“Bokuchu” Us vs the Police: 700-Day War

I have to tell you one thing, but while we were whole heartedly (?) battling with the record store and electronics store, it wasn’t as though Chuzai-san’s attacks had stopped. I’ve just written them in chronological order, so that part will be written about after I finish the battle with the electronics store. Please wait patiently.

Chuzai-san

So, getting back on track, we had just vowed to enact revenge on the electronics store. The electronics store owner, if compared to the bookstore and record store owners previously mentioned, was really hard to get along with. To tell you the truth, he didn’t have a very good reputation. As it was, most of our groups households, including mine, were buying our electronics from his store, so we were all kids of “regulars.” Even then, he was really cold to us students.

Because of that, virtually all the members agreed to this “revenge.”

You’re disliked, electronics store owner.

Saijoh-kun and I had to determine the origins of “those guys were suspicious from before.” Takaaki and the other militant members of the group said
“What, the electronics store right? Forget about that stuff, let’s just get him.”
They were totally bent on revenge, but we couldn’t just do that. You guys are lucky. You haven’t breathed in poison gas.

But.

As Saijoh-kun and I visited the electronics store to confirm, we could feel the difference in atmosphere as soon as we stepped in the store. Well, this guy was cold from before, but there was extra frost this time. As I was checking out the stereo amp at the front of the store, he said:

“Hey. Can you not touch the display units? What will you do if you amateurs break it?”

Like that.

I had also bought my cassette players and tape recorder from him, so although petty, I should have been considered a customer. Because he had said “don’t touch” towards me, there was nothing to hold us back. Aren’t all his customers amateurs? If they weren’t amateurs, wouldn’t they be observers from his trade? Either way, there was no mistake that we “were not welcome.” It seemed that what the record store guy said was true.

We were angered by this fact. That day, eight of us gathered at Takaaki’s place, and discussed a plan.

“Just like always. That electronics store owner.”
“Yeah, it’s amazing that he can stay in business like that.”
How true.

“Most of the electronics at my house come from him.”
“Mine, too.”
“Mine, too.”
“Mine, too.”

“That guy’s really courteous to adults.”
“That’s not right.”

“My family’s getting another TV from there soon.”
The person who said that was Great Inoue-kun, the guy who brought the armor and helmet in “We are turtles.”

“Why are you buying it from there? Can’t you guys cancel?”
“We can’t. My dad decided.”
“Your dad’s pretty scary.”
“Yeah. He’s hardheaded too, so I have no say.”
“Hmm.”

Great Inoue-kun’s household was one of the oldest families around. They had a huge old house and were a traditional family with family precepts. At any rate, they even had a suit of armor and helmet.

What?

I thought of a plan.

“When are they coming to install that?”
“I’m not sure but I think it’ll be on Sunday or so.”

Our chance had arrived. The hint came from the “you amateurs don’t touch” comment that the electronics store owner had said.

I explained the general gist of the plan.

“All right! That’s hilarious!!!”

After everyone agreed on the plan, it was time for us to determine our roles. Takaaki said,

“Saijoh, you stay out of this plan.”

“H-how come!?”

“We can’t fail on this one right?”

“Wh-what does that have to do with this?”
He objected with reason.

“There hasn’t been a single plan that’s succeeded when you’ve been involved. It maybe some kind of jinx.”

“W-what are you talking about!? There’s been plenty!”
Saijoh-kun said angrily.

“Say one.”

“Well there’s……”

“…………”
“…………”
“…………”
“…………”

“…………”
“…………”
“…………”
“T-there’s been plenty!”

No, Saijoh… You’re not in preschool anymore…

“Then say one.”

“L-like camp…”

“That was just an event! On top of that, weren’t you recreational staff?”

“Be! Be quiet!”

To tell you the truth, Takaaki-kun and Saijoh-kun were at about the same level. Their characters were almost the same and when I write out what they say, it’s hard for me to tell which one is which. In reality though, Saijoh-kun was a lot more reckless than Takaaki-kun.

“Hey hey. Now’s not the time for us to be arguing, right?”
“Yeah, you’re also forgetting about last time when you rang the cymbals in front of the main station.” (from vol1 “We are Turtles”)

“Er… T-that was because someone said to perform…”
Said Takaaki-kun.

“On top of that, there’s a been lots of plans that Saijoh’s been a part of that’s succeeded. You weren’t there, but there was the one where we cheered on Chuzai-san.” (from vol2 “Cheering Squad”)

“Yeah, yeah!”
Saijoh-kun said happily after finally finding one instance.

“But aren’t you disliked by Inoue’s dad, Saijoh?”

That was the truth. Saijoh-kun, considered a “delinquent,” wasn’t very well liked by parents and obviously by Great Inoue-kun’s serious and stubborn ones.

“Hmm…”
As we were in agreement, Saijoh-kun said
“Ahh, I think for this plan, if I’m not a part of it, I think I’m going to contract, “I’m going to rat on you guys to the electronics store guy disease.”
“What!?”

No, no.

“At any rate, now’s not the time for us to be fighting amongst ourselves.”

We were after all high schoolers. Even though our teamwork looked good, whenever we had to choose roles, we would always argue like this. Everyone wanted to be a part of it, even if it meant kicking someone else out.

“Hey, It’ll be ok. Inoue’s room is big. It’ll work out, right, Inoue?”

To my mediation, Inoue replied,

“Well, yeah. If we’re going to argue about it, then that’s all right, too.”
“Then it’s settled at eight of us…”

Next to us, as we calmly determined this, Saijoh-kun and Takaaki-kun were kicking each other…

SIGH… Our future looks bleak…

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