As Masashi approached his home, he noticed a middle-aged man standing by the door, glancing around.
Is he a salesman? he wondered. But as the man's face came into view, a different term surfaced in Masashi's mind.
"Is that... Father?" He hadn't used that term in centuries, and it felt awkward to say.
"Masashi, it's you! You're finally back," said Hirota Katsutoshi, his face lighting up with a mix of surprise and relief.
"When did you get here?"
"This morning. I knocked, but no one was home."
"Kazumi is probably at the supermarket now. Let's go inside." Masashi unlocked the door and led his father inside.
After making him a cup of tea, Masashi casually turned on the TV.
"I heard you were hospitalized after getting injured recently. Is that true?" Katsutoshi asked.
"It's true, but that's all in the past. I'm fine now."
"I'm so sorry. I was abroad on a business trip at the time, and by the time I returned, it was all over." Katsutoshi looked deeply remorseful.
"There's no need to bring up old matters. What brings you here today?"
"Nothing much. The company gave me a few days off, so I thought I'd come by and check on you two. How have you both been?"
"Kazumi and I are fine. Thanks for asking," Masashi replied coolly.
Masashi found it hard to feel any warmth toward this man, who felt more like a stranger than a father. Their conversation was polite but devoid of affection.
Just then, the sound of a key turning came from the door. Masashi knew Kazumi was back.
Sure enough, the door opened, and Kazumi walked in carrying a bag of groceries.
"Kazumi, Dad's here. He came to see us," Masashi said.
Kazumi's face immediately turned pale, her expression becoming strange, as if suppressing something.
"Kazumi, it's been a while. How have you been?" Katsutoshi asked with a smile.
"Get out. Get out right now," Kazumi said, her voice filled with intense anger.
"Kazumi, how can you say such a thing? He's our father," Masashi said, his discomfort evident. Though he didn't feel close to their father, this reaction seemed excessive.
"Kazumi, I—"
"Get out! Didn't you hear me?" Kazumi suddenly screamed and hurled the groceries at him.
Masashi was stunned. He had never seen Kazumi lose control like this. Was this really the normally quiet and reserved Kazumi?
"It seems I'd better leave," Katsutoshi said, standing and walking toward the door.
Masashi followed him outside.
As they stepped into the street, Katsutoshi sighed. "It looks like Kazumi still can't forgive me. I guess I'll have to leave you two alone for now. But what can I do?"
Masashi felt a strange sensation but didn't dwell on it. He reassured him, "I think Kazumi just needs some time. Once she calms down, I'll talk to her."
"Thank you, Masashi. You've really matured. I'll stay at a nearby hotel for a few days. If you need anything, just call me."
Masashi nodded. That seemed like the best solution.
When he returned home, he saw Kazumi's bedroom door tightly shut. She was still upset.
As for lunch, Masashi decided to order takeout.
After eating, he left some food for Kazumi in the kitchen and informed her through the door, but there was no response.
She just needs some time alone, Masashi thought.
With no specific destination in mind, Masashi wandered the streets. If only Little Black and Changan weren't in the U.S., he could've grabbed a drink with them.
Feeling bored, Masashi suddenly remembered something and walked into a nearby bookstore.
"Hello, how can I help you?" a polite clerk asked.
"Do you have any books on stock investments?"
"Yes, this way, please." The clerk gave him a curious look, surprised that a high school student was asking about such topics.
She led Masashi to a corner filled with books on securities and investments.
Masashi grabbed a dozen books, carried the stack to the store's reading area, and settled into a chair. He adjusted his breathing and began flipping through the pages at an increasing speed. Soon, he finished the first book and moved on to the next, maintaining the same pace.
No one knew that with each page he read, the content was "printed" into his mind. This was a unique ability Masashi had discovered out of boredom. By focusing his mind in a certain state, he could remember everything he read, down to the smallest detail, as if replaying it endlessly.
This ability resembled the "superlearning" methods once proposed in the Soviet Union, where individuals would learn rapidly by entering a semi-sleep state in a calm environment. However, Masashi required none of those conditions; he could switch to that mental state at will, and his reading speed was astonishing. He jokingly referred to this ability as his "Book-Printing Technique."
In just three hours, he finished every book on stock trading in the store.
His rapid reading caught the attention of a nearby reader, but after a while, the observer gave up trying to figure out what he was doing.
Masashi organized the vast information in his mind and smirked. From these books, he learned about the latest theories and techniques in securities trading. His conclusion? Utter nonsense.
Compared to a decade ago, the rise of the internet had introduced more options for trading. But the financial fundamentals remained unchanged. Many of the so-called new theories and methods were, in Masashi's view, nothing more than tricks authors used to fill their books and collect royalties.
Instead of relying on speculative analysis, one was better off conducting thorough investigations into a company's operations and financial standing.