Panting...
Panting...
Panting...
Panting...
Gasping... Groaning...
Panting...
That was a pretty lousy life.
Ah, by "life," I mean what you humans call a
lifetime.
We plants look at it differently.
Panting...
Not yet...
A total turnaround...
Yeah...
Haha, from this point?
A turnaround? Don't make me laugh.
I remember the day you guys arrived very
well.
Is he asleep?
Keep your voice down.
He just fell asleep.
Breathing softly...
Babies really only do two things: cry or sleep.
From where I stand, you're pretty much the
same, Akutsu.
I don't cry.
I do sleep, though.
You look like you're crying, though.
Those sandals are wet from the rain, so don't
step inside with them.
It's our brand-new home, after all.
- Nana.
- Hmm?
What's this flower called?
Garden balsam.
So this is garden balsam.
From above, it just looks like a bunch of
overgrown leaves,
but if you get down to eye level, you can see
beautiful flowers.
Ah...
Stop staring, dummy!
Huh!
Hmm?
Hehehe...
Ah...
Ah!
It's pretty.
Huh?
Yeah...
The flower.
Dummy! Dummy!
Babbling...
Oh.
Baby crying loudly
I'll leave this open...
Oh...
- Ah!
- Whoa...
Whoa~
Hahaha...
You got me...
Laughter
I see...
So you've been talking ever since back then?
I've been talking the whole time.
Why can I only hear you now...?
Only the newborn or the dying can hear us.
That baby must have heard me too.
Hmm, was his name Kensuke?
Yeah.
You really took on a lot, you know.
Taking in a woman you only met at a bar.
It wasn't taking her in. I asked her to come
live with me.
Along with another man's kid?
He was already in her belly when we met.
Nothing I could do.
In terms of plant survival strategy,
that makes zero sense.
For us, it's a fight over soil.
There's no room for outsiders.
Nana had nowhere else to go.
So what?
Self-sacrifice and altruism are just fertilizer
from our perspective.
It's illogical. Tell me the real reason.
Sigh... I loved her.
Now that, I understand.
I just simply wanted to be with her.
Did you ever tell her that?
Sigh... No, I didn't.
That's the worst.
- Don't touch me!
- Don't touch it.
Hmm?
Oh?
You shouldn't touch it.
Things born of nature should be left to nature.
That's God's territory.
You say some deep things.
Bottom of the 9th, two outs, bases empty.
Just one more out to end the game.
The pitcher winds up and delivers the first
pitch!
He hit it!
Once we can cook here, I'd love to eat some
Neapolitan spaghetti.
Yeah.
Kitchen knives, frying pans... There's so much
to buy.
What did you do today?
- Went walking.
- Again?
It's almost finished.
Why not just buy one?
Ino Tadataka did this surveying centuries ago,
you know.
It's a waste of money.
Besides, store-bought maps don't show you
everything.
Like how there's a thrift shop right here.
Ah...
Let's go look for a stroller there next time.
We might get it cheap.
Up to bat now is Kizaki, returning from
injury!
Bases loaded after hits by Kanai, Nishi, and
Okada! A hit here could be a walk-off comeback!
By the way, Akutsu, how can you draw this so
accurately?
I have grid paper in my head.
Huh.
So it's no big deal.
It is a big deal! If only you could turn that
into money.
Yeah...
- Chuckle
- Better unpack our stuff...
This season marks his comeback from a torn
Achilles tendon!
Can he deliver?!
I got hurt in the past too...
Hmm...?
Hmm?
It sounds like something...
Ring it one more time.
Hmm...?
Ah, that's it!
Fukumoto, the closer!
Starts off with a low-and-away fastball for
strike one!
His timing is late!
Mm!
Bo-bo-bon bon-boh bon bon
Bo-bo-bon bon-boh bon bon
Bo-bo-bon bon
Ah! Bo-bo-bon bon
Bo-bo-bon bon
Bo-bo bon bon
Bo-bo-bon bon
Hit hard!
Lu-lu-lu-lu-lu Bon bon bo-bo-bon bon
Bo-bo-bon
- Bon boh-bon bon
- Lu-lu-lu-lu-lu
- Bon boh-bon bon
- Lu-lu-lu-lu-lu
- Lu-lu lu-lu-lu
- Bo-bo-bon bon
- Lu-lu-lu lu
- Bo-bo-bon bon
Bo-bo-bon bon
Bo-bon bon
Bo-bon bon
Bo-bon bon
What an ending! What a dramatic hit!
The man who tasted hell has done it!
And now Kizaki is slowly trotting back to home
plate!
The Oceans' season isn't over yet!!
- Draw my face next time!
- What?
A magnificent performance!!
Kizaki, the reliable veteran of the Oceans,
comes through with a game-winning shot
It's a walk-off victory!!
Cheering
I heard a crepe shop is opening in front of
city hall.
