Daiki lounged on the worn leather sofa, his posture relaxed but his sharp gaze locked onto Haruto.
Around him, the gang loomed in their usual intimidating formation. Ren, ever the loudmouth, had a girl uncomfortably pressed against his side.
Her bangs obscured her face, but Haruto recognized her. The memory of her naked, vulnerable form on the floor flickered in his mind.
Still, as Haruto's eyes swept over the gang, he felt less fear than he once had. Up close, they weren't monsters; they were just high school kids cloaked in layers of cruelty and fractured minds.
A small, deranged cult of psychopaths, nothing more.
Daiki finally broke the silence, his tone tinged with disinterest. "So, what do you want?"
Straightening his back, Haruto clasped his hands behind him, his stance firm and deliberate.
"We're friends, aren't we?"
Daiki leaned forward slightly, the corners of his mouth tugging into a faint smirk. "Yes. And?"
"I know someone who wants to join the gang. Let him in," he said. "I'm asking as a friend."
Before Daiki could respond, Ren let out a sharp, mocking laugh.
"Are you serious? Daiki doesn't just let anyone in. And who's this friend of yours, anyway?"
Haruto's gaze turned cold, cutting through Ren's bravado. "I wasn't talking to you."
The room seemed to be still. Ren's laughter died, replaced by a sneer. "Huh. This bastard thinks he's got a say."
He started toward Haruto, but Daiki's raised hand stopped him mid-step.
"Don't waste your breath." His voice was calm but laced with warning.
Ren bristled. "Daiki, he's not even part of the gang! You don't need to listen to—"
Before he could finish, Daiki moved. In one swift motion, he grabbed Ren's shirt and yanked him forward, nearly sending him sprawling over the low table in front of the sofa.
"It's not your decision," Daiki growled, his tone icy and final. "Speak out of turn again, and I'll cut your tongue out."
Ren froze, swallowing hard as Daiki released him. Despite his silence, his glare at Haruto burned with hate.
"Don't worry," Haruto said coolly, addressing Ren but keeping his eyes on Daiki. "You might even like what he can do."
Ren's glare didn't waver, but Haruto paid him no mind. His focus was on Daiki, who leaned back into the sofa, his unblinking stare boring into Haruto.
The weight of Daiki's scrutiny was almost suffocating.
'Hold on,'
he pleaded silently.
'Hold on until I can destroy them.'
The more he stared, the more her face blurred with Haruka's in his mind. The resemblance was haunting, and the weight of his helplessness felt suffocating.
When the ordeal was over, Haruto left the room as quickly as he could, his legs carrying him to the stairs. He sank down, burying his face in his trembling hands.
His body shook with rage, frustration, and self-loathing. Despite the system, despite his newfound strength, he had done nothing to help her.
Minutes stretched into an eternity as he sat there, consumed by his turmoil, until a light touch on his shoulder startled him.
Turning, he found her standing behind him—the girl from the video. Up close, she was even smaller, her frame frail and fragile.
Her clothes were disheveled, her blouse missing buttons, exposing the edges of her bra. Dirt and tears stained her skin, but her expression was calm.
"You dropped this," she said softly, holding out his phone.
Haruto stared at her in surprise before taking it. "Oh... thanks."
She hesitated as he stood, her green eyes watching him closely.
Frowning at her disheveled state, Haruto shrugged off his blazer and draped it over her shoulders.
"You can't walk home like that," he said.
Her eyes widened in silent surprise before she clutched the blazer around herself. "Thank you."
They stood in awkward silence for a moment, the air heavy between them.
"Do you..." she started hesitantly. "Do you remember me? My name is Ayaka Yoshida."
Haruto blinked, startled by the question. A sense of déjà vu hit him—he'd been asked this before.
"I'm sorry, but no."
She tilted her head, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her face. "Really?" she murmured.
"Weird that Haruka still comes to the meetings, then."
Haruto froze, his eyes narrowing. "What did you just say?"
"Nothing," she replied quickly, shaking her head. "I'll be going now."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows leaving him and the abandoned school behind.