Chapter "Running From Pain"

Hisashi glanced at the elderly man whose face contorted with anger as he exclaimed, "Five months without rent!"

With a calm smile, Hisashi reassured him, "I understand, sir. Don't worry, I'll settle all five months' rent with this month's salary."

The old man's frown deepened, "But the total amount for five months exceeds your monthly salary."

Undeterred, Hisashi maintained his smile, "I see, sir. In that case, I'll request an advance on my salary to cover the difference.”

The old man's stern warning pierced the air, "This is your final warning, Hisashi. If you don't settle all five months' rent this week, I'll have no choice but to evict you."

Hisashi nodded solemnly as the old man continued, his voice laced with determination, "And if you dare to flee, I'll track you down, even if it means searching every corner of hell."

With a heavy heart, Hisashi watched the old man leave, closing the door with a sigh of disappointment.

As Hisashi strolled through his apartment, his gaze fell upon a portrait of Ryouma Matsumoto adorning the wall. Lost in thought, he then made his way to his bed.

The next morning, Hisashi briskly walked to the halls of his university, holding a stack of papers which he was organizing.

Subaru caught up to him, a hint of concern in his voice, "Hey, Hisashi, did you finish the assignment?"

Hisashi nodded wearily, replying, "Yeah, I had to get up early this morning to wrap it up.”

Subaru's eyebrows shot up in disbelief, "Early morning? We didn't get back until midnight last night. How much did you sleep?"

Hisashi's tired eyes met Subaru's gaze as he admitted, "Just two hours."

Subaru chuckled lightly, shaking his head, "Damn, I hope you're not pulling all-nighters here or at work."

Suddenly, a hand swung out, colliding with Hisashi's, sending his papers scattering across the floor.

"Heyyy?" Hisashi's voice rang out in frustration as he glanced at the culprit, only to find it was the same girls they had encountered earlier at work, now revealed to be his classmates.

Their faces twisted into wicked smiles as they met Hisashi's gaze, his own expression mirroring their intensity.

Without a word, Hisashi began collecting his scattered papers, and Subaru joined in to help him,

With their hands folded and smirks playing on their lips, the girl and her friends stood, watching Hisashi and Subaru intently.

Together, Hisashi and Subaru swiftly gathered all the scattered papers. Turning to face their unwelcome visitors, Subaru spoke up, his voice tinged with suspicion, "Hanae, what do you want from us?"

Hanae, the ringleader of the group, responded nonchalantly, "Nothing much, just to see you both kicked out of the university."

Hisashi's anger flared, but before he could react, Subaru intervened, halting him with a firm hand. "Hisashi, no. We'll complain about her" he said, his tone resolute.

With their smiles still lingering, Hanae and her friends eventually turned and walked away, leaving Hisashi and Subaru to continue with their day.

As classes ended, they emerged from the classroom among a throng of other students. Taking a moment to catch up, Subaru posed a question, "Have you thought about applying to Ryugari-Sha?"

Hisashi's gaze shifted, his expression somber as he responded, "I'm actually considering finding another job."

Subaru furrowed his brow in confusion, probing gently, "Why? Is it because of your parents' health?"

Hisashi nodded solemnly, confirming, "Yeah.”

Subaru's voice carried a weight of sorrow as he expressed, "Your parents are warriors, battling cancer, and their son is a true fighter, working tirelessly for them."

A gentle smile spread across Hisashi's face as he received Subaru's reassurance, "Don't worry, I'll find another job for both of us."

Hisashi's resolve shone through as he declared, "I'll take on double the workload."

Subaru nodded in solidarity, affirming, "Count me in."

Curiously, Hisashi inquired, "But why? Your parents send you money every month. why take on extra shifts here?"

“I need money so I can enroll at Ryugari-Sha," Subaru confessed.

Hisashi, intrigued, remarked, "You're quite fond of Ryugari-Sha, aren't you?"

Subaru clarified with a grin, "It's not about Ryugari-Sha specifically, I just want to be in the best."

Hisashi nodded in affirmation. Subaru then made a generous proposal, saying, "Hey Hisashi, why don't you join me in enrolling? I'll cover your fees.”

Hisashi's eyes widened with disbelief as Subaru spoke earnestly, "Come on, Hisashi. Remember our dream? We vowed to become Meijin together, to lift that Al Mighty trophy as a team."

Hisashi whispers “But” he got cut off by Subaru's determination. "No 'buts'," Subaru insisted, "Tomorrow, we're both enrolling at Ryugari-Sha, and that's final."

Unable to resist Subaru's infectious enthusiasm, Hisashi smiled and nodded in agreement. Subaru smiles widened as they Together walks towards their home, anticipation and determination gleaming in their eyes.

In the quiet of the emptied restaurant, Hisashi and the other staff diligently cleaned tables. Suddenly, Hisashi's phone pierced the silence with its ringing. He swiftly answered, saying, "Yeah?"

A voice on the other end inquired, "Hello, is Hisashi Ogawa available?" Hisashi responded promptly, "Yes, speaking. Who is this?"

The voice replied, "I'm calling from Sakamoto Hospital."

Hisashi's heart quickened with worry as he interjected, "Yes, my parents are currently admitted there.”

A somber voice echoed through the phone, "Yes, but unfortunately, your father has passed away."

Hisashi's world came to a standstill. His eyes widened in disbelief, his jaw dropping in shock as he struggled to process the devastating news. He was rendered speechless, his entire being consumed by an overwhelming sense of disbelief and grief.

The voice continued, "He fought bravely, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough."

Hisashi's voice trembled as he managed to speak, "Does my mother know?" The words escaped his lips with a palpable shiver, his heart heavy with the weight of the news he had just received.

The voice on the other end continued, "No, we believe it's best for you to deliver this news to her in person. Please come to the hospital to collect his body."

With a heavy heart, Hisashi slowly hung up the call. Tears welled up in his eyes, and with a gut-wrenching scream, he succumbed to the overwhelming wave of grief, sobbing uncontrollably.

Every staff member in the restaurant turned their attention to Hisashi, their gazes fixed on his raw display of anguish. He struggled to stem the flow of tears cascading down his cheeks, his heart shattered by the weight of his loss.

Tears streaked down Hisashi's face as he dashed out of the Restaurant to the darkened streets toward home. Lost in his grief, he ran with his eyes shut tight, the pain in his heart driving him forward.

Suddenly, a collision jolted him, sending him and another person crashing to the ground.

As Hisashi's gaze met that of the stranger, he saw a beggar, adorned in tattered clothes and a tangled mass of dirty hair obscuring his face.

In that fleeting moment of impact, their eyes locked in an unspoken exchange of empathy.