The abandoned warehouse stood in silence.
Only the distant dripping of water echoed through the rusted interior as several men dragged a struggling figure across the cracked concrete floor.
"N-No… please!" the middle-aged man clawed helplessly at the ground, tears streaming down his face, "I just need more time!" His cries went unanswered.
The goons forced him onto his knees before a short, heavyset man dressed in a spotless white suit. Though well into his fifties, the man's presence smothered the warehouse more effectively than the armed thugs surrounding him. A thick cigar rested between his fingers, smoke drifted lazily into the air.
His polished walking stick tapped softly against the concrete.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
He stopped directly before the kneeling debtor.
The old man looked down at him for several silent seconds before speaking.
"…You know…" His voice was calm, almost gentle, "I've always considered myself a very gracious man."
The debtor looked up desperately "I-I know!"
"I swear I'll repay everything! ...I just need a little more—"
The mob boss slowly raised a hand.
Silence.
The pleading stopped immediately, "I've already given you more time..." another puff of smoke escaped his lips, "Twice."
The debtor's shoulders trembled, "I'll get the money! ...I promise!"
The old man sighed as though disappointed, "You continue to mistake my kindness …for weakness." he slowly leaned closer, until his lips were only inches from the man's ear, when he spoke again… his voice barely rose above a whisper, "If i don't get my money in next three days …your wife becomes my debt."
The debtor froze; his pupils shrank.
"…And your kids…" he walking stick lightly tapped against the floor "…I'll make sure they grow up owing me the rest."
The color drained from the man's face, "N-No…" his entire body shook violently.
"Please…"
"Not them…"
The old man straightened his suit without another glance, "Let's go." he turned, the thugs followed, the warehouse doors groaned shut behind them, leaving only the broken sobs of the man echoing through the darkness.
Somewhere in star sand city....
Warm afternoon sunlight spilled through the apartment windows.
Neyo collapsed backward on the bed from across with both arms thrown into the air.
"WE DID IT!"
He stretched both arms above his head, a wide grin spreading across his face, "Hahaha! We actually did it!"
Across from him, Kairo sat on the top bunk, looking over with a small smile, "Yeah… we did."
Rina watched the two boys with a smile, "I'm proud of both of you …how about we celebrate tonight?" She looked between them, "What would you like?"
Neyo immediately shot his hand into the air, "O-oh I know! …. Mama Tito's sake!"
Kairo looked at him blankly, "…Isn't that alcohol?"
Neyo waved him off, "You're still a kid."
Kairo tilted his head, "But you're only a year older."
Rina simply smiled and gave a gentle wave of her hand, brushing the conversation aside before it could become another argument.
"Sake is for adults, Neyo …You can think about that when you're old enough."
Neyo dramatically slumped his shoulders "…Fine."
She continued, "How about something else?"
Neyo immediately raised his hand again, "O-oh… Mama Tito's rice buns!"
"Rice omelette," Kairo jumps in.
Neyo pointed at him, "I suggested first."
Kairo frowned slightly, "How come you get two suggestions, and I don't?"
Before the argument could continue, Rina gently raised both hands, "Now ...now you two calm down …there's nothing wrong with either choice." The boys looked at her.
She smiled, "So let's get both." The boys exchanged a glance before nodding.
Her smile softened, "You've both come a long way."
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"When you both first arrived… adapting to a new place wasn't easy."
"But you've both worked hard, and now you've earned a spot in the society."
She looked at them proudly, "Soon, you'll have to decide which path you want to take."
"But don't pressure yourselves …Take your time."
"Whatever you decide …I'll always support you."
The room grew quiet, neither boy spoke, they simply listened. Satisfied, Rina smiled once more before turning toward the door.
"I'll see you both later tonight …try not to argue while I'm gone" she laughed softly before sliding the door closed behind her.
Silence settled over the room once again, for several moments, neither of them spoke.
Kairo looked toward Neyo, "Well… what do you think?"
Neyo rested both hands behind his head, after a long pause, he spoke, "I've been thinking …About how much we owe Rina."
"I don't know... how I'll ever repay her for everything she's done for us." He took a slow breath, "But… there's only one thought i can't push out of my mind."
Kairo looked toward him "…You mean…"
Neyo nodded before he could finish, "Yeah."
Silence filled the room, Kairo lowered his gaze, his thoughts drifted back to Clay-Haven; To everything that had happened, the things he seen back there …and the things he still couldn't understand, he remained silent.
Neyo sat up and looked at him, "Don't worry." A confident smile slowly returned to his face, "Whatever's waiting for us… we'll get through it… Together."
Kairo took a slow, deep breath.
Then gave a nod, "…Yeah."
Few hours later....
The afternoon sun drifted lazily across Star Sand City.
With the examinations finally behind them, the streets felt strangely quieter than usual. For the first time in weeks, there was nothing waiting for them.
Beneath the broad shade of an old tree overlooking a quiet park, the four boys occupied the branches and roots as though they had nowhere else to be.
Kairo and Zuki rested upon one of the thicker branches, their legs dangling lazily over the edge. Below them, Renjirō lay his back on the tree shade with both hands behind his head while Neyo stretched across a tree root, absentmindedly tossing a pebble into the air before catching it again.
Nobody spoke.
A breeze rustled through the leaves overhead.
"Ahaaa... I'm bored," Neyo groaned.
Renjirō sighed dramatically, "Yeah... I didn't think finishing this program would feel this boring."
