Impulse

'Just 5 more days...' Yuuto chanted joyfully in his mind.

Things were going... well.

That night, when Sendo went to talk to Himiko, Kyoya visited after his working hours were over. Just as Himiko was about to ask him about why he didn't answer her phone calls and messages, and, of course; the truth she had just heard about Haruto, Kyoya seemed too angry about that inspector. She stopped herself from sharing.

The movie night continued as usual, ending with sweet love, as you'd expect. With Himiko deciding to keep today's events and the truth Sendo brought to herself, her worries grew. Or at least, that was what Yuuto had seen through the hidden cameras he had installed in their house.

It seems that Kyoya hasn't caught on that the 'inspector' always seems to choose the least comfortable time for him and Himiko. Never seems to get how the inspector always calls whenever he has a plan set with Himiko. He always brushed it off as coincidence, inconvenience, and the luck that the corporate world - a world he wasn't used to, brings.

Everything seemed to flow in Yuuto's direction... Almost too smooth, the flow of the universe, these past 25 days.

'It's all part of THE PLAN, man. Can't you get it? This is what careful, careful planning achieves. And that cuck follows my routine regularly. You can actually see him getting stronger and more resilient. I get that questioning myself is important, but this is just how smart I am. Kyoya is too dumb to see that he's being played. It's like I always said; if we do it subtly and carefully, the climax is going to be fantastic...'

Yuuto thinks to himself, confusing 'overly cliche' with 'climax'.

'Oh, hush it, now. The weather is getting worse, as I predicted. I already bought the ferry tickets for 5 days later for them all. The plan is to reveal everything to Himiko, make her fall off the boat, during a rainstorm and have Haruto, the now-above average swimmer, save her from drowning while I deal with Kyoya and his men. It's perfect.' Yuuto thought. Already tasting the intoxicating flavor of triumph as he sat inside the empty internet cafe, glancing outside. 'Smells like rain... Sounds of droplets. Just my style. No NTR antagonist can see me sneak up to them in the rain. Ahh..' He sighed, stretching all of his limbs in comfort, wearing his usual attire and costume.

'It's so rainy outside, isn't it?'

....

'Isn't it...?'

Yuuto thought to himself, waiting for an answer.

'Oh, come on, don't leave me hanging here.' Yuuto thought, speaking to no one.

'After everything that happened, you're still not fun. Like, at all. Come on! For once, agree with me here. Made the effort, the guy is picking himself up from the rubble, he's gonna get the girl in 5 days. Everything's falling into place. I'm not worried. Because I did everything to a tee. I executed the PLAN, to a tee.' Yuuto's thoughts wrestled with some nonexistent ghost of his making, as the rain began intensifying outside.

Yuuto slid his palm down his face with a sigh.

'Fine. Have it your way, as always...' He spoke in his mind, looking outside; seeming almost hypnotized - as if trying to glimpse a single raindrop before it hits the ground.

  "... As always," He muttered. Adding yet another sigh.

'I wonder if it's raining in America. My big sister hates natural disasters so much, she just had to move away to a college abroad. Would be cool to visit once she finds a man to settle with. Heh, good luck with finding a guy who can beat Dad in an arm wrestle match; some big honcho American or not. Even *I* couldn't beat dad in a match yet.'

Yuuto looked briefly at his sturdy palm, moving it around and clenching it a bit.

'A marriage in America... I ain't coming if that boyfriend of hers doesn't pay for my flight ticket. Regarding the little shit-... Erm... My little sister... I bet she's having the time of her life there, since she went to visit my older sister with our parents. Well, even when she's here, she practically lives outside. Staying at some friends' houses, or travelling with them. The nerve of that little shit, mocking me for staying a year twice even though *at least* ONCE wasn't ENTIRELY my fault. So what if you're already in college and I'm in high-school even though you're two years younger than me? WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO QUESTION YOUR OLDER BROTHER?!'

Yuuto chuckled to himself.

