Unforseen Connections

DISGUISED as an investor, he moved around the academy, searching for an object, Despite his confidence and his sharp instincts, he began to feel uncertainty, as if this might led him to astray.

He has his doubts but he knew he had to investigate this place. The object he was looking for must be hidden somewhere.

He wanted to prove himself to be better, to live up to the expectations placed on him. But he was pressured.

Was he truly 'special,' or was he just a fraud?

Until...

He froze, his heart pounding in his chest as he saw a man sprinting past, a furious girl hot on his heels. His face went pale, sweat started to form around his head, and his nerves racked from

...fear?

A cold dread washed over him. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

What the hell is this!?

He watched, his senses on high alert, as the pair disappeared around a corner. He was about to follow them when his phone buzzed in his pocket, but before that, he felt a wave of annoyance as the students around him turned to stare and whispered.

Kids. He let out a frustrated groan, snatching his phone from his pocket.

Kazushige retreated to his private space, answering the call with a hiss. "What do you want?" he spat, wincing at the sound of this bitch's voice.

[Kazushige,] a man's voice boomed from the other end, [of all the things I'd expect from you...]

Kazushige raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice dripping with feigned innocence.

"You found it, haven't you?" the man continued, his voice laced with envy. [Is this why you insisted on going alone? You want all the glory for yourself, you arrogant cunt]

Kazushige laughed, "Bingo! You should have expected it, you idiot. I've been playing the game from the start. I won, didn't I?"

[Never thought you'd get this far,] the man spat, his voice thick with envy.

[Just to impress Kurogane? Tch.]

Kazushige's laughter echoed through the phone. "What do you think I'm doing this for? I love the spotlight, especially when it should be yours, but if a bit of a gloating gets under your skin, consider it a bonus, dear.]

The man fell silent, and Kazushige savored the momentary victory. But the silence was broken by a sharp, cutting voice. "Is that so? Well, good luck with that, Kazushige. Because the only thing that's going to be stuck under anyone's skin for any substantial amount of time is your arrogance."

Kazushige burst out laughing, his satisfaction evident. "I didn't mean to brag, but I'm born in a special way, something you peasants wouldn't understand."

The man's voice was a guttural roar. [Fucking bitch! You fucktard-!]

He ended the call with a smirk, a glint of triumph in his eye. He called his right hand man.

He barked into the phone, his voice sharp and demanding. "Get me Kazuki. Red hair, blue eyes. He's in this school. I want his file on my desk in five minutes." He slammed the phone down, the click echoing in the quiet room.

Kazushige, meanwhile, was already halfway out the door, his movements smooth and efficient. He didn't need to be told twice.

He pulled his sleek black sedan into the underground parking garage of the organization's building. As he stepped out, the cool, sterile air of the basement greeted him.

He made his way to his office, A data tablet lay on his mahogany desk, waiting for him.

His right-hand man, always a step ahead, had already delivered the information he needed. He got his full name, address and every valuable information he needed.

"Wow..."

He was the college student who was known for his exceptional running abilities running at approximately 54 km, Kazushige was baffled and confused at the same time but all the students and teachers who reported the sightings of seeing him running at such a tremendous speed that resembles a car on a race track, Kazushige couldn't help but be impressed himself.

Impressive.

But what really caught his attention was the string of absences on Kazuki's record. It wasn't just the frequency, but the reason behind them. He'd been taking care of his mother, who was battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). And to make matters worse, he'd been reported for slacking off.

ALS? Wait ...

From what Kazushige learned, it is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It leads to the weakening and eventual paralysis of muscles throughout the body,

And he's not being suspended because this guy has high marks in school with the average of 99.9%

He tossed tablet onto the table with a sigh and crossed his legs leaning back in his chair, a thoughtful expression settling on his face.

There's something more to this man...

"THANK you." he said, a smile spreading across his face as he paid for the tulips. They were her favorite, it was a small gesture of love for his mother who was in the hospital.

He walked out, the tulips clutched in his hand, a hopeful warmth filling him. He hurried towards the hospital and went inside.

He greeted the staff with a quick nod as he passed, his focus on reaching his mother on Room 1225 and took a deep breath before knocking gently.

"I'm back, mom-" his words were cut off when he realized that there was a visitor inside.

