Unexpected Events

 “Misha was assaulted.”

The words had left Akari speechless as time seemed to freeze around him. Naoki’s explanations and details faded away into silence as Akari’s mind couldn’t process any of it. But after coming back to his senses, he quickly made up an excuse to his friends before heading toward the exit of the amusement park.

“Stay safe,” Ayano said with a caring tone, almost as if she could tell something was wrong.

As Naoki had said, Ryoichi’s arrival was swift, a matter of mere minutes following Akari’s departure from the amusement park.

The roar of his black motorcycle reverberated through the air, a thunderous crescendo that culminated in a screeching halt. Dark rubber left a black mark on the road’s surface, an inky line etched in haste.

Before any utterance could escape Ryoichi’s lips, he shed his gray helmet, propelling it across the space toward Akari. Caught off guard by Ryoichi’s urgency, Akari clumsily caught the helmet between his hands.

It felt so unfamiliar to see Ryoichi in such a serious and rushed state. His tied hair was disheveled and his leather jacket, typically worn with a casual confidence, was now hastily zipped up, its collar pushed against his neck as if shielding him from more than just the chilly night air.

“What are you waiting for? Let’s go.” Ryoichi snapped Akari out of his daze. Nodding, Akari donned the helmet before mounting the motorcycle’s rear as they sped off. The urban landscape streaked by in a blur as they maneuvered through the labyrinth of cars and accelerated onto the highway.

“There was a sudden assault on our gang,” Ryoichi shouted through the wind. “We were caught totally off guard. Misha was patrolling when the attack occurred.”

“Is she alright?” Akari’s voice struggled to be heard above the turbulence.

“I don’t know. I sent Naoki to help her,” Ryoichi responded, leaving Akari to ponder the myriad of possibilities as they raced through the city’s arteries. Had the Viper gang orchestrated this strike? Could anyone else have mounted such an audacious attack?

A sudden thought popped into Akari’s head. Himeko’s cryptic remarks about being home suddenly held a new meaning. Perhaps it was a preemptive measure to safeguard her from the turmoil, ensuring that their young lady wouldn’t be ensnared in the crossfire. Had Shinji orchestrated this assault all along?

As the two pulled up to the gates of their home, Ryoichi gestured for Akari to get off.

“Please be on your guard, Young Master Akari,” Ryoichi said as Akari returned his helmet. He tapped his foot impatiently while glancing around the area.

“Where are you going?” Akari asked before Ryoichi put on his helmet.

“To survey the area,” Ryoichi explained. “Please stay inside with the others before I return.”

The engine roared to life, and with an abrupt acceleration, Ryoichi vanished into the evening’s embrace. Left in solitude, Akari hastened indoors, a collision with Naoki in the hallway interrupting his thoughts. The usual mischievousness of the gangster had been replaced by an anxious restlessness, his pacing ceasing only as he took notice of Akari.

“How’s Misha?!” Akari asked, his words steeped in concern as they tumbled from his lips.

“Well…” Naoki glanced away. “I think you better see for yourself.”

Guiding Akari through the entrance to the backyard, the scene that unfolded before him was truly unexpected. Misha stood there, her blade raised in readiness, like a sentinel under the sunset. However, the picture was marred by a sharp contrast.

Instead of a clean white jacket, she was covered in red blood stains, showing a fight had taken place. The fabric had cuts, telling the story of the struggle. Misha diligently wiped her blood-covered katana with a red cloth, revealing its shining blade beneath the dripping blood. A closer look revealed that the blade itself had lost its clean look, like the jacket. It was supposed to be as clean as snow, but now it was dirty from the chaos that had happened.

“Young master, welcome back home,” she greeted him as she gave a quick bow.

“M-Misha,” Akari approached her carefully, making sure to keep a distance from the blade. Naoki stood behind Akari, his arms finding comfort on the young gangster’s shoulders, showing his nervousness. “Is everything okay?” His voice shook a bit, a mix of worry and fear.

“Most certainly,” she gave Akari a warm smile that sent shivers down his spine. “I’m sorry to have made you worry.”

“She’s been like this ever since she returned,” Naoki whispered into his ear. “She took out every single member who approached her. She’s… there’s no way she’s human.”

“Are you hurt?” Akari inquired as Misha lowered her blade. The usually unflinching gangster tried to conceal a wound by placing her hand over her chest, but her effort was in vain. Akari could still discern her injury.

“I’m fine, young master,” she lied with a smile.

“Who did this?” Akari questioned as he retrieved a bandage from the first aid kit resting on a round glass table.

“I can’t say for certain,” Misha responded. “They bore serpent tattoos, but they lacked the training that I typically observe among their gang members.”

“Probably rookies,” Naoki chimed in, his voice laced with disdain. Akari carefully affixed the bandage to Misha’s side while piecing his clues together.

“So it was them…” He confirmed his suspicions.

“I’m sorry to have made you worry,” Misha calmly stated. She glanced down and tugged at her torn black skirt. Luckily, she had a pair of shorts underneath. “What a shame. I'll need to buy a new one.”

