Talks with the Gyudo Homeless Association (2)

"I'm back! Huh? Did they leave already?" Yuji Futakao asked as he stepped into the kitchen, his hands filled with shopping bags, trailed by several staff members including Yinhaie.

"Yeah, they headed out not too long ago. I gave them lunch too. Now, can you help me with this? I want to make something for them to eat when they return," Kohana Futakao replied, her tone light and playful.

Yuji exhaled and set the plastic bags down on the counter. His eyes moved to where the crib had been placed, right on the line separating the kitchen and dining room. Inside was their newborn, Himari, sleeping soundly. Kohana had clearly dragged it there to keep an eye on the baby while staying close to the stove.

"You should really just take it easy," Yuji said, his voice carrying a note of exasperation. He glanced at the various ingredients spread out on the counter, already sensing how much work she had planned.

Kohana laughed softly, brushing aside his concern with a small wave of her hand. "You and your son are the same. Always fussing over me. Don't worry so much. I'm on leave, so I'll rest when I need to. For now, I want to spend some time with Himari and make something nice."

Yuji exhaled deeply once more, his shoulders lowering as he motioned for the staff to assist the others. He walked over to where his wife stood, observing her quietly for a moment before moving to where Himari lay. The newborn rested without disturbance, her breathing soft and even.

Yuji's brow furrowed slightly as he considered how she could sleep so soundly despite the racket around her. The thought lingered briefly before something clicked in his mind. That day, it wasn't just Shiva's blessing that had been bestowed upon her. Amaterasu and Hakufubuki had granted their favor as well. Three divine blessings in total. Whatever those blessings entailed, they seemed to include shielding her from distractions like this. Her peaceful rest was a testament to their power.

He sighed again, this time with a trace of warmth, as he gently brushed his hand over her fine hair. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "You've got a lot of strong guardians watching over you. Let's hope we don't end up spoiling you too much," he murmured in a tone meant just for her.

After a few quiet moments by her side, Yuji straightened and walked toward the commotion of the kitchen. The preparations for dinner awaited his attention, and he knew Yasushi and the others would return in high spirits. Their past successes made him confident that tonight would be no different.

+-+

"What the hell is this?" Akazuki said, his expression locked in disbelief.

The rest of the Gyudo Homeless Association sat in uneasy silence, their attention glued to the large projection displayed before them. The quantum AI projector had produced a video, devoid of sound but accompanied by auto-generated subtitles that painted a grim picture.

On the screen, familiar faces of homeless individuals they had encountered over the years appeared, alongside members of various minority groups. The footage depicted them being subjected to horrifying treatment. One of the councilmen, Koudo Ryuke, was shown using a homeless man as a makeshift chair. His actions carried an air of smugness that required no audio to be understood.

"Look at these worthless pigs, can't even stand up for themselves," Koudo's subtitle read. "Someone get me a whip for that black one!"

The scene continued, showing other council members engaging in similar acts. The individuals being exploited were of various racial and ethnic backgrounds, treated not as human beings but as tools for amusement. Their tormentors exhibited both cruelty and blatant bigotry, making no effort to mask their disdain.

The video transitioned to a new recording, this time with audio included. The setting appeared to be a social gathering, perhaps a celebration or party. The scene was suffused with blatant acts of racism and other horrific behavior. The mistreatment extended not only to homeless individuals but also to minors and people of various racial and ethnic backgrounds, all subjected to degrading and inhumane actions.

The footage cut to a segment showing the councilmen seated at an elaborate dining table, joined by others who appeared to belong to the upper echelons of society. The atmosphere suggested casual conversation as they ate, but their words revealed darker intentions.

"You know," Hiyama Kageyama, one of the councilmen, began, "that Futakao kid has been poking around, trying to improve the situation for the homeless in our city. He's working with that Gyudo Homeless Association. I think it's time we put out a hit on both of them. Maybe take care of his family while we're at it — they've got that new kid too."

Another councilman, Inuga Sensenai, chimed in without hesitation. "I couldn't agree more!" she declared. Her tone carried unrestrained enthusiasm as she raised her glass. "Everything's been fine the way it is for years. The money we rake in gets used for nights like this!" Her words were met with laughter and cheers from the others seated around the table.