He was taken aback to see his father standing next to his mother at the other side of the bed dressed in an extravagant suit. To add to the shock, his step-brother was also present by their side.

Why-

"You're back...Kazuki," his father's voice was stern as he rose from his seat. Kazuki approached his still-sleeping mother's bedside controlling his anger as he almost dropped the flowers.

"Kazuki, I... thought you—"

Kazuki cut his mother off, his voice tight. He strode towards the bed, the tulips he'd brought drooping in his hand. He placed them gently on the table beside her, the vibrant colors a stark contrast to the sterile white of the room.

"What are you guys doing here?" he asked, his gaze fixed on them.

His fist clenched, knuckles white. He was calm, his voice steady, but beneath the surface, His inner self was fueling in rage.

"I came here for your mother, Kazuki. What else could it be?" His voice was sharp, laced with authority. "Is this how you greet your father?"

Kazuki narrowed his eyes, a humorless chuckle escaping his lips. He looked at his father with a mixture of disbelief and amusement, his expression silently asking, "Are you serious?"

"Why? When did you start acting like my father, huh?" He spat back, disbelief coloring his voice. It was as if he couldn't believe his father's audacity, the blatant attempt to gaslight him into respecting him.

"Kazuki! You insolent brat! He's still your father!" Kiriya, Kazuki's step-brother, snapped, his voice laced with indignation.

"Kazuki!" His mother's voice was a plea, a desperate attempt to stop the escalating of tension.

His father sighed. "Kazuki..I-

But Kazuki was past listening and cut his father off. "Where were you when we were struggling, when we tried to reach out for your help?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Where were you when we needed you and You still have the nerve to show yourself here, how thick is that face of yours?"

"KAZUKI!" His step-brother shouted.

His rage simmered beneath the surface, threatening to boil over. But for his mother's sake, he forced himself to stay calm, to keep his anger in check.

If only he could punch his annoying step-brother's face, it would be satisfying.

"I won't be here for long," his father stated, his voice devoid of warmth. "So I need to share with you that your mother entrusted you to me before she passed away."

His mother's eyes widened in shock. She asked him to keep this a secret, and she couldn't believe he'd broken his promise so blatantly. "Akio!" she scolded, trying to sit up in bed, her voice laced with disappointment.

"What's wrong? He'll know about it anyway," his father countered, his gaze cold and dismissive. "What's there to hide from your son?" He looked at Kazuki, his voice dripping with a chilling coldness.

Kazuki felt a wave of shock wash over him, followed by a surge of anger.

Before his mother could intervene, Kazuki cut her off, his voice tight with anger. "I'd rather die than be with your family. At least then I'd be free from a controlling, manipulative bastard like you."

His anger was burning, ready to tear his father with his harsh words. "And you're going to take me for what? To be your puppet? To dance to your tune? To live in your suffocating world? Even Satan would run screaming from your brand of cruelty. Honestly, I'd rather be dead. At least then I'd be free."

"Kazuki!" his mother cried out, her voice pleading, her hand reaching out to grab his arm.

"You scoundrel!" Kiriya, his step-brother, snarled, his face contorted with fury.

"Shut the fuck up, mudblood!" Kazuki roared back, his gaze fixed on his father, his anger spilling over. Kiriya lunged forward, ready to attack, but his father stepped on his foot to make him stop at his attempt to attack hi..

The tension in the room was thick, suffocating. Kazuki and his father locked eyes, he was ready to throw sharp words towards his father.

"Whether you liked it or not, I'm taking you with me," his father declared, his voice unwavering. "It's your mother's wish."

Kazuki's rage boiled over, directed at the man he saw as a manipulative and selfish bastard.

"Out."

"Kazuki-"

"OUT, NOW!" he roared, his voice echoing through the room that jolted both of them in surprise. His father, however, remained stoic.

"Very well," he said, his voice flat."But when the time comes, I expect no defiance from you. I wouldn't need to force you to come with us."

With those words, his father turned and left the room, followed by Kiriya, who shot him a glare before disappearing into the hallway.

The door slammed shut, leaving Kazuki alone with his anger. He stared at the closed door, his fist clenched, his face contorted with rage.

Kazuki glanced at his mother before turning away and walked out of the room.

"Kazuki!" His mother called out.

The door slammed and he was already gone, leaving her mother in tears.