Vol 4 Chapter 6 (1/2)

Chapter 6

When I reached the hospital, alumi were present, and occupied the corridor filled with the smell of anesthetic

“Aniki!”

Pole noticed e on his head was still seeping fresh blood

The tough juvenile delinquents were likequite haggard I think ht about that, I couldn’t even answer

“Ojiki is here as well!?”

Tetsu-senpai and the others’ footsteps rang behindmy bike

“How is Yondaiht now!?” Tetsu-senpai questioned Pole while al on him

“He’s in the ICU right now”

“I heard he was hurt by a baseball bat!” “He’s still unconscious”

“Blast, it’s all because of us……” “If only ere by his side—“

My balance disappeared as though it fell into a quag ht onto the corridor I was brought to sit on a sofa made of synthetic leather The chilly sense of the wall touching ely comfortable

Major frantically consoled the gang members so that they would cal about the case When Pole and Rocky returned to the office, they saw that the entrance ide open, while the interior of the office was utterly trashed as well On the other hand, Yondai to them, it seemed like there were about five or six assailants The injury on Pole’s head was caused by a bloith a baseball bat when the opposing party was retreating

“Hirasaka-san wasn’t there He ordered his lackeys to aether”

“Those trash, if I were there, how could I have let them touch Sou-san!”

“Unforgivable!”

“If there wasn’t an order……”

The voices of the gangaway from the borders of my inner consciousness and outer senses

That’s right Yondai uard at the concert venues This— would be Renji-san’s motive

Why didn’t I realize this? Even though it was just a simple matter Renji-san once said so as well, that he came back just to kill Yondai me, and probably Yonadime as well— we underestimated him too much

Thinking that Renji-san probably wouldn’t directly assault Yondaime

Actually, it was only an illusion reflected in a glass of wine The ones who believed in that were the idiots Renji-san probably took this point in consideration as well I, who could not find out about this, ae, incurable idiot

We kept staying at the hospital until the sun set Although the doctors and nurses told us to hurry back, not one of us illing to leave When we heard that the treath he was still in a state where visitors were prohibited, Pole and Rocky still insisted on visiting Yondaime, so ere just allowed to see him for two short minutes His whole body was hurt, and there were a few bone fractures as well There were heans as well His head was harained consciousness The doctor just coldly explained that he was still unable to speak, and still wasn’t out of danger

The Yondaile bed made me recall Ayaka froen htly shut withoutThe aura of a olf couldn’t be seen at all

As so Yondaiive them, they’ll kill them and the like, ere thus chased out of the hospital

“Tetsu-san, haven’t you already found out the location of their hideout?”

At the dark hospital entrance, Rocky approached Tetsu-senpai and asked in agitation

“Kill the Sou-san!”

“Oi, calm down, you all”

“It’s already come to this, and you tell us to calm down!?” “We won’t hold back even if our opponent is Hirasaka-san!”

The angry roars of the gangWith heavy footsteps, I walked on the asphalt road that was still hot while I headed towards the place where I parkedthe handle with so ‘Report’, I sent a e to Mika-san To myself, who could still worry about the event at these tihable However, Yondaiation to inform her of this After that, I called Alice

’…… Nnn I heard of it How is the situation?’

Even Alice’s businesslike tone made me feel warm at these times

“He still hasn’t regained consciousness…… The doctor said that he’s still in danger”

’Is that so…… We were too foolish I feel like vo when I see my own actions’

After conversing si up

But the er towards Renji-san That person just did what he should have done— That hat I thought inup the bicycle stand,on the pedals ached soto fall off

Where should I go?

I tried i to Renji-san’s place, and swing it directly on his head, but the ind dispersed such a scene It’s impossible I don’t knohere he is, and I don’t have such power in me as well

Or should I return to Alice’s place? Why not? Then I’ll beco decided that I’ by her side just to help shoulder a tiny bit of her pain If so, how could I bring back the pain that I aerness?

