Saturday, 6/4 - 10 Days Until Deadline

Makoto didn't wake up as much as she simply looked over at her clock from her desk and decided that she should get ready for school. It was becoming almost impossible to get sleep in her own bed. The place that was supposed to be the safest, most personal place for one to go had turned into the most vulnerable place for Makoto to be.

Makoto had a crystal clear vision of her future. The day of the deadline would begin with Makoto asleep before Kaneshiro's henchmen busted down the door. Makoto wouldn't notice because of how utterly stupid she was. The henchmen would quietly make their way into Makoto's room before giving her a literal rude awakening by dragging Makoto out of her bed. She would be kicking, screaming, crying even, but it wouldn't deter her attackers from their task. They dragged Makoto to the door of the apartment before silencing her.

Makoto knew that her imaginings were unrealistic, but she always doubted the part of herself that told her the scenario was unrealistic. That conflict only kept Makoto even more awake. In the end, Makoto had decided to just not sleep. She had been able to sleep during her classes and during the lunch break, so surely she could continue.

The school was also a much safer place than her bed. The school, which had just come under fire for having an abusive pedophile of a teacher, was safer than her bed for one reason: there were people. Makoto was at her most paranoid, her most fearful when left alone with her own thoughts. At school, she was surrounded by roughly twenty kids at almost all times and surely no one was stupid enough to consider performing a kidnapping inside a crowded school.

I was kidnapped on one of the most crowded streets in Shibuya. I can't rule out an attack at school, Makoto realized. I guess sleeping in the student council room isn't an option.

If only Sae were still living in the apartment. Makoto wouldn't be lonely. She would be protected. She would be safe. Or would she? Makoto ran through the same scenario as before but with Sae sleeping in her room.

Intruders crept into the apartment, Sae and Makoto sleeping soundly in their rooms. As they began to check each of the rooms, one of the intruders accidentally trips while entering Sae's room. She wakes up and immediately takes action, lunging towards the intruder. Before she can reach him, the man reaches to his side and pulls out a-

Makoto stopped herself there. She came to the conclusion that Sae being home would only put more people in danger. Sae being home would also lead to Makoto having to tell Sae what was going on. Sae wouldn't like that one bit. Hell, she might even give Makoto to Kaneshiro personally. That would rid Sae of the burden that was Makoto Niijima.

Makoto cleared her head and started her morning routine.

"Niijima!" the teacher yelled, startling the formerly asleep Makoto. "Explain the science behind ocean acidification."

Makoto didn't know. While she had been able to keep up for the first few days after reading ahead in the textbook, she no longer had the energy to read ahead or to stay awake in class.

"I don't know."

She hadn't answered a school teacher with those words in a long time. In fact, it may have been her first time doing it at Shujin. In the past, Makoto felt as if not knowing the answer would doom her to a life of failure. Now, not knowing the answer didn't doom her from anything. The doom in Makoto's life had a different origin.

"Hmph. Not your usual attentive self, are we? I guess I'll have to have a word with the principal that our student council president is slacking off," the teacher said threateningly.

Go ahead. It won't change anything. So what if I lose my position a few days before I lose my future, Makoto thought, almost saying it aloud.

Thankfully, the teacher didn't expect Makoto to answer. He just resumed his lesson and Makoto resumed her nap.

Another lunch period, another timeframe for Makoto to catch up on sleep. Just as she was resting her head into her arms there was a knock on the door to the student council room. With a grumble, Makoto stood up and opened the door.

There stood Haru, elegant as ever. Her face had a neutral look to it, but there was still a slight smile.

I guess that sums up Haru pretty well. Even when indifferent she's still smiling and being nice, Makoto thought.

"May I come in?" Haru asked.

Makoto answered with action. She made way for Haru to enter the student council room before closing the door after Haru had moved past and taken a seat. Makoto soon sat down in the chair she was about to sleep in just seconds ago. A silence settled over the room.

"Ryuji told me about everything." Makoto didn't respond to Haru. There wasn't anything to say. "What's your plan?"

"My plan?"

"To save yourself and stop the pictures from leaking."

"Oh, well… I'm getting evidence that Dai Shirai is a criminal."

"And…?"

"That's it."

"That's all? We need to get going!"

"What's the point?" Makoto said with a sigh.

"What's the point?! Mako-chan, that is not something the Makoto I know would say. The Makoto I know was dedicated enough to follow a boy around for weeks just because he had alcohol in his fridge! Now when something actually important is happening you say 'what's the point?'" Haru said emotionally.

Makoto was a little hurt by Haru's dismissal of Makoto's investigation into Ren, but hindsight only agreed with Haru's point. Makoto had been much more dedicated to something stupid rather than saving her future.

