"When it comes to selfish desire, humans are greater evil than devils."
The plane touched down in America, and Leon, Manabu, and the others stepped off, all dressed impeccably in suits. The sun was bright, casting long shadows on the tarmac where numerous luxury cars and planes were parked. Guards and well-dressed individuals were lined up for their arrival. Leon, exuding an unusual aura of normalcy, motioned for them to walk forward.
"You're about to meet someone special," Leon whispered to Manabu. "So, try not to talk too much."
As they walked through the welcoming crowd, they were handed flowers and ushered into a waiting car. Roy, an Indian man who seemed older than Leon yet addressed him as "Master," greeted them enthusiastically.
Leon, grinning and making jokes, appeared to be a completely different person. Manabu couldn't shake off the realization that behind this facade lay a psychopath. The car stopped, and a guard approached them.
"Mr. Leon, please surrender all your weapons," the guard said sternly. "We know you have some."
"Did Kami tell you?" Leon asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Exactly."
Leon began disarming himself, pulling out various knives, including a professional knife, a dagger, and even a meat-cutting knife. "Make sure you deliver these to my home. This Japanese knife is expensive and useful for cooking," he remarked, handing over the blades from his collar, sleeves, and shoes. Finally, he pulled out a gun from his back. "That's all," he said, and the guards let them proceed.
They drove through the bustling streets of Los Angeles, and Leon received a call. "We can meet Kami later. We have enough time to enjoy ourselves. Let's go to the beach."
At the beach, Leon was a whirlwind of activity, riding jet skis, swimming, and even riding a sandbike. Manabu and the others watched in disbelief, unable to reconcile this carefree demeanor with the serial killer they knew.
After some time, they arrived at a beautiful white house. The scene was idyllic, with children playing, old men chatting, and everyone seeming genuinely happy. It was like paradise. They were ushered inside the house, which was equally stunning.
A man in a suit, wearing a Buddha mask, greeted them. "Welcome," he said warmly. "Manabu, please come forward."
Manabu hesitantly stepped forward and introduced himself. The man hugged him, his embrace warm and comforting. "Who are you?" Manabu asked, confused.
"I am your father, Manabu," the man said with a calm tone.
The room fell silent, shock etched on everyone's faces. Mion was the first to react. "You're lying! Everyone here is lying!"
Kami, as he introduced himself, remained calm. "No, I am not lying. Manabu is my son."
Manabu demanded proof, but Kami's response was simple. "What could be more convincing than a father recognizing his own son?"
Mion was speechless, feeling a strange mix of emotions. Just then, a girl burst into the room. "Dad, can I go out with friends? Wait... Manabu?"
Kami smiled. "Yes, he is."
The girl, Sasha, ran to Manabu, hugging him with tears of joy. "It's really you!"
Mion, feeling a pang of jealousy, pushed her away. "Who are you?!"
Sasha replied, "I am Sasha, his sister. We are siblings."
The revelation left everyone stunned. Leon, too, was taken aback. Leon now understood why Kami had been so desperate to find Manabu. He wanted his son safe, using all resources at his disposal, including him.
Sasha was overjoyed, thinking about how she could now get back at the bullies with her brother's help. Manabu and the others were still trying to process the family dynamics. Then Sasha asked, "Where is grandmother?"
Manabu asked, "Who's grandmother?"
She replied, "She used to live with you, right? So where is she?"
Everyone went silent, and Manabu replied, "She is no more."
Sasha felt a little sad, as did Kami. Then Kami mentioned having a meeting with the American president about the current conditions of the world. "Be careful and enjoy," he said before leaving.
Sasha took them on a city tour, her excitement infectious.
"Stop jumping like a rabbit," Leon chided.
"I like rabbits. Got a problem?" she shot back. She asked a barrage of questions, turning to Mion at last. "Is she your girlfriend, Manabu?"
Embarrassed, Manabu stammered, "No, she's not."
Sasha noticed Mion blushing after the question and teased, "Look, she's blushing. I knew it, she likes you."
Mion replied nervously, "No, it's not like that!"
Sasha teased her again by saying, "Don't worry, Manabu, you'll find even better chicks than her."
Mion, flustered, protested, "No, what chick? This is not right..."
As they toured the city, Sasha shared more about herself. Suddenly, she stopped and turned. "By the way," she pointed at Leon, "you're not coming."
Leon frowned. "Why not?"
"Because you're a scum. I hate you. Dad just told you to monitor me since he trusts you, but you made fun of me and bullied me instead. Remember when you said I smelled like coffee? Or when you called my drawing of a cat a wet owl with a clean shave?" Leon pulled out her drawing and showed the picture of her drawing on his phone.
Manabu and the others stifled their laughter. Sasha felt embarrassed, running to Manabu with dramatic tears, saying, "Oh my brother, you are supposed to protect your sister, aren't you?"
Manabu asked, "Protect from what?"
Leon asked, "Why is she so dramatic?" She replied, looking at Manabu, "That man is creepy, and he always bullies me. Last time, I told him to feed the chopped carrot to the rabbit, but instead of giving it to the rabbit, he put the carrot in my mouth. 'Didn't you say to feed the hungry rabbits? I am doing my job,'" she mimicked Leon's voice.
Leon sighed, "Fine, I'll stay behind."
He took his leave but while walking, he called someone and said to keep their eyes on them.
They spent the day at the park, riding roller coasters and having fun. Mion was scared of the roller coaster. She resisted, but Sasha made a plan and put her beside Manabu. The whole day finished, and Manabu noticed that Mion seemed down. Manabu tried to cheer her up. Sasha, noticing the dynamic, teased Mion again. "If he had shown this much care to someone else, they would have fallen for him already."
Manabu blushed. "What?! Where is this coming from!?"
Later, Sasha asked about her school. "So, you're a student of Imagineers Academy?"
"Yes, it's pretty impressive," Sasha replied.
Mion, curious, asked, "What's your relation with Leon?"
"Well, Leon is like my teacher and monitor. He is pretty smart. He is also in the same class as me."
Mai said, "How cute and romantic~"
"No, it's not like that—he's just a classmate and a friend. Nothing else," Sasha said firmly.
Mion asked her with cold eyes, "Really? It's better if you are telling the truth."
Sasha turned, "Why would I lie?"
"I just thought you might like him," Mion pressed.
Sasha's voice turned cold. "Who would like a murderer and rapist like him..."
The words hung heavy in the air, shocking everyone.
To Be Continued...