Ashen Moon: Volume 2 - Chapter 7

The content warning is in the footnotes⁰.

◇:*:◆:*:◇

Kato got out of the taxi across from the hotel and crossed the street. Despite it being nighttime, the temperature hadn't dropped, and the air was uncomfortably humid. He entered the tall, narrow building, a chain business hotel near Shinagawa Station.

At the front desk, he received his key card and entered the elevator. Hachi had messaged, "Thank you for your hard work. Everything is ready here." He must have seen Kato arrive from his room.

Room 406 was about 13 square meters, with a desk, a semi-double bed, and a sofa at the end of a narrow hallway. It was spacious for a business hotel. It was past midnight. Opening the curtains, he saw the Tokyo Tower looked small between the buildings.

At 12:45 AM, Kato received a call from Yoshino. He reported that Ako had left the bar and met with a man from the Abiko group, then got into a taxi together. They stopped two blocks from the hotel, the man heading to a 24-hour diner, while Ako was on her way to the hotel.

"Be careful; the woman might have a weapon."

Yoshino warned, but Kato wasn't worried. Handling a gun wasn't easy for an amateur. The most Ako could do was stab him if he let his guard down or let the man into the room.

The cheap alarm clock ticked away. The sound of heels approached and stopped. The door was knocked twice.

"It's me."

The sickly sweet voice almost made Kato retch. He turned the doorknob. Ako stood there, her makeup perfect despite the late hour, smiling brightly.

She wore a dress with a deep neckline, just like at the bar, her ample breasts straining against the fabric.

Once inside, she placed her handbag and a paper bag on the desk, then kissed Kato. Stroking his hair with a hint of affection, she whispered, "It must have been tough," in a gentle voice. After lingering in the kiss, she picked up the paper bag. Tension coursed through Kato; he'd been wary of it since she arrived.

"Let's drink together."

She took out a bottle of wine and two wine glasses from the bag.

"A customer gave it to me. I wanted to drink it with you, so I borrowed the glasses and opener from the bar."

She stuck out her tongue slightly and shrugged.

"You can drink wine, right? This one is delicious."

Kato had never drunk wine at the bar. Despite having slept with Ako many times, this was the first time she offered him alcohol in a hotel. It was unnatural.

"It looks good."

Ako beamed, "Doesn't it?" Kato picked up the wine bottle, checking the label while examining it for tampering. The bottle was intact with no signs of being opened. The likelihood of it being spiked was low, and the wine seemed genuine.

Kato uncorked the bottle and poured the blood-red liquid into a glass. Ako approached. Thinking she was coming to take her glass, Kato was surprised when she instead grabbed the bottle, lifted it to check the remaining wine, and then suddenly lurched forward.

Wine splashed out, soaking Kato's shirt and chest in red. The sight of the red—blood red—reminded him of the boss's last moments, making him feel sick.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to!" Ako hastily placed the bottle back on the table. "I tripped on my heel. That shirt will stain if you don't wash it right away. Go take it off in the bathroom."

Though he could have taken it off right there, Kato complied, wondering why she insisted on the bathroom. He removed his shirt in the bathroom and returned to the room, where Ako took the stained shirt, promising to wash it, and disappeared into the bathroom.

"Wait for me to come back before you toast," she said pointedly. Kato glanced at the two glasses on the table. There was a faint trace of wine on the rim of the glass on the right. He switched the positions of the glasses. Ako returned after about five minutes, hung the washed shirt on a hanger, and Kato moved closer, burying his face in her neck, inhaling the scent of her perfume mixed with alcohol and tobacco—an aroma of the night.

"I want to drink some wine," Ako said softly, gently pushing him away and predictably reaching for the glass on the left. She handed Kato the glass on the right.

They clinked glasses lightly. Kato downed his wine in one go, like it was beer, while Ako laughed softly at his haste. "Thirsty, were you?"

"It's good wine," he commented.

"Of course, it was expensive," she replied, though he knew it was a gift. A woman trying to set him up wouldn't make such an obvious mistake. While exchanging small talk, Kato drank his wine.

After Ako placed her glass down, Kato pushed her slender body onto the bed. "Aren't you going to take a shower?" she asked sweetly, but she didn't resist as he undressed her.

In the middle of his thrusts, Ako suddenly went limp, her mouth agape, moving weakly like a doll. Though she seemed dead, she showed no signs of distress. When he placed his hand near her mouth, she was still breathing. He suspected the wine had been drugged, likely with a sedative. After ejaculating on her stomach, Kato put on only his pants and sent a message to Hachi.

From the next room, Hachi, Yoshino, and a young blond gang member entered. While Hachi and Yoshino remained stoic, the young blond stiffened at the sight of Ako lying naked on the bed.

"My shirt got wet. I need a replacement," Kato said. Hachi signaled the young gang member, who quickly left to buy a new shirt.

Kato rummaged through Ako's handbag, emptying its contents on the bed: a makeup pouch, wallet, handkerchief, smartphone, and what looked like an eyeglass case. Knowing Ako had good eyesight, he opened the case and found a syringe and white powder inside.

Looking down at the naked woman, he noted she had grown thinner, especially around her thighs and abdomen. Abiko group also dealt drugs; the man's influence was evident.

Although Ako's smartphone was locked, it was unlocked using her fingerprint. In the chat history, she frequently communicated with someone named Kinko, who had sent messages like "trap Kato" and "kill him." This confirmed Kinko was a thug from Abiko group.

"I'll contact you when I'm ready☆" The latest message, sent after she had entered the room, indicated she had sent it from the bathroom while pretending to wash his shirt.

Ako was moved to the adjacent room by Yoshino, and the blond returned with a new shirt. Kato handed Ako's smartphone to Hachi.

"Bring the man here," Kato instructed. Hachi nodded and replied to Kinko's message with, "Ready☆ Sorry for the delay." As soon as Kinko read the message, he replied, "Finally! I'm coming."

Yoshino waited in the next room while the blond waited at the end of the hallway. Hachi stood by the door, waiting for Ako's thug from the Abiko group.

About five minutes later, a foolish voice called out from behind the door, "Ako, it's me, I'm here!"

Hachi swiftly pulled the door knob from the inside. A short-haired man in a short-sleeved shirt stood there, expecting Ako. His face twisted in surprise as the blond kicked him into the room from behind. Hachi dragged the man further inside by his collar, and the blond closed the door. Hachi then taped the man's hands and feet, as well as his mouth, preventing him from making any noise. The two men worked efficiently. After securing the man, Hachi searched him, finding a gun, knife, wallet, and smartphone.

