CHAP 22-26

Chapter 22: The Sickly Liar and His Two Detectives

Kyoya and Misaki stood in front of Hiro’s house, staring at the large gates.

Misaki looked up at the elegant mansion-like home. “Hiro lives in a really nice place.”

Kyoya nodded. “Yeah. If I lived here, I’d never leave. I’d just laze around, eat expensive snacks, and have my butler do my homework.”

Misaki raised an eyebrow. “You don’t have a butler.”

Kyoya smirked. “Exactly. That’s why I don’t live here.”

Before Misaki could question his logic, Kyoya pressed the doorbell. Moments later, Hiro appeared at the door.

He was wearing a face mask and had a bandage over his left eye.

Misaki gasped. “Hiro! Are you okay?”

Hiro coughed weakly, his voice rasping. “Yeah… I still feel a little sick…”

Kyoya squinted at him. “Hmmm.”

Hiro nodded solemnly. “It’s been rough. I’ve barely been able to move…”

Kyoya squinted harder.

Hiro let out another cough. It sounded… suspiciously fake.

Misaki, concerned, nodded. “If you’re still sick, maybe we shouldn’t stay long.”

But Kyoya crossed his arms. “Something’s off.”

Misaki turned to him. “What do you mean?”

Kyoya pointed at Hiro. “First of all, if he’s sick, why does he have a bandage on his eye? Does he have an eye infection and the flu?”

Hiro stiffened. “Uh… well…”

Kyoya continued, eyes narrowing. “Second, that cough sounds faker than my enthusiasm for math class.”

Hiro coughed again, sounding even more forced.

“And third,” Kyoya said dramatically, “he says he’s weak, but when we got here, he opened the big, heavy door without struggling at all!”

Hiro blinked. “Uh… automatic doors?”

Misaki turned to Hiro. “Did you really catch a cold, Hiro?”

Hiro sighed in defeat, rubbing the back of his head. “Fine, fine. I… I just didn’t want you guys to worry.”

Misaki tilted her head. “Worry about what?”

Hiro hesitated before stepping aside. “Come in first.”

As they walked inside, Kyoya whispered to Misaki, “I knew it. My detective instincts never fail.”

“You just made ridiculous guesses until something made sense.”

“Ridiculous, but correct,” Kyoya said, grinning.

Misaki rolled her eyes, but deep down, she was starting to feel a little nervous. What exactly was Hiro hiding?

And why did he look so hesitant to tell them the truth?


Chapter 23: The Secret Behind the Black Eye

The trio entered Hiro’s living room, and Hiro gestured toward the couch. “Make yourselves at home.”

Kyoya immediately flopped onto the couch dramatically, his arms sprawled out like he was a king in his own palace. “So, tell us, Hiro. What exactly happened to your eye? A little ‘accident’ during your epic fight with a rabid raccoon?”

Hiro winced at Kyoya’s teasing but gave a small chuckle. “Not quite. It was just… you know, I tripped and fell.”

Misaki frowned. “That’s a pretty bad fall to cause such a bruise…”

Hiro shrugged nonchalantly, though there was an obvious hesitation in his posture. “Yeah, well, I’m just… clumsy, I guess.”

Kyoya squinted at Hiro’s black eye, trying to read his expression. He wasn’t convinced. Hiro’s explanation didn’t sit right with him, but he kept his thoughts to himself for now.

Misaki, however, believed Hiro. She wasn’t suspicious at all. “Poor thing. You should’ve been more careful.”

Hiro smiled weakly, appreciating her concern. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Kyoya tilted his head, eyeing Hiro suspiciously. “Yeah, well, it’s hard to believe that story when you’ve been playing the ‘I’m sick and weak’ act for the past few days.”

Hiro’s face reddened slightly, and he scratched his head awkwardly. “I was just trying to make sure you guys didn’t worry. It’s nothing, really.”

Misaki chuckled, trying to ease the tension. “It’s okay, Hiro. We’re friends. We’re supposed to worry about each other.”

