Chereads / Rise to the Top: The Story of Ten Rival Gangs / Chapter 18 - A Chance Encounter

Chapter 18 - A Chance Encounter

Karin walked down the school hallway, her books clutched tightly to her chest. She couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over her as she remembered her time in the Crimson Syndicate. It had been a tough life, but it had been exciting and full of adrenaline.

As she walked, she suddenly caught sight of someone she thought she recognized. It was Kiyoshi, the boy she had once invited to join the Crimson Syndicate. He was walking with a girl she didn't recognize, but she could tell they were together.

Karin couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt as she remembered how she had tried to recruit Kiyoshi to their gang. She had been so desperate for more members, but now she realized how wrong it had been.

She hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether to approach him or not. But then she saw Foe walking towards her, and she knew she couldn't just ignore him.

"Hey, Karin," Foe said, grinning at her.

"Hey, Foe," Karin replied, returning the smile.

They walked together towards Kiyoshi and the girl he was with. As they got closer, Karin could see that the girl was looking at her and Foe with suspicion.

"Hey, Kiyoshi," Karin said, trying to act casual. "Long time no see."

Kiyoshi looked up and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw Karin and Foe.

"Karin? Foe? What are you guys doing here?" he asked.

"We're students here, just like you," Karin replied, shrugging.

"And who's this?" Foe asked, gesturing towards the girl with Kiyoshi.

"Oh, sorry," Kiyoshi said. "This is Yuna, my girlfriend."

Karin and Foe exchanged a look, surprised to hear that Kiyoshi had a girlfriend.

"It's nice to meet you," Yuna said, smiling politely.

Karin and Foe introduced themselves, and they all chatted for a few more minutes before parting ways.

As Karin walked away, she couldn't help but feel a sense of regret for the life she had once lived. She was grateful to be out of the Crimson Syndicate, but she knew that her past would always haunt her.

As Karin walked through the crowded halls of the school, she suddenly spotted Kiyoshi and Yuna walking towards her. They looked different from the last time she saw them. Kiyoshi was wearing a school uniform, and Yuna had her hair up in a neat ponytail.

"Hey, Karin!" Kiyoshi called out as he spotted her. "It's been a while. How have you been?"

"I'm good," Karin replied with a smile. "I'm surprised to see you two here."

"Yeah, we're going to school now," Yuna chimed in. "What about you?"

"I'm going here too," Karin said. "After I left Crimson Syndicate, I decided to turn my life around and focus on my studies."

"That's great to hear," Kiyoshi said with a grin. "We're trying to do the same thing with Eclipse Syndicate. We want to make a positive impact in our community."

Karin couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt as she remembered how she had once invited Kiyoshi to join Crimson Syndicate. She had been so caught up in the power and excitement of being part of a gang that she hadn't thought about the consequences of her actions.

"I'm sorry for what I did before," Karin said, looking down at her shoes. "I know now that being in a gang is not the way to solve problems."

"Don't worry about it," Kiyoshi said reassuringly. "We're just glad that you're on the right path now."

As they walked together down the hall, Karin couldn't help but feel grateful for the chance to start over. She was determined to make the most of her new life and leave her past mistakes behind.