Hiro Snaps

Present Day

Hiro's world slowed. The moment the words left Aidan's lips, a fire ignited in his chest—a rage so consuming it threatened to swallow him whole. "I guess I'll give you the same fate as I gave your dad." Hiro's breath hitched. His hands clenched into trembling fists. "What… did you just say?" His voice was eerily quiet, deadly calm. Aidan smirked, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Oh? Did I touch a nerve?" Hiro's vision blurred with fury. The memory of that night—the gunshot, his father collapsing, the helplessness—came crashing back. "You… you son of a—"

Aidan's grin widened. "Oh, I did more than just watch, Hiro." He took a step closer, savoring every second of Hiro's unraveling rage. "I was the one who gave the order." The factory fell silent. Even Aidan's men tensed at the confession. Hiro's heart pounded against his ribs. "You… what?" Aidan shrugged, voice dripping with mock nonchalance. "After what you did—walking away like a coward, leaving me behind—I wanted revenge. So I went to the boss, told him exactly how to make you suffer. And you know what?" He laughed. "He let me."

Hiro couldn't hear anything else. The blood roared in his ears. His entire body shook—not with fear, not with grief, but with a rage deeper than he had ever felt before. "You trusted me, Hiro." Aidan tilted his head. "Your family trusted me. But you—" His smirk darkened. "You left me first." Hiro's nails dug into his palms so hard they nearly broke skin. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to tear Aidan apart. Aidan chuckled. "Oh, come on. You've never been a killer. You barely got your hands dirty in the old days. What makes you think you'll start now?" Hiro's lips parted, and when he spoke, his voice was ice. "You have no idea what I'm thinking right now." Then, without warning— Hiro struck.

His fist collided with Aidan's face, sending him staggering back. The force of the punch echoed through the factory, silencing everyone. Aidan wiped his mouth, checking for blood. He grinned. "That's more like it." Antony and Danji lunged forward, ready to intervene. But they never got the chance. In an instant, Hiro twisted his body, wrapping his legs around Antony's throat and taking him down. The man choked, clawing at Hiro's grip, but Hiro didn't let up. Danji turned to assist, but Umito—who had been frozen in hesitation—acted before he could.

"I'm done working for you," Umito muttered under his breath. Then, he bolted. Aidan growled. "Get back here, you coward!" Danji made a move to chase, but Aidan stopped him with a raised hand. "Forget him," Aidan said through gritted teeth. "We'll find him later. Right now, we deal with him." His eyes flicked back to Hiro, who had just let Antony's unconscious body drop to the floor. Hiro stood, his breathing ragged, his gaze locked onto Aidan. Danji rolled his shoulders. "I've been wanting a real fight."

Hiro exhaled sharply. "Then let's begin." Danji charged first, his movements swift and brutal. Hiro barely had time to block the incoming blow before Danji twisted, delivering a sharp elbow to his ribs. Pain exploded in Hiro's side, but he gritted his teeth, shoving Danji back. They exchanged a flurry of blows—fast, precise, deadly. Danji was strong. But Hiro was furious. He dodged, countered, absorbed the pain, and struck harder. Danji scowled, frustration creeping in as Hiro refused to stay down. "You really think you can beat me?" Hiro wiped blood from his lip, eyes dark and unwavering. "No." Danji sneered. "Then what the hell are you fighting for?" Hiro clenched his fists. "Because I made a promise." Danji snorted. "To who?" Hiro's expression hardened. "To someone who still believes in me."

Danji scoffed and lunged again, aiming for Hiro's gut. But Hiro saw it. He twisted at the last second, grabbing Danji's arm and flipping him over his shoulder. Danji hit the ground hard, the air forced from his lungs. Before he could recover, Hiro stomped down on his ribs, keeping him down. Danji wheezed, his struggles weakening. Aidan took a step back. For the first time since the fight began— He looked worried. Hiro turned to him, the rage still burning in his eyes. "It's your turn, Aidan." Aidan inhaled sharply, wiping the last traces of amusement from his face. For the first time in years— Hiro saw fear in his old friend's eyes.

(End of Chapter 5)