Huh~
Is the grid paper in your head something like
this?
Hmm...
Hurry up already. I'm going to win anyway.
Baby babbling & giggling
You never know. Never give up until the very
last move.
Laughter
Hahaha...
Hahaha...
Memories get passed down. Naturally.
Otherwise, we'd get k*lled by the same
predators over and over.
Just like how a cat that's never seen a snake
is instinctively terrified of long, wiggly
things.
You humans have gone without natural predators
for so long that your instincts got dull.
To you, a lifetime means just your own single
life, right?
For me, my lifetime connects from my ancestors
straight into now.
As long as a seed falls onto soil, I continue
to live.
So whether this physical body withers makes no
difference.
In short, I don't understand why you humans
fear death so much.
So, when is this great turnaround happening?
With the final move.
Looks to me like you're already in checkmate.
You've got this place cleaned up nicely.
Big Brother Tsutsumi found this house for us,
so we couldn't treat it carelessly.
I bet Nana-chan did all the cleaning, right?
Exactly. He doesn't lift a finger around the
house.
You tell him, Tsutsumi-san!
Nana, sorry, but could you go buy some beer?
You don't even have beer?
Oh, right, Minoru doesn't drink.
Breathing softly...
Breathing softly...
Puff of smoke
Puff
Place is covered in weeds, huh.
Who are you calling a weed?
I never liked that guy, Tsutsumi.
Everything I have is thanks to him.
Joy, fearhe gave me all of it.
He was my everything.
Creepy.
I met Nana at a club Big Brother Tsutsumi took
me to, as well.
You yakuza really live in a tiny world.
So his kick went swinging around mid-air
and he ended up kicking his own face!
Then he reflexively started apologizing to
himself! Haha!
"I'm so sorry! I got taken out by myself!"
- Hearty laughter
- Laughter
Hahahahaha!!
Hehe...
Guh...
Hmm?
Ah... that's...
Hey now, what is this?
Don't tell me you went to a bookstore and
traced this.
No, I walked the streets and drew it myself.
No way.
Tsutsumi-san.
- Look at the other paper over there too.
- Huh?
Hey, don't tell him.
What's this?
Overlay the two and hold them up to the light.
Are you kidding me?
Gwahahaha! Hahahahaha...!
Hahaha!
- What the hell is this?! Hahaha...
- Heh.
Hahaha...
Ah!
Man, it's cold...
Phew...
What's your racket these days again?
Just protection fees and festival stalls.
Things so tight you can't even buy a map?
Snicker
No, it's not like that, but...
Phew...
Just hang in there a bit longer, Minoru.
You know Wakamatsu, right? Was he junior to
you?
He's three years below me.
Wakamatsu was saying real estate is the thing
now.
Said we should get into real estate.
Apparently the market's gonna keep heating up.
He said something about stocks after that,
but ask Wakamatsu for the details.
That guy's amazing. Built with a different
brain.
Anyway, from now on, it's a w*r over land.
He said the exact same thing you did.
It's completely different!
I said we fight for soil to survive.
Well, basically the same.
This is fine here.
You're a good man, Minoru.
Taking care of a kid that isn't even yours.
You're a real man.
Buy him some diapers with this.
This is too much...
Feed Nana-chan some good food, too.
Thank you so much...!
Cut it out. We're gonna earn way more from
here on out.
- What were you thinking, you idiot?!
- Ah...
- Ah!
- Eek!
You worthless piece of trash! Don't make a
mess in front of other people's homes!
I-I'm sorry...!
Tch...
Eh...
Hey, wait...!
Heh...
At the end of that year...
I remember leaving Kensuke with my juniors and
going out, just the two of us.
A date?
Nothing so fancy.
Just to fill in the map,
the two of us walked streets we'd never walked
before.
How dreary. Surely there were more fun things
to do.
Surprisingly, it was fun.
Here you go.
Phew.
Finding a ramen shop and dropping in on a
whim...
Buying sliced bread at a bakery, praying at a
shrine...
What did you pray for?
"Please grant me a great turnaround."
Still going on about that?
What about you, Nana?
"May the three of us live healthy and happy
lives together forever."
Hmm?
Hmm?
Yeah...
What's the matter?
A big building is going up around here.
I wonder who owns this plot... I'll look into
it right away.
Can't you forget about work just for today?
Seriously, you have zero romantic sense.
In the end, no owner was found.
Oof...
So I placed a storage shed on that land.
And I wrote my own name as the owner.
Article 162 of the Civil Code states:
"A person who has possessed the property of
another"
"peacefully and openly with the intention of
ownership for twenty years"
"shall acquire the ownership thereof."
In other words, if no owner ever shows up,
you gain ownership of that land through
adverse possession after 20 years.
"Peacefully"? What's peaceful about a yakuza?
It's peaceful as long as you don't run into
the owner.
