Kanzaki Shinya

It was already past midnight when Kazuma and Yui cried in each others arms in front of Yui's front door.

“What's going o- Huh? Yui? Kazuma-kun? What are you doing here?”

The door was opened by Yui's mother who was in her pajamas.

“M-mom!” Yui hugged her tightly.

Kazuma smiled as he witnessed the reunion between mother and daughter.

“Y-Yui? I thought you were sleeping at your friend's house?” the mother was surprised.

After she heaved a sigh, the mother hugged her back.

“Hm? Kazuma-kun, what happened to you?!” she was shocked after she saw the state of Kazuma.

His shirt was tattered, dirty and many blood trails were visible. He had injuries all over his body and face.

“Oh, ehm, well...” he did not know how to explain the whole story.

“Excuse me, I am from the police. Let me explain the situation.” the officer barged in from behind.

Thus, the police officer explained everything. He told her that Yui was kidnapped in a factory in Shibuya by a gang and that Kazuma located her and somehow rescued her.

At first, the mother's eyes were widened in shock and she was holding a hand in front of her wide open mouth but soon she had a far more relieved look on her face as she held Yui in her arms and cried tears of joy.

Kazuma and the officer only stood there as the mother had to cope with the information.

“Uhm, I hate to disturb your reunion but I still have to bring those two to the hospital for a check-up.” the officer nervously said.

“O-oh, yes, of course... Thank you, officer.”

“I will be back, mom!” Yui waved her goodbye with a sad smile.

Yui and her mother let each other go as Yui and the officer went back to the car.

“Uhm, Kazuma-kun...”

Kazuma was also about to go back to the car until Yui's mother called him.

“Yes?”

“I – No, our entire household thank you from the bottom of our hearts for saving Yui. We are truly grateful to you and are in your debt.” she bowed her head deeply as she thanked him.

“Please raise your head. I didn't do it for a 'thank you' or for having you owe me something. I did it because it was her. She's important to me so it's obvious that I had to save her. And no matter how many times she is in a precarious situation, I will always run to her side.” Kazuma stated as he looked at her reassuringly and with a toothy smile.

Then, she slowly raised her head again and looked him in the eyes for a moment as she also wore a kind smile.

“?”

She approached him and also gave him a hug.

“You truly are the son of your parents, hehe. They would be surely proud of you!” she snickered.

Kazuma flinched internally. His eyes started to become watery again but no tears came out.

“Then, I will leave her in your care, alright? But try to stay out of dangerous situations, okay? After all, I also consider you as my son!” she added with a teasing and yet reprimanding tone.

“Wha-”

“Kazuma, hurry up!” Yui shouted quietly but still audible for Kazuma.

“Now hurry before they leave without you!” Yui's mother shove him softly.

“O-oh, y-yes...”

When Kazuma entered the car, he looked back to Yui's mother. She waved at them as she smiled kindly.

The car engine started and they drove to the hospital.

“What did mom say to you?” Yui asked curiously.

“N-nothing...” Kazuma lied as he looked suspiciously out of the window.

“Is that so...” her eyes got sharper.

She sighed. She knew that something happened but she decided to not ask further.

“Hey, Kazuma...” she turned her eyes on him.

“...”

“Hehe, I guess this can wait...” she giggled.

Kazuma fell asleep.

“We're here, kids.” the officer stated after they arrived in front of the hospital.

“Hey, Kazuma wake up. We're at the hospital.” she shook him gently.

“Kazuma?”

“Is something wrong?” the officer asked Yui while he opened the car door.

“Kazuma doesn't wake up.” she smiled wryly.

“Hm? Let me see.”

Then, they stepped out of the car and the officer opened the door next to Kazuma to check on him.

“!” his eye widened.

“Stay here! I will call help!” he sprinted into the building.

“Huh?” Yui was baffled.

She wondered why he was in such a panic and proceeded to look carefully at Kazuma.

“!”

The interior of the car was not bright enough during the ride so she was not able to notice it. But thanks to the lamps near the hospital, she had a clear vision on him.