However, she had an excuse: Ren Amamiya told her not to worry and that he would figure things out. But that shouldn't have been an excuse. Why should Makoto have to obey Ren? Why should she obey anyone? Why should she obey Kaneshiro?

Because you're his property, Makoto thought.

"Ren said that he would figure something out when he recovered."

"And he hasn't recovered yet! There are only ten days left. Ten days! No one has time to wait for Ren to recover. When he does, do you really think he'll magically solve the problem?"

He did sound pretty confident, Makoto mentally remarked.

"You're supposed to say no, Makoto," Haru said with a dejected sigh. "I'm sorry. That was a lot. It just feels like you're letting the deadline come."

"I'm waiting for my opportunities. Evidence of Shirai's criminal activities and whatever Ren's plan is."

"Have you spoken to Ren? Has he mentioned this plan"

"Yes, we've spoken every day. He said that he's going to call a GRAVY meeting as soon as he recovers."

"So he just wants to talk? If he's already able to speak, why don't we call the meeting before he recovers?"

Makoto hadn't thought of that because of everything else on her mind. Ren hadn't helped by saying that he would do everything and that she shouldn't worry.

"You're right. We should. Does today work?"

"Oh, um…" Haru said as her gaze shifted away from Makoto. She sheepishly looked around the room. "I cannot today."

"Family business?"

"One could say that."

"Does tomorrow work?"

"It does. Ask Ren if he can host. If he's not fully recovered yet, he shouldn't have to go somewhere else."

"I'll do it after school. Haru… am I still wasting time? Now I'm just waiting for tomorrow."

"Well… Ryuji said that you guys went to Kaneshiro's club, right? If one of you remembers how to go there, why don't you report the address to the police?"

She's right! How did I not think of that?! Makoto thought. She knew the answer. It was because she was worthless-

"That's a good idea. I'll go after school today."

"Take Ryuji with you to be safe. And Makoto? Please don't do anything rash. You don't need to go inside. Just get the address and leave."

Makoto nodded. Even Haru knew how reckless Makoto could be. She had to explicitly tell Makoto not to do anything rash. If the people closest to Makoto didn't have faith in her to do the right thing, how could she have faith in herself? Then again, all she had to do was get the address. It couldn't be that difficult.

"I'll be careful, Haru. Thanks. Is there anything else you would like to speak about?"

Haru stood up from her chair and made her way over to the door.

"Mako-chan, we're all here for you. Friends don't let friends down, okay?"

"Okay."

"Good. See you, Mako-chan," Haru said with an uplifting wave before leaving.

Makoto pulled out her phone. She started a conversation with Ryuji using the contact information she had gotten from the GRAVY group chat.

Makoto Niijima:

-Could you please accompany me to !)(*$^1'$ club?

Makoto blinked a few times to make sure she was reading her phone right. She had entered and sent "Kaneshiro's club" but the output had been changed. Makoto had no clue if it meant that her phone was broken or if there was some new tech feature that she wasn't aware of.

Ryuji Sakamoto:

-You mean that asshole's club? No way we're going back.

Makoto Niijima:

-If we get the address we can report it to the police. I don't know the way there. Do you?

Ryuji Sakamoto:

-Holy shit you're right! Ofc ik the way there! When r we going?

Makoto Niijima:

-Does afterschool today work?

Ryuji Sakamoto:

-Yeah. Meet you at the gate.

Makoto put away her phone. The lunch period still had a fair amount of time left, so she decided that getting some sleep so she could be clear-headed later was a good idea.

Makoto and Ryuji's meet up at the school gate consisted of exclusively nods before the two got moving. They knew what they had to do and were set on accomplishing it. They made their way to Shibuya, then to Central Street, then to the very alley where it had happened.

Almost immediately after Makoto entered the alley she felt overwhelmed by her paranoia. It had only been days after the attack and she had chosen to go to the alley. It felt like a poor decision and one that Makoto was beginning to regret.

She looked over her shoulder back towards Central Street. While it was just Makoto checking for people following her on the surface, it was also Makoto reminding herself that she wasn't alone. There were large groups of people just a few dozen feet from her.

That didn't stop anyone last time, Makoto thought before visibly shuddering.

"You okay?" Ryuji asked from her side.

"Mhm," Makoto shakily forced out.

"We don't have to do this if you don't wanna, ya know?" Ryuji reminded.

"It just feels like you're letting the deadline come," Haru's voice said in Makoto's head.

"No. We have to," Makoto said with false assuredness.

"If you wanna go, all you gotta do is say so."

"Okay, Ryuji," Makoto said. "I'm following you, so take the lead."

