Tokyo Crazy Paradise
Hana to Yume
1996 vol. 24; episode no. 10
Translation by Yuki
Pics scanned and edited by Yuki

Tsukasa: "E......? What? Moving?" Tsukasa looks surprised.

Sho: "What? You didn't hear? I thought you heard from Toshi."

Toshi: "I thought you heard from Taku-nii or Kaya-san." [Taku-nii = nickname the younger Kozukis use to refer to their older brother.]

Kaya: "...I thought you heard from Ryuji-kun..." {I told him to tell you...} [Ryuji-kun = what Kaya calls Ryuji]

Tsukasa, Toshi, Sho, Kaya all turn to stare at Ryuji: "... ..."

Ryuji: "....." He puts his fist to his palm as if he suddenly remembered.

Tsukasa: "You!! Why didn't you say anything---!!?" {Were you laughing while you were watching me run around an empty house crying my head off ---!?} She grabs the fake beard and stretches the elastic.

Ryuji: "I forgot." {Who cares. You know now.}

Kaya: {Liar. Ryuji-kun never forgets anything that he hears for the first time... And especially something that was very recent. ...Ryuji-kun...}

In the background, Tsukasa is yelling at Tsukasa. "You bastard! Don't you remember that when you're asked to do something, you're supposed to take responsibility and finish the task!? Kono sensei said so back in grade school---!"

Ryuji: "I don't remember such a retarded thing!"

Kaya: {Do you not like having to return Tsukasa-kun to us...? No fair... You're always hogging her...}

Tsukasa lets go of the beard making it hit Ryuji in the face.

Tsukasa, laughing: "Ha ha ha! Does it hurt?"

Ryuji, holding his face: "......"

Kaya watches Ryuji and Tsukasa with interest. "------..."

Sho: "Oh, Tsukasa,"

Tsukasa: "O?"

Sho: "This is Iruma-san, the landlord of the place we're moving to."

Iruma bows.

Tsukasa bows in return. "Nice to meet you."

Iruma: "Thank you for saving my son Masashi earlier..." He places a hand on his son's shoulder.

Masashi stares up at Tsukasa. "......Are you 'Tsukasa'?"

Tsukasa: "Yeah." She bends down to the kid's height.

Masashi: "I heard from Toshi and Sho that you're good at fighting so I was expecting someone bigger. You're just normal...." {Like a macho man or something like that.}

Tsukasa: {...How child like... and cheeky.} Her smile is forced.

Iruma (Masashi's father): "Let's go home Masashi."

Masashi: "Eeeeee? It's still 11." {No way~~~} "Look! The whole city's not going to sleep until tomorrow. Christmas is one of the few times that us kids can walk around until midnight. I wanna stay out!!!" {There's no school tomorrow~~~!}

Tsukasa nods, remembering that when she was younger she used to say the same thing.

Masashi: "...I don't want to go home." He looks up at his dad. "...You don't want to either right...?"

Iruma smiles sadly: "......... ...I have to help the Kozukis move in...."

Masashi looks down sadly. "........."

Tsukasa notices this: "...... Come with me Masa. If something happens again I'll help you. Ryuji too."

Ryuji: {Don't make my decisions for me.}

Masashi smiles, and Tsukasa talks it over with Iruma.

Iruma: "It won't be any trouble...?"

Tsukasa: "Not a problem at all~~~" She takes Masashi's hand in hers.

Kaya peers into Ryuji's face. "......"

Ryuji: "...What?"

Kaya: "Ryuji-kun. You've gotten along pretty well with Tsukasa-kun since the last time we met... Really well in fact..."

Ryuji: {Really good?}

Kaya: "Like really good friends."

Ryuji, a bit disappointed: {...Oh, just friends...}

Kaya: "You enjoy having Tsukasa-kun by your side..."

Ryuji is probably smiling but the beard is covering his mouth.

Kaya: "...Fine... In return for keeping Tsukasa-kun will you hear my request?"

Ryuji: "?"

Sho, to Tsukasa: "Well since we plan on moving everything by today, we'll leave now."

Toshi: "It'll probably be quick with Kaya-san and Iruma-san helping (since we don't own much). Masa can tell you where we're moving. Counting on you Masa!" [Masa = a short form of Masashi.]

Masashi:: "Leave it to me."

Tsukasa: "Okay."

Toshi: "Later then."

Tsukasa: "Ah!"

Toshi: "Ah! Since you're working like this (and with Sandaime) does that mean you're coming home this week?" Tsukasa nods vigorously. "Then I'll tell Takunii that." (^o^) "Well?"

