#10: An Old Friend

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There, I stand. The morning shower drenching me. I was alone. I was alone at the graveyard. The pigment of the roses I bought slowly fading away. My tears are barely visible, as the rain let my hair down. After what felt like years, I manage to break the silence and finally utter the words I've been holding back. “Happy Birthday, Yoshi.” I say, dropping the roses down, before quickly walking away. Finally, I broke down. He can't see me like that. I can't let him see me like that. As much as I wanted him to say.. “Thanks, Megumi.” or see him smile. It never happened and it will never happen. He's gone. “See you later.” I mutter, leaving him there.
..
“So then she told him—” Leo continued his rant to us. I honestly don't understand why we're talking about this when our home, basically, is like in pieces. But I'll overlook it, since Megumi hasn't even commented about it yet. I lose track of my thoughts by laughter, which I soon join in. Everyone laughed together; Everyone.. except Megumi. He was in his own world, not adding a single word to the conversation. He peered through the window of the diner, Chihiro brought us to, silent. The weather was blue. Downpour yelled loudly from outside. I quickly glance and see Chihiro and Leo talking with each other, before nudging Megumi. Finally, he broke out of his thinking. He turned to me, a tear slowly dripping onto his seat, before he immediately wiped away the water from his face.
“Are you alright..?” I mouth to Megumi. He nodded, before turning back to the window. He was clearly lying. I'll ask him later. I turn back to the others, as the laughter comes to a halt. Leo turns to Megumi, calling out to him, “What do you think, Megumi?” Chihiro followed Leo, eagerly waiting for his answer. Megumi looked at the two, considering his words carefully. He then changed to his usual uninterested expression, “I don't care,” he replied.
“Moving on. Let's talk about something crucial now. Chihiro, what the hell happened while we were gone?” Megumi added, resting his head on his fist, staring at Chihiro. She placed down her cup of tea, which she held earlier, and turned to everyone. “Well.. everyone wanted to surprise you and Rin.. so we set up those ruined decorations you saw,” She said, shifting her sight to me. “Then, that Kira.. he's— he..” Cutting herself off, abruptly. Instantly, all three of us went on the edge. “What did he do, Chihiro?” Megumi asked, freezing completely. Soon, she realised the deeper meanings her words could've been mistaken for. She widened her eyes, chuckling nervously, “No, no. He didn't hurt me. He just.. um.. he ruined all the pretty decorations.” Soon, one by one, we all let down our guards. I sigh to myself softly, focusing back onto the conversation at hand. 
“Then what?” I replied, eagerly waiting for Chihiro to bring up the fact that he was searching for me. “Him and a few other lackeys took down all the posters and just.. destroyed everything. Then.. he asked for you, Rin,” Chihiro returned the stare, a more worried expression spread across her face. “Why would he do that?” Megumi stared at me, followed by Leo. “Tell him, Rin.” Leo interjected, his expression becoming more serious. “All I did was beat his ass—” I announced, sighing. “Who knew he would hold a grudge.” Megumi groaned, cupping his face into his hands. “Megumi. They were members of Golden Lion,” Chihiro finished. Megumi lifted his head, his eyes enlarged. I turned to Megumi, raising an eyebrow. My eyes slowly shift to Leo, looking as dazed as me. Soon, Megumi burst out laughing. Very different from how he sobbed earlier. All three of us just sat there, waiting for him to stop and explain himself. “Um—” Leo cut in, as Megumi's guffaw ended. He wiped a tear, a joyful one this time, away, using the edge of his hand. “Leo,” he started, Leo raising his head in eagerness. “How long has it been since we've been in a fight with other gangs? Years! Now they actually see us as a threat. Because we have you,” He pointed at me, beaming widely. “Although I should see that as an insult, since I am technically Balladeer rank 4, but I digress,” He added. I ignored all Megumi said and only heard his last words.
