"The ins and outs of the entertainment industry—you've experienced them firsthand. So you don't need to ask me what to do. Decide for yourself."
Azuma said, wrapping an arm around Okino Yoko.
"Got it!"
Okino Yoko nodded. The gloom on her face vanished, replaced by a spirited glow, her eyes brimming with anticipation for the future.
Nice—Azuma liked seeing her like this.
So he scooped her up and headed upstairs.
"Nooo, I haven't had dinner yet!"
"No worries, I haven't either. We'll grab a late-night snack later."
What could Okino Yoko say to that?
She could only go along with it.
As for whether she'd have the energy for a snack afterward?
That was anyone's guess.
Past 10 p.m., at Sakaki's Izakaya—
Azuma pushed the door open and stepped inside alone.
Okino Yoko hadn't made it for the late-night bite in the end, but no big deal—he'd pack something to bring back for her.
"Uncle Sakaki, evening!"
Azuma walked over and took a seat at the bar counter.
Solo customers usually sat here.
The izakaya was bustling as usual tonight.
Office workers from nearby companies, fresh off overtime, gathered here, clinking glasses and griping about their bosses and family woes.
That drunk uncle Azuma met last time wasn't around tonight. Had he left already? Or just not shown up?
"Welcome! What'll you have?"
Uncle Sakaki smiled, sliding a glass of lemon water to Azuma before asking.
"Start me off with an eel rice bowl. Your eel rice beats anywhere else, Uncle Sakaki. And three yakitori skewers—two with okra."
Azuma ordered.
"Got it, just a moment!"
Uncle Sakaki placed a small marker in front of Azuma, then turned to get busy.
"Heard that Inuyashiki guy moved into a new place recently?"
At that moment, a conversation between two uncles nearby caught Azuma's attention.
"He moved in days ago! You weren't here a couple nights back—Inuyashiki was pretty pleased with his new digs!"
"Man, Inuyashiki's still got it—able to afford a move. Not like me, stuck in the old house my dad left me."
"Inuyashiki's got it rough too. New house means a 30-year mortgage, and at his age, with the company cutting jobs lately, who knows if he'll get hit?"
"Losing a job at that age would be brutal. No way he'd find new work out there."
"Yeah, here's hoping Inuyashiki pulls through!"
Inuyashiki?
That drunk uncle from before?
Azuma thought.
Honestly, surnames tied to "dogs" weren't rare in this country.
But "Inuyashiki"? That was a first for Azuma in his circles.
And—
Combining "Inuyashiki" with keywords like "uncle," "new house," and "layoffs" brought someone to mind.
Inuyashiki Ichiro!
The old guy from the anime Inuyashiki.
A rare show with an old man as the lead.
Inuyashiki Ichiro—a nearly 60-year-old dude living a life ignored by his company and family. Then one day, a doctor tells him he's got little time left, and he spirals into despair.
But every cloud has a silver lining.
Inuyashiki Ichiro's life took that turn.
One night, in his self-pity, he had a close encounter of the third kind at a park and got rebuilt into a half-human, half-machine being.
With strength far beyond human limits!
After gaining that power, Inuyashiki Ichiro didn't use it for personal gain. Instead, he actively helped those in need.
On the flip side—
There was another guy who met the same aliens and got the same upgrade: Shishigami Hao!
Unlike Inuyashiki Ichiro, Shishigami Hao didn't use his power to help others. He turned it toward his inner desires, harming anyone who rubbed him the wrong way.
Two people, same alien encounter, same transformation, same incredible power—one chose good, the other evil.
They walked completely opposite paths!
Inevitably, it led to a showdown.
And, naturally, Inuyashiki Ichiro won in the end. He was the protagonist, the leading man.
Shishigami Hao, the younger and stronger second lead, couldn't overcome the power of the protagonist's halo and fell in defeat.
The anime even got a live-action movie called Inuyashiki.
Pretty well done—Azuma had seen the movie first in his past life, then the anime.
Shishigami Hao left a strong impression.
As for Inuyashiki Ichiro?
Eh, forget it!
That old guy's life was too miserable.
Not cool at all!
"So, that drunk uncle's Inuyashiki Ichiro?"
Azuma mused. "He's not here tonight—has he already met the aliens?"
With that thought, Azuma unleashed his super hearing. Instantly, sounds from across the globe flooded his brain.
He narrowed it down to just this city.
That made it easier for his super brain to process.
Monitoring the whole world was a bit taxing!
Soon—
Azuma picked up Inuyashiki Ichiro's voice.
But he wasn't at a park—he was at home, hiding in the bathroom, smoking.
"Looks like he hasn't met the aliens yet," Azuma thought, shutting off his super hearing.
Keeping it on all the time was exhausting, and with this world's complex mix of elements, he didn't want some ancient monster sensing him and coming to stir trouble.
That'd be a mess!
Inside the izakaya—
Everyone was chatting about their own lives or gossiping about coworkers.
Azuma ate while listening in.
Around 11:30 p.m., he packed up some food and left.
Stepping out of the izakaya, Azuma found a quiet spot, then shot into the sky at near-sonic speed, silently returning home.
"Wake up, time to eat."
In the bedroom—
Azuma roused a sleeping Okino Yoko.
"Ugh… what time is it?"
Okino Yoko mumbled groggily.
"11:33. Eat and get some rest," Azuma said, glancing at his watch.
"Oh…"
Okino Yoko nodded, stumbling to the bathroom to splash water on her face, finally waking up a bit.
--- Translator Note ---
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