Promise Cinderella [Chapter 1 - Today* Hayame 27 years old]

[Free Talk: The chapter’s title is guesswork from 今井*. It is supposed to be ‘Imai Hayame 27 years old’ but her surname isn’t Imai, it’s Katsuragi. ^^; This is serialized in Ura Sunday by Tachibana Oreco. Since it is Cinderella, it is about a poor girl and a rich guy. A cliché story yet a somewhat different take to it.]

Some high school delinquents put their arm around a glasses guy carrying their bags. They were apologizing for making him carry their bags since his face looks like he wants to carry them and he insists on carrying them. They tell him that they go to a game center to enjoy the day since he’ll give them the money.

They laugh and ask how much money he has. They pass by a girl texting on the bench. While smoking a cigarette, she mutters, “Quite rotten.” Everyone stop and looked at her. They ask, what, what, who is this. They start smiling and nodding as they notice her sitting with her legs slightly apart.

As she blows smoke, they ask her if she’ll want to go to the game center with them. They’ll pay since they’re gentlemen. The girl stands up and takes out a knife from her pocket. They are startled when she unsheathes it. They tensely says, no way, this girl! Holding the knife towards them, the girl tells them to give that wallet to her.

Narration: “Obviously, I only wanted to help someone, that’s all. At that time, I can only recall that incident... *scene of a woman with some groceries as she waits for the train* From then on, it seems like I’ve been educated--...”

At the train, some students are laughing over how funny it was. A male student says, then afterwards, he gave him some money. A friend exclaims in surprise and did that bum burst out with joy? Standing nearby, a chubby student is carrying multiple school bags.

The male student says in the video at that time, that bum happily threw himself [to get the money]. “Should I upload it on the net?” Someone exclaims that he is really bad if he does it. A woman reading a book says, “Quite outrageous [appalling]...”

Everyone looks at her. Another male student sits beside her and puts his arm around her shoulder. “Hey, sis, what did you say just now? I didn’t hear it clearly. Can I trouble you into saying it again?” The woman looks at him and says, “I just said that you people are quite outrageous.”

The girls say what’s that, so annoying. A displeased handsome student calls out to Shimoyama [guesswork from 下山; chubby student] and says that just now, someone called them outrageous. “Isn’t it better not to let you carry those stuff?” Shimoyama nervously says ah...no...

Putting his arm around Shimoyama, the handsome student says that’s right, he is currently working out and it is better to say that they are helping him. “Haha, isn’t that so, Shimoyama?” The male student beside the woman asks her if she would want to switch places with him [Shimoyama] in carrying those stuff.

The woman puts her book in the bag. She goes to Shimoyama and takes the bags. She whispers to him, “I’m sorry if I’m doing unnecessary things.” The handsome student looks at them. The woman drops all the bags on the floor. She tells the handsome student that they play jakenpon [rock-paper-scissors game] and the one who loses will carry those bags.

The handsome student says ha, if she loses then she’ll help him carry those up to his house. The woman says fine if he doesn’t feel embarrassed over some strange rumor spreading around the neighborhood even if right now, she feels that this is quite embarrassing.

The handsome guy notices the other passengers muttering with each other. The handsome guy says fine, then let’s go. “I won’t care if you’ll be in extreme shame and humiliation, auntie.” Soon, the door opens. The train had stopped and the woman gets off. The handsome guy mutters, that old woman...

He is furious and embarrassed as he carries all the bags. Shimoyama looks tense. Handsome guy’s friends laugh at him as he exclaims, “When I see you next time, I’ll absolutely going to beat you up!!”

In the kitchen, the woman cooks the food she bought. A glasses guy comes in and says that he’s home. The woman calls out to him as Masahiro [guesswork from 正弘]. As the woman puts the cooked dishes on the table, she says that he’s also late today. Taking of his necktie, he says that his boss pestered him to play golf and it’s irritating.

The woman says that today, she met a person who was like him before. Masahiro asks what kind of person. The woman says that it is a student who was forced to carry bags. The man laughs and says unexpectedly, it is like that. The woman laughs and says that kind of thing really didn’t disappear.

Masahiro calls her Hayame and asks if she reproached those kids. Hayame says that she won’t do that kind of thing. Masahiro says but she went and helped him, right? Hayame says, possibly. Masahiro says that she only knows to quarrel.

