Side Story - Kazuya and Shiori (4)

Two days after I’d made up with Kazuya, he once again vanished from the classroom. But this time, he made sure to leave me a message, telling me that he had an urgent mission and wouldn’t come back to school for at least another week.

On one hand, I was glad that Kazuya had opened up enough to tell me about the other side of himself—the heir-to-the-yakuza-family side. But it didn’t make me less worry that he’d injure himself again in his dangerous missions.

“Haa…” I let out a long sigh for the umpteenth time, which didn’t escape Aya and Kenshou’s attention as we were having lunch together.

“If I’m given one Yen for every time you sigh, I’d be filthy rich at this point, Shiori-chan.” Kenshou teased me as he munched on the yakisoba bread bought from the school store.

“Shiori, are you still worried about Kagura-kun? Didn’t you say that he’s messaged you already?” Aya asked, peering at me with genuine concern.

“A-Ah, yes, he did. But as expected, I’m still a little worried.” I tried to smile like usual, but my cheeks felt stiff at the attempt—it made my smile look as insincere as I felt on the inside.

“You really are in love with him, aren’t you, Shiori-chan?” Kenshou smirked when his words sent my cheeks blushing furiously.

“S-Sshh!! Kenshou-kun, what are you talking about?!” I desperately tried to silence him, but it only triggered his mischievous streak.

“Shiori-chan, it’s useless to try and silence me now. After all, everyone in class already knew about it at this point.” Kenshou gestured toward our classmates, who blatantly averted their eyes when our eyes met.

I buried my face in my hands, desperately wishing that I could hide in a hole somewhere.

“I mean, it’s not like you tried to hide it, though. Everyone can see how different you are when Kazuya’s around or not.” Kenshou continued, nonchalantly dealing more damage to my psyche with the embarrassing truth.

“Argh, enough, enough! I know that without you having to point it out!” I interrupted Kenshou in a fluster. My cheeks felt like they were on fire now.

“They say a maiden in love is the most beautiful, so you’ll definitely succeed, Shiori.” Aya gazed at me with such warm looks that it made me squirm.

“Thanks, Aya…but I’ve been in love with him for so long and he hasn’t noticed at all. It sure made me lose my confidence.” I smiled weakly.

“Then, how about we go to a beauty salon after school?” Aya suggested. “If we give you a big make-over before Kagura-kun comes back, he’ll be pleasantly surprised and start seeing you in a different light.”

“Ohh, it’s like a summer debut! That might work!” Kenshou chimed in excitedly. “I’m coming too, okay? To give reference from a man’s point of view, of course!”

I laughed, unable to deny the warmth that I felt from the two’s relentless support. “Okay, let’s go get some make-over today after school.” I agreed.

Once the last period ended, the three of us made our way to the nearest beauty salon. It wasn’t the first time we walked home together. I always walked home together with Aya in the first place, and Kenshou started joining us recently.

“Speaking of which, Kenshou-kun, why did you suddenly try to get closer to Kazuya-kun?” I spoke up as we walked through a rarely known shortcut that passed through a quiet residential area.

I realized that this question was rather late in the game, since Kenshou had joined our group for a few months, but I still couldn’t figure out the reason. He always popped in whenever me and Aya talked with Kazuya, although he himself didn’t particularly go out of his way to befriend Kazuya like I did.

“Eh? Are you being suspicious of me, Shiori-chan? I’m hurt, you know!” Kenshou, who was walking ahead of us, turned back and pretended to hold his chest, as if he was in pain.

I pouted at his accusation. “You know that’s not what I mean!”

Kenshou laughed pleasantly. “I know, I know. I’m just messing with you. To tell the truth, there’s someone I want to get closer with, no matter what.” He furtively glanced toward Aya before continuing, “And most importantly, don’t you just want to boast that you’re friends with the heir to the infamous Kagura Family?” He grinned mischievously.

“Well…yeah, I can’t deny that.” I smiled wryly.

Ever since I started talking to Kazuya intimately in public, I’d never been harassed again. They were probably scared that I’d tattle to him, who’s more than capable of disposing people like they were merely insects.

“Huh, who is this person you want to get closer with, Hagiwara-kun?” Aya chimed in with innocent curiosity.

Struck by the billion-dollar question from the most unexpected person, Kenshou visibly became flustered. “A-Ah…that’s…ahaha…” He laughed evasively.

“I’m quite curious, you know—”

Before Aya could finish her sentence, I pulled her closer so that she wouldn’t collide into the man walking past us.

However, instead of staying on his track, the man shifted closer toward us. As a result, he bumped into Aya and sent her tumbling down like she’d hit a wall.

“Ouch!”

“Aya! Are you okay?!” I quickly helped her sit up before glaring at the man. “Hey, what’s your problem—?!”