The man, in his late twenties, was gaunt with hollow eyes. Hachi threatened him until he unlocked his smartphone.

The man had been exchanging messages with someone named Kondo, who seemed to be a yakuza from Abiko group. Neither Hachi nor the blond knew Kondo, so they called Yoshino from the next room, who frowned upon hearing the name.

"Kondo is a guy who rose through the ranks dealing meth. He used to manage a soapland and isn't well-liked by the Abiko group veterans. He's known for being cheap," Yoshino explained.

Kato peeled the tape from the man's mouth. The man immediately pleaded, "Please, spare me! Please!"

"You're from Abiko group, aren't you?" Kato asked.

The man nodded shakily.

"Why did you try to kill me?"

"I wasn't trying to kill you!" The man’s eyes darted around nervously, unable to meet Kato's gaze. A small fry among small fries.

Kato took the man's own gun from Hachi and pressed it against his sweating forehead, causing his eyes to cross as they focused on the gun.

"Is Kondo your superior?"

The man trembled more violently, teeth chattering.

"Why did Kondo target me?"

No answer.

"I'm not patient. Answer quickly," Kato demanded, feigning to pull the trigger, causing the man to scream, "Wait! I'll talk, I'll talk!"

"Kondo ordered me to take you out. He said after the boss died, you'd be the next in line. If both the boss and the successor were taken out, your group would collapse…"

Kato pressed the gun harder against the man's forehead.

"Who killed the boss?"

Tears welled up in the man's eyes.

"I don't know…"

"You must know who the hitman was."

"I really don't know!" the man screamed. "We're just the low-level guys; they don't tell us anything!"

After gagging and retching, the man began to cry like a woman. Hachi clicked his tongue in annoyance. At Kato's signal, Hachi put the man in a chokehold, making him lose consciousness within seconds.

At 4 a.m., Kato checked out of the hotel with two large suitcases containing Ako and the man. The front desk clerk offered to call a taxi, but Kato declined, saying he had a ride coming.

The man had little information. Believing Ako wouldn't know more, Kato ordered the blond to break her legs and dump her at a hospital. The man would be disposed of to ensure his body wouldn't be found. Leaving him in a visible spot might serve as a warning to Abiko group, but it might also make them more cautious.

Using the man's smartphone, Kato followed the message trail with Kondo. Contrary to the expectation that such communications would be deleted immediately, everything was still there. The lack of information security was appalling. A failure of subordinates reflects directly on their leader. If the man had been caught by the police, the messages would have led them straight to Kondo.

Kondo, having risen from cleaning toilets, had been expected to have a keen sense of crisis management, but his background as a former soapland manager meant he lacked such foresight. Kato thought about how every meth dealer he knew was cautious; perhaps this one was particularly incompetent.

Even though Kondo stood out for selling meth, he was a pariah within the gang. He might have targeted me, an executive of a rival gang, to raise his status within his own group. If that's the case, Kondo's attempt on my life would be a solo act. Kato had Hachi post a message in a group chat, pretending to be Kaneko, Ako’s boyfriend.

"Kato, I did it."

"I'll bury him in the mountains."

Less than a minute after posting, the phone rang. Ignoring it, the call ended after a few rings, and messages started coming in in the group chat.

"Don't bury him, idiot."

"Dump him somewhere conspicuous."

"It won't serve as a warning if you hide the body, moron."

Kondo didn't realize that it was the "supposedly killed man" who was watching the group, so he was relentless.

"Understood."

"Can I use Kato's card?" Kondo asked.

When they sent a message asking Kondo to come to them, he changed his instructions to "Bring the card over to me" and "Don't dump him until the card is used up."

"He's as greedy as the rumors say," Kato mused.

"He's scum," Hachi spat.

When we didn't respond, more messages followed: "What are you doing?" and "You better not be trying to bail."

An hour later, I positioned five subordinates around a house behind a convenience store and sent another message to Kondo.

"Crap, I'm being followed."

"The card is in a coin locker at Shizuru Station."

"The key is under the sign of a house with a rooster on the roof, behind the convenience store opposite the station."

Kondo replied, "Stop doing complicated things!" but I ignored it. The area was under redevelopment, with many vacant houses and few passersby, making it an ideal place for an abduction.

I ordered my men to wake me when they caught Kondo, and I took a nap in the reception room of the Motohashi gang's office. I woke up at 9 AM, but there was no movement from Kondo. I had expected him to act quickly, but my prediction was off.

The night before, I had informed Soichi, "I'm going to catch a low-ranking member of the Abiko group. If we press him, he might reveal the name of the hitman." His only reply was, "Got it." After a short pause, he added, "My father's wake is tomorrow, and the funeral is the day after."

By noon and again as it got dark, Kondo hadn't shown up. Was he sensing something off and being cautious, or just slow to act? Unable to read the amateur gangster's mind, we waited patiently. Finally, after 8 PM, we received word that Kondo had been caught. The fool came to pick up the key at night, the perfect time for us.

I instructed them to bring Kondo to the basement of a front company building the Motohashi gang owned in Yoyogi and headed there myself.

The basement, about 33 square meters in size, was originally a storage room. It was soundproof, with black-painted walls and drainage facilities, occasionally used for punishing unruly members or lynching members of the Touzen group.

Kondo was lying in the corner, hands and feet tied. He was in his late twenties or early thirties, with light brown hair, thin eyebrows, a defined nose, a narrow jaw, and fair skin. Despite his age, he was quite handsome. His gray pinstripe suit and branded shoes suggested he was more of a failed host than a typical yakuza.

Hachi reported that the capture was surprisingly easy because Kondo had shown up alone without security. As I approached the man lying on the concrete, he looked up at me.

"You're Kondo from the Abiko group, right?"

"No, I'm not Kondo."

The man shook his head.

"Lying won't help. I know your face," Yoshino, standing by my feet, said with a scowl. Kondo ground his teeth in frustration as I squatted in front of him. His right cheek was swollen, probably from a beating.

"Sorry my men were rough with you."

The former host and meth dealer looked at me with frightened eyes.

"I only want to know one thing. Tell me, and I'll let you go. Who was the hitman that killed the Motohashi leader?"

Kondo glanced at the stern gang members around him. "Will you really let me go if I tell you?" he asked.

