Chapter 120: Rei’s plan

Hina and Akira immediately became alert when they heard the doorbell.

They exchanged a single glance, a look that spoke louder than a thousand words.

Slowly and cautiously, they approached the door, while Kai remained in the other room with Sakura, waiting.

Unintentionally, Hina had come to trust Sakura. She knew she wouldn't harm Kai.

"Who is it?" Hina asked, her voice cold, maintaining a certain distance from the door.

Both sisters kept their hands in their pockets, ready to draw their weapons and act if needed.

From the other side of the door came a man's voice, answering with a tone that was almost noble.

"It's me, Rei." That was all he said.

Akira assumed it was one of Kai's friends, while Hina had already pieced together to whom that name belonged.

With a sigh, Hina relaxed her posture and motioned for Akira to do the same.

Hina opened the door, and standing before her was the same young man she had encountered earlier with Yuna.

Rei was still wearing the same clothes from the afternoon and had a friendly, smiling expression fixed on his face — so fixed it seemed like a mask.

"I figured it was you behind all this…" Hina said in a neutral tone, eyeing him from head to toe as though analyzing him.

Rei chuckled softly and wiped his feet on the mat outside the door before stepping in.

"Excuse me…" he said politely, looking at both Hina and Akira.

After entering, he introduced himself to Akira, who was left confused by the attitude of this stranger.

"Where is Sakura?" he asked after the introductions.

Hina didn't take her eyes off him for even a second.

"She's in the other room. Follow me," Hina said, her tone almost threatening.

Rei followed her without batting an eye, showing no signs of anxiety or fear.

He was perfectly calm.

When Rei entered the other room with Hina and Akira, Kai's eyes widened in surprise upon seeing who he was.

"Yuna's boyfriend...? I should've known that he was somehow involved in our plan..." He thought, while looking at him.

Rei, noticing Kai's reaction, smiled and greeted him with feigned surprise.

"Kai! What a coincidence to see you here. Small world, isn't it?" He said in a friendly and "Joking" tone of voice.

Kai didn't reply immediately.

For some inexplicable reason, a mix of distrust and fascination stirred within him.

Something about Rei felt... off.

He knew that he was an ally, but for some reason, there was some unspoken tension between them.

But Kai chose to mask his emotions, forcing a neutral expression.

Rei didn't seem to notice, or perhaps he didn't care.

He turned to address everyone, his tone shifting to one of authority.

"Now that we're all here, let me explain the plan." His voice changed from a friendly one to a very "leader-like" one.

He pulled out a tablet from his briefcase, projecting a map onto the wall.

It showed the layout of Sabushi's compound, marked with strategic points and escape routes.

Rei's voice was calm and methodical as he outlined everyone's roles.

"As Sakura said, Kai will serve as bait," Rei began, ignoring Hina's immediate glare. "A GPS device will be implanted under his skin, allowing us to track his every movement once the enemy takes him. This will lure Sabushi out of his fortress."

Kai felt a shiver running trough his spine when he heard "Under his skin"..

He pointed at Hina. "You'll follow the kidnappers closely, ready to act as soon as we pinpoint Sabushi's exact location."

Rei shifted his gaze to Akira.

"You'll be her backup. Your task will be to secure the weapons we'll need and lead my Brotherhood's soldiers into position for the assault." Rei adaded.

Then, turning to Sakura, he continued, "Your job will be crucial. You'll monitor Kai's location in real time, ensuring there's no margin for error. Every second will count."

Finally, Rei straightened up, his voice growing more resolute. "As for me, I'll handle Sabushi directly. Once we've cornered him, I'll ensure he doesn't escape." Rei said.

Kai kept thinking and thinking about any kind of possibility.

Despite Rei seemed like a very responsible person, Kai had the feeling that if he had to choose between his goals and someone's life, he would've probably left someone to die.

The room fell silent as Rei finished speaking.

All eyes were on Hina, who stood with her arms crossed, her expression icy and almost menacing.

"No," she said firmly. "Absolutely not. I won't let Kai be used as bait in your plan. It's reckless and completely unacceptable." She said with a cold voice.

Rei raised an eyebrow, unfazed by her objection.

"Hina, this is the only way to draw Sabushi out. He's too cautious to expose himself otherwise. Kai's involvement is essential. Moreover, they won't hurt him. They don't want to make you angry." Rei said, trying to convince Hina.

