Chapter 2. new house

Hiroki's eyes fluttered open, his body sinking into an unfamiliar but incredibly comfortable bed. The warmth of the blankets wrapped around him, a stark contrast to the cold emptiness he had felt just hours ago. His mind was hazy, the events of the previous night a fragmented blur. He remembered the bridge, the rain, the man who had stopped him... and then—nothing.

The smell of warm food filled the air, stirring his senses further. He turned his head to see a man standing by the doorway, holding a tray of breakfast. His presence was calm, composed, as if everything was proceeding exactly as he had planned. He stepped closer, placing the tray on a nearby table before taking a seat across from Hiroki.

"Good morning," the man said smoothly. His voice was deep but carried a certain warmth. "You slept well, I assume."

Hiroki sat up slowly, still disoriented. "Where… am I?"

The man gestured toward the food. "Eat first. Then we'll talk."

Hiroki hesitated. He should have been cautious, maybe even fearful, but something about the situation—the man's presence, the warmth of the room—made it difficult to summon his usual anxiety. His stomach, however, made the decision for him. He reached for the food and began eating in silence.

The man watched him patiently, waiting until Hiroki had taken a few bites before speaking again. "You were in a bad place last night. I stopped you from making a choice you can't undo."

Hiroki lowered his chopsticks, his grip tightening. The memories of betrayal, of heartbreak, of the unbearable weight pressing on his chest all came rushing back. His mother. His sister. His best friend. The mockery. The lies. His jaw clenched.

"I don't need your pity," Hiroki muttered.

"This isn't pity." The man leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "This is an opportunity."

Hiroki frowned. "Opportunity?"

The man's expression remained unreadable. "Now that it's summer break, you'll learn the basic things. You want to be stronger, don't you?"

Stronger? The word echoed in Hiroki's mind. He had always been powerless, always the one who was used, discarded, and laughed at. The idea of strength, of being in control for once, sent a strange thrill through his chest.

He swallowed hard. "Why do you care?"

The man smirked slightly. "Let's just say I have my reasons. But before we go any further… I believe introductions are in order."

Hiroki exhaled sharply before nodding. "…Hiroki Mori."

The man studied him for a moment, then gave a slow nod of approval. "You may call me Peter."

Hiroki repeated the name in his mind. Peter. 

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he wasn't sure what would come next. But something told him that this man—this moment—was going to change everything.

Peter stood up, stretching slightly. "Go take a bath," he said. "Your clothes are wet and dirty, so I washed them. You can wear clothes from that drawer in front of you."

Hiroki glanced at the wooden dresser across the room, hesitating for a moment before nodding. He slowly pushed himself out of bed, still feeling the weight of exhaustion on his shoulders, but for the first time in a long while, there was something else too—uncertainty, maybe even curiosity—about what lay ahead.

Just as Hiroki was about to enter the bathroom, Peter spoke again, his tone firm yet almost amused. "The world is wild, kid, so you should be more wild than the world."

Hiroki stopped in his tracks, gripping the doorknob tightly. Those words struck something deep within him. Wild? He had always been the quiet one, the obedient one, the one who never fought back. Maybe that was the problem.

With a deep breath, he stepped inside the bathroom, letting the warm water wash away the remnants of his past. Perhaps it was time to embrace something new.