Disclaimer: I do not own Konjiki No Gash Bell!, Pokemon, Yandere Simulator, Magical Girl Raising Project, Persona, School Days, and Cross Days. All I do own is White Kingdom, the crossfic plot, and OCs.
TW/CW: This chapter contains mention of suicide, drug use, human trafficking, abuse, and bullying. There are two physical assault scenes with one of them ending up in torture. If any of this triggers you, please do not read this chapter.
Chapter 5
General Hospital, Distance, 6: 48 PM
Serena, Kaneyama, and Suzume waited in the lobby. Serena was texting Midori, Kaneyama was reading a magazine about bodybuilding, and Suzume was playing a video game on her Saikou Witch Lite. Earlier, Adachi brought the siblings to their old hometown hospital. They learned their father was in a hit-and-run accident and was currently in surgery. Adachi was visiting Dojima in a hospital room. Kaneyama closed the magazine and placed it on a glass rectangle coffee table. He scowled and crossed his arms, looking up at the ceiling. How could he enjoy reading about bodybuilding when his father was in the surgery?
"Whoever hurt our father will pay," Kaneyama muttered angrily.
Serena stopped texting Midori, and Suzume paused her gaming.
Kaneyama could feel their eyes on him. He sighed and stared toward the window. He could see the half-moon and clouds in the night sky. Suzume blinked at the half-moon. Thank goodness she had done her homework during study hall and did her class project research in the school library so she could go straight to sleep when she returned home. Serena received a text message from Midori. Suzume resumed her gaming. Kaneyama knew his sisters just distracted themselves so they wouldn't get too stressed about the situation. Kaneyama couldn't be too angry at them.
'Where is that dumb fool? I texted him earlier.' Kaneyama took out his smartphone and glared at the screen, infuriated with Eita's absence. He informed Eita about the situation via text message an hour ago. 'Don't tell me the fool's playing hooky with girls.'
Eita entered the hospital and looked around. He wasn't alone as he brought two guys his age with him. He spotted his cousins and walked towards them. Serena and Suzume stopped what they were doing and looked at him with an annoyed gaze. Kaneyama grimaced at Eita, tapping his foot, still having his arms crossed, expressing his disfavor at Eita's lateness.
"I'm sorry for being late. The boss needed extra help." Eita explained, ignoring Kaneyama's scowl. "My coworkers can confirm it."
"Yeah, it's true. The boss was so pushy about it." A guy with pale blond hair and gray eyes said. He wore a blue and yellow shirt underneath a tannish pink unbuttoned shirt, dark green pants, and black and white sneakers. He wore a purplish beanie with a small triangle symbol on his head. "I'm Haruhiko."
"And I'm Seibei," The second guy with blond hair and spiky red bangs added himself to Haruhiko's introduction. He wore a red shirt with a yellow circle design, tannish green pants, and dark gray boots with dark green laces. His eye color was dark brown. "We're Eita's coworkers."
"It's nice to meet you two," Serena smiled. Her gaze was still cautious.
"I'm glad Eita found guys to talk with," Suzume added with a tiny grin.
"What the heck is that supposed to mean, Suzu?" Eita asked.
"Never mind that," Kaneyama interrupted the chatting. "Father's been in surgery for hours now."
"Shit," Eita expressed worriedly. "It's serious then."
"It's not that serious," Serena said. "Father's ribs were broken."
"Seriously, Sere? How would someone get their ribs broken from a car accident?" Eita shot a suspicious gaze at Serena. "Oh," Eita looked back at his coworkers. "Sorry, y'all. Would you wait for me outside?"
"Sure, it's no problem," Haruhiko nodded.
"Yeah, it's quite rude for us to listen into family problems," Seibei said. "Sorry about that."
Haruhiko and Seibei exited the hospital. Suzume put her Saikou Witch Lite inside a cute pastel blue case with a blue-haired magical girl keychain attached to it and put it into her white tote bag with a chibi design of the blue-haired magical girl on it. The magical girl was from Magical Girl Pretty Miyuki. Suzume remained seated with her hands on her lap while listening to Serena, Kaneyama, and Eita discussing her father.
"Don't you think I don't know that?" Serena furrowed her eyebrows and crossed her arms. "Believe me. You aren't the only one who isn't suspicious. A gut feeling tells me Detective Adachi is hiding something from us."
"Hmph. You aren't the only one who feels that way," Kaneyama eyed directly at Serena with a questionable look. "I am also concerned about how the accident happened."
"What if it wasn't an accident?" Eita asked doubtfully.
"Umm, we shouldn't be discussing this right now..." Suzume eyed nervously at some people staring at them.
"Oh, right." Serena agreed with Suzume. "Good looking out, little sis." Serena sat down on the sofa next to Suzume.
"Damn, I forgot we're in a hospital," Kaneyama facepalmed in irritated grief.
"It happens, man." Eita sat on an empty chair. "So, how was school today?"
"We learned something new," Serena, Kaneyama, and Suzume answered the question simultaneously. Then, they looked at each other in wonder.
"Whoa, that new high school must be teaching y'all well," Eita chuckled. "Maybe I should go back to school."
"Too bad you dropped out of high school, fool," Kaneyama remarked.
"Ya need to attend night classes to earn a GED."
"Not the same as a high school diploma, man."
"Still," Serena agreed with Kaneyama. "A GED is better than having no education."
"You're right." Eita sighed in regretful grief. He shrugged his shoulders and put his head down in shame. "I should have never dropped out, ya know?"
