Indifferent

For the first time ever, Kaito smirked. It wasn't a smile, not by a long shot, but it was enough to surprise Ryan.

He had never seen Kaito's expression soften, let alone crack with anything that resembled amusement. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was there. And for Ryan, that was a victory in itself.

A small smirk, and suddenly the weight of all the mockery like it didn't seem so heavy anymore.

Ryan's heart was lifted, like a small spark of hope igniting. It was as if, in that moment, Kaito had finally let his guard down around him. Acknowledging him as his true friend.

"You smirked!" Ryan said with a grin, his voice full of genuine happiness despite in the midst of the mockery and insult.

"Seems like the man of stone have finally crack, now let's continue where we left off."

Kaito didn't answer, but the smirk lingered, and that was enough.

As they began walking away, Kaito's expression remained unchanged, but something in his eyes was different. The crowd's laughter and mockery didn't matter to him. He didn't give a damn about what they thought.

Without a word, Kaito raised his middle finger to the crowd behind him. It wasn't a grand gesture, just a simple act, but it spoke volumes.

The crowd, still caught up in their laughter and insults, didn't even realize what happened at first. They saw Kaito's finger extended, and suddenly, the atmosphere shifted.

A few gasps in disbelief and murmurs went through the crowd. Some people even cursed him back under their breath. But none of it mattered to Kaito. He kept walking, his pace steady, unbothered by the noise behind him.

Ryan laugh heartedly, shaking his head as he followed Kaito.

"Hahaha! Man, I don't know how you do it, but I think I'm starting to like this new attitude of yours!"

Kaito didn't say anything, but Ryan could see the faintest hint of satisfaction in his friend's eyes. The mockery, the laughter, it was all just noise now.

They walked away, the world continuing around them, and for the first time, Kaito felt the weight of the crowd's judgment slide off his shoulders.

No matter what anyone else said, he had made his choice. And he was going to make them regret ever doubting him.

As they moved further away from the crowd, Ryan's grin lingered.

The moment had been small, but to him, it was a breakthrough. Kaito Nakamura, the unshakable man of stone, had finally shown something beyond his usual stoicism.

Even if it was just a smirk and a well-timed middle finger, it was more than Ryan had ever expected.

Still, there was something that had been bugging him ever since this whole mess started. The samurai path. Out of all the 3 rare choices Kaito could've had, why pick that one?

Ryan glanced at his friend, who walked with his usual steady pace, undeterred by anything around him.

"Hey, Kaito." Ryan finally spoke, his voice casual but curious. "Why'd you pick the Samurai Path?"

Kaito didn't answer.

His expression remained unreadable, his gaze fixed ahead, but there was something in his silence that told Ryan it wasn't because he didn't hear him. It was a silence with weight, as if there was an answer—one he wasn't ready to share.

Ryan studied him for a moment, then sighed, running a hand through his head.

"Alright, alright, I get it." he said, waving off the question with a chuckle.

"Like a mysterious swordsman with many hidden information. I'll let you keep your secrets, for now..."

Kaito didn't react, but he caught the slightest shift in his eyes. A quiet acknowledgment.

Whatever the reason was, it wasn't something Kaito would share easily. But Ryan knew him well enough to trust that there was more to it than just a reckless choice.

Then suddenly Ryan's phone buzzed, and he pulled it out of his pocket. His usual relaxed expression turned slightly serious as he read the caller ID.

Without a word, he picked up and turned away from Kaito, his voice dropping lower.

"Yeah?" Ryan said, listening for a moment before nodding. "Alright. I'll be there soon."

He ended the call and turned back to Kaito, his usual grin back in place, though there was something off about it.

"Looks like I gotta take care of something personal."

Ryan said, shoving his phone into his pocket.

"And don't worry, their's nothing serious about it. I'll catch you later, so bye."

Kaito gave a small nod. Ryan patted his shoulder before walking off, disappearing into the crowd.

Now alone, Kaito continued his way to work, still in a good mood despite his unchanged expression. He had never cared about what others thought of him, and today was no different.

His steps were steady and his mind was clear.

By the time he reached his workplace, the familiar office building stood tall before him, a place he had spent years working without much thought. As he walked through the front doors, a wave of murmurs and snickers followed him.

