Todo-san and Toshi-kun each grabbed one of Kazutaka’s arms and helped him up. When Kazutaka looked around from his new standing position, he saw that there was a long sofa that could double as a bed. There was also a table with folding legs that appeared to serve for both dining and as a work area. A few folding chairs were placed around it. It was only the inside of an R.V., but it looked quite comfortable. Instruments and tools were neatly organized on shelves and a net was covering the shelves to prevent items from falling.
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Since Kazutaka still had his left hand connected to the attaché case, they were kind to him. The chief himself opened a bottled drink and placed it in front of him. He also removed the wrapping from the bento and took out the disposable chopsticks. Kazutaka had spent the last five years as a teacher and no one had ever taken care of him like this. He felt a bit impressed. It was a deluxe meal with many side dishes for which Kazutaka felt thankful for.
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When Kazutaka picked up the chopsticks to eat, Ren shot him a sharp look from the side. “You should say thanks for your meal first.”
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Being a teacher, he found it irritating to have a thief try to teach him manners. Kazutaka managed to remember that he should be obedient in this situation. He was starving.
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“I’m grateful for this meal that I am about to have.” Having said this in a perfunctory manner, Kazutaka was about to dig in. Just then, the bento disappeared from his sight. Ren had snatched it away from Kazutaka.
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“That was not sincere. It didn’t sound like you meant it. Try again.”
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“Uhm.” Kazutaka hadn’t expected to hear “That was not sincere” from a thief. Kazutaka put down the chopsticks and stared at Ren. Kazutaka thought about the unreasonable situation he had been forced into. He tried to muster what little bit of fighting spirit he had left. Whom should he sincerely thank for the meal in a situation like this? Surely if they cared about what’s proper, they wouldn’t be stealing jewelry. Kazutaka’s anger subsided as he looked at Ren. Even with thieves, thanking insincerely was not proper behavior. He remembered that once a student had told him, "Since it was Mr. Yui’s class, I thought it’d be okay to take a nap." That had felt awful. Kazutaka realized he should not use the same logic. After all, even if thieves had bought it, the meal had been prepared by someone else. Kazutaka had no intention of thanking the thieves, but he should nevertheless offer up thanks to the people who had prepared it and to nature, which had provided ingredients.
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“I’m grateful for the meal I am about to have,” Kazutaka said with great sincerity, head bowed.
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“Here you go.”
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The bento reappeared.
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“You haven’t changed, Ren.” The chief smiled from where he stood observing them nearby. Kazutaka figured that Ren must be quite a disciplinarian about manners. They were definitely a weird team of thieves. Kazutaka looked around with new insight. The chief had a gentle voice and an elegant manner. Todo-san seemed like a bouncer. Toshi-kun seemed to be very agile and Ren appeared to be very organized and rigid. They didn’t look rough or violent like most rogues. Rather, they looked clean, sophisticated, and undoubtedly intelligent. Kazutaka wondered how people like these came to be stealing things. Kazutaka knew he should mind his own business. After all, thieves were thieves, right?
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“All right, let’s have Ren get on with it. In the meantime, can I ask you a few questions?” The chief sat down diagonally to the left in front of Kazutaka. A voice recorder was set on top of the table.
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“You told us before, but can you repeat your name, workplace, and address?”
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“May I ask you why you want to know that?”
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“We’d like to do periodical follow ups on you. Just to make sure you are safe and sound.”
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Surprised, Kazutaka swallowed a chunk of broiled salmon. He rolled his eyes, choking.
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“Something stuck in your throat? Are you all right?” The chief stroked Kazutaka’s back gently.
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“What do you mean if I’m safe and sound?”
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“We’ve caused you a lot of trouble. So we’d like to make up for it.”
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“But you are thieves, aren’t you? Don’t you know the saying that there's no honor amongst thieves?”
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Ren, who was sitting on Kazutaka's left, slammed his hand on the table. Kazutaka winced and Ren looked at him sharply.
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“Not all thieves are ruffians. Some of us are regular guys just like you when you are not teaching. Remember that.”
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“I admit that I am only an ordinary man, but I definitely don’t approve of stealing or restraining someone against their will. If you think you can justify your actions, then tell me the reason why you think this is justified.”
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Someone softly tapped Kazutaka’s arm. It was the chief and he was smiling kindly. “Let me explain step by step. Yui-san, was it? I’m Fuwa. Yuri Fuwa. And that’s my real name.”
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Kazutaka tilted his head. This was weird. Thieves did not normally reveal their true identities. It didn’t sound like the chief was giving him a fake name though. Not only Chief Fuwa, but also Todo-san, Toshi-kun, and Ren didn’t look like people who’d steal or deceive other people.
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“Other than myself, I can only tell you their nicknames. This here is Todo-san. That young one is Toshi-kun. And sitting next to you is Ren.”
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“Ren is my real name,” Ren interrupted. Chief Fuwa gave a wry grin. Kazutaka turned to look at Ren who gazed steadily back at him. Ren had sharp eyes that showed a strong will. He gazed at Kazutaka for quite a long time. It was unsettling. In Kazutaka's experience, people normally didn’t stare at others for no reason. Two men would usually look straight into each other’s eyes for no more than five seconds. If the stare lasted longer, it was usually seen as a declaration of hostility.
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“Is this your first time seeing a teacher in person or something? Why are you staring at me like that?” His question didn’t break Ren’s stare. Kazutaka thought Ren was rather strange. Then Kazutaka felt someone tapping his arm gently again.
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“Yui-san, please know that Ren, Todo-san, and Toshi-kun are not thieves. I’m the only thief around. They are just helping me as technical support. They have nothing to do with any actual stealing. So don’t be mad at them, just be angry with me.”