"Don't push yourself, Eita. What's done is done." Serena patted her cousin's shoulder comfortably. "Your circumstances were unwell at the time."
Suzume knew Eita's parents were abusive alcoholics and druggies. They did not want Eita as their child and abandoned him one day. Their actions drove her father to adopt Eita into his family. When Eita was fifteen, his parents returned to his life and invited him to move back in with them. Tetsuya and Takara were skeptical of the idea, especially when there was no concrete proof of their time in rehab, but Eita advised them to let him move in with his parents and thank them for taking care of him in his parents' absence.
However, moving in with his parents was a huge mistake. He was forced to sell drugs and witnessed his father selling random kidnapped girls to wealthy clients for sex slavery while his mother degraded the victims, shaming them for their sexualities. He wanted to rebel against their disgusting actions, but they threatened to kill him, and any of their victims would be held captive in the same room as him. Because of the stress, neglect, and toxicity within his home, Eita's school grades started to drop, and Eita would get into physical fights with his bullies, who were the children of his father's clients.
After two years of his horrendous experiences, seventeen-year-old Eita ended up dropping high school and running away with the help of a few sympathizers for his cause. He ended up at Tetsuya's and Takara's doorstep, all beaten up, and burst out in tears. Suzume remembered her father holding a crying Eita in his arms, telling him things would be okay and welcoming him back into his household. Her mother patted Eita's head. Since that eventful day, Eita has changed into a better person. Eita expressed he'd never forgive his parents, and as far as he was concerned, Tetsuya and Takara were his parents. Eita still missed Suzume's mother.
"I'm sorry," Kaneyama suddenly apologized to Eita in remorse. "It was insensitive of me to tell you about the dropout thing."
"Hey, man. It's fine," Eita grinned at Kaneyama, but Suzume knew the grin was fake. Eita was still hurting from his inner trauma. "Don't worry about me. Just worry about yourself, man. Keep those good grades up. Now, I kinda feel like I should take night classes." His expression brightened. "Thanks for mentioning the classes, Takeshi."
"No problem!" Kaneyama grinned back. "If someone messes with ya, just let me know, and I'll kick their asses."
"Takeshi, please," Serena disapproved of Kaneyama's suggestion. "Violence won't solve problems."
"Just joking."
"Whatever you say, Kaneyama," Serena rolled her eyes in doubt.
Adachi exited an elevator and walked towards Serena and the others. He looked so stressed and exhausted. Everyone stopped talking and looked at Adachi, expecting an update on Tetsuya's condition.
"The surgery was a success." Adachi smiled weakly. "Mr. Mizuno is currently resting. Unfortunately, the visiting hours are over." Adachi has dark circles under his eyes. "I'm sorry."
"It is okay, Mr. Adachi. Thank you for bringing us to the hospital." Serena bowed her head gratefully. "Well, we should return for a visit this weekend."
"Yeah, it's getting late." Kaneyama yawned. "I still got studying to do."
"And I need to start researching for night classes," Eita said.
"Night classes, huh?" Adachi gazed at Eita and smiled. "Mr. Mizuno would be proud of you." Adachi took a deep breath. "I would drive you guys back home myself, but someone has to stay here and keep both eyes on your father and Mr. Dojima."
"Don't worry, sir. I drove myself and my coworkers." Eita said. "I'll take my cousins home."
"All right. See you." Adachi waved at them and headed towards the elevators.
'Mr. Adachi looked very sad. I wonder what happened to Mr. Dojima.' Suzume has a sympathized expression.
"How about I do the driving?" Serena was the first one to walk away.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Eita chuckled, following her.
"I guess Serena still doesn't trust Eita when it comes to driving, huh?" Suzume giggled.
"I guess," Kaneyama shrugged. "Let's go hit a diner and eat dinner. I'm starving."
Everyone exited the hospital and met up with Eita's coworkers. Soon, they were inside a Ford Galaxy van, and Serena drove out of the hospital's parking lot.
Horuda's house, Vicinity, 7: 02 PM
Horuda despisely glared at a drawing of her stabbing Hoshiko to death. She tore the drawing into pieces and punched her pillow in fury, distress, and bitterness while sobbing and remembering the cruelty she experienced the day.
"Stop looking at me like that, you pathetic freak!" Hoshiko kicked Horuda in the stomach while her friends pointed and snickered at her. "You got the nerve to oppose us! We heard you attempted to snitch on us!"
Horuda wasn't the only one who attempted to report the bullying. Meichi, Hazu, Chojo, Daku, Suzuko, and Kokuma also tried to do the same, but thanks to the bullies' high social status and reputation and their families' powerful influences, Horuda and the other victims knew they did not have a chance. The bullies threatened to harm the victims' families via the bullies' relatives' influences. Otome and her friends were also bullies and in an "alliance" with Musume and her gang. Horuda knew the clique groups did not like each other very much, but bullies must stick together.
'It was Koizumi who snitched on you,' Suzuko informed Horuda. 'I saw her staring at you suspiciously as you left the counselor's office, so there was no doubt it was her.'
Horuda wished for the death of all bullies, even that one bully in pink who pretended to be a bully so she wouldn't get targeted by Musume. Horuda found out Kokoro Momoiro was a victim of severe bullying in her middle school, thanks to a tip from Info-chan. Frankly, Horuda was still disgusted. Kokoro has become what she experienced. Kokoro, the former victim, has become the abuser. That kind of life cycle would never end. Horuda also learned Kokoro despised herself for being a bully, but Horuda didn't care. Kokoro still deserved retribution for her bullying ways. It doesn't matter if she was a former bullied victim.