Ryuji did that. He led Makoto further and further down the alley. The further they went down the darker it got. The sun's light didn't reach into the middle of the alley. Just as Makoto and Ryuji reached the center of the alley, she looked towards the wall of the alley.

There sat Ren, his body uncomfortably slumped over. His broken glasses were at his side, and blood was dripping from his face onto his pants. There was a large splatter of blood on the alley wall. As Makoto looked closer, she saw the giant gash on the back of Ren's head.

"Ren!" Makoto said with a gasp before quickly crouching next to Ren.

"Hey- what are you-" Ryuji yelled after wheeling around to see Makoto.

Just before Makoto reached her hand out to touch Ren, she blinked. Ren's body was gone. All that remained was his cracked pair of glasses.

I… what is going on? Makoto asked herself, shaking her head before rubbing her eyes with her hands.

She picked up the pair of glasses and pocketed them.

"Prez, what the hell was that?! You freaked me out!"

"I-I'm sorry. I saw Ren's glasses and thought that I should get them."

"Jeez, you ain't gotta get so worked up. Come on, let's keep going."

Makoto followed Ryuji out of the center of the alley. The closer they got to the other side of the alley, the more Makoto turned back to look at the scene she had just imagined. It was as if she was paranoid it could happen again at any moment, even if Ren was safe and sound in his apartment.

That's a lie. He's not safe. I'm not safe. No one around me is safe. And who's fault is it? Makoto rhetorically asked herself.

They reached the end of the alley.

"Aight… if I remember correctly… I called the cab and we went that way," Ryuji said as he pointed up the wide street.

Makoto nodded, but Ryuji didn't notice. He kept walking and she kept following. As they walked along the sidewalk, the two exchanged little to no words. Makoto hated that, as it gave let her mind focus on recreating Ren's body in her imagination. To prevent this, she resorted to staring at the cars coming down the street for distraction.

It didn't work. Every passing car carried the possibility that it was just one of Kaneshiro's men following Makoto. Or, even worse, seeing who she was spending her time with.

Ryuji came to a stop outside of another alley, this one much wider than the one from before.

"I think this is it."

Makoto looked down the alley. It didn't trigger many memories for her. When she had been carried into the club she had had the bag over her head, obstructing her vision. The only thing that came to mind was the feeling of hopelessness she had felt when emerging from the club.

"Okay. Can you see the address from here?" Makoto asked.

Ryuji leaned left so he could get an angle.

"Agh, no luck. I can see the door but I can't read the address clearly. I gotta go further in," he said as he stared into the alley.

"I'll come too," Makoto said, making Ryuji turn around.

"With all due respect, I think you should sit this one out. Besides, how hard can reading an address be?"

Is he right? Am I that much of a liability? A setback? A useless companion? Makoto asked herself. She knew that her thoughts weren't rational. Ryuji didn't want anything to happen to Makoto from walking down the alley. He really only wanted the best for her.

The part of Makoto that just wouldn't quit doubted that. Even Ryuji, the GRAVY member who arguably brought the least value to the group, thought that she was useless. Makoto then hated herself for thinking that way. Ryuji had agreed to go with her that day. He had checked on her just days before, telling her that he had her back. And there she was, doubting him and considering him the least valuable member of the club that he genuinely seemed to care about.

I am despicable, Makoto thought.

"Okay. I understand," Makoto said softly.

Ryuji nodded back to her before venturing down the alley. As soon as he left, Makoto immediately took a more advantageous position. She leaned against one of the buildings that created the alley. No one could sneak up behind her if her back was against the wall.

It also let her continue scanning the street and the cars that passed. As she looked, a black SUV passed by. Makoto looked closely and could swear the driver was surprisingly familiar. What was even more surprising was that he was staring right at Makoto, grinning an awful grin.

It was Yoshiro Takata.

Then Makoto blinked and he was gone. The driver of the blue SUV was a middle-aged man with a hat on. He soon completed passing by Makoto.

What is wrong with me? Makoto asked herself.

"Aye! Makoto! Where ya-" Ryuji said as he emerged from the alley before turning his head right. "Oh. Got the address. Snapped a pic for good measure."

"Great. Send me the address. I'll report it to the police."

"Gotcha," Ryuji said as he tapped his phone a few times. "All done."

Makoto felt her phone buzz in her pocket.

"Thank you for the help, Ryuji. I have to be getting home now," Makoto said as she began to walk past Ryuji.

Ryuji immediately moved back in front of Makoto and stopped her from proceeding.

"Woah, woah. You want me to walk ya home?"

"I… okay."

"Is that a yes? You don't sound sure."

"It's a y-yes."

Makoto said goodbye to Ryuji and entered her apartment building. They hadn't said anything to each other while they walked, but that didn't matter to Makoto. He stayed by her side. He kept her company. That was enough for Makoto, even if it didn't help her conscience.