More and more video clips kept stacking up, adding to the growing pile of incriminating evidence. When the last one played out, they shut it off and prepared another list. This one, however, outlined the specific crimes tied to the councilmen.

Misappropriated funds: Detailed records showed money earmarked for homeless shelters and housing initiatives being funneled into personal accounts.

Fabricated contracts: Documents revealed inflated bids on city projects that were awarded to companies linked to the councilmen's friends or relatives.

Bribery records: Evidence surfaced of substantial and unexplained transactions flowing from contractors to the councilmen.

Warehouse leases: Papers connected the councilmen to properties used to store and distribute illegal substances.

Encrypted messages: Logs of emails and text exchanges outlined coordination efforts for trafficking operations.

Police involvement: Payment records exposed bribes to law enforcement officials who turned a blind eye to drug-related activities.

Exploitation of workers: Employment records uncovered the use of undocumented laborers, who were paid less than legally mandated and forced to endure harsh living conditions, all while tied to businesses owned by the councilmen.

Transport logs: Documented evidence traced the movement of trafficked individuals to locations under the councilmen's control.

Hidden facilities: Blueprints or photographs revealing covert locations tied to illegal operations.

Discriminatory policies: Documents exposing zoning laws deliberately crafted to disadvantage minority communities.

Hate group ties: Evidence of council members participating in or financially supporting organizations with racist ideologies.

Suppressed funding: Records demonstrating a deliberate refusal to allocate resources for schools or programs in neighborhoods with predominantly minority populations.

Private meeting logs: Proof of minors being brought to private events organized by council members.

Illegal media: Discovery of explicit content connected to devices owned by the council members.

Witness testimony: Accounts from survivors or whistleblowers shedding light on abuse and misconduct.

Intimidation records: Emails or messages used to threaten or silence witnesses and whistleblowers.

Destroyed evidence: Indications of deliberate efforts to erase digital or physical records.

Media manipulation: Payments made to suppress unfavorable news reports or create fabricated positive coverage.

As Yasushi finished reciting the list, the silence in the room deepened. The association members exchanged uncertain glances, hesitant to break the tension. That was when Kotaro finally spoke. 

"Kotaro Korohgi. That's the name I gave myself when I had to, though I was born without a family name. My story... I want you to hear it." His voice cut through the air, forcing the group to focus entirely on him.

He rose from his seat, the anger and sorrow in his expression enough to leave no doubt about the weight of the emotions he was holding back. The truth he had uncovered felt like a jagged wound, one he couldn't let heal until he spoke.

"I've lived in this city my whole life. I loved it here. But a few years back, everything fell apart. My family hit a wall we couldn't climb over. At first, we held on, tried to make things work. But it became too much." His words slowed as he reached the next part, his chest rising sharply as he took in air. "Both of my parents... they worked themselves to death. I was left alone, just me, with nothing and no one to turn to."

"I didn't have any close family members who could take me in. The ones who might have been able to help lived overseas, and none of them were willing to come back for me. That's how I ended up living on the streets," he said, his tone showing the exhaustion of recounting it. "Eventually, a homeless shelter gave me the chance to survive, and I worked my way up. I managed to secure a scholarship, and now I'm studying at the college I always dreamed of attending."

He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts, then went on, "During all that time, while I was out there trying to stay alive, I kept hoping those people in power would step in and do something. I waited and waited, but nothing ever happened. It's taken me a long time to realize they never cared. They're too rotten to the core to do anything good. And now…I want to see them behind bars for everything they've done."

He placed his hand over his chest, as if steadying himself, then continued with conviction, "What we witnessed today — it was inhuman. I couldn't have imagined people were capable of such cruelty. But with your support, and with Jingliu's and Xinyi's help, we have the chance to start making things right — starting here and now."

Kotaro had kept certain truths to himself. Some parts of his life were too raw to share. He hadn't told them about the days when finding food meant rummaging through trash. He let others have the better scraps — families with small children, people who needed it more than he did. It wasn't much, but it felt like the right thing to do.

Being homeless made him an easy target. People chased him away for no other reason than the fact that he had nowhere to go. He hadn't hurt anyone. He didn't mess around with drugs or act cruelly. Yet, they treated him like he had done something unforgivable, like his entire existence was some kind of crime.