"Yes."

"But there's no guarantee you won't kill me after I talk."

He understood his situation well. But admitting that would ruin any leverage.

"Killing you would just dirty this place and create the hassle of disposing of your body, which gives us no benefit. If you promise never to come back here, I'll let you go."

I paused.

"We just want to know who the hitman is."

After a long silence, Kondo nodded. "Alright. The one who killed the boss was... Gunji Sagawa."

The name came out so easily it was almost anticlimactic. Everyone, including myself, fell silent.

"Gunji Sagawa," Kondo repeated. "He did it to make a name for himself."

"Did he personally kill the boss?"

"That's what I've heard," Kondo nodded. It was so absurd I couldn't help but gape. Sagawa was one of the top three in the Abiko group, Kurume's right-hand man, and the same age as me. It was unthinkable for Kurume to send Sagawa, a future executive candidate, on such a risky hit. Hitmen are usually the expendable low-ranking members, like how Kondo used Kaneko to try to kill me.

If he wanted to be believable, Kondo should have named a lower-ranking member. Sagawa was too big a name. Kondo might have just blurted out a name to save himself, or maybe he hoped we’d take out someone he disliked within his own gang.

"I see, Gunji Sagawa," I said, pretending to be convinced. Kondo sighed in relief, and I stomped on the back of his head with my heel.

"Ow! What are you doing?"

I ground his face into the concrete until he screamed for mercy. His forehead was bright red from the abrasion.

"Don't lie."

Kondo gulped.

"You tried to mislead us with lies."

"I'm not lying!"

Still denying it, I ordered Hachi, "Shoot him."

Kondo started writhing like a trapped fish. "No, wait!"

"Tell the truth, and I won't shoot."

"I already told you the truth."

I crouched down again.

"The hospital where the boss was admitted had security cameras."

Kondo's eyes widened, his mouth half-open.

"We have the perpetrator's build on tape. We need a reliable confession. Who killed the boss? If you lie again, I'll shoot your right leg, then your left."

The security camera bluff worked. Kondo, teary-eyed, finally confessed, "It was Hijima."

I didn't recognize the name, but Hachi did. Hijima had been expelled from another gang and joined the Abiko group about two years ago. He had a bad reputation and had caused trouble in Motohashi's territory before.

"Where is this Hijima hiding?"

"I don't know that..."

I stomped my foot near his head repeatedly. "Spill everything."

"You said you only wanted the name!" Kondo yelled, enraged.

I moved away and sat on a folding chair, crossing my legs.

"Make him talk."

Hachi and Yoshino began kicking Kondo. Though they held back, Kondo screamed like a dying chicken with every kick.

"I'll talk, I'll talk! Just stop!"

It didn't take three minutes for the weak-willed man to crack. He began spilling details about the Abiko group's hideouts, which Yoshino noted while Hachi searched on his phone, sending others to scout.

"Let me go now. I told you everything."

With tears and snot streaming down his face, Kondo looked pitiful. I spoke coldly.

"If your gang finds out you talked, they'll punish you. It's safer here."

Finally understanding his situation, Kondo fell silent. I ordered Hachi to strip him naked, chain him with handcuffs and ankle shackles to a metal pillar in the basement. Naked and shivering, he sat in a corner.

"I need to go to the bathroom."

There was a sink in the basement, but the chains wouldn't reach. When I had a subordinate bring a bucket, Kondo refused, glaring at me. He likely intended to escape under the guise of needing the bathroom. But he was naked, chained, and in a Motohashi gang-owned building. Escape was impossible.

"We'll release you if we confirm Hijima is the hitman."

Kondo hung his head in resignation.

Kondo mumbled something, but it was too quiet to make out. He kept muttering things like "gross" and "screw you." Ignoring him, Kato found his voice grating. Apparently, so did Hachi and Yoshino, as they would kick Kondo's legs or buttocks whenever they passed by.

Suddenly, without any warning, Kondo yelled, "Hey, you lying bastards!"

"Put some clothes on me! Are you just gonna keep me naked and gawk at me? Of course, you guys are the ones who catered to the perverted son of the Motohashi group!"

He barked, his mouth wide open.

"The son of the Motohashi group is notorious for being a faggot in this industry. He craves men like a woman, shaking his hips for them. And one man isn’t enough; he needs two, three at a time. You know, even with all his holes filled."

Kondo showed a vile grin.

"A double penetration on that dirty ass, huh? You guys are something else."

Kato stood up and took the knife from Hachi's belt holder. He grabbed Kondo's light brown hair and slashed horizontally under his nose.

"Ahhh!"

A filthy scream echoed as blood gushed from under Kondo's nose, staining his mouth as if he had devoured someone. Kato placed the blood-stained knife against Kondo's trembling forehead.

"Say it again."

Kondo trembled, clutching his nose.

"What did you say? I didn't quite catch that."

No response. Kato kicked his jaw, flipping Kondo onto his back. With his legs spread out like a frog, Kato stomped hard on his groin.

"Squeal!"

Kondo curled up, squealing like a pig. Whether his groin was crushed or rendered useless didn't matter. As long as they caught the hitman, Kondo would be the first to be disposed of.

The pig that had been whining like a rabbit fell silent and still. An hour later, reports came in that none of the three hideouts Kondo had mentioned housed anyone. Kato kicked Kondo in the waist as he crouched down.

"Aah!"

Kondo's scrotum was swollen and red, like an apple.

"Hijima isn't being harbored at any of the hideouts."

Kondo clasped his hands together and shook his head.

"I-I’m not lying! Please believe me!"

"Then where is Hijima?"

"I-I don't know..."

After a long pause, Kato threatened, "Do you want your dick crushed?"

"I really, really don't know," Kondo cried, tears streaming down his face. When Kato took out Hachi's knife again, Kondo covered his face with both hands, pleading, "Not my face, please!"

Through the gaps between his fingers, his eyes darted around frantically. Suddenly, they widened in realization.

"Hi-Hijima has a woman. He might be with her..."

"A woman?"

"She's a hostess. Everyone talked about how stunning she is... She's at a club in Ginza called 'Meruda,' but I can't remember her name. She's the top hostess..."

Behind Kato, Hachi nodded in acknowledgment.

◇:*:◆:*:◇

To make it in time for the funeral, Kato returned to the mansion. He took a shower and changed into the mourning clothes that Hachi had brought him in his assigned small room.

