Upon turning 16 years old, Genya, against his family's wishes, went searching for a part-time job, and when Gyoumei heard this, he suggested his secondary workplace: a cat café attached to an animal shelter. The café attracted a gentle demographic that was much preferable over fast food or other options available to teenagers, so it pleased Genya to work alongside his favorite teacher. His paycheck came at a cost though: balancing school, sports, and a job required him to reassess his priorities. Naturally he favored the two that he liked the most, and his happiness with his work at the café and his success on the shooting team blinded him to his declining grades. It resulted in him staring down at his torn certificate as Sanemi stormed away, and Genya stood trembling because within him, his history was being revived. To have his belongings and emotions disregarded and disrespected; he thought that'd all been buried along with his father and that life was finally improving, but here he was feeling that same powerlessness that'd sullied his childhood.

He walked stiffly off the stage, past his seat and his schoolmates' gazes, and then out the auditorium, but stoicism had never been his forte. Tears blurred his vision, but through them he still spotted a tall, suspicious stranger slinking away. Before he could process what he'd seen, the Tokitou twins flanked him and said, "Wanna skip the rest of the day and come over?"

Having hotheaded friends is a blessing because their venom provides catharsis and clarity, as evidenced by Yuuichirou, who thundered, "What's his problem?!" He continued ranting while growing increasingly irate and obscene before finally exploding, "Listen, Genya! He's trying to see how many of your lines he can cross. I'll put my foot up his ass if you don't put your foot down on his bullshit."

Muichirou chided, "Nii-san," and then he said to Genya, "Yuuichirou's right. You've a bad habit of blaming yourself for everything. What happened earlier wasn't your fault."

Their warm intentions then froze over as they said coldly, "Genya. We're telling you to get mad. Repay his cruelty tenfold." It was always somewhat eerie whenever the twins spoke simultaneously, but their words still restored him to where he felt capable of attending work later that day. Gyoumei, however, frowned with concern. "You can take a day off if you'd like."

"I'm okay." Genya was attempting to appear composed, but it must've been insufficient because at length Gyoumei said, "I'll speak to him."

"Please don't. It'll just make him angrier."

"You cannot resolve every conflict by ignoring it and hoping it subsides."

Genya asked helplessly, "What else can I do?"

"I know it's difficult at your age, but you must be firm and vocal about your boundaries."

Genya appreciated the sentiment, but doubt must've tinged his features because Gyoumei added, "If that doesn't work, then tell me. I'd love to see your brother try me." Subtle threats aside, the day proceeded uneventfully until they closed, whereupon Gyoumei cautioned, "Be careful heading home. There have been dangerous events occurring."

"You mean the recent disappearances? I heard people are getting kidnapped for human experiments and that they return changed, like they're no longer human. It sounds like something from an anime."

Gyoumei was quiet awhile before saying, "Just be careful." So off Genya went until he was home, and as he lay in bed that night, the encouragement that he'd received throughout the day morphed into poison. The boundary between fear and hate is extremely thin, and all it takes for sadness to become anger is a smidge of energy. By the following day, instead of feeling depressed, he was stewing as he sat through his classes, but it'd contradict his norm to confront Sanemi. Instead, during the break before the last period as the students waited for Sanemi to arrive, Genya simply left. He didn't have work or shooting practice that day, so he went home, where it delighted his younger siblings to have more time with him. They gathered around his laptop until sometime later, they started at the door flying open. Sanemi glared at the truant. "Where the hell were you today?"

"Here."

"Here, skipping class, watching Naruto, and eating Goldfish crackers, the snack that smiles back. You'd better be there tomorrow." Perhaps Sanemi had grown accustomed to the shy and sweet version of Genya, or perhaps he thought Genya's rebellious image was just for show because he didn't expect the trouble to continue the next day.

Of course Genya would leave early again though because it was the day preceding a holiday; the students would have Friday off for a three-day weekend. His actions led to a tense dinner at the Shinazugawa household that night, and Sanemi said, "While you were goofing off today, you missed the announcement that we've a quiz online. It's due by Sunday." There was no reply, and Sanemi snapped, "You will do it."