She made her way to the elevator and pressed the button to Ren's floor. She hadn't checked on him because she went with Ryuji afterschool. As the elevator began to move, she felt Ren's glasses jitter around in her pocket.

My fault, Makoto simply thought.

She reached into the pocket and took the glasses out. Both lenses were cracked and the glasses were obviously irreparable. Ren would have to get a new pair. So why did Makoto take the glasses? Sentimental value? A gift for Ren? By the time the elevator doors opened, she didn't have an answer.

Makoto exited the elevator and quickly walked to Ren's door. She swiftly unlocked the door and entered the apartment, proceeding to the door to Ren's room. She opened it in the same slow and quiet way she had every day. When she did, Ren looked up at her. He was still in bed, but there was a key difference. He was on his phone.

"Hey, Makoto."

"Ren! What are you doing on your phone?" Makoto frustratedly asked.

Ren didn't answer. Instead, he looked down at Makoto's right hand.

"Why do you have my glasses?"

"Oh… erm…"

"Did you go to the alley?" Ren asked with a hint of anger in his tone.

"...Yes."

"Why?" Ren was growing noticeably angrier.

"Ryuji and I went to get the address of the club. I'm gonna report it to the police."

"Oh… that's good, I guess. Think the police will do anything?"

Makoto hadn't thought that far ahead. She had mostly just been thinking of how to get the information to the police.

"I don't know. Maybe. If I throw in Kaneshiro's name…" Makoto said before remembering Kaneshiro's words.

"And don't even think about telling the cops. They're my bitches, and I own Shibuya."

"Never mind. That's not a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Kaneshiro says that he owns Shibuya and the cops are his."

"You believe him? He might be bluffing," Ren said coldly.

"It's better to believe than doubt him. If he isn't lying then Kaneshiro's name would lead to the information being hidden. If I leave his name out, they might still investigate."

"Good point," Ren said with a nod. "And your sister?"

"Hm? What about her?"

"Have you told her about everything? She's a prosecutor, you know," Ren sarcastically reminded.

I can't explain this to Ren. He wouldn't understand. He would just lie to me, Makoto told herself. She hated how confident she was in Ren not understanding her. Whether that was a testament to Ren lacking empathy or Makoto's lack of faith in him, Makoto wasn't sure.

"We're not on good terms at the moment. If I told her everything… she would only hate me more…" Makoto said dejectedly.

Ren made a questioning look before looking away from Makoto and down towards Morgana who was laying at his side.

"Well… your sister doesn't strike me as the corrupt type. Maybe tell her to go after Junya Kaneshiro? It couldn't hurt. You could throw in the address while you're at it."

It couldn't hurt, could it? Sae would likely get pushy about why I want her to investigate Kaneshiro, but I could just tell her that Shujin students are having trouble with a man by that name and have reported it to the student council. It's technically not wrong, Makoto thought.

"I suppose I could do that. Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department also has an anonymous tip page on their website."

"Use that. And tell your sister. It's a good thing to do-" Ren suddenly stopped speaking.

"It's a good thing to do, even if it doesn't lead to anything" is what you meant to say, isn't it Ren? You know that we are doomed to fail. Too much time has passed. Even if we still had the full fourteen days, it would be impossible to do anything except wait for the end, Makoto mentally said.

"Mhm," Makoto said aloud, relegating her thoughts to a simple noise of compliance.

Silence came. Makoto thought about Ren's suggestions. It reminded her of Haru visiting earlier in the day. She had pushed Makoto to do something that Makoto hadn't even come close to realizing, and now Ren was doing the same. The thought reminded her of what else Haru had told her to do.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Ren, may we host the GRAVY meeting here tomorrow?"

Ren raised an eyebrow.

"Tomorrow? And here?"

"Haru and I spoke today. We thought that if you're able to talk," Makoto said before pointing at Ren's phone, "and go on your phone, then you should be able to have a group conversation before fully recovering and going to school. That's also why the meeting should be here -not that I'm inviting myself over- but it's an easy place for everyone to get to and everyone already knows where it is."

"Not everyone," Ren said while raising a finger.

"Hm?"

"We have a new member: Yusuke Kitagawa."

"The artist? That is… shocking. I haven't seen a club admittance request yet."

"Admittance request? I didn't know I had to do that. Wait a minute… I never did one of those when you joined."

"That's because… I did it for you," Makoto said a little sheepishly.

"Oh. Thanks, I guess."

"Back to Kitagawa, should he really be coming?"

Ren shrugged.

"He's a creative guy. He could help."

