‘Why is he here?’

As the itching stopped, I exhaled deeply and lay there on the floor. This time it was the worst. The itching was everywhere! Only after the process of possession, was I able to relax and stand up. Because as soon as I had started the possession, I collapsed.

Seeing both my blade and fox spirit gather around me, even they wondered what I might transform into. Once I had finished transforming, I collected my spirits and went to the waters edge nearby.

As the light of the moon reflected off the murky river, I was able to see my appearance. Surprisingly, it wasn't that impactful as I thought.

In the river, I could see my hair had changed to black and gone a little bit longer, but it remained in its messy style. On top of my head, for the first time, there was no addition. My head was perfectly fine! Laughing a bit, I checked other areas of my body.

But as I checked, the only other thing that changed besides my hair, was my skin. It was no longer pale and white, it had become lighter reddish and more lively.

*SPLASH*

Shit! I forgot I saw a kappa here before.

[Spirit: River Kappa (Rank-9E)]

[Health: 120/120 - Stamina: 150/150]

[Sp: 14/100]

As I distanced myself from the water, a man turtle figure brought itself out of the river. Its beak mouth curved into a smile once it saw me, making me start preparing for another fight. Since I was already tired from fighting Atsume, I decided to leave this battle to my spirits.

Controlling my spirits over to the approaching kappa, my sword slashed down while my fox bit down. Both attacks connected with the target, but where it was effective. The kappa had turned its back to defend against us with its shell.

Sighing, I let the fox use its instincts to fight while I solely controlled my blade spirit. Hopefully, with this extra bit of control, I could effectively defeat this monster. As my spirit blade circled the kappa, keeping it on its toes, my fox spirit started attacking where there were openings available.

The fox had finally caught the kappas attention with a dangerous bit on its leg. As it tried ripping the fox off itself, I controlled my blade to slash down on its neck. Splashes echoed in the still night as the kappa was killed.

[White Fox has reached level 6!]

Looking at the dead kappa floating down the river, I gathered my spirits and left that place. It's finally time to go home, but let's keep Atsume a secret for now. If my parent starts noticing me suddenly getting a lot more powerful than my age group, the Yakuza will surely notice. For now, I just want to stay low.

Telling Atsume to stop possessing me, I looked at my now fully healed hand. Once Atsume stopped possessing me, we left the poor district and went home.

—

"....cha...."

What was that? Groaning, I pushed myself deeper into the depths of my layered blankets and bouncy bed.

"....Charles...."

Pushing myself deeper into my warm blanket paradise, I wished the voice would just go away.

"CHARLES!"

"Huh? What is it?"

Barging through my bedroom door was a furious Mum. Seeing her already dressed in a fancy outfit, I wonder why she was wearing such a thing to drop me off at school. But then I remembered, there was a family Yakuza meeting today!

"Didn't I say to set your alarm? It's already 8:23 and you're still not out of bed! Get changed, hurry! Your father is already getting the car ready, we only have a few minutes left!" Pulling my comfortable way from me, I was now exposed to the freezing morning air.

"Yes, yes..." Dragging my body out, I was forced to shower in cold water, which was easily solved by making my sword possess me to become more endurant to the temperature. Sighing once more, I finally changed into a nice outfit my parents got me before hand.

Getting into the car, Mum handed me a container with some food inside since they had to hurry. Whilst eating, we started driving to the distant residence where our Yakuza headquarters stayed.

Today, I was extra excited. Mum said meetings like this were very rare and important. I wonder what they'll bring up?

As I was consumed by my thoughts, my eyes eventually led me to stare at the girl sitting beside me. Atsume had slept on the couch, but something told me she didn't stay there. Like how she appeared next to mum who berated me as soon as I woke up.

Sighing, I started thinking about how I was going to live with her. She was obviously a grown adult in a child's body, but she was still incident about the world around her. I bet she only knew how to fight and eat others.

Connecting my mind to Atsume, who started to feel uncomfortable under my gaze, I didn't try to control her. But instead I tried communicating to her. The system said that my possession level is based off bond, so I eventually had to get close to her at some point. Why not now.

'Hey, Atsume. Did you sleep well last night?' She blankly looked at me, making me feel the question was a bit too awkward. Seeing her finally nod politely, I saw that she was still holding herself back against me. I saw the way she looked at me, it was definitely not a look of affection or familiarity.

