Kai's heart raced as he read Hina's message: "We need to talk." He gulped.
That wasn't the kind of message anyone wanted to get from their girlfriend, especially when she had been giving off an aura that screamed jealousy and danger earlier.
More than that, Hina was capable of anything if the problem was jealousy.
He grabbed his bag and, with anxiety gnawing at his every step, made his way toward the school gate.
He spotted Hina standing there, but something about her posture seemed... different.
She wasn't her usual confident self.
Instead, she was staring at the ground, lost in her own thoughts, arms wrapped around herself as if to ward off a cold only she could feel.
She was lost in her own world, thinking about something.
Kai hesitated for a moment.
"Is she… okay?" Kai thought while looking at her in the distance.
He cautiously approached, and when he was close enough, he softly called her name. "Hina?"
She flinched slightly, snapping back to reality.
Her eyes lifted to meet his, and for the first time today, Kai noticed something unexpected.
Sadness.
That was the first thing he saw in her eyes.
Hina'e expression was a mix of a lot of unspoken things.
It seemed like she wanted to say a lot of things... or she was probably waiting something from Kai.
The burning jealousy and dangerous intensity from earlier had all but vanished, replaced by a quiet sorrow that tugged at his chest.
After some seconds of an awkward silence, Hina sighed and then spoke.
"Let's go home," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
It wasn't the confrontation he was expecting.
No accusations, no fury, just a calm, almost defeated tone.
It sent a shiver through him, even more unsettling than if she had yelled at him.
"Didn't she want to talk...?" Kai thought in his mind.
But on the other hand, it would've been better this way.
There were lot of other things to think about.
Yet, he didn't know that Hina was waiting for something.
Kai didn't say a word.
He simply nodded and fell in step beside her.
They walked in silence, with the fresh breeze brushing past them, but the weight of the unspoken tension hung heavy in the air.
When they arrived at their shared apartment, they found Akira already there, humming softly as she worked in the kitchen.
The smell of something savory filled the air.
Kai felt an odd sense of relief after seeing her.
Akira had a way of grounding him, even if her past and presence were equally dangerous.
"Welcome home," Akira called from the kitchen, not turning around but clearly aware of their entrance. "I prepared some snack food and it will be ready soon. Take a seat."
Kai glanced at Hina, who still hadn't said a word.
She slipped off her shoes and moved to the living room, sitting down with a quiet sigh.
Kai followed and sat beside her, the tension making it hard to relax.
As they sat, Akira walked over and wiped her hands with a towel. "We need to talk about something important," she said, her voice calm but carrying a serious undertone.
She returned to her "soldier" self.
Hina finally looked up, her expression more focused now.
Akira sat down across from them, her face hardening.
"Sakura called," she began. "There's news. A gang reunion is happening outside of town, in a place called Mayuri."
Kai tensed.
He knew enough about these things to understand what was coming next.
"It's a gathering of some very dangerous people, and we've got intel that Sabushi the Brutal will be there. He's not someone we can ignore," Akira continued, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Sakura has a plan in place, but it's going to be tough. We need to eliminate Sabushi before he gains more power."
Hina's fist clenched when Akira said the name of Sabushi.
Maybe from anger.
Kai's mouth went dry.
He hadn't even begun his proper training yet, and now they were talking about taking on someone with the nickname the Brutal? It sounded like a death sentence.
"You've got the skills," Akira said, reading his hesitation. "But you need more time. Unfortunately, we don't have that luxury."
She pulled out a map and placed it on the table, pointing to an area just outside of the city.
"This is Mayuri. It's a secluded area, perfect for this kind of thing. Our goal is to strike while they're distracted by the reunion. I got this country map on a local tourist shop nearby."
Hina, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, her voice steady but low.
"Sabushi is the leader of the group responsible for—" she hesitated for a split second, "a lot of bloodshed. He's not someone we can let walk away from this."
Hina was about to reveal something big, maybe related to her past, but she hesitated.
Kai clenched his fists, a mix of fear and determination brewing within him. "What's the plan?" he asked, his voice firmer than he expected.
Akira gave a nod and a thumbs up to Kai before pulling out a detailed layout of the area.
"We strike at night. Sabushi will be surrounded by his top men, but there's a weak point in their defenses during the shift change. That's when we move in. We'll split into two teams. One will create a diversion, and the other will go straight for Sabushi."
Kai's mind was racing, trying to keep up with the details.
There was no time for fear now, not if they were going up against someone like Sabushi.
"And what about me?" Kai asked, feeling a surge of responsibility, despite his anxiety. "Where do I fit in this plan?"
Akira's eyes softened slightly, though her tone remained firm. "You'll be with me. I'll guide you through it. You're not ready for direct combat yet, but you'll provide support, and you'll learn."
Hina remained quiet, her eyes fixed on the map, like she was analyzing everything.
Kai wondered if she was thinking about what could go wrong.
They all knew the risks, but there wasn't any room for doubt now. They had to act.
Akira stood up, her expression becoming more focused.
"We'll run through the details again tomorrow. For now, eat, relax and get some rest. Tomorrow, we move." Akira said before stretching her arms. "We're gonna meet Sakura to gather some weapons tomorrow." She then added.
Kai nodded, while Hina kept looking at the map.
She was probably thinking about another plan.
The weight of the mission hung in the air as they sat around the table, the reality of what was ahead sinking in.
There would be no turning back once they stepped into Mayuri.
Kai glanced at Hina, who caught his eye for a moment, and though she still looked troubled, she gave him a small nod.
It wasn't much, but it was enough. They were in this together.