“I’ll join you then!” Naoki popped out from behind Akari, his mood shifting back to his flirty self. Without missing a beat, Misha struck up her katana, holding it in a straight line in front of her directed at Naoki. The mischievous gangster froze in place as the blade rested just barely under his chin.

“No need,” Misha’s words, though casual, were filled with authority. “Ryoichi will be coming with me.”

“Speaking of Ryoichi, where is he?” Akari glanced around the premises. Almost like it was planned, the distant sound of a black motorcycle reached them. It sped past the gates and headed into the backyard before stopping. Taking off his helmet, Ryoichi brushed his messy hair back and tied it into a small ponytail.

“The perimeter is safe. We shouldn’t have any troubles for the next few hours.” Ryoichi stated.

“W-welcome back, Ryoichi…”

“Misha, you’d better get cleaned up,” Ryoichi reminded her as he glanced at her bloodstained appearance. “She’s almost here.”

“Who's coming here?” Akari asked.

“Ayano’s mother has returned,” Misha explained before heading inside for a shower. “She’s here to take Ayano back home.

After Misha had changed clothes, the gangsters stood outside in the front yard waiting for their guest. Akari stood there nervously, unsure about the situation. He hadn’t heard anything about Ayano’s mother returning nor had he met the women either. Ayano was still returning with the others from the trip by train, meaning her mother would be here before her. Taking a deep breath, Akari prepared himself as the black limousine pulled up at the front gates.

As the car pulled to a stop, the back door opened and a lady with brown hair and a white suit stepped out with a few bags in her hands.

“Keiko!” Misha excitedly greeted her friend with a smile. Her transformation was palpable, like a chameleon shifting from a formidable gangster to the spirited demeanor of a carefree high school girl. Akari and Naoki immediately shared a knowing glance, frightened by her new personality.

“Misha, it’s so good to see you again!” The two friends shared a quick hug, their embrace speaking volumes of the bond they held. Engaging in light banter, they exchanged smiles that mirrored the joy of reuniting after a considerable time apart.

With a graceful gesture, Misha motioned toward the inviting abode that stood before them. “Please, come have a seat inside.”

Sitting at a low table, Akari and Ayano sat awkwardly across from each other. Ayano’s mother gently sipped some tea that Misha had prepared while sitting next to her daughter. Misha sat next to Akari.

“Keiko, how was your trip?” Misha asked with a friendly smile that Akari wasn’t familiar with seeing.

“It was just lovely, Misha,” Keiko let out a pleasant sigh. “I was lucky to have finished a few conference meetings early so I managed to view the sights.”

“That sounds terrific!”

“Oh, I almost forgot!” Keiko reached to her side and placed the bag on the table. “This is for you. Thank you for hosting my daughter.”

“My, you’re too kind,” Misha chuckled as she accepted the gift. “Thank you,”

Akari assumed the role of a silent observer, his gaze fixated on the interplay of the two women before him. As Ayano’s mother, Keiko, engaged in playful banter, his observations drew him into their world. With every exchange, he discerned the threads that tied mother and daughter together—the shared spark of playfulness, the radiance of their smiles. Keiko’s presence mirrored Ayano's in its vibrant charm.

His observations took an unexpected turn when he realized he had been caught in his discrete observation. Keiko’s gaze brushed over him like a gentle breeze and Akari gave a polite smile, putting on his friendly act.

“I don’t believe I’d had the pleasure of meeting this young gentleman here,” she said, giving Akari a warm smile. Fumbling slightly, Akari gave a quick awkward bow.

“I’m Akari Inmura,” he introduced himself. The mother placed a hand on her cheek, intrigued.

“Oh? You’re Akari? You’re the boy my daughter’s dating?” The statement landed like a bombshell, leaving Akari momentarily speechless. He opened his mouth to offer a correction but then remembered Misha’s presence and the need to maintain appearances. His cheeks burned with embarrassment, and he lowered his head in a subtle nod of affirmation.

Keiko’s attention shifted back to Misha with a pleasant sigh. “Youngsters these days. Isn’t it lovely?”

“Lovely, sure,” Misha said halfheartedly.

“Ah, are you still by yourself?” Keiko asked, her voice carrying an undertone of teasing familiarity. “I’d thought you would have gotten together with little Ryo already—”

“That’s none of your business,” Misha interrupted, partially returning to her stolid self. Keiko giggled before letting out a sigh.

“Still the same shy Misha.”

The door gilded open, its movement disrupting the flow of conversation. Ayano was standing in the doorway, just having returned from her trip. Her eyes widened with a mixture of surprise and disbelief as they fell upon the woman seated before her. At that moment, time seemed to hang suspended as Ayano processed the unexpected sight.

As her mother’s gaze locked onto Ayano, a brilliant smile blossomed on her face. The very sight of her daughter seemed to fill her with a rush of joy and she rushed up from her seat.

“Hello, Ayano! It’s been too long!” The woman tightly squeezed Ayano in a close embrace.

“M-mom?!”