Chapter 19

The hospital room was dimly lit, the glow from the machines casting a pale light over the plain white walls. Outside, the city was quiet, the sounds of traffic and nightlife muffled by the thick walls and closed windows. The occasional beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound breaking the silence in the room.Jean's eyes fluttered open, the haze of anaesthesia slowly lifting. He winced as he shifted slightly, the dull ache in his torso reminding him of the brutal fight, he took off the oxygen mask on his face and tried to orientate himself. He looked down, seeing the bandages tightly wrapped around his chest, the memory of the knife stabbing him flooding back. He gasped; each breath sent a wave of pain through his body forcing him to breath shallowly.As his vision cleared, he noticed a man sitting next to him, dressed in a sharp black suit. The man was rigid, his posture perfect, and his expression stern. He exuded an air of authority and professionalism. Jean's heart sank as recognition dawned on him."Young master," the man said, his voice low and formal. "I see you're awake."Jean groaned, trying to sit up but quickly giving up as pain shot through him. "What are you doing here, Kuro?" he asked, his voice hoarse and weak.Kuro adjusted his glasses, his gaze never leaving Jean's. "Your father has had enough of your reckless behaviour. He has decided that it is time for you to leave the country."Jean's eyes widened in shock, his father had threatened this before but he couldn't possibly take it seriously. "What? No! He can't just—"Kuro raised a hand, silencing him. "Your father is very serious this time, young master. He believes that a change of environment might help you understand the consequences of your actions. He's grown tired of your defiance and the trouble you've caused."Jean clenched his fists, the reality of the situation sinking in. "Where am I going?""You will be sent to a boarding school in Europe. It has strict discipline and will offer you a chance to reform. Your flight will be scheduled as soon as you're well enough to travel," Kuro explained, his tone leaving no room for argument.Jean's mind raced, the implications of leaving everything behind hitting him hard. He looked down at his bandaged torso, the pain of his injuries mingling with the turmoil in his heart. "And if I refuse?"Kuro's eyes hardened. "There is no refusal, young master. This is not a request. It is an order from your father."Jean fell back against the pillows, his anger and frustration boiling beneath the surface. He felt trapped, his future being decided without his input. The weight of his father's decision pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe.Kuro stood up, adjusting his suit. "Rest, young master. You will need your strength for the journey ahead."As Kuro left the room, Jean stared at the ceiling, the darkness of the night closing in around him. He really hated this overwhelming feeling of helplessness.·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙The Suzuki household was eerily quiet that night, not even the chirping of crickets could be heard. Amaya tried to sneak in quietly; she hadn't told anyone where she was going, and she wasn't sure how her father would react to her stealing a gun to use on a college kid.She held her breath, climbing over the wall, landing softly on the ground, and quickly rushed to the kitchen door. She hoped the servants wouldn't rat her out.The kitchen door swung open easily, and she sighed in relief, seeing no one there. She took off her shoes and tiptoed through the quiet hallways. Just as her bedroom came into view, she was stopped by the sound of a man clearing his throat.Her heart leaped out of her chest as she swung around to see who it was."Mr. Secretary?" she asked with a shaky voice. "What are you doing here?""I should be asking you that question," he replied coldly. "What are you doing here?"Amaya gulped. "Um... I'm coming back from a fight?"He crossed his arms, and she braced herself for a scolding. But instead, he said, "Remember to tell us where you are next time. If something bad happens, we can't save you unless we know where you are."She looked up, confused. Just like that? Were they really okay with her engaging in casual thuggery?He adjusted his sunglasses. "Now go to bed. It's quite late.""Yes, sir!" she said quickly before scampering away.Mr. Secretary couldn't help but laugh as he returned to Mr. Suzuki's office, where her father was still up, reviewing a few documents.Upon seeing his secretary return, Mr. Suzuki asked, "Everything's okay?""Yes, sir," the secretary replied.Mr. Suzuki nodded and returned to his work, relieved that Amaya seemed more lively now. After a moment, he realised his secretary was still standing there. "What is it?""Sir, she shot Number 20.""Number 20?""From Mamuchi.""Oh."He didn't care much either way. It was good for young people to exercise their strength.·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙After school on Monday, Amaya strolled into the flower shop, her mind preoccupied with questions. The entire day, she hadn't seen even the back of Lucas. She was beginning to wonder if he had even come to school today."System, why can't I find Lucas after school?" she murmured under her breath as she scanned the rows of flowers, picking up a bouquet of red tulips.