Chapter 64: Black Letter
"A-n-y-w-a-y... Saku-chun, considering I lent you my phone, I think it's only reasonable to ask for a small favor in return~..." Shiyon proposed as the minivan wove through the scenic route toward Atami's Onsen Resort.
"And that would be...?" Yuuto prompted, his curiosity piqued as he leaned in from his perch by the window.
"Just a bit of friendly sharing~," Shiyon responded with a mischievous grin, crafting an air of innocence, "A minor exchange among pals <3."
"Which involves...?" Yuuto pressed, signaling Shiyon to cut to the chase.
"Ara~! Not denying our friendship, I see," Shiyon teased, a glint of amusement in his eye.
"Tsk, out with it, Harvester." Yuuto urged, a mix of exasperation and casualness in his tone.
The minivan was momentarily filled with the sound of a soft whistle from the front.
Hiyori observed, "You know... He's seemed much more subdued since that conversation with Takacchi... Quite the change."
Shun nodded, "Yeah, he's been quieter. Guess he's still feeling guilty about the whole thing with Takagi. It'll pass."
Hiyori, visibly perplexed, countered, "Why act like it's a negative? He's far more bearable this way. As long as Takacchi's okay, I'm gonna thank her once we return,"
Sato interjected with a chuckle, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves... Whatever things were said outside the minivan were between them,"
'That bridge troll doesn't even try to hide her voice,' Yuuto thought. His focus momentarily diverted before it snapped back to Shiyon who was eagerly awaiting his query.
"So, what I'm curious about is... Saku-chun, where did you go to school? Before you came to our humble INK?"
'Humble, he says,' Yuuto, Hiyori, Sato, Shun, and Chiyoko thought to themselves,
Shiyon's question resonated through the minivan, turning heads.
Shun mused, "Huh, never thought to ask him that."
Hiyori scoffed, "Does it matter? I feel as if pretty much any place would flunk that guy twice."
Chiyoko, concerned, queried, "Was it somewhere... problematic?"
Sato reassured with a smile, "No need to worry, Chiyo. Sakurai-senpai's past or where he came from doesn't define him. Right?"
Chiyoko, still puzzled, accepted, "I suppose..."
Hiyori shrugged off her curiosity, "Eh, doesn't really matter to me."
After a small sigh, thinking 'Oh well,' to himself, Yuuto then disclosed, albeit reluctantly,
"...Blue Envelope Private School,"
Shiyon pondered aloud, intrigued, "Hooo...?"
Hiyori jumped in, "Wait, I know that place. Isn't it just a fancy school for snobs? Sakurai, that's too much of an obvious lie. No way you actually came from those elitists,"
"Oh? You wanna compare grades, mountain yeti?" Yuuto snapped back, quick and sharp.
"What!? You really wanna show off how much you suck...!?" Hiyori bit back, her tone a mix of amusement and challenge.
"Ah... Haha..." Shun awkwardly chimed in, drawing the group's attention, Shiyon excluded.
"Actually, uh... Sakurai kinda saved me and Riko more than once with his notes for tests when we were clueless... And, uh, I never really outscored him, so..." Shun admitted, scratching his head. "So yeah, him being from there isn't that weird,"
" 'We'?" Yuuto interjected, catching Shun off guard, "Wrong, cuck. It was just you scrambling for notes. Cuckold-maker did fine, pretty much on par with me. You were the only D-Lister among us."
"Y-you didn't have to put it that way... And, I mean, Riko and I always hit the books together, so it's kinda like we both needed your notes..."
"S-Seriously...?!" Hiyori blurted out, taken aback by the revelation of Yuuto's hidden smarts.
In the midst of the lively exchange, Shiyon found himself silently watching Yuuto, taking in what he revealed with a thoughtful gaze. After a moment, he let out a sigh, a shrug lifting his shoulders before he relaxed back into his seat, resigning himself to the observer's role once again.
As the energy in the minivan simmered down and everyone found their calm, Yuuto turned his attention back to the window, letting his gaze drift over the night landscape passing by.
'...It's not like I have to tell them the truth anyway,' he mused to himself, his fist clenching his silence.
Meanwhile...
"The 46th of Water-Bottle Street... We made it, this is the mixer!" Minoru exclaimed with a mix of relief and excitement as they arrived at the entrance of the venue.
