"Oh dear!"

I stopped buttoning my white dress shirt and turned around upon hearing Nagi's gasp, "What's the matter, Nagi?"

"Ah… It's this," Nagi grabbed a blue bento box from the dining table and held it up, "Kuri forgot to bring this to school. I'm afraid that she won't have anything to eat for lunch".

That was a problem.

"Don't worry," I took the bento box from my wife and kissed her forehead, "I will deliver it to her before I go to the factory".

Nagi's face lit up in relief and delight, "Really? Arigato, Kyoya!"

She then helped me to finish buttoning my shirt and putting on my vest, making sure that I looked neat and presentable. Swinging my jacket over my shoulder with one hand and holding my briefcase with the other, I bid Nagi goodbye with a kiss to her lips and stalked off in the direction of Namimori Elementary School.


"I'm looking for my daughter, Hibari Kuri," I said to the female clerk in the school's general office. I was slightly puzzled as to why she gaped and stuttered some inaudible phrases with a blush on her cheeks before she nodded to me and began calling for Kuri through the Public Address system, but I just waved that thought away.

I waited at the foyer and a few minutes later, I saw my daughter rushing toward me in her usual lively and cheery manner, calling out gleefully, "Otosan!"

I knelt down and hugged her gently, smiling at the thought of her similarity with her mother. She would always be so happy whenever we met, as if we were long lost family members who had finally reunited with each other after many years of separation.

"Why have you come, Otosan?" Kuri asked innocently.

I clicked my briefcase open and handed her the bento box, "You forgot to bring this to school, my dear girl. You wouldn't want to drool in envy and hunger while you see your friends eating, would you?"

Kuri gasped in shock and apologised guiltily for making me walk all the way to her school to pass to her such a small yet essential item. I shook my head and pecked her forehead, "It's nothing. Now go back to class".

"Thanks, Otosan! Ja ne!" she beamed perkily and I waited for her to run up the staircase to her classroom before I left the school campus.

Only to meet face-to-face with Rokudo Mukuro.

He halted in his tracks abruptly when he encountered me outside the school gates, his dissimilar coloured eyes widening for a split second before he grinned, "Kufufufu…. Hibari Kyoya. Nice meeting you here".

Why did my luck seem to keep acting against me? This was too much of a mere coincidence.

I frowned displeasingly, "What are you doing here?"

He maintained his friendly yet suspicious smile, "I'm on a patrol around Namimori".

I tilted my eyebrow, obviously not believing his words, "Oh really? Again? Looks like you are a very busy man, huh?"

Rokudo Mukuro chuckled as his fingers stroked his chin, "Of course. It's not as easy as you think to work in the army. I do have a lot of responsibilities and duties".

I decided to use this chance to secretly learn more about him, "Then what for you work there? Is the salary that attractive? Or do you just want to gain more authority and prestige?"

He did not look annoyed by my constant questions, much to my surprise. I wondered if I could get him to spill the beans about his true colours.

"I probably had a slip of my tongue when I first met Chrome and you, when I said that I arrived in Japan with the Ingotishs, which was a clue that I was working for them," he said but paused for a while as if he was hesitating to tell me the rest of his background. He took a deep breath and then continued, "Even so, I do not totally agree with their ideology and their way of governance. They can get very absurd and cruel, but those are simply the characteristics of Ingotishs. That's why, if I can choose, I would prefer to hang out with the gentle and intelligent Japanese instead".

'If he can choose?'

"What do you mean?" I carried on with my interrogation, "Are you implying that you are working for the Ingotishs against your will?"

Rokudo Mukuro smirked, "Getting meddlesome, aren't you, Hibari Kyoya?"

I scowled. This man was tough.

"Then answer this question. How many times per day do you usually walk pass my daughter's school?" I pointed my thumb to Namimori Elementary School behind me.

He thought for a moment, and then replied, "Around four to five times?"

'Four to five times?! Seriously?!'

"I've observed that Ingotish officers patrol the towns for two to three times a day, yet you roam around my daughter's school for four to five times," I glared at him, who appeared to not quite understand what I was trying to get at, "Rokudo Mukuro, you are not planning some ridiculous schemes to harm my daughter, are you? If you are, I won't hold back to bite you to death".

