“Excuse me, but the Boss wants to talk to you.”

Just like any other shopping district in Japan, there are many pachinko parlors in Nishiura. Pachinko reels its visitors in with a few huge wins now and then, creating a steady line of gambling addicts when in reality almost nobody ever wins.

One time I really hit it big at the slots! That was when I was tapped on the shoulder, followed by,

“You have some business to attend to with the Boss, he’s looking for you.”

“The Boss” could be no other than the Nishiura neighborhood yakuza leader. But what on earth did that have to do with me?

When I asked the Boss “What can I do for you??” he gave me nothing but a one-worded response:

“Nothing.”

How strange! As I walked back to my slot machine contemplating what had just happened, I was met by the harsh reality-- all my winnings had disappeared! What!

“They got me!” But in all seriousness, what fault could I give to the yakuza boss? Reluctantly admitting defeat, I left the pachinko parlor and headed home, empty-handed and contemplating life.