'...5 months, and I'll graduate as well. I'll have to, this time.' He made a mental note, as he shifted his gaze to the downpour outside the cafe.

'I doubt I'd be able to sustain myself by doing my righteous, kind, sophisticated calling all the time. I'll have to actually join the corporate world.... Much like that scumbag, Kyoya - I'll probably have trouble adjusting.' Agreed. Although a job at the local McDwandles should be easy enough for Yuuto. Since it doesn't require much brain-power from him.

'Heh, spirited again, are we?'

'Yep... The universe keeps moving. Time, flowing... I hate to admit, but I won't be able to be around forever. I won't be able to protect NTR victims for all eternity.'

'I guess I'll take in someone. Show them the ropes and teach them the value of Anti-NTR. I should write a bible or something. There truly is a need for that with all the NTR that reaches mainstream nowadays.' No, please don't. PLEASE DON'T RUIN THE YOUNGER GENERATION WITH YOUR DELUSION.

'Sendo's a good choice... Nah, he's just a kid. He's not too bright, either. And by the time we're 40 or 50, we're gonna be practically the same age. Gonna take a protégé once I'm much older, then-'

Yuuto's line of thought was cut. Something caught his eye.

"Hmmm...?"  Yuuto had over 20 tabs of internet instances open as he sat down the internet cafe. 18 of the tabes were viewing footage of hidden cameras he had installed in discreet places, surrounding his own residence, Sendo's - just in case he was somehow found, even though Yuuto hadn't asked of him much afterward, Himiko's, and Kyoya's gym; which was also where Kyoya resided. Keeping tabs on all of his men was a chore that was beyond Yuuto's budget, but he figured as long as he kept that Kazuki character and Kyoya in check, all was good.

9:10pm, the incident is set in motion.

"What the hell...? What are these pea-brains up to?" He muttered, seeing just over 20 people leaving the gym, following that Kazuki character, mischief and evil in their eyes. Seeing them all together didn't quite fit. 'Why are they suspicious...? Hmm... It ain't the first time I've seen them together. But this time... Feels different. Intuition? Due to my vast experience?' Fat chance. Considering his 'vast experience' comes from his own delusions.

'Well, it couldn't hurt to check... Ah, I didn't bring my coat,' Yuuto left the internet cafe after having closed all the tabs, and deleting the history. Wearing only his long-sleeved white shirt and his sweatpants, along with some sneakers.

'What a lack of foresight...' He thought, gradually getting wetter as he walked through the storm.

9:27pm. 

Amid the labyrinthine alleyways and dimly lit corners of the city, a nefarious plan was unfolding; with Kazuki, having reached the end of his tether, at the center of it all.

"FELLAAAASSS~~~~!!! That bastard Kyoya isn't himself anymore~!!" He declared to the crowd, venom and spite in his tone, with the crowd bellowing in agreement. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them all, Yuuto was hiding behind a nearby dumpster, listening in with a keen ear - attempting to make sense of Kazuki's words. "Correct me!! IF I'M WRONG! But we have a plan in motion, a deal we struck, don't we!!!?" The crowd roared. Yuuto had a fleeting thought at how the rain seems to muffle their loud shoutings. Wondering, for a brief moment, if they were waiting for this type of weather to rally. "AND WHAT KIND OF MEN WE'D BE... IF WE DON'T KEEP OUR END OF THE BARGAIN!!!? I'LL TELL YOU!!! WE WON'T BE MEN, AT ALL!!!" The mob's screams intensified, despite the cold environment - the heat in their eyes burnt at Kazuki's every word. 

'He sure knows how to incite people...' Yuuto thought to himself as he gazed at the scene.

"That whore..." Kazuki continued, looking at the concrete ground with enthusiasm as he pointed to the sky.

'...?' Yuuto leaned in.

"..-KYOYA'S NEW WHORE...!!!"

'..!!!'

