Deadbeat Husband

The sound of chips clattering and cards flipping echoed in the dimly lit gambling den which was carried out illegally by Kurosaki Family. Masaru, sat at a table, his face flushed from both alcohol and frustration. His hands shook slightly as he placed another large bet, hoping that this time, luck would finally turn in his favor.

He downed another glass of sake, barely tasting it as his eyes fixated on the dealer's hands. The cards were dealt, and Masaru's heart pounded in his chest. Sweat trickled down the side of his face as he flipped his cards, only to see another losing hand.

"Dammit!" he cursed, slamming his fist on the table.

The other men at the table snickered, amused by his desperate attempts to recover his losses. The dealer remained impassive, collecting Masaru's chips without a word.

"You're out of luck, pal," one of the gamblers said with a smirk.

Masaru ignored him, reaching into his pocket for more money, but found only empty space. His wallet was already drained, and he had been borrowing money from the house for the past few hours. His vision blurred slightly from the alcohol, but he wasn't done yet. He was never done.

"Can I borrow some money? I will surely pay up this time," He muttered to one of the executive that always blended him, money to which he got heated reaction.

Two large men, clearly the establishment's guards, approached the table, their expressions cold and unyielding. "Time to pay up," one of them growled, crossing his arms over his chest.

Masaru, still cocky despite his situation, slouched in his chair and waved them off with a drunken grin. "I'll get it to you. Just…just give me a little more time. You know how it is."

The guards exchanged a glance before grabbing Masaru by the arms and yanking him to his feet. "You've had enough time," one of them snarled. "The Kurosaki family doesn't wait for deadbeats like you. Pay your debt within two weeks, or they'll deal with you personally."

With that, they dragged him to the entrance and threw him out into the dirty alleyway. Masaru landed on his back, groaning in pain as he lay on the cold, wet ground. His pride bruised even more than his body, he muttered curses under his breath and struggled to his feet, stumbling away from the den.

As he wandered aimlessly down the street, the sound of footsteps approached. A tall, well-dressed man with slicked-back hair and a cold smile stepped out from the shadows. He was one of the leading commander of the Kurosaki family, Tetsuya Kurosaki.

"Masaru, isn't it?" Tetsuya said, his voice smooth and mocking. "You seem to be having a rough night."

Masaru blinked in confusion, swaying slightly as he looked at the man. "Who the hell are you?" he slurred.

Tetsuya chuckled and gestured toward a nearby bar. "Let's have a drink. I'm feeling generous tonight."

Masaru's face lit up at the mention of alcohol. "Well, if you're buying, sure," he grinned, following Tetsuya into the bar.

Once inside, Tetsuya ordered another bottle of sake, pouring generous glasses for both of them. Masaru gulped his drink greedily, too drunk to notice the calculating look in Tetsuya's eyes. The men accompanying Tetsuya stood by silently, confused as to why their boss was wasting his time with someone as useless as Masaru.

"So," Tetsuya began, swirling his glass of high quality sake, "how's life been treating you? Still struggling with that little shop of yours? I heard from dealers that you're in a huge debt."

Masaru scoffed, leaning back in his chair with a bitter laugh. "That damn shop… It's a joke. Hana's running it into the ground. She's always complaining, always nagging about money. Like it's my fault we're broke."

Tetsuya nodded, feigning sympathy. "She sounds like a handful."

"She is!" Masaru spat, slamming his glass on the table. "Always trying to boss me around, like she knows what she's doing. The woman can't even cook for a crowd. I don't know why I'm stuck with her."

Tetsuya leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing as he spoke in a low, almost casual tone. "I've heard about Hana. She's quite the woman, isn't she? Strong, capable and beautiful… It's a shame she's wasting her time in that small shop."

Masaru frowned, confused by the sudden shift in conversation. "What are you getting at?"

Tetsuya smiled, placing a stack of cash on the table between them. "I'd like to meet her. Talk to her about a potential… opportunity."

The sight of the money immediately grabbed Masaru's attention. His eyes widened as he stared at the pile of bills, the alcohol fogging his judgment even more.

"What kind of opportunity?" Masaru asked, licking his lips.

Tetsuya shrugged, his smile never fading. "Let's just say I think I could help her—and you—get out of this little financial mess you're in. All I need is a chance to meet her, discuss business and about the land."

