Hiroshi Takeda II

After thoroughly cleaning themselves up and wiping the blood off their hands, they exited the room.

Outside, four other members standing guard noticed Hiroshi coming out and bowed in greeting. "Thank you for your hard work!" they shouted in unison.

"Likewise," Hiroshi said, waving them off as he walked toward the hallway, the group following closely behind. They exited the hotel as if nothing had happened, their movements calm and deliberate. 

Outside, they dispersed into multiple black cars, the same ones they had arrived in, and drove off into the night. 

They soon arrived in a more rural area, where the streets were quieter and fewer people roamed. The cars came to a stop in front of a local establishment. 

As they exited the vehicles, the locals, well aware of who they were—having seen them often—kept their distance, careful not to offend or draw attention to themselves.

"Miss Nam, Korean BBQ, and alcohol for the whole group—top quality! The boss said it's his treat," one of the men shouted with a grin as they entered. 

The whole group cheered in delight, but Hiroshi quickly cut them off.

"Stop, stop, stop, you brats! When did I ever say such a thing? You think money falls out of the sky? This will all be billed from your salaries," he shouted, his tone firm but with a hint of amusement.

He was well aware of their playful antics and made sure not to fall into their trap.

"Awwww," the group groaned in unison, their energy fading instantly. "What a stingy boss," "How cruel," "What an uncool boss," the members from the back shouted playfully, careful to stay hidden.

Their relationship was built on respect when needed, but they also knew how to tease their boss when the moment allowed—a perfect balance. 

Hiroshi walked a few more steps, then stopped abruptly.

"Ugh, fine, fine, fine. I'll pay for your meals—just this one time again," he announced, realizing he had, in fact, fallen into their trap once more. 

The whole group cheered again as they headed inside.

"What a great boss!" "Best boss in the whole world!" they chimed, changing their tone as they walked past him at the entrance. 

"Shut up and get inside. I don't care one bit about your opinions," Hiroshi scolded, though his words lacked any real bite.

Neither he nor they took it to heart—it was all part of their familiar, unspoken dynamic. 

They arranged themselves in three rows, with Hiroshi seated at the center. The store buzzed with lively conversations among the group.

Beside him sat Miako, the only female member, and Senzo, his most trusted aide. 

Hiroshi glanced around the room, a faint smile on his face as he reminisced about how far he'd come.

He stood up to make an announcement. "Listen here," he began, but the room was too loud for his voice to carry.

Thud!

Senzo slammed his hand on the table, the sharp sound cutting through the noise. Instantly, the room fell silent, all eyes turning to Hiroshi.

"The reason I called all the members here, even though the task wasn't that hard, is because I have an announcement to make," Hiroshi said.

The remaining murmurs quickly died down as the seriousness of his tone settled over the room. "I've spent almost my entire life as a yakuza, and now... I think it's time for me to retire," he announced.

The news hit them like another bomb dropped on them, instantly wiping away their cheerful mood.

That was how much respect and admiration they had for Hiroshi—his competence and leadership were unmatched. Some had even joined the group solely for the chance to be under his wing.

Some began shouting their discontent, pleading for him to stay, but their protests were meaningless—he had made up his mind long ago.

"Shut your traps! Do you want me to spend my remaining days in the underground world and die without fulfilling any of my dreams?" he shouted back.

"I've already told Miako and Senzo beforehand, and even they've accepted it. So fill your mouths with meat and shut the hell up!" He barked, silencing the room.

Emotions poured through his words, raw and heartfelt. Some members had their eyes welling up at the thought of their beloved boss leaving them. 

"You all were my pride and joy—each and every one of you. So even after I'm gone, continue to make me proud," he continued, his voice steady but filled with weight.

"Will you do that?!" he shouted, his tone demanding yet brimming with hope. 

"Yes, Boss!!!" they shouted in unison. 

"I can't hear you!!!" he roared once more. 

"YES, BOSS!!!" they replied, their voices even louder this time, echoing through the room.

Hiroshi took a deep breath and sat down, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He was proud of how his underlings had grown. 

After that, they drank to their hearts' content, trying to drown out the memory of their boss leaving and turn it into a bad dream. 

They drank well past midnight, and by then, almost everyone was wasted. 

Even Miako, who was usually reserved—except when alone with Hiroshi—had her head planted on the table, overcome by the booze. 

She had been just a kid when Hiroshi found and adopted her, taking her along wherever he went. Now, at 20, Hiroshi had told her she couldn't follow him anymore, though she could visit occasionally. 

Senzo wasn't much different, but as a boy and not one to show his feelings openly, he hadn't caused as much trouble when Hiroshi first broke the news to them.

The sober ones carried the wasted members one by one into the cars, and soon they began to drive off.

Only Hiroshi and one member, who couldn't fit into the car, remained behind.

"Boss, do you want to call a cab, or should we walk?" the man asked.

"Why not walk for change? The streets are so peaceful at this hour," Hiroshi said, already stepping toward the alley. 

The man followed behind as Hiroshi glanced at the walls and scenery, reminiscing about how he'd grown up. He chuckled to himself.

"No need to walk behind me—you can just walk beside m—urgh!" Just as he turned to call out to the man, he was met with a bunka knife plunged deep into his heart. 

"Sorry, Boss," the man said, still gripping the knife, his voice tinged with guilt.

"But you made too many enemies, and this time... they offered too much money to turn down." 

Then he pulled out the knife, making the blood flow out and backed away

'Ahhh... so that was how it was,' Hiroshi thought as he leaned back against the nearest wall.

'After all those struggles... what a silly way to go.' His vision blurred, and his mind drifted off into darkness. 

__________

Side Note 

I made the prologue a bit longer in case I might want to use the characters later on, but not sure tho