"SHE TURNED HIM SOFT..!!! SHE MADE A SHEEP OUT OF A LION!!! Ever since meeting her, that guy actually believed... HE ACTUALLY BELIEVED THE LIKES OF US COULD GO LEGIT!!! US!!!" They all exploded with laughter "IN ESSENCE, SHE HAD KILLED OUR LEADER!!! SHE INTENSIFIED HIS DELUSION!!! A TARGET HAD KILLED OUR LEADER!!!" His voice nearly cracked as he raised his tone, screaming to the heavens as he pointed a fist at the heavy, dark rain clouds.

'Don't tell me this is what I think it is... Shit...!!' Yuuto, despite not wearing any warm clothing, could separate the sweat rushing down his skin, his nervousness rushing it out of his glands, and the rainwater.

"AND WHAT GOOD SUBORDINATES DO WHEN THEIR LEADER IS DOWN FOR THE COUNT!!!? THEY FINISH THE JOB THEMSELVES!!! AND TAKE REVENGE!!! LET'S ENJOY THE NIGHT WITH THIS BITCH!!! YOU'VE ALL SEEN KYOYA'S VIDEOS~..!!!" He emphasized the end of the last word in the sentence, causing them all to scream and shout as if they were all soldiers, hyping each other before charging into war.

The plan was crude, tactless and forward. But sinister in its simplicity. Yuuto leaned, resting a keen ear as Kazuki elaborated: Abduct Himiko, drug her with something that intensifies her senses and raping her; essentially, creating the illusion of delight and joy... and send the footage to both Haruto and his father.

In short... NTR, in its purest form - as Yuuto would describe it. And they're planning to do it now.

'Fuck... Who woulda thought... Is it that drug again? Or something else? Just kidding. Of course, I calculated things could spiral out of control like that. No biggie. I'll just turn around, go over to my house, grab my bat real quick and take them down before they could get to Himiko's house. This time, they got a lot of numbers, but I gotta do what I gotta do... I'll formulate a plan of attack as I walk-'

Yuuto's steps hesitated, a sense of déjà vu overcoming him as he treaded through the alley. It wasn't just any alley. It was that alley, the one that Himiko always took on her way home from work. But why was he here? His thoughts were disrupted by the rain, making it hard to focus.

Then, realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. He pulled out his phone and glanced at the time.

9:35pm.

The very time when Himiko usually passed through this very alley after her overtime shifts. Panic rose like bile in his throat, and he instinctively turned back toward the mob, catching snippets of a distressing conversation.

"Ohh, missy~! Come have a little fun with us," one jeered.

"You've got the wrong idea! Who are you?!" Himiko's voice was unmistakable, quivering with fear yet defiant.

"Don't you remember us? We're all friends of Kyoya." There was malice dripping from every word.

"Kyoya wouldn't associate with...with monsters like you! Let me go!" Her pleas were met with rough laughter.

Yuuto's heart raced, each beat echoing the horrifying comments made by the mob about Himiko's appearance. Despair and anger bubbled within him, threatening to explode. He felt paralyzed, torn between wanting to save her and the sheer impossibility of facing down an entire mob alone.

His mind raced. 'Call the police? Too late. Get my baseball bat? None nearby. Confront them head-on? Suicidal.'

Yet, as he wrestled with his inner turmoil, a singular thought pierced through: 'I am Anti-NTR MAN! I have to act! Even if it's the last thing I do... I... I... I MADE... I MADE A PROMISE...!'

Sweat mixed with rain as he clenched his fists, preparing to take the plunge, when another voice rang out, powerful and commanding. A voice Yuuto recognized all too well.

"What are you doing...with my girlfriend?!"

It was Kyoya Guuji, his tone icy and filled with suppressed rage.

The rain slashed down from the heavens, but its fury was nothing compared to the tension in the alley. The very moment Kyoya's voice echoed, time seemed to slow down. The mob of 20 men instantly froze, their postures subtly shrinking. Kyoya's imposing presence held them captive, making them momentarily forget the task they had started.

