Chapter 27: Identify and farewell

As the night wore on, the Mizuno household was enveloped in a heavy, almost tangible silence. Mizuno Kengo, his mind still reeling from the evening's revelations, gently carried his daughter Taeko into the dojo. Her weight, though light, felt significant with the burden of her recent ordeal.

Keisuke Akiyama, walking close behind, couldn't bring himself to look away from Taeko. The sight of her frail, sleeping form stirred a mix of relief and lingering horror in his heart. Outside, the remnants of the night's chaos—the broken bodies, the wounded policeman, and the still-shaken bystanders—faded from their immediate concern. For now, their world shrank to the confines of their small home, where the safety and well-being of Taeko were all that mattered.

Back in the familiar warmth of the bedroom, Mizuno Kengo laid his daughter gently on the bed. The familiar creak of the old wooden floor and the comforting scent of home seemed to stir Taeko from her sleep. She sat up abruptly, her eyes wide and wild with fear, scanning the room as if unsure whether she was truly safe.

"We're here," her father's voice broke through her disorientation. He sat beside her on the bed, wrapping his arms around her shoulders in a reassuring embrace. "Don't be afraid, Taeko. You're back home. You're safe now."

Keisuke knelt beside them, taking Taeko's hand in his. "It's over, Taeko. You're home, and you're safe," he said softly, his voice filled with a mix of relief and lingering anxiety.

Taeko's eyes slowly focused on their faces. With their soothing words and gentle presence, the tight grip of fear began to loosen its hold on her. She took a deep, shuddering breath and leaned into her father's embrace, finding comfort in the solid reality of their love and concern.

After a long moment, Mizuno Kengo gently pulled back to look into his daughter's eyes. "Taeko, can you tell us what happened? Where have you been all this time?"

A shadow passed over Taeko's face as the memories surfaced, but she forced herself to meet her father's gaze. Slowly, hesitantly, she began to recount her ordeal. As she spoke, her voice quivered with remnants of fear, but it grew steadier as she continued, the words a cathartic release of the trauma she had endured.

She told them of the dark, suffocating cell where she had been confined, of the cruel guards who enforced their will through violence and intimidation, and of the other captives who shared her fate. As her story unfolded, Mizuno Kengo and Keisuke Akiyama listened in growing horror and fury.

"Beasts!" Keisuke spat, his hands clenched into fists. "Worse than pigs and dogs! They deserve to die!"

Mizuno Kengo's voice was a low, dangerous growl, filled with restrained fury. "Those people will pay for what they've done."

Taeko's eyes were steady as she continued, recounting the moment of her unexpected rescue. "But it turns out the so-called 'demon' that was haunting the city was just a person—someone who used the guise of a Demon to commit their crimes. They built a whole network of terror right under our noses."

Keisuke's face darkened with renewed determination. "We need to call the police. They need to know everything. We can't let those monsters get away with this."

Mizuno Kengo, though equally enraged, remained more composed. "Taeko is right. We're dealing with something far more sinister than we can handle alone. Whoever set up this operation had connections and power far beyond what the police can touch on their own. We need to be smart about how we move forward."

Taeko's voice, surprisingly steady, cut through their rising anger. "The 'magic cave' has already been destroyed. That's the only reason I managed to escape."

Mizuno Kengo and Keisuke Akiyama paused, exchanging a look of confusion and dawning realization. "Destroyed?" they echoed.

Taeko nodded, her eyes distant as she recalled the events. "I don't know exactly what happened. Earlier today, I had deliberately slowed my work to provoke them, hoping to buy some time. They threw me into solitary confinement as punishment. I thought I was done for. But then, a stranger appeared in my cell."

Her voice softened with a mix of wonder and gratitude. "He asked me if I was Mizuno Taeko and about the layout of the place. Then he left, promising to return. I thought it was just a hallucination, something my desperate mind had conjured. But an hour later, he came back. When he led me out, the entire compound was in chaos—a river of blood. All the guards had been killed."

She paused, her voice trembling slightly at the memory. "He gathered all the captives and told us, 'You are free now.' Then he disappeared as quickly as he had come."

Keisuke Akiyama, shaken by her story, whispered, "I wish I could thank him. Whoever he is, he saved you—and countless others."

Mizuno Kengo, ever the keen observer, picked up on a crucial detail. "Taeko, did he know your name? Could he have been someone you've met before?"

Taeko shook her head, her brow furrowing in thought. "No, I don't think so. But he had these incredible golden eyes—like nothing I've ever seen. If I had seen them before, I'd remember."

"Golden vertical pupils?" Mizuno Kengo and Keisuke Akiyama said simultaneously, both caught off guard.

Taeko's curiosity was piqued. "Have either of you ever met someone with eyes like that?"