And I wrote my name on it to cover the
"openly" part.
Does such an aggressive scheme really work?
Back then, the whole era had gone mad.
Ah...
Ooh... Ah...
...Mm.
...Ah.
Mm...
Ah...
Mm...
He's staring right at me.
Play with him.
Kensuke has started talking quite a bit!
Nom...
Play with him, you say...
Hehe.
Giggle!
Babbling laughter
Giggle...
Ooh... Mm, ah.
What's this?
Vroom-vroom!
It's not "vroom-vroom." It's a sedan.
Big Brother Tsutsumi drives one. Cool, right?
Vroom-vroom! Vroom-vroom!
- Who's that?
- Mama!
- Oh!
- See? I told you!
I told you he calls me Mama!
What about this?
Dis is...
What's this?
Dis is...
No, no, not that. Thiiis!
Flower!
Flower!
No, I didn't mean that specifically!
Papa.
Dada!
I'm not Papa.
I'm not your dad.
Say Akutsu Minoru. Try it.
A-ku-tsu Mi-no-ru.
Dada!
Still too hard, huh?
Hey! Akutsu Minoru! I just sprouted too!
Play with me! Akutsu Minoru!
...just kidding.
Nana looked really lonely back then.
Did that happen...?
I think you were right, though.
You're not related by blood, so you're not his
dad.
In my heart, I truly considered them my
family.
Tch. What a troublesome creature.
Good work today, Akutsu-san!
Yeah. Thanks for giving me a ride.
Not at all, sir!
Akutsu is home!
Say "Akutsu-san."
Grab something to eat on your way back.
Thank you so much!!
Can we get yakiniku?!
Hey... I don't mind, but you don't need to say
that in front of the boss!
I was in the rugby club, so I eat a ton!
So what?!
Uh... I was just wondering if this is
enough...
- You idiot!
- Ow, that hurts!
Haha...!
- I'm so sorry, Akutsu-san!
- Ow ow ow...
I'll teach this guy some manners...!
He's funny. Here.
Whoa!
Thank you so very much...!!
Rolling in cash, huh?
It's perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Five million yen in a single day.
Just flipping property from right to left and
taking the margin.
The whole country is like this right now. It's
incredible.
Even after paying dues to the syndicate, we
still have a hefty sum left.
Should I buy the same car as Big Brother?
No, that might seem cheeky.
Nana, should we move to a bigger place?
I'm fine here.
I really like this place.
Yeah...
Isn't there anything you want?
A handbag, jewelryanything at all.
Nothing comes to mind.
You really have no greed, do you?
Won't you register our marriage?
Huh?
With me.
Is there any problem with how things are?
No problem, but...
Do you understand what it means to be a
gangster's wife?
The name Akutsu is going to become more and
more known.
And the day might come where I end up serving
hard time.
As a yakuza family
you'll have to live in shame.
I don't care. I don't care what happens.
As long as I can be a family with you.
Even if you go straight, even if we're dirt
poor.
Don't talk so miserly.
I'm fighting out there.
Right now, we just need to ride this wave.
Akutsu-san... why do you stay with me?
With a woman who comes with baggage?
It's livelier this way.
That was your cue to say "Because I love you!"
It's infuriating how you humans can't do the
simple things.
Still, I was happy. Back then.
For a few years around that time,
I was genuinely happy. I think Nana was, too.
You were happy to begin with.
You just crept closer to misery on your own.
Even if it means dying in this filthy cell
without ever being seen by a doctor?
That part sucks.
Then that goes for you too.
I told you, didn't I?
My life goes on and on.
Right now, I've just tuned my consciousness
channel to this spot.
In my opinion, ranked from worst to least bad:
Alcohol.
Then lack of sleep, tobacco, and drugs, in
that order!
Alcohol is the worst? No way.
They say sake is the best of all medicines.
Right? In moderation, it's actually good for
you.
No way! Anything that makes your heart rate
fluctuate this much
can't possibly be good for the body!
It's all about the heart, man!
And yet you're drinking the most out of all of
us.
Akutsu-san, you've gotten pretty good at
holding your liquor.
Hey, don't talk down to him!
I got trained in college, after all.
Who cares?
Sorry, Akutsu-san, he's totally plastered.
It's fine.
Still, going to college and then becoming
yakuza... You're an odd one.
No, no, that's old-fashioned thinking,
Akutsu-san.
Hey! Cut it out!
Hehe.
Leave him be. We made good money today.
Cut him some slack.
Nah, you're too soft on him.
Wakamatsu-san was saying it too.
Wakamatsu?
Yakuza need an education now, too.
Don't be ridiculous.
The yakuza is the last resort for people
without an education.
Exactly.
Anyone who goes to college and becomes yakuza
is actually pretty dumb.
They could just work a normal job.
Some people can't work normal jobs, though.
Wakamatsu-san also said this:
From now on, diverse lifestyles will be
accepted,
but the yakuza is a dying trade.