Yesterday, he sent a few subordinates disguised to blend into a place called "Meruda" to find out who Hijima's woman was. Though hostesses tend to talk a lot, they clammed up when it came to their colleagues' private lives. It was hard to get any information, but by flashing some cash, they finally found out that the hostess was someone named Kanon.

When they barged into her house as she returned home, Hijima wasn't there. When they asked her about his whereabouts, the woman just cried and said she had long since broken up with him. It seemed like another dead end, but Hachi furrowed his brow and said, "That woman is suspicious."

One of the subordinates had touched the woman during the break-in. Hachi had let it go, thinking it would end quickly, but he found her reaction strange.

"Even though it was nearly rape, she seemed to enjoy it. I thought she must be quite the character..."

Hachi had a sharp intuition. Pretending to give up and withdraw, Kato secretly continued to keep the woman under surveillance. He ordered tailing her when she went out and meticulously checking even her garbage.

If she was connected to Hijima, he would get the information. If the hitman knew it was Kato who identified him, he'd be even more cautious. He might flee abroad at any moment.

Should they capture the woman immediately to make her talk, or should they gather information while letting her go? Faced with this decision, Kato chose to wait.

If Hijima thought they had completely withdrawn from the woman, his guard might drop, thinking there was no way they'd trace back to him. Kato aimed for that gap.

They were also monitoring the Abiko group, but so far there hadn't been any significant movements. Despite sending a hitman, they weren't making any overt moves. They were waiting for Kato's group to self-destruct from within. They might have noticed Kondo and Kaneko had been captured, but it seemed like those two and Hijima were mere pawns to the Abiko group.

Past noon, the Motohashi group leader, Motohashi Yodo's, funeral was held under strict security. Four days had passed since his death in the hospital, but the matriarch still couldn't fully accept reality. She would occasionally break into tears, her younger sister comforting her.

Soichi served as the chief mourner. His speech was grand and dignified, moving the old members to tears, and even Kato felt his eyes welling up. If Soichi could just gain more dignity, he'd be a perfect leader.

After the ceremony, they rented a high-class restaurant nearby for a memorial banquet. The leaders and senior members gathered there. Soichi fulfilled his duties as the chief mourner perfectly. Despite his sexual inclinations, he'd always managed the group's obligations well.

"Hey, Kato," one of the executives, Itokawa, approached as Kato was sipping his drink at the end of the banquet.

"Have you identified the guy who killed the boss?"

"We're narrowing it down."

Though it was surely Hijima, Kato evaded the question. Despite their long association and Itokawa's trust in him, Kato didn't want to reveal his suspicions. It wasn't that he didn't trust Itokawa, but there was a possibility that someone Itokawa might inadvertently tell was connected to the enemy.

"The boss's direct subordinates are still missing. I suspect they've turned traitor," Kato thought, "but they were supposedly trustworthy."

"If you need soldiers, I'll lend you my thugs," Itokawa offered.

"Thank you," Kato said, bowing politely. "We have enough manpower for now, but I appreciate your offer."

"Don't hesitate to ask," Itokawa said, narrowing his eyes before glancing at Soichi in the distance. "The boy's grown up well."

Itokawa had started living with the group before Soichi was born. He was adept at maneuvering behind the scenes and had risen to an executive position without ever raising his voice. He was known for laughing while beating his subordinates. He had known Soichi since he was a child and had a soft spot for him, never joining those who badmouthed Soichi as unfit to be a leader due to his perverse habits.

Sake spilled from his cup onto his lap. Looking down, Kato saw Itokawa's right hand on his knee. It was shaped like a gun, with the index finger pointed and the thumb up, the other three fingers curled inward. Hidden by the table, Itokawa’s hand mimicked firing a gun, aimed at Soichi.

Kato was momentarily startled. The hand gesture vanished, and Itokawa clapped his hands together.

"Kato, the future of the Motohashi group is secure."

Itokawa smiled kindly.

After the memorial banquet ended and the guests were seen off, Hachi sent a message.

"We found a delivery receipt in the woman’s trash. The sender's name isn't hers."

A slip-up. She couldn't have someone else's delivery receipt by chance. She must have sent a package using a false name or had someone else send it.

"The recipient was a woman, but I’ve sent someone to check it out."

They were closing in on Hijima. But Kato called Hachi.

"From now on, use the phone for contact. Delete all messages."

Hachi sounded puzzled but answered, "Yes."

"It might become more complicated than killing a hitman."

Hachi paused and then replied firmly, "Understood." Kato also deleted all the messages with his subordinates. If there was a traitor, any information could be leaked. Phones could be bugged, but the target would be Kato, where all information converged. He had to be cautious about his belongings and surroundings; conversations were safer.

His head ached. He couldn’t accuse Itokawa without definitive proof. Even if they took down Hijima, they might not find evidence of Itokawa’s betrayal.

Footsteps echoed. Soichi walked down the corridor with two bodyguards.

"How is the matriarch?"

Near the end of the banquet, she had complained of feeling unwell. She was now resting in a small room at the restaurant, thanks to the manager’s kindness.

"She’s calm now. Itokawa will take her home. He’s been with the group since the early days and knows her well."

The mention of Itokawa’s name spread a mist of unease in Kato's chest. He recalled hearing rumors that Itokawa had been in love with the matriarch when Kato first joined the group. Itokawa had relationships with several women from the group’s clubs but never settled down or married.

Who would lead the Motohashi group after the boss's death? The natural successor would be the only son, but he had a scandal and lacked support. The next leader would be chosen from the executives, and Itokawa would be a strong candidate. But the seemingly useless son was showing potential. Maybe...

The hitman was from the Abiko group, but the timing was too perfect, attacking when the boss's guards were thinnest on the first day of his hospitalization. If someone within the group had informed Abiko, and if the guards were aligned with this 'someone,' guiding the hitman...

If Itokawa had leaked the information, what was his goal? Was he planning to switch to the enemy group after becoming the leader? Unlikely. Their operations in the Kanto region were stronger. It was more plausible that Itokawa was using the conflict to kill the boss, using the funeral battle as a pretext to crush the Abiko group, take their territory and business, and take over the Motohashi group with the matriarch.

If this was true, Itokawa was finished. But he was a smart man, likely covering his tracks well.

If Itokawa was connected to the enemy, Abiko would know all about their plans, but at the banquet, Itokawa was probing for information. Since Soichi was leading and information centralized with Kato, Itokawa didn't fully grasp their progress.