The next second, the man’s hand seized my wrist and yanked me upward, nearly lifting my feet off the ground.

“Akh…!” I winced from the pain.

“Hey, what are you doing?!” Kenshou belatedly noticed the odd situation and quickly ran back to us.

But before he could reach us, he was blocked by another man who suddenly showed up. The big-built man shoved Kenshou, sending him flying back.

“Kenshou-kun…!” I screamed in terror. “Who the hell are you people?!”

“Is she the one?” The man who’d shoved Kenshou asked the other person.

The man holding my wrist leaned closer to examine my face. “Yeah, she looks like the one from the picture. We’ve got the right girl, Yagi-san.” The man reported.

“Good. Let’s finish this quickly, before someone comes here.” Yagi nodded. “Take the girl and kill the other two.”

At his order, two more men walked out from their hiding spot. Each one of them was more muscular than the other, exuding a similar sense of intimidation that I felt from Kazuya before.

My eyes widened as I realized that this was the kind of danger Kazuya was talking about before. Judging from their lack of hesitation to commit kidnapping and murder in broad daylight, they were clearly a part of powerful yakuza group. I’d like to believe that they weren’t a member of Kagura Family, but at this point, I wasn’t sure on anything.

The only thing that I was sure about was that they’d kill Aya and Kenshou if I did nothing.

One of the men grabbed the petrified Aya, while the other went to deal with Kenshou. I opened my mouth to scream, to get help from someone, anyone.

“He—hmmph!”

“Be quiet or you’ll get hurt!” The man clamped his hand over my mouth and threatened me in low voice.

“Hurt? Not killed?” I glanced at my kidnapper with calculating gaze. “Does that mean…?”

My thought was interrupted by a loud yell as Kenshou hurled himself toward Yagi. The man was caught off-guard and he hit the ground quite hard. Before the other men could react, Kenshou lunged toward the man holding Aya. He punched the man squarely on the face, causing his hold on Aya to loosen.

“This brat got a death wish! Get him!” Yagi screamed angrily.

“Run, Aya!” Kenshou grabbed Aya and pushed her out from the encirclement. “Hurry up and escape!” He shouted.

“B-But…I-I can’t…I can’t possibly…” Aya stood with trembling body, her eyes darted anxiously between me and Kenshou.

“Go and get us help!” Kenshou shouted again as he desperately dodged the men’s angry attacks. “We’re counting on you, Aya!”

That sentence snapped Aya out of her trance. She bit her lips and nodded with determined look on her face before running away as fast as possible.

“Yagi-san, one of them escaped!” One of the men reported, just as Yagi managed to catch Kenshou.

“Tch! Leave her be, no one will believe that little girl anyway!” Yagi said while twisting Kenshou’s arm behind him, producing a terrible cracking sound.

“AGH!!!” Kenshou screamed in pain as his shoulder was forcibly dislocated.

“Stop it!!” I struggled against the man holding me and managed to get his hand off my mouth. “Stop hurting him, or I’ll bite my tongue and die!”

Hearing that, all four men stopped and looked toward me. I flinched under the pressure of their hostile gaze, but I swallowed my fear and tried to look brave.

“You don’t want to kill me immediately, right?! Let Kenshou-kun go, and I’ll come with you obediently! If you don’t, I’ll bite my tongue and kill myself! I’m not bluffing!” I threatened them.

Those men looked at each other with confused gaze.

“…what should we do, Yagi-san?”

Finally they turned toward the most senior among them.

Yagi glanced at Kenshou, who had passed out from the pain, and shrugged his shoulders. “Well, it doesn’t really matter to us whether you die now or later, but the order is for you to die painfully after all. Fine, we’ll leave the brat here. Take her to the van.” He ordered.

Before I could process Yagi’s words, I was dragged into a van and my sight was plunged into total darkness.

*****

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city…

I was perched on a tall tree, hidden under the shadow of its thick foliage. My eyes intently watched the security details of the big house in front of me. It seemed like another rich people’s house, but hidden inside were members of Shiromiya Family. To be exact, it was the headquarter for their infiltrating team.

After receiving my father’s order, I quickly investigated that family. Apparently, the eldest son of Shiromiya’s family head was sent to spearhead the infiltration mission. He didn’t bring as many people with him, since secrecy was of utmost importance. Once I found out his hiding place, the rest was easy. I just needed to slip inside and slaughter all of their executives. An army that had lost its head wouldn’t be able to do anything.

I snapped into attention when I spotted a blind-spot in their security. Quickly, without a single sound, I leapt from the tree and landed on the house’s roof. Before anyone noticed my movement, I slipped down to the ground and hid myself behind the bushes.