"Sweet! Maybe I'll finally catch up with my senpai here too," Sendo replied, his voice filled with hope.
As they approached the door, with the scary-looking bouncer, Minoru executed his secretly-thought plan.
"Just so you know, this guy with me is actually 15. He can't come in," Minoru casually mentioned to the bouncer.
"W-What..?! Dude, why'd you do dat!?" Sendo protested, taken aback as the bouncer immediately blocked his path, asking for identification.
"That's for laying your hands on me earlier. Honestly, I'm not here for you or your senpai. I just wanted to head home early. You helped me do just that, so, that's good I guess. I honestly don't give a rat's ass about you or your situation though," Minoru confessed, his gaze cold.
"Yah, here ya' go, sir," Sendo said politely, showed his ID to the bouncer, who confirmed his underage status.
"H-HEY!! LISTEN TO ME!!" Minoru shouted, his cold expression breaking as he was trying to grab Sendo's attention, which was firmly locked on the bouncer.
"Sorry, kid, you're too young for this place. We only allow 16 and up, even if you're not here for the alcohol," the bouncer informed Sendo, handing back his ID with a firm tone.
"Ahhh damn it..." Sendo said to the mixer with a pout, before turning to Minoru, "My bad, didn't catch it. But looks like I'm stuck outside now, huh? What should I do?" Sendo lamented, stranded at the entrance as he faced Minoru again.
Minoru sighed deeply, his frustration fading to resignation.
"...To be honest, I believed you being just 15 after a bit... And... I was starting to get used to you. Thought you were just another troublemaker scumbag at first.. Well, I was wrong. Good for you. But this is where we part ways. I'm here for someone specific, see that they're doing okay and dip home. You're not a terrible guy, really (Despite how you look like an NTR antagonist). Hope you manage to find your senpai or whatever you're looking for..." Minoru said as he waved Sendo goodbye as he walked in.
"H-HEY!! What about dat mafioso boss!!!? Don't just leave; let me help ya' out!!" Sendo called out, his voice booming past the bouncer, full of determination.
'This kid... He actually bought that nonsense of a story..? How gullible can someone get...' Minoru thought, a mix of amusement and disbelief flashing across his face as he glanced back at Sendo.
"There's no mafioso boss-..." Minoru began, his intent to dispel the lie clear, but he paused, catching the sincere concern in Sendo's eyes.
"...I'll handle it on my own. It's my problem, not yours. Just... Uh... Don't die, alright? And apologize to that waitress for me, would you?" he finished, a hint of genuine feeling sneaking into his voice.
'Tsch... Why did I even entertain that story... That bastard's just too honest...' Minoru pondered, a trace of irritation in his thoughts as he made his way into the mixer joint, leaving Sendo behind, now left to figure out his next steps on his own.
'...You just can't survive doing that all the time...'
Inside the mixer room...
Sakura loomed just above him, the room awash with an eerie nonchalance, punctuated only by Gon's shattered self-esteem and the background noise of their companions' moans as they were being played with by Yuuno's associates.
'I've... Never really looked at her closely before, but... wow... she's pretty,' Konro found himself thinking as Sakura's breath warmed his face, her eyes seemingly sparkling with desire.
'What... What were we even arguing about...?' His mind scrambled to remember his initial reservations. The worry that she might be affected by something faded, replaced by a growing sense of desire and bewilderment as he got lost in Sakura's eyes.
'So, this is what he meant... Power...? But, is power... is it wrong to feel this way...?' He pondered, speechless as he gazed up at her.
"Y-Yukie... Senpai.." She whispered again, her voice soft.
"W-what..?" His reply was just as hushed, his voice trembling.
"This is... strange... I- I think... Something's not right..." Her words were fragmented, barely making sense.
Sakura: 'What's happening to me...? My thoughts... they're all over the place since that smoke... And yet...' Her attention drifted to Miki and the others, their interactions with Yuuno's group leaving her breathless and confused.
As she watched, her breathing became labored, her mind a whirlpool of disjointed thoughts as she squeezed her thighs shut, a certain feeling building up in her lower torso as her sight filled with Miki and her friend's pleasure, the sound of their moans and the scent of that tobacco.
'I'm... s-scared... It feels like I'm slipping away...? But... somehow, it seems... inviting...' Her thoughts were in turmoil as she observed, torn between fear... And lust.
