The Resolve of Sakurasaki Delinquents

Knock. Knock.

Without even waiting for the room’s owner to answer, Hiiro kicked the door open.

“Oi! First you forced me to bring you to my home, and now you’re barging into my brother’s room?! What the hell is going on here?!” Takashi protested.

However, Hiiro ignored him as he marched into the room. Ouji and I followed after him, leaving Takashi with no option other than coming with us.

“Hou…so you guys have finally come. It took quite a while, wasn't it? Are you losing your touch, now that you've lost your precious leader?” Natsuhiko waved carefreely at the unannounced visitors. He acted as if he knew we were coming.

“Karasu Natsuhiko!” Hiiro snarled at the room’s owner, who was lazing on the bed even though it was a school day. “It was you who leaked Sakuya-chan’s location to the Kagura Family, right?!”

“EH?!” Both Takashi and I looked at Hiiro in shock.

Ouji seemed unperturbed by the revelation, as if he already knew—or he simply didn’t care.

Natsuhiko grinned as he answered, “I’m not exactly leaking it because I wanted to. It’s an exchange for my own life, you know? I’m sure you’ll do the same if you’re in my position.”

Hiiro was visibly furious when he heard that. “How dare you—?! I would never…!”

“Wait a damn minute!” I stopped the two, who kept talking about things that only they understood. “Hiiro, explain everything to us! How do you know that Natsuhiko is tattling about Sakuya-san to the Kagura Family?”

Hiiro kept glaring at Natsuhiko, but he finally explained the situation. It turned out that this morning, Hiiro got a call from Takamine’s Banchou—Shindo Kyoya. Hiiro had asked Kyoya before if he could find anything related to Sakuya’s disappearance. He wasn’t expecting much, since Kyoya rarely interacted with her, and he only asked out of desperation. But the result was quite shocking.

Apparently Natsuhiko, who had been under house arrest for some time, was recently assaulted by some suspicious men. Despite that, he managed to come out of it unscathed. Since the assault happened near the end of summer break, Kyoya didn’t think much about it. But Hiiro’s call about Sakuya’s disappearance changed his perspective. The day after Natsuhiko was assaulted, Sakuya saw Kagura Family’s people in the festival and proceeded to disappear. The timing fitted perfectly.

“This guy must’ve sold Sakuya-chan off to the Kagura Family just to save his own skin!” At the end of his story, Hiiro’s fist trembled as if he was suppressing the urge to hit Natsuhiko.

I immediately turned toward Natsuhiko. “Is that true?” I asked him.

Natsuhiko sneered. “Yeah, it’s true. I don’t know how that cowardly bastard knew about the incident, but it went just as he said. That bastard Kikuchi was jailed, but he didn’t forget about my failure. He sent some people over to off me at the first chance he got. But I was smarter than him.” He boasted proudly. “I told those people to spare me in exchange for the missing heiress’ location. Of course, they got reeled in, hook, line, sinker and all!”

He cackled as if it was an amusing story, while the rest of us had grim faces when we heard it. Because of this trash, Sakuya had to run away and we lost our place to belong. I was starting to respect Hiiro for his self-restraint of not punching Natsuhiko when we first got here.

Right after I thought of it, Ouji stepped forward and landed a solid punch on Natsuhiko’s face. The guy was flung backward and hit the wall pretty hard.

“…that’s for Kagura-san’s sake.” He said coldly as he cracked his knuckles.

“Ouch! What the hell, you didn’t hold back at all!” Natsuhiko grimaced in pain and glared at Ouji.

“I’m being generous right now. If I could, I would shred you to pieces and let you feel such an agonizing pain that it’d be better to die.” Ouji’s eyes had such a ferocious glint that even Natsuhiko quietened down.

“Well, hold on a bit, Senpai.” Hiiro was the only one brave enough to stop Ouji in his current state.

Both Takashi and I were frozen stiff in fear from the terrifying bloodlust exuded by Ouji.

“Surely you’re not the only collaborator that Shijima-sensei had employed to capture Sakuya-chan, right? Who else is his collaborator?” Hiiro pressed Natsuhiko.

“What are you going to give me in exchange for that information?” Natsuhiko shamelessly asked back. “I don’t see any merit in helping you guys. After all, it’s because of you that I got suspended in the first place.”

