~Small flashback from Akira's past~
*A boy, no older than fourteen, grinning up at her with an obnoxious, toothy smile.
"One day, I'm gonna be just as strong as you, Akira-nee!"
A kid too small for his dreams.
Too hopeful for the world he was in.
She remembered rolling her eyes, ruffling his hair.
"Tch. Just don't get yourself killed before then, idiot." Akira said, before patting his head like a mother does with his son.
He was one of the few people whom Akira cared for during her criminal life.
He also had a special talent for sneaking and shooting.
That boy could be a special promise.
Most of all, he became a criminal to help his family.
Akira remembers his "beautiful" smile when he carefully listened to her teaching.
But one day... that young boy broke his promise.
He always said that he would've never get killed...
...But he did.
He did.
And the last time she had held him—
He was already cold.
The blood had seeped into the concrete, the color burning itself into her mind.
Akira couldn't even tell him goodbye.
A gang war.
A mistake.
A kid who didn't belong there.
He had wanted to prove himself.
And he had died for it.
One of the few times where Akira cried.
Too painful.
But that's the destiny of a criminal... You either die or survive like a rat.*
~Back to the story~
Akira hugged Kai like she used to do with that boy years ago.
Kai felt something wet against his shoulder.
It wasn't a sob.
Akira didn't cry.
But there was something there.
Something that slipped through the cracks.
Maybe it was just his imagination.
And then—
She pulled away.
It was quick. Almost like she was angry at herself for even doing it.
She cleared her throat, ran a hand through her hair, and rolled her shoulders like nothing happened.
"Alright, brat. Enough moping." She said, before biting her lips and putting her hands on her waist.
Kai studied her face, but her expression had already returned to normal.
Like the moment had never happened.
Like she had wiped it from existence.
But he had felt it.
Even if she wouldn't admit it.
He was still confused by the sudden sign of affection.
Kai felt a glimpse of nostalgia and sadness.
"I promised myself to never care about anyone ever again but..." Akira said in her mind while looking at Kai and sighing in annoyance.
A strange tension lingered between them.
Kai could still feel the warmth of Akira's embrace, even after she had stepped back.
But just as he was about to say something—
A sound.
A soft knock at the door.
A knock that wasn't hesitant.
It was calm.
Steady.
Kai and Akira both turned their heads toward the entrance.
Akira immediately reached for the knife she had left on the kitchen counter, her instincts already prepared for the worst.
Kai didn't move.
His gut told him something was off.
Then—
The doorknob turned.
The door creaked open.
And Hina stepped inside.
Blood.
Her hands were covered in blood.
Dripping.
Trailing down her wrists.
A deep red, stark against her pale skin.
Her face?
Calm.
Too calm.
She glanced at them, blinking slowly, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
And then—
She smiled.
"I'm back." Hina said, like nothing had happened.
Kai's eyes widened in surprise at her sight while Akira didn't seem surprised at all.
"Ara-" That's all she said.
"Hina??! Is that blood?!" Kai asked with a worried tone of voice.
Hina nodded her head normally, like it was the most normal thing in this world.
"Yeah. It's blood, why? What's wrong?" She asked to Kai, tilting her head to the side.
Akira laughed.
Kai remained confused.
An embarassing moment of silence filled the atmosphere for some instants.
"What? Don't tell me that you killed someone, please..." Kai said, in a worried tone of voice.
Hina's lips curved into an "innocent" smile.
"What if I did? Are you gonna punish me~?" Hina said , teasing him.
Kai sighed, while Akira chuckled.
"You... you..." Kai tried to say, but Hina stopped him.
"Don't worry. I didn't kill anyone. I just sent those hooded guys a small message." She said.
"What have you done?" Akira asked in curiosity.
"Well... they tried to hit on me and I actually destroyed their faces~" Hina said with a proud voice. "I'm a very loyal girlfriend, you know?" She said, while looking into Kai's eyes.
Kai sighed again as he felt a shiver down his spine.
"Okay. So ? These guys are nothing more than idiots?" Kai asked.
Hina's expression became more serious in an instant.
"Nope. They are part of the Kurotaka Syndicate." Hina said, with a firm voice.
Kai's eyes widened, while Akira didn't seem surprised at all.
Then , Hina looked directly into Kai's eyes again, like she was searching for something deep down his soul.
"Kai-Kun... Is there something you need to tell me?" Hina asked, with a low but dangerous voice.
Kai swallowed some saliva as he felt Hina's pressure.
That was the perfect time to talk about Hana's plan.
And there was no escape from Hina.
Kai had to talk, tell the truth.
That was the only choice he had...
"Well... I..." ...