~~This chapter follows Haruto's events after the day at school~~
Haruto stood in front of the massive double doors, his heart pounding in his chest. His fingers twitched slightly as he reached for the handle, a cold sweat breaking out along the back of his neck.
This wasn't going to be a pleasant meeting.
Facing Sabushi after a failure was like walking into a pit with a hungry dragon.
As he pushed the doors open, the vast room swallowed him whole.
The luxury of the place was almost unnerving.
Polished marble floors, silk curtains that fell elegantly along the walls, and dim lighting that gave the room an air of decadence and danger.
At the far end of the room, sitting behind a large oak desk, was Sabushi the Brutal.
Two meters tall, his presence filled the room even as he sat still.
His broad shoulders strained against the white smoking he wore, his long black hair draped down his back.
His face, scarred from countless battles, twisted into a scowl as he glared at Haruto with those cold, sharp gray eyes.
A dragon tattoo slithered from his right eye, adding to his already fearsome appearance.
"Haruto," Sabushi's deep voice boomed, sending a shiver down Haruto's spine. "I hope you have good news. Tell me Hina has been brought back into the fold."
Haruto swallowed hard and approached the desk, his steps heavy with dread. His mouth felt dry, and despite the cool air, sweat beaded at his temples.
"I… I failed," Haruto said through gritted teeth, trying to maintain a semblance of composure. "Hina… she rejected our plan. Worse than that, she has killed a lot of men. There's no chance of bringing her back. She sees through everything, and now…" He paused, bracing himself. "Now, they'll likely try to eliminate us. Sakura Ishikawa is already planning to move against you."
The room fell into an icy silence. Sabushi's jaw clenched as his eyes bore into Haruto, reading every movement, every flicker of emotion.
His fingers drummed against the surface of the desk, a habit that always preceded something dangerous.
"You… failed?" Sabushi's voice was low and menacing. "Again?"
Haruto flinched, but didn't dare look away. He had anticipated this reaction, but knowing it and feeling it were two different things. "Yes," he muttered, almost through clenched teeth, his frustration boiling inside.
He knew that finding any other excuse would've only brought to his fury.
Sabushi stood up slowly, his sheer size casting a shadow that loomed over Haruto.
He moved toward him with measured steps, like a predator sizing up its prey.
When he was close enough, Sabushi grabbed Haruto by the collar and lifted him slightly off the ground.
"You're a disappointment," Sabushi growled, his voice like the rumble of thunder. "Do you realize how much is at stake? Hina was the key to bringing the Kobayashi Dragons back under control, and you… you let her slip away."
Haruto felt the sharp sting of Sabushi's words.
He clenched his fists at his sides, glaring at the ground.
He hated being humiliated like this.
Sabushi had always treated him like a pawn, a tool to be used and discarded at his whim.
But Haruto wasn't going to stay under Sabushi's thumb forever.
He had plans.
One day, he would be the one in control, and Sabushi would kneel before him.
But for now, Haruto held his tongue.
"I—I'll fix it," Haruto stammered, trying to regain his footing. "I can still be of use to you. Hina is one problem, but we can deal with her another way. Kai, her boyfriend, is the weak link. If we push him hard enough, we can break them apart."
Sabushi released him with a forceful shove, and Haruto staggered back, barely catching his balance.
"You? Fix this?" Sabushi sneered. "You've already lost the element of surprise. Now they know you're working for me. Hina will be on high alert, and Sakura… that woman is more dangerous than you can imagine."
Haruto's jaw tightened.
He despised being talked down to, but there was truth in Sabushi's words.
He had failed, and now the situation had escalated far beyond his control.
Sabushi began to pace slowly around the room, his mind already turning to the next move.
"Sakura will come for me, of that I have no doubt. She's meticulous, calculating… but predictable. I've been expecting her to make a move for some time now." Sabushi said, with a very angry but calm tone of voice.
Haruto watched as Sabushi's mood shifted from rage to cold, calculating strategy.
He had seen this side of Sabushi before.
The man was ruthless, but he was also a tactician.
Sabushi didn't survive this long by relying on brute strength alone.
"We need to draw her out," Sabushi continued, speaking more to himself than to Haruto. "She'll think she has the upper hand, but we'll set the stage. Make her believe she's in control. And when she least expects it…"
He slammed his fist into his open palm with a loud thud, sending a clear message of what was to come.
"But what about Hina?" Haruto asked, rubbing his sore collar and glaring at Sabushi with resentment. "She'll be a problem."
Sabushi chuckled, his sharp eyes gleaming with malice. "Let her come. Hina's loyalty to that boy makes her predictable. She's a warrior at heart, but her emotions make her weak. We'll use that against her."
Haruto clenched his fists, anger rising in him once more. "And what about me? You treat me like a failure, but I know I'm the one who should lead this gang. Not you."
Sabushi paused mid-step, turning slowly to face Haruto with a dark, threatening smile.
He liked his "dream".
"You? Lead the gang?" he laughed, the sound low and menacing. "You barely manage to follow orders, let alone lead. But dream all you like, boy."
Haruto's face flushed with fury, but he kept his mouth shut.
One day, Sabushi would regret underestimating him.
But not today. Today, he would bide his time.
"The only one who could truly lead this gang was Hina." He said, while giving a deadly glance to Haruto.
The young man could feel his anger and envy towards Hina growing inside of his heart.
His plan to control the Kobayashi dragons was becoming more complicated to accomplish.
"Get out of my sight," Sabushi growled, his voice filled with finality. "I have a plan to formulate. And you… try not to screw up any more than you already have."
With clenched fists and simmering rage, Haruto turned and stormed out of the room, his mind burning with thoughts of revenge.
One day, he would rise above Sabushi.
One day, the Kobayashi Dragons would be his.
And Sabushi… Sabushi would bow to him.