Think byon the pedals, I told myself that

The first thing I did when I went ho It’s on this weekend! The debut will be at Akasaka! For the audiences who cannot coht fro the wildest on-the-scene situation! The words of advertiseusting But this isit I couldn’t pick up the phone from Mika-san, while Hiro-san and Major called as well, but I could only pretend as though I didn’t see theht now, I don’t knohat kind of things I would shout out

As there was coincidentally a large number of requests for interviews on the day of the concerts, I sent tied the schedule as well Just like that, the date changed to that of the next day very quickly When I finished dealing with all the work on hand, I stood up from the chair before the co the room

I opened the s A cold breeze suddenly ca my eyelids to feel a prickle of pain

Even though there wasn’t even one star in the skies, the ground was bathed in light Probably, at the other side of the globe, the sun is still illu happened, allowing days to pass just like that

The odd jobs done to evade the pain in my heart were all coitation that was about to explode before my eyes

Yondaime’s face that was as lifeless as soil surface in my eyelids, and it was the same even if I didn’t think of it deliberately My stoh I sed mercury

Finally, I realized the true identity of the heat It couldn’t be described by the eht now is very clear that Renji-san was the one who caused Yondaiet a treat y, I still continued to shudder

It was the very first ti someone

Renji-san once said, in the seeable future, our friendshi+p would be destroyed as well He was absolutely right As he said, it was instead in such a pathetic form

I’ll kill you the next ti you! You actually did this to h blood was going to seep out froers I must kill you Renji-san—

Kill him? How?

The tre continued to rise to my lips I frantically bit it

Ath on par with Yondai such a person, what in the world can I do?

Ininto, the hate fell after being melted by heat

The night wind that entered through the s caused radually cool down Even my own heartbeat felt unfriendly

I have never known that the elued in one’s heart So Renji-san kept such an e it aith tears would make people feel much better

I definitely can’t do it

Maintaining such a hate, using it as a blade

I don’t have any need to think of what I should do anyh schooler, and shared sake with Yondaime just because we have some connections When the world over there shows its violent side, I can only cower, at a loss

I sank my body onto the bed

If there really is so I can do……

I think it should be staying by his side in the ward I already caotten used to it The so-called getting used to deathlittle by little as well If Yondaime is really unable to come back after this, can the spacious room in my heart be forever locked up in its empty state?

Even so, I should keep staying by Yondaime’s side

After all, I have already gotten used to pain

When I woke up the next day, it was already near noon Myup, while my vision was still hazy

With so call from Mika-san

’Is Sou-san okay!? Which hospital is he in!? H- hello……!’

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell her which hospital he was in As Hirasaka-gumi sank into confusion, Mika-san is probably worried to death as she couldn’t get in contact with anyone, huh? I feel bad for her

“He…… Doesn’t seem to be too well”

'’’How can this be?’

“I’m not too sure as well”

’What about you, Fujishi+ma-san? Are you okay?’

Aive any response I’m fine— The depths of my throat moaned faintly I’m completely fine, as I wasn’t the one as beaten up If I never realized it at all, everything would have already ended

’Well…… In any case, I’ll ask our boss about the planning of the event that day Fujishi+ma-san, don’t you push yourself, and please keep me informed of Sou-san’s condition in detail!’

After hanging up, I suddenly felt relieved I felt that I had already done everything that I can So can you teotten that I’h schooler on vacation

I’m already really exhausted, so can you let me sleep for awhile?

However,non-stop

’’I heard that we successfully tracked Renji’s phone He called the Hirasaka-gu whether Yonadime was there, perhaps?’

’Alice is currently analyzing his phone log and the GPS location We can find out where Renji is within toda—’

“…… Is that so”

His hiding spot had been found out Why at such a time? After all, that person had been really careful, and repeatedly changed his phone, while the power source wasn’t always on as well—

Whatever, this doesn’t matter anymore

’Are you okay? You don’t sound so good’

“I wasn’t feeling good in the first place”

’About Yondaime…… I think that isn’t your fault, Narumi-kun’

Hiro-san’s words passed through the differently colored stove in h I gripped the phone forcefully, I still couldn’t suppress the words in my heart

“Although I only lived for ten over years, I’ve already heard these same words for about five hundred times and above”

I could clearly feel Hiro-san’s expression change drastically at the other side of the phone

“This isn’t your proble My dad often said that to me However, that doesn’ta trial right now, so even if one says such words, will Yondaiot hurt? If I’m just a bit more clever—”

I used h, and stemmed the floords after some effort

What a? Is there any use if I complain about this to Hiro-san? These are the true words I really can’t be cured anymore

“…… Sorry”

My words were full of stutters

“I don’t knohat came over me”

After saying that, I suddenly felt so ashah hot water was about to spurt out from my eyeballs What to do? I should…… I should have asked soful

“…… After that, how’s the situation?”

Hiro-san seeling for some time

’Everyone in the gang stayed in the hospital I heard that they slept at the parking lot What a bunch of idiots, right?’