'I hope all of them burn in hell,' Horuda has stopped punching her pillow. She pulled a diary with a lock from under her pillow and opened the diary with a key she had hidden. She recorded her experiences in her diary while still shedding tears and choking back. Her hands trembled as she wrote down every detail. She needed to write it all down so that, one day, her parents and older sister may discover the truth of her school life. 'And I hope the school headmaster and the families also burn in hell. The headmaster knew what happened and still refused to take action.'
Horuda and the other bullied victims have heard disquieting rumors about Mr. Shuyona, including the one about him despising Ayano Aishi for some reason. Mr. Shuyona wouldn't even care if Ayano was bullied. Fortunately for Ayano, the bullies seemed to fear her, so they didn't bother her and kept their distance. They did the same for Oka and Shin, despite those two being the president and vice president of the "freak" club the bullies would call the occult club. The student council was also useless; they were never around when Musume and her gang bullied Horuda and the others.
"You're a worthless piece of shit!" Musume grabbed Horuda by her hair and flashed into her eyes fiercely. "Just kill yourself! I'm sure the whole school will be happy to know you are dead."
Horuda gasped while her gray eyes widened in shock. Why would Musume say such a cruel thing to her? What did Horuda ever do to Musume and her friends? All she did was mind her business on her first day at Akademi High. Why do Musume and her friends despise her so much? Horuda panted. She couldn't breathe. Her heart was beating faster. Suicidal thoughts were coming back to her. She has sleeping pills and a knife under her bed in case. The experience of being bullied was too much for her to bear. She just wanted to end her own suffering already.
"Here is my cell phone number. Contact me if you are in trouble. You and the others are not alone." Umeji handed over a piece of paper to her before walking away.
Horuda's shaking eyes shot a look at her smartphone on her desk. She has added Umeji's phone number to her contacts. She was still perplexed about why a delinquent, out of all people, would sympathize with her. She was too traumatized and cautious to trust anyone, alone a delinquent. Horuda included her mixed feelings for Umeji and his gang in her diary entry. Should she text him and ask him how he was doing? Would texting Umeji make her feel better? She wiped her tears away and stood. She walked over to her desk and grabbed her smartphone.
'One way to find out...' Horuda took a deep breath. She touched her phone contacts and searched for Umeji's phone number. Her eyes spotted his name on the contacts in trepidation. She hesitated as her eyes quivered in fear. 'What if Kizuguchi is in the middle of a fight right now? I would be a burden to him.' Horuda's eyes watered. She bit her bottom lip hopelessly. 'I need to break out of my shell and reach someone for help.' Her shaking hands gripped her phone tightly. Her thumb accidentally clicked on Umeji's name. "..." Horuda gasped, staring at her thumb on the text option. 'There's no turning back...' She texted.
TXT: Please help me, Kizuguchi. It's me, Umetsu.
Sora's House, Vicinity, 7: 22 PM
Sora's household was quiet because his father was away. Good grief for Sora. Earlier, he helped his younger half-sister, Kanade, with her homework. His half-sister was the daughter conceived between his father and stepmother. Sora may dislike his father and stepmother, but he does care for his little sister. Kanade was currently in her second year in middle school. Kanade was born with her mother's light brown hair and amber eyes. Kanade resembled her mother more than his father, so it was no wonder why Sora could tolerate her despite his disapproval of Kanade's mother.
"Hey, Sora!" Saki entered his bedroom, holding a math book. "Can you help me with my math homework?"
"And can you not enter my bedroom without knocking on the door first?" Sora reacted, very annoyed. He was taking notes while reading a science textbook. "Go help yourself. I'm busy with my own homework."
"Geez! You're such a grouch," Saki pouted as she sat on Sora's bed, tossing her math textbook aside.
"Get off my bed."
"How about no?" Saki whined, pouting at her younger twin brother. "So, how was your day in study hall?" She asked, a teasing grin showing on her face.
"The usual. Sakamoto, Hayato, Sota, Haruto, and Sho were being idiots, and King Moron gave them detention. What's else new from that class?"
"The new girl."
"How about her?"
Sora knew which girl Saki was speaking about. The only smart thing Suzume did in study hall was suggest her group do their class project in the school library today. Ryuji and Sho couldn't go with them because they'd have to stay in the classroom after school for their detention. After Suzume, Osana, and Hanako left the study hall, a second group of nasty boys troubled Ryuji, Sho, Haruto, Hayato, and Sota, and Mr. Morooka just growled in disgust. For once, Sora could relate to Mr. Morooka's reaction to those boys. Sora and Mr. Morooka both knew what those boys did last year, and there wasn't a damned thing they could do about the boys because of influential reasons.
"Never mind," Saki sighed. "You still don't care about other girls."
"You and Kanade are the only girls I care about, Saki."
Saki was silent for a few seconds. Then, she respired and stood. "Sorry." She exited his bedroom and closed the door behind her.
Sora lowered his head in anguish. He knew the reason why Saki apologized. She triggered a painful memory that he had suppressed for a long time. Longest those monsters would keep attending the same high school as him, Sora would still hold bitterness. He gritted his teeth in revulsion and gripped his pen so hard that it broke into two pieces.
'I will never forgive you bastards for what you did to her and the others.'