She exclaims how can that be, she is already an adult. He protests that her friend said that during school days, whenever something happens, she’ll immediately dispose [of them] and she couldn’t even restrain herself for a little bit.

Sitting down, she tells him not to talk about the dark past. He laughs and says that it is fried pork cutlets [tonkatsu] today. She tells him that it is because pork loin is very cheap. Taking a piece, he says that as usual, she bought a product that is on sale.

He asked if it is because she berated some students so she made fried pork cutlets. [‘Katsu’ and ‘abuse’ sounds the same in Japanese. It is ‘katsu o ireru’; according to google translate] Sipping her soup, Hayame says yes, berating starts now.

Masahiro is puzzled that he asks, “Right now? Berate over what?” Hayame says regarding his extramarital affair. After a pause, Masahiro asks her what she is talking about all of a sudden. Hayame opens a lipstick from its case. She tells him that yesterday, she found a very expensive lipstick in his shirt.

“Whose is it? Obviously you don’t have overtime work yet you always come home late. There is a fragrant smell, that I haven’t smelled before, emitting from your body. For some reason, your pay is also decreasing. In the end, I want to know.”

Masahiro denies it and says that someone simply carelessly put that lipstick in his pocket by mistake. “I’ll return it tomorrow...” Hayame grabs his collar and darkly says, “Quit acting dumb. Since you say that, then let me see your cellphone. Right now, quick!”

Masahiro looks at her stern face then apologizes. Hayame is stunned. Bending down on his knees, Masahiro says, “Hayame, there is something that I want to say. About that...”

Hayame says so that’s how it is and after everything, she isn’t that shocked. She turns around and says that it is impossible to hide things from her since he knew that she’s very sharp, right. Masahiro is puzzled.

She says that he isn’t good in telling lies. He tells her to listen to him. Hayame continues to say that this is the first time so she’ll forgive him but there won’t be a next time...

Masahiro grabs her shoulder and calls out to her. He notices that she is looking sad and stunned. He lets go of her and bows. He says, “I want to make that person happy. Let’s divorce.” Later on, Hayame is walking in the streets while tugging her luggage along. There is flashback of Hayame wanting to punch Masahiro but she relented.

Narration: “I grew up with indecent parents that is seen everywhere. In the end, I got my wish and finally became independent. Afterwards, I met him. I felt that if I’m with this person, it’s possible that I’ll attain happiness. That is what I have decided so I got married...

...*scene of a lipstick* ‘Buy that for me~’ type, would be quite spoiled but it should be cuter [to do so]. It hasn’t been a year since we married and I also more or less have a bit of responsibility.” She lets go of her luggage and bends down. She mutters, “Didn’t I say I’ll forgive you. Idiot...”

Sitting on the playground’s swing, she thinks that she forgot that and even if she wanted to bring it but she doesn’t want to see that person’s face so forget it.

She looks at her bag and thinks that right now, together with the cash in hand and the money she withdrew from the bank, she has 300,000 so she’ll temporarily live in the internet café [<- they can sleep there in Japan; cheap hotel] and immediately look for work so there’s no problem at all. “Even if Masahiro comes to apologize, I absolutely won’t go back!”

Then, she sees a bum coming out of his tent and coughs out loud. She looks uneasy. Walking away, she tells herself that she’ll be okay, she won’t become like that. She goes to an internet café and is shock over how expensive it is. She decides to look for another station.

While she is fiddling with her phone, a man snatches away her bag that she left on the luggage. She calls out to him. She is about to give chase but her luggage dropped. It distracted her and caused her to lose sight of the thief. She sits down on the ground and couldn’t believe what had just happened.

At a real estate office, a man says so because of something had happened, she cannot go back home and she doesn’t have any relatives. “Not only that, you encountered a thief and had reported it to the police. Until they contact you again, you want to rent a place and any will do. Is that it. Ah, that is very difficult to do.” Hayame bites her lips and thinks that is right.

He tells her that even if he wants to help her but they have rules. She exclaims that it is really okay if is anywhere, she’ll definitely pay the down payment in a few days. The man says that even if she says that but, he’s really sorry!! And, she left with a piece of candy from Takada Real Estate [guesswork from 高田; might be important later on].