Was Itokawa the only traitor? Were there others supporting him within the group? Itokawa’s offer to lend thugs now took on a new meaning. Was he trying to infiltrate a massive spy?

A chill ran down Kato’s spine. The boss's mansion, believed secure for Soichi, could be infiltrated with countless spies, breeding unchecked.

Soichi's bodyguards were chosen by Kato before he went to Osaka, reliable men, but they could have been bribed or swayed by Itokawa.

Kato couldn't ignore the growing suspicion and the potential for internal betrayal.

The mansion might not be safe. If that's the case, I can no longer send him back there. However, I don't want to alarm the already nervous Soichi without any concrete proof that Itokawa is suspicious.

"Kato, how's that matter progressing?"

I had already informed Soichi that the woman's apartment had been a dead end. After a brief pause, I replied, "Still under investigation." Soichi murmured "I see" and loosened his tie slightly.

"...Mr. Soichi."

I addressed the pale-faced, downcast man.

"You must be tired, but could you accompany me for a bit?"

Someone might be listening. Even if they're not, there's a chance of being bugged. Once suspicion sets in, it's hard to speak freely.

The manager informed me, "Mr. Kato, the car is ready." I put Soichi in the car Yoshino had brought and told the two bodyguards, "I'll be handling security tonight. You both can go home." Then, I got into the passenger seat and ordered Yoshino to drive. Soichi questioned the absence of the other bodyguards.

"I sent them away."

Soichi looked suspicious but didn't say anything more. I directed the car to a high-end hotel in the city that Soichi used to frequent. After checking in, I instructed Yoshino not to tell anyone where we were and sent him away. I declined the bellboy's help and headed to the VIP room on the upper floor with Soichi.

As soon as we entered the room, I handed Soichi a bag of clothing I had bought along the way.

"Please change into these. Staying in mourning clothes must be uncomfortable. Use these as loungewear."

Soichi was silent for a while but eventually took the bag and went into the bathroom to change. He used to be unbothered by stripping naked and flaunting sex with other men in front of me, but it seems his attitude had changed over the past two years.

Soichi emerged wearing navy pants and a cream-colored shirt I had chosen, and they suited him well. I called the front desk to have his discarded clothes cleaned and his shoes polished. Now, all he had from home were his wallet and smartphone, which he always kept with him, making it difficult to plant anything on him.

Soichi sprawled on the sofa like a cat, clearly exhausted from hosting the wake and the ensuing gathering.

"...It's still a possibility at this stage, so I can't say anything definitive, but there might be a traitor within the group."

Soichi's languid expression hardened instantly, and he sat up straight.

"Who?"

"I don't have solid proof yet."

"Speak!"

His sharp voice cut through the air. I didn't want to cause unnecessary worry, but it would be difficult to protect someone without revealing their name. Besides, withholding the name might lead Soichi to mistrust everyone.

"...Itokawa."

Soichi's eyes widened in disbelief. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.

"He worked diligently under my father."

"I owe him as well. I suspect Itokawa, but I have no concrete evidence. There are just a few things that bother me."

His almond-shaped eyes stared intently at me. Matching his intense gaze, I straightened my back. The tension eased slightly.

Soichi let out a small sigh and looked down.

"I hope this is just my overthinking, but until the suspicion on him is cleared, I'd like you to stay here rather than returning to the mansion or the apartment."

"You sent the bodyguards away because you suspected they might be under Itokawa's influence?"

"Yes. Although I trust them, there's a possibility they could be swayed, so I distanced them."

Soichi irritably pushed his disheveled bangs back.

"So, who's going to stay with me tonight?"

...With the bodyguards dismissed, he would feel uneasy being alone.

"If it's alright with you, I will..."

My smartphone rang. It was Hachi.

"Can we raid Hijima's place now?"

His voice was slightly high-pitched.

"Why the rush?"

Hachi feared that the lights being on in Hijima's room tonight might indicate he's planning to escape.

It was past eleven PM. If they were going to do it, night was better than broad daylight.

"Assign one person to monitor Kondo and have the rest surround Hijima's place. Wait for me before raiding. However, if he tries to leave before I get there, capture him immediately. Don't kill him, but rough him up if necessary."

Killing him would end things there. Keeping him alive and interrogating him might reveal his connection to Itokawa.

Ending the call, I turned back. Soichi was watching me.

"Where are you going?"

He wouldn't be satisfied without an explanation, knowing he'd be alone once I left.

"A man suspected of being the perpetrator is possibly planning to escape, so we need to act now."

Soichi nodded, still looking at me.

"Are you prepared?"

"Yes."

We had prepared bulletproof vests since yesterday for the raid. The suspect's place had only one entrance on the second floor, so as long as he didn't have a machine gun, he wouldn't stand a chance against us.

Soichi stood up from the sofa.

"I'm coming with you."

I hurriedly grabbed his arm as he walked towards the door. His frail body trembled slightly.

"No! We don't know what he might do... If you get hurt, it would be terrible."

Soichi shook off my hand roughly.

"Don't worry, I won't be on the front lines. I'll stay in the car until you deal with it. And..."

Soichi placed his right hand on his waist.

"Once it's confirmed he's the perpetrator, let me kill him."

...Until now, Soichi had focused on making money and ordered beatings, but never personally got his hands dirty. Those tasks were always handled by me or others.

"...Let me avenge my father."

He declared firmly, bowing his head in a rare display of humility.

"Please, raise your head."

Even if his father had disowned him, he was still his parent. Soichi's eyes held a determination to carry out this task himself.

I didn't want to taint his hands, but this was not just a matter of yakuza business; it was a son's revenge.

"Understood... When the time comes, I'll leave it to you."

Soichi raised his chin and gazed into the distance.

"Kato, prepare a knife."

"Yes."

"I'll use it to kill him."

...The cause of the boss's death was blood loss from multiple stab wounds to the chest and abdomen with a sharp blade.

◇:*:◆:*:◇

The room considered to be Hijima's hideout was a small, old apartment on the outskirts of a residential area, on the second floor at the far right. There was a light on in the adjacent left room, indicating the neighbor was home.

I observed the situation with Soichi from a car driven by Yoshino, parked at the entrance of a park opposite the apartment, out of sight.

The back of the apartment had small balconies for each room, facing a narrow private road with little foot traffic. According to Hachi's report, several black garbage bags were on Hijima's balcony. He must have been too cautious to take out the trash.