I was about to move inside when my ears caught the sound of footsteps approaching, accompanied by the chattering voice of people talking. I quieted my breath and tucked myself lower behind the bush.

Snap!

I stiffened as I accidentally broke a twig on the ground. The two people approaching also heard the same sound and stopped walking.

“What’s that sound? Did you hear that?” A man’s voice, still quite young, rang not far from where I was hiding.

“I heard that too, but it’s probably just a stray cat, Young Master.” An older man was heard reassuring the younger one.

“A cat?” The so-called young master, most probably the eldest son of Shiromiya Family, scoffed. “Do you think our family’s guards are so inept that they’d let a cat strayed into such heavily guarded house?”

“Yeah, actually they are.” I retorted internally.

“Maybe we should sweep the perimeter. It’s better to be careful than getting the rug pulled from under our feet by those Kagura bastards.” The young master suggested.

I silently cursed my bad luck and took out my dagger. If they swept the perimeter now, they’d inevitably found me. Should I risk it and take the initiative to launch an attack now? At least I’d be able to get the eldest son’s head, so that should lessen their momentum somewhat.

The only downside to that plan was Kagura Family might lose their heir instead.

Just as I steeled myself to take the chance, the bush right next to me suddenly rustled. The next second, a stray cat jumped out into the open. The cat regarded the two people fearlessly before meowing, as if greeting them.

“…huh. It really is a cat.” The eldest son sounded amused.

“That’s what I’ve told you, Young Master.” His subordinate whined.

I quietly let out a relieved sigh as those two resumed their steps. Just before their footsteps faded out—

Bzzt…bzzt…

I once again cursed my luck as my phone vibrated at the most inopportune moment. I quickly rejected the call and pricked my ears for the sound of their footsteps. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to hear the vibration.

I intended to ignore the call, since I was still deep within enemy’s territory and it wouldn’t do for me to get caught just because I got distracted by my phone. Then again, no one in the family ever called me when I was in the middle of my mission, except for any emergency issues.

After conflicting whether to call back or not, I finally decided to check the caller first.

“Huh…? Kugisaki?” I was surprised to see Shiori’s best friend’s name on the screen.

I didn’t know when Shiori had registered her friend’s number on my phone, and for what purpose, but it was clear that we never had any contact outside of Shiori.

“I wonder what happened?” I mumbled as I discreetly called her back. “Hello, Kugisaki? Sorry, but I’m in the middle of something—”

“Kagura-kun, help!!!”

That one sentence stole all of my attention. I sat up, momentarily forgetting everything around me.

“What’s wrong?” An ominous foreboding sense crept up my spine as I nervously waited for her reply.

“We, we were attacked! There’s many big men that suddenly popped up, then they caught Shiori and Hagiwara-kun, and…and…”

“Kugisaki, calm down and take a deep breath.” I interrupted, since her story didn’t quite make any sense. “Then repeat it again, this time slowly.”

“W-We don’t have time for that!” Unexpectedly, Aya yelled back at me. “Shiori is in danger! Those men are probably yakuzas, and—”

At that sentence, something clicked inside my mind.

“…Kazami, that bastard.” I clenched my fist tightly, cursing myself over my carelessness. “Kugisaki, don’t worry. I’ll go and save her, so keep yourself safe. Trust me.”

I could hear the sound of Aya sniffling, but at least she had calmed down somehow. “…alright. Please save Shiori, Kagura-kun.”

I ended the call and roughly shoved the phone back into my pocket. All of my plans to assassinate the Shiromiya Family had evaporated from my mind, replaced with cold, chilling anger toward my backstabbing, ruthless father.

“Just you wait, you bastard.” I muttered in dark voice. “I’ll definitely make you pay for this.”

I started to stand, only to be assaulted with a hail of bullets from all directions.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

“They’ve found me, huh…!” I quickly leapt away and kept moving irregularly to dodge the bullets.

Just as I thought that I’d dodged every last one of them, a different gunshot rang out and a bullet found its way to my right leg.

BANG!

“Akh…!” I grimaced in pain and tumbled on the ground.

“We’ve got him! He can’t go anywhere with that leg!” The eldest son’s voice reached my ears. “Capture him and make him spill everything!” He ordered his subordinates.

I forced myself to stand up, using a nearby tree as support. I took out a small gun as I eyed the yakuzas surrounding me. They were armed with knives, katana, and other close-range weapons, perhaps because the naïve young master ordered them not to kill me yet. That young master was standing on the house’s terrace, barking orders at his subordinates.

I grinned fiercely despite the harsh situation. It seemed that I had no choice but to finish my initial mission before going to save Shiori.

“Wait for me, Shiori…”

I raised my gun and pulled the trigger at the same time, cleanly reaping the eldest son’s life in one shot.

“…I’ll definitely come and save you!”