Chapter 15: Volume 1, - 15: Legacy Layer One
Ren and Aoi entered the double glass doors of the Mizuho Bank branch in Kawaguchi at exactly nine in the morning on Monday, 20 February 2023. The marble lobby was quiet, illuminated by cool fluorescent light and filled with the low hum of early morning transactions.
Ren walked half a step behind Aoi, his hands resting in the pockets of his coat. Despite the official email and the folder of verified documents tucked under Aoi’s arm, a deep, persistent cynicism weighed on him. He fully expected the dormant account to vanish the moment human scrutiny was applied. For a compliance officer to produce a forgotten debt, a missing corporate seal, or a fraud flag tied to Masato’s past collapse that would wipe the money out entirely.
Aoi approached the designated corporate and trust counter, presenting her credentials and the estate verification packet to the middle-aged bank employee behind the glass.
"Kisaragi Genichiro estate trust verification," Aoi said, her voice crisp and professional. "We are here for the formal identity check and release of the dormant holdings."
The bank employee, a soft-spoken man named Taniguchi, spent twenty minutes cross-referencing Ren’s government-issued identification, his official seal registration, and the certified estate records and trust instructions provided by Seiwa Legal. Taniguchi showed no sign that he regarded the file as anything more than a delayed trust-account release. He checked each document, asked the required questions and returned to his terminal. He scanned the pages, typed methodically into his screen, and stamped three separate transfer slips.
Taniguchi printed a summary slip and pushed it across the counter along with a formal transfer authorisation form.
"Verification is complete, Kisaragi-san," Taniguchi said. "The dormant hold on the trust sub-account has been lifted. After deducting account maintenance arrears and bank processing fees, the remaining net balance is ready for transfer."
Ren read the official printed banking receipt:
Net amount released after fees and holds: ¥183,460
Ren signed the release form, and Taniguchi transferred the net balance into the designated estate-linked account specified in the verified instructions. Only once the transaction was marked complete by the bank system did a series of pale blue text lines materialise silently in Ren’s field of vision:
[Recovered estate value: ¥183,460.]
[Business income impact: none.]
A wave of quiet relief washed over Ren. The money was real. It hadn’t dissolved into air.
Outside on the sidewalk, Aoi paused near the entrance, pulling her dark coat tightly against the February morning wind.
"Let us clarify the classification of these funds immediately, Kisaragi-san," Aoi stated, looking up at him with strict professional clarity. "The transfer is being recorded as recovered estate value rather than earned income. It is not business income, nor is it a personal loan. You are holding this as the authorised recipient under the trust instructions."
Ren looked back at the paper copy of the transaction slip. "And the tax treatment? Could one of my father’s creditors still challenge it?"
"The bank found no current lien against this account, and the records separate it from the commercial entities under your father’s name," Aoi replied calmly. "That supports today’s release, but it does not let me guarantee that no unknown claim exists. Furthermore, while trust distributions of this principal nature are generally exempt from standard income tax, I still need the complete trust records and tax review before I tell you that every filing question is closed."
"Understood," Ren nodded. He respected her absolute lack of fluff. Aoi was paid independent counsel, and her adherence to legal boundaries was reassuring. "And your invoice?"
"My fee for this morning’s appearance will be billed to your account at our agreed rate," Aoi said. She offered a subtle, almost imperceptible curve at the corner of her mouth. A rare sign of professional satisfaction that Ren took as quiet approval. "A successful first step, Kisaragi-san. Keep the reserve intact."
Ren spent the next hour handling long-overdue personal obligations. Using the bank’s ATM, he paid the overdue ¥31,400 instalment together with the accrued late charges listed on his current statement. The wider Orient Credit principal remained, but the payment removed the active arrears and stopped the next automated collection step. He moved enough to cover essential rent, food and transport into a separate reserve, then left the remaining recovered funds untouched. For once, the money in front of him did not already belong to an overdue demand.
