Midnight Vendetta

Chapter 2: New Friend

Kanashi Pov...

HOSPITAL

When I gently open my eyes, I see a woman crying over my arm.

"Mom?" I say, confusion evident on my face. "What are you-" I don't finish my sentence because of the sudden pain in my shoulder.

"Oh, Kanashi, thank goodness you're awake!" Mom's voice is trembling, a mix of relief and worry flooding her words. "What were you thinking? You could have been killed!" Her face is pale, eyes red from crying, and I can see the shock and fear etched in her expression. She clasps my hand tightly, her fingers trembling.

"Mom, I'm sorry," I manage to say, feeling a pang of guilt. "I just... I couldn't let them hurt her." Seeing her so worried breaks my heart. Her touch is warm and comforting, a stark contrast to the cold fear I felt in that alley.

Just then, I hear a sudden noise approaching, someone calling my name.

"Kanashiiii!!!!" It's Toshi, bursting into the room. "Are you okay, man? I was really worried about you," he says, genuine concern in his voice, though he tries to mask it with exaggerated antics. He starts checking my entire body as if to make sure I'm really fine. Despite everything, his over-the-top antics bring a smile to my face.

"Stop it, Toshi, I'm fine," I say, letting out a small laugh despite the pain. His concern is genuine, hidden behind his usual playful facade.

"I was really worried when you fainted in front of us, Kanashi," Toshi continues.

"Emily?" I say, confused. Where is she now? I want to ask Toshi what happened after I fainted. Emily's name stirs a mix of emotions in me. Relief, curiosity, and a bit of apprehension. What must she think of me now? Did we really manage to protect her, or did I just add to her trauma?

Before I can speak, there's a sudden knock at the door, and it opens. It's Emily. She steps in hesitantly, her face pale and her eyes red from crying.

"Emily..." I say softly, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. "I'm glad you're okay."

Emily rushes to my bedside, tears welling up in her eyes, her normally cheerful face contorted with worry. Her cute features are marred by the streaks of tears running down her cheeks. "Kanashi, I'm so sorry! This is all my fault."

"Hey, it's not your fault," I assure her, giving her a reassuring smile despite the pain. "I'm just glad you're safe."

Toshi, still maintaining his cold demeanor, watches the interaction closely. "We did what we had to do," he says, his voice steady and calm. "But next time, we need to be more careful."

My mother, still holding my hand, looks between us with a mixture of relief and lingering worry. "Thank you, Toshi, for looking out for Kanashi."

Toshi nods, his expression softening slightly. "Of course, Mrs. Tsukumo. He's like a brother to me."

As the room falls into a more relaxed silence, Despite the pain, I feel a sense of peace, knowing that we're all safe.

in a meantime mom and emily decides to buy some snacks on us

After Emily and mom leave to buy some snacks, I turn to Toshi, a look of determination on my face.

"Toshi, tell me everything. Who were those guys, and how did they get to Emily?"

Toshi gets a chair and leans back , his expression serious. "Alright, Kanashi. Those thugs are part of a local syndicate. They've been causing trouble around town, but they've mostly kept their activities to certain areas. yesterday was different."