Knocking on the door probably wouldn't make Hijima come out. So we decided to smoke him out. I ordered the garbage on the balcony to be set on fire. From the dim private road, we quietly tossed several gasoline-soaked cloths between the garbage bags on the balcony and then threw in a lit match, causing flames to erupt instantly.

In seconds, the fire spread to the roof. Hachi rushed up to the second floor of the apartment, knocked on Hijima's neighbor's door, and alerted the occupant to the fire.

The apartment quickly became chaotic, with residents pouring out from both floors, some wielding fire extinguishers. Black smoke billowed as the fire engulfed the roof.

Suddenly, the door of Hijima's room swung open, and a man dressed in black bolted out, shoving aside the residents in the hallway and running down the iron stairs.

Clutching a small bag to his chest, the man sprinted towards the main road, just as expected, heading past the park entrance.

A two-person bike from our gang approached from behind. The man, focused on escaping, paid no attention to what was behind him. As the bike passed the car Soichi and I were in, the passenger struck the man with an iron pipe.

The man stumbled forward and collapsed. The gang members got off the bike and continued to beat him until he stopped moving. Another car, which had been watching, approached, and they taped the man's hands and feet before shoving him into the car.

The bike-riding gang members fled with the iron pipe in hand. No passersby or witnesses were in sight.

"We caught him," Soichi murmured. I signaled for the car to start moving. We passed two fire trucks on the way, but the roof of the apartment was already engulfed in flames.

They also brought the captured Hijima to the basement of the front company where Kondo was being held. When Kato and Soichi went down to the basement, Hijima was restrained with handcuffs, foot shackles, and chains instead of duct tape. Kondo, the previous occupant, was sitting in the corner of the room, completely naked, hugging his knees and facing the wall.

Soichi stood against the wall opposite Kondo and diagonally across from Hijima. A considerate subordinate brought a chair for Soichi, but he didn't sit down. After bowing to Soichi, Hachi informed Kato, "Kondo identified this man as Hijima."

"The gun was in his bag. We also body-checked him, and he wasn't carrying any other firearms or knives."

After hearing the report, Kato approached Hijima. He was a small man, around 160 cm (5'3'') tall, dressed all in black with a thin build. His eyes were exceptionally sharp, like those of a crow. His right cheek was swollen, likely from the violence during his capture, and there were traces of a nosebleed under his nose.

"Did you kill the leader of the Motohashi group?"

Hijima averted his gaze from Kato and looked away.

"It would be better for you to admit it quickly, to avoid any pain."

There was no response to this advice.

"It's definitely him," Kondo, who was naked, interjected from the side. The scar under his nose wriggled like a worm.

"Shut up and be quiet!" Hijima shouted at Kondo, raising his head.

"In this situation, you won't survive. You're going to be killed. Sorry, but I'm getting out of here," Kondo said, indicating that he believed cooperating with Kato might save his life.

Kato left Soichi and Hachi in the basement and moved the other members to the office of the front company on the first floor. The basement became eerily silent with only five people remaining.

"Hijima, how did you get the information that the boss of the Motohashi group was hospitalized?" Kato asked, but Hijima remained silent.

"If you tell the truth, I'll send you abroad like Kondo."

"Kato!" Soichi shouted, trying to approach, but Kato restrained him with a look.

"Let's be more specific. Who did you get that information from?" Kato's voice trembled slightly. Hijima gulped, his throat moving visibly.

"If you don't say anything, I'll kill you. Choose whether you want to live or die."

Hijima's shoulders began to tremble slightly. Kato looked down quietly at the man fighting his fear.

"Hey," Kondo spoke up.

"It would be better to spill the beans quickly. Just tell them there's an informant inside the Motohashi group. I don't know the name, but you must know, right?"

"Don't say such reckless things!" Hachi shouted angrily. Kondo twisted his face and laughed, "Heh, heh."

"Your boss wasn't killed by the Abiko group. He was killed by someone inside," Kondo continued.

Hachi punched Kondo, and the naked man toppled over with a yelp, lying on his back, exposing his still-swollen scrotum.

"Who is the informant?" Kato asked again. Despite Kondo's exposure, Hijima didn't speak.

"Mr. Kato, is that story true?" Hachi asked, looking puzzled.

"There's a possibility," Kato replied.

Hachi clenched his molars and lifted the corners of his mouth. He then grabbed Hijima by the collar.

"Answer Mr. Kato's question!"

It happened in an instant. Hijima, handcuffed, suddenly held a gun in both hands and pushed Hachi away.

The first attempt resulted in a click, a misfire. The safety was still on. Realizing this, Hijima released the safety and aimed the gun at Kato.

Suddenly, Kato's vision was obstructed. Something heavy covered him, causing him to stagger backward, and a gunshot rang out. There was a sweet smell, followed by the scent of gunpowder, as a bullet grazed his nose.

Kato, who had collapsed under the weight, saw Soichi sprawled over him and Hachi pushing Hijima down, yelling, "You bastard!" Hachi had managed to wrest the gun from Hijima.

Kato smelled blood. The face lying on top of him twisted in pain, and the thin shoulders felt warm and slippery to his touch. Blood. As Kato raised his body, he saw red blood slowly seeping from Soichi's right shoulder, turning his mind blank. He couldn't comprehend what had happened. Why... why did it happen? Questions swirled in his mind.

He needed to stop the bleeding. Kato removed his jacket and pressed it against Soichi's shoulder.

"My gun... hurt Mr. Soichi," Hachi trembled, still holding the gun. Hijima, on all fours on the floor, smirked defiantly.

Kato realized what had happened. Hijima had taken the gun from Hachi's waist with his handcuffed hands and shot Kato. Soichi had protected him with his body.

Before thinking further, Kato's body moved on its own. He pulled his gun from its holster, released the safety, and pulled the trigger toward Hijima's filthy smirk.

The shot missed its mark, hitting Hijima's thigh instead. He screamed, bending forward. Kato fired three more shots at Hijima's head in quick succession, making sure he wouldn't come back to life.

"Soichi..." Kato came back to his senses at the sound of Soichi's voice.

"Give me a knife," Soichi said.

That's right... that was the reason Soichi had been leading the charge. He had come this far to avenge his father, the group leader. But...

"We need to treat your wound first," Kato protested.

