Shockwaves

Kaito sat tensely before the screen, his hands clenched into fists. The video feed flickered to life, showing a dim, grimy room. Several figures were bound, helpless, their faces battered and bruised. Kaito's heart skipped a beat as he recognized them.

Ryuji, Moka, Do Yoon, Hanae, Stan, Yuma, and Junpei. His mind barely processed the sight of them, the terror in their eyes, the way they struggled against their restraints.

Kaito’s chest tightened. “No…”

The camera moved, giving a clearer view of their shackled forms. Ryuji’s head was bowed, but his eyes burned with defiance. Moka, bloodied and bruised, met the camera with a look that sent a chill down Kaito’s spine. The others were no better, each one showing the strain of captivity.

And then the voice came.

“Hi, Seeker,” Amato said, his arrogant smirk evident even over the screen. “I see you’re having a nice little view of your friends.”

Kaito’s blood boiled at the sound of Amato’s voice. The bastard had done this. He was responsible for their suffering. His fists slammed down on the desk in front of him, the sound reverberating through the room.

“What the hell do you want, Amato?” Kaito growled, barely able to contain his fury.

Amato laughed, the sound hollow and mocking. “Oh, this is just the beginning, Seeker. You see, I thought you might like a little show, so I’ll give you one.”

The camera shifted.

Kaito’s heart stopped.

There, standing next to the other hostages, were his students.

Reina. Leona. Hikari.

His chest constricted painfully. His vision blurred, and he struggled to breathe as a wave of shock and anger flooded through him. Reina—his cousin—was bound, her face pale with fear. Leona was slumped against the wall, looking both helpless and furious. And Hikari, always the cheerful one, was nowhere near the lightheartedness he was used to.

“No... no, no!” Kaito’s voice broke as his fists tightened further, his knuckles white. “You... bastard!”

Amato didn’t flinch at Kaito’s fury. Instead, he grinned wider. “Oh, did I surprise you, Seeker? I’ve got your little students here, all nice and cozy. But don’t worry, I have more surprises in store for you.”

Kaito’s breath quickened as Amato’s words sank in. His fury was building to an uncontrollable crescendo, but he knew—he knew—he had to stay calm. He couldn’t let Amato see him break. Not now. Not when his friends and students were in danger.

“Listen, Amato,” Kaito spat, his voice low and menacing. “If you so much as lay a finger on them, I swear—”

Amato’s voice cut him off, cold and threatening. “You don’t get to make demands, Seeker. If you want them to stay alive, you’ll come to me. Alone. If you bring anyone... well, you won’t see them again.”

The words hung in the air like a death sentence.

The call ended abruptly, and Kaito was left staring at the blank screen, the weight of Amato’s threat pressing down on him like a vice. His students. His family—all of them, captured. His thoughts raced as the urgency of the situation settled in. His emotions were a chaotic storm of rage, grief, and desperation.

“Dammit!” Kaito hissed, standing up from his chair. He paced the room, his hands shaking, his thoughts scattered. Guam. Come alone. If I don’t…

He couldn’t think straight. The anger was consuming him, but the terror for his students—the fear that he might not get to them in time—was even worse.

Behind him, Sayuri stepped forward. She had been silent during the video, but now her voice broke through the tension.

“Kaito…” she whispered, her voice shaky. “Moka... my sister…”

Kaito spun around to face her, his mind still reeling. “We’re going to save them. We’ll rescue them. Don’t worry.”

Sayuri’s face was pale, her eyes wide with fear as she took a step back. The sight of her sister in chains, the others in the same state, had shattered her composure. She could barely breathe. “I... I can’t... not again…”

Kaito’s expression softened, but there was no time for comforting words. His thoughts were already racing ahead. How do we get them back?

He stepped closer to Sayuri, his hands finding her shoulders, grounding her. “Tears won’t solve anything. We’re going to get them back. But we need to be smart.”

Sayuri nodded shakily, trying to pull herself together. “What’s the plan?”

Kaito stood straighter, his mind snapping into focus. “The only lead we have is that they’re being held at a syndicate facility in Guam, close to the US. We’ll infiltrate and get them out.” His voice was steel now, his determination clear. There was no room for hesitation.

