*Chapter 6: Bonds, Pain, and Hidden Scars*

The rain beat down on the roof of the hideout, the rhythm of the drops matching the unease in Taro's chest. It had been weeks since his initiation, and while he had gained the respect of the gang, the weight of it all was beginning to settle in his bones. The cold concrete walls that once felt like a shield now felt like a prison, but he couldn't show that weakness. Not here. Not with everything on the line.

The sounds of clinking bottles and laughter drifted from the main area of the hideout as Taro walked through the narrow hallway. He was lost in his thoughts, trying to figure out his place in this world, when a voice broke through the noise.

"Lost in your head again?"

Taro turned and saw Ken leaning against the wall, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. Ken had been there for him since the beginning. He was the one person in the gang who didn't see Taro as just another rookie—Ken saw something more. There was an unspoken understanding between them, a bond forged in shared moments and quiet conversations, away from the eyes of the others.

Taro smiled, grateful for the interruption. "Just thinking about everything. How it all happened so fast."

Ken pushed himself off the wall and walked toward him. "Yeah, it can hit you hard. One day, you're outside looking in, and the next, you're part of the game. But you've got the right mindset, Taro. You'll figure it out."

Taro shook his head, laughing softly. "I don't know about that. Feels like I'm barely keeping up."

Ken put a hand on Taro's shoulder. "You'll find your rhythm. We all have to." His gaze softened. "And hey, I'm here. You don't have to go through this alone."

Taro looked at him, his expression serious. "Thanks, Ken. That means more than you know."

Later that night, the gang was throwing one of their usual parties. The music was louder than usual, the energy more chaotic. It had become a tradition to celebrate every small victory, every new member, every new deal, and tonight was no exception. Taro had barely walked in when he was greeted by a chorus of cheers and loud slaps on the back. The others had already accepted him as one of their own, but something in Taro's gut told him that this wasn't where he truly belonged. Not yet.

As he moved through the crowd, he caught sight of Mia, hunched over a table, wiping down the surface with a cloth. She looked so small in the corner, almost invisible among the revelers. Her eyes were downcast, focused on her task, her every move carefully measured. Mia had become the gang's maid after her family's debt to Kaito. She didn't belong to any one of them, but everyone knew she was Kaito's property—something to be used.

Taro's gaze lingered on her, and for a moment, the noise of the party faded. He couldn't imagine what it must feel like, trapped in that life, a servant to people who saw you as nothing more than a tool. Her head was bowed as she cleaned, but every now and then, she glanced up, only to quickly avert her eyes when she caught someone staring. She had learned to stay out of the way. She had learned to disappear.

As Taro watched her, he noticed something. Mia was holding a plate of food, but she seemed reluctant to approach the main group. It was as if she was waiting for someone to take the plate from her before she could go back to her chores.

Then he saw Lee—Kaito's right-hand man. Lee was notorious for his ruthless nature, and the fear he instilled in others was palpable. His presence alone commanded the room. Lee's notorious reputation had always been whispered among the members, but it wasn't just Lee who made Taro uneasy. It was his companion, Yuki, a beautiful woman who was as cold as she was ruthless. They were both at the center of the chaos, laughing, enjoying their power. But it was clear that Mia had no place in their world.

Lee spotted Mia as she approached with the food. His eyes glinted with something sinister, and before she could even place the plate on the table, he grabbed her wrist and yanked her close.

"What is this?" Lee's voice was laced with mockery. "A maid who can't even carry a simple plate?"

Yuki, standing next to him, let out a cruel laugh. "She's just a slave," Yuki said, her voice dripping with disdain. "Doesn't matter how much she tries. She's beneath us."

Mia trembled, her eyes fixed on the floor, unable to meet their gaze. Her body shook, and Taro saw the resignation in her posture, the way she had learned to take the punishment without fighting back. Her life had been reduced to this—to cleaning, to serving, to enduring the cruelty of people who had no interest in her well-being.

Taro felt his anger flare up. He was about to step forward when Ken's hand grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"Don't," Ken warned, his voice low. "You're not in a position to take on Lee and Yuki. Not yet."

Taro clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. But Ken was right. He had to be patient. He had to wait for the right moment.

Lee sneered at Mia before tossing the plate aside, making her kneel to clean the mess. "You think you're better than this, don't you? But you're just a dog."

Mia didn't respond. She just lowered her head, wiping up the food with a silent, broken expression.

Taro watched the scene unfold before him, his heart heavy. He had never seen someone treated like this before—not by people who called themselves part of a family. It wasn't right. But in this world, he had no power to change it yet. Not until he found his place.

The following days were a blur for Taro. The gang operations picked up pace, and Taro was pulled deeper into the workings of the underworld. It wasn't just about loyalty anymore—it was about survival, and every move he made had to be calculated.

But as he grew closer to Ken, a bond forged in their quiet conversations and shared moments, Taro began to question his choices. Mia was always there, her presence a silent reminder of the world he had joined. Every time he saw her cleaning, every time he heard the laughter of Lee and Yuki at her expense, a part of him felt like he was losing a piece of himself.

One night, as Taro sat in the corner of the hideout, nursing a drink, Ken joined him.

"You okay?" Ken asked, his voice low. "You've been distant lately."

Taro sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's Mia," he said, his voice heavy with frustration. "I can't just stand by and watch her be treated like this."

Ken nodded, his eyes softening. "I get it. But this is the world we're in now, Taro. We can't just change things on a whim. We have to play the game, and then we can find a way to make it right."

Taro clenched his fists. "I don't want to be part of a world like this. Not if it means standing by while people like Lee and Yuki hurt others."

Ken looked at him, his gaze unwavering. "Then you'll have to make your own path. But it won't be easy."

As the days passed, Taro became more determined. He couldn't let Mia suffer in silence. He couldn't stand to see her reduced to nothing but a tool for others' amusement. He would find a way to protect her, even if it meant challenging the entire system. Because in a world like this, if you didn't stand up for what was right, you'd lose yourself.