Aishi Household, Vicinity, 7: 38 PM
Ayato was sitting on a sofa, flipping the channels with a TV remote in boredom. According to a classmate, an episode of Magical Girl Pretty Miyuki was rebroadcasting tonight, but Ayato has zero interest in anime. He had done homework and eaten dinner earlier, so he waited for Ayano and their mother. Ayato heard the door opening and closing. Ayano entered the living room, still wearing her white and red school uniform.
"I'm home." Ayano greeted.
"Welcome back. Your dinner plate is in the fudge." Ayato said, still flipping the channels.
"Where's mom?"
"She isn't back yet. I tried to call her earlier, but she didn't answer."
Ayano sighed. Ayato noticed his sister looked so damned exhausted. He wished the damn Saikou heiress just release his sister from their contact now. Ayano had already redeemed her horrible actions from last year. Ayato grimaced angrily, recalling a dreadful memory from his past. Why haven't those Akademi high idiots done anything about the bullying yet? At least the student council at his school had put some stop to the bullying in their territory.
"Leave him alone! He never did anything to you bastards!" Ayato stood protectively in front of a blue-haired Gaku whose arm was broken. Gaku was groaning in pain. "Pushing him off the stairs was uncalled for!"
"Mind your fucking business, Aishi! A third-year blond-haired male bully with tan skin and blue steaks on his hair scowled at Ayato. "Do something about your psycho sister! Stop getting in our way!"
"Leave Ayano out of this!" Ayato growled in rage. "Stop fucking with my friends! We're NOT your fucking playthings!"
"How dare you, a psychotic Aishi, defy me, a Rokuda?!" The bully punched him in the face.
"Ayato...Please go..." Gaku pleaded.
"Shut up, bitch!" A second male bully, a third-year with black hair and green eyes, kicked Gaku in the forehead.
"No, Gaku. I ain't leaving you behind." Ayato snarled, wiping the blood off his nose and mouth. He was now indeed furious. "Fuck you all! Come at me!" Ayato charged at the bullies, roaring in fury and preparing to deliver the first hit with his raised fist. "You're all going down!"
Mr. Shuyona expelled Ayato from Akademi High and condoned the bullies' actions. All because Ayato was an Aishi, and according to that old bastard, Aishis naturally caused problems, and the bullies were the victims. Ayato wanted to strangle him for saying such disgusting words. Soon, Roka and Kano were also expelled for their "misbehavior." Makoto transferred out of Akademi for personal reasons.
"How was your day in that shithole?" Ayato asked stormily. "I hope that old fuck did not give you any trouble."
"I did not see him today," Ayano said. "Things went on as normal." She headed towards her bedroom on the second floor.
"I'm not surprised," Ayato muttered. "Those assholes covered their shitty tracks." He turned off the TV, using his remote, and stood. "I'm fucking thirsty." He went to the kitchen and opened the fudge. He grabbed Ayano's dinner plate and two cold soda cans. He put Ayano's dinner in the microwave and activated it. He sat at the table and opened his Mr. Peter while waiting for Ayano's dinner to warm up in the microwave.
"Do you think Mother will come home late again?" Ayano entered the kitchen and pulled out a chair, sitting down. She was changed out of her school uniform. She's wearing a simple green shirt and black shorts.
"Who knows?" Ayato said, tossing his empty soda can into a recycle bin. "Mom's very secretive about her job and the hours."
"Just like our fathers." Ayano groaned. Once the microwave made the beeping sound, informing Ayano her meal was warmed up, she stood and walked to the microwave and opened its door to take her dinner plate out. She returned to the table with her dinner and sat down again. She began eating her dinner. "What a pain in the ass." She opened her Mr Peter soda and drank it.
"Yeah. Who would expect us, twins, to have different fathers?
"It is a rare case."
Ayano's biological father was Jokichi Yudasei, and Ayato's biological father was Togo Atatsuma. Ryoba did not expect to have twins. She remembered her one-night stand with Togo after having a falling out with Jokichi hours after they had sex. Still, Ryoba assured Jokichi was the father of her twins. And shit, Ryoba was in for a surprise.
"My old man wants me to take over his Yakuza business once he's retired." Ayato laughed mockingly. 'Fuck that shit."
"I'm not sure what to do once I graduate from Akademi," Ayano took a bite of her hamburger steak and chewed. Once she swallowed the piece of meat down her throat, she spoke again. "Maybe I'd attend a college in Oqaport. I heard they have a good college there."
"Least you have some plans for the future, sister." Ayato leaned back on his chair, put his legs on the table, and put his arms behind his head. "So, I heard you and that martial arts fuck are dating." He smirked. "Who the fuck was it, the leader?"
"Keep your legs off the table," Ayano frowned at Ayato in disgust. "I'm eating. I don't want to see your stinky feet."
"I'm wearing socks."
"Still. Gross ass little shit."
Ayato burst out in laughter. Ayano still has not confirmed the rumor about her and Budo dating, and he just loved to tease his older twin sister about romantic stuff. Whether the rumor was true or false, Ayato hoped Budo improved Ayano's love life. Things did not work out between her and Taro last year.
"Anyway, I should do my homework." Ayato took his legs off the table and stood. He walked out of the kitchen.
"Masuyama and I are only acquaintances, idiot.' Ayano thought bitterly. She continued eating in silence with a soured expression.
Vicinity, 7: 40 PM
Kano walked out of a convenience store carrying a white plastic bag of groceries. Kano felt the evening breeze on her cheek as she stepped under the streetlight. Kano pulled out her smartphone and checked for text and phone call modifications. She received a direct message from one of her gaming guild friends, Koyuki Himekawa, aka Snow White on Yancord. Kano quickly responded to the direct and text messages and put her smartphone away. Kano avoided text messages from her mother regarding her biological father.
