The afternoon sun hung low in the sky as two college students, Hiro Namikaze and Lucina Callaghan, walked out of their last class of the day. After a grueling schedule filled with exams, they had only one thing on their minds—food. Hiro, a 21-year-old architecture student, carried the weight of a past he rarely spoke about. Despite his troubled childhood, he had built a life for himself—balancing academics, a nine-to-five managerial job at a sandwich company, and his side passion for boxing.
Lucina, walking beside him, was every bit his equal. She was not only at the top of their architecture class—tied with Hiro, in fact—but also played a vital role in her father's company, Callaghan Inc. The corporation specialized in developing public-requested products, assessing their market potential before approving production. Her father, one of the wealthiest men in the city, ensured the company ran with precision, and Lucina followed suit, managing employees and maintaining quality control.
As they neared the diner, Hiro's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen—an unknown number. He hesitated, then turned to Lucina. "Go ahead and grab us a booth. I'll be in soon," he said. Lucina nodded, though she eyed him curiously before stepping inside. Hiro walked a few paces away, answering the call. The moment he heard the voice on the other end, his blood ran cold. "Well, well… been a while, hasn't it, Hiro?" The voice was low, dark, and unmistakably familiar. Hiro's grip tightened around the phone. "How the hell did you get this number?" A chuckle. "I have my ways. You, of all people, should know that." Hiro swallowed, forcing himself to stay calm. "What do you want?" The voice turned sharp. "You already know. You're coming back. And before you even think about saying no, let me make this clear—you don't have a choice. If you refuse, I'll make sure every mission you carried out with us reaches the police. Or worse… the government. Even Mission X. You have twenty-four hours to decide. You know where to find us."
The line went dead.
Hiro stood frozen, the weight of the past crashing down on him. His fingers curled into fists as his mind raced. "Aidan… after all these years, you're still the same coward." He exhaled sharply, pushing down the anger bubbling within him. Lucina. She was still waiting. He couldn't afford to let his past show—not now. Steeling himself, he stepped inside the diner.
Lucina had chosen a corner booth, watching the entrance with a concerned frown. As soon as Hiro stepped in, she noticed the tension in his posture, the distant look in his eyes. She stood up as he approached. "What happened? Is everything alright?" Hiro hesitated. Could he trust her with this? Could he risk dragging her into something dangerous? "Lucina," he said slowly, "you trust me, right? No matter what I tell you… you won't walk away?" Lucina's frown deepened, but her voice remained steady. "Hiro, we've known each other for years. Of course, I trust you. And whatever it is—if it's about your past—none of that changes who you are now." Hiro exhaled, a small, fleeting smile crossing his face. "Alright. I'll tell you. But let's eat first. Then we'll go to your place." Lucina nodded, though curiosity flickered in her eyes.
They ordered their food, and once they had eaten, they sat in Lucina's apartment, the weight of the conversation yet to come hanging between them. Hiro leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling for a moment before speaking. "At the diner… I got a call from someone I never thought I'd hear from again. Aidan Maganaga. He used to be my best friend… before I left the life we were caught up in." Lucina's expression was unreadable as she listened. Hiro continued.
"Six years ago, we were part of a gang. Not just any gang—a network connected to a larger organization. Our job was to collect debts. I was the one who got the information. If they couldn't pay… Aidan handled the rest." His voice dropped. "At first, I told myself it was just survival. But after a year, I couldn't stomach it anymore. I left. And that choice cost me everything—my friendship with Aidan… and my father's life." Lucina's breath hitched. "Wait… you're saying this wasn't just some street gang? It was connected to the mafia?" Hiro nodded grimly. "And now Aidan wants you back?" "Not wants—demands. If I refuse, he'll leak everything to the authorities. If that happens… I'll be one of the most wanted criminals in the country."
Lucina's silence stretched for several heartbeats. Hiro watched her, waiting for the moment she would pull away, look at him differently. But instead, she met his gaze, unflinching. "So… he's blackmailing you because he's too much of a coward to face reality." Hiro blinked. He hadn't expected that. Lucina crossed her arms. "I don't care what you did back then. What matters is who you are now. So… what's your plan?" Hiro stared at her, stunned by her unwavering support. Then, slowly, he smirked. "I'm going to confront Aidan. I need to find the blackmail and destroy it for good." Lucina frowned. "And you think he's just going to let you walk in and take it?" Hiro's smirk faded. "No. And I don't think I'll walk out in one piece, either." Lucina's eyes widened. "Don't say that!" she snapped, startling him. "You will come back in one piece!"
"It's not that simple, Lucina," Hiro admitted. "Last time Aidan and I fought, I barely made it out alive. And this time… it feels like it'll only end one way." Lucina clenched her fists. "I said don't talk like that! You better not do anything stupid. Promise me—promise me you'll come back alive!" Hiro hesitated. Then, with a small smile, he reached out and ruffled her hair. "Alright. I promise. I'll make it out in one piece, okay?" Lucina flushed, swatting his hand away. "Good. That's more like it."
Hiro chuckled before turning serious. "No matter what happens, you stay here. I don't want you in danger." Lucina hesitated, then nodded. "Fine." As soon as Hiro left, however, she moved to her laptop, determination burning in her eyes. If Aidan was as dangerous as Hiro said, she wasn't about to sit back and do nothing. She started digging through public records, searching for any trace of the organization. News articles, police cases—nothing. Until, finally, something appeared on a public police record. Her heart clenched as she read it. "Oh no… it can't be…"
Her fingers hovered over the keys, a terrible feeling settling in her chest. She clenched her fists. "You better come back alive, Hiro… or I'll never forgive you." A whisper escaped her lips.
"I… love you, Hiro."
(End of Chapter 1)