“Wait, you're rank 4? Woah, there are ranks?” Obviously I'm confused. I'm new to all this. They can't just talk like I should know what's going on. Megumi sighed, before sitting straight up, “There are 10 Balladeers,” He began, using the toothpicks given as an example. “Each of us being picked out by Rumble Entertainment. It's not always balanced. You could find tons of Balladeers in one gang, or factions as we call it, if that's what happens. We're seen as the best of the best. Not necessarily the strongest, but just overall.. we're the best. That's it. Finally.. The ranks are also given by the Entertainment. They're numbered from ten to one. Think of one being the best and ten being the worst. In that ranking, I'm fourth. Not really boasting, but you can compliment me now,” He concluded his exposition, arrogantly shutting his eyes, with a cocky smirk. “Slap him,” Chihiro turned to me, now a serious expression on his face. “No, no! I'm kidding!” He yelled, throwing his hands around, as an attempt to shield himself. “Uh huh. Now why don't we go back to what we're to do,” I say, stealing one of Leo's biscuits that he'd been eating. “We're going to visit.. an old friend of mine,” He stood up, fixing his clothes. “Chihiro.. you are to remain at the warehouse. See that everyone is alright and try to.. repair the damages. Leo, Rin.. let's go,” Megumi yanked me up, pushing me out of the booth we'd been in. Leo stood up, doing the same. “Where are we going exactly?” Leo questioned, helping Chihiro out as well. “Told you already.. An old friend.” Megumi began pacing out the restaurant, as both Leo and I followed close behind.
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“We're here.” Megumi sighed, as we stood in front of a broken down and abandoned building. “Um.. think we've got the wrong address, bud-” Leo adds. How is it possible for him to still add humour to the situation? Who knows. “Hurry up.” Megumi yelled, as he walked through the rubble of the former office building. Swiftly after, we entered, staying close to Megumi. Leo trips at every hole, a different size to others. Of course, I'm forced to wait behind and help him. “Bro, we are going to get lost if you keep acting like an idiot,” I claim, pulling Leo back onto the larger rocks. “Whatever, man. I'm trying-” He sighed, continuing to walk. “We're almost there!” Megumi's voice echoing down the wrecked halls. Finally, we caught up to him, before we're suddenly met with.. “A dead end. Wow,” I say, turning my head to Megumi with absolute disappointment. “Shut up.” He replied, before approaching the wall and knocking on it thrice.
“You don't needa do that to get my attention, y'know?” An unfamiliar voice is heard from behind us. Megumi instantly turns around, grinning widely. He basically jumped towards the stranger, embracing him, like a brother. Quickly, Leo and I twist ourselves around to see a strange man. Megumi released him from the hug, eventually revealing his full body. He had his hair slicked back. Black with a white streak going through his down one strand of hair. I hadn't noticed, but Megumi has the exact same highlight. He was taller than Megumi and seemed around the same height as Miko. He had a scar going down his right eye and he basically revealed his ENTIRE cleavage to the world. What's with these people and showing off? Nonetheless, his body was built. Not as well as Miko or Megumi, but he'd beat the hell out of me. “Rin, Leo. This is my old friend. Isamu.” Megumi showed his biggest smile I've ever seen him do. Whoever this was, Megumi definitely adored him. “Rin and Leo. Nice to meet you.. I suppose,” Isamu, who is no longer a stranger, seemed to roll his eyes through his words. He made it so obvious that both Leo and I noticed. Him and I exchanged baffled looks, before Isamu broke the silence. “What brings you here then, ‘Yama?” Isamu blurts out, turning to Megumi. His arms rested on his hips. A nickname? A nickname for MEGUMI? I called him Megu once during that one month of getting to know each other and he threatened to just not teach me anymore. “Well.. if I remember you well, which I do, you know everything there is to know about every faction in Japan,” Megumi sighed, giving us a quick look, before turning back to who was in front of him. Isamu grinned softly, resting his arm on Megumi's shoulder. “Of course. Who do you needa know about? Spark Rhino? Purple Shadow?” He continued on his list, babbling about all different gangs, or.. factions? I guess it was good to know the names of each faction, so this was helpful information. Even if it's just casual boasting. “Actually.. we need information about Golden Lion,” Megumi replied, scratching the back of his head. Isamu's eyes immediately widened in complete shock. It took him a while to get back into his usual arrogant nature. “Oh ho ho, picking fights with the tops now?” Isamu managed a smirk, tilting his head playfully. “Actually.. they started the figh-” Megumi's sentence was completely cut off by the sound of a gun firing. A gunshot near us. I turn my head to Leo, followed by the other two, as we all stare in awe. Blood.. dripping from Leo's left arm. Leo stood stunned in his tracks, before collapsing to the floor.
TO BE CONTINUED
Author Note :Dwoah what's happening in tkp, that's crazy😨anyways longer chapter yes yes, you're welcome. expect longer chapters from now on, as well as an increase in chapters. I'm trying to keep a consistency of one chapter, every Sunday, starting from today. Thank you for reading The King Program🫵stay tuned😱bye‼️Christmas Chapter soon?!?!?!