He was a little astonished by my accusation, but he gave out a soft and amused laughter, "Kufufufu… You behave like a father who is so protective over his daughter and will kick the asses of those who try to stalk or flirt with her".

"Che…" I grumbled, feeling a vein popped in my head, "Just tell me what you are up to".

"Nothing," he declared confidently, "Just making sure that cute little Kuri is all right".

What? Had this man grown some attachment to my daughter?

"That's brilliant," I remarked ironically, crossing my arms, "I'm so glad to know someone who isn't even a Japanese and not a relative or friend of my daughter but yet is being so caring to watch over her. You're definitely one of a kind, Rokudo Mukuro".

He chose to play along with my sardonicism, "Oh, you're very welcome, Mr Hibari. I feel honoured to be your adorable daughter's faithful guardian angel. Kufufufufu!"

"Don't make me puke, you disgusting pineapple herbivore."

"Now that's a wonderful nickname you have for me. Thank you very much."

"You're certainly welcome." This game was pissing me off.

Rokudo Mukuro sneered, tugging his gloved hands into his pockets, "I shall be on my way then, Mr Mockingbird. Ciao!"

I watched him stroll down the pavement, humming an indistinguishable tune, and I stole a parting glance to Kuri's school before I walked in the opposite direction to my workplace.

I still could not dig much information out of that man's mouth, but eventually, I would.

Since it was clear that he adored Kuri a lot, Kuri could be helpful by innocently transferring whatever that she could learn from him to us. She did enjoy sharing with Nagi and I things that aroused her interest. It would be a shortcut to understand that mystery man's true nature and motive.

I smirked to myself, thinking that I had such a clever idea.


"Kyo-san, I have something to tell you," Tetsu said as he stood in front of my desk, and I noticed his dolefulness.

"What is it?" I stopped typing on my laptop and shifted my attention to him.

He gulped, "We received an urgent call from a hospital in Nagasaki a while ago. They reported that one of our employees who went to participate in the battle trials a few days ago was brought to the hospital….." He trailed off.

"And then?" I pressed on impatiently.

"…..a-and he was dead even after thorough treatment."

My hand that was twirling my pen froze and I could not find any suitable word to comment on the appalling news.

"They also told us that the employee had requested them to pass a message to Sawada-san before he passed away," Tetsu unlocked his mobile phone and read out the text.

"Dear Boss,

I sincerely apologise for being unable to take care of myself. I know you will be utterly disappointed in me, and I beg your forgiveness.

Please do me a favour and hand the sack of rice that I managed to earn for winning the first round of the battle trials over to my family. Please tell them that I am absolutely sorry.

Thank you."

"Where's the rice?" I inquired.

"Sawada-san has to travel to the hospital in Nagasaki to receive it," Tetsu answered dismally.

"That's troublesome…. It's quite a long way," I sighed, rubbing my temple, "Why not just ask them to deliver here by mail or something?"

"Hmm… You have a point, Kyo-san. I shall suggest that to Sawada-san. Please excuse me," Tetsu bowed and exited from my office, but after a few minutes, he returned.

"What is it now?"

"You have a guest, Kyo-san."

"I have no time to entertain anyone—"

"It's your wife."

Oh. My wife. Yes, no problem. I would always have time for her.

"Send her in."

Tetsu ushered Nagi into my office and left the room to give us some privacy.

"Nagi…" I stood up from my reclined chair and I was about to smile at her when I saw her standing motionlessly at the door and not greeting me like she usually did. Her head was lowered as she stared at the floor silently and her fringe covered her eyes.

"Nagi?" I carefully approached her and touched her shoulders. Her odd behaviour was beginning to confuse me. Why did I sense such a rueful and taut aura emitting from her?

"Are you okay, Na—?"

Beads of tears alarmingly rolled down her rosy cheeks and she started to whimper miserably. Her whimpers became sobs, and then evolved to wails. I was totally caught off guard by her unexplainable forlorn state.