Himiko lay on the wet concrete, the downpour mercilessly soaking her clothes and matting her hair to her face. The cold raindrops mixing with her warm tears. The ropes that bound her were taut, and the gag in her mouth muffled her whimpering.

Without taking his eyes off the mob, Kyoya crouched beside her. He gently touched her cheek, wiping away a mix of rain and tears. "It's going to be okay, Himiko," he whispered, a reassuring softness in his voice that contrasted starkly with the situation. "I promise."

Yuuto's heart raced, each thundering beat echoing in his ears. The overpowering weight of the situation was almost too much to bear. His gaze fixated on Himiko, struggling against the mob's grasp, and he felt the sheer magnitude of his helplessness crush him. But as Kyoya's voice rang out, commanding and fierce, a flash of relief washed over Yuuto. For a fleeting moment, he felt a glimmer of hope - hearing the defiance, the disapproval of what was happening to the helpless Himiko, coming from Kyoya.

But as quickly as that relief appeared, it twisted into something darker. He caught his own reflection in a puddle — a distorted, wavering image staring back at him. The realization was like a slap across the face.

'Am I... actually relieved to see HIM? ME?!'

A toxic cocktail of anger and self-loathing bubbled up inside him. How could he, of all people, feel grateful for Kyoya's presence? The very man he swore to defeat?

As Yuuto clashed with himself, Kyoya was rising to his full height, after having comforting Himiko. He stepped towards the mob, fury evident in every line of his body. Amongst the huddled figures, Kazuki stepped forward. The old bond between the two of them was evident, but so was the rift that had grown.

"Kyoya, she's... She's just a bitch. You took this joke of a comfortable life a bit too far for our... For everyone's taste, don't you think?" Kazuki began with a sly smile, trying to appear casual and nonchalant. "You've changed, man. I bet.. I bet you don't even give a shit about us anymore, huh? DID... DO WE MEAN LESS THAN THAT FUCKING WHORE TO YOU!!?"

But Kyoya wasn't buying it. "Yes." He added coldly. His gaze was cold and unwavering, filled with righteous anger. Without warning, he lunged forward, throwing the first punch. The impact was swift, sending Kazuki sprawling, all the way to the back of the mob. The other members hesitated for just a moment before joining the fray, but Kyoya was a force to be reckoned with.

Each move was calculated, experience was evident in all his moves, he was indeed - a professional boxer for sure. His anger controlled and channeled into every blow he delivered. Despite the mob's numbers, Kyoya held his ground, using his superior skills to fend them off.

Kazuki, seeing the tide turning, tried to retreat, but Kyoya was on him in an instant. Their past, their trust, their camaraderie - all forgotten in this alley of retribution. With a swift strike, he was knocked to the concrete.

Amidst the chaos and turmoil, there was a quiet spot in the alleyway, shielded from view by a dumpster. Yuuto, his clothes drenched and his heart pounding, peeked from behind it, his gaze fixed on the unfolding scene.

Kyoya's last punch sent Kazuki tumbling backward. It was clear that the battle was won, but Kyoya's face didn't show triumph. Instead, it displayed a raw vulnerability that Yuuto had never seen before. The formidable man turned to where Himiko lay, and his demeanor changed instantly. He knelt down, his fingers deftly working to untie the ropes that bound her.

Tears streamed down Himiko's face, but as Kyoya removed the gag, it became clear they weren't born of fear but of overwhelming relief and gratitude. She looked up at Kyoya, her eyes shimmering with a mixture of tears and raindrops. Without hesitation, she pulled him into a deep and passionate kiss, a stark contrast to the violent scene that had just transpired.

Pulling back, Kyoya cradled her face, "Himiko, I'm not a good man... These guys... We have history. After everything that's happened, if you want me out of your life, I'd understand."

Himiko smiled through her tears, shaking her head. "Kyoya... after tonight, after seeing what you've done... how can I ever leave? I want to be with you, forever... If you're a bad man... I'll tell you you're a good one. So... Stay."