Masaru hesitated for a moment, then his greed won over. He wasn't in any position to refuse, not with the debt hanging over his head and the Kurosaki family breathing down his neck. Besides, Tetsuya seemed like someone who could fix all his problems, and the money on the table was too tempting to pass up.

"Alright," Masaru said, grinning foolishly. "I'll set up a meeting. You can talk to Hana."

Tetsuya's smile widened, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Good. I'll be looking forward to it."

As Masaru reached for the stack of money, Tetsuya's men exchanged knowing glances, now understanding their boss's true intentions. They weren't sure what he had planned for Hana, but one thing was clear: Tetsuya always got what he wanted.

***

Emi sat comfortably on the velvet sofa, looking at their one of the finest host club that was one of the most luxurious places among all Tokyo. The sound of footsteps echoed, and soon one of the top hosts of the establishment entered the room, his charming smile in place as he greeted her.

"Emi-san, it's been a while," the host said, bowing slightly before sitting across from her. His name was Ren, one of the most popular hosts in the club and a man Emi had helped rise to the top.

"Ren-kun," Emi smiled warmly, taking a sip of her drink. "You look even more confident than the last time I saw you. The club suits you."

Ren chuckled, brushing his hair back. "It's all thanks to you, Emi-san. If it weren't for your help back then, I don't think I'd be where I am now."

Emi waved off his praise. "You've always had the charm and the talent. I just gave you a little push."

Ren nodded, his expression softening as he remembered their past. "Still, I owe you. You were there when things were rough, and I'll never forget that."

They exchanged a few more pleasantries, reminiscing about the days when Ren was struggling to make a name for himself. Emi had seen potential in him, giving him advice and guidance. Now, he was one of the top hosts, his name well-known in the nightlife of Tokyo.

As the conversation flowed, Emi's smile faltered for a brief moment, and Ren noticed the change in her demeanor. His instincts kicked in, sensing that Emi hadn't come here just to catch up.

"Emi-san," Ren said carefully, leaning forward slightly, "there's something on your mind, isn't there?"

Emi met his gaze, her eyes steady. "You've always been perceptive, Ren-kun. There is something I need to ask you."

Ren frowned slightly, curiosity piqued. "What is it? You know I'd do anything for you."

Emi set her glass down on the table, her expression serious. "I need your help with something... delicate."

Ren leaned back, crossing his arms, intrigued. "Delicate, huh? Go on."

Emi hesitated for a second, then spoke. "There's a woman. Her name is Akemi. I need you to... get close to her. Seduce her."

Ren's eyes widened in surprise. "S-seduce her? What for?"

"I need evidence on her," Emi explained. "Akemi is important to someone I'm dealing with, and I need leverage. I can't trust anyone else with this. You're the best person for the job, Ren. You know how to charm women, and you have the experience."

Ren was silent for a moment, processing what she had just said. His initial shock faded, and his usual confidence returned. "You want me to seduce her and collect evidence. That's... a bold request."

Emi smiled faintly. "I know it is. But I trust you. You've handled much more complicated women before."

Ren chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're not wrong about that."

He looked at her, his expression softening again. "For you, Emi-san, anything. I'll do it."

Emi smiled, relief washing over her. "Thank you, Ren-kun. I knew I could count on you."

She stood up, ready to leave, but before she did, she turned back to Ren. "Be careful, though. Akemi isn't just any woman. She's... dangerous in her own way."

Ren smirked, his confidence unwavering. "I've dealt with dangerous women before. Don't worry."

Emi gave him one last look before she left the room, her heels clicking against the floor as she disappeared down the hallway. Ren leaned back in his seat, swirling the last of his drink in his glass. He stared at the door, deep in thought.

However, his quiet contemplation was suddenly interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open again. Ren looked up, his expression quickly turning from casual to shocked as he saw who had entered.

Ryo.

The room felt smaller the moment he stepped in. Ren froze, unable to hide his surprise. Ryo wasn't someone who frequented places like this. If anyone wanted to meet him, they went to him—not the other way around.

"R-Ryo-sama..." Ren stammered, quickly standing up, bowing in respect. "I wasn't expecting you here."

Ryo closed the door behind him without saying a word. The sound of the door clicking shut echoed in the room. Ren swallowed hard, a sense of unease settling in as he watched the powerful man approach.

Ryo's cold eyes settled on Ren, and the tension in the room became palpable.