Chapter 37 The Lifetime of a Grasshopper (Takashi Kato's Fate) Part Four
"Kato-san, it's difficult to say, but..."
After regaining consciousness at the hospital, Takashi was explained his current condition by the doctor. One of his testicle had been removed. While there was no external trauma to the genitalia, there might be some lingering effects.
From then on, it was hell. There was a constant sensation of heat in his groin, and every time he tried to relieve himself, a dull pain would shoot through. Initially, the doctor had said it would heal over time, but it never seemed to get better.
This seemed to be a unique case.
Surprisingly, the one who came to visit during his hospital stay was Misa's father.
"Takashi-kun, you've been through a lot. Well, I understand the feelings since I'm a man too... It's not great to neglect my daughter, but well, it happens to men. Just change your ways from now on."
Misa's father, who cares about appearances, promised support to Takashi. This guy is quite mad, too. He thought.
Nevertheless, just moving a little causes a dull pain in the groin. It's not sharp, but a spreading ache. Painful...
On the other hand, Misa's father, on the condition of not disclosing this matter, provided substantial assistance to the Yanashima family for the child's upbringing, and as compensation for the commotion at the wedding.
Also, Tadayuki was demanded 5 million yen as a settlement for the assault at the venue and as compensation for the affair, all of which Misa's father covered.
In exchange for receiving compensation, Tadayuki seems to have written a pledge to have no further involvement with Takashi. When he heard this, he felt relieved.
After that, he was discharged and took refuge in Misa's parents' home. But then, it's a strange situation.
The husband who had an affair is receiving support from his wife's family. Just in case, Misa's father had Takashi write a promissory note.
"As long as there's no talk of divorce with Misa, I won't make any claims."
“But, does Misa really want a divorce from me?”
“No, there haven’t been any signs of that so far. Well, our daughter never goes against my wishes. That’s never happened before, Takashi, so you don’t need to worry.”
True, Misa had given up on her studies and married him because this man’s influence was strong. Takashi had let his guard down, thinking everything was settled.
Still, the pain in his groin hadn’t healed…
“And that girl would defy me…!”
But then, the tide turned with the certified mail from Misa. It stated that if he didn’t agree to the divorce, it would go to court.
Misa’s father, concerned about appearances, seemed to want to avoid a divorce trial with records. So, he easily discarded Takashi and pushed for the divorce.
“And you’ll pay back what you owe me.”
——Due to Misa’s father’s betrayal, the divorce was easily finalized.
And because Misa’s father managed several companies, one being a seafood corporation. Through that connection, Takashi found himself involved in offshore tuna fishing.
Now, heading back to the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean, he spent almost a year at sea. The working conditions were terrible, and the days were extremely challenging.
With an average sleep time of less than five hours, being constantly on the ship led to a persistent sense of fatigue. Most unbearable was the throbbing pain in the groin during heavy labor. The symptoms showed no signs of improvement. Without this, his life would have been somewhat more bearable.
And such a life continued for about seven years. Life at sea meant hardly spending any money, so loan repayment progressed smoothly.
Then, finally disembarking from the ship, the locals Takashi met after a long time commented that he, who had just turned thirty, looked "like someone in their fifties."
His body, which had been on the ship without a break, was now completely worn out.
Along with the repayment of the debt, there was a slightly joyful event. In the last year, even after deducting the debt, he ended up with a surplus of about 1.5 million.
Looking at the amount printed on the account, he suddenly remembered his son Junji.
In these seven years, he hadn't done anything fatherly. He doesn't know if he would accept it, but with this money, he want to do something fatherly, even if just a little.
But just as he thought that—his account was seized.
The tax office was the one who seized the account. Upon confirmation, it was revealed that seven years ago, Takashi had bought and sold gold, and the proceeds were not reported.
Intuitively, he felt, "This is Tadayuki's doing."
With no recollection, he pleaded for an investigation, insisting that Higashimura Tadayuki seemed suspicious, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.
So, over seven years, late fees were added to the taxes, almost equaling the amount repaid to Misa's father.
The amount is one thing, but above all, the late fees are painful. They increase like a snowball. Even if he was to board a tuna fishing boat again, it might not be enough this time in seven years.
Above all, to board a tuna fishing boat again, he can't endure the decline of his body and the pain in his groin...
The hope that seemed visible. At least he wanted to do something fatherly—such a modest hope was quickly shattered.
Being a father now seems nothing more than self-satisfaction. He felt like someone told him that—or perhaps he was violently pushed away by fate.
Once again, he asked Misa's father to let him borrow money, but he ignored him.
"Yes, Kanae must have given birth to the child! Surely, she must want a father for the child!"
With that thought in mind, when he visited the Yanashima family, he was met with a fierce blow from Yanashima Gouki at the entrance, wielding a bamboo sword.
"Don't you dare set foot on our property."
Still, unable to survive if he was abandoned even here, he desperately clung on. In response, Yanashima Gouki brought out a real sword from the back.
And, he dashed away.
With no one to depend on, and the weight of this harsh reality sinking in, Tadayuki's face naturally surfaced in his thoughts.