Looking at the candy, she thinks that in the end, it is no good. “In the end, I’m starting to become worried. A woman who is approximately 30 years old, divorced once, penniless...this is really a disastrous experience. In short, I have to think of a way to raise some money...”

She sees a store saying high interest rate... She shakes her head and exclaims that she absolutely cannot borrow money! “It will come soon... Don’t belittle my tenacious spirit!!”

At the playground, the bum goes out of his tent and starts coughing. He scratches himself and sees a box at the side. Hayame comes out of the box and greets the bum a good morning. She thanks him for his adhesive tape.

Sitting on the bench, Hayame thinks that she has been living outdoor for three days now and the police haven’t contacted her yet. “So hungry. If I didn’t eat something... Ah, my cellphone has to be recharged. *stretches* This is absolutely not a wasted life...

...Rather, it is the preparation stage to attain the next stop for happiness. I’m already 27 years old yet I fell into this kind of situation... There’s probably is some meaning to it, right. *walking with friends, handsome student notices her*...

...After all, happiness is always accompanied by sorrow. In short, I’ll first go to the supermarket’s food testing... [<- free food taste for people to buy] and afterwards, go to the city hall for consultation...

...Ah, it [box] has peeled off again. This kind of life won’t continue for long. There is a turning point that will absolutely appear.” While she is fixing her box, handsome student says, “So, it’s you.” Hayame looks surprised and thinks, this guy--...

Male student and two girls approach them. Male student exclaims isn’t this the sis on the train, what is she doing in this kind of place. One of the girls say that they leave already. The male student calls her stupid for isn’t this interesting.

Hayame gloomily thinks that it is those people from before. Lightly kicking the box, Handsome student asks if this is her house, that’s so funny. Hayame quickly holds his shin and seriously tells him to quickly stop and what will he do if it breaks.

He is speechless as the box trembles. A bum bows to him. The handsome student takes out a 10000 bill from his wallet. He holds it up to Hayame and says that he’ll give it to her. “How about using it to wipe your ass after shitting?”

The male student says here it is, here it is, sis, you’re really lucky. “All the nearby bums here accept this guy’s thanks [/care].” The bum takes the money from the handsome student.

The handsome student tells Hayame not to hesitate, and it isn’t embarrassing to take it. “Do you want me to give you two bills? In exchange, kneel down in apologize to me for what happened at the train, you shameful old woman. *Hayame looks at him*...

...Anyway, there’s no one who is going to help you. If there is, then you won’t be living in this kind of place. And even if you resist, you’ll just regret it-- Better for you to be a bit honest--” Hayame recalls Masahiro startled look as he looked at her when she decided not to punch him.

Handsome student continues, “... Come on or I’m going to put it away~ *Hayame holds out her hand* Haha, really a pitiful woman.” To his surprise, she grabs his wrist with one hand and slaps him hard with her other hand. His friends are shocked when handsome student falls on the ground.

Hayame shoves the money on his face and says, “It’s possible that you’re right. It’s not good to resist, shameful brat. It is simply because this auntie is in a super-duper bad mood right now and I want to be all alone.” The handsome student says who cares about that...

Hayame shoves the money into his mouth and says, “Then, want to listen to my story for a while? Actually, I was two-timed by my husband whom I married not long ago. *the handsome student looked surprised*...

...After divorcing him and leaving that place, I encountered a thief so I ended up in this place. Isn’t that quite interesting? *handsome student struggles to get her off him* Isn’t it so funny. It’s okay for you to laugh. Quickly laugh, come on!”

The male student shouts that something’s wrong with this old woman, move! He is about to swing his bag at her. Handsome student shouts, stupid, stop... Hayame lets go of him [handsome] and punches the male student. The male student is down.

All shiny with a clenched fist, Hayame thinks that felt quite good. “Okay. Just watch because like this, I’ll be able to get that 300,000.” And she failed.

It has been 7 days. She is sucking nectar from flowers. The male student, together with friends, calls out that woman is still here. “Ah, wait... is she eating flowers!? That’s quite hilarious. Ha ha ha” Hayame thinks that she really wants them to give her some of their vigor.