Another silence settled over them.
Then Zuki glanced sideways at Kairo, "...You know."
Kairo looked back.
"I honestly didn't expect you of all people to start a school fight."
Kairo hesitated once, "I didn't start it."
Zuki raised an eyebrow, "You marched into another classroom, dragged someone across the entire building, headbutted an older participant..." He paused, "...Then somehow led these two into it." He pointed toward Neyo and Renjirō.
Renjirō folded his arms with a proud grin, "So what if he did? Those idiots deserved worse."
Neyo smiled innocently, "I was only there for emotional support."
Kairo frowned slightly, "If nobody stopped them, they would've kept bullying Morri."
Zuki stared at him for several seconds, "...That's not the part I'm questioning."
He rubbed his forehead, "I'm questioning why you thought that was the best solution."
Kairo shrugged, "...It worked.... at least somehow."
Renjirō suddenly laughed, "Hahaha! Honestly... That fight wasn't even fun."
Neyo clicked his tongue in agreement, "Yeah too easy Hehe."
Renjirō nodded, "And besides I barely broke a sweat."
The conversation dissolved into quiet laughter, Zuki looked from one friend to another before letting out a long, defeated sigh,"...I seriously can't believe you people."
He leaned back against the trunk, "Just... Forget it." Trying to understand them was clearly a waste of effort.
The breeze returned, gently stirring the branches above, for several peaceful moments, none of them spoke, then Kairo suddenly looked around, "Hey... Where's Bobo?"
The others exchanged glances, "Huh..."
Neyo scratched his cheek, "Yeah I'm already missing him."
Renjirō thought for a moment before snapping his fingers, "Oh... yeah, he's probably training."
Kairo tilted his head, "Training?"
Renjirō nodded, "His family owns the strongest sumo wrestling in the entire region."
He continued, "My grandma says even grown adults think twice before stepping into their ring with the Chikarake household."
Neyo's grin slowly spread, "Oooh?" He stood up and dusted himself off, "...We should go watch."
Renjirō look towards Neyo, "you think?"
Neyo folded his arms confidently, "Yes, I bet Bobo's getting his ass beat right now."
Kairo couldn't help but laugh, "...There's a good chance."
Even Zuki let out a quiet chuckle, "I'll admit... Now I'm curious."
Neyo clapped his hands together, "Then it's settled."
He pointed dramatically toward the street, "To the sumo dojo!"
Renjirō pumped a fist into the air, "Let's go!"
One after another, the boys hopped down from the tree.
Their laughter drifted through the afternoon air as they headed off together, eager to see what kind of training awaited their unfortunate friend.
Few minutes later....
The afternoon market bustled with life.
Merchants called cheerfully from their stalls while customers drifted between rows of fresh produce, handmade crafts, and steaming food stands. The warm scent of grilled meat and sweet pastries lingered in the air as the four boys wandered through the lively streets.
"So, where's this sumo place?" Neyo asked, looking around.
"Not much farther," Renjirō replied.
Kairo's gaze wandered idly across the crowd.
Then...
"...Hm?"
A familiar figure passed several steps ahead.
Tall and slim
Bushy hair.
A relaxed stride.
Kairo paused.
"...Wait..."
He leaned forward slightly before calling out.
"Hey it's you!"
The man had already walked past.
He stopped, as turned around, it's Finn, suddenly he broke into a grin the moment he recognized the boy.
"Well, I'll be..." he said. "Rina's kid."
"... Little brother." Kairo corrected him.
Finn chuckled, "Right... little brother."
Only then did the others notice the pretty lady walking beside him. She appeared to be around Finn's age, carrying a leather satchel over one shoulder as she watched the exchange with quiet curiosity.
Neyo leaned closer to Kairo, lowering his voice, "...Who's the guy with the bushy hair?"
Kairo answered just as quietly, "We met him in Clay-Haven ...He was with Rina."
Finn's ears twitched, he placed a hand against his hair with exaggerated offense, "For the record...
"This isn't bushy hair." He proudly patted it once, "It's a messy Afro shag."
The woman beside him covered her mouth, a quiet laugh escaping before she could stop it.
"I'll admit..." she said, smiling, "That's the first time I've heard anyone correct someone with such confidence."
Finn folded his arms with complete seriousness, "Accuracy matters."
The boys exchanged amused glances.
After a brief pause, Kairo looked between the two adults, "...Is this your wife?"
Both adults froze.
"...Huh?" Finn blinked.
The woman looked just as surprised.
Finn cleared his throat into a fist, "...No."
"It's... Something work related." He answered so quickly that even Neyo raised an eyebrow.
The woman quietly looked away, still trying to hide her smile "...Right," she murmured, "Work."
An awkward silence lingered for a moment before Finn clapped his hands together once.
"Well, we'd better get going." He looked back at Kairo with a friendly smile, "Tell your big sister I said hello."
"I will," Kairo replied.
Finn gave the boys a casual wave before continuing down the busy street alongside his companion, the woman offered the group a polite smile and a small wave before following after him.
The four boys stood watching until the pair disappeared into the crowd.
Neyo finally glanced sideways at Kairo, "...'Work related,' huh?"
Renjirō scratched his cheek, "That sounded suspicious."
Kairo tilted his head, genuinely puzzled
The other three looked at him in complete silence, "...Never mind," Neyo sighed, "Let's just go find Bobo."
To be continued