Chapter 29 - Enough

Raito stood before the group of teens, his presence casting an almost palpable weight in the air. His usual calm demeanor was replaced by an intimidating aura that made the young men step back instinctively. They hadn't expected this kind of reaction.

"Stay away from Raika," Raito's voice was low, carrying a chilling edge. "And stay away from my house."

The boys blinked, visibly unnerved, and after a brief moment of hesitation, they nodded quickly, faces pale from the sudden change in the atmosphere.

"Yes, sir," one of them muttered, and soon, the others echoed him, all addressing Raito with an unexpected, albeit respectful, "sir."

Raito let out a sigh of exasperation as he turned on his heel, already feeling like he'd wasted enough time.

As he started walking back, his mind started to drift back to the real issues at hand. He wasn't about to spend another second worrying about this group of teens.

But just as he neared the exit of the skate park, he caught sight of a man approaching the teens. The man's demeanor was far from friendly—Raito could feel the tension radiating from the newcomer even at a distance. Still, he didn't think much of it. Not his problem.

Kurai's voice sounded in his mind, teasing him. Are you really going to let this slide, or are you going to interfere?

Raito kept walking, his pace unhurried. "I have better things to do."

With that, he continued on his way, ignoring the situation behind him. There was no reason to get involved.

Raito's footsteps were steady as he continued walking, his mind focused on anything but the noise behind him. The man's voice called out, sharp and demanding, but Raito didn't even glance back. He wasn't about to get involved in something that wasn't his business.

The man called to him again, louder this time. "Hey! I'm talking to you, kid!"

Raito kept walking, maintaining a calm, collected pace, his eyes fixed straight ahead. He had no interest in turning around. The teens, however, seemed less than pleased with the situation.

"Stop calling him!" one of the boys shouted, a nervous edge to his voice.

But the man, clearly irritated, slapped the boy across the back of the head with a grunt. The teens winced, fear flashing in their eyes. They were visibly uncomfortable, but there was nothing they could do.

Kurai's voice slid into Raito's mind, amusement laced in every word. You're not going to just stand there and let him walk all over you, are you?

Raito's response was curt, though he didn't slow down. "I'm not some hero. I just want a quiet life."

Right, a quiet life where you get harassed by thugs and delinquent teens every day.

Raito shook his head, pushing the thought aside. As he neared the street corner, however, a nagging feeling started to gnaw at him. The man wasn't letting up. The teens were following, unsure of what to do next, and the more Raito ignored them, the closer the man seemed to get.

That's when it hit him.

The last thing he wanted was for this man to know where he lived.

Reluctantly, he stopped and turned back toward the skate park. He could feel the man's gaze on his back, but Raito wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of thinking he could scare him off. He faced the man, watching as the thug grinned, clearly entertained by the turn of events.

The man sneered at him, leaning casually against a lamppost. "Oh, you've got guts, huh? Well, these boys here can do whatever they want, and you—" He looked at Raito with mock amusement, "—you're just a good boy, right? Just stand there and take it."

Raito's eyes flickered briefly to the teens. They looked uncomfortable, as if they were waiting for the situation to somehow resolve on its own. It wasn't just the man who was making them uneasy.

The man grinned, his tone growing even more smug. "These boys are gonna be the next members of the Tora Brotherhood, you know?" He chuckled at his own words, clearly enjoying the intimidation factor.

Raito's brow furrowed. A local gang maybe? He'd never heard of any gang in this area. He looked at the teens again, who now seemed more and more like they were just caught in the middle of something they didn't want to be involved in.

His confusion must have been apparent, because the man's expression twisted with irritation. He stepped forward, the arrogance in his posture clear.

"They know what they're getting into and they have no choice," the man said, his voice low and threatening. "And you? You think you can just stand there after intimidating our future members? You have no idea what you're dealing with."

The teens, clearly uncomfortable with the growing hostility, looked at Raito with a mix of apprehension and concern. One of them even whispered, "Run… just go, sir. He's crazy."

Kurai's teasing voice echoed again in Raito's mind. Look at that. The boys are worried about you. Aren't you flattered?

Raito's mouth twisted into a frown as he glanced at the teens. Despite their earlier cockiness, it seemed they weren't as tough as they looked. But that was their problem, not his.

However, as the man took another step forward, Raito realized he'd reached his limit. His eyes narrowed, and the air around him seemed to shift as he straightened.

"Alright, alright," Raito muttered under his breath, rubbing his neck in resignation. "Guess I'll just have to knock some sense into this guy, huh?"