Chapter 19: The Teacher's Plan

Arata's car drove slowly. In the passenger seat, Daigo was silent.

"I'll take you home," Arata said. "But on one condition. Leave your gang, or I'll turn you in myself."

Daigo nodded, his arrogance shattered. "Wait, Sensei," he said. "What really happened?"

"You want to know?" Arata asked.

Daigo nodded.

"It was all my plan," Arata explained. "I provoked the Red Dragon and Tiger Claw gangs. The guns were fake. I made a deal with them; they wanted peace. The police I called were a contact of mine, to ensure no one got seriously hurt. Even the news Kaito saw was fake, made by my student, Shion."

Daigo was stunned. Arata, a teacher, had orchestrated a massive event involving two gangs, the police, and his own students, just to teach him a lesson.

"Listen to me, Daigo," Arata said, his voice now gentle. "You're lucky. Kaito loves you. He wants you to have a bright future. Don't waste that chance."

Daigo could only cry. He realized he had been lying to himself. He didn't want to be like his father; he just wanted to be a person his brother could be proud of.

Quotes:

"One by one, the students leave, stepping into the world. But the teacher remains, watching their backs with a heart full of prayers, and hands too tired to hold chalk. They gave up time, gave up years... just to give us hope."