As Masato climbed the stairs, Arthur looked out at the street and realized it was a quiet neighborhood. The sound of the birds made him think about how to make his dreams come true. He didn't want to steal ideas, but if he found the creators of the video games and they agreed to work for the ATOM company, he could give them their own ideas. First, he needed what was necessary to start in the arcades and then move into home consoles.
Masato looked at Arthur and saw that he was lost in thought.
"Arthur, don't worry. The Yakuza can help us. The problem is getting out of their grip, but we'll need them to avoid trouble in the future."
Arthur knew that all of Japan was controlled by the Yakuza—not politically, but they could pressure the government, so they had to be careful.
"Uncle, create another company. Call it CAPCOM. This one will hold all the copyrights so that if the Yakuza ever tries to take the company, they won't be able to take the rights."
Masato looked at Arthur in disbelief. How could a 15-year-old already understand how the Yakuza operated, especially someone who hadn't grown up in Japan?
"Alright, Arthur. Everything will be in the CAPCOM company. How did you come up with that name?"
"It sounds good, doesn't it, uncle? I like it."
"Sorry, CAPCOM, but the rights to the name don't exist yet, so I'll take them."
Masato spoke with his sister, who was just surprised. Arthur only heard her say:
"Your son is ready for anything, don't worry."
When the conversation ended, she went straight to her car, promising Arthur that everything would be ready in a month. That reassured Arthur. He looked at his mother, and she only said, "Come along." Arthur took a seat at the kitchen chair, and his mother looked at him.
"Did your father teach you what you need to know?"
Arthur only nodded.
"That man was always like a wolf. I remember when you were three years old, he told me to leave money for you in a Japanese bank account. Now that your dream is to make a name for yourself in the entertainment industry, I'll take that money to help you. It may sound strange, son, but the only thing I want you to know is that Japan isn't like Texas. Here, the entertainment media is controlled by the Yakuza."
"Mother, that worries me, but as my son, I want you to swim and not get caught in the fishing net your father left. I don't know, maybe this is best, but I want you to promise me you won't join the Yakuza. Let your uncle handle it."
Arthur nodded.
"Don't worry, Mom. My father taught me not to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. If I show them that I'm key to everything, they won't make things difficult, and I want a peaceful life. I'll just give my ideas to my uncle and never reveal that I'm the author. I'll use the alias AOI. Do you like it?"
Yumi laughed heartily at her son's alias.
"You have such imagination, Arthur. Well, let's eat something. You must be tired. Your uncle told me you had a fight."
Arthur nodded.
"It wasn't a fight. I just accidentally got into one and ended up in the infirmary."
Yumi laughed.
"I'm surprised that in such a prestigious academy like Azabu, they allow something like that. But as long as no one got hurt, I think kids should be kids and enjoy themselves."
Arthur looked at his mother.
"I always wonder what you and my father do for work."
Yumi paused, then said softly:
"The truth, Arthur, is your father supports me. I don't work; he's a banker. He always sends money."
Arthur was surprised.
"Then why did you leave when I was only four years old?"
Yumi looked at her son tenderly.
"It was because of some problems with your grandfather. Some men asked him to sell his land, and when he refused, he was attacked. I had to return to take care of my father. I didn't tell you, Arthur, but my father is a proud man. I remember when I almost died from a fever, he carried me to the hospital himself. The only thing I remember is him telling me not to sleep and telling me stories. I love my father, Arthur, just as I love my son.
But he was old, and I thought it might be the last time I'd see him, so I left Texas."
Arthur looked out the window.
"So what was that problem?"
"As you might be thinking, son, it was the Yakuza—but it was a clan that no longer exists. The Yamaguchi-gumi forced them out because of the chaos they were causing. Their methods alerted the police, and the clan disappeared. When I asked my father, he told me that after the beating from the Yamaguchi-gumi, they came and took him to the hospital. I didn't believe it at first, but then a member of Yamaguchi-gumi told me not to worry—that my father would be safe and they wouldn't let it happen again. When I tried asking my father if he was involved with Yamaguchi-gumi, he avoided the question. I assumed the worst, but as long as they didn't force him to do anything, I had no problem. That's why my brother and I had to leave the place where we were born."
"I met your father when I was working as a bartender in a small bar. Your father, not knowing Japanese, asked me something in English. I knew English, not perfectly, but I could communicate. Almost always, he came when I was working until one day he invited me to dinner. Since he always wore a suit, I thought it would be okay to go out with him. At first, my brother didn't want me to go out with a foreigner until that foreigner saved him from a debt with the Sumiyoshi-kai clan. He paid his debt, and from then on, he always told me to visit. Until you were born, we got married in a temple near my birthplace. My father was somewhat like my mother. Everything was beautiful until he was called back to Texas. It left him conflicted because he didn't want to leave me, and you were only a month old. So he took us to live in Texas. I never got used to the food or some people's behavior. It may sound strange, Arthur, but I always wanted to leave. But since you were happy, and your father too, I endured everything for you. Then something happened to my father, and from that point, your father knew he couldn't force me to stay, so he let me return to Japan. I will always love that man, and believe it or not, Arthur, he almost always comes to visit me since his branch sometimes allows him to return to do his work and see me."
Yumi laughed.
"If he comes back, I'll tell him to call you. It seems strange, son, that when you arrived in Japan, you never wanted to call your father."
Arthur nodded.
"Well, the truth is I don't remember his number, and only a few days have passed. I don't see it as necessary."
Yumi looked at her son with kind eyes.
"Arthur, your father always loved you. I have his number. I know men don't always show their feelings, but as father and son, you should at least know you can help each other. Your father can help you finance your ideas."
Arthur looked at his mother for a moment.
"You're right. I forgot that my father is so capable. I'll talk to him."
"Don't worry, son. I'll leave the number in the refrigerator in case you ever have a problem."
Arthur felt a kiss on his forehead and saw his mother retreat to her room.
"I forgot I have a family I can rely on. In my previous life, I was alone and had no family. Now that I have one, it's strange, but at the same time comforting to know I can count on them."
Arthur got up and headed to his room.
"But first, let's get to work. Remembering everything consumes a lot of energy—I guess it's a side effect of wanting to recall everything in detail."
Arthur went to his desk and started writing the plot for an easy-to-make game: TETRIS.