Her focus then shifted back to Konro, underneath her, looking up in astonishment.
'Actually... I never really considered Yukie-san that way before... But now... He doesn't seem so bad... This might be okay... Right...? It's not as if... I'm with someone...' Her thoughts trailed off, her eyelids growing heavy as she leaned closer to him, the last thing she saw being Konro's stunned expression, before their faces drew nearer.
'She's not herself... Something's wrong... I'm aware of that, yet... Isn't this okay for now...? They're just Yuuno's friends... We're in no danger... Maybe it's okay to relax a bit... Like that guy said, right...?'
Konro reasoned with himself, his eyes gently closing as Sakura's face hovered closer. Their lips were barely a breath apart as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
'Hugging someone like that... Feels so nice...'
------FLASHBACK------
I was a scumbag.
Konro: "We're doing whatever we WANT, got it?"
"W-Why!? I wasn't bothering anyone! On.. What right do you-" The student protested, his voice shaky from pain, bruises marring his skin and blood trickling from his lip as he slumped on the ground, utterly overpowered.
"What right? The right of being stronger. Got an issue? Stand up to me. Or maybe go snitch to your mom, rather than just our pathetic teachers next time. Oh, that's right, she's like, super dead, isn't she? Want a lift to her grave?"
Empathy wasn't my strong suit, especially not at INK. My world revolved solely around my circle, and I couldn't care less about anyone else's suffering. I only minded my own pleasure and fun. INK was that sort of place, where apathy thrived.
Konro: "What's the matter? Surprised, are you? This is what you get for keeping someone so fucking hot like her all to yourself," he boasted, the girl clinging to his side, casting her gaze downward in resignation, while her ex-boyfriend stared in disbelief.
"Please... you said you wouldn't hurt him... Let's just go...?" she barely whispered, unable to meet her ex's eyes.
Konro: "Oh, come on, you're better off now without that limpdick. Admit it, you're relieved to be rid of him, right? Unlike him, I'm not afraid to show you off. I can be the protection he never was."
Maybe I was already a deadbeat bastard before I went to school, like my dad... But INK nurtured a culture of taking—be it possessions or people. And I kept going along with it.
...Because I just kept getting what I wanted.
And it felt good.
Every time I think about what I did back then, I can't help but laugh my ass off at my younger self. We were just kids... Having a girlfriend or taking something that wasn't yours, for a kid, was more about clout than anything sexual or because you actually needed it. It was a status symbol, proof of your popularity, your capability...
...Your strength.
So yeah, I get what the guy in the mixer is saying.
I might have even agreed if I was that same kid...
But then, HE showed me something...
"A-ANIKI!!! WHY!? I didn't make her do anything she didn't want to!" Konro burst out, confused and upset.
Shiyon: "Kon-chun, we've moved past that life. Right now, the best thing is for you two to part ways," he stated plainly.
"Why? I can look after her! Why can't I be with her!!? With that limpdick of a boyfriend of hers, she was practically ripe for the taking!"
"Kon-chun, truly strong people don't 'take' because they don't need to. Strength isn't about claiming someone as if they're a prize."
Konro frowned, yet still willing ot hear out Shiyon.
"To be strong is to protect, not possess. It's about making the hard choices that uplift others. That's real strength," Shiyon concluded,
"But... Why!? That way, you're not getting anything for yourself if you do that!! You'll just be left swimming in shit while everyone step on you!" Konro argued.
"Hehe~... I'll promise you this. If you do what is right and 'good', chances are you will attain something much better than whatever you'll receive if you just do what you want," Shiyon said with a smile.
"..."
At first, I pegged him as full of crap. Figured Sendo-kun just messed with his brain and turned our leader into a total pushover. Not keen on getting a lecture or my ass kicked, I did as he said – broke it off with her, told her she could crawl back to her boyfriend. Just like he wanted, I stayed clear of them, even played their guardian angel when things got rough and others wanted a piece of her or him.
I was on my last straw. For two months, I was fed up with Aniki, thinking he'd turned into a complete softie. I was choking on my own frustration, itching to lay into that wimp of a boyfriend, to snatch whatever caught my eye once more, and just making an effort into keeping it a secret. Because after all that time, it seemed like Aniki's spiel was just bullshit from some kids' storybook.
But then...
[SELIN SORAL - ETHEREAL]
"H-here..." She offered, a bit awkward, holding out a single chocolate from a box crammed with them.
