Since he was seven, Ryuji's father had taken him to various martial arts schools: Shotokan Karate — for precise strikes and discipline; Kyokushin — for tough sparring and hardening; Judo — to learn throws and controlling opponents; Aikido — for mastering soft power and evading attacks; Jujutsu — the ancient art of close combat of samurai; Kendo — modern fencing with a bamboo sword; Kenjutsu — traditional sword fighting with katanas; Iaido — for lightning-fast sword drawing; Naginatado — mastery of the ancient Japanese spear; and finally, even a ninjutsu school — for stealth, agility, and unconventional thinking.
Naturally, Ryuji did not become a master of every discipline, but years of training gave him a lot: strength, agility, combat experience, stealth skills, and a completely different mindset — cold, calculating, and sharp as a katana blade.
People often asked his father why he was molding his own son into a living weapon. The Toyoda family already had everything: money, power, and a future secured for centuries. But every time, his father would only smile mysteriously and brush the conversation aside. Only Ryuji knew the truth: his father's idol was Yukio Mishima, the last samurai of Japan's last era of greatness, as he liked to say. His father wanted to shape him in the image and likeness of Yukio Mishima — and it could hardly be said he failed.
Ryuji did not become just another; he became a new samurai...
Today, Ryuji slept in silk pajamas. Getting out of bed, he threw on a bright red robe and headed to the bathroom. There, he urinated and carefully studied his reflection in the glass covering a baseball poster hanging above the toilet — checking for any puffiness.
Then he changed into boxer briefs embroidered with a monogram and a thin sweater, put on silk slippers with large polka dots, covered his eyes with a cooling mask, and began his morning exercises.
After the workout, he stood in front of a chrome and acrylic sink with a soap dish, a cup holder, and towels. The polished marble sink itself he had ordered from abroad. Without removing the mask, Ryuji studied his reflection again.
He poured tartar remover liquid into a cup and rinsed his mouth for thirty seconds. Then he squeezed toothpaste onto a brush made of artificial tortoise shell and carefully brushed his teeth — despite the hangover, he decided to skip flossing today, although maybe he used it before going to bed.
Afterward, he rinsed his mouth with lotion, examined his nails, and cleaned them with a brush. Removing the cooling mask, Ryuji wiped his face with lotion, applied an herbal mint mask, and left it on for ten minutes during which he checked his toenails.
Then he polished his teeth with electric brushes that came in a set. One brush rotated at 4200 RPM and changed direction 46 times per second: the long bristles cleaned between teeth and massaged gums, while the short ones polished tooth surfaces. After another rinse, he washed off the mask with a mint scrub.
In the shower, Ryuji used a universal enamel-coated showerhead that sprayed water in all directions and was height-adjustable. He washed with cleansing gel, then scrubbed with honey and almond exfoliant, and cleansed his face with an exfoliating gel.
The shampoo removed flakes, oil, dirt, and gave hair lightness; the conditioner nourished without weighing it down. On weekends or before dates, he preferred a vitamin and panthenol complex.
Soon, he planned to buy shampoo and treatment for thinning hair, as well as vitamin care. He was also considering a system to improve blood circulation recommended by a specialist.
After the shower, Ryuji dried himself thoroughly, put on boxer briefs again, and before applying shaving cream, pressed a hot towel to his face for two minutes to soften the hairs. Before shaving, he applied moisturizing cream and let it absorb, then applied shaving cream with a brush. He soaked the razor in hot water and shaved along hair growth with light pressure.
Sideburns and chin were shaved last — these areas required more preparation time. After shaving, he rinsed the razor thoroughly, splashed cold water on his face, and applied an alcohol-free or low-alcohol lotion.
For skin recovery, he used antibacterial tonic, moisturizing cream, and gel lotion. If his skin looked dull or flaky, he used a cleansing lotion and anti-wrinkle cream.
Before applying scalp lotion, he dried his hair with a hairdryer to add volume and shape, then evenly spread the product with a natural bristle brush and combed his hair back with a wide-tooth comb. Then he put on a home sweater, slippers, and headed to the living room.
He turned on a disc with a new album, but the music skipped. Removing the disc, Ryuji inserted a cleaning disc with a soft brush. After cleaning, the disc played normally. He took the newspaper slipped under the door and went to the kitchen.
There, he took two headache pills, multivitamins, and potassium, washing them down with mineral water from a bottle since the housekeeper had forgotten to turn on the dishwasher. He poured grapefruit-lemon juice into a wine glass from a set.
Looking at the neon clock above the refrigerator, he realized he still had enough time for a calm breakfast. Standing at the counter, Ryuji ate kiwi and Japanese pear from aluminum bowls. From a glass cabinet, he took a bran bun, a packet of herbal tea, and a pack of oatmeal flakes.
The kitchen was fully lined with cupboards with metal shelves. He microwaved half the bun, spread it with apple butter, and ate it while warm. Then he ate oatmeal flakes and sprouted wheat grains with soy milk, washing everything down with mineral water and tea.
Next to the bread maker and coffee machine stood a silver espresso machine and a microwave oven. Near the sink lay a dirty thermos cup with a saucer and spoon.
Nearby were a toaster, food processor, juicer, mixer, and a large electric kettle that whistled a melody when the water boiled.
Ryuji made himself another cup of "apple with cinnamon" tea and stared for a long time at a vegetable peeling and slicing knife set with interchangeable blades. Today, he was wearing a suit with an elongated jacket and narrow pants in the style of the eighties, an updated version of thirties fashion.
The jacket had shoulder pads, a small neckline, and a back with pleats. The wide lapels were pointed. Low double pockets were covered by flaps with buttonholes sewn with narrow fabric strips. Four buttons formed a square, and two more were placed slightly above the lapels.
Deep folds on the pants continued the lines of the jacket, and the waistline was slightly raised. The waistband had loops for suspenders. The tie was silk, dotted.