His head was bleeding.

“K-Kazuma...”

Her body trembled.

The following scene was chaotic. People came in a hurry with a stretcher. Kazuma was carried to the hospital while Yui, whose injuries were small, got a regular check-up by a doctor.

After the check-up, she waited in front of the operation room, where Kazuma was. Since she saw his head bleeding, her face did not change at all. All the time, her eyes were just lifeless.

Then, the officer came back after he had a phone call.

“Let me drive you home.” he suggested.

“No... I want to stay here...” she said without moving her sigh from the operation room.

“I see.”

He took a seat beside her.

“Then, I will also stay here.”

Yui showed no reaction. In her current state, nothing was worth her attention besides from Kazuma's well-being.

Now they waited. As time went on, Yui's anxiety grew further. Her body started trembling again and tears began to form in her eyes. But she had to stay strong. She bit her bottom lip.

After hours passed, multiple doctors left the room.

“H-how was the operation?!” Yui asked in panic as she stood up quickly from her seat.

Even the police officer, who was asleep until they came, was nervous.

The doctors removed their face masks first and let out a sigh.

“A success.” a doctor said with a tired smile.

“Now he needs a lot of rest.” another one added.

Thud.

“H-hey!”

Yui fell on her knees as she was relieved to her the news.

The officer tried to help her get up until he realized that she was asleep.

“Geez...” he smiled.

“I will take her home.” he said to the doctors.

“Yes. And please let the boy rest for a few days. An interrogation should be avoided.” one of them recommended.

“Yes, of course.”

And thus, Yui was driven home.

In the meantime in an alley in Shibuya, a rough looking guy with a buzz-cut hairstyle and tattooed arms was out of breath.

“...haaahaaa... did I shake them off?” he asked himself while he tried to stabilize his breathing.

It was Fujiwara Ryuuji who finally managed to escape the police. Thanks to Kazuma, he and his companions were able to escape in time. However, while they ran away, they somehow split up.

“!”

Suddenly, Ryuuji heard footsteps. He tried to turn around.

“Don't turn around.”

Ryuuji's entire body shivered. He recognized that voice which was full of mockery and mischievousness.

He began to sweat bullets.

“I witnessed it all.” the mysterious person said as he came nearer.

“I may have predicted this outcome but I'm still pissed off. So tell me, who will take responsibility?” the person continued with a now threatening and annoyed voice.

Ryuuji tried to explain himself but his words were stuck in his throat.

“I-I'm sorry, Kanzaki-san...” he could only apologize.

“Turn around.”

Ryuuji blindly followed the order and turned around.

“!”

He did not notice that he had almost no distance to him. Kanzaki Shinya was standing right in front of him. He wore a yellow windbreaker, a black cap and sunglasses to hide his face.

“Shall we start now?” he grinned maliciously.

“W-what's the meaning of this?” Ryuuji was baffled.

“Take responsibility.” Shinya replied coldly.

“B-but-”

“Fujiwara Yamada, a the owner of a ramen shop. Fujiwara Honami, a elementary teacher. Fujiwara Sakura, still attending middle school. I can go into detail if you want to but you surely understand my intentions, right?” Shinya grinned.

“...please leave them be... I-I will take responsibility!” Ryuuji grabbed Shinya's shoulder desperately.

“...”

Bam.

“Aahhrg...” Ryuuji bowed as he held his stomach in pain after Shinya kicked him in the stomach.

“Then let's do it.”

Shinya took his cap and glasses off revealing his emerald green eyes and his long black hair styled in man bun.

“Haaahaaa...” Ryuuji groaned heavily as he prepared himself.

“Hey, you can join in, too!” Shinya called other people out.

One after the other appeared after Shinya called them.

“N-no way... the m-main force?!” Ryyuuji could not believe his eyes.

Now five people were surrounding him in the dark and narrow alley.

“Haha, damn it...” he laughed at himself.

The police sirens were heard for the second time in Shibuya.