Tsukasa: "N?"

Toshi: "Weren't you going to say something?"

Tsukasa: "Nah, it's okay." {It's a secret. Fun things like this should be kept secret. ---------Let's have a Christmas party when we get home------...}

Kaya, Toshi, Sho and Iruma leave.

Kaya starts laughing to herself as they walk away. {If Tatsuya-san saw Ryuji-kun like this he probably would have flipped. That was fun to watch.}

Text: Tatsuya-san = Ryuji's father.

Sho, Toshi and Iruma: "?"

In a residential area.

Kamo-san: "Umm~~~ Akasaka district B2 area 11~~~~~~... Here it is Tsukasa-san. This is the Sakai's residence. The children are Yuuta-kun and Rumiko-chan."

Tsukasa: "Yes! The last order." She presses the intercom.

"Hello?"

Tsukasa: "Sorry for calling so late but we're from the toy store~~~"

"Aa! Please wait a moment."

Tsukasa: {Here they come!}

Masashi is riding on Ryuji's shoulders.

Text: Tsukasa put him there.

"Security system unlocked."

Bun-san: "..."

Two kids (a boy and a girl) come bursting from the house with their parents behind them.

Boy: "It's Santa--! Santa really came--!!"

Tsukasa: {Here they are---!}

Boy: "Wow---! You're the real thing!? Deer! Where's the sled and the deer---!?"

Text: Referring to reindeer.

Tsukasa: "The deer have to work hard tomorrow so they're resting today."

Boy: "E----?"

Tsukasa: "I'm here to ask what Yuuta-kun and Rumiko-chan want for this Christmas."

Boy: "Wow---! You know my name---!"

The parents try not to look guilty. "......"

The kids finish their requests and Ryuji enters them into a small computer.

Tsukasa: "...How sweet. There are still kids that believe in Santa Claus."

[If you're wondering what type of job Tsukasa is doing, it's kind of like TV advertising. Since some kids never told their parents what they wanted for Christmas and thought that telling Santa would make their wish come true, someone started the business of having Santas go to children's houses to take orders for presents, which of course the parents are there to hear them.]

Masa: "Are they stupid or what? There's no such things as Santa Claus. How nice that the rich can live their lives on dreams."

Tsukasa: "Why? Isn't your place doing well with leasing?"

Masa moves to take off his jacket, exposing his clothing. "From top to bottom, these clothes are for 12-year-olds so that I won't have to buy any for the next 5 years."

Text: Iruma Masashi, age 7. Grade 2.

Masa: "I want to live a life without getting involved with the rich and the yakuza."

Tsukasa: {I can't believe a kid this young is so moved by money.}

Kamo-san holds his ears. "Isn't that something we hear often."

Ryuji: "......"

Masa, quietly: "...Although it's probably impossible..."

A little while later. Tsukasa and Ryuji (still in their Santa costumes) follow Masa home with Kamo-san and Bun-san behind them.

Kamo-san: "Tsukasa-san, the subway fee to get here has been added."

Tsukasa, with tears in her eyes: "You don't have to tell me that!!"

They reach Masashi's place. It's a huge condo. Tsukasa is worried about whether the rent is cheap.

Masa: "Ah!" He recognizes the car in front of the main entrance. "They're here again!!!" He starts running for his home.

Tsukasa: "He---y Masa---!"

"Hey!! You're 2 weeks overdue!!! Come out Iruma!!!"

"Don't be hiding now!!! I'll kill you man!!!"

Two men are kicking at the door to Masashi's place.

Bun-san: "A--ah! What hoodlums. I wonder what kumi they're from." [Kumi = (yakuza) group]

Ryuji: "......"

Kamo-san: "It sounds like they're after borrowed money."

Tsukasa starts. {So this is the rumoured demanding for the lent money to be returned!!}

Masa: "......!" He's now in tears.

Tsukasa: {They're a lot different from Ryuji. He's never been violent about me paying him back.. although he has told me to pay with my body.} She glances at Ryuji. {Taku said we were borrowing money too... What are they like...? But wait... I think they're borrowing money under Kaya-san's name.}

Text: Since they're underaged.

Tsukasa: {Could it be that they're like that...?}

Bun-san: "A! They've managed to get the door opened."

Masa envisions his father being beaten up. "Stop!!!" He runs for the door.

Man 1: "He's not here." He kicks over a table.

Man 2: "Maybe he's hiding in some other resident's place."

Man 1: "Other resident? Are there any left?"