“Don’t joke with me!” I flared at him. “You guys started the fight first! If it weren’t for you, Sakuya-san wouldn’t have gotten injured that badly!”

Whenever I recalled Sakuya’s grave injuries from that day, anger and resentment boiled within my chest. Natsuhiko’s punishment wasn’t nearly enough to compensate for Sakuya’s sufferings!

“Aniki.”

Before our argument could drag on any longer, Takashi stepped forward.

“I might not completely understand what’s going on here.” He started. “But I know that you did something that drove Kagura-san to leave school and disappear. And currently you’re the only one who can help us to find her again. So please…” Takashi bowed his head. “I’m willing to do anything, so please help us.”

For an instant, Natsuhiko’s expression faltered as he saw his younger brother lowered his head for someone else’s sake. But he quickly clenched his teeth and controlled his expression.

“You’re no longer of use to me the day you failed to take down Kagura Sakuya.” Natsuhiko spat out. “Get out of my room, all of you. You won’t get anything from me.”

Hiiro exchanged glances with me and Ouji, but Takashi remained bowing.

“No, I’m not going to move until you tell us what we want to know.” He said stubbornly.

“Fine, then stay there forever!” Natsuhiko huffed. “Cause I’m not telling you anything!”

He turned his back on us and lied down on his bed.

“Yeah, I’ll do just that.” Takashi said determinedly. “Aniki, I won’t go back on my own words. I’ll stay here and lower my head, or do whatever you want. I just want you to tell us what we need to know.”

For a long while, Natsuhiko was silent. I couldn’t see his face so I couldn’t tell what he was thinking about. But the fact that he hadn’t thrown Takashi out forcefully made me think that maybe he had a soft spot for his brother.

“Aniki, please.” Takashi repeated. “Please help us.”

“…why do you lower yourself so much for a mere little girl?” Natsuhiko grumbled in low voice. “I didn’t raise you to be someone else’s dog like this.”

“So you raised him to be your dog?!” I retorted in my mind, but I kept quiet.

“It’s because I admire Kagura-san as a great leader.” Takashi answered sincerely. “Even more than myself, and even more than you, Aniki. She might act on a whim sometimes, but she always shows compassion and treats everyone fairly. She possesses strength greater than any of us, yet she never misused her strength. And most importantly…”

The corner of Takashi’s lips curled up, revealing a thin smile.

“…she’s not perfect, and she’s aware of it.”

That sentence grabbed Natsuhiko’s attention. He slightly turned toward his brother. “What do you mean by that?” He demanded. “A leader has to be perfect in front of everyone, or he will be ridiculed and looked down at!”

“Yeah, Kagura-san also acted the same when I first met her.” Takashi agreed with him, which baffled Natsuhiko even more. “She didn’t show any gap or weakness, just like how the strongest delinquent should act. But then she met someone, and she…” Takashi glanced at my direction. “…changed.”

I felt a mixture of shock, embarrassment, and joy at Takashi’s unexpected words. Even someone like Takashi noticed how much Sakuya had changed after we met. It made me happy that I wasn’t the only one who changed and grew from our encounter. That thought fueled my desire to keep staying by Sakuya’s side.

“Now, Kagura-san knows she’s not perfect, yet she uses it as her strength.” Takashi continued. “She relies on us, both as her subordinates and her friends. It makes us want to support her even more. That’s why I don’t want to let her disappear just like this. It’s not just me—everyone else also thinks the same!” His voice grew heated as Takashi voiced what was in our hearts.

Natsuhiko fell silent, seeming like he was contemplating Takashi’s words.

At the end, he finally opened his mouth. “…I understand why you all admire her so much. But I still hate her guts, so I won’t help you. You’ve wasted your words.” Natsuhiko said coldly.

Takashi’s expression fell at his brother’s rejection. Hiiro and Ouji started to move forward, undoubtedly ready to make Natsuhiko talk using force. But before they could do it, I quickly spoke up.

“It’s the Student Council Vice-President, right?”

Upon hearing that, Natsuhiko froze.

I slowly approached him as I continued, “Kikuchi has another collaborator inside Sakurasaki, and that person is the Student Council Vice-President, Tachibana Marika. Am I right?”

