---January 18 , 2023
---At Kyoto prefecture, Japan
A soft breeze rustled through the trees as the bell rang, signaling the end of classes for the day. A boy in his early teens, carrying a worn backpack, walked through the backyard of his school, lost in thought. The sun cast long shadows across the grassy field, but as he approached a group of boys lounging by the fence, the atmosphere changed.
The boy dropped his bag, his eyes narrowing. The group, noticing him, smirked and stood up. Their leader, a tall boy with a smug expression, stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with malice.
"Hey, look who it is! Little Soya," the leader called out, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
The other boys laughed, closing in around Soya. The leader, whose name was Daichi, crossed his arms and leaned in.
"So, Soya, got the money?"
Soya clenched his fists, trying to keep his cool. "I don't have any money for you, Daichi. Leave me alone."
Daichi's smirk widened. "Oh really? Mommy couldn't spare a single penny for her precious boy?" He stepped closer, his face inches from Soya's.
"Maybe your daddy didn't leave her enough, huh? Disgraceful old man."
Soya's face turned red with anger. He opened his mouth to retort but hesitated as his father's voice echoed in his mind
(Will you just be a filthy coward Soya. What did I thought you?,)
Taking a deep breath, Soya straightened his back. "Don't you dare talk about my father like that."
Daichi laughed, a cruel sound that echoed across the yard. "Or what, Soya? What are you gonna do about it?"
The tension in the air was palpable as Soya stood his ground, his mind racing. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, but he knew he couldn't back down now. His father's words fueled his resolve.
Before Daichi could say another word, Soya lunged forward, shoving him back. Daichi stumbled, momentarily taken aback by Soya's sudden burst of courage. The other boys gasped, unsure of what would happen next.
Daichi regained his balance, his face twisting with anger.
"Damn you Soya!—..." he snarled, raising his fist.
In an instant, the entire group ganged up on Soya, fists and feet flying as they overwhelmed him. Soya tried to fight back, but the sheer number of them made it impossible. He was knocked to the ground, feeling blows land on his ribs, his back, his face.
"Enough!" a teacher's voice rang out, cutting through the chaos.
The group quickly dispersed, leaving Soya lying on the ground, bruised and battered. The teacher, Mr. Watanabe, approached with a stern look on his face.
"Daichi, Soya, my office. Now."
As they followed Mr. Watanabe, Soya felt a mixture of relief and apprehension. He had stood up for himself, but he knew this was far from over. Daichi would be looking for payback, and Soya needed to be ready.
---Some time later...
Soya sat in Mr. Watanabe's office, nursing a swollen cheek and a bruised ego. Daichi sat across from him, glaring daggers. Mr. Watanabe paced back and forth, clearly frustrated.
"What happened out there?" Mr. Watanabe demanded, his voice tense.
Daichi immediately pointed at Soya. "He started it! He attacked me!"
Soya's fists clenched, but he took a deep breath. "He was bullying me, Mr. Watanabe. They were mocking my family."
Mr. Watanabe sighed, rubbing his temples. "Soya, I understand you were provoked, but you need to control your actions. This kind of behavior is unacceptable. You're risking your place at this academy."
Soya looked down, the weight of his teacher's words sinking in. He knew he couldn't afford to get expelled, not with everything his mother had sacrificed to keep him in this school.
Daichi smirked, satisfied with Mr. Watanabe's reprimand. Mr. Watanabe noticed and turned his stern gaze on him. "And you, Daichi, this isn't the first time you've been involved in something like this. Consider this your final warning."
Daichi's smirk faded, replaced by a look of annoyance. "Yes, sir."
As they were dismissed, Soya walked out of the office with his head low. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Mr. Watanabe looking at him sympathetically.
"Soya, I know it's tough, but you have to find a way to rise above it," Mr. Watanabe said quietly.
Soya nodded, though his mind was still racing. He had stood up for himself, but at what cost
Later that afternoon, Soya exited the school, his body aching from the earlier fight. As he walked towards the gate, he saw a familiar figure waiting for him. It was his mother, Yukiko.
"Soya!" she called out, rushing towards him. Her eyes widened in concern as she saw his bruised face. "What happened to you?"
Soya sighed, trying to hold back his frustration. "Just some boys at school, Mom. It's nothing."
Yukiko shook her head, pulling out a small towel from her bag. "You need to be more careful. You're too reckless." She gently patted his face, her touch soothing despite the sting of the towel against his bruises.
Soya winced slightly but didn't pull away. "I'm sorry, Mom."
Yukiko looked at him, her expression softening. "I just don't want to see you get hurt. Let's go home and get you cleaned up, okay?"
Soya nodded, feeling a mixture of guilt and relief. As they walked home together, he knew he had to find a way to protect himself without causing his mother more worry. He had to be strong, not just for himself, but for her too.
---Some time later...
Hours later, as the evening settled in, the kitchen of Soya's home was filled with the comforting aromas of dinner cooking. Yukiko was bustling about, preparing the meal, while Soya sat in the living room, idly flipping through television channels.
He stopped when he reached a news channel. A female reporter appeared on the screen, her expression serious and slightly apprehensive. She adjusted her papers and looked directly into the camera.
"Good evening, viewers," she began, her voice clear and composed.
"I'm Akemi Ikari, reporting live for NHK News. Tonight, we have an unsettling update regarding a high-profile patient who recently awoke from a seven year long-coma and has now mysteriously disappeared from his hospital bed."
