Lucky Mutual Aid Society (14)

"You mean President Oiwa is just a puppet, and Matsui is the real manipulator behind the Mutual Aid Society?" Inuyama Heita asked in surprise after hearing the information Qian Xiaoyi had told him.

Qian Xiaoyi waved his hand. "It's not entirely accurate to call him a puppet. To be precise, they are collaborators, but Matsui currently holds the dominant position. Let me show you a photo."

Qian Xiaoyi opened his phone's album and found a picture, which he handed to Inuyama Heita. Inuyama Heita took it and looked closely. The photo was taken in a crowded izakaya. Many people were in the frame, and it was clearly a candid shot. Inuyama Heita looked for a while before spotting a face that looked vaguely familiar in the crowd. His eyes widened in surprise. "Is that... President Oiwa?"

In a corner of the photo, there was a middle-aged man wearing a brown bucket hat and frameless glasses, with a dark vest over his clothes. He was dressed very ordinarily and was raising a glass, laughing boisterously with someone next to him, looking like any drunk uncle you might see on the street at night. Yet, Inuyama Heita recognized the face; it was identical to President Oiwa's. However, Inuyama Heita couldn't reconcile the drunkard in the photo with the elite figure of President Oiwa he had seen at previous Mutual Aid Society events. The difference in their demeanor was too great.

"How is it? Surprised?" Qian Xiaoyi said smugly. "Good thing I brought my own phone, or you wouldn't get to see this photo." What Qian Xiaoyi meant by not being able to see it was a Japanese unwritten rule: phones manufactured in Japan had a setting where taking photos couldn't be silenced. This was to prevent perverts from taking candid shots. It sounded a bit ridiculous, but at least in Japan, being a pervert was a very serious social problem.

The person in the photo looked vastly different from the President Oiwa that Inuyama Heita remembered, prompting him to ask, "Is that really President Oiwa?"

"Yes, and no," Qian Xiaoyi said enigmatically.

Inuyama Heita looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

Qian Xiaoyi smiled and explained, "The President Oiwa we know, Ooiwa Satoru, isn't his real name. His real name is Harada Taro. He's been a shut-in for over thirty years, afraid to step out into society, a freeloader. He's not the 'Founder of Lucky Theories,' 'Business Elite,' or 'Doctor of Numerology' that the flyers claim, with all those impressive-sounding titles."

"Huh?" Inuyama Heita exclaimed in surprise. "He doesn't seem like it at all! Mr. Qian, how did you find this out?"

Qian Xiaoyi said, "Do you think I have nothing to do all day? I didn't go far after that gathering. I waited for a while, and after President Oiwa came out, I hailed a taxi and followed him to his place before coming back. When you called me yesterday, wasn't I out investigating? I was investigating the Harada family's background in the area. I have to say, those middle-aged aunties were really understanding. I didn't even have to ask; I just casually mentioned the Harada family, saying their house looked quite eerie, and they immediately started chattering, telling me everything I wanted to know. When they mentioned seeing him go out to an izakaya, I pretended not to believe them, and that's how I easily got the address."

Inuyama Heita's mouth twitched slightly. He had initially thought Qian Xiaoyi used some professional detective methods to investigate President Oiwa's background and was a bit expectant, but he never imagined it would all come down to gossip from housewives.

If Qian Xiaoyi knew his thoughts, he would surely scold him for not understanding the value of "concerned citizens" or the power of the masses.

"So what did those aunties say?" Inuyama Heita asked.

"It's a well-known rumor, a secret everyone knows," Qian Xiaoyi said. "Most residents who have lived on that street for a long time know that the Harada family's son is a shut-in, and he's been one for thirty years. Apparently, he was in a car accident while studying and almost died. Ever since then, he's been afraid to go out. The Harada couple had to work outside to support him."

Inuyama Heita frowned. "President Oiwa looks to be around fifty, right? Wouldn't his parents be even older?"

"Yes, I heard that couple is in their seventies and still working to earn money to support the family," Qian Xiaoyi said. "A few years ago, Harada Taro's mother passed away from overwork due to her old age. His father, after driving a taxi for a few more years, reached his physical and mental limit. About a year ago, he parked his car by the sea and jumped into the ocean, committing suicide."

The Harada family's plight was truly lamentable, but Inuyama Heita wasn't particularly surprised. Japan's aging population was world-renowned, and it was common for elderly people to work to supplement their income. The issue of shut-ins was similar; news reports frequently featured elderly shut-ins dying alone in their homes, their bodies only discovered much later.

Qian Xiaoyi continued, "Just when everyone thought Harada Taro would die at home due to the loss of his financial support, they discovered that not only did he not 'die alone,' but he also started going out frequently, as if he had rejoined society."

Inuyama Heita mused, "Was he recruited by Matsui to form the Lucky Mutual Aid Society?"

"Probably," Qian Xiaoyi said. "If I'm not mistaken, the car accident thirty years ago brought him to the brink of death. By chance, he awakened his clairvoyant eyes and became a so-called psychic. This is why he was afraid to go out for thirty years, because this world had become different from the one he knew. But Matsui discovered him before Harada Taro could just fade away and invited him to join the Mutual Aid Society, making him the star on stage. Perhaps with Matsui's guidance, combined with the fervent adoration of his followers, or the power of money, Harada Taro finally overcame his psychological barriers, stepped out of his home, and became the President Oiwa we see now."

Inuyama Heita sighed, "So that's what happened behind the scenes... President Oiwa sounds quite pitiful."

"Don't let your sympathy run wild, Heitaro," Qian Xiaoyi cautioned. "His situation is indeed unfortunate, but if he deserves pity, what about those followers he deceived and bled dry? Don't forget, he is now the visible president of the Lucky Mutual Aid Society. Even if he's not the mastermind, he certainly wouldn't be lacking in the profits offered by his believers. His situation isn't so dire that he needs to do evil just to survive; he's merely choosing to escape. Such people don't need pity."

"I understand," Inuyama Heita nodded. He continued, "Then, Mr. Qian, how did you get to know President Oiwa... Harada? And how were you able to drink and socialize with him?"

Qian Xiaoyi wagged his finger. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, you kids don't understand. That wasn't just simple drinking; that was adult business socializing~ Pay attention, the interesting part is coming up. You need to listen carefully."