Chapter 36: Volume 1, - 36: Driving The Toyota Crown Home
Monday, 13 March 2023
Ren sat near the doors of the Tobu Noda Line train heading toward Saitama, holding a stiff plastic document folder against his chest with both hands. Every three or four stations, he opened the latch, peered inside, and verified for the sixth time that everything was still there: his driver’s licence, his registered wooden seal, the stamped police certificate for his parking space, and the printed binder receipt for his voluntary auto insurance.
The morning sun reflected off the glass pane of the train door. When Ren looked up, he caught his own reflection in the window. A broad, heavy-set twenty-three-year-old in a neat dark suit, smiling to himself like an idiot. He quickly pulled his expression back into a composure appropriate for a commuter train, though his chest remained warm with restless anticipation.
He didn’t own the car yet. In fact, until he set foot on the dealership lot and signed the final receipt, he was still a QuickMart worker riding public transit, checking the folder for the sixth time and calculating train fares down to the single yen. But by noon, that was going to change.
When he stepped off at the station in Saitama, Daichi Hayasaka was already waiting by the ticket gates, wearing a grease-stained worker jacket over a plain dark hoodie and leaning against a pillar with a paper coffee cup in hand.
"Look at you," Daichi greeted him, cracking a wide grin as Ren approached. "You look like you’re going to sign a treaty instead of picking up a four-year-old Toyota."
"I have to present formal identification," Ren said, adjusting the strap of his shoulder bag. "It’s standard procedure."
"Right, right," Daichi teased, stepping into stride beside him as they walked out toward the commercial boulevard. "Just don’t start crying when they hand you the key fob."
Ten minutes later, they turned down a wide suburban avenue lined with immaculate automotive showrooms. The Saitama Toyota certified used-car dealership was impressive. A spotless glass-fronted building fronted by rows of polished late-model sedans, crossovers, and minivans, each bearing a framed detail card on its windscreen.
As they stepped through the automatic glass doors, a sharp chime sounded, and a young woman in a tailored dark blue uniform immediately stood up from behind the reception desk.
"Welcome back, Kisaragi-sama," she said, bowing crisply with a warm, practised smile.
Her name tag read Takahashi. She was in her late twenties, with striking features, perfectly styled dark hair, and an effortless poise that made the pristine showroom look even more refined. Ren had met her twice before during the preliminary estate transfer review and registration filings, but seeing her today made him conscious of his own posture.
"Takahashi-san," Ren said, bowing politely. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Kisaragi-sama. Everything is fully prepared for your delivery today," Takahashi said warmly, gesturing toward the executive consultation desk near the back window. "Please, take a seat. I will fetch the paperwork and tea."
As Takahashi walked gracefully toward the administrative office, Daichi leaned closer to Ren, speaking in a low, muffled voice out of the corner of his mouth so as not to be heard across the showroom.
"Man," Daichi muttered under his breath, eyes following her briefly. "That sales lady is gorgeous. If I knew Toyota dealerships hired people like her, I would’ve applied for a mechanic job here years ago."
Ren felt a flush in his throat and kept his eyes locked straight on the desk. "Keep your voice down," he whispered urgently back. "She’s right around the corner."
"I’m just making an objective observation," Daichi smirked, leaning back in his chair. "You’re getting a Crown and a personal handover from a beauty. Life isn’t treating you too badly today, Ren."
Ren cleared his throat, trying to look completely unbothered, though his ears were burning.
Takahashi returned a moment later carrying a tray with two cups of hot green tea, setting them down before opening a thick navy binder marked with the official Toyota Certified Used Vehicle crest.
"We will complete the administrative sign-offs first," Takahashi explained, her voice professional and articulate as she guided Ren through the documents one by one.
The handover process was thorough and deliberate:
First, she verified his identity using his driver’s licence, matching the details against the official vehicle registration certificate (shaken-sho). Next, she produced the stamped police parking certificate (shako shomeisho) confirming his registered lot near his apartment, followed by his verified insurance policy confirmation. She then walked him through the Toyota certified-used-car warranty documentation, the complete factory service history records dating back to 2019, and the estate-transfer release documents supplied through Kanzaki Fiduciary Services.
"Everything on the administrative side is completely in order," Takahashi said, using her pen to point out the final line on the delivery acceptance sheet. "Please affix your registered seal here."
Ren pressed his wooden hanko into the red ink pad and carefully pressed it onto the paper. The stamped red impression was sharp and clear.
"Thank you, Kisaragi-sama," Takahashi smiled, closing the binder. She then reached into a felt-lined wooden tray and lifted a sleek, black Toyota smart key fob alongside its metallic spare key. "The vehicle is now officially yours."
