Tokyo: The Player Behind the Scenes.

Chapter 93, Section 91: Confidentiality Agreement

Early in the morning.

After washing up, Goto took a deep breath, tried to smile at himself in the mirror, fixed his expression, and carefully observed himself to make sure there was nothing wrong before exhaling a long breath.

He then pulled down his sleeves to cover the bruises on his arms, ready to start his new day's work.

Before heading over, I glanced at the monitor to see if Mr. Iwasaki had woken up.

However, the monitor was completely black, indicating that the power was off.

Is it malfunctioning?

The monitor was connected to the rehabilitation bed designed specifically for disabled people. Although the malfunction wouldn't lead to any serious consequences, it was certainly not a good thing.

Goto left the duty room somewhat anxiously and jogged to Iwasaki's room.

Just as she was about to arrive, she saw that annoying caregiver, Kamei, come out from inside.

She also saw Goto, gave him a provocative sneer, and without saying hello, swaggered off in another direction.

Goto ran to Iwasaki's door, just as Kamei entered the room she was in charge of, leaving Goto speechless.

What was her purpose in coming to Mr. Iwasaki's room? Was the power off shown on the monitor actually hers?

Goto had a bad feeling, so he quickly opened the door and went to Iwasaki's side.

At this moment, everything was normal in Iwasaki's treatment bed, the instruments were working, and the power had been turned back on.

"Mr. Iwasaki, did that person do anything to you?"

Goto asked hesitantly.

“Oh, she told me something,” Iwasaki replied calmly, his mind seemingly elsewhere.

But in Goto's eyes, it seemed like he was angry.

"Yes, about me?" Goto gave a bitter smile, his hands unconsciously falling to his sides.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hide it from you. If you mind, you can apply to change the caregiver. Please, don't complain about me. I really, really need this job."

She begged.

Iwasaki regained his senses slightly and looked at the spot on her arm: "Goto, can you tell me why you are still so passionate about life despite how it has treated you?"

Goto opened his mouth, but didn't know how to answer the question.

"You know what? In my first year here, I really hated you, no, I could even say I was disgusted by you."

"Why can you laugh so genuinely?"

Why are you able to feel happy?

As Iwasaki spoke, Goto's head drooped lower and lower, almost burying itself in his chest.

"Could you please turn off the device? I don't want anyone to hear what I'm about to say."

"Okay, it's closed."

"Thank you. I'm forced to watch those inspirational movies, listen to uplifting music, and see your smile every day. It's not healing for me, it's torture."

"Unfortunately, I can't even die."

“I understand, I know. This isn’t your problem, it’s my problem, so I take my medication on time, follow my therapist’s advice, and try to become ‘normal’.”

"I'm almost there, barring any unforeseen circumstances."

Accident?

Goto remembered that strange, rude guy from yesterday who claimed to be Mr. Iwasaki's older brother.

"Goto, your identity is nothing to me. I won't have any thoughts about you just because you're a Bakumin. Or rather, only those old fogies have those thoughts nowadays."

The more professional term for the tribespeople is the tribespeople who are differentiated from others.

They existed outside the traditional four social classes of samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants in Japanese history.

If a comparison must be made, it could be seen as the Dalits of India—untouchable and of low status. However, it's not quite that extreme.

In Japan, there are even specific discriminatory terms: "non-human" and "eta." These two words have long been forbidden, and the identity of "Bakumin" no longer exists openly.

However, even into the millennium, some large companies were still able to obtain the list through certain means and exclude these individuals.

Nowadays, some young people don't even know what a tribal people are, so there's no question of discrimination.

However, this is a nursing home, and the last thing it lacks is elderly people.

So the sanatorium took a risk by recruiting Goto, which was actually asking for trouble. I don't know what their considerations were.

If any of the elderly residents find out, they might go berserk, and the nursing home itself will definitely suffer the loss, even if the matter itself should be considered a good thing and public opinion would support it.

Hearing Iwasaki's words, Goto felt a glimmer of hope.

I didn't take Iwasaki's earlier comments about dislike and disgust to heart at all.

What she feared most was causing trouble for the kind person who had taken pity on her and arranged for her to come in.

Moreover, this job offers the highest salary she can get, which is very helpful for her family.

"Ms. Goto, I would like to ask you to seriously consider something."

Iwasaki looked at her, his tone becoming serious.

"Please tell me!"

Goto nodded quickly.

"If there were a chance that would free you from financial worries and get rid of that caregiver, Kame-i, the mission would be to keep a secret and never let anyone else find out, or the price would be death. Would you accept it?"

After hearing Iwasaki's words, Goto slowly opened her mouth. Although it sounded incredible, and even seemed like a pure hypothesis, she couldn't help but think about it seriously because of Iwasaki's earnest tone.

"Is there really such a good thing? No need to do anything else?"

"All that's needed is to cooperate in keeping this secret."

Iwasaki considered it for a long time.

He didn't know if there were any other beings like him in this world besides the players.

The identity of being a paralyzed patient is a very good disguise.

He wanted revenge, but not in a irrational way.

The best outcome would be to let the enemy die in despair and pain without paying any price.

Revenge involving abandoning all real-world identities in a self-destructive manner is not currently on his agenda.

If he wants to maintain his identity as a paralyzed patient, even with his ability to create illusions, it will be difficult to hide it from Goto, the caregiver beside him.

So he decided to drag Goto into the mess, or to put it more politely, to bring him onto his boat.

After all, the information he had asked her to search for already carried the risk of being exposed, and finding her would naturally allow him to be located.

He decided to make her one of his own, which would allow him to retain her public identity as a paralyzed patient while also carrying out his plans.

What will happen if it's exposed?

It would just be the same result as him leaving directly, and it would probably cost Goto his life.

Given the available information, the potential benefits of such a choice clearly outweigh the risks.

Hatred may blind him, but it cannot shield his mind.

“I would! If such an opportunity arises!” Goto nodded solemnly in response.

Even if the price of disobeying is death?

".Um!"

"it is good."

Iwasaki sat up slowly and somewhat awkwardly from the bed, looking at Goto with a dumbfounded, ghost-like expression, and said:
"Welcome to be my confidant. So, the first thing..."
"Help me remove the catheter."

(End of this chapter)