'I stopped giving a shit years ago.' Kano continued her walk back to an apartment where she lived with a college-aged roommate. She was grimacing in disgust. 'Just one more year, and I'm outta here.'
Kano planned to move out of Vicinity and attend a college in a different town or city once she graduated high school. She wanted to leave this life behind her. Sure, her high school years improved once she started attending Ytiniciv High School after getting expelled from Akademi, but her mother and stepfather lived in the same town as her, and it made her physically and mentally sick to know she could run into one of them anytime.
"Tch. Whatever." Kano grumbled to herself. "I need to get home."
Kano was thinking about an old friend she had. That friend moved away from Vicinity years ago. The last thing Kano heard about her old friend was that she was in a biker gang. The old friend was two years older than Kano.
'I hope Tsubame is doing okay.' Kano thought sadly. 'I missed her. I can understand why she moved away. 'What the?' Kano spotted Kokoro from a distance and snarled with an angry growl. Kokoro was heading towards a playground park, and she was indeed suspicious. 'One of the bitch's lackeys. I wonder what she is up to. Well, I don't give a shit.'
Kano turned around and walked to a different path. She has no interest in Kokoro's night activities and doesn't want to risk walking by the playground park and catching Kokoro in a questionable act. Kano has kept her distance from Musume Ronshaku and her clique for quite a while and wasn't planning to cross paths with those despicable girls again.
'I really do despise those bitches.' Kano clenched her fists and gritted her teeth in pure rage. 'I will never forgive them for what they've done last year.'
Oqaport, 7: 48 PM
Oqaport was a harbor town located in the East. It was an eighteen-minute drive from Vicinity. Ryoba's target lived in this town. Ryoba knew the exact reason why White Kingdom wanted the person dead; to prevent the eyewitness from exposing the crime organization's deadly secrets. To think the same crime organization that helped her years ago would turn against her. She had kept her mouth shut about their involvement for years until suddenly, Calamity Mary, sent by White Kingdom, showed up at her front door one night.
Ryoba initially worked for Saikou Corp as an assassin. Her children thought she was just an office worker. She kept her real job a secret from her children out of shame and guilt. Saikou Crop also assisted her with something in the past and blackmailed her. The night before Calamity Mary showed up, Ichirou Saikou, the current CEO of Saikou Corp, contacted Ryoba and suddenly dismissed her from her job at Saikou Crop. Mr. Saikou informed Ryoba that it was just a temporary dismissal and someone else would offer her a "better" pay job.
Ryoba knew that Saikou Crop had sold her out to White Kingdom.
She did not believe the so-called better-paying job story. After all, Saikou Crop was the wealthiest corporation in the country. She doubted a crime organization like White Kingdom would be more affluent than Saikou Crop. Mr. Saikou knew Ryoba would do anything to ensure her children's safety and lives.
That sly bastard.
Ryoba arrived at Oqaport and drove to the downtown's public parking lot. Once she parked her car and turned off the engine, she took her smartphone from her black leather handbag and checked for unresponded text messages or missed phone calls. She received a text message from Ayano and Ayato. She replied, telling her children that she'd be home late again. She checked her voicemail and got a voice message from Megumi Saikou.
'I'll deal with her after,' Ryoba put her smartphone back into her purse.
Megumi requested to meet Ryoba to discuss Ayano's progress with her in person. The nerve from Mr. Saikou's firstborn child and the heiress to his corporation. Ryoba got out of her car and locked it. She walked towards the downtown. Some people were hanging out on the streets and sidewalks, and they were most likely drunks or drug addicts. Ryoba ignored them and kept walking. She ended up in front of a cafe and entered the building. She ordered a green iced tea and sat in front of the window. Crossed the street from the cafe, there stood a two-story office building.
White Kingdom informed Ryoba that her target worked in the office building, and it was the last hour of their job shift. There were still lights on from inside the building. Once the lights would turn off and her target walked out of the building, Ryoba would follow and corner them somewhere where there wouldn't be any witnesses.
A young woman with soft black hair and purple eyes walked out of the building. She had her hair tied in a bun and wore a simple oversized brown business blazer, a white dress blouse, black dress pants, and high heels. The woman also has salmon-colored highlights on her hair. The lights were still on inside the building. Ryoba assured the woman's coworkers were still working. Not that she cared because her target finally appeared.
'To end such a young life with a sense of justice.' Ryoba thought melancholicly. 'It's her life or my children's, and I'm choosing Ayano's and Ayato's lives.' Ryoba finished her iced green tea and stood. She dumped her empty plastic cup into the recycle bin and exited the cafe. She crossed the street and began to follow her target. She made sure to keep her distance from her.
She ignored the pedestrians as though she was wearing a disguise. It wasn't like they would identify her as the young woman's stalker. Ryoba wore a medium short brown-colored hair wig with curls at the end, a simple long-sleeved white shirt, a dark gray leather mini skirt, ebony stockings, and a pair of white dress shoes. Ryoba kept her focusing gaze on the target's back.
"You Aishis only feel for the ones you are obsessed with." Ichirou once told her. "So, I'm sure you wouldn't have a problem with taking a life that you don't feel for."
"You don't know a thing about my family, Mr. Saikou." Ryoba spat at him angrily. "We indeed cared about our loved ones the most, but it doesn't mean we're completely emotionless."