Unable to budge from his current position, he found himself grinning at the grasshopper bouncing around.
(Ah, I see. I am that grasshopper from that time. Just when I thought I had paid off Misa's father's debt, now it's the taxes. And it doesn't stop, the persistent pain down there...)
And what awaits him now is a life where he can't escape, only struggle and suffer. Just bouncing around in that spot, never progressing, like that grasshopper.
His willingness to board a tuna fishing boat is no longer there. Just like that time with the grasshopper, there is only one way to escape from Tadayuki.
'Self-amputating and suicide are similar, aren't they?'
Tadayuki's nasty joke came to mind.
(Yeah, that's right, I'm as good as dead. I want to be free. I want to be liberated. From the payments, and above all, from the pain in this groin...)
As he thought so, he wanders the streets. Oddly enough, today is Christmas Eve.
Couples and families walking the streets happily catch the eye. In contrast to their brightness and joyful appearance, his own misery becomes more and more apparent.
His negative thoughts are increasingly affirmed. Anyway, he just want to be free...
In that state, in a place with not much crowd, a perfect building was found. Scaling the rooftop, navigating the handrail, he found himself standing on the building's edge. He heard of cases where jumping involves people below. So, he confirmed that there was no one below.
With this in mind, Takashi jumped from the top floor of the building──
──But he woke up on the ground after a while. Although his clothes are tattered, he is unharmed despite jumping from a high place.
"Hahaha, what is this..."
Am I not even allowed to die? In this situation, being unharmed... Do I have no choice but to keep bouncing? Deep despair overwhelms Takashi.
However, at that moment, he felt a strong sense of discomfort.
The long-suffered pain in his groin had subsided.
No way. Can that be?
Takashi cautiously touched his groin.
From the groin, an electric current rushed to the brain. Not pain, but a sensation resembling pleasure!
A sensation not felt in seven years. Feeling a warm excitement in the groin. Again, gently touching the groin.
No pain, and indeed, the function has been restored.
"Ohhhhhh, yay, I don't really understand, but yay!"
For seven years, it felt like he was dead. He felt like a bouncing grasshopper in the same place.
But finally, he has progressed a little.
It seems like he can work a bit harder from tomorrow.
First things first... what he really wanted was to embrace a woman.
A glimmer of hope for living started to emerge. If only the pain could go away, then maybe he could manage those days on the tuna fishing boat again somehow.
Now, he hurried back home and made an early morning reservation at the red-light district. The cheapest place in the area where he could afford to go, even if it might not have the best quality girls. But the day when he can think about his desires again has finally come.
To think that a day would come when he could sleep in this kind of mood...
He actually wanted to try m***tion, but he doesn't want to waste it before his long-awaited encounter with a woman.
Tomorrow, after seven long years, he can relish in pleasure... It feels like the excitement before a field trip.
Takashi touch himself a little down there. Indeed, there's no pain.
"...Thank you."
Words of gratitude slipped out involuntarily. He doesn't know what he's grateful for.
But, today is Christmas Eve. Maybe it's Santa Claus. He gave him a present for working hard for seven years. That's why this feeling of gratitude slipped out naturally.
Thus, Takashi fell asleep just like that.
* * *
Meeerrry Christmaaaaas! Hey, Takashi-kun! I'm Santa Tadayuki, the one who brings happiness to youuuu!
I put on the Santa outfit with all my might and came to see you! I was thinking about taming a reindeer on the way, but I couldn't decide, so I got a little late, hehe.
Because of the skill I lent to you, I remembered you after a long time today.
Skill: Last-Minute Miracle.
A skill that survives in situations where you should die instantly. In game terms, it's like leaving just a sliver of health!
Since it's almost impossible for me to die instantly, I lent it to Takashi.
He jumped off a building, huh. Must have been tough for him, these seven years.
Sensing the activation of the skill, I roughly identified the coordinates from that sensation. I met him for the first time in seven years through a Google Map teleportation.
Well, he's a friend (lol).
Now, in a completely transformed appearance, my heart couldn't help but feel both excited and pained. Is it weird to feel excited in such a situation? Hahaha.
Since there were no witnesses around, I decided to lend a hand in a critical situation to this guy who survived jumping off a building thanks to the skill, using the otherworldly item, the 'Advanced Potion,' to fully restore his health.
Everything was going well until I forgot that the advanced potion also had a curing effect for 'paralysis.' Well, things tend to revive down there.
Well, maybe it's still okay? That's what I thought, but letting such a guy run loose might sow the seeds of trouble again.
So, I thought it was time for him to sleep, and I visited Takashi's residence late at night!
Hmm, he looks so happy sleeping. I want to protect this sleeping face. Well, just keep having happy dreams.
Anyway, I'm glad he enjoyed the one-night-only revival live for Christmas! To ensure he doesn't wake up halfway through, I used the magic of 'deep sleep' to keep him in a profound slumber and, with both legs in hand, aimed for the center... Here we go!
First time in seven years, the second time!
Another World Electric Massageeeee!
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