Ikebukuro, located in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, is a bustling district as well-known as Ginza, Shinjuku, and Shibuya.
In the past, there were quite a few streetwalkers around here, but nowadays, Okubo Park has become more well-known.
That said, Japan's police are strict when it comes to cracking down on these activities, so it's rare to see streetwalkers out in the open.
And even if there are any, the quality is generally quite low.
In this internet era, if someone is really looking for fallen girls or women, it's more effective to search online or in certain shops. Some sugar daddy apps are filled with that kind of information.
A lot of those FC2 videos are also sourced through similar channels.
However, in an age ruled by Photoshop, identifying whether someone is a "heavy tank" or just a scammer all comes down to your own experience and judgment.
Toru parked his car in a parking lot near Ikebukuro Station.
With cherry blossom season about to be in full swing, there were tourists from all over the world here. Occasionally, you could see cherry trees on both sides of the street working hard to bloom.
Following the address Eri gave him, Toru quickly found the place.
It was a two-story shop, tastefully decorated, in a prime location right near Ikebukuro Station.
The first floor was a live house, a type of venue currently popular in Japan, where girl bands rehearse. It also offered KTV services.
The second floor was a cafe, but judging from the outside, it seemed to have just finished renovations and wasn't open yet.
Toru arrived at the entrance of the shop named "Ring". He took out his phone and sent a message.
Soon, Eri appeared with a woman dressed in a women's suit. She wore flesh-toned stockings over full legs, and beside her was an older lady with some white in her hair.
"Fujiwara-kun, this is Shifune Tsuzuki, the owner of this shop."
"Ms. Tsuzuki, this is Fujiwara Toru."
Eri first introduced them to each other.
Toru shook hands with the white-haired lady and greeted her, then the three of them entered the shop.
It was after school in Japan, and middle and high school students walked in twos and threes along the streets of Ikebukuro.
As one of Tokyo's busiest areas, there were all kinds of entertainment facilities here, making it a favorite hangout for students after school.
After Chihaya Anon returned to Japan, she enrolled at Haneoka Girls' Academy in Toshima Ward, not far from Ikebukuro. Most students would take the subway here for after-school activities.
In front of the shop "Ring", Anon spotted Toru. Her face lit up in surprise. Just as she was hesitating whether to go say hi, she saw him enter the shop with two older women.
After coming back to Japan, every time she picked up her phone and opened Line, she'd hesitate about whether to message the boy she met at the airport in England.
But during this time, she'd been busy with entrance exams and interviews. She also didn't know what to say to start a conversation, so she never messaged him first.
Now that she saw him at a live house, could it be that he was also interested in girl bands?
Could this be her chance to start a conversation?
Sometimes, she would even complain to herself. Wasn't she also a pretty girl? But after adding her on Line, he didn't even greet her once.
Could it be that, to a Tokyo University student, an ordinary high school girl like her just wasn't attractive?
But there were clearly so many guys in Japan who liked JKs!
"Chihaya-san, what's wrong?"
Beside her, a girl with short gray hair, amber eyes, and wearing the same school uniform asked with concern.
Anon snapped out of it and quickly forced a smile. "It's nothing, I was just thinking and spaced out a bit. Sorry, Takamatsu-san."
Takamatsu Tomori shook her head. She stood in front of Chihaya, looking like she had something on her mind. Finally, she seemed to make up her mind, grabbed Anon's hand, and said loudly,
"Chihaya-san, didn't you say before that you wanted to form a girl band with me for life?"
"Huh? Huh?? Huh????!"
Anon froze in place, her voice rising with each exclamation.
Because Tomori had shouted so loudly, and since they were on a busy street in Ikebukuro, many passersby and students stopped and looked over.
Seeing the two JK girls holding hands and saying something about "for life," they all looked on with curiosity and surprise.
"Wow, kids these days are really bold."
"That's Haneoka Girls' Academy's uniform, right? I told you, girls' schools are a breeding ground for… you know."
"Yabai, what a fierce confession!"
"..."
Hearing the surrounding whispers, even the usually thick-skinned Anon's face turned red. "Wait, wait, Takamatsu-san, what are you saying about 'for life'?"
I just wanted to form a girl band, play some music to get along with people, and maybe show off a little. How did it turn into "for life"?!
Tomori looked blankly at her, thinking she had been rejected. Her expression darkened, and she quickly bowed.
"I'm sorry, I said something wrong!"
With that, she turned and ran off.
Anon quickly shouted, "Wait, Takamatsu-san, you misunderstood!"
She felt like crying. She stomped her foot, slung her bag on her shoulder, and ran after her.
What did I do to deserve this? Why am I chasing a girl through the streets of Ikebukuro like I'm in a Japanese drama?!
(To be continued.)