Ren reached out and took the main key fob.
It was heavier than he expected. The smooth plastic casing and polished metallic Toyota emblem felt remarkably solid in his palm. Cool, tangible proof of ownership that made all that time of administrative waiting vanish in an instant.
"Now, if you’ll follow me outside," Takahashi said, rising from her chair, "we will conduct the physical vehicle inspection and final handover."
They walked out to the shaded delivery bay at the side of the building. Sitting under the spotlight lamps, freshly washed and gleaming in White Pearl Crystal Shine, was the sedan.
The 2019 Toyota Crown 2.5 RS Advance Hybrid looked magnificent. Its broad, aggressive mesh grille gave the front fascia a commanding stance, while the swooping roofline gave the large body an athletic, elegant silhouette. The dark eighteen-inch factory RS alloy wheels filled the wheel arches perfectly.
"All right," Daichi said, stepping forward with professional focus as he pulled a small LED inspection flashlight from his pocket. "Mind if I do a quick sweep before he drives off?"
"Please, go ahead," Takahashi said graciously. "We encourage a full inspection."
While Takahashi stood with Ren, Daichi went to work like a veteran mechanic. He crouched down at all four corners, checking the tread depth on the 225/45R18 tyres with a pocket gauge, inspecting the sidewalls for age codes and micro-cracking. He opened the aluminium bonnet, checked the fluid levels and inverter-cooling system, then worked around the car with his light to check for frame rust or suspension bushing wear.
After ten minutes, Daichi stood up, wiping his hands on a rag from his pocket.
"Overall? Very clean," Daichi declared, looking at Ren. "The hybrid system is dry and clean, brake pads are at roughly seventy percent, and the service records match the real components. The only thing you’ll need to watch is the front tyres. The tread depth is safe at four millimetres, but the rubber age code shows they’re original from 2019. You’ll want to replace the front pair before the rainy season in June. That’s about forty thousand yen for good eighteen-inch rubber."
Ren nodded, noting the figure mentally. "Understood."
"I will make a note of the tyre recommendation in our customer file as well, Hayasaka-san," Takahashi noted politely. She then walked to the rear of the Crown and touched the electronic boot release. The heavy trunk popped open smoothly.
Inside the spotless luggage compartment sat a crisp white Toyota gift box tied with a gold ribbon, alongside a branded emergency roadside kit and a set of heavy floor mats still in their protective plastic.
"As a delivery gift from our dealership, please accept this gift set," Takahashi said with a warm bow. "It includes a premium leather key case, vehicle care supplies, and a commemorative thermos. We hope you enjoy every kilometre with your Crown, Kisaragi-sama, and we very much look forward to assisting you with your regular service visits or future vehicle purchases next time."
"Thank you very much, Takahashi-san," Ren said, bowing deeply. "You’ve been incredibly helpful throughout this entire process."
"It has been a pleasure," she replied softly, stepping back to give them room. "The vehicle is fully fuelled and ready for departure."
Ren walked around to the driver’s side door. He paused for a moment, his fingers hovering over the chrome handle before he pulled it. The door swung open with a heavy, satisfying thud.
The interior smelled of rich leather, clean carpet, and high-end detailing polish. Ren lowered his broad 176-centimetre frame into the driver’s seat. The black leather seat was deep and supportive. He adjusted the power controls on the side of the seat cushion, feeling the lumbar support slide into place, before adjusting the electric tilt-and-telescopic leather steering wheel.
He placed the smart key fob into the centre console cup holder and pressed his foot against the firm brake pedal. His thumb found the blue-illuminated hybrid start button on the dashboard.
He pressed it.
There was no loud engine crank. Instead, the instrument cluster and dual centre displays lit up with a crisp Toyota Crown startup graphic, the needles swept across their dials, and a subtle green ’READY’ light illuminated on the dashboard. The cabin remained almost completely silent, saved for the gentle hum of the climate control fan sweeping cold air through the vents.
Ren gripped the leather steering wheel with both hands.
For months, he had spent every morning counting loose change, tracking utility bills, and staring at bus timetables while carrying a mountain of consumer debt. Sitting here now, surrounded by polished trim and the Crown’s stacked centre displays, the reality hit him square in the chest. He wasn’t squeezing onto a crowded commuter train or checking how much money remained on his travel card. This was his space. It responded to him.
"Hey," Daichi said, opening the passenger door and sliding into the front seat. "Are you going to stare at the dashboard all day, or are we going to see how this thing moves?"
Ren snapped out of his trance, a genuine, quiet laugh escaping his lips. "Let’s go."
