Act 1: A Final Scheme

Most of the socioeconomic gauges of success – wealth, prestige, power – are far from unattainable. All that is needed to achieve these is the input of sufficient effort, and – regrettably – risk. Source? Me.

The majority of university students graduate, at best, with a clean slate. A more likely outcome was graduating with crippling debt. The value of higher education becomes ever harder to comprehend in this modern era. Our universities grow ever closer to being factories producing drones for corporate labor. At the end of my four years at Todai, however, I found myself with a nearly useless degree in economics and a markedly more useful half of a percent stake in the shares of Toyota Motor Corporation. Sadly, my wealth will open more doors than my education ever will. My position as representative of the individual shareholders on Toyota's board of directors can hardly be attributed to some scrap of paper from Todai.

I suspect that the Hikigaya Hachiman of old would have hated this job. Though it carries an appealingly low amount of actual duties and allows me to work from the comfort of home, there is something utterly disagreeable about sitting in a conference call with a dozen repulsively greasy business executives. The old Hachiman would have despised it. But I tolerate it, for I have a purpose that he did not:

To become the god of a new world.

A TOKYO APARTMENT

After a particularly exhausting conference, I was surprised to find my phone ringing. Like any sane man, my privacy was jealously guarded. As a result, only a few higher executives, as well as my family, had my personal number. Since we had just finished a conference, a call from another executive was quite unexpe—. Oh. It appeared that the caller was my sister Komachi.

After a slight hesitation, I picked the phone up.

"Hikigaya speaking."

A short peal of laughter sounded over the speaker. Then, my sister's ever-so-familiar voice said, "Hey, oniisan. Why so stiff?"

I cleared my throat. "I'm not stiff, just tired. How are your studies?"

Her voice softened. "Oniisan, there's no need to worry about Komachi's studies. They are going well. Hey, listen. Don't exhaust yourself. Are you eating well?"

Ah, she had caught me red-handed. For all the benefits that wealth could afford, I had never quite managed to wean myself off a diet of instant noodles and black coffee. At least I had moved on from MAX coffee. Sweet things were for kids.

I gulped. "Uh, yeah. Of cour—."

A sigh interrupted my carefully constructed denial. How had she seen through it so rapidly?

"Can you come home this winter?" My sister's voice shook. "It… has been so long. Komachi m-misses you."

I finally allowed myself a small smile.

"Actually, I have been planning on moving back to Chiba."

I loathe grandstanding. Despite that, it was the easiest means to an end – the path of least resistance. With that in mind, I set about searching for a residence to purchase in Chiba. There were several criteria that my new home would have to satisfy.

First of all, it had to be expensive. While I had no doubt that my parents would be deeply opposed to such an excessive purchase, the time when they had influence over my finances had long since passed. Besides, wildly expensive real estate transactions would draw the media attention that I needed (hated).

Secondly, it had to be expansive. Nothing screamed wealth to guests more than wasted space, and I certainly planned to host many social events. Though the concept is disturbing, such excess was necessary.

Lastly, I wanted a place close to my parents' home. I'm not a heartless son!

THE HIKIGAYA RESIDENCE

"Oniisan, what is this?"

A rolled-up newspaper smacked me in the head. Groaning, I extricated myself from my cozy lounge beneath the kotatsu to inspect the front page. I smirked.

"A statement," I answered smugly.

My sister was not pleased with my detailed explanation and yanked my ear. Ow!

"Just because you have a lot of money now doesn't mean you can waste it like this! You're going to die impoverished and alone if you keep spending like this," she wailed.

"Ironic that you should choose to lecture one of the richest men in Japan on finances," I retorted. After all, I had amassed my wealth alone, just like I had always done things.

My adorable little sister smiled at me in a manner that would make the hearts of other men flutter.

"Then why not spend money on Komachi instead?"

"But I already spend so much on you," I grumbled. "I've already paid three years of tuition to Sodai, not to mention housing and everything…"

"But that mansion costed you so much more! Does that piece of property really mean more to you than Komachi?"

She faked a sob. I was trapped.

"Alright," I conceded. "I will take you shopping. What do you want to buy?"

To my horror, my sister cheerfully informed me, "Cleaning supplies for Komachi's apartment."

Unlike many other wealthy executives, I do not use limousines. Why risk running over some other poor sod minding their own business when you can use Chiba's top-notch public transportation system? In fact, it wasn't farfetched to conclude that people who rode around in limousines were raging narcissists who fed on public attention.

It wasn't difficult to remain incognito on a public train, either. I had taken steps to ensure that all the local media knew of me was a surname. My highly unphotogenic appearance lent itself well to that task.

As my sister and I left the train station, I noticed several large posters affixed to a wall, apparently depicting politicians. That reminded me – elections for the National Diet were scheduled for next year.

"Komachi," I said absentmindedly. "Are you going to vote next year?"

She tilted her head at me curiously.

"Huh? Oniisan, why do you ask that?"

"Uh, I—"

"Oh, Komachi knows! Oniisan must be buying some political candidate with all his money! Is that right?"

"Your oniisan made his money through perfectly legal means," I growled. "It grieves me that you think I am some corrupt swindler."

"Just kidding!"

My darling sister laughed girlishly as she skipped on ahead.

"Oi, wait up!"

As I struggled to keep pace with my enthusiastic sister, I begrudgingly allowed myself a thought. Perhaps, it could be said that I had missed Komachi too.

A VERY EMPTY MANSION

"Are you really going to live here by yourself?"

"I don't know," I admitted.

Somehow, my sister had managed to persuade me to bring her into my new residence. It was fantastically large compared to the confines of my Tokyo apartment, or even the Hikigaya household. I looked beside me and saw her shudder.

"It's so dark and gloomy… don't you feel like it could be haunted?"

"Hah! Don't be silly. The rational mind fears not the supernatural."

I will admit, however, that some of the shadows in my peripheral vision did appear to be moving from time to time. But surely that was just a trick of the light. I think. Anyways, I had more pressing matters on my mind.

"Say, Komachi…"

"Hm?"

"Can you help me with something?"

"Of course!"

Wow, she accepted without even asking the matter of my request. I really feared for my sister's safety in the outside world sometimes. I made a mental note to hire a private eye to investigate her habits in college.

"Do you know how… how to host a party?"

To my surprise, my sister seemed to be taken aback by my words. She blinked slowly. Then her eyes lit up like a pair of Christmas ornaments.

"A party! For who? Old friends? College friends? High school friends?! Komachi is so excited!"

"Even better," I responded boastfully. "A party for all Chiba."

Naturally, I meant only the luminaries of Chiba. The wealthy, the powerful – the connected. Networking was a necessary evil in the twisted world of executives that I had eventually learnt to accept.

"Oh. Okay," she muttered glumly. Her shoulders slumped.

For reasons unknown, my grandiose statement had seemed to deflate her high spirits. What's the matter, girl? Didn't you like social events like this? Think of all the free food!

"Then, do you think I can leave the logistics to you? I can draw up a guest list for you, and hire the catering and entertainment services."

"Yes, don't worry," she mumbled. "Komachi can help her useless oniisan with this request. Let's go home. This place is creepy."

With that, she started walking towards the exit, leaving me behind to ponder the meaning of her words.