Kyoya rolled his eyes dramatically. “Right, because nothing says ‘we’re friends’ like lying about a black eye and pretending to be sick for three days.”

Hiro smirked. “Well, maybe I was just practicing for the drama club. Think I’d make a good actor?”

Misaki smiled brightly. “Definitely. You’re very convincing.”

Kyoya leaned back, crossing his arms. “If you’re not careful, Hiro, you’ll end up in a soap opera. ‘The Clumsy Hero Who Can’t Keep His Secrets’.”

Hiro snorted. “What, you think I’d make a good tragic character?”

Kyoya raised an eyebrow. “You’re already a tragic character with that acting.”

Misaki giggled, clearly enjoying the playful banter. The atmosphere lightened up, and the three of them continued chatting and joking around. The afternoon passed with laughter, silly stories, and easy conversation, making Misaki feel more at ease than she had in a while.

However, as the laughter faded, something shifted.

Hiro’s phone buzzed. He quickly glanced at the screen, his face immediately going serious. He looked up at Misaki and Kyoya with a strange, forced smile.

“I’ve… I’ve got to go,” Hiro said, his voice suddenly tight.

Misaki looked concerned. “What? Is everything okay?”

Hiro hesitated, glancing between the two of them. “Yeah, it’s fine. Just something I need to take care of.”

Before either of them could say anything, Hiro quickly stood up and walked toward the door. “I’ll… I’ll catch up with you later.”

Kyoya narrowed his eyes at Hiro’s sudden change in behavior. Something didn’t sit right. Hiro had been acting odd all afternoon, and now this? He couldn’t just let it slide.

As Hiro stepped out the door, Kyoya subtly stood up and followed him, making sure to stay out of sight.

Misaki, oblivious to Kyoya’s actions, sat back on the couch, looking at the spot where Hiro had just been.

“Is everything really okay with him?” she murmured to herself.

Meanwhile, Kyoya was quietly trailing Hiro, determined to figure out what was really going on.

As he followed Hiro through the streets, he overheard a conversation. Hiro was talking to someone on the phone, his voice low and urgent.

“…Yeah, I’m on my way.” Hiro’s words were clipped. “I’ll be there soon.”

Kyoya’s curiosity peaked. He knew that something shady was going on, and he wasn’t going to let it slide.

But first, he had to make sure Misaki got home safely.

Kyoya quickly turned around and headed back to Misaki’s house, making sure to text her a quick message.

“Don’t worry about Hiro. I’ll make sure he’s okay. Stay inside.”

With that, he made sure Misaki was settled in before heading back out to track Hiro down.

His gut told him there was more to this story, and he was determined to find out what.

And he wasn’t going to let his feelings for Misaki get in the way of that.


Chapter 24: Into the Lion’s Den

Kyoya kept a fair distance as he followed Hiro through the unfamiliar streets. The deeper they went, the more uneasy Kyoya felt. The bright city lights faded, replaced by flickering streetlamps and dim alleyways.

Hiro turned a corner, stopping in front of a run-down apartment building. The exterior was crumbling, windows shattered, and the front door barely hanging onto its hinges. Kyoya furrowed his brows. What the hell is he doing here?

Two guys stood at the entrance, waiting for Hiro. They were older, taller, and carried an air of arrogance. Kyoya couldn't see their faces clearly, but he could tell from their stance alone that they weren’t friends.

“Where’s my money?” one of the guys demanded, stretching out his hand.

Hiro sighed, fishing out a wad of cash from his pocket. “Here. This is all my allowance money.”

The second guy snatched it, flipping through the bills with a scoff. “This? This isn’t enough, dumbass.”

“That’s all I have,” Hiro said, his voice strained.

The two guys exchanged glances before one of them grabbed Hiro by the collar, shoving him against the wall. “You think we’re playing? You owe us more than this.”

“I’ll get the rest,” Hiro said quickly. “Just… give me some time.”

The guy holding him sneered. “Yeah, well, we’re tired of waiting.”

Kyoya clenched his fists, hidden behind a broken-down car. His blood boiled. Those bastards are extorting him.

