CHAPTER 26 - Akihiko's friends (5)

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a faint glow into Ichiro's room as he slowly awoke, his body throbbing with pain. He winced as he tried to move, the memory of Ryoma's brutal beating from the previous day still fresh in his mind. It was a harsh reminder of the mysterious torment that had befallen him.

With great effort, Ichiro propped himself up on his elbows and glanced at the ceiling and the walls of his room. His thoughts raced as he pondered why Ryoma had subjected him to such a merciless interrogation. "What could he possibly want from me?" Ichiro wondered aloud, his voice tinged with both curiosity and apprehension.

As he lay there, a nagging thought crossed his mind. Could Ryoma have somehow noticed the system? Ichiro had been the only one who could perceive the cryptic messages and warnings it provided. He had tested its existence during his time in the hospital, and no one else had ever shown any indication of seeing it.

However, the more Ichiro considered this possibility, the more he dismissed it as unlikely. "That's unlikely to happen," he murmured to himself. The system was his secret companion, an enigmatic presence that seemed bound to him alone.

So, what had changed? Ichiro puzzled over the question, his mind retracing the events that had led to Ryoma's sudden interest in him. His body remained as frail as ever, devoid of any magical or protective aura. There seemed to be no discernible reason for Ryoma's actions, leaving Ichiro trapped in a web of confusion and uncertainty, desperate to unravel the mystery that had enveloped his life.

Ichiro struggled to his feet, wincing at the aches and pains that pulsed through his battered body. As he tried to stand, he couldn't help but notice the state of his clothes, stained with his own blood and smeared with dirt from the brutal confrontation with Ryoma. The sight of his ruined attire served as a stark reminder of the harrowing events of the previous night.

"I need to get out of here soon." 

Fear gripped him as he connected the dots. Ryoma had shown no mercy, and it had become clear that he was someone who posed a grave threat to Ichiro's life. The realization sent shivers down his spine, making it abundantly clear that he needed to escape from his family's grasp as soon as possible.

Ichiro's thoughts raced, and he couldn't help but revisit the strained relationship he had with his family. Over time, he had grown more distant from them, feeling a growing sense of unease and mistrust. It was as if they had been keeping secrets from him, and he couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that something was amiss.

With the early morning sun barely rising, Ichiro's sense of urgency pushed him to take action. He knew that time was of the essence, and he couldn't afford to wait. Akihiko had been a source of guidance and, perhaps, an ally in uncovering the mysteries surrounding his family's intentions. He hoped that Akihiko would be willing to meet with him at this early hour, considering the gravity of the situation.

Ignoring his own injuries and the aches that still coursed through his body, Ichiro hastily changed his clothes and slipped out of the mansion before anyone could notice his absence. The urgency of his mission weighed heavily on his mind, propelling him forward into the uncertain path he had chosen.

Back at the main mansion, chaos reigned. Tomoko, seething with anger, confronted the servants who had delivered the troubling news. Her voice was sharp and commanding. "What do you mean you couldn't find him?" she demanded, her rage simmering just beneath the surface.

"Impossible, Ryoma explained last night…" Hiroshi, her husband, stood nearby, his face etched with a mixture of worry and frustration. He attempted to offer an explanation but couldn't find the words. The realization that his son, Ryoma, had subjected Ichiro to a brutal beating only for Ichiro to be standing the next day left a bitter taste in his mouth. It was a testament to Ryoma's incompetence, as a true master would not have shown such leniency. The implication that Ryoma had been unable to carry out his task efficiently gnawed at Hiroshi's pride, leaving him to question the strength and abilities of his own son.

In the midst of the chaos at the main mansion, Hiroshi and Tomoko were desperate for answers. The servants who had been sent to find Ichiro had returned empty-handed, their expressions filled with unease.

"Master, we went as soon as you ordered, but no one was inside," one of the servants explained, clearly shaken by the situation.

Hiroshi's brow furrowed as he contemplated the troubling news. He turned to the servant and asked, "Did you go to check the forest?"

The servant nodded anxiously. "Master, I have sent the guards to check the forest, and they couldn't find a single trace of him."

"Impossible," Tomoko burst out in anger. Her mind raced with worry, knowing the extent of the harm her son Ryoma had inflicted upon Ichiro. The fact that Ichiro had seemingly vanished unscathed left her deeply unsettled.

Hiroshi, frustrated and worried, issued a stern command. "Find him at once!"

The urgency in his voice left no room for debate. He couldn't allow his son or daughter to discover the situation, as it would be a blow to their family's pride, tarnishing their reputation among the servants and potentially revealing secrets best kept hidden.

As Hiroshi attempted to maintain a sense of control over the situation, Tomoko's fear and panic escalated. Her face was pale, and she screamed at the servants in desperation, "Everyone, get out!"

Her outburst sent the servants scurrying from the room, leaving the couple alone in the turmoil of their emotions.

"Please, calm down," Hiroshi implored, trying to comfort his distraught wife.

"Calm down?" Tomoko's voice quivered with a mix of anger and anxiety. "How can I calm down? Everything is about to fall apart."

Hiroshi tried to reassure her, his voice soothing. "Relax, it's not like our family will fall apart."

But Tomoko's panic intensified, and she continued to lash out. "What can you do to keep this family together? We earned our money by putting our lives on the battlefield, and it's not as if you ever participated in one."

Her words cut deep, and Hiroshi felt the sting of her accusation. It was true that he had never faced the dangers of the battlefield, a fact he had always tried to keep hidden from his family.

Tomoko, undeterred, continued, "All the money we have now belongs to that brat. If he decides to leave, then what of us?"

Hiroshi struggled to maintain his composure in the face of her tirade. "Stop saying that. Your son is a great warrior now."

"So what?" Tomoko's voice held a bitter edge. Her son and daughter were nothing more than shadows compared to the woman she once revered. "They are just shadows of her, mere imitations. She is the one who truly matters, even in death."

The family's dark secrets and divisions were coming to the surface, and the fragile facade they had constructed was beginning to crumble. Hiroshi and Tomoko were left to grapple with the unsettling reality that their family's future hung in the balance, overshadowed by a woman from their past and the enigmatic figure of Ichiro who now held their fortune and possibly their destiny.