Anzu's trouble

Anzu, Yuki, and Mei walked together, their earlier victory over the bullies still fresh in their minds, but they knew things were far from over. They kept talking about the different cafes and the new drama they enjoy, as they walked home together. 

However, as they turned the corner, they came face to face with a group of rough-looking boys standing by their motorcycles, wearing jackets with a biker gang marks on their clothes. Behind them, clinging onto the boys' arms, were none other than Mika and her two lackeys.

The girls could easily guess what this was about and Anzu's heart skipped a beat in fear, but she forced herself to stay calm. Beside her, Yuki and Mei stiffened, their eyes widening in fear and Anzu could easily tell that they were far more scared than her.

"What the hell do you want?" Anzu asked, her voice steady despite the fear growing inside her.

Mika smirked, her expression cold and full of malice. She rubbed her cheek, still red from Anzu's slap earlier. "Teach this girl a lesson, baby, This is the bitch that slapped me!" she spat, looking at the biggest of the boys, her voice filled with venom.

The biker boys grinned, their eyes gleaming like predators sizing up their prey. "Oh, we'll teach her alright," one of them sneered, cracking his knuckles as he stepped forward. The lecherous gaze they had on their faces was enough to send chills through Anzu's spine, and she wanted to shout and run away.

"Stay away!" Anzu muttered ready to shout, asking for help but something unexpected happened.

Before any of them could make a move, there was a sudden blur of motion. In an instant, all the boys were slammed to the ground, pinned by men in black suits who appeared out of nowhere. The girls blinked in shock as the scene unfolded in front of them.

It wasn't just the boy, but the girls were also pinned to the ground without any shred of mercy.

"What the—?" one of the bikers tried to struggle, but the man holding him down tightened his grip. "Who are you? Let me go! Do you know who I am?"He kept shouting in anger, trying to break free.

"Miss, please get into the car," one of the men in black said to Anzu, his voice calm but firm.

Anzu didn't hesitate. She grabbed Yuki and Mei by the arms, pulling them toward the sleek black car that was parked nearby. The girls, still in shock, didn't resist. They climbed into the back seat, their hearts pounding as the door shut behind them.

The car sped off, leaving the bikers and the popular girls behind, but the atmosphere inside was thick with fear. Yuki and Mei exchanged nervous glances, while Anzu stared straight ahead, trying to calm the wild beating of her heart.

"W-Who were those guys?" Yuki finally whispered, her voice trembling. "Why did they help us?"

Anzu hesitated. She had never told her friends much about her home life, but after what just happened, she couldn't hide the truth anymore. "They… they work for my mom's new boyfriend," she said quietly. "He's rich, so I always have guards following me around."

Yuki and Mei looked at her in surprise. "Rich? Like… really rich?" Mei asked, trying to process what she just heard.

Anzu nodded, though her expression darkened. "Yeah. But I don't like it. I hate being followed everywhere. It makes me feel like I'm some kind of prisoner, but it looks like we were saved because of that."

Before her friends could say anything more, Anzu noticed something strange. The car wasn't heading toward her usual route home. Frowning, she leaned forward and asked the driver, "Where are we going?"

The driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror, his face unreadable. "I'm taking you to a safehouse outside Tokyo. It's for your protection, Miss Anzu."

Anzu's heart sank. "What about those boys? What's going to happen to them?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

The driver's answer was blunt. "They're as good as dead. No one gets away with trying to harm you."

Anzu's blood ran cold. "W-What? You're going to kill them?"

The driver shook his head. "No, the president won't go that far. They're just kids, so he'll let them off with a warning. But they won't be causing any more trouble."

Anzu didn't know whether to feel relieved or more frightened. What kind of world am I living in now? She thought to herself.

The car finally stopped, and the door opened. Anzu stepped out, followed by Yuki and Mei, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw who was waiting for them.

Ryo.

Standing in front of a traditional-looking house just outside the city, Ryo looked calm but his eyes were sharp, scanning Anzu from head to toe the moment she got out of the car. Without a word, he strode over to her and grabbed her arms gently, checking her for any injuries.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice low and concerned.

Anzu blinked, momentarily stunned by how much he reminded her of her real father, Kamiya, in that moment. The way he used to fuss over her when she was hurt, the same protective look in his eyes.

"I-I'm fine," she stammered, not used to seeing Ryo like this.

Ryo pulled her into a quick, firm hug, holding her close for a second before letting go, as if realizing he had crossed a line. He cleared his throat awkwardly and stepped back. "Good," he muttered, regaining his composure. "Now, follow me inside."

The girls exchanged nervous glances, but they followed Ryo into the house. They could tell by the way he carried himself that he wasn't just some random stranger—they knew now that he was Anzu's father, even if she hadn't told them directly.

Once inside, Ryo motioned for them to sit down. "What happened back there?" he asked, his tone serious as he looked at Anzu.

Before Anzu could answer, Yuki, summoning all her courage, spoke up. "It's my fault," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I was being bullied, and Anzu was protecting me. That's why Mika and her friends went after her. I'm sorry. It's because of me."

Ryo listened in silence, his eyes closed as he processed Yuki's words. After a moment, he sighed and rubbed his temples. "Those boys belong to the Kurosaki family," he said finally. "Even if they're not officially part of the family, having that name is enough to cause trouble."

"The Kurosaki family?" Mei asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ryo nodded. "And my family—Harada—has been avoiding conflict with them for a long time. A fight between Yakuza families doesn't just burn the streets, it burns the entire city from the inside out."

At the mention of "Yakuza," Yuki and Mei froze. They had heard about them before, but now hearing it from Ryo's mouth, the weight of the word hit them hard.

"But don't worry," Ryo added, sensing their fear. "I'm not directly involved with the Yakuza, at least not anymore. Just stay cautious, and you'll be safe."

Anzu, who had been quiet this whole time, finally spoke up. "What's going to happen to those boys?" she asked again, her voice small but determined.

Ryo looked at her, then at Yuki and Mei. "I'll drop the two of you home first," he said, standing up. "Anzu, you should go home too. Akemi will start to worry."

But before that Ryo noticed that Yuki was looking rather guilty and anxious, so he had to talk with her. "It's not your fault. I'm glad Anzu helped you when you were being bullied. It makes me happy that she is there for her friends when they need her. You don't need to worry about anything. I will take care of this problem,"

The two girls nodded gratefully, but as Anzu stood up to follow them, she paused. She glanced back at Ryo, as if there was something she wanted to say but couldn't. Her lips parted, but no words came out. Finally, she turned away and left without saying anything.

Ryo watched her go, his expression unreadable as a heavy silence filled the room. Once they were gone, he stood alone, deep in thought. How much longer can I keep avoiding this dangerous world? Maybe I should just destroy everything before they drag me deep into this hell?