Chapter 36

"What are you blabbering about? What do you mean beating me up? Have you lost your mind?"

"... It's just what I just said, I'll be having my revenge today."

"You fucking idiotic daughter. Do realize you're being disrespectful to your parents, if you could've just let him do what he asks for, you would've greatly benefited us from our debt in half!"

Hotaru lets out a small innocent smile and replied.

"I'm glad you haven't changed, father, I was anxious that if I met you today I would've trembled in fear because of the trauma you inflicted on me in my childhood, but now I'm so pissed off right now that I don't feel anxious or remorse for you now."

"Huh? N-no way you're-"

Without letting him finish his sentence, Hotaru sent him flying with a drop kick to his face. While he was still on the ground, Hotaru took the chance and continuously punched his face into the cold cement floor. Even if his teeth were falling out with blood she still wouldn't stop.

And Shou didn't stop her either as he clearly understands that he shouldn't. Hotaru's mother stood there in shock, trembling in fear as to what Hotaru was doing, the sweet and innocent she once knew had turned into a bitter person, full of hatred and resentment towards nothing but them.

"S-stop it! Hotaru stop that!" her mother said as she tried to grab Hotaru's arm to stop her.

Hotaru didn't answer nor did she pay attention to her mother who tries to stop her and instead shoved her with her elbow and continued to mercilessly beat up her father.

"Hotaru! That's enough! Stop beating your father if you do that, you're no better than him!"

Hotaru hesitated in the middle of her punch, as she heard those words from her mother.

"That's true, if you were to think about it, I would be no better than my father because I would be stooping to his level just to beat him even if I were to use someone else to do my bidding it wouldn't make a difference but I've already stooped so low that it doesn't even matter anymore. But I think he had enough of beating since he's already passed out and his face is almost unrecognizable."

As she got up she spits on her father's unconscious face. And without saying a word, they left.

As her mother watched her daughter leave without looking back at her, she cries as her daughter has changed. Her daughter who was formerly full of joy and innocence, all of it was stolen by her husband and herself. And was all left with cruelty and bitterness and was forced to mature quicker than acting at her appropriate age.

Her mother started to cry. "Ugh- I-I'm so...so...so sorry Hotaru, I knew that your father was a bad man but before I even realized I-... I was the only person who you could lean on. I was the reason why you were still happy despite the difficulties you had to go through... And yet I took that away from you, I started to act like your father as well and started to blame you too for my unhappiness as I kept getting hit by your father. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Hotaru."

Her mother continued to cry loudly, Hotaru heard her mother, apologizing as she hid around the corner before leaving completely.

"Are you satisfied with this? Are you sure you don't want to go and comfort her? Shou asked.

Hotaru went silent for a minute and replied. "No, it's fine, I accept her apology but I still won't forgive her. The damage she's caused has already been done, it was all in the past and the things she did in the past could never be repaid. Isn't that natural?"

"Pfft, you're right what kind of question did I ask haha... You... are starting to be more mature now... Just kidding, or should I say you're starting to become more realistic."

"Aren't those two the same?"

"That might be true but it depends on the context rather."

"Whatever, I'm tired let's just go home, I've already done what I needed to do."

The two of them arrived back safely without any problems.

"Oh, you guys are back," Ryota said with a custard bun on his mouth while playing a game on the tv.

"Ryota, you shouldn't talk while eating and you're even playing a game at the same time," Hotaru said.

"What? What's wrong with that?"

"...You lack mannerisms."

"It's called relaxation."

"It's called being a sleaze."

"And why is that!?"

"Because you're making a whole mess on the couch you fucking dumbass!"

"...Oh."

Out of rage, Hotaru threw a swift roundhouse to Ryota's head.

"Ow! Since when did you learn how to do hand-to-hand combat

"Don't underestimate me, just because I'm good with knives doesn't mean I can't defend myself without them. And my older brother taught me a few simple attacks in case I accidentally dropped or break my knives, so I've been practicing for a while."

"Okay, Okay jeez, I'm cleaning it up."

Unbeknownst to them, someone has kept an eye on them from the beginning.

"Yes, I have confirmed that's it undoubtedly them."

[...]

"Kill them? Oh, you don't have to worry about that, I already have someone in their family working for me."

[...]

"I won't be making any moves until I first get my payment."

[...]

"Alright, Half it is then, but once the job is finished I'll have the rest."

[...]

"It's a pleasure doing business with you sir, Have a good evening."

[Phone call ends.]

"Well boys, unfortunately, our client doesn't want to exterminate our target at the current moment however, he did come up with a great proposal to not only eliminate the Mishiki clan's most frightening and special divisions but also the whole gang itself. How does that sound?"

"It's a pretty clever plan to just kill two birds with one stone but what are the details?"

"He still hasn't said it yet, he only told me that he's going to kill two birds with one stone that's why we're leaving the sixth division alone for now."

"Tch, and here I thought we were going to have a fight tonight."

"Patience my friend, well have some fun sooner or later, it is only a matter of time..." He said with a sinister smile.

"Ah, right the Mishiki clan has two most powerful divisions right? The first and the second one if I'm not mistaken."

"No, there is another one. Another division that is also considered a monster. It may not be as frightening as the first two divisions but they still shouldn't be taken lightly. Their scouting division; The sixth division the one we're spying on right now."

"If they're the best scouting group of their gang then how come we managed to spy on them?"

"Yes that's true but I couldn't find where they stayed."

"What?!"

"Do you know why that every time the Mishiki clan gets on the news, no one manages to get a good look at their faces? It's because they're aware of their surroundings and very considerate of how they move around. Even if you're a newbie positioned on that team they can still cover for you. Why? because they're really good at blending in with their surroundings, and they're quick on their feet too... No maybe they already outsmarted me and just toying with me."

"Captain?"

"They're not just called demons in their family for no reason..."