Natsuhiko looked at me for the first time since I stepped into the room. Shock and confusion filled his black eyes.

“If you already knew that, then why are you asking me? Unless…” Natsuhiko gradually regained his senses. “…you’re not absolutely sure, so you baited me into confirming it?”

I simply smiled at him. “Thank you for your cooperation, Natsuhiko. You guys, let’s go back to school. I think I know where to get our next lead.”

*****

“Okay, what was all that about?” Hiiro demanded the moment we got out from Takashi’s house.

“How did you know it was the Vice-President?” Ouji added.

“And what the hell is actually going on here?” Takashi joined in, but none of us paid him any attention.

“Look, I’ll explain as we walk.” I suggested.

We headed back toward the school as I told them how I bumped into Marika yesterday, how she acted strangely as if she was feeling guilty, and how it led me to the conclusion that the Kagura Family had gotten Sakuya back. Yet when I confronted her today, she acted as if she knew nothing. However, she implicitly promised that she would confess if we had solid evidence of her relation with the Kagura Family. That’s where Natsuhiko’s words would play its role.

“Wait, what?! Kagura-san is related to that Kagura Family?!” Takashi cried out in shock when he heard my story, but once again, we ignored him.

“I see…if she’s really a spy from the Kagura Family, then we’ll have a chance to figure out where Sakuya-chan is.” Hiiro nodded in satisfaction.

“We’ll immediately go there and take her back.” Ouji quietly said, his voice full of resolve.

For once, I didn’t try to argue or stop them. Even knowing how reckless it was, I didn’t want to hold myself back anymore. I’d do whatever it took to meet Sakuya again, and tell her all of my feelings—my anger, my sadness, my longing for her, everything.

Once we got to school, we found Marika in the Student Council room.

To be exact, I kind of barged into the room and told her, “Natsuhiko has spoken to us.”

I completely ignored Yuuki and the rest of the Student Council members, who were looking at me as if I’d gone crazy.

Upon hearing that, Marika wore a bitter smile and agreed to come with me.

“Really…you’re really resembling Kagura-san more and more these days, Shiba-kun.” Marika sighed as we entered the delinquent’s usual classroom. “I never imagined you’d come barging into the Student Council room like that.”

“Marika-senpai, just tell us the truth.” I cut her short and glared at her. “Since you’re working with Kikuchi, then you’re a member of the Kagura Family, right?”

Marika smiled sadly. “Natsuhiko told you, huh? Yes, that’s right. Although distant, I’m still related to those people.”

“Wait a minute, can someone tell me what’s actually going on here?” Takashi tried to speak up again, only to be ignored by us.

“Was she really taken back by the Kagura Family? Or is she still on the loose?” I asked with hopeful eyes, even though I already guessed the answer.

Marika lowered her gaze. “…I called them myself.” She whispered bitterly. “And I saw them taking her away. She didn’t resist at all…because she has chosen her fate for herself.”

Hearing it from Marika made my chest throb with pain. I could imagine Sakuya willingly stepped back into the hell that she left two years ago just for her friends’ sake.

“Why didn’t you stop her?!” Unable to hold himself back, Hiiro shouted at Marika. “You also hated that family enough that you hid Sakuya-chan’s existence ever since she came here, right?! Then why did you let her do that?!”

“Hiiro, it’s not her fault!” I tried to stop him, even though I wanted to scream the exact same thing at Marika.

“You think I didn’t try?!” Marika raised her face, with eyes burning in anger. “You think I’d happily let those people get her just like that?! I tried to stop her! I tried persuading her to think it over! But she wouldn’t stop! Because she had to protect all of you!”

That last sentence hit us real hard. It felt like I suddenly couldn’t breathe, as I was choked with guilt.

“…damn it!” Hiiro turned around and kicked the nearest desk to vent his anger.

“Then where is she now?” Ouji took over the conversation. “You know where Kagura-san is, right?”

Marika sighed and nursed her temple. “It’s useless. You won’t ever be able to get her back, even if I told you.”

“We’ll take care of that, so you just need to tell us.” Ouji insisted.