Man 2: "I dunno."

Masashi enters the room. "Dad!!!" He takes out a self defence weapon (probably a stun gun) "Huh?" The men sneer.

Tsukasa: "Masa!" She comes running in after him. The next thing she knows, Masa is flying towards her. "!!!" She lands with Masashi unconscious in her lap.

Man 1: "It looks like company. I wanted to play with him a bit more."

Man 2: "Why don't you have him returned?"

Man 1: "Hey Santa! If you don't want no harm to come your way then give that kid back will you?" They laugh. Tsukasa gets angry and glares.

Ryuji moves toward the house. Kamo-san looks surprised. "!?"

There's a tremendous amount of noise. Takuma had just come back home.

Takuma: "!! Wh.. What's up?"

Text: To those who have forgotten. Kozuki Takuma (16). The eldest Kozuki brother. Just came back from work.

Taku: "Isn't that Iruma-san's room?"

"Takunii! Takunii!!"

Taku: "!" He hears a voice calling his name. He sees Toshi crouched at a door.

Toshi: "Over here! Hurry!"

Takuma: "Toshi, what are you doing?"

Toshi: "yakuza! The yakuza are here!!"

Taku: "Yakuza?"

Toshi: "That's right. I just heard from Iruma-san but they always come here like that every week..."

"TAKE THIS! A FULLCOURSE FINISH BOMBER!!" [Tsukasa names some of her moves.]

Takuma and Toshi: "..... ...It's Tsukasa." Sho nods in agreement.

Back in the room.

Tsukasa: "Let go!!!! Let me do my FINISH BOMBER!!!" She struggles as Ryuji holds her from behind.

Ryuji: "Kamojima, throw them out before she gets to them."

Kamo-san drags the men out one at a time by their feet.

Ryuji: "Hey! Tsukasa! Calm down! How many times do I have to tell you the same thing!?" She's still struggling and trying to kick at the men.

Tsukasa: "You bastards! Don't run away dammit! I hate the yakuza----!!!"

Ryuji reacts to these words by slapping her. She's surprised. He stares at her sadly and says nothing.

Tsukasa: {-----!!} "----Ryu..."

"Tsukasa-kun!!"

Tsukasa: "!" She starts at the outburst. "...Kaya-san..."

Kaya, looking stern: "...Were you fighting?"

Tsukasa pales: "E...?"

Kaya, still looking mad: "You were fighting.......?"

Tsukasa pales even more. "...... ...... ......" She bows her head down in shame. "...Sorry..."

Kaya, crying: ".........! Thank goodness you're okay!" She hugs Tsukasa.

Tsukasa: {I can't stand it when Kaya-san cries over me.} She'd apparently said that the scratches on her face were from a cat. "I... I'm fine. But what about Masa...!?"

Kaya: "...A... ...Shibuya-san just took him upstairs..."

They all go upstairs where Bun-san had taken Masa, who's still unconscious.

Iruma: "...I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hide this but... I have a debt of 1 200 000 000 yen."

Tsukasa: {That's more than mine!}

Iruma: "It was originally 2 billion..."

Tsukasa: {There was more?}

Iruma: "When I started this, all the rooms were full and things were going well..."

Tsukasa: "Where did all the residents go?"

Iruma: "...The yakuza drove them out. ...This is all because we hated the lives of salary men."

Tsukasa: "We?"

Iruma: "My 2 good friends and I started this. ...We used to talk for ages... how we wanted to do something different with their lives, instead of waking up every morning to go to work day in and day out... That we didn't want to just waste our lives away doing that repeatedly. ...Anything would have been fine... As long as it were something different... ...And it was then that coincidentally when I was sent here to work that I found this place on sale. And that's when I met Tenko-san."

Tsukasa: "Tenko-san?"

Iruma points out the window. "Take a look from out that window."

Kamo-san and Bun-san pull the curtains back from the window.

Tsukasa catches Ryuji's eyes. Ryuji however, looks away.

Tsukasa: "!"

Iruma: "You see that huge castle in the back."

Sho: "Oh, that."

Bun-san: "...Yes."

There's a huge castle for a house.

Bun-san: {I've always wondered about Kuryugumi's Western style mansion but that is tacky... Is it a love hotel...?}

Iruma: "Apparently, it was erected within 2 years for his grandson.

Tsukasa: "...They must be rich..."

Iruma: "A multi-millionaire. And so he loans money."

Taku: "A loan shark......?"