Ryoba was tired of this forceful life. She desired to spend time with Ayano and Ayato and reconcile with her ex-husband and lover for her children's sake, but her past demons prevented her from moving on and enjoying a regular life.
The young woman turned to an alley. This action alone confused Ryoba. Why would her target be in an alley? This was just too convenient for Ryoba. Something wasn't right. She hurried to the alley and found the young woman standing at the end, facing a brick wall, holding a smartphone in her hand, texting someone.
'I'm not asking questions. I'll just stab the woman and destroy evidence of White Kingdom's wrongdoings.' Ryoba took out a pocket knife out of her handbag. A couple of stabs should do the trick. She approached the woman quietly. 'I'm sorry, but I have to take your life for the sake of my children.'
"Ryoba Aishi."
Ryoba froze as the young woman spoke out to her. She suddenly pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Ryoba as she turned around to face her.
"How did you..." Ryoba stammered in shock. "...know, Shinobu Hioka?"
"I've been investigating you for a while," Shinobu narrowed her eyes coldly. "You were sent by White Kingdom to silence me. Just typical behavior of those bastards, using you as their tool. I almost feel pity for you."
"I...don't need your pity," Ryoba said, regaining her composure. Deep down, she was just so exhausted from the countless assassinations that she had done in the past. The guilt was eating her conscience alive. "You are right. White Kingdom had sentenced you to death by my hand."
"So, you're just going to follow orders like a mindless puppet? Your eyes are showing remorse. You don't have to keep living like a killing machine."
"How dare you?" Ryoba growled angrily, glaring at Shinobu. "You don't know a damn thing about me."
"It's true," Shinobu smiled sadly at Ryoba, her eyes expressing empathy. "I may not know you, but I do know you are working for those bastards for a personal reason. You brought a pocket knife to end my life. According to my informants, you usually used a kitchen knife or a handgun.
"I..." Ryoba stuttered. She was usually blunt. Why was she struggling to silence this woman? Her heart was throbbing painfully. She wanted to tell someone the reason why she became a killing tool for an underground crime society. She was so terrified of losing Ayano and Ayato. "...What else do you know about me?"
"Your actions from twenty years ago," Shinobu said bluntly. "at a certain high school."
Ryoba gasped, her eyes widening in terror. Her hand quivered with anxiety. She dropped her pocket knife. What happened in 1989 was one thing Ryoba feared the worst. Her life and her children would be in jeopardy should her high school despicable actions come out publicly. Again, her children were already frowned upon by that old bastard. He could hold a grudge toward her for all she cared but leave her children out of his spitefulness.
"Anything but that..." Ryoba's gray eyes were twitching in fear. "I'm sorry, but I have to take your life!" She suddenly pulled out a handgun from her handbag.
Twenty years ago, Ryoba only shed a tear when she learned Sumire Saitozaki had taken her own life. Ryoba and her friends bullied Sumire mercilessly. All because Sumire has a crush on the same boy Ryoba did.
'It was all for nothing. Sumire, I'm sorry.' Ryoba bit her bottom lip as tears started to drop from her eyes.
"Mrs. Aishi! Please don't do this!" Shinobu pleaded. "You are not a monster!
It was too late. Ryoba had pulled the trigger. A gunshot can be heard from the alley.
Kuroka's House, Yitniciv, 8: 05 PM
Kuroka was studying for a math test at her desk in her bedroom. An anime soundtrack was playing in her boombox. She checked the time on the digital clock on her desk. She had already eaten dinner and spoken to Makoto Itou in person earlier about the physical assault that occurred in their school today and took a shower when she got home from her meeting with Makoto. She could study more in the early morning. She closed her math book and notebook. She stood and stretched out her arms. She put her chair back under her desk.
"Huh?" Kuroka reacted to her smartphone ringing on her desk. She picked it up and answered. "Hello?"
Oh, it was the second in command of the higher-ups. Kuroka took a deep breath. She began explaining every detail of today's incident to the person from the other line.
"The culprits were Taisuke Sawanaga and his friends, Masanori Toyama and Ryota Matsudaira," Kuroka revealed the full names of Makoto's former friends. "...Sadly, there is no concrete evidence of the assault. Because of students' privacy reasons, security cameras are prohibited in the restrooms..." She walked towards her window and gazed out at the half-moon and the clouds in the night sky through her opened blinds as she continued speaking on her smartphone. "...We also still don't have proof of Musume Ronshaku and her clique or Otome Kanou and her friends' involvement in the assault...Speaking of Otome and her friends.." Kuroka recalled the second bullying incident and explained the details.
Kuroka ended her phone call with the second in command. She attached her smartphone to a charger and plugged it into a socket at the bottom of her desk. She closed her window blinds and lay down on her bed. She just stared at the ceiling.
'I hope my aunt will be okay in the hospital tonight,' Kuroka expressed worriedly. 'She survived a car crash with a few injuries, but still. Something isn't right.'
Kuroka rose and changed into her sleepwear. After turning off her lights in the bedroom, she lay back on her bed with a blanket on her this time. She closed her eyes, and soon she fell asleep.
Freeway between Distance and Vicinity, 8: 28 PM
Serena drove herself, Kaneyama, Suzume, Eita, Haruhiko, and Seibei back to Vicinity. They were currently on the freeway. They stayed longer in the city's diner and chatted about casual things. It was almost eight twenty in the night. Serena sighed. She and her siblings will get less sleep than usual tonight. At least Eita and his coworkers got to sleep in longer; their job shift was around in the afternoon. Eita's job hours changed as he initially worked at eleven in the morning.