"...? What's this for? I didn't ask for any damn chocolate. Just bugger off back to your boyfriend..." I scoffed, not hiding my annoyance.
"I know you didn't ask... This is just... my way of saying thanks."
"...Thanks for what?" I asked, feeling the weight of the chocolate in my hand.
"For leaving us be... And not just that, you even kept the others at bay... That was... kind of you. So... thanks," she said before turning to leave.
"...Thanks...?" I echoed, staring at the chocolate, completely thrown.
"Kind...? Me?"
I wasn't really into her, not even after what she did. But... that was the first time anyone gave me chocolate. The taste was bitter, probably because it was dark chocolate. She was a diet nut, after all. Yet... It was tastier than everything I ever ate...
I locked myself in the bathroom and just cried, holding the chocolate wrap tightly in my hand.
Once I pulled myself together... I got a glimpse of what Aniki was getting at. Doing the right thing, holding back... There's a chance it will never pay off...
...And that's exactly why it means everything when it finally does pay off...
...And that's when I decided...
To be truly strong...
Just like Aniki!
----------------------
Just as Sakura's lips were about to meet Konro's, he pulled away, gently guiding her head to rest against his chest instead.
With his own head tilted back, he caught a glimpse of Gon sitting close by, his posture slumped, a look of utter defeat etched across his face.
Konro let out a sigh, his expression a mix of resolve and confusion, as he addressed Gon.
"Hey, Gon. Don't you die on me now. The girls are obviously on drugs, made by these pricks. It's time we teach these assholes a lesson for messing with our mates. Aniki will kick our asses if we didn't beat these fuckers up," he said, his voice steady and determined.
"What...?" The smoker reacted, taken aback by Konro's sudden shift in attitude.
Gon's breath caught as Konro's assertive voice reached him, his gaze fixed on the ground.
Lifting his head, Gon met Konro's stare, seeing the unmistakable gleam of confidence in his best friend's eyes. "...Dumbass!!! I was just waiting for you to come to your senses already!! As INK's second in command...!!" Gon exclaimed, a glimmer of hope returning to his eyes. With renewed vigor, he launched his fist, connecting with one of Yuuno's associates, "...I need my FUCKING subordinates SHARP!!!" He roared, as he flew over to the other couch of the mixer. All their eyes turning to them, stopping their actions on the girls that came with them,
"Haha, sure thing, buddy..." Konro replied, letting out a sigh as he carefully moved Sakura aside.
"H-huh...?" Sakura's voice was faint, confusion laced with dizziness as she gently slid from Konro's embrace onto the couch.
"Sorry, Takagi. Just hang on a little longer. We're going to get everyone home safe," he whispered, offering her a reassuring look before rising to his feet to stand shoulder to shoulder with Gon.
"Time to teach these fuckdicks a lesson! They're about to find out what happens when you mess with INK!" Gon declared, his determination palpable as he adopted a fighting stance, ready to defend their own.
The men burst into laughter, unfazed and relaxed despite the tension.
Konro and Gon were on edge, the atmosphere charged with a foreboding sense of unease.
The man Gon had hit just stood up, brushing off the impact with a chuckle, "Shit... That surprised me..." he commented, casually rubbing his cheek as he got back on his feet, leaving Gon astounded. "W-what!!? I hit that ASSFUCK as hard as I could!!" Gon blurted out, disbelief etching his voice.
"...So, that's the choice you made, Yukie?" The man queried, extinguishing his cigarette while eyeing the duo with a calm demeanor.
"Yeah... I forgot I made that choice a few years ago, so I'll need to beat myself up when we get out of here. With a whip."
"...I'll help, fucker." Gon offered, his sincerity unmistakable.
"Oi," Konro uttered, a resigned expression crossing his face as he briefly met Gon's gaze.
"Haaah... And here I thought I saw something special in ya'. Oh well," the man remarked, as all the thugs stood ready to confront them.
"We can't really let you go if you're so against my... Suggestion," the man ominously stated, with two of his men already moving to block the door.
"Don't worry. We also have something for guys... You'll definitely forget everything that happened here... I hope for you that will be all that happens to you after that, though," he added, with a sinister undertone as the others sneered in anticipation.
They began to close in,
"Why are you doing this!? Aren't you Aniki's bro's friends!!?" Konro yelled, his defiance peaking.