Aren't you a misfit in the end, too?
Well, yeah, but...
Then throw away those fancy titles.
Only those who cut off all retreat get a shot
at a massive turnaround.
A massive turnaround... That has a nice ring
to it.
The little guy taking down the giant.
I like that kind of stuff.
Ah...
Huh?
Can you see it from here?! Alright!
Ugh, you drunks are so loud.
Huh...
Does the big guy always keep winning after
all...?
That's how nature works.
Would you guys knock it off already?
I told you Kensuke isn't feeling well.
Ah! I'm so sorry, Big Sis!
We'll leave right now...!
Leave it as it is. You guys haven't had enough
to drink yet, right?
Go drink with this.
Th-Thank you very much...!
Around that time, I stopped coming home much.
With easy money in hand, leading my
subordinates around...
I spent my days living hedonistically.
I thought it would last forever.
It was around when he started preschool, I
think.
Nana told me...
that something seemed wrong with Kensuke.
And even when she told you, you brushed it
off, right?
Look at you! A model yakuza!
Or was it because he wasn't your blood?
Work was everything.
I believed that as long as work went well,
we'd be happy.
I thought that was... my ray of hope for a
great turnaround.
Compared to the other kids his age, he seems to
have no stamina.
He runs out of breath so quickly.
Just take him to the hospital.
I did take him!
They just said we should wait and see for a
while.
Then what else can we do? Just listen to what
the doctor says.
I'm not a doctor.
That's not what I mean.
You're the worst. Heartless jerk.
That's really not what it's about.
She couldn't shoulder it alone.
She wasn't asking you to solve it.
She wanted you to face it and stand by her.
You're right. I regret it.
How does a garden balsam understand Nana's
feelings?
We've observed a different scale of history.
The karma of human nature, you know.
It might sound like an excuse,
but back then, I was dealing with several
problems.
One of my guys stabbed a young man from
another syndicate.
Ugh...
It was the autumn of that year.
I'm home.
I showed my business card at the new pachinko
parlor
and got a ton of prizes.
I even brought back balloons they had
decorating the shop.
Hmm?
Where's Kensuke? Already asleep?
I went to the hospital.
Dilated cardiomyopathy...?
The heart muscle has thinned and stretched
tight
and both dilation and pumping ability are
diminished.
Um... how can it be cured?
Well...
Unfortunately, there is no treatment to
restore it to normal.
For now, the only option
is to manage it with medication.
Ah...
Will he die? From that disease?
Sobbing...
Weeping...
Crying...
Uncontrollable crying
Hey, will he die...? From that?
Gasping In this tiny body...
they said it can be fatal...
Is there... no other way?
A heart transplant...
What...
Hmm...
In our terms, that's like grafting.
Not that I know for sure!
Japan was far behind at the time.
The only option was the United States.
Awesome. I would've loved to bloom in America.
They said it would cost over a hundred million
yen.
Insurance doesn't cover foreign medical care
there, so almost everything is out-of-pocket.
Even with the booming economy, did you not
have that kind of money?
Not a single cent.
Snort
I melted it all away in the red-light
district.
Haha! Dummy, dummy!
There's nothing we can do... We don't have the
money...
We have to get the money!
You told me before, didn't you?
That things born of nature should be left to
nature.
What...
That it's God's territory...
Are you telling me to just sit back and watch
him die?!
To you, he's just someone else's kid anyway,
right?!
What did you say?!
Even if he's pumped full of drugs for life...
unable to run around outside...
living every day terrified of when he might
die...!
- It doesn't matter to you
- Enough!!
Sobbing...
I'll do whatever it takes for that child.
Even if I have to beg, or sell my body,
or trample on others... Sobbing...
Nana, you told me before that I looked like I
was crying.
In other words, that was because I was losing,
right?
Crying...
Nana...
I'll handle it.
Where's Nana-chan?
She went out for a bit...
I see.
No, I'm good for today.
Wakamatsu is pulling out of real estate.
Can you believe it? Things are just getting
started.
Does Wakamatsu have some kind of plan?
Who knows?
If things keep going like this, Wakamatsu will
become the successor.
He's the old man's favorite, after all.
This isn't someone else's problem, Minoru.
If Wakamatsu rises to the top, you'll be cast
aside too.
You'll be easily thrown away.
Phew...
It was a short dream.
Whatever inflates will eventually pop.
That's what happens when you get c*ck.
You should live modestly, like me.
Big Brother Tsutsumi.
Hmm?
Please lend me some money.
What?!
Yeah...
How much?
One hundred million.
Did Tsutsumi laugh back then?
No, he didn't laugh.
Instead, after I explained the situation, he
said something outrageous.
Minoru.
I'll introduce you to a heart transplant
broker.
Huh?
Even if you go to America without connections,
you'll just end up at the back of the line
behind domestic patients waiting for organs.
