sleeve, held it with both hands and thrust it straight into the concrete before her.
"Abandoning wife and daughter... even treating his wife's family as business rivals and personally destroying them, then coming here to engage in some boring wars with transvestites and old hags…"
As she spoke, the concrete in front of Pirako, along with half of the trash can, burst open. Then Pirako stood up and jumped, landing steadily in front of Kurogoma Katsuo, continuing, "I still want to see Jirochou from back then, let chivalry once again reign supreme, let my dad's heart bloom with beautiful flowers again."
"Huh? What are you talking about? I don't understand at all," Gintoki suddenly reacted, "Huh? Huh—?!"
"That's the situation, Pirako… no, Miss, she is…" Kurogoma Katsuo interjected, "Jirochou's daughter! To be precise, the daughter born after his ex-wife returned to her family!"