When the Crow Finds a Flock

Arc 0: Chapter 1

CONTENT WARNING/S: Shido appearance, Slight panic attack. 

Note: Akechi broods for majority of this chapter. There are also footnotes at the bottom! 

Chapter wordcount: 2,044 words

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1/18/2014, Saturday, Morning

Goro sighs as he treads through the snowy streets of Shibuya. He buries the bottom half of his face into his scarf, his hands in his coat pockets as he walks to the grocery store. God, he can't wait until he turns 18; then he'd be able to be free of this stupid foster system. 

He'll show them. He'll show everyone. That some unwanted, irrelevant orphan like him can leave a mark in this world. He'll bring himself and his mother justice. 

He glooms and broods about on his way to the store, that he doesn't notice bumping into someone. He stumbles back a bit, and looks up at whomever he bumped into, prepared to tell them off. And then... he sees him. 

"Tch, watch where you're going, brat. You almost ruined my new suit," Deep and harsh voice, a bald head, an irritated scowl on his face. It was Masayoshi Shido, a famous politician. Goro mirrors the glare, recognizing the man who sired him, though the man was unaware of it. He's done his digging, and searching, and that man right there is the one Goro swears he shall enact revenge upon. 

Before Goro can say anything, a group of burly and large men in suits run over, effectively putting some distance (and meat shields) between the politician and brunet. The bodyguards shove Goro backward, "Watch yourself, kid. Don't even try to lay a hand on him," one of them says sternly, prompting Goro to huff and move to the side and continue on his way. 

He keeps his head low, ignoring the awed gasps and whispers amongst the passersby at the sight of the man with bodyguards. "Who's that? Isn't he kind of familiar?" "He's got bodyguards with him... do you think he's important?" Goro hears some of the questions and holds back the urge to roll his eyes. The masses can be so ignorant, can't they? 

Goro walks through the automatic doors of the grocery and pulls out the slip of paper from his pocket. It was crumpled, the sides slightly ripped and worn from how hard the brown-haired teen was clenching his fist while holding it. He manages to smoothen the paper so the handwriting was legible, and begins to get the listed goods. He pushes the shopping cart along the different aisles, grabbing things he needs. 

Goro stops at a section with various brands of pancake mix, thinking to himself. "Hm... we don't have any pancake ingredients left... I might as well get some," he murmurs to himself, before taking the one he usually got, placing it on the cart. He goes on through his grocery run, looking from the list to the aisles. "A dozen eggs, a pack of small apples, a loaf of bread, two cartons of milk, instant coffee... I should get instant noodles too," Goro reads the list, getting the aforementioned stuff. 

By the time he finishes, he lines up for the cashier, bringing out the pouch of money he was given for the groceries. Goro pays for his items, takes the change, and leaves with about three paper bags stuffed in his (fortunately) large eco-bag for his groceries. 

He leaves the grocery store, carefully carrying his things with the bag's handle slung on his shoulder. This isn't the first time he's done this. After all, his current foster mother, Ikue Adachi [1], was often rather busy with work. Not that Goro exactly minded, though. Ikue-san was a lot nicer than his previous caretakers, likely accredited to the fact she volunteered to take him in, rather than the foster care system sort of forcing him onto her. He can't help but wonder why she volunteered in the first place. Apparently, they weren't related by blood at all, and yet she welcomed him in with open arms.