I didn't save her, I was simply a way out of that shrine.

'Atsume, if you want anything... tell me. If it's within my power, it might be possible for me to do it' Looking at me shocked, I was surprised as well at the way she expressed herself. It seemed like I had said something right. Nodding at me slightly more enthusiastic then before, I grinned and waited for the arrive at arrive at our destination.

The Rose Yakuza headquarters.

—

(2 hours and 10 minutes later)

Once we got there, it was in the middle of a very tall and wide forest. Seeing other cars already parked in the distance, Mum gave me an angry look, to which faded into a sigh of exhaustion. "Let's go, we're really late. I hope they haven't started yet, I don't want to miss anything- Honey!"

Dad was till in the car on his phone. On screen was a news outlet talking about some distant war in another country, I don't even get why he watches them. "Hurry, Charles drag your father here right now. We have to hurry!"

Getting out of the car, I saw Mum was already walking towards the entrance in a power walk. Going over to dads side of the car, I pulled the handle and opened the door. Dad was still invested with his phone, to which I responded with an elbow grab and a pull off the seat.

Finally getting his out, I dragged my now confused and clumsy dad towards the entrance where I expect Mum to be. Dad finally collected himself along the way, so at least once we got there we weren't a mess.

The doors of the entrance opened and before us was a luscious room that was very spacious. There was red carpet and a front desk, where I believe the secretary was, talking to mum.

Above the front desk, on top of the wall, hung a large banner. With several golden vines interwoven to the sides and a beautiful crimson rose in the middle, this was our symbol. Our Rose.

"So your saying we're not late? We arrived just on time? Thank god! Honey, come here..." As dad left my side to where mum and the bored secretary was, I was left alone in the middle of the room basking in every sight. Thousands, probably millions of dollars were in front of me in that exact moment.

Suddenly a pull came from the back of my shirt, it was Atsume. 'What is it? Do you need anything?' Thinking back to the car ride, I wonder if this could be one of her requests?

As I looked at her, she turned to one of the doors of the lobby labeled 'storage room'. 'What are you trying to tell me?' Looking at her body phase from one side to the other, I wonder why she's specifically showing this to me. Once she returned from her other side, she had an urgent look on her face.

Concerned, I went to the door to see what was all the fuss about. Gripping the handle, I inhaled and slowly entered in. Seeing what was inside, I gazed over to Atsume. Maybe hitting her with that sword did more things to her then I thought.

Inside this small storage room, was a small boy crying. Something about him felt all too familiar... He had blond hair, but was definitely not Bakugo, he'd never cry like that. He had blue eyes, he didn't seem to have a belt or equipment around his stomach though, so he was definitely not Aoyama. Who was he?

Wait... Monoma? What the hell is he doing in the Yakuza?

Honestly, I felt like leaving. I didn't feel like dealing with a narcissist bastard who would mock me. But then again, he is still a child. Maybe he's not the Monoma I know...

"... Um, excuse me, but what's your name?" The kid froze, clearly showing he hasn't been focusing all that much on his surroundings.

"...Monoma..." It was him. He didn't even look at me as he buried his eyes into his palms. To me, it seemed like something happened. What could've made the usual arrogant and condescending Monoma like this?

"Then, can you tell me why are you crying?" Once I asked, Monoma looked up at me, like a poor puppy. His chin quivered and his eyes threatened to cry again. No matter how much I didn't care for Monoma as a person, in my eyes, he was a little boy which made me want to help him.

As Atsume looked compassionately at Monoma, I was still slightly weirded out despite my care. As she pestered over his red knuckles and tear stained face, I inwardly cringed. Unlike her, I knew who Monoma really was, making it so much weirder.

"If not, then... do you want to play?" Hopefully this'll work. I'm not all that experienced with unresponsive kids, so I took a different approach with him. Maybe that'll distract him with whatever happened.

"Play?.... play what?"

"Hmmm, oh! How about tag?" As I gave my request, Monoma fell into deep thought. I wonder what he's thinking. Maybe he's thinking about his parents. Because he couldn't just pop out of nowhere and suddenly start crying in the storage room of a Yakuza headquarters.

Maybe his parents are looking for him, maybe that's why he's hesitating...

"What's tag?"