Holding each other close, they began to walk away, their silhouettes fading into the rainy mist of the night. "I swear... I'll tell you everything. In due time."

As the scene unfolded, Yuuto's grip on the cold, wet metal of the dumpster tightened. A torrent of emotions raged within him, mirroring the downpour around. 'Maybe Kyoya truly did change,' he thought. 'Maybe he turned against his own, all for her.'

The burning fire of resolve that had ignited in Yuuto ever since the beginning of his eternal conquest began to waver. The line between enemy and ally was blurring. The very foundation of his beliefs was shaking. 'If that's the case, why am I still here? Why am I hiding like a coward? Am I... I'm... Am I...'

Lost in his turmoil, Yuuto remained hidden, the rain masking his presence as he grappled with his conflicted emotions. The unconscious bodies of the mob of 20 people.

"Am I really... Anti-NTR Man?"

Yuuto's mind was a maelstrom, grappling with his shattered beliefs, when a soft groan brought him back to the present. It came from one of the 'unconscious' members of the mob. Yuuto's eyes narrowed as he saw the man shift, rolling over and then sitting up casually, rubbing the back of his head.

"Damn, Kyoya really doesn't hold back, does he?" the man complained, glancing at the departing couple, the contours of his smirk visible under the dim alleyway lights.

Kazuki, who Yuuto had believed was knocked out cold, chuckled, pushing himself off the ground. "He never did. But you guys know the plan. Make it look good. Make it look real. We just have to take a few hits, and that whore's all over him."

One by one, the rest of the mob began to rise, groaning and stretching as though they'd just completed a theatrical performance. "All this, just to make him look like a hero in front of that girl?" one of them muttered, sounding more annoyed than in pain. "And, why did we have to prepare like that and give that whole speech about the boss?" Another one of the fray questioned. "Idiot, did you forget? We needed to make sure no one followed us, and if someone does - Boss would still be able to complete the task, while we take the fall. If he stays up, we stay up as well."

Kazuki, dusting off his clothes, nodded. "Exactly. And if this is what it takes, then so be it~... I still stand by saying that guy softened, but he's still our Kyoya. Haaa... I could be a fucking movie director, but this life chose me~..."

The others laughed, sharing their own anecdotes of the 'fight.' "The way he 'punched' me, I thought I lost a tooth," one joked. "But it's all for the show."

As the realization of the deceit settled in, Yuuto's heart raced. The feelings of conflict and confusion he had felt earlier transformed into a mix of anger and disgust. This was not the redemption of a villain; it was a scheme, a plot to manipulate someone's feelings. It was everything Yuuto despised.

And yet, he remained hidden, paralyzed not by fear but by a chilling understanding. They had manipulated the scene, manipulated Himiko, and in the process, they had manipulated him too. The realization was soul-crushing, and Yuuto's mind raced as he grappled with the knowledge of the deception he had just witnessed.

***ANIMALITY -JVLA QUEUES***

As the laughter of the mob echoed through the rain-drenched alley, it seemed to pierce Yuuto's very soul, each chuckle a mocking reminder of the elaborate deceit he had just witnessed. The cold rain that once seemed to cool his heated emotions was now overshadowed by a simmering anger building up inside him.

His teeth clenched so hard that it felt like they could shatter. Each breath he took was a silent battle cry. The storm inside him was more tempestuous than the one raging outside. It wasn't just about Himiko anymore. It was about the games that people like Kyoya played with others' lives and emotions.... But more than anyone... The game he played with Yuuto himself, without him even knowing.

"This..." Yuuto whispered to himself, voice trembling with rage, "is personal now."

He peered from behind the dumpster, watching the mob saunter away, their laughter a stark contrast to the grim scene they had just enacted. His fingers dug into the cold, wet ground, siphoning the fury he felt into the very earth.

"Kyoya," he hissed under his breath, "you've just dug your own grave."

"You motherfucker."