"...Heh. That guy... Doesn't have anything to do with us. Just a little snot who calls himself our chum. Thinks himself on our level. He's amusing, so we let him clown around amongst us," the smoker revealed with confidence.
'So, they're not related...!?' Konro's mind raced as he scanned the encroaching men.
"Now, then, INK - huh? They're the last four years' King of all schools, right? With Shiyon Michaels, "The Samurai" As their boss, who never lost a fight, tears through every school boss like they were paper in front of a sharp sword." The smoker boasted,
"SCARED!!!? That's too late for you DICK FUCKS!! WE'RE THE SECOND AND THIRD IN COMMAND AFTER ANIKI, ANIKI'S BRO AND SENDO-KUN!! YOU STAND NO CHANCE!!" Gon shouted, defiance blazing in his eyes.
'That's barely even threatening... But... Even I can say...'
'...We're pretty strong.' Konro's thoughts solidified, his resolve hardening as they stood united.
"Hm..." The man exhaled, casting his gaze upwards as if in contemplation, a momentary pause in the charged atmosphere.
"...I suppose, to the other kids, and even some grown-ups, you two might seem pretty intimidating..."
His words trailed off as he brought his attention back down, locking eyes with Konro and Gon once more, his demeanor shifting back to one of nonchalance.
"But the place we graduated from was..."
"Black Letter."
As the words "Black Letter" sliced through the tension-filled air, a palpable shroud of dread descended upon Konro and Gon.
---------------
"Listen up, you guys," Shiyon said, his gaze sharpening, his voice dropping to a serious, compelling tone.
"Above all, steer clear of Black Letter."
Konro and Gon couldn't contain their laughter. "Ease up, Aniki! We're solid with our school's new code! You don't have to spook us with some campfire ghost story." Gon said, trying to lighten the mood, while Konro nodded in agreement, his grin echoing his friend's sentiment.
"Yeah, maybe ditch the fairy tale stuff for something real—" Konro began, but Shiyon wasn't having any of it. His voice surged, slicing through the air.
"I'M DEAD SERIOUS," Shiyon insisted, the sheer force in his gaze quenching their laughter. They fell silent, suddenly aware of the seriousness Shiyon was bringing to the table, and paid close attention to what he had to say next.
"If you ever find yourselves at a crossroad, ignore everything I've taught you if it means steering clear of Black Letter. Leave it all behind. It's that critical. Do you understand?" He urged, holding their shoulders with a firm, unyielding grip, his eyes conveying a deep, almost panicked concern,
"Those stories you've been dismissing—about their involvement in a governor's assassination, their takeover of a military base, their ability to control minds and manipulate bodies from afar, reducing people to mere shells of themselves, turning the closest of friends into sworn enemies, mastering combat in all its forms, and driving individuals to commit filicide..."
"...Are all true."
Back then, Gon and I, thinking Aniki was overdoing his usual scare tactics, simply nodded along. We always took his lessons to heart, assuming this was another extreme method to instill discipline.
But witnessing the girls' behavior tonight, and hearing those ominous words about having something "for guys too"...
Shit...
I think this is the real deal...
What hell have we got into...? Do we run, and ditch the girls like he said...!?
As Konro and Gon stood cornered, fists clenched, the tension spiked with the encroaching menace of their opponents.
'Is this how it ends...?' Konro's mind raced, bracing for the inevitable clash as the adversaries drew menacingly close.
Suddenly, a detached voice sliced through the tension, emanating from behind the smoker.
"Black Letter graduates, huh?" The words floated with an effortless coolness. The smoker's confidence faltered, his eyes wide with disbelief, as he spun around in alarm.
"...So, does that mean I should start calling you guys 'Senpais'?" The voice continued, tinged with mocking humor. Before the man could process the newcomer's face, he found himself unceremoniously sprawled on the floor, bewildered by his sudden downfall.
'Did I... trip?' His mind scrambled for an explanation as he caught sight of a figure with silver hair gliding past him and his companions...
...and past Konro and Gon, straight to Sakura - who laid dizzy on the mixer's sofa.
"Hey, Sakura. Time to head home," Minoru declared, his tone both assured and nonchalant, as if the tense standoff around him was nothing but a mild inconvenience.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Hazy_0832
Hazy_0832 PHEW! Another LONG ONE!!
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