Genya abandoned his dinner and headed for his room. "Bite me. I'm not doing shit."

Sanemi grabbed his shoulder and swiveled him around. "Don't walk away—"

"Or else what?! You'll hit me?!"

Sanemi was stunned, and Genya spat, "You're just like him. It's like he never even died." Before anymore could be said, the front door opened, and Shizu hurried inside. "Somebody was following me, but thankfully I lost him."

Sanemi said, "Mom, I told you to call me so that I can pick you up if you leave at night!"

"You've already got enough to stress about. I'll be fine."

By the morning, the prior scare had slightly reduced the tension, so Genya wasn't hostile when Sanemi appeared in his doorway and said, "Hey. I'll drop the quiz for you if you let me teach you how to drive. I don't want Mom walking around at night when there have been creeps everywhere lately, and maybe she'll be more open to asking if she can call on us both." This would be great except for one thing: the legal minimum age to drive in Japan is 18. "But I'm not old enough."

"Just don't get caught."

"Okay… but don't the teachers work today?"

"I'll be teaching you how to drive. That counts."

Genya couldn't argue against that, so they went to the school to utilize its parking lots and surrounding roads for practice. After only an hour of panicking and shouting (mostly from Sanemi), Genya demonstrated that he had a knack for driving, and Sanemi said, "You're a natural. You'll be ready by Monday. What's happening over there?" In the distance stood Hakuji looking disappointed as Giyuu spoke to him, and Genya explained, "Soyama needs a recommendation letter for an athletic scholarship. Tanjirou suggested that Tomioka-sensei would be perfect to ask."

"That fuckwit can't write his own name, much less a recommendation letter. It looks like he's refusing anyway. What an asswipe. Let's hit him. He's already standing in the road."

"What?! No!"

"I was kidding." But as they neared Giyuu, Sanemi yanked the steering wheel, and although Genya frantically corrected it, the vehicle still swerved and nudged Giyuu so that he stumbled forward. Hakuji and Genya had the same horrified expressions, but Sanemi guffawed as they drove away, "Look at that dipshit. Worthless, bitchless, and speechless."

"What were you thinking?! We could've killed somebody!"

"Tomioka isn't a 'somebody.' He isn't a person. He's a creature whose existence proves that even God makes mistakes."

"You should be nicer to him. It doesn't seem like he's deliberately annoying. Maybe he's just awkward."

"Maybe he can do everyone a favor and kill himse—oh there's Iguro. He looks like he's been arguing with the vice principal again. Let's put him out of his misery and hit him next."

"No! You're not friends anymore?!"

"We still are, but it's important to test a friendship's limits."

Genya was appalled. "I don't think so."

"Park here. I need to run inside and do something." Sanemi collected some papers from the backseat and entered the school as Obanai spotted Genya and approached the car. "Genya. You're driving."

"Uh… well I'm still learning."

"Who's teaching you?"

"Sanemi."

Obanai became alarmed. "Get out now!"

Before Genya could react, Sanemi sprinted back, pushed Obanai away, and said, "Okay, bestie, I'll handle it from here."

Obanai responded sarcastically, "Oh sure, are you teaching him defensive driving?" He aimed to rescue Genya, but Sanemi intervened. "Defensive driving? You mean driving like a bitch scared to die?"

He wrestled Obanai to the ground, jumped in the car, and then commanded Genya to floor it, and as they sped away, Obanai could be faintly heard: "Genya, your brother can't—!" Sanemi assured, "He's just being silly. One more lap and then we'll head home."

On their final round they sighted Muichirou talking with Gyoumei, and Sanemi said, "Don't hit Himejima. He's too big. He'll wreck the car."

"I wasn't planning to! How does a menace like you even have a license?!"

Sanemi watched the passing scenery awhile. "My license is suspended."

Genya had to pull over because laughter overcame him, and it infected Sanemi until they were both paralyzed. When they recovered, the lightened atmosphere prompted Sanemi to say seriously, "I'm sorry about Tuesday, but it's because you need to consider the future. I know shooting club and your job are important to you, but feelings don't pay the bills. Numbers and degrees do. Also you're becoming Mom with time, and I can't let that happen."