Soya's interest sharpened, and he set the remote aside, his attention fixed on the screen.
"The circumstances of his disappearance remain a mystery," Akemi continued.
"There's no evidence of his exit captured on security footage, and no witnesses have come forward. It's as if he simply vanished."
She took a deep breath before adding, "Alongside his disappearance, a letter was found on a bedside table in his hospital room. The words of this letter are rather..."
Soya leaned forward as Akemi reads the letter with a slight tremor in her voice:
"'[The play goes on, and the shadows I've cast will stretch far beyond my presence.]"
She paused, allowing the ominous words to resonate with the audience. "These words have left both authorities and the public deeply concerned about what might lie ahead. The police are urging anyone with information to come forward."
As the news shifted to other topics, Soya sat back, his thoughts swirling. The mysterious and threatening tone of the letter unsettled him. He glanced towards the kitchen, where Yukiko continued her cooking, oblivious to the news.
Deciding to shield her from the disturbing update, Soya kept his concerns to himself.
"Everything okay, Soya?" Yukiko called out, noticing his quietness.
Soya forced a smile and responded cheerfully, "Yeah, Mom, everything's fine. Dinner smells great!"
He turned off the TV, feeling the weight of the mysterious letter's implications. The shadows of the past, it seemed, were still long and looming, and Soya felt the chill of their reach even in the safety of his home.
---Meanwhile...
---At a random casino in Nagoya Aichi, Japan
As the doors of the casino swung open, the imposing figure of Kazuo Himura, decked in a black coat and hat, made his way inside. The atmosphere thickened with tension as his entry was followed by the wary gazes of dozens of men, all aware of their debts to the notorious gang boss.
By his side, his trusted lieutenant, Tatori Ishioka, strode forward, his demeanor unyielding as he scanned the room.
"Boss," Tatori announced, a clear signal that business was about to commence.
Kazuo's eyes swept across the crowd, a slight smirk playing on his lips as he observed the unease his presence inspired.
"Let's keep this brief," Kazuo directed, his voice smooth yet commanding.
"Tatori, show me who we're dealing with tonight."
Obliging, Tatori took charge, his voice resonating through the casino as he addressed each group of men.
"Gentlemen," Tatori says, his voice a blend of respect and authority,
"allow me to introduce our leader, Kazuo Himura."
The men's reactions varied—some nodded respectfully, others couldn't hide their apprehension. Kazuo, observing all, let out a soft chuckle at their silence, a sound that seemed to echo ominously through the room.
"Seems like some of you thought you could evade your obligations," Kazuo mused aloud, his eyes locking onto those who dared to look away.
"A costly mistake." Kazuo says with an darting eye
Kazuo's smirk widened as he made a subtle, yet unmistakable signal to his men—a discreet flick of his wrist. This quiet gesture was all it took; the Mens understood immediately.
With a final, piercing glance, Kazuo turned and left the casino, his exit as deliberate as his entrance. Within moments, the casino erupted in Gunshots behind him, the sound of gunshots mingling with the clatter of casino chips. Inside, the casino returned to its hustle, but the air remained heavy, imbued with a newfound respect—and fear—of Kazuo Tanaka.
---Some time later...
---At Kazuo's hideout office
Kazuo's fingers paused over the bills as the door to his office swung open. His informer, Kai, stepped in briskly, the urgency in his stride matching the gravity of the news he carried.
"Boss," Kai began without preamble,
"I've confirmed the Status of Kenji and Ryujin." He held Kazuo's gaze, ensuring the full weight of his words sank in.
Kazuo leaned back in his chair, interest piqued.
"Both of them? That's significant," Kazuo commented, a hint of surprise in his tone. "Explain."
Kai nodded, delving into the details.
"Kenji was killed by a gunshot to the chest at exactly May 2016 — here," he said, producing a photograph from his folder and sliding it across the desk towards Kazuo. The image showed a crime scene, Kenji's lifeless body stark against the backdrop.
"And Ryujin?" Kazuo prompted, his gaze lingering on the photo before shifting back to Kai.
"Died in prison," Kai continued, his voice steady.
"Lethal injection in June 2016. He was convicted for committing two Mass attacks in Tokyo, such as Shinjuku and Shibuya" He handed another piece of paper to Kazuo, this one bearing a photograph of a simple, somber tombstone with Ryujin's name etched into it.
Kazuo's eyes narrowed as he absorbed the information, his mind already racing with the implications.
"They were on the run for years. To think it would end like this for them," Kazuo mused aloud, his tone a mixture of contemplation and satisfaction.
Kai, sensing the shift in Kazuo's thoughts, added,
"I've also got the current addresses and details of Ryujin's family." Kai produced another set of documents and laid them in front of Kazuo, who began scrutinizing them immediately.
A smirk slowly formed on Kazuo's face as he considered the opportunities this new information might afford.
"This family," Kazuo mused, tracing a finger over the names Yukiko and Soya listed on the page. "They might still be useful to us."
"Should I make arrangements?" Kai asked, ready to act on whatever directive Kazuo had in mind.
Kazuo nodded, his expression hardening with resolve. "Yes, prepare a team. It's time to remind everyone what happens to those who cross us or leave loose ends."
Kai acknowledged the command with a sharp nod, turning to leave the office as he buttoned his coat. The air around them seemed to thicken with the brewing storm of retribution Kazuo was about to unleash.