Sayuri’s gaze turned from fear to resolve. “Then let’s go. We’re not leaving them there.”

Kaito met her gaze, his lips tight with determination. “We’ll need to move fast, and we’ll have to plan every step. But we’re getting them back. All of them.”

Together, they turned their attention to the map of Guam, their next steps already forming in Kaito’s mind. This mission wasn’t just about saving his friends anymore. It was personal. And Kaito wasn’t going to let anyone—anyone—stand in his way.

Not long after Kaito’s call with Amato his phone buzzed again. The caller ID showed Tatsumi’s name. Kaito hesitated for a moment before answering, wiping the sweat off his palm with his sleeve.

"Sensei," Tatsumi’s voice came through, tense and urgent.

Kaito frowned, recognizing the unease in his tone. "Tatsumi, what's the problem? You sound tense."

There was a pause on the other end before Tatsumi spoke again, his voice steady but with an underlying hint of worry. "Remember that day, when you saw us shopping?"

Kaito’s mind raced, recalling the day he had run into Tatsumi, Leona, Reina, and Hikari out in the city. "Yeah, I remember. What happened?"

"Well," Tatsumi continued, "after you left us, I told the others I had something to take care of. I told them to go ahead, but as I was leaving, I turned around and saw a cab pull up near them. A guy got out and was saying something to them. At first, I thought maybe they had called a taxi, but... something didn’t sit right with me."

Kaito listened intently, his pulse quickening.

Tatsumi’s voice lowered slightly, almost a whisper. "I ignored it, thinking it was nothing. But when I got back to the academy later that evening, I found out that they hadn’t returned yet. I tried calling them, but their phones were off, their numbers were unavailable. That’s when I started to worry. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but the more I thought about it, the more something felt off."

Kaito felt his chest tighten. "Then?"

"I reported it to Miss Fuyuko the next day," Tatsumi explained. "She didn’t say much, but things felt strange around the academy. The staff were on edge, talking about security measures and all that. It felt like... they were preparing for something."

Tatsumi paused for a moment, then his voice came through, steady but heavy with concern. "I think... I think they’ve been kidnapped, Sensei."

Kaito stood still, his mind working over what Tatsumi had said. His stomach churned. "Kidnapped?" he muttered, feeling the weight of Tatsumi’s words sink in.

Tatsumi’s voice softened, and Kaito could hear the tension in his breath. "I’m sorry, Sensei. I should have noticed sooner. But it wasn’t until I reported it that I found out things were being kept under wraps. I—I think they’re in real danger."

Kaito’s mind raced, and for a moment, he stood in stunned silence. A part of him wanted to deny it, to hold onto some thread of hope, but the cold reality of Tatsumi’s words hit him like a wave.

"I know," Kaito finally said, his voice firm, though the storm inside him raged. "I already knew."

Tatsumi’s surprise was clear. "How do you know?"

Kaito took a breath, collecting his thoughts. He didn’t want to burden them with the full truth just yet. "Let’s just say... a lot’s been going on. I might know who took them, but right now, I don’t have all the answers."

Tatsumi’s voice was hesitant but filled with resolve. "Sensei, can come help? We’ll do whatever it takes. You don’t have to do this alone."

Kaito shook his head, even though Tatsumi couldn’t see him. "No," he said firmly. "You stay where you are. I’ll handle this on my own for now."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, and Kaito could almost feel the weight of Tatsumi’s concern. "Are you sure?" Tatsumi asked, his voice laced with worry.

"I’m sure," Kaito replied, though the certainty was a front. "But I’ll need your help later. Right now, just stay in contact. Gather whatever info you can on your end. I might need something from you soon."

"Understood," Tatsumi said, his voice steady but with a trace of sadness. "Just... be careful, okay? And call if you need anything."

"I will," Kaito said quietly before ending the call. He exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on him.

Sayuri, who had been watching the conversation unfold in silence, stood up and walked over to him. "Kaito... what now?" Her voice was soft, but the fear in her eyes was unmistakable.

Kaito looked at her, his expression hardening with resolve. "Now we plan."