Chapter 12: The Three That Are Watching Me
1. The Morning That Wasn't Mine
Renji woke up somewhere he didn't belong.
The first thing he noticed was the cold air. Then the smell of salt—ocean air, damp concrete, rusting metal.
His clothes were sticking to his skin, damp and uncomfortable. His fingers pressed against rough cement beneath him, his head heavy like he'd been hit by something.
But he hadn't.
No.
This wasn't the aftermath of an attack.
This was something far worse.
Renji's eyes finally adjusted to the dim light.
He was on a rooftop near the harbor.
His stomach twisted.
"Not again."
He checked his phone. 4:12 AM.
The last thing he remembered was lying in bed. Forcing himself to stay awake.
Telling himself that if he could just keep his eyes open, he wouldn't lose another night.
Clearly, that hadn't worked.
His breathing was steady, but his heartbeat wasn't. It was pounding—not from fear, but from something worse.
Because deep inside, Shin was awake too.
"You're finally up," Shin murmured, voice filled with amusement.
Renji clenched his fists, trying to ground himself in reality. "What did you do?"
"Nothing bad," Shin said, far too casual. "Not for us, at least."
Renji swallowed hard.
His knuckles ached—not sore, but raw. Bruised.
And when he shifted, his shoe made a wet sound.
He froze.
Slowly, he looked down.
A thin streak of blood led away from where he sat.
His mouth went dry.
"Relax," Shin murmured again. "It's not yours."
That didn't help.
At all.
---
2. The Call That Changed Everything
Renji forced himself to move.
He needed to get home—before anyone noticed he was missing.
As he reached the fire escape and began climbing down, his phone vibrated.
A call.
He hesitated, then checked the screen.
Shun.
His fingers twitched. He answered. "Hello?"
"You crazy bastard."
Renji's pulse spiked. "What?"
Shun's voice held something between disbelief and excitement. "Don't play dumb. Takashi told me what happened last night."
Renji stopped moving. "What… happened?"
Shun sighed. "Damn. You really don't remember?"
Renji's grip on the railing tightened. "Just tell me."
"You wrecked three guys last night," Shun said. "Like—badly. One of them had a knife, but it didn't even matter. You—"
He hesitated.
Renji's stomach twisted. "I what?"
Shun hesitated again. Then—softly:
"You were laughing."
Renji felt the world tilt.
His fingers curled around the phone, feeling like it might shatter in his grip.
No.
No, no, no.
"You were beautiful," Shin whispered.
Renji hung up.
---
3. A Family That No Longer Trusts Me
By the time he stepped through the front door, the house was silent.
But the air wasn't calm.
It was heavy. Tense.
His mother was in the kitchen, but she didn't greet him like she usually did. His father sat at the table, drinking coffee, his face unreadable. His uncle glanced at him but didn't speak.
It felt wrong.
And then—
"Where were you?"
Renji turned.
Riku stood near the staircase.
His arms were crossed. His eyes were sharp.
Too sharp.
Renji forced a neutral expression. "Out."
Riku didn't move. Didn't blink.
"Didn't rain last night," he said. "So why are your shoes wet?"
Renji hesitated.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
"Got splashed by a car." Smooth. Controlled. Perfectly delivered.
Except Riku wasn't buying it.
"You're not my brother anymore."
Renji's breath caught.
The words weren't shouted. They weren't filled with anger.
They were quiet. Certain.
And that made them so much worse.
For the first time, Renji saw it clearly—
Riku wasn't suspicious anymore.
He knew.
And he was afraid.
---
4. The Three Invitations from the Underworld
The First Invitation – The Fighter
Later that afternoon, Renji's phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
> You're impressive. Let's talk.
Renji stared. His gut told him exactly what this was.
He hesitated, then typed back.
> Who are you?
Three dots. Then—
> Someone who's been watching.
Meet me at the underground fight club near the old district.
Renji exhaled slowly.
A fight club.
Someone had been watching the fights Shin had gotten into.
Someone important.
"Go," Shin murmured. "You want to know who you really are? You'll find out in places like this."
---
The Second Invitation – The Observer
That night, another message.
Different number.
> We need to talk. You don't know me, but I know you.
Renji's chest tightened.
This wasn't about the fights. This was something else.
> Who are you?
> Come to the old library after dark.
"Oh, I like this one," Shin mused. "They know something. Maybe about us."
Renji didn't like it.
Because if this person knew about him…
They might know about Shin, too.
---
The Third Invitation – The Manipulator
The third message came just before midnight.
No name. No number.
Just a single text.
> You're waking up, aren't you?
Renji's breath hitched.
Not "I've seen your fights."
Not "You're strong."
"You're waking up."
His hands felt cold as he typed back.
> Who is this?
No response.
The message was already gone.
As if it had never been sent.
---
5. Riku's Plan – Watching the Monster
Riku wasn't going to wait anymore.
His brother—or whatever he was now—was lying to him.
So Riku would get the truth himself.
That night, after Renji locked himself in his room, Riku moved quickly.
A hidden camera, small and undetectable, placed just inside the vent.
By morning—
He would finally have his answer.
And if his brother really was gone?
Then Riku would be ready.
Because one way or another—
He was going to stop him.
---
End of Chapter 12