Ah...
But through this broker,
you can cut right in line.
It'll cost double, though.
T-Two hundred million...?
Money can buy a life.
Where would I get that kind of money...?
Minoru, I want to help you out.
You're my precious little brother who's stuck
by me all this time.
I don't want to see you suffer.
- Big Brother...
- Heh...
Let's k*ll Wakamatsu.
What...?!
There should be nearly 300 million in the
syndicate's safe.
Right now, about half the young guys are doing
time in prison
we're short on men.
There are times when Wakamatsu is alone
guarding the office safe.
Once or twice before the year ends...
We don't have to k*ll him...
Phew...
Don't be naive.
How else do you plan to get the money?
If Wakamatsu stays alive, he'll investigate
relentlessly.
He'll find out about Kensuke's illness.
Now is our only chance.
You know about the rumor, right? That a turf
w*r is brewing.
About our guy stabbing the Ishikura
Syndicate's second-in-command.
The settlement isn't going well because of
Wakamatsu's calls.
The Ishikura Syndicate is looking for an equal
head to take.
Which means Wakamatsu. Sooner or later, he'll
be hit anyway.
If Wakamatsu disappears right at this moment,
everything gets flipped upside down.
We'll find happiness.
Me, you, Nana-chan, and Kensuke.
Big Brother Tsutsumi was amazing at actually
making you believe it.
Hmm...
We fight for territory too,
but basically, we aim for coexistence.
Your survival strategy is quite fascinating.
That moment came quickly.
- Nana.
- Hmm?
Let's play this. It's been a while.
I wanna play too!
Might be a bit hard for you still, Kensuke.
Aww...
I'm making dinner, you know.
You can do both at the same time.
Phew...
Mm...
Ah...
Ooh...
Hmm? Ooh...
Ha!
Haha, I knew it. I'm too strong.
Hmm...
Hmph.
Minoru, tomorrow. Broad daylight tomorrow.
Wakamatsu will be alone guarding the safe.
Probably for about two hours.
We walk into the office casually.
Nothing unnatural, but Wakamatsu will be
somewhat guarded.
Wakamatsu will react to one of us.
He'll make some kind of move.
If he faces you, I attack from behind. If he
faces me, you do.
We ambush Wakamatsu from behind.
I have a g*n; you take a blade.
Either way, we fire one shot at the end.
I've obtained the same g*n the Ishikura
Syndicate uses.
Are you taking a Shogi-level think? Nobody
overthinks Reversi this much!
Phew...
Hmm...
Before firing the shot, swiftly open the safe
and pack the cash into the bag.
Put on masks, head outside, and escape in the
stolen car parked out front.
Understood?
Yes.
I'll hand the cash straight to the broker.
You should be able to fly to the US early next
year.
Keep tomorrow a secret from Nana-chan.
Whoa! Panting...
What are you drawing?
A lion!
You're so good at it!
Akutsu-san is great at drawing too, you know.
I failed.
Ah, how nostalgic.
Kensuke, tear off some more.
Huh?
Chuckling
Bon bon bo-bo-bon bon
Bo-bo-bon bon
Boh-bon bon
Boh-bon bon
Bo-bo-bon bon
Bo-bo-bon bon
Giggles Bo-bo-bon bon
Bo-bo-bon bon
Bo-bo-bon bon
Bo-bo-bon bon
Bon bon bo-bo-bon bon
Bo-bo-bon bon
Boh-bon bon bo-bo-bon bon bon
Boh-bon bon bo-bo-bon bon bon
Boh-bon bon bo-bo-bon bon bon
Bo-bo-bon bon boh-bon bon
Are you crying?
No.
There, there.
Sniff...
How emotional. "In the feels," as they say
nowadays.
That was the last day I spent with Nana and
Kensuke.
So, did you k*ll Wakamatsu?
No...
Yeah...
...Mm.
Huh?
- Wakamatsu... are you alo
- What brings you here?
Akutsu-san. This is rare.
Ugh...
Rumor has it a raid is going down soon.
I got worried seeing the place so lightly
guarded.
Ah, no need to worry about that.
The talks are already eighty percent done.
The future of the yakuza is an era of
coexistence.
Is that so?
Word hadn't reached me yet.
Heh...
Well, if anyone were to attack me,
it wouldn't be the Ishikura Syndicate; it'd be
someone from inside.
The Old Man and I are on the same page about
that.
Whoever tries it will be eliminated
immediately.
People still running around blabbering about
raids and turf wars...
Ha...
are outdated relics of the past. Right,
Tsutsumi-san?
Guh!
Ugh!
Gasp...
Ugh!
Heavy panting
Heavy panting
Guh... Wheezing
- You really did it, huh...
- Wheezing
I-It's still at a stage where we can undo
this.
Depending on negotiations, we can pretend...
Gasp...!