“You better stop before you attempt anything stupid.” Marika stared piercingly at him. She looked completely different from her usual refined and gentle demeanor. “The Kagura Family isn’t weak enough be beaten by a bunch of high school kids, and they’re not merciful enough to let anyone who tried so stay alive.”

“Even so, we want to see Sakuya-san again.” I stepped forward. “It’s fine even if it’s impossible. We’ll think of a way to take her back. But we can’t move forward if we don’t know where she is. Marika-senpai, please tell us.” I lowered my head to her. “Please help us save Sakuya-san.”

For a moment, Marika fell silent. “…please raise your head, Shiba-kun. I don’t want you to put yourself in danger and risk everything that Kagura-san has done. But if you insist…I’ll tell you.” She finally said.

*****

Once Marika had given us the location of Kagura Family’s main house and ample warnings for us to be careful, we decided to go there the next morning. Since Asano had announced that we’d start at our new schools in one week, we need to move fast to tackle this matter.

“…so, it’s settled.” I nodded, brimming with determination.

Ouji and Hiiro nodded back. We all wore the same grim, resolved expression as if we were heading toward a battlefield.

When we were about to leave the classroom and head home, the person who had been ignored for the whole time suddenly stood in our path.

“As if everything is settled just like that!” Takashi yelled at us indignantly. “Stop ignoring me and tell me what happened! I’m also worried about Kagura just like all of you!”

“No, it’s too dangerous.” I rejected him flatly. “If possible, I’d like if you keep everything you hear just now a secret. I don’t want to drag everyone into this problem.”

“Ryuu is right.” Hiiro supported me. “We’re the ones who can’t forget about Sakuya-chan, so we’re going to take this risk and get her back. If you stay quiet, I won’t say a single thing about the embarrassing collection of loli girls in your computer.”

Takashi instantly paled. “Wha—?! How did you know…?! No, even so, I still won’t back down!” He hurriedly collected his composure. “I admit that you three are the closest to Kagura-san! But that doesn’t mean we don’t miss her as well! We’re also delinquents that followed Kagura Sakuya!” Takashi declared.

I exchanged worried glances with Hiiro. I got where he was coming from, but I couldn’t guarantee that we’d be able to survive this unscathed.

“And besides, I’m not the only one who knows about this!” Takashi pulled out his phone, which was constantly connected in a call to someone.

The next instant, the classroom’s door slid open and all of the delinquents flooded inside. At the forefront was Kazu, who was holding his phone with an apologetic smile.

“We’ve heard everything.” Kazu said calmly. “And we’re coming with you.”

“Wha—Since when?!” I swirled toward Takashi, who was looking rather pleased with himself for successfully fooling us.

“Before I entered my brother’s room, I contacted Kazu for help and he told me to keep the call connected the entire time.” Takashi revealed proudly.

Hiiro chuckled in helpless manner. “You guys certainly got us there. But this is no laughing matter.” He turned serious. “We’re talking about the Kagura Family. If things went poorly, we all might never come back from there.”

“We know.” This time, Touma emerged from among the delinquents. “And we know that the same risk applies to you three. Yet, you still decided that it’s worth the risk. We all feel the same way about Kagura-san. She’s our Banchou, and we’ll get her back no matter what we have to do.”

All around him, the delinquents nodded empathically. Not a single one of them were cowed by Kagura Family’s name, despite knowing well how terrifying that family could be.

“Still…” I hesitated.

“Isn’t it fine?” Ouji suddenly spoke up.

We all looked at him in surprise.

“Kazu is right, we’re all subordinates of Kagura-san. If they truly want to come with us and save her, no one has the right to stop them. As Kagura-san’s second-in-command, I’ll welcome all the help I can get.” Ouji said.

Somehow, he seemed more mature than his usual hotblooded and reckless self. I was starting to appreciate his maturity when I caught Ouji’s whisper to himself.

“Having more meat shields when charging into the enemy’s stronghold will be useful.”

“Senpai…please keep that thought for yourself.” I stared at him coldly.

In the end, we all agreed that we would take anyone who wanted to go with us to the Kagura Family’s main house. Not a single delinquent backed down when we asked them, even Delinquent A and B.

As I looked around at the delinquents, I quietly let out a small whisper.

“Sakuya-san…we won’t let you fight on your own any longer.”