He has a point. The more people thinking about things could help us come up with a better solution. Besides, is it really possible that Yusuke Kitagawa is secretly tied to Kaneshiro? I seriously doubt that, Makoto thought.

"He can come then. Send out the text tonight. Other than that, you should stay off your phone."

"And you should get off my back," Ren said the rude words with a joking tone, but they were still taken rudely.

Makoto looked downward.

"Er… my bad. I didn't mean it like that. I'll stay off my phone."

"Okay. H-here are your glasses, Ren," Makoto said with an embarrassed sadness in her voice while she held out the cracked glasses.

"...Thanks," Ren flatly replied as he reached out to take the glasses.

"I'm gonna go," Makoto said.

"Sorry. Goodbye. I mean- I'm sorry for saying that. I hope you have a good night.

Me too, Makoto thought as she nodded goodbye to Ren before leaving the apartment.

GRAVY

Ren Amamiya:

- Meeting at my house tomorrow. If you don't remember the address, here: _. What time works best for everyone?

Haru Okumura:

-Shall we meet at noon?

Ryuji Sakamoto:

-Bruh noon? I gotta get a least a little sleep.

Ann Takamaki:

-Then go to bed early.

Yusuke Kitagawa:

-Ah, a meeting? Will there be complimentary food?

Ren Amamiya:

-...No?

Yusuke Kitagawa:

-Then I must decline.

Haru Okumura:

-No, you're going. Everyone's going. I trust everyone's been informed on what's going on?

Yusuke Kitagawa:

-Yes, Ren is starting a gardening club. It almost feels like old news.

Ryuji Sakamoto:

-This effing guy…

Ann Takamaki:

-K, it doesn't matter. We'll fill him in tomorrow. Everyone besides him knows.

Ren Amamiya:

-No fucking around tomorrow. Seriously.

Ann Takamaki:

-Ofc. We know how important this is.

Yusuke Kitagawa:

-I've finally realized what the meeting is about!

Ryuji Sakamoto:

-Uh… how?

Yusuke Kitagawa:

-It must be a welcoming party for me.

Ryuji Sakamoto:

-Dammit.

Ann Takamaki:

-Guys, focus! Everyone can go tomorrow, right?

Haru Okumura:

-I am able to.

Ryuji Sakamoto:

-Same.

Yusuke Kitagawa:

-I must destroy this web of lies that you all have wrought. I will be there.

Ann Takamaki:

-Great! Makoto, hbu?

Ryuji Sakamoto:

-No response, huh? Ren, were you drinking again?

Ren Amamiya:

Ryuji Sakamoto:

-Oh… my god. What have you done… my eyes… the horror...

*Ren Amamiya has deleted a message*

Ann Takamaki:

-Glad I didn't download that. Does anyone know if Makoto can go?

Ren Amamiya:

-She'll be there. She gave me the idea.

Ann Takamaki:

-Awesome. Everyone, be at Ren's apartment at noon!

Yusuke Kitagawa:

-I almost forgot, I have no funds for the subway fare. Would any of you be willing to demonstrate your generosity?

Makoto was laying on her bed with her phone in hand. She had typed, deleted, and retyped a message to Sae roughly ten times, all while messages had been coming from the GRAVY chat. She had gotten the gist of the conversation after the first message, so she ended up just turning off notifications from the chat. She finally settled on something that she thought was appropriate for where their relationship was at the moment: completely dismissal of that relationship by not mentioning it. Makoto pressed send.

Makoto Niijima:

-Students have reported "criminal activity" at this address: _. They have also reported other students being blackmailed with ties back to the address. If you could send people to check it out it would be greatly appreciated.

Makoto would've put her phone down if she didn't have to submit the anonymous tip to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. She opened up a tab and navigated to the website before getting to the tip page. There was an empty text box with a 'submit' button below it. Makoto quickly typed out a message.

"There is Yakuza activity at _. People have been attacked outside of the establishment and taken in." It's technically not a lie. It's important enough of a crime that they'll have to send people to investigate, Makoto thought as she pressed send.

The page refreshed with a notification.

"Congratulations! Your tip has been submitted and will be reviewed shortly!" Makoto read aloud.

With that, Makoto was finally able to toss her phone to the side. She wasn't sure why she did, though. The day was almost over. All that was left for her was to sleep, but she knew that that wasn't a possibility. She was alone, and she would never be safe when she was alone.

Makoto began to get under the covers. It was meant to be a placebo for Makoto to feel safe. Unfortunately, placebos don't work when you know that they're placebos. Makoto knew this but tried anyway.

At least the blankets are comfy, she thought.

It brought Makoto back to just a few years earlier.

To the day her dad died.

Makoto awoke to the Sunday morning light with optimism. Sundays were always good days. She would always leave her room to see her dad sitting at a stool in the kitchen, reading the newspaper, and sipping a cup of coffee.