Laughter that sounded full of bitterness

’This , I went over to the hospital, and they were still there And since they were arguing with the doctor that they want to visit, I went over to stop them Just at that ht be able to find out Renji’s location, only a few people were left there, while the others all squeezed over to the detective agency’

I adjustedthat lost their leader and was continuing to struggle Most probably, nobody knohat to do, huh?

’But there’s a troubleso at, they ht really kill him’

To be frank, I’ht noell The umi are workers for the event as well If they make trouble at such a critical h I knew that it would turn out like that, I did not have the energy to stop them anymore

Just let them do as they like After all, blood had already been spilled No matter wheter the smell on the body is washed off with rainwater or with more blood, the injury will not disappear

Hiro-san toldup after that I prepared to clae fro company, it was just when I was about to throw my cellphone back onto the bed

— Please send over the bills Things like the newest version of the time schedules, the duties of the workers and the like can probably be gotten only from Hinaura-san Very sorry, but can you please send the above data over?

I sighed Yondai such matters alone After all, he’s always very obstinate with money, so he didn’t dare to allow the others to handle them, I suppose? Apart from that, quite a lot of information was only in his hands as well It was just because of that that the people around him would have a headache when such an incident occurs

It can’t be helped then I could only pick it up at the office After that, I’ll treat it as though my job has already been done As for the solution for the interviews and the blog, asking Mika-san to deal with it would be fine

There was a sumi office The black stains of blood even splattered on the stairs Most probably, those would be Yondai down from the weapon of the escaped suspect I spaced out while supportingfor a h I could smell the odor of rust as well

How long had he been beaten up? Even that person only has a bodyif he was surrounded by a large crowd of ar party did an ambush, it would be even harder for him to escape

It’s possible that I ht suddenly surfaced as I stared at the bloodstains

I should stop this job After sending the paperwork to the workroom, I’ll tell them this Since the matter had already developed to this state, my presence doesn’t matter at all Yondaime can just stay in the hospital as well If so, he won’t be beaten up by a crowd of people anymore as well

The steel door wasn’t locked up When I stepped into the office, I found that the electric lights were still on, while the air conditioner wasn’t turned off as well Fro member returned The sofa was toppled, while docuround The doors inside were open as well

The condition of the study was even more terrible The bookshelves in the pitch-black roo the cardboard boxes The sheets on the bed were splattered with blood as well

Only the co in the darkness An unsent email was shown on the screen When I saw the familiar email of the recipient, I felt surprised from the bottom of my heart

It was my email address

Not even one as contained in the ee aanizational charts, tis to do in eencies

I extendedhand to the keyboard

I felt heat onme unable to breathe properly

Of course, backing up important data is common sense That hy he planned to ht that ht?

I clicked the send button Yondaiht through the electronic circuit Such a pain was different from the one that I previously shouldered It felt like it would expand in my innards if I don’t touch it, and would explode in my body in the end

I rushed out of the office and ran down the stairs When I reached the steel door of the third floor, I stopped The scene, the sounds in ht, this is the place The gang members were here as well And then Yondaime said—

’If anything happens to me—’

Those words should have been a joke

However, now that they are clearly resounding by my ears, I cannot abandon them anymore

’— I’ on you to take care of these idiots’

He picked up the phone when the waiting tone rang for the second time

’…… Aniki? Is this Aniki?’

A voice as rough as a telephone pole i by my ear

’I was really worried of you for suddenly disappearing yesterday! Hiro-ojiki said that you looked sick Are you okay? Where are you right now?’

“I’m in the office Where are you?”

’At Ane-san’s place, of course!’ That would refer to Alice So they’re still at Alice’s place? ’Now that we’ve al to rush over there!’

“That won’t do This is not the ti”

’What are you talking about! Sou-san was beaten up like that, how can we stay put!?’

I could hear the gang h the phone We must kill him! Make him pay five times over! Send the them up!

My body heated up

“You shut up!”

I roared furiously at the phone

’— A- Aniki?’

Pole’s flustered voice

“I’ht away, and you all just stay put over there!” Without even listening to his answer, I stuffed my phone back into my pocket and dashed down the stairs

I rode into the alley alathered in front of Hamaru Ramen I jumped down from my bike, pushed it down immediately and ran over

“Aniki!”

I was cla radually increased

“Aniki, what’s wrong? Ane-san and Major are searching for Hirasaka’s hideout right no—“

“War! This can only be war!”

“Beat them up so much they’ll turn up like Sou-san!”

“We’re already prepared for the police to arrest us!”

“I’ you that you can’t do this! You’re all workers for the event, so if you’re arrested for acts of violence, the security that day will be—“

“Who cares!”

