Chapter 50: Back Home.

The bandits drove through the bustling streets of Tokyo, it was night time as the familiar sights and sounds were filling them with a sense of homecoming. The city was as vibrant as ever, its towering buildings and neon lights reflecting off the car's windows. As they made their way to their shelter, the tension from their recent battles began to dissipate, replaced by a warm anticipation of being home.

The shelter, hidden away in a quiet part of the city, was a large, old building that had been repurposed into a haven for outcasts and refugees. As they approached, they could already see a crowd gathering outside the gates. The refugees, mostly outcasts with low level or non combat abilities, who were given safety and acceptance here, were all waiting eagerly, their faces lighting up when they spotted the cabriolet.

Mousa parked the car, and as soon as they stepped out, they were greeted with cheers and smiles. The atmosphere was filled with joy and relief, a stark contrast to the tension that had been with them for the past few weeks.

"Mousa! Toma! Jun! Shota!" The voices of the refugees rang out as they rushed forward to greet them. The bandits were surrounded, patted on the back, and embraced warmly by the people they had come to protect.

Kazuya looked around, taking in the scene. The refugees were smiling, some with tears in their eyes. He noticed how they looked at the bandits, especially at Mousa, with a mix of admiration and gratitude. It dawned on him that these people saw them as heroes, protectors who fought for their safety.

Miss Akane's daughter, Hina, approached Kazuya with a bright smile. "I'm glad your back, big bro! I missed you."

Kazuya smiled softly. "Thank you, Hina..."

With that, the bandits headed inside the shelter. As they went inside, the scent of something delicious wafted through the air, drawing them toward the dining area. Miss Akane, the shelter's caretaker and an exceptional cook, was waiting for them with a broad smile.

"Welcome back, everyone!" Miss Akane called out, her voice full of warmth. "I've prepared something special for you all—Chicken ramen soup!"

Mousa's eyes lit up at the mention of the soup. "Miss Akane, you're a lifesaver! I've been dreaming about your cooking. There's nothing like a bowl of your ramen after a long mission."

Miss Akane laughed, clearly pleased. "I'm glad you're excited, Mousa. I made extra, just in case you wanted seconds—or thirds."

Jun couldn't help but chuckle. "Mousa, will definitely eat more than 3 bowls"

"Can you blame me?" Mousa grinned, his enthusiasm contagious. "Miss Akane's cooking is the best."

As they settled down to eat, Kazuya noticed Aiko standing a little behind Miss Akane, quietly watching the exchange. Miss Akane noticed too and turned to the group with a proud smile.

"And I have to say, Aiko has been such a big help while you were all gone. She's been doing so much around here—helping with chores, taking care of the kids, and just being a wonderful presence. I don't know what I would have done without her."

The bandits looked at Aiko, who blushed slightly at the praise. Jun, especially, smiled warmly at her. "That's great to hear, Aiko. I'm really proud of you. It's not easy adjusting to a new place, but it sounds like you've done more than that."

Aiko smiled back, her voice soft but sincere. "Thank you, Jun. It feels good to help out, and everyone here has been so kind to me."

The bandits all smiled at her. They thought that It was good that she feels home here.

Mousa spoke. "Okay enough talking! The food is gonna get cold so let's just start eating already."

Jun rolled her eyes. "Of course you would be only thinking about food right now." Jun said in annoyance. Resulting to everyone laughing.

Mousa smiled cheerfully, as everyone got seated and started to eat...

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After some time, the group began to disperse, each going their separate ways. Kazuya headed to his room as he was exhausted and looked forward to a good night's rest.

But just as he was about to lie down, he heard something—a faint voice coming from outside. Curious, he got up and quietly made his way to the source of the sound. It was coming from the a secluded area where no one usually went.

Kazuya peeked around the corner and was surprised to see Aiko, standing alone, talking on the phone. She was speaking softly, almost whispering, and something about her tone made Kazuya stop in his tracks.

"I know… Yes, they're all back now. The boy with white hair is okay," Aiko said on the phone. "No, they have no idea. They're completely relaxed."

Kazuya's heart skipped a beat. The way Aiko was talking didn't sit right with him. He felt a growing sense of unease, but he told himself it was wrong to eavesdrop. He thought that she could be talking to a friend of some sort....

He was just about to walk away, but her next words suddenly made him stop.

"They've let their guard down," Aiko continued. "Now would be the perfect time to strike. An attack on them right now would be successful."

Kazuya's blood ran cold. He couldn't believe what he was hearing....