"Just give it to me!!" Soichi yelled, and Kato handed over the knife, but Soichi's hand was shaking too much to hold it. Cursing, Soichi asked for the gun. Kato placed the trembling gun, with one bullet left, in Soichi's hand. Soichi lifted his left hand and pulled the trigger toward Hijima from his position.

The bullet veered widely, embedding itself in the wall. Soichi exhaled heavily. When Kato offered to load a new bullet, Soichi shook his head and threw the gun aside.

"…Enough," he muttered.

Hijima, bloodied and lying face down, no longer moved a finger. He had left this world.

The basement began to smell of urine. Kondo, still naked, was crouching by the wall, urinating between his legs.

Soichi's shoulder wound continued to bleed profusely. When they tried to take him to the hospital, he vehemently refused.

"...It's... nothing serious," Soichi insisted.

"No, we must go!" Kato argued.

"I hate hospitals! I'd rather die than go to one!" Soichi's slight frame could be easily carried by Kato if necessary, but he was as fierce as a wounded cat, making it impossible to handle.

They moved to the waiting room of the front company on the first floor, laying Soichi down on a sofa. Kato tightly bound the wound with cloth to stop the bleeding, but the blood continued to seep through slowly. Soichi bit his lips, occasionally grimacing and letting out small groans of pain.

He had never been so averse to hospitals before. Kato couldn't understand why he was so adamant about not seeing a doctor this time. Watching Soichi suffer was agonizing. Moreover, it was a wound sustained while protecting Kato. Kato felt ashamed, frustrated, and angry at himself for failing to protect Soichi.

He decided that, even if he had to tie Soichi up and drag him there, they needed to get him to a hospital. As Kato was firming his resolve, Hachi, who had been watching from a distance, approached quietly.

"...Why don't we ask the town doctor we know to make a house call? He's familiar with treating gunshot wounds," Hachi whispered.

Though Soichi hated hospitals, he might accept treatment if the doctor came to him. Not wanting to be rejected outright, Kato decided not to inform Soichi beforehand and called for the doctor.

Hachi slipped out of the room quietly. Soichi didn't notice.

There were noisy sounds from the hallway, likely the movement of Kondo and Hijima's bodies. Kondo would be buried alive in the mountains, while Hijima's body would be sent to the Abiko group in a suitcase as a warning.

Soichi's forehead started to sweat.

"Does it hurt?" Kato asked, immediately regretting the question. Of course, it hurt. Soichi opened his eyes slightly and looked at Kato.

"…It doesn’t hurt."

That can’t be true. Knowing he's worried about me makes my chest ache even more. When I gently reached out and touched his forehead, he closed his eyes like a cat. The wrinkles between his eyebrows slightly relaxed.

"When Dad's forty-ninth day ritual is over…"

Soichi began to speak with his eyes still closed.

"I'm going to New York. I won’t be coming back for a while."

Kato couldn't understand the meaning behind those words.

"You’ll take charge of the Motohashi group."

"But…"

"What I'm doing doesn’t require me to be in Japan. Besides, it'll be easier for me over there…"

Soichi was finally starting to be recognized by the members of the group. It was the most crucial time, and if he went abroad now, everything would fall apart.

"Since I was little, I thought I’d be the one to take over the group. But, I'm not cut out for it."

"That's not true. Some of the veterans are supporting you."

"Dad had high hopes for you too. I've had enough. I’ll make money for the group in America and live the rest of my life the way I want."

He didn’t seem to be speaking impulsively; it was already decided. While it might be one way to live, it wasn’t what Kato had envisioned. His fingers tightened on Soichi's forehead. Noticing this, Soichi opened his eyes and moved his head slightly, as if asking for more caresses. When Kato pulled his hand away, Soichi's eyes looked lonely.

The door opened with a clatter, without a knock. Hachi had returned, followed by a thin, middle-aged man with a scruffy beard, carrying a large bag. Dressed in sweats, he yawned so wide his uvula was visible. It was just past 2 a.m. He looked like he had been dragged out of bed.

Seeing the unfamiliar man who appeared suddenly, Soichi sharpened his voice, "Who is that?"

"…A doctor. Please let him look at your wound."

Instantly, Soichi's pale face hardened.

"I said I don't need it!"

Soichi tried to rise from the sofa but groaned and doubled over in pain. Blood began to seep through the fabric acting as a bandage on his right shoulder.

The doctor looked at Soichi, who was groaning, with a look of annoyance.

"Do what you want, but at least take out the bullet and disinfect it. It’ll fester if you don’t."

The doctor muttered in a bored voice.

"It’ll rot if it festers, and it'll drag on."

Hearing the word 'rot,' Soichi hesitated and rubbed his cheek repeatedly.

"…Then just take out the bullet and disinfect it…"

He finally agreed. The doctor approached the injured yakuza and placed his bag on the nearby table.

"You two, get out!"

Soichi pointed at Kato and Hachi.

"Don't come back in until I say it's okay!"

Even if the doctor was someone Hachi trusted, Kato was uneasy about leaving Soichi alone with a stranger. He wanted to stay, but if he angered the man who had just agreed to be treated, he might refuse treatment altogether. Reluctantly, they left the room.

Kato stood by the door, ready to enter if anything happened. Hachi stood next to him and suddenly bowed deeply.

"I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault that Soichi got hurt because I let him take my gun."

Hachi’s lips were trembling.

"When things settle down, let me take responsibility properly."

"It's not your fault. They were targeting me. I should have been more careful."

Despite saying it wasn’t his fault, Hachi couldn’t help but feel responsible and bit his lip, hitting his own cheek fiercely. Kato, glancing at him, sternly warned, "Don’t you dare cut off your fingers." Hachi looked at him in shock.

"Soichi doesn’t like the stereotypical yakuza look with tattoos and missing fingers. If you’re that determined, work hard for him instead."

Hachi, with tears welling up at the corners of his eyes, bowed deeply and repeatedly apologized.

Though the doctor said it would just be removing the bullet and disinfecting, an hour passed and he still hadn't come out. They couldn’t check on the situation inside because Soichi had ordered them not to enter. Kato pressed his ear to the door but heard nothing.

After waiting another thirty minutes, the door finally opened a little past 4 a.m.

"I removed the bullet. If it doesn’t get infected, it should be fine."

The doctor let out a sigh.

"I also stitched up the wound. If it gets badly swollen or infected, take him to a hospital, either mine or another one. There doesn’t seem to be any numbness, so the nerves are probably intact."

He said the stitches could be removed in about a week and then left. Relieved that the treatment was done, Kato called out, "Excuse me," but a shout from inside cut him off.