"Morning, Mako," he would say in his gruff yet kind voice.

"Morning, Dad. What would you like for breakfast today?" Makoto asked, her smile lighting up her face.

It was a tradition for Makoto to make breakfast for her father and Sae if she was home on Sundays. She felt proud of herself and as if she was improving herself every day. She also just liked making her dad proud of her.

"Eggs please," was the standard request from Makoto's father.

And so she would make eggs. While she cooked, Makoto and her father would discuss what was new with the both of them. Makoto would speak about school and how excited she was to attend Shujin. Her father would talk about life on the police force, giving Makoto little details so she would try and help him figure a case out. It was in her nature, and her father was happy to oblige her even if he wasn't giving her all of the details.

"I wanna be just like Daddy!" Makoto had cheered when she was a little girl. She had stopped doing it in her early teen years as she grew more unsure of her future, but her father always reminded her of it. Makoto figured that her dad felt that she wanted to be a cop deep down. Makoto guessed she did. Talking to her dad about his cases was really enjoyable.

It was also an excuse for them to spend more time together. Makoto's father was busy almost every day of the week and had little time for Makoto or Sae. She didn't hold it against him, but she still made sure to make the most of those breakfast conversations, as they were the only quality time the father and daughter spent together.

She would finish making breakfast before serving a plate to her father and keeping one to herself. They would continue their conversations while they ate. There was one time where Makoto mentioned a boy she liked. Her father hadn't let her forget about it. From that day on, Makoto's father would ask her how things were going with "that boy" or if there was a "new boy." She would get embarrassed every time.

But not anymore. When Makoto emerged from her room that Sunday, with a smile on her face and her eyes traveling the room for her father sipping his coffee, and saw Sae sitting on the couch. Makoto knew something was wrong.

"Makoto… could you come here, p-please?" Sae shakily said. It was unusual for the more confident and composed sister to stutter.

Makoto sat down, still looking for her dad.

"There was an… accident," Sae said solemnly. She refused to look at Makoto.

"What kind?" Makoto said with suspicious nervousness.

"I'm… h-how…" Sae looked upwards to the ceiling, letting Makoto see the tears in Sae's eyes. Sae cleared her throat. "D-dad was hit by a car last night. He was found this morning dead on the sidewalk."

That was when Makoto's world had caved in on itself. She couldn't cry. She couldn't speak. All she could do was listen and watch.

" They told me he died a few hours ago from blood loss. He was… he was still alive for a while before he p-passed," Sae said through sobs.

Her father had been alone on the sidewalk while he died. Makoto didn't plan for that. Any of that. She had had everything figured out: her father would be laying in his own bed at the ripe old age of ninety-four. Makoto and Sae would be at both of his sides holding his hands. He would pass on while they were with him. That scenario had a truck run right through it.

Makoto continued to listen and watch through everything in the following weeks. She would speak when spoken to and still participated in class, but it was all wrong. She watched her father's coffin lower into his grave. She listened as Sae detailed the plan going forward for both of their lives. Her life had fallen out of her control and there was nothing she could do about it.

The only consistent thing in Makoto's life was going to her room at night to sleep. It provided little solace from what was happening outside the room, but consistency was what Makoto had needed, even when she still had nightmares.

At least the blankets are comfy.

Makoto felt tears come to her eyes. The similarity between the situations was eating away at her. Her father had died alone and now she would too. At least, she wouldn't be dying. It would just be the death of living an actual life. But what mattered to Makoto was that one word: alone. There would be no one to comfort her, no one to be with her when the life she had lived until that day ended.

Makoto had gotten her wish that she had as a little girl. She would be just like her dad. In her bed, Makoto pictured herself on the sidewalk, staring up at the stars and bleeding out with not a person in sight.

There were also similar feelings going through Makoto in her bed compared to when her father had died. Her life was out of her control. All that was left was for the deadline to come and it would all be over. There was nothing she could do. Just listen and watch.

But that's not true… the police are sure to find something at the club and GRAVY will figure something out tomorrow. We have to. I have to, Makoto thought, trying to reassure herself.

It just wouldn't help. It was like her father lying on the cold sidewalk with blood pooling around him telling himself that he wouldn't die. It was pointless and she knew she was lying to herself.

Another night of no sleep fell upon Makoto Niijima.

Sunday, 6/5 - 9 Days Until Deadline

"Ren? Ren? Can you wake up?" a voice said, prompting Ren to open his eyes.

He rubbed his hands in his eyes as he sat upward in his bed. Makoto was at his bedside.

"Good morning," Ren said pleasantly.

"Mhm. You know that the meeting is in thirty minutes, right?"

