| Period 19: The Money Tree | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Period | 19 | |
| Volume | 5 | |
| Previous | Period 18: Miracle Ball | |
| Next | Period 20: Best Friend | |
The Money Tree is the 19th chapter of the Zekkyou Gakkyuu series and 3rd chapter in the volume 5 manga.
Premise[]
Akane obtains a wonderful bonsai tree that begins to bloom money! But as more and more money appears, so do the problems...
Yomi's Introduction[]
Yomi sees the Reader while patiently waiting in line. She greets them and holds up a coin, explaining how people often spend money without second thought. Today's lesson is about money.
Summary[]
Akane is bored as she sits with her friends in the home of their wealthy classmate, Julie. She recently came back from Hawaii and wanted to brag about it and hand out the souvenirs she got for them. Akane's friend complains but she doesn't fully mind; unless she gets picked on, like right now when Julie points out she has been wearing the same skirt lately. She wonders if they can afford anything and Akane starts to cry as the other girls laugh. Then, Julie recalls something and leads everyone to a vault nearby, with the exception of Akane, who helplessly wonders why they were cruel towards her for wearing a skirt she likes.
Julie warns the girls not to repeat what they are about to see to anyone else, and she opens the vault to reveal a small, withered bonsai tree. Everyone is very impressed as she explains that it grows money.
Akane remains in a foul mood at home and observes the money in her bank thus far. It's not enough to buy new clothing. She begins to daydream when her mom calls her for dinner, and on her way to the kitchen she happens to a spot a familiar tree outside in a pot. She opens the backyard door with caution and identifies it as Julie's money tree, and it has some money in its branches. As she wonders what happened, her mom approaches her with the phone, Julie is on the other line and the money tree has gone missing. She asks if she saw anything, and Akane prepares to reveal that it ended up at her place until she recalls her mockery from earlier. She becomes frustrated again and suggests one of the other girls took it before abruptly ending the call.
She has no reason to return it when Julie made fun of her, she will wait a few days.
The next day Akane visits the grocery store to test the money out, and to her surprise its usable. She leaves the store with large bags full of groceries, and along the way she spots a large Pinny-Guzzu plush at the Arcade. She has some money left, so she decides to give it a shot, and she amazes the employees after successfully obtaining it. She is very happy as she recalls her mom's refusal to let her spend money on things like this under the assumption it would be a waste. She also decides to grab a couple of new video games before heading home.
Akane finds her parents waiting for her, forcing her to reveal to them the money tree as she isn't able to hide everything she bought. When questioned she claims it was in their yard this entire time, and her mom seems hesitant accepting this story while her dad is very proud of her for discovering it. With their sudden wealth they can afford things they really needed, initially. Then they start to spend excessively; brand new, expensive items and large sections of a shop, they eat out at expensive places and make plenty of house upgrades.
After the few days pass Akane decides to continue keeping the money tree, just for a bit longer. Everyone is much happier now. She debuts her brand new wardrobe from a popular fashion magazine at school the first chance she gets. Her classmates are impressed but Julie appears to be suspicious of her.
Akane prepares to discard the trash when her mother stops her upon recognizing the coin bank in it. She asks Akane why she would dispose of her bank, but Akane insists it isn't necessary since the money tree provides them with dollar bills. Her mom is disappointed by this and Akane observes her. She doesn't understand why she can't enjoy their newfound fortune like she and her dad.
She heads outside to collect today's funds and to her surprise, she sees the tree is now planted into the ground. She assumes her dad was the cause, then she spots a hair tie on the ground. She panics after recognizing it belongs to Julie and worries she is being watched, but after a moment she realizes Julie isn't there. She returns inside, and to her shock she learns that Julie never made it to school the next day. She went missing some time yesterday, even the police got involved. Her mom also went missing the day the girls went to visit Julie.
At home Akane sees her mother has become frantic. After speaking to one of their newly hired maids, she goes on to inform Akane that her dad is missing. One maid suggests they contact the police, leading Akane's mom to confess that she recently found out that he quit his job behind their backs. He's been going out drinking at the bar, it's hard to say what really happened to him.
Akane is worried as she steps back outside and she is joined by her mother. It's strange for three people to go missing like this, and she suggests to her mom that they use their newfound money to speed up investigation. It is an incentive to make people work harder. Her mom expresses concern hearing this, mentioning that money can't solve everything, nor does it always lead to happiness. Akane doesn't understand though, and when her mom reveals that she kept Akane's coin bank, she discredits it by saying that having more money made them happier. They can afford anything they want so they should just enjoy that.
She turns her back to her mother, who helplessly stares at her as it begins sinking in that Akane has become blinded by greed. She goes silent and Akane turns to face her, only to discover she is gone. She becomes frightened and runs around their yard trying to locate her, then she seeks shelter inside after gathering the new money on the ground. She calls the police to give them an update.
Despite everything she did her parents couldn't be found. As a result, Akane's overly eager relatives suddenly show up saying she can't live alone in such times; although she manages to determine that they could care less about her and are only there to get their hands on the money.
While they admire her home, she sadly steps outside to observe the tree. Akane can't understand why her parents would leave their happiness behind, but just then she notices more money on the ground, and a strange lump. She grabs a shovel to dig it up and finds her old coin bank, which is now heavier then she can remember. To her surprise, she realizes that since she last held it, her mother must have added more money to it. She begins to cry as she recalls the day her parents gifted her with it. Akane begs for her parents to return, realizing that her mother was correct regarding happiness. She doesn't want or need the money without her parents there. She makes a desperate wish to see them again, unaware that the money tree appears to have listened to her.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Akane shifts and slowly caves in, and roots tangle around her leg to keep her still. Akane is horrified as she looks up to the tree to see its now twisted expression, and she is swallowed by the ground, desperately clawing and trying to pull herself to freedom. She recalls finding Julie's hair tie there, and it dons on her that everyone that has been going missing is beneath the ground. The tree has been using them as nutrients to grow more money.
Akane cries out for help but her greedy relatives don't hear her, blinded by the expensive home. Her mouth gets covered and soon she's entirely pulled beneath the surface, the ground fixes itself and several dollar bills rain down.
- - -
A few years have passed and a new family is moving into Akane's old home. It's only temporary since they won't be able to afford such an impressive home very long. The young son returns from the backyard with money and points out the large tree in the backyard after they ask where he got it. They follow him to discover the large money tree, unaware of the skeletal remains beneath the dirt from everyone it has taken nutrients from, tangled within its roots.
Yomi's Epilogue[]
Dressed up and enjoying a ride in a luxurious chair, Yomi states that Akane lost everything. As long as greedy people remain, so will the tree. She picks up a small pot where a money tree resides and asks if the Reader would like to try cultivating it.
Characters[]
- Akane
- Julie
- Julie's Parents
- Akane's Parents
- The Money Tree
- Akane's relatives
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- When Akane first counted her money, she has 1210 yen. This is equal to about 15 dollars.
- This is the first story themed around/involving money.