Keisuke Akiyama's expression turned intense as he quickly asked, "Was he a tall, strong young man with black hair? Did he have a yellow wine gourd hanging from his waist?"

Taeko's eyes widened in recognition. "Yes, he did have a gourd hanging from his waist."

"It must have been Junior Brother Aomura," Keisuke murmured, a mix of awe and disbelief coloring his voice.

"Aomura? Junior Brother?" Taeko repeated, the pieces of the puzzle starting to fit together.

Mizuno Kengo filled in the blanks, recounting the brief yet transformative presence of Aoki at their dojo. "Not long ago, a promising student joined us at the dojo. That was Aomura. And it seems that in just a few days, he's changed the fate of our dojo, our family, and even this entire city."

Keisuke Akiyama's voice was tinged with regret and admiration. "Before he left, he mentioned a small gift for me. Now, it's clear he meant bringing Taeko back to us."

Mizuno Kengo shook his head in wonder. "A small gift? This is nothing short of a miracle—a rebirth. But now that he's gone, we may never have the chance to repay him."

Keisuke Akiyama nodded solemnly. "Tomorrow, everyone in Azabu will know the name Aomura. His actions will reverberate throughout the city."

The sheer scale of Aoki's actions began to sink in. The liberation of countless missing girls, the obliteration of a notorious crime ring, and the dismantling of an evil empire—all in one fell swoop. It was a deed so monumental that it would overshadow any lesser concerns.

Mizuno Kengo's eyes hardened with resolve. "This isn't over. The perpetrators behind this atrocity will face justice. We will not rest until the Fujita family and all those complicit in this horror are held accountable."

Though their dojo wasn't a match for the Fujita family in wealth or power, Mizuno Kengo's influence and the unity of the victims' families would create an unstoppable force of righteous anger.

…

Meanwhile, Aoki made his way through the night, the world a blur as he used his powers to traverse the city. His destination was the home of Mitsuri Kanroji. He had long known where she lived, having kept tabs on her in his search for the elusive demon.

Arriving at her doorstep, he raised his hand to knock but was interrupted by the creak of the door opening. Mitsuri Kanroji stood there, her pink pigtails glowing softly in the moonlight.

"Miss Kanroji," Aoki greeted with a warm smile.

"Mr. Aomura!" she exclaimed in surprise, her eyes widening before she quickly covered her mouth. Glancing around nervously, she grabbed his arm and pulled him into the yard, closing the door behind them with a solid thud.

Inside, the Kanroji family's gaze was fixed on the two visitors. A middle-aged man and woman, and four children stood silently, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.

Aoki bowed politely. "Good evening. My name is Aomura, a friend of Miss Kanroji."

The man, tall and dignified, nodded in acknowledgment. "Ah, so you are Aomura. Welcome."

The woman, gentle and kind, smiled warmly as she ushered the children away. "Please, feel free to talk. We'll give you some privacy."

With a few words of thanks, Aoki and Mitsuri found themselves alone in the quiet yard. Mitsuri's cheeks were flushed, and she seemed both excited and nervous.

"Mr. Aomura, your dojo sent word that you shouldn't return there tonight," Mitsuri said, her voice tinged with worry.

Aoki nodded. "I'm aware. But I'm here for a different reason tonight. I've come to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?" Mitsuri repeated, her voice betraying confusion.

"I'm leaving," Aoki clarified.

"Where are you going?" Mitsuri asked, her daze evident in her tone.

"I don't have a specific destination. I'll be traveling around," Aoki replied calmly.

His first stop was certain, but everything else would depend on the circumstances.

After a brief hesitation, Aoki pulled out the black socks he had prepared.

"This is for you," he said, offering them to Mitsuri.

Mitsuri covered her mouth, surprise replacing any earlier disappointment. "Mr. Aomura, is this for me?"

"It's a parting gift," Aoki explained with a calm smile.

He hadn't thought of anything else; he simply found the green socks unsuitable.

Mitsuri blushed once more. "But I didn't prepare a gift for you."

"There's no need. Just be kind when we meet again," Aoki replied, smiling and waving his hand casually.

"Be kind?" Mitsuri asked, still puzzled.

"Goodbye, Miss Kanroji," Aoki said, nodding before turning away.

Without further explanation, he waved his hand, leapt lightly onto the wall of Kanroji's house, and vanished into the night sky.

Mitsuri watched him disappear into the distance, lost in thought. After a while, she turned and walked back into the house.

The elegant man who had been reading a book looked up. "Where's Aomura, Mitsuri?"

Mitsuri held the socks in her hand, excitement lighting up her face. "Mr. Aomura came to say goodbye to me, and now he's gone."

Observing her elation, the elegant man couldn't help but look perplexed.

Why was she so happy to bid him farewell?

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T/N: There is a patreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 15 chapters.

Patreon link:- patreon.com/ANelite

And also give me some power stones!!

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