"So, what's your plan? ", Ren asked when they all were finally convinced that Gaso was no threat.
The man nonchalantly flicked his cigarette into the ash tray. They all were gathering at Nao's workplace. At first, Mai-chan, who was in charge of the restaurant that day, was a little bit taken aback when Nao brought all the guys along, but upon seeing Ichi, her face lit up immediately. Although she had to work, she could not restrain herself from looking at their table from time to time. If the situation had not been this messed up, Nao would have been amused by her friend's reaction.
"If you want to help your friend, you have to get rid of Kiba and his gang once and for all", Gaso answered coolly. Kura gulped:
"Do you mean...?" Nao went as pale as a sheet and furiously shook her head:
"No. There has to be another way. We can't k-kill them."
Gaso laughed throatily:
"That's not what I meant, baka! I mean you have to hand him over to the cops!"
"Oh", Nao looked dumbfounded, but also relieved.
"And how do we do this?", Yamato asked.
"You have to catch him red-handed", Gaso answered, "when he's breaking into a place, you have to call the cops and they'll be locked away!"
Ichi nodded his head musing:
"That makes sense. But how can we catch them? We have to know all about their next target and be sure that Kamiya isn't involved."
"That's why you have me", the older man answered and smirked, "I won't only be your ally, but also your mole, got it?"
"Why should we trust you?", Yamato raised an eyebrow, "you're one of them. We don't know you that much."
"Yes", Ichi agreed, "why do you stay with them anyway? It doesn't seem like you approve of the burglary...it's quite suspicious..."
Gaso closed his eyes and sighed deeply. Then, he got his wallet from his pocket and pulled out a small polaroid. Curiously, Nao and the guys moved closer together to have a better look on it. Surprisingly the photo showed a little girl about three years old and with pigtails. She was happily sitting on the lap of a young woman.
"Who is that?", Nao asked and smiled upon seeing such a happy scene.
"That's my daughter together with my belated wife", Gaso answered and his voice was not as hoarse as usual. It rather had a warm ring to it. Everyone looked at him in disbelief, but he just avoided their curious expressions. Absentmindedly he ran a hand through his dark hair and looked sad of a sudden.
"What's her name?", Nao asked softly pointing at the little girl. Gaso smiled:
"Mirei."
"What a beautiful name", Nao smiled as well, "she must be a cute little girl."
"Yes, I guess."
"What do you mean?", Yamato looked questionably at the older guy, "you don't live with her anymore?"
Gaso shook his head and his eyes looked all sorrowful and gloomy. He took the polaroid and looked at it as if it was something precious:
"Me and my wife eloped when we were still in high school. Her parents didn't like me that much, but we couldn't picture a life without each other. A few years later, Mirei was born. I was never the reliable kind of father, you know. I got into trouble a lot and barely earned enough money for us to get by. However, we loved each other, and we loved Mirei. When she was three years old, my wife suddenly fell ill and died within four months."