The two thugs exchanged a look before the first one yanked a rope from his pocket. “Maybe tying you up will make you learn your lesson.”

Hiro tried to protest, but the second guy helped restrain him. “You’ll bring double next time. Or else.”

Kyoya’s grip on his jacket tightened. That’s it. I can’t just sit here and watch this.

The first guy turned to his partner. “Let’s leave him for now. I’m starving. Let’s get some food.”

With that, they exited the building, slamming the door behind them.

Kyoya didn’t waste a second. The moment the footsteps faded, he sprinted toward Hiro, pulling out a pocketknife from his bag.

“What the hell, Hiro?!” Kyoya hissed, cutting the rope binding his wrists. “Why didn’t you tell me you were getting bullied?”

Hiro rolled his shoulders, wincing. “Why the hell are you here?”

“I was following you,” Kyoya said, giving him a deadpan look. “Obviously.”

Hiro gave him a weak glare. “That’s creepy, man.”

Kyoya scoffed. “Yeah, yeah. Call me a stalker later. Right now, we need to—”

The door creaked.

Kyoya turned sharply, eyes widening as two figures stepped back inside.

“Well, well,” the first guy smirked. “Looks like we’ve got another rat.”

Kyoya recognized them instantly.

Ryobi and Waku.

They were notorious in their year for picking fights and running shady deals.

Waku cracked his knuckles. “What should we do with him?”

Ryobi grinned. “Same thing we were about to do to Hiro. Teach him a lesson.”

Kyoya sighed dramatically, rubbing the back of his neck. “Man, I was really hoping to spend my weekend eating snacks and playing games. Guess I’m getting my ass kicked instead.”

Hiro groaned. “You idiot. Why didn’t you just run?”

Kyoya smirked. “And leave my best friend alone with these morons? Nah, not my style.”

Ryobi scowled. “You think this is funny, punk?”

Kyoya shot him a lazy grin. “A little.”

The two thugs stepped forward, cracking their knuckles.

Kyoya squared his shoulders, glancing at Hiro. “If we get out of this alive, you owe me takoyaki.”

Hiro huffed a laugh. “Fine.”

Waku lunged first.

The fight was on.


Chapter 25: The Dream of a Fighter

Waku lunged first.

Kyoya, relying on pure instinct, saw it coming. He imagined himself sidestepping effortlessly—turning at just the right moment. Too slow! He delivered a clean right jab to Waku’s ribs, making him stagger.

Ryobi cursed and went for a counterattack, but Kyoya smirked. I’ve seen this before. He ducked under the punch, stepping in with an uppercut aimed straight at Ryobi’s chin.

Miss.

Ryobi’s counterpunch came fast. Kyoya tilted his head just in time—barely dodging it. He grinned. Alright, my turn!

He threw a hook—miss.

A right straight—miss.

A low kick—completely missed.

Kyoya started to sweat. Why the hell is nothing hitting?!

Ryobi, growing irritated, grabbed Kyoya’s collar and yanked him forward, lifting him off his feet. Kyoya struggled, trying to break free, but Ryobi smirked.

“Pathetic.”

He tossed Kyoya aside like a ragdoll.

Kyoya recovered mid-air, twisting his body. Alright, let’s end this with a move straight out of a manga!

He initiated a Dempsey Roll, weaving left and right, preparing for a devastating counter. He took a deep breath, his heart pounding with excitement.

And then—

BAM!

Darkness.

—

Scene Shift: Bound and Helpless

“…oya.”

“…Kyoya.”

“KYOOOYAAAAA!”

Kyoya groaned, his head throbbing. “Huh…?”

“Finally, you’re awake,” Hiro said dryly.

Kyoya blinked, his vision slowly clearing. He realized he was sitting on the dusty wooden floor of a run-down apartment, his arms and legs bound with rope. Hiro was tied up next to him, looking unimpressed.

“What… happened?” Kyoya mumbled.

“You got knocked out.”

Kyoya frowned. “No way. I dodged and countered everything.”

