It started with being hated by the girl in the band

However, there was no response. Apart from the rustling footsteps of Toyokawa Shoko, there was only deathly silence in the room.

Suddenly, my heart skipped a beat.

The old clothes where he usually hid his money fell to the ground like a rag that had been squeezed tightly.

A somewhat bad guess couldn't help but appear in Toyokawa Shoko's mind.

Everyone, do you know Schrödinger's Cat?

As something that has been talked about so much, it is certainly not something new. But for Shoko Toyokawa now, the money in the old clothes is like Schrödinger's cat.

Whether the money is still there, whether I have the money to pay back Zhonghe, whether I can still pay for next month's rent, water, electricity, and gas, are all in a superposition state of yes or no before observation.

He hurriedly reached his hand into the inside pocket of his clothes, but only touched the empty pocket lining, not even a few coins could escape.

Sadly, it looks like the cat didn’t survive this time.

Feeling a little exhausted, Toyokawa Shoko took a few deep breaths and slowly stood up, leaning against the old and yellowed wall.

I didn’t see that bastard…it was indeed him…If he wasn’t there, he could have gone to play pachinko, and this time he actually took all the money.

Even though her bastard father had stolen money before, Toyokawa Shoko just pretended not to know and changed the money to somewhere else.

Under the sofa cushions, on the closet, and in the drawers were all places where I had put the money before. I had always put it among those old clothes, so my father had never stolen the money again. But this time, it was directly robbed and there was not a penny left...

At this moment, Toyokawa Shoko still had some unrealistic hopes in her heart.

As long as I can find my dad before he gambles away all his money and get the remaining money back, it won't be too bad.

He knew the locations of the pachinko parlors he often visited.

However, Toyokawa Shoko still miscalculated. There is a not-so-appropriate saying that can be used here: Life will always find a way out.

Shoko Toyokawa knew the pachinko place her father often went to, and her fallen father knew it even better.

So that’s how it is. In order to play pachinko, this guy even ran all the way to Shimokita, just to avoid being “held back” by his own daughter.

After searching all the nearby pachinko arcades and not finding her father, Toyokawa Shoko was left alone, like a headless fly, bumping around on the routes of various pachinko arcades guided by the navigation software.

Perhaps the gods couldn't stand it anymore, so they let the person who lost all his money bump into Nakagawa Nobuyuki, and also let Toyokawa Shoko, who was searching for him, meet him.

Looking at Toyokawa who seemed to have found support, holding on to him tightly and not wanting to let go and not looking up, Nakagawa Nobuyuki just gently put his hand on Toyokawa Shoko's slightly trembling shoulder.

Although there is no useful cheat code like mind reading, but I can guess roughly that Lao Deng just said "the money from working is not enough" and "I lost it all". Basically, he used the money from Fengchuan's part-time job to gamble, right?

Even if there is a little difference, it probably won't be that big.

There is an old saying that it is rude to scold the father in front of the son. It is indeed not a good thing to say this, but Nakagawa Nobuyuki still wants to say so.

To be honest, Fengchuan, your dad is a bit of a jerk.

Apart from anything else, just stealing the money his daughter earned from working is despicable enough, to be honest.

Father Xiangzi on the side still looked dazed, staggering and pacing aimlessly, just a simple drunkard.

...If I had known earlier, I shouldn't have been so sympathetic.

After a while, the girl in Nakagawa Nobuyuki's arms slowly calmed down.

As if she was afraid of being seen, Toyokawa Shoko rubbed her face on Nakagawa Nobu's chest before letting go of Nakagawa Nobu's hand. She took two deep breaths before raising her face to look at Nakagawa Nobu.

Although his slightly swollen eyelids and tearful eyes betrayed Fengchuan's pretending to be strong, Nakagawa Nobuyuki still tactfully did not bring up the topic.

"Nakagawa, can I ask you... for a favor?"

"Can you help me bring my father back?"

Toyokawa Shoko tried her best to make her voice sound steady, but there was still a hint of crying in her words.

Nakagawa Nobuyuki had nothing to say, he just nodded and walked forward to pick up Xiangzi's father.