"Least tomorrow isn't a Friday," Kaneyama grumbled, his arms crossed. He was sitting in the front passenger seat. "We got a stupid test on Friday."
"You still have to study through," Serena said, keeping her eyes on the road.
"Damn it." Kaneyama groaned in disappointment.
"Sucks for you, man." Eita laughed. He was sitting in the back seat with Haruhiko. "My homies and I get to sleep in for an extra hour!"
"Eita, it's not always good to be so insolent," Suzume told him, annoyed. She was sitting in the middle seat with Seibei.
"Oooh, burn." Seibei turned his head at Eita and smirked mischievously.
"Man, screw you." Eita flipped the bird, sticking his tongue out folly.
"Hey, Serena. Wanna know about what happened at our job today? Eita-" Haruhiko was about to tell a gossip, but Eita cut him off by pinching his arm. "Hey, dude!"
"Don't listen to him, Serena! Hmph!" Eita pouted, his face red with embarrassment as he crossed his arms.
"Oh?" Serena grinned. "So, let me guess? You were rejected by a girl once again, right?" Her grin went wider.
"Exactly!" Haruhiko chortled, confirming Serena's guess.
"The fuck, homie?!" Eita exclaimed in a jaw-dropper. "The betrayal!" He whined.
Everyone laughed at Eita, who was about to reveal a funny secret about one of his friends as payback when suddenly Serena gasped and pressed the van brake pedal, causing the van tires to screech loudly. Serena stopped the van in the middle of the freeway.
"What in the actual fuck, Serena?!" Eita shouted at her in dismay. "Are you trying to get us killed?!"
"Get the hell away from her!" Serena came out of the van, ignoring Eita's question.
Eita stared at the scene before him, his friends, and his cousins. There was a group of men beating up a girl in a high school uniform. She has reddish maroon hair, and her long hair is tied in a ponytail. The men flee in a panic, running to the woods. Kaneyama was enraged by the horrible sight. He rushed out of the van and was about to chase after the men, but Serena stopped him.
"Takeshi, it's too dangerous! You can't see in the dark!" Serena snapped.
"Get the fuck out of my way, Serena! I don't care! We can't let those fucking cowards get away!" Kaneyama protested, his eyes showing rage.
"The ambulance and the police are on their way!" Suzume informed as she was out of the car.
"In the middle of the fucking freeway!" Haruhiko angrily shouted in disbelief. "Who the fuck beat up an innocent girl in the middle of the fucking freeway?!"
"A group of fucking psychopaths! That's who!" Seibei shouted back.
"Everyone shut up!" Suzume reacted with disgust and checked on the girl. "She's breathing. Thank goodness." Suzume sighed in relief. "Does someone have a first aid kit?!"
"Suzume, what are you trying to do?" Serena stared at her little sister, stunned by Suzume's sudden concern for a stranger.
"What do you think, Serena?! I'm trying to keep this girl alive until the ambulance gets here!" Suzume spat.
"I got the first aid kit!" Haruhiko ran towards Suzume, carrying a first aid kit and a flashback.
"Thank you," Suzume responded with appreciation and got to work to stop the bleeding from the girl's wounds.
Cars drove by them, but no one did not stop. Haruhiko and Seibei thwarted a furious Kaneyama from chasing the culprits in the woods. Serena assisted Suzume by holding the flashlight that she had gotten from Haruhiko while her mind was racing.
First, her father was in a hit-and-run accident, and now this assault incident? Serena wanted to believe it was just a coincidence, but she had a sick feeling that her father's accident and the physical assault on the poor girl were somehow connected.
Serena's thoughts were put on hold when the ambulance and the police arrived at the scene.
'It looks like this is going to be a long night.' Serena sighed, feeling tired now.
Vicinity, 8: 45 PM
Hojiro and Daku walked home together since they lived in the same block in the neighborhood. The boys did research for a class project they had together in the public library. The library closed around eight o'clock at night, and the boys ate at a diner together. Hojiro chatted with Daku about casual topics while Daku just nodded in silence. Daku thought he and Hojiro made an odd partnership. Hojiro was the jock, and Daku was the goth. Complete opposites, regardless of their personalities, Hojiro and Daku had gotten along.
"Do ya have a girlfriend?" Hojiro asked, curious about Daku's love life.
"...No," Daku responded awkwardly.
"Why not? Even a goth deserves a girlfriend." Hojiro grinned positively. "I may not like the occult, but I don't judge people based on their hobbies and interests. I only judge them if they are horrible shitheads."
'Just like Ronshaku, Sawanaga, Katou, and their friends.' Daku scowled, feeling sick in his stomach. 'I wish I could just tell Zameshiro about their true natures.'
"What's wrong?" Hojiro gazed at his partner, concerned with his depressing expression.
"...It's...nothing."
"Hey, man. Just tell me." Hojiro condoled with Daku. "Why do you look so distressed suddenly?"
"You... wouldn't believe...me."
"Try me."
Daku did not look at Hojiro. The sports club member was one of the favored students at Akademi. How would a high-status student know the pain of a bullied and unpopular one? Why should Daku even share his unfortunate story with Hojiro?
Five men emerged from an alley and thwarted Hojiro and Daku from reaching their neighborhood.
