Collision of Heaven and Hell ✅

Chapter Five

June 8th, 2029

"Did you hear?"

"It happened again!"

"Again?!"

"Unbelievable!"

"This is like a movie!"

"Otou-san said this used to happen in the 1960s!"

I didn't want to hear it, but I couldn't avoid it as I was sitting in my homeroom class waiting for Inaba-seijin to arrive to start homeroom. It was the same all week; everyone at Shirahime was talking about the escalating violence between Yakuza factions. There were daily reports of fistfights at train stations, bus stops, and even one at a children's playground! In such a short period of time Awaosamu-sama died, and then Akimasa Chaki and his wife died, Tokyo seemed to have turned into a battleground.

And for some reason...my peers seemed to think that I had all of the answers.

"Takasoto?"

The familiar dread filled my core as I glanced up and saw two girls standing in front of my desk. One girl had short black hair and the other had shoulder-length dyed dirty blonde hair. They were not from my homeroom. "Yes?" I greeted.

"Takasoto, will it be safe to take the Chuo Line tonight?" The short-haired girl asked, her tone meek.

I blinked in confusion. "I'm sorry?" I managed to choke out.

"W-We ride the Chuo Line to get to and from school," the blonde-haired girl added, fidgeting her hands. "We were too afraid to take the train today so we did a ride-share, b-but we don't have enough money to do it tonight. So would—the Chuo Line isn't going to have any trouble today, will it?"

My throat tightened and I exhaled sharply through my nose. I slowly closed my eyes and swallowed thickly. "...I'm sorry," I said again. "But I don't know what you're talking about."

"Y-You don't?"

"I can't help you," I said, my tone quicker. "I'm sorry."

"B-But you must help us!" the short-haired girl exclaimed. "We're scholarship students! We don't have cars like the rich kids! We—"

"Oi."

My eyes snapped open and I glanced to my right to see Tsubaki Ito approaching us, frowning with disapproval. Her long hair was dyed the same color as the camellia flower (her namesake), and her brow was furrowed as she moved to stand beside my seat. "Takasoto said she couldn't help you both," Tsubaki said. "Please stop badgering her and go back to your homerooms."

"B-But she must know something!" the blonde-haired girl almost shouted. "We have to take the train!"

"I take the train too," Tsubaki shot back. "But do you see me whining at Takasoto? No! What the hell is she going to know about the craziness going on anyway?!"

"But her dad—"

"I'm right here," I suddenly burst out, standing up. Both girls jumped away from my desk but Tsubaki didn't even stir. "And I'll ask you not to talk about my family negatively," I continued curtly. "Papa is a good man, and I won't tolerate anyone saying otherwise! I can't tell you if the Chuo Line is safe becuase I don't know. If you don't feel comfortable riding the train, then I'll cover your ride-shares home! But I know as much as you do about what's going on!"

The two girls stared at me with slack-jawed expressions for several long moments. Then they both turned and hurried out of the classroom without another word. I sighed quietly and sat back down, rubbing at my eyes. Why would I know anything about the trains? I'm not a Yakuza!