[Unknown. His usual habits do not include disappearing like this.]She decided to find him another day; for now, she needed to visit Jean. She selected the tulips, knowing they symbolised love and admiration—qualities she felt Jean needed to feel right now. She was being picked up by Mr Suzuki's secretary since she had an important engagement to attend that evening, so she was in a hurry. When she arrived at the hospital, Amaya entered Jean's room with a bright smile, only to find Lucas already there. He avoided her gaze, and Jean's expression didn't look any better. The tension in the room was palpable, but Amaya pretended not to notice, talking happily as she arranged the flowers in a vase."Hey Jean, I brought some flowers to brighten up the room," she said cheerfully, her back turned to them as she carefully arranged the bouquet.Lucas shifted uncomfortably in his chair, clearly unsettled. "Amaya, can we talk?"She turned to face him, her smile fading as she saw the seriousness in his eyes. "What's wrong?" She felt a growing sense of dread, not wanting to hear what he had to say.Lucas hesitated, his eyes flicking to the flowers and then back to her. "Did you really have to bring out a gun yesterday?"Amaya sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Did you know about my dad, Lucas?"Lucas nodded slowly. "I did, but I didn't expect it to be so... real."She frowned, feeling a pang of frustration. "I am Amaya Suzuki. Do you not understand who I am?"He looked at her, heartbroken. "You're right. I... I don't think I can do this. I quit. I quit fighting, and I don't want anything to do with the Suzuki family." It was all fun and games in high school, but when it came to real gangs and real Yakuza, he realised this wasn't the life he wanted.Jean, who had been watching them fight, felt a heavy weight settle in his chest. Lucas turned to him, his expression cold. "Tell her, Jean."Amaya's heart sank further. "Tell me what?"Jean took a deep breath, his voice barely above a whisper. "I have to move countries. My father has already booked my flight. I'm leaving."The flowers in the vase lost a petal, slowly falling to the table as the wind picked up in the hospital room. Amaya stood there, feeling as if the world around her was falling apart, piece by piece."Oh, I see."Her mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions. She had thought that Lucas and Jean would stand by her, that they would be her pillars of strength in this world. But now, she realised that they all had their own lives to live, their own paths to follow. And she would be left alone in the end.The realisation hit her like a cold wave, numbing her from the inside out. She had been so focused on her mission, so caught up in the chaos of her life, that she hadn't considered the impact it was having on those around her. Amaya's eyes filled with tears, but she quickly blinked them away, refusing to show weakness. She felt a cold, hard resolve settle in her chest, replacing the warmth that had once been there. If Lucas and Jean wanted out, she wouldn't stop them. But she wouldn't forget."Thank you for telling me," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her."Amaya!" Jean called out, his voice filled with guilt and regret. She knew he had no say in what happened to him, but why did she blame him? She knew she was being unreasonable, but somehow she felt angry. Why didn't Lucas just suck it up? All that talk, only to leave her. And why did Jean have to fight the psycho? None of this would have happened if they had just listened to her!She felt her anger surge as her eyesight blurred until she couldn't even see her hands. Shit, if she cried here, it would be too embarrassing.She tried to breathe, but ultimately the tears broke through and slid down her face. The people in the hospital gawked at her, the crying girl in the lobby."Young miss, you seem to get yourself in trouble often."A shadow covered her, his arms blocking the view of her eyes as his body shielded her from prying eyes."Mr. Secretary," she whispered, her voice barely audible through her sobs."Young miss, it's okay to cry. As long as your subordinates protect you, you can cry anywhere."She choked, the words catching in her throat. "I don't have anyone, Mr. Secretary.""That's not true," he said gently, his voice firm but kind. "You have the other boy, don't you? And you have us. So don't worry about those who are destined to leave you."Amaya nodded, feeling a small sense of relief wash over her. Nothing was worse than friends who had to go their separate ways, she would have to leave them anyway, so maybe this was for the best. ·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙In the private hospital room, Jean glared at Lucas, his frustration and hurt evident in his eyes. He couldn't believe this was happening. Lucas, who had always seemed so steadfast, was backing out now? It felt like a betrayal.Lucas sighed, scratching the back of his head, struggling to find the right words. "I can't do this, Jean," he started, his voice heavy with regret. "You know I got shit to protect. I can't be around someone like her."Jean's eyes blazed with anger. "You should have considered that before talking like you were prepared to stay!" he snapped, his voice rising. "Now it just feels like you're stabbing us in the back!"Lucas winced at Jean's words. He wanted to argue, to explain his side, but he knew there was no justification that would make this right. "I hope you take care of yourself, Jean," he said quietly. His voice carried a sense of finality; this would be the last time they met like this - as students.Jean turned his head away, the betrayal cutting deep. "Yeah, whatever," he muttered, his voice thick with emotion.Lucas hesitated for a moment longer, then turned and left the room, the weight of his decision pressing heavily on his shoulders. He knew he was walking away from something important, but he also felt trapped by his own fears and responsibilities.