W-W-Wait a minute...!!
...!!
Ugh...
Tsutsumi did it?
Big Brother was sure he wouldn't be
disregarded like that.
He was clearly rattled.
- Pathetic.
- It wasn't pathetic.
You're still pledging loyalty to him?
Look at the result: you're locked up in here.
Tsutsumi only cared about saving his own skin
from the very start.
Minoru!!
Guh... Panting...!
Minoru! The bag! Hurry up!
Panting heavily
Big Brother, what are we going to do now?
From what Wakamatsu said, we can't pin this on
the Ishikura Syndicate...
I know! Shut up!
Gasp...!
Phew...
Minoru.
Yeah?
Go do the time.
No matter how I look at it, that's the only
way.
Listen to me, Minoru.
At this rate, the syndicate will wipe both of
us out.
If we make it look like you acted alone and I
remain in the syndicate
now that Wakamatsu is gone, I can hold power
until you get back.
That way, Minoru, things won't go bad for you.
I'll take care of Nana-chan too.
And Kensuke's life will be saved.
Above all, if you go to prison, your life is
guaranteed.
The state will protect you.
Big Brother...
I owe you everything.
If you tell me to go, I'll go.
So please don't say things that sound like
excuses.
Minoru...
Besides, the whole point of this was Kensuke's
medical and travel fees.
As long as that is fulfilled,
I'll accept prison or whatever else comes.
Do you really believe that was fulfilled?
I was told it was fulfilled.
By whom?
By Big Brother Tsutsumi.
Burst of mocking laughter
What was in it for Tsutsumi?
He m*rder*d someone just to save the son of a
woman you fell for?
No matter how much of an obstacle Wakamatsu
was, would he go that far?
There was never any broker. Tsutsumi took all
the money for himself.
That's not true.
How can you be so sure?
You just don't want to believe Tsutsumi
betrayed you.
No...
I betrayed him first.
Wh-What...!!
Hand that bag over to me.
Minoru! You b*stard... Are you saying you
don't trust me?!
I'm sorry.
We've gone this far.
If you change your mind and Kensuke's life
isn't saved,
I won't know what to do with myself anymore.
I'll turn myself in...
I don't care if I spend the rest of my life in
a cage.
So give me definitive proof that Kensuke made
it to America.
Minoru...!
Bottom line is, the broker was real.
The deal was set for 200 million yen.
The broker was a Chinese mafia member
and surprisingly decent when it came to
business.
Arranging the hospital in California for the
transplant,
a backup hospital,
air transport, and the broker's fee...
Totaling 200 million.
His fee was to keep whatever margin was left
over from negotiating the medical bills.
Even so, it was likely less than 50 million
yen.
Big Brother Tsutsumi's profit
was the leftover change from the 280 million
we took.
To be exact, pocketing 78,460,000 yen.
On top of that
getting rid of Wakamatsu k*lled two birds with
one stone.
The mafia boss seemed genuinely concerned
about the child's well-being.
He never asked where the money came from.
And then?
In the end, you handed the rest of the money
to Tsutsumi and went to prison?
Well, you're still a softie either way.
I took the remaining 78,460,000 yen and got
out of the car.
Promising to hand it to Big Brother Tsutsumi
only after verifying Kensuke's surgery went well
and he had returned safely.
Look at you being cautious.
However, by that time, my name was already all
over the news.
g*ng member Minoru Akutsu, age 39,
is currently on the run armed with a handgun.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is
treating this as an armed robbery...
That's pretty close by.
Scary, isn't it?
This morning in a commercial district in
Ichikawa, Chiba...
a vehicle went out of control...
Panting heavily
Pick up... Nana...!
What did you want to tell Nana?
I wanted to give her the money.
Whoa, look at you. You were totally planning
to double-cross him.
I'm impressed.
I wanted them to move to a far-off town and
live in a world with no ties to the yakuza.
Nah, you're an idiot after all.
Tsutsumi would never let that slide.
Didn't you think about retribution falling on
Nana?
The following year, for the crime of
robbery-m*rder...
I was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Heavy.
And then, Big Brother Tsutsumi came to visit
me.
Kensuke's surgery was a success. He's back in
Japan living a normal life.
His prognosis is good too.
Is that true?
Yeah.
Do you think I'd lie to you at this point?
Minoru, when did you become like this?
No, I believe you. But...
I get it. "Not until I see it with my own
eyes," right?
Think about it.
You and Nana-chan aren't legally married.
A common-law marriage wasn't established
either.
They won't grant her visitation rights.
I've arranged your post-release employment.
I was approved as your sponsor guarantor.
Did you meet Nana?
Yeah. Kensuke was doing great too. Don't
worry.
So...
where did you hide it?
What are you talking about?
Don't mess with me, you b*stard. It's your
turn to keep your promise.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Minoru, you b*stard!!