Are you kidding? Are you really going to let Fengchuan go by himself and find a way to bring this old bastard back?

Although the old man struggled a bit, he finally gave in and settled down under the suppression of Nakagawa Nobuyuki's young and strong physique.

Without any extra nonsense, Nakagawa Nobuyuki just said softly: "Fengchuan, let's go, I'll take you home."

Toyokawa Shoko also didn't say much, but just lowered her head and walked in small steps beside Nakagawa Nobuyuki.

Sometimes, people must make a choice among various outcomes, as Shakespeare said: "To be or Not to be."

Anyway, Zhonghe has already seen me like this, so even if he sees me at home, how bad can it be?

Toyokawa Shoko thought with some hopelessness.

53

Chapter 53: Xiaoxiang in tears

The distance from Shimokita to Toyokawa's house was not short, especially for Nakagawa Nobuyuki who was carrying a drunkard.

The two of them didn't say anything along the way, there was only silence.

Suddenly, Nakagawa Nobuo spoke out of the blue: "I'm serious, Fengchuan, your father is such an old bastard."

This has nothing to do with any deeper reasons, it's simply because Nakagawa Nobuhiro really feels that way.

I just said it because I wanted to say it.

Of course, Xiangzi’s father has no right to express his opinions now.

Toyokawa Shoko seemed a little surprised by Nakagawa Nobuyuki's overly straightforwardness, but she didn't say anything, just nodded to show her attitude.

Zhonghe, what you said is probably not wrong.

But when Nakagawa Nobuyuki saw the tragic situation in Toyokawa Shoko's house, which was like a rebellious army passing through a border, Nakagawa Nobuyuki realized that what he said was too light.

Originally, Nakagawa Nobuyuki thought that Toyokawa was in a hurry to go out and did not lock the door, so the thief broke into the house. However, he did not expect that Toyokawa Shoko turned on the light calmly and walked into the house by herself.

If this old bastard did it, then the fist is a bit hard.

"...Toyokawa, where would it be better to put your father?"

Looking around, Nakagawa Nobuyuki silently withdrew his eyes.

There was hardly a single intact place to step on the ground. There were either broken glass shards, piles of cotton wool and rags, as well as mountains of wine bottles and cans, various unknown liquids flowing everywhere, and a strong smell of alcohol that was almost rotten.

Even Nakagawa Nobuyuki, who was not so obsessed with mysophobia, could not accept the smell. However, Toyokawa Shoko, who was always very clean, seemed to have been used to it and had no reaction.

Pointing to a quilt in the corner, Toyokawa Shoko whispered, "Just put it there."

Perhaps because it was far away from the furniture, the bedding was not stained by any dirt except that it was turned over, so it was lucky enough to escape the disaster.

After laying Toyokawa's father, who was still half drunk, on his side to prevent him from suffocating by vomit, Nakagawa Nobuyuki turned around and looked at Toyokawa Shoko.

At this time, Toyokawa Shoko was sitting with her knees together on a relatively clean tatami beside the bed, her head buried in her folded arms, not saying a word.

"Toyokawa? I'm fine here."

As he said this, Nakagawa Nobuyuki used his feet to move some of the things on the ground, and sat cross-legged next to Toyokawa Shoko.

After a while, Toyokawa Shoko's muffled voice reached Nakagawa Nobuyuki's ears.

"... Nakagawa, don't look at my face from now on."

As she spoke, Toyokawa Shoko turned her little face to the side and slowly picked herself up from the ground, her tone indescribably weak and fragile.

Nakagawa Nobuyuki had no interest or hobby in spying on other people's depressed mood, let alone in such an occasion that was obviously not suitable for being witty, so he turned around obediently and looked out the window where the moonlight was shining.

Toyokawa Shoko stumbled into the bathroom. Although the bathroom was still a mess, even her toothbrush and water cup were knocked to the ground, and things like shampoo were spilled everywhere.

But now, Toyokawa Shoko no longer has the extra energy to think about all these things.

The person in the mirror looked pale, and even his eyes were swollen from crying. Even his hair, which he had carefully groomed in the past, became messy and sticky due to sweat and exercise, and there were still a few undried tear marks on his face.