"Don’t come in!"

"I heard the treatment was over…"

"Nobody come in!"

Wanting to move from there as soon as possible, Kato decided to enter despite the protests. Ignoring the warning, he stepped into the room, greeted by a hysterical scream from Soichi.

"I told you not to come in!"

Soichi was lying face down on the sofa, naked from the waist up. His shoulder wound was covered not with gauze but with something resembling a large transparent tape. The transparent material revealed the crude stitches on his right shoulder, making it look painfully raw.

Avoiding getting changed or being treated in front of others, Soichi's refusal to let anyone close made Kato wonder if he had gotten tattoos during his two-year absence. But other than the wound, his back was unblemished.

The bloody shirt Soichi had worn was crumpled like trash under the sofa, with the blood-soaked white cloth on top. The cloth was meant to minimize damage if stabbed, a rare practice among modern yakuza. The thought of Soichi preparing for such a confrontation, driven by revenge for his father, made Kato's chest ache.

"This place isn't secure enough; we should move as soon as possible."

Soichi remained motionless.

"I’ll get clothes ready quickly. How’s the pain?"

Still no response.

"Can you stand and walk?"

When Kato gently touched and stroked Soichi's uninjured left shoulder, he trembled.

"…Hurry…get me some clothes."

Kato turned off the air conditioning and draped his own jacket over Soichi’s shivering shoulders, rolling up the bloody cuffs. Soichi's face relaxed slightly with relief.

"Turn around."

Following the instruction, Kato turned his back to Soichi. He noticed a smartphone under the table. It must have slipped from Soichi’s pocket. As he bent down to pick it up, there was a dull thud. The window shattered, and something embedded itself in the opposite wall, emitting a puff of smoke. Kato grabbed Soichi from behind and dove to the corner of the room. Bullets continued to hit the sofa. The door burst open, and Hachi rolled into the room, firing two shots out the window, stopping the attack.

Hachi signaled to Kato while still aiming his gun. This wasn't a soundproof basement; the gunfire would have been heard throughout the area. The police would arrive in ten to fifteen minutes.

Kato shielded the crouching Soichi and moved to the hallway, Hachi guarding his back. He instructed the other men to stay put and, watching for any suspicious cars, got into a vehicle. Soichi and Kato sat in the back seat, with Hachi driving, speeding through the night. He checked for any tailing vehicles but saw none.

Soichi was hunched over, shivering. Knowing their exact location had been pinpointed was terrifying. The car could also be bugged, making their position known. Kato instructed Hachi to drive to a station, where they switched to a taxi. They repeated this twice more, and during the third taxi ride, Kato made a phone call.

◇:*:◆:*:◇

At 5:30 in the morning, the mama of "Lavender" was still at the shop. Although closing time was at 4:00, she had been tidying up after an event. When Kato asked over the phone if she could hide him at the shop for a while, she agreed without asking for reasons.

As soon as Soichi entered the shop, he collapsed face-down on the sofa at the very back. Despite just having his injuries treated, he had moved around a lot. It was natural for him to be exhausted. Noticing Soichi's poor condition, the mama offered to buy anything he needed, but he refused. Acting out of the ordinary could draw unwanted attention.

The mama left on the first train. Kato borrowed the shop key, saying, "When you leave, just drop it in the mailbox on the first floor."

"You can eat anything you like from the shop," she said with a laugh, adding, "Don't worry, I'll bill you later."

The shop had no windows, making it a fortress as long as they kept an eye on the entrance.

Lying face-down on the sofa, Soichi asked, "What is this place?"

"It's a shop owned by an old acquaintance," Kato replied.

With a frown, Soichi snorted. "Did you sleep with that old hag?"

"No," Kato lied. In reality, he had slept with her a few times, but it was long ago.

Kato rummaged through the shop, found a sports drink in the fridge, and offered it to Soichi, who, despite glancing at it, didn't drink.

Sitting across from Soichi, Kato thought. They needed to move to a safer place before the shop opened. With no leads on the traitor, even staying at a hotel felt risky. Perhaps they should leave Tokyo, head west... maybe to Osaka. Even if called cowardly, ensuring Soichi's safety was the priority.

Soichi's head moved slightly, and he looked up. "Where's the restroom?"

He asked abruptly. The shop had two pillars in the center, creating a complex layout resembling an "E" when viewed from the entrance.

"Past the flowers," Kato directed.

Soichi fastened his jacket, gritted his teeth, and slowly stood up. Kato, thinking to help, was about to rise when Soichi, staggering between the sofa and the table, fell forward with a thud, screaming as he clutched his right shoulder.

"Are you alright?" Kato rushed over and saw something unbelievable through Soichi's parted jacket. What he saw wasn't just a swollen injury... at the ends of the two mounds of flesh, there were faint-colored nipples. They looked like female breasts.

Realizing Kato's gaze, Soichi hunched over and grabbed his jacket with his left hand. Kato grabbed Soichi's left hand and slowly lifted it.

"No, let go!" Soichi resisted, but Kato didn't release his grip. Despite his efforts to hide it, the two mounds on his chest stood out like a woman's breasts.

Kato squeezed Soichi's left breast. The soft, resilient feel was unmistakably that of a woman's.

"What is this...?" Kato asked, as pale flesh overflowed from between his fingers.

"It hurts..." Soichi whimpered.

"What is it?" Kato demanded.

Soichi awkwardly looked away. No matter how roughly Kato pulled, it wouldn't tear away. He knew bodies could be transformed. In their territory, there were bars for crossdressers and trans women.

Kato reached for Soichi's trousers.

"No, don't..." Soichi resisted, but Kato stripped him. His penis was there. Soichi tried to close his legs, but Kato forced his hand in. His scrotum was there too, with both testicles intact. He felt along the area from the base of the scrotum to the anus. There wasn’t another opening... no vagina yet.

Relieved that only the chest was altered, Kato looked up to see tears streaming from Soichi's slanted eyes, his lips trembling.

Soichi covered his face with his left hand and cried out. As he sobbed, his ample white chest heaved, and his semi-erect penis trembled.

Now Kato understood why Soichi never changed in front of him or refused treatment. The man Kato had once revered as his boss was now a grotesque sight. The cries of the man crouched on the floor echoed like sirens in Kato's ears.

Footnotes

0. Content warning: NSFW, gay slur, violence, r*pe mention, violence.

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