You know I could ruin Nana, right?
Even if I gave you the money, you'd do that
anyway.
Claiming you saved Kensuke's life...
you'd bleed Nana dry for the rest of her life.
I've watched you for nearly 20 years, Big
Brother.
I know your methods all too well.
You're generous to allies, but you
relentlessly crush your enemies.
Ugh...
Minoru, have you lost your mind?
Who's an enemy here?
I'm your ally, damn it!
You just said you were my sponsor guarantor,
so why was I excommunicated from the
syndicate?
Guh...
That's...
My lawyer told me.
Doesn't that mean you already view me as an
enemy?
Besides, with no relatives
and no sponsor, I will never leave this place.
If I can't protect Nana directly,
this is the only choice I have.
Damn you...!
And so you've been in here for over 30 years?
I applied for parole twice,
but both times were rejected due to having no
sponsor guarantor.
Should've just legally married her back then.
Then she could have visited you, right?
Everything backfired on you.
A great turnaround only happens when
everything backfires, doesn't it?
Huh? Are we talking about Reversi again?
After that, while I wasn't a model prisoner,
I spent my days doing prison labor.
Of course, nobody ever visited.
In that crushing loneliness
I wrote letters to Nana, only during the very
first year.
I see.
So your "turnaround" is getting the money to
Nana.
You told her the hiding spot in the letters.
No, that's impossible.
Letters from inmates are censored.
Even the slightest suspicious part gets
blacked out.
Chuckle
Doesn't Akutsu's handwriting look weird?
I told the officer in charge too,
there's definitely a hidden message in there.
We should check reading it vertically,
horizontally, diagonallyeverything.
It's fine. We check those thoroughly.
I told Akutsu once: "Your writing is so
precise it's creepy."
And what did he say?
"I have grid paper in my head."
Said he feels uncomfortable if he doesn't
write along it.
What's that about? Just trying to sound cool,
right?
I saw a drawing he made once.
It was accurate down to the millimeter.
I don't think he's entirely lying.
Why was it only for the first year?
Nana must have taken Kensuke and moved to a
distant town.
In that case, she would have filed a mail
forwarding request.
However, mail forwarding expires after one
year.
If letters arrived at the old apartment,
there was a risk Big Brother Tsutsumi might
find them.
Her moving away, forwarding requests...
that's just your wishful thinking, right?
The fact that no reply ever came means they
never even reached her.
Ugh...
Mm!
I thought so too. After all, it's been over 30
years.
I thought there was no such thing as a
turnaround.
Then why haven't you given up?
Because Nana hasn't given up.
You naive fool.
On a turnaround?
There's no such thing.
Because you came here.
Coughing heavily...
You said it, didn't you?
That memories get passed down.
Which means
the garden balsam blooming at that apartment
is the one that came here.
Maybe this is just a hallucination you're
seeing before dying...
Oh...
Nana sent you to me...
Hey, you saw her, didn't you? Nana!
Calm down, calm down. Raising your heart rate
is bad for you.
You also said this:
That you've just tuned your channel of
consciousness.
Which means you should be able to see that
apartment right now.
Hey, were they doing well?
Nana...! And Kensuke...!
Sigh... Alright, alright.
I'll tell you as a parting gift for the
afterlife.
About two months ago...
The apartment remains just as it was. Nobody
lives there.
Mm!
You look pretty worn out,
but you're still blooming.
Long time no see? And you're pretty worn out
yourself!
Nana dug me up and planted me in this can.
She looked worn out, but the resemblance was
still there.
And compared to you, her vitality, or should I
say...
in short, she had spirit.
She was in a hurry, though.
Terrified of being spotted by Tsutsumi, no
doubt.
And then she entrusted me with a message.
Could you pass a message to Akutsu-san for me?
Tell him to give me a hint.
Hmm?
Nana finally noticed.
That I was sending her a message.
Just hearing that is enough...
- Ah!
- What's wrong?
We have a huge problem!
Search! There must be some trace left behind!
They must have caught wind
that Nana returned to the apartment.
What else is he saying?
"Seventy million... It has to be here..."
"Get it back...!"
Going this far for a mere 70 million?
What a greedy, pathetic guy Tsutsumi is.
Is it that? Are times really that tough for
the yakuza now?
Phew...
I will find you.
You won't get away, Nana.
Even if you manage to escape
I'll bleed Kensuke dry instead.
Guh...
...he says.
That's proof Kensuke is alive. Wonderful.
Still, Tsutsumi is doing a terrible thing.
He's his biological son, after all!
Huh? You're not as shocked as I expected.
Tsutsumi-san.
Yeah?
Could you head home now? I have an early
start tomorrow.
Don't be so cold, Nana-chan.
Breathing softly...
Breathing softly...
I just want to take my time looking at my
son's face.
Never say that again.
Don't get mad.
If you say it again, I'll k*ll you.
