Serpent's Young Master

Seated within the plush confines of a black booth, Akari found himself in a private room of a nightclub with Naoki and Ryoichi. Sitting across from them was Shinji, his attention absorbed by a crimson drink held within an ornate glass, resting atop a sleek black marble oval table positioned between them.

The ambient lighting, subdued and artfully placed, cast alluring shadows across his features as he leaned back into the cushioned seat. A sense of ease radiated from him, manifested through a casual posture that conveyed both relaxation and confidence.

With one leg crossed over the other, Shinji’s hands lay atop each other on the table. His fingers were intertwined in a firm yet composed clasp with the glass of his drink nestled between them.

The dim lighting lent an air of seductive mystique to the surroundings, while well-placed spotlights selectively illuminated certain areas of the room. The dark-tinted glass doors offered a protective barrier against prying gazes, fostering a feeling of intimacy in the midst of the vibrant energy that coursed through the club.

“So…” Akari gathered his thoughts before starting. “You’re the Viper gang’s young master…”

“Mmhmm.” A subtle nod accompanied Shinji’s response, his lips curling around the rim of the glass as he took a measured sip from his drink.

“You’re also Himeko’s older brother…”

“That’s right,”

“Our young master’s time is precious,” Naoki stated, crossing his arms as he tapped his foot impatiently. “You better spit out why we’re here before I get rid of all of you.”

“Naoki…” Ryoichi hissed at his friend to calm down.

“It’s a bit too loud in here. Why don’t we talk elsewhere?” Shinji rose from his seat, signaling Akari to follow him toward a tinted glass door. The three gangsters behind them began to stand, but as Akari moved to exit, the two guards barred the way for Naoki and Ryoichi.

“Just Akari,” Shinji noted with a smile.

“Why just Akari?” Naoki questioned with a hostile tone.

“I need to speak with him in private,” Shinji responded. “You two should wait here until then.”
“But—” Ryoichi attempted to interject but was swiftly cut off.

“Ryoichi, it’s fine,” Akari reassured him. After a hesitant pause, Ryoichi gave a concerned nod.

Shinji made sure Akari was following him and before he led Akari to another door that led outside. As they stepped onto a dark balcony, they were greeted by the city's bustling traffic, a sea of lights and sounds below them. The gentle breeze tousled Akari's hair as he observed Shinji leaning against the railing, gazing out at the lively scene

“I heard about the aquarium hangout you guys had today. How was it?” Shinji inquired, breaking the silence. “It’s a shame I couldn’t be there.”

“What do you want with me?” Akari cut to the chase, ignoring Shinji’s question.

“You know, it was surprising to hear that you invited another girl to come along,” Shinji continued. “I would have thought you weren’t interested in that sort of stuff.”

“Shinji, did you invite me here just to ask about the hangout?” Akari’s patience was waning.

“No no, of course not,” Shinji sighed, his smile betraying a more complex agenda. He turned to face Akari. “But the two matters are related.”
“The aquarium is related to what you want to talk about?” Akari's skepticism was palpable. Shinji offered a nonchalant shrug before pausing thoughtfully.

“I heard that you’re going out with that girl,” Shinji stated. “I must admit, it was quite the shock. Young Master Akari Inmura of the Tiger gang dating a civilian? It’s almost unbelievable. What was her name again? Ayano?”

Akari’s unease grew as Shinji insinuated more than he was letting on. “Whatever you're after, keep her out of it. As you said, she’s not involved in our world; she shouldn’t be dragged into it.”

“My, you’re rather defensive,” Shinji observed, a chuckle accompanying his words. “But why? After all, she’s not truly your girlfriend, is she, ‘Aki’?” A smirk played on his lips, catching Akari off guard as Shinji unveiled two secrets he had guarded closely.

“How do you know all of that—” Akari started, only to be silenced as Shinji raised a hand.

“Don’t worry, I don’t intend to spill the beans to Himeko or drag Ayano into our dealings,” Shinji reassured before resting his hand on his chin. “Though, it seems that the girl has gotten more involved than expected.”