He pulled the leather shift lever back into Drive, released the electronic parking brake, and slowly eased his foot off the brake pedal. The Crown glided forward out of the delivery bay in pure electric mode, completely silent as it rolled across the dealership apron toward the main street.
"Watch the nose," Daichi reminded him as Ren approached the curb. "This bonnet is a lot longer than you’re used to."
Ren checked his side mirrors, turned the thick steering wheel, and nudged the nose out onto the multi-lane boulevard. As he applied light pressure to the accelerator, the 2.5-litre Dynamic Force engine kicked in seamlessly, blending petrol power with electric torque to push the heavy sedan forward with effortless, linear momentum.
The first ten minutes of driving were nerve-wracking. The Crown felt wide on the narrow lanes as they headed south toward Kawaguchi. Ren kept his eyes darting constantly between the side mirrors, the central rearview mirror, and the digital head-up display projected onto the windscreen.
When they reached a tight, two-way residential street near a railway crossing, an oncoming delivery truck forced Ren to pull close to the left curb. Anxious not to scuff the pristine eighteen-inch alloy wheels, Ren braked hard and stopped almost two metres away from the curb.
Daichi burst out laughing. "Ren, you’ve got enough space over there to park a motor scooter! Don’t be so paranoid, the wheels aren’t made of glass!"
"I’m keeping a safe margin," Ren muttered, though he couldn’t help smiling as he eased the car past the truck and onto the wider bypass road.
As they cleared the dense urban traffic and reached the main national highway, Ren began to relax into the drive. The Crown was remarkably comfortable. The active noise control kept the cabin remarkably quiet, while the rear multi-link suspension soaked up pavement seams and expansion joints without a rattle.
Ren pressed a button on the steering wheel, linking his phone via Bluetooth, and turned on a gentle instrumental playlist.
Travelling without checking a timetable, without worrying about missing a transfer or standing shoulder-to-shoulder with tired commuters was a strange, liberating luxury. As they stopped at a major intersection, Ren glanced out his side window and noticed two high school students on the pavement looking over at the gleaming white sedan, eyeing the bold RS grille. A quiet, undeniable wave of pride washed over him.
’¥14,200 a month for voluntary insurance,’ Ren reminded himself internally, keeping his vanity grounded against reality. ’Plus ¥18,000 for the parking space, petrol, and forty thousand yen for new front tyres in June.’
The financial responsibility was heavy, but as he accelerated smoothly onto the open road, feeling the responsive weight of the car beneath him, he knew every single yen was worth it.
Instead of taking the direct highway back, Ren took a deliberate five-kilometre detour through the scenic riverside road along the Arakawa River, simply enjoying the feeling of driving a fine automobile on a clear March afternoon.
By 2:00 p.m., they arrived back at Ren’s apartment building.
Ren carefully navigated the rear alleyway and lined the Crown up with his legal rented parking space. Using his side mirrors and the crystal-clear reversing camera on the upper centre display, he backed the long sedan into the space. The space was 5.2 metres long; the Crown was 4.91 metres. He stopped when the rear sensor chimed a steady warning tone, leaving roughly ten centimetres of clearance from the rear concrete wall.
He pushed the start button to shut off the vehicle. The screens faded to black, and the cabin settled into complete stillness.
"Not bad," Daichi said, stepping out onto the pavement and inspecting the parking job. "You’re fully inside the yellow lines. Congratulations, Ren. You’re officially a Crown owner."
"Thanks for coming with me today, Daichi," Ren said sincerely, stepping out and locking the doors with a touch of his thumb on the door handle sensor. The side mirrors folded inward automatically with a soft electric whir.
Daichi patted him on the shoulder. "Anytime. Just make sure you drive me to get ramen sometime this week."
After Daichi walked back toward the local station, Ren stood alone in the quiet lot for a minute. He pulled out his phone, stepped back a few paces, and took a single, perfectly framed photo of the white Crown parked in his space.
He pulled out the digital tyre-pressure gauge and checked all four tyres anyway, smiling at how absurdly satisfying even that felt.
Carrying his document folder, the Toyota gift box, and the heavy black key fob, Ren walked up the exterior stairs to his second-floor apartment.
Inside his small six-tatami room, he set his shoulder bag down and placed the Toyota key fob right in the middle of his low wooden table, right beside his registered seal and the official owner’s manual.
He sat down on his futon, leaning his back against the wall, and simply stared at the key fob resting on the plain wood.
Tomorrow was Tuesday, 14 March. White Day.
He had spent so much time organising his business, paying down his consumer debt and waiting for this car. Tomorrow, he was going to take a modest White Day gift to Akiyama Bakery and hope Suzune Akiyama smiled when she saw it.