Uproarious laughter
Laughing hysterically
Hahaha!
Panting...
What is this? You got played by the guy who
cuckooed you,
and now you're dying in prison?
That's beyond a bad joke.
I might be an uneducated fool, but I'm not
that stupid.
I had figured it out.
Then wouldn't Tsutsumi have saved him anyway
even if you left it alone?
For the sake of his own biological son?
Without you throwing your entire life away?
Either way, it's a life bought with dirty
money.
I never expected him to walk under the bright
sun.
As long as he's alive...
even if I had to throw my life away...
even without a blood connection...
if someday he feels it...
then that is already a total turnaround.
The certainty of having been loved...
This is the only spot left. Go ahead.
I'll crush you... Nana... Kensuke...
I won't forgive you, Minoru... I will hunt
you down...
Minoru... Nana... I'll corner you no matter
what...
I will find you... Don't think you can
escape...
Whoa... Wait, stop, hey... Argh...!
Ah, guh...
Stop...!
Whoa... this is the worst...!
So you're the only one left? What a lousy
life you lived.
Is there a turnaround coming?
Shut up.
Shutting up, huh?
Tired of talking.
I can tell even from here.
It's about to flicker out, isn't it? The
flame of your life.
Yawn...
There used to be a bakery here.
How many years ago was that?
Hmm, thirty...
Of course it's closed by now.
Their bread was really delicious.
There was a ramen shop nearby, too.
We stopped by the shrine on the way back...
Oh!
Isn't this it?
This is it! How nostalgic.
Let's offer a prayer.
Dear God, about two-thirds of it came true.
Turn right there.
Driving around at this hour looks suspicious.
An old lady peering out of a car...
If it's not at this hour, that bad man will
find us.
And calling me an "old lady" is rude!
By "bad man," you mean Akutsu?
Bad men aren't always the ones who go to
prison.
Usually, they are.
Don't dismiss him like that.
He's the man who saved your life.
What?
I was told this was thanks to donations from
countless strangers.
Sometimes it's better to leave things
believed that way.
By "bad man," you mean a yakuza?
Yeah. You might be in danger, too.
Huh...
Don't worry. I can protect myself.
Whatever comes, the law is stronger.
Impressive. As expected of a man with an
American heart.
By the way... why now?
Eh?
Akutsu's letters were arriving for thirty
years, right?
They only arrived during the first year.
Seven letters in the first year.
...So why now?
I didn't read them.
Akutsu-san told me:
"As a yakuza family, you'll have to live in
shame."
Above all, I wanted to keep any trace of the
yakuza away from you and me.
Hmm.
Do you think I was cold? Toward the man who
saved your life?
I don't think so.
After all, you kept paying rent on that
apartment for thirty years, didn't you?
So that Akutsu could return anytime.
I just liked that apartment, that's all.
No wonder we were always poor.
I put you through college, didn't I? Give me
some credit!
So why did you decide to read the letters
now?
I was in the hospital recently, right?
It was close to the hospital, so I walked
past the apartment for the first time in 30 years.
And then, a garden balsam behind the fence
spoke to me.
"Did you get your great turnaround?"
Ah...
Ah...
Did you think I'd finally gone senile?
No, I got worried your time was near.
I feel like a garden balsam spoke to me when
I was a baby, too.
Saying "You're so loud."
Hahaha.
Are you saying only the newborn or the dying
can hear it?
It's true that since being discharged, I
haven't heard the garden balsam's voice.
That's a relief.
Ah, pull over.
Ah, right. I remember now. It's here.
You solved the code, right? Tell me.
Ah... It's scary and suspicious.
An old woman carrying around letters from an
inmate.
Was your "great turnaround" just mental
gymnastics all along?
Like, "if you believe you won, you won"?
Hmm?
Back then...
Yeah...
What? Giving up?
He showed it to me.
A great turnaround.
Mm! Mmm!
Pass.
Mmh...
Ugh...
Ha!
What! Ah... ah...
Huh? Are you dead already?
Hey! Akutsu!
- Heh.
- Hmm?
Did they not sell maps back in the day?
This is a treasure map that money can't buy.
You lost! Just admit it already!
There was no great turnaround. As a living
creature, you were defeated!
Gyahaha!
It's funny...
Whoa... whoa... wh-whoa-oa-oa...
Hey! Don't touch me!
Hey!
Hey, hey! Hey! Hey!
Yeah...
Ah... st
Oh, are you revealing the secret of how you
found this place?
- Yeah.
- Ah...
Hmm~? Oh!
Ah!
Mom, were you happy?
I was happy from the very beginning.
Even if sometimes I crept closer to misery on
my own.
You are alive,
and I have always been loved by the man who
saved you.
I don't really want to hear that from my
parent.
Heh...
Just by him proving that to me, everything
flips upside down.
Deep breath in...
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Last Blossom, The (2025)
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