“What do you want?” Akari gritted his teeth, clearly aware that Shinji was attempting to manipulate him. “You’re not against the arranged marriage so why are you concealing this from your friends?”

“I just want you to get along with my sister,” Shinji’s smile remained, though it held an air of complexity. “I don't want things to get messy and that means keeping everyone in the dark.”

“You want me to date her,” Akari surmised.

“You can interpret ‘getting along’ however you'd like,” Shinji clarified. “Just don't leave her hanging.”

“You’re planning something,” Akari observed. “You’re not telling me what you really want from me? It could make things easier for you.”

“I have no plans,” Shinji sighed, exasperation blending with his smile as he turned to face Akari closely. “As I said, I just want you to build a connection with Himeko.” He stepped closer, their faces inches apart. “Would you prefer things to get complicated instead?”

“No…” Akari admitted. “No, I wouldn't.”

“Great, then!” Shinji moved away, returning to the door with a hand in his pocket. “Sounds like we have a deal, Akari.”

“It's starting to sound more like a one-sided arrangement,” Akari murmured under his breath as the conversation concluded.

“Akari, are you alright?!” Ryoichi’s voice trembled with concern, his eyes glistening as the two young masters returned. The guards made way for Ryoichi and Naoki, allowing them to exit the room.

“Yes, I’m quite alright, Ryoichi. You don’t have to worry,” A faint smile graced Akari’s lips as he reassured the distressed repairman, his gaze locking onto Ryoichi’s watery eyes. In a sudden gesture, Ryoichi drew close to Akari, his protective embrace resembling that of a guardian cherishing their precious child.

As they left, Naoki bumped his shoulder against one of the guards, all the while, his gaze fixed suspiciously on Shinji. In response, the leader of the Viper gang offered Naoki a serene smile, a mask of calmness.

“Let’s go home, Akari,” Naoki glared at the Viper members before standing close to his young master, his presence a reassuring shield around Akari. Closely guarding Akari, the three Tiger gang members made their way out of the nightclub.

Before descending down the stairs, Akari’s gaze lingered for a fleeting moment on Shinji, who sat nonchalantly, taking a sip from his glass. A sly smirk played upon his lips, a silent acknowledgment of the game they found themselves entangled in.

When Akari finally returned to the sanctuary of his home, his weariness had reached its peak. The day’s enigmatic events lingered in his thoughts, casting a peculiar shadow over his mind. Akari just wanted to go to bed and forget about his problems for now.

As Akari slid the door to his room open, he was taken aback by the soft light spilling out. Midnight was drawing near—had Ayano really not gone to sleep yet? Upon entering, his gaze was drawn to a desk lamp, its gentle illumination painting the dim room in a delicate glow.

On the couch, Ayano was in a deep slumber, a book resting on her chest. She appeared to have dozed off accidentally, still dressed in her daytime attire rather than changing into her night clothes. With a gradual pace, Akari approached and softly nudged her shoulder.

“Ayano, wake up,” he whispered. Slowly, Ayano let out a soft groan as her eyelids fluttered open. A faint smile graced her drowsy face as her eyes landed on Akari’s face.

“Ah… it’s Aki…” She giggled.

“Why are you sleeping on the couch?” He asked.

“I was waiting for you to return,” Ayano mumbled, her voice barely audible.

“You didn’t have to wait,” Akari remarked. “You should have just headed to bed.”

“I was worried,” Ayano admitted, her lips forming a slight pout.

“Come on, it’s not comfortable to sleep on the couch,” Akari leaned in slightly, extending his hand to help her up. However, as he leaned, Ayano unexpectedly wrapped her arms around him and pulled him towards her, her mind still foggy with sleep.

Caught off guard, Akari struggled to steady himself, his arms pressing against the couch cushions to prevent toppling over onto Ayano. Their faces ended up mere inches apart, their gazes locking in an intimate exchange.