Then, she overhears some women saying, gross, so scary. “Really hope that she doesn’t live in the park. Obviously it is a place where children always play. There’s no difference with society’s trash. Really perplexing.” This made Hayame stand up and leave.

One of the girl students says isn’t it better just to leave that woman alone, why do they keep on bothering her. The male student tells her to ask Issei [handsome student]. Issei says for the time being, he won’t let her off. “I always wanted that woman to cry and say, ‘I made a mistake. Please lend me a hand’.” Long haired girl says that’s really mean and pitiful.

Male student says by the way, it seems that she said that her husband two-timed her. “Betrayed by her husband and in the end, she can only live in the streets. Come, someone help her~” Issei says that she simply has to open her legs to someone and she’ll be able to help herself. “It’s so simple for women that it makes me envious.”

Narration: “Happiness and sadness are tied to shortness of money. *sitting on top of the slide* When I was 12 years old, my mother died from illness. During that time, my father is addicted to gambling and got the house into a pile of debt. The tuition fees couldn’t be paid...

...I dropped out even before I could finish high school. *recalls Masahiro happily giving her something* Of course, there were times when I felt happy but... *slides down* Just when I thought I had climbed up to the end, I had fallen down again...”

Male student tells Issei and the others that it looks like that woman is quite listless today. Issei glances at her and says, stupid to death, let’s go back. The male student calls out wait up-

At night, Hayame is on the phone. “Okay.. Is that so. I understand then I’ll trouble you again. *hangs up the phone* Ah, in the end, it couldn’t be found-! That is right. *waves stick* Like hell, I’ll be able to get back that amount of money inside [the bag].”

A luxurious looking car parks near the playground. Sitting by the sand box, Hayame draws on the sand ‘curry’, ‘hamburger’, ‘barbecue’, ‘sushi’, ‘omurice’. She shouts, “Quickly come out!! ...whatever.” She recalls how she happily shared a warm drink with Masahiro.

She eats the candy and shouts, delicious, thank you Takada Real Estate! She thinks that she also knows that life won’t go smoothly and this is nothing. “Don’t cry.” On the verge of tears, she hugs herself. She is startled when the bum sits beside her and says that the moon is really beautiful.

Hayame greets him good evening. The bum says that it seems that a lot of things had happened and if she doesn’t mind, she can tell him, he’ll listen. Surprised Hayame bites her lip and thanks him. Then, he puts his hand on her thigh and strokes it. She stares at the hand.

He breathes heavily and asks if she wants to move to a different place. Hayame thinks that she knows that being happy and being sad won’t continue for such a long time...and even if she knows... The bum puts his hand on her back and says, “You need money right?”

Then someone says, “You don’t have money nor a place to stay and you’re a violent woman. Are you a prostitute?” Teary-eyed Hayame looks up and sees Issei walking towards her. Holding some bills to the bum, Issei says, “Ojisan, don’t look for this kind of person who is like a germ...

...Go to the street and buy a better woman. *lets go of the money and it flew away* Ah- sorry, it flew off.” The bum is surprised [and probably went picking up the money]. Issei smiles then looks at surprised Hayame. With a smirk, he says, “Come with me, shameful woman.”

Comment: And that’s how our main leads met. Lots of cliché here like because of circumstances, they ‘hate’ each other, rich spoiled boy and poor girl, girl got in trouble and boy will help her out. Of course, there are different elements like, the woman is already married and recently separated. The female lead isn’t exactly a nice timid girl.

Usually, there are no second chances after catching a husband having an affair but in Hayame’s case, I guess it is somewhat understandable. Given her background, she finally found a home and she cannot easily let it go. Unfortunately, he doesn’t want/need her anymore.

I do wonder what will she do in the end if Iseei didn’t appear. Would she succumb to the bum’s desire? In real life, most likely. It would be hard for her to look for work given her background and age. She has no one to rely to either but then, I’m curious about Hayame’s friend Masahiro mentioned. Can’t Hayame get help from that friend?

Anyway, Issei is definitely on to her. Given his pride and ego, he won’t let her off easily because of what happened on the train. It seems that he has some sort of history when she told him that her husband had an affair and saying that women can easily get money using their body. Is it from his own background? Scans by 离境汉化组

Quote of the day:

Be strong now, because things will get better. It might be stormy now, but it can’t rain forever. ~ Author Unknown