Hiro sighed. “Nope. You got hit the first second Waka swung at you.”

Kyoya’s eye twitched. “Liar.”

“I wish I was.”

Kyoya leaned his head back against the cold wall. “Damn. Guess I’m not the main character of a shonen manga after all.”

“Yeah, you’re more like the comedy relief sidekick.”

“Rude.”

Hiro sighed. “So, uh… any plans?”

Kyoya tilted his head. “Yeah. Let’s panic.”

“Solid strategy.”

The two of them sat in silence.

—

Scene Shift: A Reunion in the City

A man walked into his old friend’s apartment, looking around. The place was decent—not too fancy, not too shabby.

“Nice place,” the guest muttered, sitting down.

His friend grinned, handing him a can of soda. “Yeah. It’s alright.”

“So,” the guest started, cracking open the drink. “How’s life after leaving the gang?”

His friend exhaled, leaning back. “It’s peaceful. I opened a small bakery near the school. We sell coffee, too. You should drop by sometime.”

The friend chuckled. “Maybe later.” He swirled the soda can in his hand. “You know… ever since you left, we got weaker. A lot of groups started targeting us.”

The guest sighed, rubbing his temple. “You already know why I left.”

“Yeah, yeah. But you know, you’re always welcome back.”

The guest smiled faintly. “I know. Thanks.”

His friend then asked, “Hey, have you seen Waku? My little brother. He’s the same age as your younger brother, right?”

The guest hummed. “Yeah, I remember. Where is he now?”

“He’s at the old base—the one we used after you left. He’s with Ryobi.”

The guest raised an eyebrow. “New base? What happened to the previous one?”

His friend sighed. “We got attacked. Had to relocate and regroup.”

The guest clicked his tongue. “Damn.”

His friend suddenly smirked. “Oh, by the way, your old uniform is still at the new-old base.”

“…New-old base?”

“Yeah, it’s new to you but old to us.”

They both chuckled.

“Anyway,” his friend added, standing up. “I was about to head over there. Wanna come?”

The guest hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

—

Scene Shift: Trouble Brewing

Back in the run-down apartment, Kyoya and Hiro were still tied up.

Kyoya wiggled his fingers. “You know, if I dislocated my thumb, I could probably slip out of these ropes.”

Hiro perked up. “Really?”

“No.”

Hiro sighed. “Great. Any other genius plans?”

Kyoya grinned. “Yeah. You should seduce the guards.”

Hiro deadpanned. “They’re two dudes built like sumo wrestlers.”

Kyoya nodded seriously. “So you like the challenge?”

“…I hate you.”

Just then, the door creaked open.

Waku and Ryobi stepped in, arms crossed.

Waku smirked. “So another rat got caught, huh?”

Kyoya and Hiro exchanged glances.

Kyoya sighed. “Okay, new plan.”

“What?”

Kyoya grinned. “We die.”

—

To be continued.




Chapter 26: The Monster Returns

The taxi came to a slow stop in front of a run-down apartment complex. The street was eerily quiet, with only the faint buzzing of a flickering streetlight overhead. The pavement was cracked, weeds sprouting from the crevices, and the building itself looked like it had seen better days—maybe decades ago.

Renji Sakuragi stepped out first, his sharp eyes scanning the area. He adjusted his long sleeves, ensuring they covered his arms. He was used to drawing attention, but today wasn’t about him. Today was about Kaito.

“You guys really made this a base?” Renji asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kaito sighed. “We didn’t have a choice. At the time, it was the safest place we could find. Only members know where we are.”

Renji eyed the rusting metal door, slightly ajar. Something felt off. Without a word, he stepped inside, and Kaito followed.

Inside, the dimly lit room reeked of cigarettes and sweat. Ryobi and Waka stood with their backs turned, their attention focused on two figures bound to chairs—Kyoya and Hiro.

“Waka.”

The moment Kaito’s voice rang out, Waku stiffened.

“…Uncle Renji,” kaito added, his voice more cautious.