"Essential?" Hina's voice rose, sharp and cutting. "You think I'll let you put him in danger just to satisfy your grand strategy? Think again."

Akira, leaning against the wall, finally spoke up. "Hina's right. There has to be another way. Putting Kai at risk isn't a line we should cross. Moreover, Sabushi is a monster in every field. He's a mastermind of strategy."

Before Rei could respond, Kai stepped forward, surprising everyone. "Wait," he said, his voice steady but thoughtful. "What if… we change the plan?"

Rei turned to him with an intrigued look. "Go on."

Kai hesitated for a moment, then continued, "What if Hina acts as the bait instead of me? She's more experienced and better prepared to handle the risks. Meanwhile, I can work with Akira to procure the weapons. I'm not useless, and I want to contribute. This way, the danger isn't entirely on me, and we still have a solid plan."

Hina's head snapped toward Kai, her eyes narrowing. "Absolutely not," she said immediately. "I won't let you take on that kind of responsibility. You don't know what you're dealing with."

"Exactly why you should be the one out there, not me," Kai countered, his tone calm but firm. "You're the better choice, Hina. And you know it. I already have the method to make this plan work."

The room erupted into a heated debate.

"No way," Hina repeated, her frustration evident. "You think you can just waltz into this world of violence and make decisions like this? Stay out of it, Kai!"

Kai clenched his fists, his voice rising. "I'm already involved, Hina! Whether you like it or not, this fight affects me too. And I won't just sit around while everyone else takes the risks for me! I'm inside this death loop, with you. And there's no turning back."

Rei watched the argument unfold with a faint smile, clearly enjoying the clash of wills. "Well," he said, his voice cutting through the tension, "it seems we have some strong opinions. But I'll remind you both that time is not on our side. Decide quickly. Sabushi won't wait for us to get our act together. A spy of mine told me that he is preparing a plan to take Hina back."

Akira, trying to mediate, raised her hands. "Enough. Let's take a step back and think this through. Kai's idea has merit, but it's not without risks. If we're going to change the plan, we need every detail ironed out perfectly."

Sakura, who had been silent until now, nodded in agreement. "We need a solution that keeps everyone as safe as possible. Let's not rush into anything."

The room fell quiet again, the tension thick in the air.

Hina's expression softened slightly as she looked at Kai, but her resolve was still clear.

"You said that we're being spied , right? So what if we fake an argument and a breakup? Then you'll go to your home and... call someone of your old contacts... or..." Kai started to think, but Hina spoke.

"Or we could go to school and indirectly inform Haruto and your friend Emi. But... we have to act distant. If they tell this to Sabushi... Haruto would try to convince me again and then... I'll enter directly into their base, so that Rei can finally act. This sounds like a good idea." Hina said with an almost satisfied tone, while looking at Kai.

"Oh, this young man can be smart sometimes!" Akira said with a friendly tone while pinching his cheek.

Hina gave her a deadly glare and she immediately said sorry and backed off.

"Oh, sorry!" Akira said.

Sakura and Rei looked into each other's eyes and nodded.

"This sounds like a good plan. We'll give the GPS to Hina then." Rei said.

Hina looked into his eyes. 

"If that's the only way to keep Kai safe, then yes." She said, with a cold and bothered voice.

She then looked into her aunt's eyes and walked close to her.

"Risking everyone's life for your stupid revenge. Grow up, auntie." She whispered.

Sakura didn't reply to her.

She just tightened the grip on her own arm, like she was saying "She doesn't know what i'm feeling. It's pointless to talk. Just endure."

And so, the plan was finally stated.

Hina would've infiltrated their base so that Rei and his brotherhood would go into action.

Then, Kai spoke jsut to break the silence.

"S-Shall I prepare something to eat now...?" He asked.

Everyone looked at him and nodded.

"Thank you. I'll stay. But I need to pick Yuna up and return. Will you wait for me?" Rei asked, with a smile.

Kai nodded reclutanly. 

"Yeah, sure." He said.

Then, Rei walked out the house after waving.

"I have a bad feeling about this plan..." Akira said, while sitting down on the couch.

Meanwhile, Kai and Hina started to prepare the dinner, while Sakura went into the bathroom, with a silence falling in the house...