"Nagi? What's wrong? Why are you crying?" I tried to remain calm and ask her as amiably as I could, wrapping my arms around her shoulders loosely.

She glanced up at me and my heart sank to see her swollen eyes producing unstoppable trails of tears. Never had she worn such a despondent expression before.

The next instant she pounced onto me in a desperate hug, her cries and wails filling the entire room and travelling outside.

But I did not care. I did not care if she was being too loud and might attract unnecessary attention from the herbivores.

All I bothered about was the reason for her woe. I hugged her back securely and kept rubbing her back and kissing her head, yet her tears had not subsided. I became very anxious, what had happened that made Nagi so upset? She had never cried so terribly in my arms before.

"It's all right, Nagi," I whispered soothingly to her ear, "It's all right… Don't cry…."

"I-It's not a-all right!" she exclaimed, weeping even harder, "Nande…? Nan…de….?"

I was horrified when her grip on me suddenly loosened and she fell backward, but I swiftly caught her and realised she had fainted.

"Nagi! Nagi!" I yelled in distress, slapping her cheek gently, "Nagi….!"

As if on cue, Tetsu rushed into my office and gasped at the sight of the unconscious woman in my arms.

"Don't just stand there, get the doctor!" I ordered him hastily, carrying Nagi to the couch and laying her there.

I dashed to the office restroom and prepared a damp towel to wipe the sweat on Nagi's face that was as white as a sheet. I soaked the towel in a bucket of water, rinsed it and placed it on her forehead.

Grabbing her fragile hand tightly and leaning it against my cheek, I prayed in my heart that she would be fine.

What the hell happened?


"Mrs Hibari's physical health is in good shape. She probably fainted because of hyperventilation and depression," the doctor informed us.

Nagi, who woke up after a few minutes of unconsciousness, rested her head on my shoulder and I wrapped my arms around her, patting her back occasionally as I sat beside her on the couch. Tetsu had brought in the doctor, Sawada Tsunayoshi and the other herbivores to the scene and they were now standing in front of us, staring at Nagi worriedly.

"Something upsetting must have occurred to cause this," the doctor added, unaware that his sentence would hurt Nagi's feelings more.

Tears streamed down her cheeks again and she clutched onto my wrinkled shirt as she bawled her eyes out, startling everyone present. I could not help but glare at the sheepish doctor, even though he did not make Nagi cry more on purpose.

I sighed, "Herbivores, leave us alone to talk. And I will not tolerate eavesdropping".

They understood and quickly dispersed out of my office.

Nagi tried her hardest to stabilise her breathing and control her urge to cry. I brushed her hair and kissed her forehead, waiting for her to calm down before we could talk. Her face was so pale, as if she was very ill, and her eyes looked so sore, as if she was punched by someone. My heart writhed in pain to see her like that.

The first question that came to my mind was "Are you okay?", but there was no point in asking that. She was obviously not okay.

Hence I decided to start the conversation with, "What happened?"

She shut her eyes and bit her lip, remaining silent.

I wanted to know what her problem was, but I also did not wish to pester her too much, so I hugged her closer and stayed quiet until she was ready to confide in me.

"I…saw it…" Nagi finally spoke, "I saw…e-everything…"

"What did you see?" I queried, caressing her tear-stained cheek.

"I saw….Yuni-chan….d-dying…" she hid her face in my chest and broke down in tears after forcing those words out of her mouth.

I was stunned.

"Y-Yuni-chan and Hiro-kun came to our house not too long after you left. She was t-taking her son to the daycare centre, and a-asked me if I wanted to follow them as we would pass by the florist shop that we love to visit. I agreed, and we began walking there….b-but then…."

Nagi covered her mouth to stifle her heavy sobs but I kissed her temple and held her closer to convey the message that it was all right for her to have a good cry in my arms, and I would always be by her side to be her listening ear.

She calmed her rapidly beating heart by breathing in and out repeatedly, and continued, "B-But then….we were ambushed by an Ingotish man and forced into a dark alley".

I felt something snap.