Waku turned his head slightly, his face instantly losing color. He recognized that name all too well. His brother Kaito had told him stories—monstrous stories—about the man standing at the entrance. And now, he was here.

Renji’s gaze flickered to Kyoya and Hiro. Kyoya’s lip was swollen, and Hiro’s left eye was still covered by a bandage. Kyoya looked annoyed, while Hiro looked resigned.

“What the hell are you doing?” Kaito demanded, his voice sharp. “Didn’t I tell you not to bully your classmates?”

“They’re not my classmates,” Waku muttered. “They’re just guys from the next class.”

At that moment, Kyoya and Hiro took the chance to yell, “HELP!”

Renji wasted no time. He moved across the room in an instant, grabbing a knife from a nearby table and cutting their restraints in one clean motion.

Kaito crouched beside them. “Are you two okay?”

Hiro sighed. “We’re fine.”

“Fine?! Look at me! I got knocked out in one hit!” Kyoya whined dramatically, pointing at his bruised cheek.

Renji remained silent, his expression unreadable. But Kaito could see the tension in his jaw, the way his fists clenched.

And then, without warning, Renji stepped forward and pulled Kyoya into a tight hug.

“Why do you always get into trouble?” Renji muttered, his voice tight with emotion. “Don’t leave us early. I’m not ready yet. We’re not ready yet.”

Kyoya awkwardly patted his brother’s back. “Uh… I’m fine? See? Just a little knockout, no biggie.” He forced a grin.

Hiro, watching, felt something stir inside him. He didn’t know what to call it, but it made his chest feel tight.

Renji finally pulled back and turned to Hiro. “Is he your friend?”

“Yes, sir,” Hiro answered immediately.

Renji gave a rare smile. “Then take care of my idiot little brother.”

Kyoya huffed. “Hey! Hiro got his ass kicked too!”

Renji chuckled and patted Hiro’s shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get you two some food.”

As they walked out, Kaito stayed behind, arms crossed.

He exhaled before turning to Waku and Ryobi.

“…Why?” Kaito muttered, rubbing his temples. “Why the brother of Renji?”

Waku swallowed hard, clenching his fists.

Ryobi scoffed. “What’s the big deal? He’s just some pretty-faced baker. We can take him.”

Waku turned to Ryobi, his face pale.

“…You don’t understand.”

Ryobi frowned. “Then explain.”

Waku took a deep breath.

“You don’t mess with Renji Sakuragi.”

Ryobi raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Why not?”

Waku’s voice was low, almost a whisper. “Renji isn’t just some ‘baker.’ He was a monster. He wasn’t just a gang member—he was a former general. Stronger than both the previous and current gang leaders. People used to say that if you saw him in a fight, it was already too late.”

Ryobi’s confidence wavered. “That’s just rumors—”

Waku cut him off, his voice shaking. “No, it’s not. The reason nobody dared to touch our gang back then was because he was there. He could take on five, ten guys at once and barely break a sweat. If he hadn’t left, our gang wouldn’t have fallen apart.”

Ryobi stayed silent.

Kaito ran a hand through his hair, sighing. “Damn it… of all people.”

Waku gritted his teeth. “If he comes back… We’re screwed.”

Ryobi muttered, “So what? If he comes back, we can just—”

Kaito didn’t let him finish. He grabbed Ryobi by the collar and pulled him close, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper.

“Listen, kid. If you don’t want to die, don’t fight the monster. Because the more you fight, the more he’ll break you. Do you understand?”

Ryobi hesitated before scoffing. “Whatever, scaredy-cat.”

But Waku wasn’t laughing.

He knew better.

Renji Sakuragi had left the gang life behind.

But if his brother got hurt again…

No one would be safe


AUTHOR NOTE: As you can see, I'm massively releasing this episode. In fact, I made it and finished it, but I forgot to post it, so it ended up in my notes. Please support me on my Wattpad account, and I hope you enjoy my work. I'll keep posting until someone appreciates it, and I hope that when that day comes, I'll have improved considerably as a writer and improved my flaws.

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