"Meeting?"

"The GRAVY meeting."

"Shit!"

Ren jumped out of his bed and ran out of his room to the bathroom. As soon as he got in and locked the door, he turned on the shower and began to undress. Makoto was knocking from the other side.

"Ren? Are you alright?"

"I haven't showered in almost a week! No, I'm not alright!"

Makoto didn't respond.

Not much to argue with, not much to say about that.

Ren took the fastest shower he had ever taken. When he was done and drying himself off, he realized that he had to walk to his room to get a clean pair of clothes.

Shit. I just can't make things easy on myself, can I?

"Hey, Makoto?" Ren yelled.

"Yeah?" she said back from the other side of the door. Ren tried to pinpoint where she was based on the direction of her voice but had no luck.

"I'm gonna need my room to change. If you're in there, could you clear out?"

"Oh, of course."

Ren heard footsteps walk past the bathroom and into the living area. He wrapped the towel around his waist, carefully making sure that it was tight and tucked in.

Fuck… moment of truth. Threetwoone go!

Ren opened the door and speedily moved across the hallway. If it hadn't been so narrow, he'd have been sprinting. Once he was in his room, he quickly got dressed. He then went to the bathroom to hang the towel and put the finishing touches on his morning routine.

He came out of the bathroom to the living area to see Makoto sitting on the couch.

"11:50… good timing."

"Thanks. It took a lot of practice."

"I'm sure. Speaking of practice, I noticed you haven't done the practice assignments or lesson papers that Kawakami put together for you."

"Heh…" Ren said embarrassedly while raising a hand to the back of his head. "I was gonna do it tonight."

"Ren, it'll be due tomorrow. You're going back on Monday, remember?"

"I work fast."

"You might, but there's no way you'll complete almost a week's worth of work in a few hours. Let me help."

"Uh… you sure about that? You'll be doing half a week's worth of work."

A sad look came to Makoto's eyes before she avoided eye contact entirely.

"It'll be fine. Just let me help."

"Okay. Fine by me."

A knock sounded from the door.

I wonder who's here first? Ryuji? He is the fastest.

Ren walked over to the door while Makoto remained on the couch. Ren opened the door to Haru.

"Hello, Ren."

"Hey. Come in," Ren said as he let Haru move past. "You're early."

Haru turned back to Ren.

"My father always told me that if you're not ten minutes early, you're late."

"No offense to you or your dad, but that's definitely not something to live by."

"I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree," Haru said with her usual kind smile.

Over the next few minutes, the remaining members of GRAVY filed in. Ann arrived after Haru, with Ryuji coming shortly after. Strangely enough, Yusuke was nowhere to be found.

"What do you guys think he's doing?" Ann asked.

"Ditchin'. Think we shoulda ordered a pizza for him," Ryuji said.

"Not cool. Not cool at all, Yusuke," Ren muttered as he took a seat on the carpet in between the TV and the coffee table.

Haru, Ann, and Makoto had all occupied the couch. Ren was fine with that, as he considered himself a generous host.

Eh, that's probably bullshit. I've only really hosted a multiple guest event once and it didn't end well.

Ryuji stayed standing, giving Ren a weird look for sitting on the floor. Ren didn't give a flying fuck and started the meeting anyway.

"I hereby commence today's meeting of GRAVY. On the agenda for today: find a solution to the Kaneshiro incident. Are there any questions?"

They all looked at him. Looked down at him.

Shit. Sitting on the floor is ruining my self-confidence.

Ren reluctantly stood up. He knew it was important for him to keep things moving as the leader, but he really wanted to sit down.

"Great. First things first, Makoto, did you submit the tip to the police department?"

"Mhm. I told my sister too."

"Good. That's a good backup plan to whatever we come up with here today. Oh, I almost forgot, but we are not leaving until we are all confident in the plan. Any objections?" Ren said, his tone growing harsh and commanding.

"No, sir," Ryuji sarcastically said.

Ren just looked at him.

"Sorry," Ryuji said, shuffling his feet.

"Moving on... our first priority should be discussing Kaneshiro's terms," Ren said.

"I agree. Kaneshiro wants twenty million yen from me by the fourteenth or else he releases incriminating photos of Ren and Ryuji and... um..."

"You ain't gotta say it," Ryuji said.

"There we go. Haru, I hate to drop this on you, but a friend's life is at stake. You can pay the twenty million, right?" Ren said.

I'm a fucking asshole for this. But she should be able to pay, right? Okumura Foods is one of the fastest-growing corporations in Japan. Surely as the heiress to the fortune, she can pay. Besides, this is really, really important. I wouldn't have asked otherwise.

