Chapter Two: *A Promise to Keep*Chapter Two: *A Promise to Keep*

The Next Morning

The sunlight filtered through the blinds of Taro's small apartment, gently waking him from a restless sleep. He had not told Aya much about the night before. He couldn't bear the thought of her worrying about him. Instead, he threw himself into action, determined to find a way to help the man who had confided in him.

As he stood by the window, looking out at the sprawling city, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Aya: *"How did everything go, Taro? Are you okay?"*Taro sighed, putting the phone back in his pocket. Aya had always been protective of him, a role reversal since they were children. He didn't want to burden her with the heavy weight of their situation. He would handle this on his own.

The man's face—tears streaming down his worn cheeks—kept flashing before his eyes. Taro knew he couldn't back down. This wasn't just about a job anymore. It was about doing what was right. He couldn't ignore the injustice in front of him.

Taro's first task was to meet the man again. He had to learn more about the situation, the names, the details. He didn't have the luxury of time; every day that passed without action was a day the culprits were free, and the man's daughters remained victims of a corrupt system.

He called the man, whose name was *Kenji Sato*, and arranged to meet him at a small, quiet café on the outskirts of the city. The location was far from the noise of the busy streets, an environment where Kenji could speak freely without fear of being overheard.

When Taro arrived at the café, Kenji was already there, sitting at a corner table, his eyes red-rimmed and swollen from crying. His hands shook as he gripped the coffee cup in front of him."Taro... you came." Kenji's voice was hoarse, but there was a spark of hope in his eyes—an emotion Taro hadn't seen in him the night before.

Taro sat down across from Kenji. "I promised. Now tell me everything."

Kenji took a deep breath and began to speak.

"My daughters, Ayumi and Haruka, are everything to me. They're the light of my life. About three weeks ago, they were... attacked. A group of men—local gangsters—broke into our house. I didn't even know who they were at first. But they... they forced themselves on my girls. They took everything from them."

Kenji's face contorted with pain as he struggled to continue. "I tried to report it to the police, but when I went to the station, the officers... they were friends with the gangsters. They laughed in my face, told me it was no use. The gang controls everything around here—drugs, violence, the police... no one dares to stand up to them."

Taro felt his stomach turn. The man's words were a stark reality—a reality he had not fully understood until now. The corruption, the powerlessness of the victims, and the system that turned a blind eye to it all."I know I'm just a simple man," Kenji continued, "but I can't stand by and let my daughters live with this nightmare. I don't know where else to turn. They're threatening me now... saying that if I talk, they'll destroy what's left of my family. They've already taken so much.

Taro leaned forward, his jaw tightening. "You're not alone in this. I'll help you. I promise I'll help you get justice."

Kenji looked up at him, eyes full of disbelief. "You really mean it? You don't know what you're getting into, Taro. These men... they're dangerous. The police won't help. What can one man do?"

"I'm not just one man," Taro said firmly, his voice gaining strength. "I may not have the power you think I need, but I have something far stronger: the will to fight. We'll find a way, Kenji. I won't stop until you get justice for your daughters."

Kenji stared at him, his face crumpling as tears filled his eyes once more. "Thank you. Thank you, Taro. I... I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything," Taro replied, his heart heavy but resolute. "I'll make sure they don't get away with it. You have my word."

After that conversation, Taro's mission became clear. He couldn't just rely on the corrupt legal system. He would need to take matters into his own hands, gathering evidence, talking to anyone who could help, and unearthing the truth that had been buried by the powerful.

But he knew it wouldn't be easy. Every step would be a challenge, and the danger would be real. Yet, for the first time since arriving in the city, Taro felt a fire inside him—a purpose that had been lacking until now. He was no longer just a young man struggling to make a life for himself; he was now a man fighting for something far more important: justice for the voiceless.

As he walked back to his apartment that evening, Taro made a vow to himself. He would face the darkness in this city. He would not let corruption destroy the lives of innocent people. And no matter how difficult the journey would be, he would make sure that Kenji's daughters would never suffer in silence again.

The battle was just beginning