Chapter 125: Bad News

While walking towards Akira, Kai kept wondering what she wanted to tell to him.

Step by step, the young man felt that he wouldn't have received good news.

Kai found Akira waiting for him, standing in the kitchen with a cup of tea in her hands.

She was leaning against the counter, a cup of tea in her hands.

"Sorry for calling you out like this," she said, giving him an apologetic smile. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything..."

Kai blushed.

"I-I'm sure that Hina is fine..." He said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Did you... Need something from me?"

"Yeah, actually," Akira nodded, her expression becoming more serious. "I just wanted to make sure you're okay.I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with Hina earlier. You seem... stressed."

Kai was taken aback by her words. He had tried so hard not to show his emotions, to be the strong one for Hina.

"I'm fine, really," he insisted, avoiding her gaze. "I'm just worried about her."

Akira didn't seem convinced. "Are you sure?" she pressed. "I've known you both for a while, and I can tell when something's off. Come on, Kai, we're friends. You can talk to me." She added while smiling.

Kai hesitated for a moment, then let out a sigh.

He knew Akira wouldn't let it go.

"It's just..." he began, his voice wavering slightly.

"Everything feels different now. With Hina's past, with the fact that we're in a bad situation and that I feel so useless... I don't know how to handle it. I don't want to pry, but at the same time, I want to help her. I'm scared of not being able to save her... I don't know what to do." He said with a sigh, while leaning his back against the wall.

The only thing he didn't say was about the diary he found. 

Not even Akira had to know something like that.

Akira's expression softened, and she reached out to touch his arm gently.

"Kai, I understand," she said, her voice filled with empathy. "This situation is difficult for everyone. And to be honest, I'm doing all of this for the sake of my sister." She then put her cup of tea on the table and continued speaking.

"You see, I can totally understand Hina's point of view. You're a good person, and she doesn't want you to dirt your hands just like she did. I still don't see why she is so attached to you... but I understand her feelings. She's literally fighting for her own happiness, even if it means to eliminate someone of her past." Akira said with a bitter smile.

Kai's attention moved to the last words of the sentence.

"... Someone of her past?" He asked, with a curious tone of voice.

Akira nodded and her expression became more serious.

"Yeah. But don't tell her what I'm going to say." Akira then leaned closer to his ear, with her big chest pressing against him.

"Sabushi was like a father to Hina." Akira whispered, before taking some steps back.

Kai was almost shocked to hear that, but he kinda expected it.

"Okay... Okay." He said while scratching the back of his head. "Everything makes sense now." He said in a low voice.

"Is that all you wanted to say to me, Akira?" 

Akira's expression suddenly hardened, her playful tone evaporating as she leaned in closer to Kai.

The warm familiarity in her eye turned serious, almost urgent and dangerous.

She shook her head.

"No, I called you here for another reason, so listen to me carefully." she began slowly, "I need to ask you about Hiro."

Kai blinked in surprise, his mind scrambling to catch up.

"Hiro? My best friend? What do you mean?" he asked, confusion lacing his tone.

He couldn't figure out how Akira knew that name.

Akira hesitated for only a moment before speaking.

"I once saw a message from Hiro on your phone," she admitted quietly. "It was a text—he said to come to the hospital urgently, so I rushed there, not wanting to put you in danger, since you were peacefully sleeping with Hina."

Kai's eyes widened, a surge of anxiety replacing his earlier calm. "The hospital? You went to the hospital to see him!?" he stammered, his heart pounding.

"Yes," Akira said firmly, her gaze steady. "You know, walking alone at night can be dangerous right now, that's why I went there by myself. I thought... I thought something was off."

Anger and fear welled up in Kai. "Why didn't you tell me about this then? Why keep it a secret?" he demanded, his voice rising slightly.

Akira's expression softened, though her tone remained grave.

"I did it to protect you," she replied. "You should be thankful instead."

Kai's brow furrowed as he searched her face for any hint of jest. "What do you mean?" he pressed. "Akira, are you joking with me?"

Shaking her head, Akira leaned even closer, her voice dropping to a hushed whisper.

"Hiro's sister, Hana—she made a pact with the Kurotaka syndicate," she revealed, her tone as serious as stone. "You know, the Kurotaka, the second most dangerous criminal clan in Japan? They're out to eliminate Hina."

Kai's face drained of color. "Eliminate Hina?" he repeated in disbelief, his voice barely audible. "Are you... are you serious?"

"I'm very serious, Kai," Akira insisted, her eyes never wavering. "I didn't mention any of this before because I Thought it would've been better this way, but considering Rei's plan, we're gonna also consider this situation."

He stood frozen for a moment, a mix of fury, fear, and incredulity churning within him. "I can't believe this," he muttered, shaking his head as he tried to process her words. " Are you really talking about Hana? How am I supposed to believe that she would actually do something like this? It sounds... unreal. She's one of the most kind people I ever met!"

Akira's jaw set firmly. "I wish it were unreal," she said, her voice low and steady. "But I saw that boy's eyes. And I could tell that he was telling the truth. He truly was heartbroken."

Kai's mind raced, his heart aching with both the weight of the revelation and the burden of responsibility.

"So, what do we do now?" he asked, desperation creeping into his tone. "If Hana is in league with the Kurotaka, and they're after Hina... then Hina's in more danger than ever. And I... I should have known that something was wrong."

Akira reached out, placing a steady hand on his arm.

"Leave everything to me. I'll talk to Hina tomorrow." she said softly. "I know it's hard to accept, but this is why I kept quiet until now—to shield you from the chaos until you were ready. I'm not joking. This is real, and it's happening."

Kai looked into Akira's eyes, searching for any sign of falsehood, but found only grim resolve.

The room seemed to close in around him as the implications of her words sank in.

His mind reeled with questions and fears, but one thing was clear: the battle ahead would be more perilous than he had ever imagined.

"I... I need a moment," he managed, his voice strained. "Everything makes sense now—but it also terrifies me."

Akira nodded slowly. "Take your time, Kai. We have a lot to sort out, and we need to be prepared for what's coming. I'm here for you, every step of the way."

The weight of the new reality pressed down on Kai as he tried to steady his trembling hands.

The delicate balance between trust, fear, and determination had shifted irrevocably.

And as the silence enveloped them, Kai knew that nothing would ever be the same again. 

"In the worst scenario..." Akira sighed. "I might need to eliminate Hana." Akira said, with a firm voice.

Kai immediately turned his head towards her and his eyes widened a lot.

In an instant, all the beautiful memories of him, Hana and Hiro flashed into his mind.

He couldn't accept what Akira said to him, and her words seemed to have snapped something inside of him.

In an instant he immediately rushed towards Akira and grabbed her by the collar.

His speed was something that nobody could notice.

Akira couldn't react, as she got caught by surprise, not expecting something like that.

She looked into Kai's eyes, and it looked like they became of a bloody shade of red.

"Don't. You. Fuckin'. Dare. To. Hurt. My friends." Kai whispered, with a deadly voice, like he got possed by some strange kind of demon...