By mid-morning, Ren walked into AOKI Kawaguchi to address a glaring issue: he needed presentable attire for formal estate meetings, but his current body. Still close to the 106.8-kilogram medical baseline, broad through the shoulders and thick around the waist, did not suit standard slim cuts, nor could he afford luxury tailoring.
A veteran AOKI fitter greeted him, taking precise measurements across his chest, shoulders, and waist. The fitter initially gestured toward a higher-end patterned suit, but Ren shook his head smoothly.
"I need something functional and practical," Ren said. "Nothing flashy."
"Of course, sir," the fitter replied politely, leading him to the entry-level structured line. "Our standard package will suit your frame very well."
Ren selected a practical dark charcoal suit, one structured white dress shirt, a clean black leather belt, and stiff black leather shoes. The fitter made minor adjustments to the trouser hems, ensuring the drape was clean and professional without drawing unnecessary attention to his size. The package was affordable, functional, and fitted his current large body properly.
While waiting for the hems to be finished in the fitting lounge, the blue interface text flared back into view before his eyes:
[LEGACY LAYER ONE UNLOCKED.]
[Reward Shop: Wellness, Presentation, Tools, Opportunities.]
Ren navigated the newly opened interface menu. Under the Wellness tab, a specific item was highlighted. He selected it and confirmed the exchange:
[Metabolic Foundation Potion purchased: 10 Legacy Points.]
[Effect window: 30 days. Food, sleep and movement required.]
A small, amber glass vial materialised silently inside his inner coat pocket. He didn’t unseal it immediately, feeling the weight of the glass against his chest as he collected his altered suit in its garment bag from the counter.
With his suit bag over his arm, Ren stopped at a nearby MOS Burger for an early lunch. He ordered a basic teriyaki burger and a green tea, taking a seat in a quiet corner booth.
As he began eating, his phone buzzed on the laminate table. It was a LINE message from Suzune:
Suzune: Did you manage to finish your errands today?
Ren replied:
Ren: Just picked up a basic business suit from AOKI for estate meetings.
Suzune: A suit? What colour did you go for? Charcoal or navy?
Ren: Charcoal. Plain, nothing fancy.
Suzune: Send a picture of the fabric! I want to see if you have good taste in textiles.
Ren smiled faintly. He unzipped the top of the garment bag sitting on the bench beside him, took a quick, close-up photograph of the dark charcoal wool texture under the restaurant lighting, and sent it to her.
Suzune: Very clean! Simple is best. You’ll look very sharp, Kisaragi-san.
Ren: Thanks. It fits, which is the main victory.
Suzune: That’s always step one. Eat a good lunch!
Ren set his phone down, feeling a quiet satisfaction. The suit was taken care of, his pressing credit arrears were stabilised, and the connection with Suzune was growing naturally without pretence or pressure.
Twenty minutes later, Ren returned to his apartment. He placed the garment bag carefully on a hanger by the door and set the small amber vial on his low wooden table beside his Muji notebook.
He checked the vial’s seal and read the tiny printed label on the bottom. The lot number was clearly marked:
Lot: MFP-2049-09-17
The year 2049 felt impossibly distant, reinforcing the eerie, personal origin of the System’s tools.
Ren unsealed the cap and drank the clear liquid over his small kitchen sink. It had a faint mineral taste that vanished instantly. He waited, looking at his reflection in the bathroom mirror.
Nothing dramatic happened. His waist did not shrink, his heavy frame did not alter, and his breathing remained unchanged. He was still a broad, overweight man. According to the System, the potion would improve appetite regulation, recovery and his body’s response to consistent habits over the coming month. For now, the mirror showed no difference at a
A final System message flashed across his vision:
[Effect window active: 30 days.]
[Visible change requires food, sleep and movement.]
Ren turned away from the mirror and walked back into the main room. As he sat down on his tatami mat, the blue Interface text flared back into view, shifting from the reward summary to a new, authoritative administrative line:
[Fumie Okada. Find value before offering rescue.]