Genya said bitterly, "How? I'm Dad's clone."

"I don't mean appearances. I mean that attitude where you minimize yourself and your problems. It's a cold world, so I need to see that you'll fight back, even if it takes me acting like Dad to bring out that part of you."

Genya weighed his thoughts before saying carefully, "If it's a cold world, then I don't think adding more coldness is always good…?"

Now it was Sanemi's turn to pause in contemplation. "True. Look at you being smart."

Genya scoffed lightly and smiled, and Sanemi added, "If only your grades reflected it." Genya rolled his eyes and then found that Gyoumei and Muichirou had approached in the time that they'd been parked, so he lowered his window. Muichirou said, "You're driving. Are you going anywhere?"

"We're heading home."

"Could you drop me off? Yuuichirou isn't here, and I don't feel like dealing with the train pervert alone."

The teachers were shocked, and Gyoumei inquired, "What pervert?"

"That guy on the train who strips and takes creepshots. He's got a whole album." Muichirou opened the page on his phone. "He photographed your butt, Shinazugawa-sensei."

Sanemi said, "What?! Get in and let me see. Himejima, your place is on the way too. Want a ride?" As Genya drove, the other three scrutinized the waist-down picture on Muichirou's phone, and Sanemi focused on the subject's arms. "That's not me! That's Genya!"

Muichirou countered, "Scarred arms and the iconic Shinazugawa booty. That's you, Sensei."

"It's not! Compare my scars to Genya's!"

Genya reddened as he mumbled, "He photographed me?" and unthinkingly he glanced at the picture. In that second where they were all distracted, a loud thud sounded followed by the vehicle bouncing violently over something, and they screeched to a halt, four pairs of eyes wide with horror. Muichirou peered out the rear window, and upon confirming that there was indeed somebody lying in the road, he gulped and returned to facing forward. Genya, seeing his friend's expression, lost his composure: "I didn't mean to! I didn't see him! Where'd he—"

He quieted at the weight of Gyoumei's reassuring hand on his shoulder, and a tear leaked from Gyoumei's eyes as he said gently, "Genya. Put the car in reverse and finish him."

"I—huh… Himejima-sensei, what?!"

Sanemi agreed, "Himejima's right. A funeral is cheaper than a hospital bill, and dead people can't sue you." Muichirou looked disturbed, and Genya exclaimed, "We should be helping him!" He exited the car despite his teachers trying to stop him, and Muichirou, morbidly curious, followed.

As they kneeled on either side of the unconscious victim, Genya recognized him as the stranger who'd been sneaking around on the day that his certificate was destroyed, but before he could comment on it, Gyoumei arrived with Sanemi, who scowled and muttered, "One of Kibutsuji's bastards. He'll be up in no time." As if to corroborate the statement, the man suddenly seized both boys' throats, and his grip was so terrifyingly strong that they couldn't even cry out. It was wildly stupid though to attack Sanemi's family before his eyes, and as swift and savage as a gale, he grasped the stranger's hair, lifted his head, and then slammed it on the asphalt so that the captives were released. Muichirou gasped, "I thought we were gonna die!"

Sanemi barked, "You two, back in the car," as Gyoumei pressed his foot on the man's throat and growled, "Kokushibou, caught at last. We warned you and your people."

"Kibutsuji will—" but Kokushibou couldn't continue because Gyoumei interrupted with a brutal stomp. Genya and Muichirou, sitting in the vehicle, winced and then shrank away fearfully as the teachers approached, but all that happened was Sanemi saying, "Genya, trade seats with me. I'll drive."

Genya obeyed and questioned uneasily, "Who's that? He said Kibutsuji? Like the politician?"

"Listen. Tokitou, you listen too. Tell a teacher immediately if you see any weirdos creeping around. That's all you need to know."

Muichirou blanched as he understood what was about to transpire, and although Genya guessed it too, he still said nervously, "Nii-chan, what're you doing…? He's still moving." Gyoumei said soothingly, "Not for long. Close your eyes."

Sanemi switched to the reverse gear so that Kokushibou appeared in the backup camera's display, and he replied, "Don't worry. Nii-chan will do something about this," as he stepped on the accelerator.