He didn't think it was fair. None of this was something he deserved. Life had gone wrong in ways he couldn't control, one disaster piling on top of the next. Still, he held on. He tried to survive, to keep moving forward. But when he uncovered the truth, everything crumbled. The councilmen who had the power to help, who had the resources to make things better, were the ones who had let it all rot. They had chosen their greed over everything else, leaving people like him to struggle alone.

Anger boiled inside him. They deserved the suffering he'd endured. They deserved every harsh night, every hungry day, every moment of hopelessness. But he also knew the cost of acting on that rage. He couldn't afford to throw his life away over them.

So, he forced himself to settle down, clamping down on the storm raging within. Then he felt hands pressing on his shoulders. He glanced at them and saw Sakura on one side and Nandini on the other. Though the members of the Gyudo Homeless Association didn't seem to pick up on it, Nandini and Yasushi clearly could — he was radiating an overwhelming intensity, something close to bloodlust.

If he allowed it to keep building, it would only make things worse for him. Sakura, sensing the oppressive energy around him, couldn't help but feel for him. She understood enough of his past to recognize the weight of what he carried. Rising from her seat, she tried to offer some form of comfort, a quiet presence to remind him he wasn't alone in this moment.

After the brief outburst, Kotaro sank back into his chair, his head bowing low. He looked drained, yet the anger in him hadn't burned out entirely.

"Now that our society member has let it out," Yasushi began, his voice even and measured, "how do you want to handle this? We've got enough evidence to bury them if we go through legal channels — with the police and our lawyers. Or, if you'd prefer, we can explore less conventional methods. The choice is yours."

Elyshia Kapado, who had remained mostly silent up to this point, broke her silence and asked, "It might be smarter to go the legal route. But do you have full confirmation that the police aren't involved with them?"

"Yes, we're sure they aren't," Yasushi replied. "We've worked with them a number of times. We've even stayed on decent terms with them since high school. Sure, there's always one or two bad ones, but the current group isn't like that." He spoke with an ease that suggested experience, and Nandini nodded along to his words.

"Well, if you've looked into this, we'll trust what you're saying," Elyshia replied, her tone cautious but open. "The next question is timing. When do we want to make our move? I know you two are still in college, so we'll need to pick a time when—"

Yasushi cut her off with a raised hand. "Don't worry about that. College won't get in the way. The sooner we hand this over, the better."

After a pause that lasted just long enough to feel noticeable, Kyousuke exhaled, his tone measured as he said, "We'll handle this and bring it to the police. I get it — you're probably going to be suspicious. So, how about having her come with us?" He tilted his head toward Nandini without hesitation.

Yasushi didn't see her as his secretary. In fact, the thought of attaching a title to her had never crossed his mind. She had simply been Nandini, the one Shiva had sent to assist him. Whether she would remain by his side for the long term or not, he had no idea. The thought had never solidified into a question.

Nandini, however, showed no reaction to the implied title. Instead, she nodded in agreement, her tone calm and matter-of-fact as she said, "That's exactly what I would have recommended. We're working toward the same goal, so it's better if I'm there to make sure nothing goes sideways."

The conversation carried on from there, diving deeper into the evidence and points they had presented. Their discussion stretched out over the next couple of hours, punctuated by a brief pause during the last half-hour to share a small meal and recharge.

+-+

"Were you happy with how it went?" Nandini asked, her voice clear as the group left the building behind them.

The plan was to bring the evidence to the authorities the next day. Nandini and the association would be handling the details, though they had also agreed it was safer to keep the evidence in their possession for now.

"I'm good with it. Let's hope things actually start moving in the right direction," Kotaro said, his tone calm.

"I didn't even get to do anything..." Yunxue muttered, her steps dragging as she followed behind.

"It went well, and we were all on the same page. I'd call that a win. Tomorrow is what matters now," Sakura replied, her head nodding slightly as if to affirm her point.

Yasushi reached out and placed his hand on Yunxue's head, ruffling her hair gently. "Yeah, it went alright. But we'll see how it all plays out tomorrow. I'll leave the rest to you, Nandini," he said, turning his attention to her.

"Understood. You can count on me," Nandini responded, her tone steady.

When they reached the intersection, the group split up. Yasushi and his companions headed toward his home, while Kotaro and Sakura went off in a different direction, walking side by side.