“We must let them knohat’ll happen if they dare to touch Sou-san!”

“We can’t wait anyive them!”

“WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU!”

I screame sharp looks without reserve However, I did not cower, and continued:

“Don’t you know Yondai a coather funds, bowing down to people everywhere— It’s- It’s nearly bearing fruit, and you’re actually thinking of destroying all his efforts just for less matters!?”

The gangme paled, and my critiques continued

“Why do you think Renji-san’s phone could be tracked at such a critical moment? You were all deliberately baited You didn’t even realize this!? Think about it, if youthe emblem, the event will definitely be cancelled! Why can’t you understand even such a simple matter!?”

“A- Aniki……”

I used my shouts to cover Rocky’s moans

“Aren’t you all bearing Hinamura Souichirou’s naotten about this, can you?!”

The faces of the burly radually twisted, but I don’t know if it was because ofthem or if it was because of their inability to suppress their surging emotions However, I still finished my words

“I am that person’s sworn brother That is why—“

Ahh, it’s indeed because of the tears My voice was engulfed by the surging emotions

“Before he co Stand out if you have anything to say about this!”

My voice spread with a sense of swollenness My fists and lips continued to shake, while tears filled y to stand in the center of a crowd of burly azes of over forty men in bravado

Sweat that felt strangely cold trickled down my back

When I was stating e pulse flowed in my limbs Now that I already spoke out all of the to be crushed by the silence

Did I say anything inaccurate? Even if it’s true, do I even have the right to say all this? After all, I’m just a powerless—

Pole’s body bent into half It gavefrom the scene

However, Pole was not walking forward He bowed down on the spot, his legs the width of his shoulders, his elbows on his knees, and he lowered his head after that

Standing by his side, Rockywaves, the surrounding gang members bent doith their heads lowered as well

It was a rite of men

“— My apologies I didn’t know Aniki thought for us so much”

Pole’s deep voice

“We were too dumb”

“We nearly let Sou-san down”

“We believe in Aniki”

“As long as Aniki is here”

“We’ll follow you forever”

After that, the gangin each of their eyes

“…… We’re leaving our lives in Aniki’s hands”

“Understood, in Aniki’s hands”

“In Aniki’s hands”

The voices spread

The energy supportingwith my sweat and tears, from my ears, froh, trying hard not to let myself collapse That won’t do My bravado must continue

“…… Nnn I understand”

The voice that came from my parched throat did not even sound like my voice anymore

“Leave them all to me Thank you”

“I saw it all from the surveillance cameras Your display was not bad”

Alice showed a speechless expression while sitting on her bed Around the building where the detective agency is at, a few surveillance cas were installed, allowing the detective to check out the situation outside on her bed

Which ame of loyalty was clearly seen by her from head to toe

“You are really a very specialas your brain is filled with blood, you can reach the truth in the shortest distance for some reason Why can you not do it usually?”

“No…… I didn’t realize it myself……”

I huggedthe cold air from the air conditioner on my head As I was too nosy, and forced y When I think about it, it was actually quite scary Facing Hirasaka-gumi that was somewhat famous as juvenile delinquents in the past, I could actually still criticize them like that As Alice said, when my blood fills my brain, even I, myself, don’t knohat I will do

No, actually, I know it Like just now, I can only resort to such ways It’s just that sometimes, the worries of ’What should I do if I fail?’ would disappear to goodness knohere

“That is a power that you can take pride on”

Alice responded expressionlessly But I don’t need such a thing It’s not like I can save anyone, it’s just that I can act quicker on decisive moments— No matter if it would end in happiness or despair

“You are quite i able to track the phone signal is actually a trap by Hirasaka”

Alice’s voice

“I just thought of it all of a sudden, just to convince the gang members”

“You really gotfraud syndicate as a choice for your future?”

“I’ll think about it……”

I hugged my knees even harder

“But that was really a trap”

I raised my head

“Major contacted me just now The location we found out fronal was a short-ter there, but Hirasaka was not a them What a devious man”

Which means, he planted his phone in the room, while he hid somewhere else?

I really couldn’t connect such a despicable action with the s face that I was familiar with Just because of that, I wished even more for a chance to speak with him once more

“Thus, Hirasaka’s true aim is probably this”

“……Eh?”

“The thing that Yondaiumi”

In the past, Renji-san started the gang with Yondairew so much that it had an influence on the city after five years— their co emblem

“I a toit while it is truly decapitated In truth, it should have turned out like this as well The only miscalculation that Hirasaka made was— you are here”