"It's quite alright, Ren-kun, but unfortunately, I cannot pay the money. Father keeps a tight watch over my funds and how I'm spending them. If he saw a withdrawal of twenty million yen, he would surely punish me."

"I don't want you to get in trouble for me, Haru," Makoto said with a little embarrassment.

"Hey, hold up. If you're just getting grounded or some shit, why not pay? I'd get grounded to stop my friend from becoming a prost- I mean, having her life ruined," Ryuji bluntly said.

"Woah! Ryuji!" Ann said with scalding anger.

"No, he's right," Haru said with a sigh. "I would if I could. But punishment means more than being grounded. Father has arranged a marriage for me with a detestable man named Nobuo Sugimura. He threatens to have the marriage before the end of high school if I act up."

"Shit... so why don't we stop the marriage?" Ryuji suggested

"Stop an arranged marriage in a week while leaving enough time to pay a mafia boss? No fucking way," Ren said.

"Good point," Ryuji said.

"Besides, we shouldn't be paying," Makoto said. "It would send the message that I'm a capable source of income for him. He would hook me into a loop of paying him forever or working for him."

"So paying the twenty million's out?" Ryuji asked.

"Yeah. We wouldn't be able to pull twenty million out of our asses every two weeks," Ren said. "What else was there in Kaneshiro's terms? If you don't pay, he takes you by force?"

Makoto nodded.

"Well... how?" Ren asked.

"What do you mean?"

"How's he gonna take you?"

"I would assume while I'm not at home."

"So just... stay home."

"Ren, I have to go to school."

"Stay at home in the days leading up to the deadline."

"I'll have to leave the apartment eventually."

"Stay until the police catch Kaneshiro."

"That may not happen."

"Then-"

"Dammit, you guys are just going in circles!" Ryuji yelled. "Go back. Let's so the deadline runs out and Makoto's at home. What happens?"

"Kaneshiro spoke as if he owned Shibuya. If he isn't lying, he surely knows where I live. He'll just send his henchmen to take me from my apartment."

"Oh! I have private security working for my family! What if we position a few guards outside the apartment building."

"That lowers the probability of intruders," Ren said. "But wouldn't your dad get angry at you placing guards at a place that isn't Okumura owned?"

"He wouldn't have to know. I have guards who are directly assigned to me. They report to me and the security firm they work for, not my father."

"That's a little weird, but I'm not gonna question it. Definitely do that!" Ryuji said.

Wait a minute... if Haru's got all this security, why don't we have Makoto go to Haru's house? There will be much more security and Kaneshiro won't expect Makoto to be at the Okumura mansion or whatever it is.

"Haru, can Makoto stay at your house for the time being? Kaneshiro wouldn't know that she went there and wouldn't expect it. I'm assuming there's also more security?" Ren suggested.

"You're correct about the security, but..."

"But...?" Ann wanted Haru to fill in the blank.

"My home is currently occupied. The Sugimura household is taking up residence with us until the wedding, so it will be a long time before they leave. I am not allowed to have friends over. Even if I snuck Makoto in her presence would be noticed. The servants of the household would surely notice her and they are loyal to my father."

"Shit..." Ren said.

"Wait… that wasn't a bad idea. If Makoto stays at someone else's house then she would be safe," Ann said.

"I mean, would she? Kaneshiro knows that Ren and I are involved with her. If he's so powerful he could just as easily find our addresses," Ryuji explained.

"But I wasn't there," Ann argued. "He wouldn't know that Makoto's friends with me."

Ren saw Makoto's face turn a little red but chose to continue on.

"If Yoshiro's feeding Kaneshiro information, he definitely knows that you two are affiliated. He came to the GRAVY booth on Club Day asking for Makoto. He would probably tell Kaneshiro to look into each GRAVY member's home."

"So if Kaneshiro's getting his info from Yoshiro, why don't we just trick Yoshiro?!" Ryuji blurted.

"Huh?" There was universal confusion.

"Hear me out: Kaneshiro can probably get Makoto's address with a snap of his fingers. How about we have her live in a different apartment in the same building so she looks like she's still at her normal place?!" Ryuji enthusiastically explained.

"I don't have the money to afford an apartment, even if temporary. Besides, it would still be under the Niijima name."

Ryuji grinned.

"You wouldn't need to. That's cause you'd be staying here." Ryuji said, raising his arms and looking around the apartment.

Ryuji, you idiot.

"Ryuji," Ren said with a sigh, "I thought that we already established that Kaneshiro could easily find our addresses."

"Tell me, Ren, what's your address?"

"Uh… _."

"Wrong, that's not your address. That's Junpei Iori's," Ryuji said with a smirk.

It took Ren a few seconds to realize what Ryuji was saying.

Holy shit. He's a fucking genius.