I don't really want to cry.

But as soon as I saw Zhonghe, my tears couldn't help but fall like a faucet.

She turned on the faucet, washed her face roughly, took a few deep breaths, calmed her depressed mood, and then Toyokawa Shoko walked out of the bathroom again.

At this time, Nakagawa Nobuyuki didn't do anything. He just sat there and watched videos.

When he saw Toyokawa Shoko coming out, Nakagawa Nobuyuki put away his phone and looked at Toyokawa Shoko, who just looked like a little kitten with a tearful face.

"Toyokawa, are you feeling better?"

Nakagawa Nobuyuki sat cross-legged and relaxed, and asked softly.

"better."

Toyokawa Shoko put her hands behind her back, turned her face away, and just nodded slightly.

"That's good."

When Nakagawa Nobuyuki heard what Toyokawa Shoko said, he also smiled, supported himself on the ground with one hand, turned over and stood up.

"In that case, I'll go back first?"

Just as Nakagawa Nobuyuki was about to leave, he suddenly felt the corner of his clothes being tugged by Toyokawa Shoko.

"... Zhonghe, can you let me stay at your house for one night?"

Toyokawa Shoko bit her thin lips lightly, feeling a little depressed, and spoke in a soft voice.

Tonight, there may not even be a place to sleep in my own home.

The bedding I usually sleep on has been occupied by my idiot dad, and the sofa is no longer suitable for sleeping. The messy bathroom makes it impossible to take a proper shower. I have been sweating over and over again, and it is even sticky and annoying.

Coupled with the drunken state of my idiotic dad, I'm sure there will be another bunch of meaningless nonsense waiting for me when I wake up tomorrow morning.

Anyway, Zhonghe now knows how bad his family is, what else can he do?

Even if I clean the room, I have to wait until tomorrow morning, not to mention that I will probably have to compensate the landlord for the furniture by then...how bad can it be?

Blocked, Nakagawa Nobuyuki hesitated for a moment, but the next second, Nakagawa Nobuyuki, who was just complaining, died.

I was not worried about the bad influence of a man and a woman living in the same room. I only had one bed in my house. It was fine to sleep in the same room, but I couldn't sleep in the same bed, right? Someone had to sleep on the sofa, right?

I would like to let Fengchuan sleep on the sofa, but it would be a bit embarrassing because everyone says that guests are welcome.

But Nakagawa Nobuyuki was a little reluctant to sleep on the sofa. After all, just thinking about sleeping on that old and broken sofa made him feel uncomfortable.

However, after seeing the situation in Toyokawa Shoko's home and thinking about the drunk man who was still sleeping nearby, this was not something worth worrying about, right?

Nakagawa Nobuyuki immediately killed himself with an expressionless face.

Goodbye, all the nagging little letters.

...Well, just sleep on the sofa.

“…The place I live in is also very small.”

Sighing, Nakagawa Nobuyuki extended his hand to Toyokawa Shoko.

On the way, Nakagawa Nobuyuki asked about what happened today. Xiangzi did not hide anything and told Nakagawa Nobuyuki the details of the incident.

Although he had guessed it a long time ago, to be honest, hearing Toyokawa Shoko's own account still gave Nakagawa Nobuyuki a big shock.

No, this is a bit too much of an asshole, isn't it?

I thought using my daughter’s money to gamble on pachinko was excessive enough, but I didn’t expect this wasn’t the first time! ?

It's hard, the fist is hard.

Just listening to this description, Nakagawa Nobuyuki felt a little uncomfortable. It was hard to imagine how Fengchuan got used to this kind of life. If it were him...

...It seems that this cannot be changed. After all, I don’t even have a father.

54

Chapter 54: Daxiangjiao

They walked a not-so-close distance until the nearby neighborhood became familiar to Nakagawa Nobuyuki but unfamiliar to Toyokawa Shoko.

"Have you had dinner tonight?"

Nakagawa Nobuyuki asked casually.

Toyokawa Shoko shook her head, not sure whether it meant she hadn't eaten or she had no appetite.

"If you haven't eaten yet, come and try our specialties."

Nakagawa Nobuyuki pointed his finger into the distance.