"Look who it is." a coworker muttered, nudging the person next to him.

"I saw the news." another said, shaking their head. "Three legendary Paths, and he picked the worst one. What an idiot."

"Must be nice to throw away luck like that." a woman scoffed, rolling her eyes.

The media had already spreading like wildfire about the path Kaito has chosen, and now every coworker who used to ignore him suddenly had something to say.

But Kaito didn't even react.

His step didn't slow down. He had never acknowledge them, not a single bit when he started working here.

Then Kaito walked straight through the office floor, pasting the clusters of gossiping employees, and straight toward the one place he hated the most.

His boss's office room...

He pushed open the door without knocking.

Behind a cluttered desk, an fat man in a too-tight suit looked up from his computer. His greasy fingers paused over his keyboard as he eyed Kaito with a smirk.

"Well, well, look who finally decided to show up."

the boss sneered, leaning back in his chair.

"Let me guess, you're here to beg for a raise after embarrassing yourself in front of the whole damn city?"

Kaito stared at him, his expression unreadable. Then, calmly, he spoke.

"I'm quitting."

The boss blinked. Then he laughed. A loud, obnoxious laugh that shook his flabby shoulders.

"Quitting? Hahaha!" the boss repeated mockingly, wiping a tear from his eye.

"Just because people are making fun of you? What, you think you're too good for this job? And now you're quitting like a loser?"

The boss continued with more insult, mockery and criticism.

"Hate to break it to you, but you'll be useless out there. No abilities, no power and no future."

He leaned forward, pointing a stubby finger at Kaito.

"You should be grateful that I even let you work here, unlike your worthless dead parent..."

The room went silent.

Then, before the fat man could react, Kaito's fist connected with his fat ugly face.

A sickening crunch filled the air as the boss's chair tipped backward, his entire weight crashing to the floor with a loud thud. His body twitched for a moment before going completely still, blood trickling from his nose.

Kaito flexed his fingers, looking down at the unconscious man without a hint of remorse. He took a deep breath, then spoke in a flat, unbothered tone.

"My hand slipped, since you said something about my family."

Then he stepped his foot over the fallen man face and adjusting his sleeve before walking toward the door. He paused just before leaving and threw a glance over his shoulder.

"I apology for putting you to sleep, fatso."

Kaito said, but there was no sincerity in his voice.

Then, without another word, he started walking out, leaving the office and his job behind without a second thought.

As Kaito stepped outside, he was immediately met with a blinding flash of cameras. A swarm of reporters stood at the entrance, their microphones thrust forward as they bombarded him with overlapping questions.

A female reporter with short brown hair leaned in first, her voice sharp.

"Sir! Why did you choose such a worthless path? Out of all the choice?"

A male reporter with glasses and a notepad quickly followed. "Do you regret your decision?!"

Another reporter, a younger man with a headset, pushed his mic closer.

"How are you planning to switch Path now?!"

A bald, middle-aged reporter scoffed as he spoke. "With three legendary paths at your disposal, why pick that one?!"

The voices kept coming, filled with disbelief, mockery, and even pity.

Kaito didn't stop walking. His expression remained unreadable as he pushed forward. But as the crowd pressed closer, trying to block his path, his steps slowed.

Then, without a word, he lifted his gaze.

His deep blue eyes sharpened, and his entire presence instantly shifted.

The air felt heavier.

The female reporter with short brown hair tensed, her breath started hitching. The man with glasses instinctively gripped his notepad tighter. The younger man with the headset took a small step back without even realizing it.

Kaito's stare wasn't just cold—it was piercing, cutting through the crowd like a blade.

The bald reporter, who had mocked him earlier, suddenly swallowed hard. His fingers twitched slightly as he adjusted his microphone, as if trying to steady himself.

Then, Kaito finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a weight that made everyone freeze.

"Fuck off. It's my choice, you have no obligation to ask me that."

The once-persistent reporters hesitated. Their voices wavered.

No one dared to move or even speak, after what he said.

And in that silence, Kaito walked forward. The crowd, which had been so eager to corner him, instinctively parted, giving him a clear path through.

By the time anyone found the courage to speak again, Kaito had already disappeared into the distance.

Continue...