The leader of the men had long hair tied in a ponytail. He wore a white shirt underneath an unbuttoned tan-colored blazer. He wore tan-colored pants, reddish boot shoes, and a gray necklace with a rectangle pendant. He was missing his left eye.
"What a nice evening, eh?" The leader spoke to Daku. "We need to talk, goth boy. Let's go into the alley and have a chat."
"Hold on," Hojiro stood in front of Daku protectively. "What do you want from Daku?"
"It isn't your concern, boy." The leader spoke to Hojiro coldly. "My business is with your friend."
"I ain't leaving Daku alone with you guys. This is pretty suspicious if you ask me."
Daku was very bewildered. What did these men want from him? Why was Hojiro protecting a freak like him? Daku felt so terrified that he froze on the spot, and his legs did not move an inch. Even if he gained the courage to run away, he couldn't just leave Hojiro behind. No matter how strong Hojiro's self-defense skills were, there was no way Hojiro could fight off a group of five men alone.
"Wait a second," Hojiro observed the leader's face for a few seconds, his eyes narrowed mistrustfully. "You're Weasel from the Rokuda Loans. One of Mr. Rokuda's henchmen. "
"You're correct, lad!" Weasel clapped his hands. He smirked. "Now, step aside, boy. We need to deal with this goth punk."
"I told you," Hojiro snarled. "I'm NOT going anywhere. You have to go through me!"
"Very well!" Weasel snickered. "Learn the hard way, kiddo! Grab that fucking pervert!" He commanded his lackeys, pointing at Daku.
Two of Weasel's lackeys grabbed Daku and dragged him into the alley. Daku was screaming and crying panicky. Hojiro chased after his schoolmate, but one lackey blocked and punched him in the face. Hojiro punched him back before kicking him in the stomach. Blood rushed down from Hojiro's nose, but he did not care. Daku's safety mattered to him.
"What the fuck are you planning to do with him?! He did NOT do anything wrong!" Hojiro bellowed angrily. He kept punching, kicking, and kneeing the remaining lackeys as he tried to reach for Daku.
"The goth pervert gotta learn his place." Weasel grabbed Hojiro by his hair and punched him in the face. "Watch and learn the consequences of your friend's actions, boy. He tried to force himself on the boss's daughter!"
Hojiro gasped. His body was aching from the kicks and punches from Weasel's lackeys. He coughed blood after Weasel pummeled him in the stomach. Weasel lifted his head, forcing him to witness Daku's "punishment."
"Daku would...never...do such a thing..." Hojiro spoke out anguishedly.
Daku was forced to turn around and face the wall as the lackey pulled down his pants and covered his mouth with a gag. The other lackey has a branding iron in his hand.
"NO!" Hojiro struggled to flee from Weasel and other lackeys. Weasel punched him in the stomach for the last time, causing Hojiro to fall on his knees. "YOU MOTHERFUCKERS! GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM MY FRIEND!" Hojiro was pinned down by Weasel.
Hojiro witnessed the most brutal torture. The lackey marked Daku's anus with the word "subhuman" repeatedly. Daku muffled in the most agonizing pain that Hojiro couldn't even imagine experiencing the same pain.
"You bastards...will pay for this..." Hojiro declared frail as his eyes started to droop because of fatigue. 'Forgive me...Daku.' The last sight Hojiro saw before losing consciousness was Daku's body striking the ground. '...I'm sorry...I couldn't...protect you...'
General Hospital, Distance, 9: 15 PM
Adachi was smoking a cigarette on the hospital rooftop, thinking deeply about what he could have done during the raid at Junya Kaneshiro's hideout and the attack at the police headquarters. Adachi felt so helpless and pathetic. He has a handgun in his possession, for police's sake. Adachi was so sickeningly worried about Dojima and Tetsuya. Dojima told him to head home for the night, but Adachi told him he'd spend the night at the hospital.
'What a fucking pain in the ass,' Adachi threw his finished cigarette onto the ground and stepped on it. He bent down to pick it up and toss it into the trashcan. 'I guess I should sleep in a chair or a bed if they have one for visitors.'
Adachi was about to head inside, but his smartphone was ringing. He quickly answered it after taking it out of his blazer pocket.
"Hello. Oh, hey, Narukami." Adachi smiled a little. It was nice to hear from Dojima's nephew. "...Dojima is doing okay...Yes. I'm spending the night at the hospital...All right. Be careful. See you in the morning." Adachi ended the phone call and entered the hospital. 'Time for me to crash.' He yawned.
Outside of Vicinity, in a wooded area, 9: 48 PM
In an abandoned log cabin discovered in the woods, there's a green-haired girl tied up to a chair. She has duct tape on her mouth. She was in her school uniform. The only light source was a candle on a table. This girl was Midori.
Midori reopened her eyes slowly. She looked around slowly. Where was she? How did she get to this unfamiliar place? Midori was still feeling drowsy. She tried to remember what happened that led her to this place. Her memory was foggy. She doesn't remember a thing, but she knew one thing.
'Someone kidnapped me...'
Midori's eyelids drooped as she heard the door opening, and a figure appeared before her.
Notes:
The longest chapter I've written. Holy shit.
Haruhiko (Haru) and Seibei (Sebe) are from Zatch Bell anime episodes 7 and 9 respectively.
Saikou Witch Lite is obviously a parody of Nintendo Switch Lite.
Kanade is a Yandere Simulator sibling OC.
Koyuki aka Snow White, Tsubame aka Top Speed, and Shinobu aka Detec Bell are from Magical Girl Raising Project.
Narukami is from Persona 4