Iruma: "No, a private business. So he wouldn't hound me for the money to be returned right away. ...So with the 200 000 000 yen loan from Tenko and the money the three of us had accumulated, we took the biggest gamble of our lives. Tokyo is forever going to have a housing problem right? So we thought that even if this place was a bit far from the city centre, it would thrive since this area has become known as Tokyo II... as a high class condo owner------... But look at the state." He laughs nervously and a shadow falls over his face. "At the end of the week, the yakuza Tenko-san hired come here demanding money back. And because of them, I've been fired from the new job I had here."

Text: They went to his employment site.

Iruma: "My friends couldn't take the violence and fled, as did my wife. They attacked the tenants and so they've left too."

Sho: "You should have contacted the police."

Iruma: "You want me to die and leave my child behind?" {They would have done it for sure.}

Tsukasa: "......"

Iruma: "...But I couldn't run away either. How could I when this was my dream? I've lost many things living 41 years but I've never gained anything truly with these two hands..."

Tsukasa, putting her fist to her palm: "...Taku! Toshi! Sho! Let's protect this place together!!"

Taku: "...Sure." Kaya looks back between them all.

Toshi: "Of course."

Sho: "It's our new place."

Iruma: "...E...?"

Tsukasa?: "Let's go talk to that Tenko-san tomorrow."

Iruma: "...You'll remain here...?"

Taku: "And why not?" [Not a direct translation.] "The escalator is just like a flight of stairs and the automatic door can be thought of as a heavy sliding door."

Toshi, Sho and Tsukasa: "And the rent's low because of that." Pictured in clothes heavily patched, they smile. {We're poor so that's great for us.}

Iruma: "....... ...Arigato gozaimasu..." He starts crying. Iruma's earlier words echo in Ryuji's mind. "---I haven't gained anything with these two hands---..."

The next day, Masashi gets up to find only Ryuji, Bun-san and Kamo-san.

Masa: "...Huh..? Where's dad?"

Ryuji is sitting smoking a cigarette.

Text pointing to Ryuji: Kamo-san went back to get a change of clothes.

Ryuji: "He went to Tenko's place with Tsukasa and co."

Masa: "E!? Why!?" He sits down next to Ryuji.

Ryuji: "To go talk about the debt."

Masa: "......"

Kamo-san is moving around in the background, holding a tray laden with food. "Good morning Masa-kun. Breakfast's ready."

Masa: "So? Why are you left here alone?"

Ryuji: "......"

Earlier that day, Tsukasa pointed to Ryuji. "---You're the guard dog here." {So stay put.} "The guys from yesterday may show up again so protect the place if it happens. ---I'm counting on you............"

Masa: {Isn't he going to say something...?} He looks up at Ryuji nervously.

Ryuji: "------..."

Masa: "That guy Tenko... He said that if we can't pay back that we give this place up to him and leave. That's what he was planning form the beginning. This place normally is worth about 300 000 000, but he's trying to get it for 120 000 000, even though he's rich!! And you know what he's planning on putting up here after he chases us out!? He said that the gaki (grandson) wants his own house right here!!"

At Tenko's place. The castle kind of looks like Cinderella's castle with flags included.

Sho: "Wow. It's like a castle."

Toshi: "Where's the interphone?"

Tsukasa: "A!" She spots a kid. "A child."

Iruma: "That's Tenko-san's grandson."

Tsukasa: "He---y kid---! I want to ask---!"

The kid is dragging a stuffed bear along but continues to walk as if he doesn't hear.

Toshi: "...Maybe he can't hear...?"

Iruma: "..."

Tsukasa: "He---y!"

Iruma: "...Maybe he's forgotten...?"

Tsukasa: "E?"

Iruma, cupping his hands: "He--y Isahaya-kun! I'm here to see your grandfather! Have you forgotten me---!? I'm Masashi's father---!"

The kid stops suddenly and turns. "Ma-kun..?"

Masa, hugging his knees: "Rich people lie... They betray their friends... I don't trust them... Damn him...! That guy... That guy... I hate him."

Ryuji starts, remembering what Tsukasa had shouted earlier. He lights another cigarette. "...That guy... Is he your friend...?"

Masa: "...NO! ...I... I don't need a Christmas present or Mom... But if there's really such things as Santa Claus or god, then I want the strength to protect Dad and this place.....!!" He starts crying. Some cars pull up by the curb.

Ryuji: {---Even friends are fine with me--- If I could gain something, there's only one thing I want... that's Tsukasa's heart that thinks of me as a friend---}

Several men approach the door. Ryuji stands up to them. Masa starts. The men glare at Ryuji. He glares back.