"He d-demanded for all our money and threatened to k-kill Hiro-kun if we didn't do as he said. Yuni-chan…was willing to do anything, even sacrificing the money she worked so hard to earn, for the sake of her child. I also handed all my cash to the man. ….I-I'm sorry, Kyoya, I know that it wasn't easy to get those money and yet I just gave them away like that…but…I just wanted to prevent Y-Yuni-chan and Hiro-kun from being h-hurt….."

"Don't worry, Nagi," I assured her with a kiss to her hair, "Nothing's more important than your safety. Did that Ingotish bastard harm you?"

She nodded glumly, pointing to her left ankle that was bandaged. Why did I not notice that?

"Damn him!" I cursed out lividly, and was about to reach her ankle to examine it when she grabbed my arm.

"This is nothing," she insisted, tears rolling down her face once more, "T-This is nothing…compared to what Yuni-chan suffered".

I wiped her tears that pierced my heart with every drip down her chin.

"That Ingotish man still didn't find our money enough, so he pushed me hard and I fell to the ground and twisted my ankle. I couldn't stand up because of the pain…."

I felt something in my head snap again.

"…. Yuni-chan was angry that he hurt me, so she picked up a rock and hit his head. But that man was robust…and Yuni-chan's action made him even more pissed and humiliated that a Japanese could harm him so easily. H-He then took out a k-knife, aiming for Hiro-kun….but…"

Nagi covered her face with her hands.

"Yuni-chan… She jumped in her son's way….and l-let the knife stab her s-stomach instead….."

I closed my eyes. Hinata Yuni was just like Nagi, a selfless woman. She would do anything to protect the little boy she loved more than her own life. She would sacrifice herself without a single sign of hesitation for the sake of ensuring that the seed she and her husband produced with their love could live to see another day.

"The man left… And Yuni-chan was bleeding profusely until she became unconscious, with Hiro-kun crying beside her…. I wanted to stand, but I couldn't. I could only crawl over to her….and try to shake her awake… I was so afraid….so afraid of losing her…."

Now I pulled her to me, refusing to let her go from my embrace.

"I thought we could be saved when a passer-by found us and called the ambulance. My ankle was relocated and dressed. B-But then….the doctors told me… Yuni-chan couldn't be saved. S-She…she died…from excessive bleeding…."

I pressed our foreheads together, kissing Nagi's nose.

"Why, Kyoya…why?" she whined louder and louder each second, losing control of herself, "Why is this world so terrible? Why do I have to lose my best friend? Why couldn't I help her? Why must Yuni-chan die?!"

She suddenly screamed in despair, her hands clutching her head and shaking it vigorously as her tears flooded out of her shut eyes like waterfalls.

"YUNI-CHAAAAAN! ! !"

"Nagi!" I had to use much strength without hurting her to yank her back into my warm arms, snuggling my face into her neck as she struggled in frenzy, "Nagi, please calm down. I'm here for you. Calm down…."

I cupped her face, "I know it's really painful. I know it's hard to accept it". I squeezed her firmly against my body, trying to make her stop screaming her lungs out, "I'm sorry... But please…calm down".

"I can't, Kyoya!" she yelled, pushing me a little, "I can't! I lost Yuni-chan! I lost someone so much more important to me than my life! How can I possibly calm down?"

"Nagi…." my heart ached so much. But I knew she did not mean to shout at me. I could not blame her. It must hurt so much to lose her best friend.

I tried to understand her feelings.

Losing a best friend would probably be as painful as losing a close family member, such as a spouse or one's child.

I would probably feel the same if I was in her shoes.

If I ever lost Nagi or Kuri, I might go on an unconscious rampage and destroy everything blocking my path. I might not sleep for days and deprive myself of food and drinks. I might never stop crying.

The deeper the love, the greater the hurt.

I knew that my words could not reach Nagi at her current condition. Even so, I would continue to hold her in my arms, silently comforting her wretched soul. I wanted her to know that no matter what, I would never let her go through all this pain alone.

I would be the one to bring back her beautiful smile.


Nande: Why?


Don't kill me for making Yuni die and don't misunderstand me…. I like her too, after Chrome. But you know…it's for the story. Anyway, further elaboration of this tragic incident will be revealed in the next chapter.