Shattered Bonds-Okuyasu & Josuke

Dark Path-Part 13

Okuyasu's transformed into someone dark and toxic, and it was no accident. It was a slow, insidious process, fueled by his constant association with Reimi and her friends. The more time he spent with them, the more he absorbed their attitudes, their disdain for anything or anyone they considered weak. Okuyasu had always been quiet, the kind of guy who stayed out of trouble, but now he found himself drawn to the chaos that Reimi's group thrived on.

They weren't just mean; they were cruel. Picking on younger kids, making fun of those who didn't fit in, even spreading nasty rumors just for the thrill of it. And Okuyasu, lost and angry, started to join in. The power he felt when he pushed someone around, the rush of adrenaline when he made a cutting remark—it was intoxicating. It drowned out the pain of everything else: the breakup with Josuke, the constant tension at home, the feelings of inadequacy that had always gnawed at him.

At first, it was little things. A sharp comment here, a shove in the hallway there. But soon, Okuyasu was going out of his way to be mean. It became easier to be cruel than to deal with the pain inside. And Reimi and her friends noticed. They encouraged it, even praised him for it, giving him a sense of belonging that he hadn't felt in a long time.

But at home, Okuyasu was a different story. The new version of himself didn't sit well with his father. Mansaku had noticed the changes in his son—the late nights out, the biting sarcasm, the complete lack of respect. Okuyasu used to be respectful towards his father, talking and trying to fix their relationship, but now Okuyasu seemed hell-bent on destroying any connection they had left.

The arguments between them grew more frequent and intense. Mansaku tried to reach out, to understand what was happening to his son, but Okuyasu would only respond with anger and disdain. The sweet, shy boy was gone, replaced by someone Mansaku barely recognized. It broke his heart to see Okuyasu like this, but no matter how hard he tried, Mansaku couldn't seem to get through to him.

Okuyasu, on the other hand, was too far gone to care. His resentment toward his father only grew, fed by the toxic influence of Anjuro and his friends. He started talking back more, pushing boundaries just to see how far he could go. And every time his dad tried to set him straight, Okuyasu would lash out, driven by a mix of guilt, anger, and a desperate need to assert control over something in his life.

Today was Monday, the sun was out with a few fluffy clouds above the school. The students were buzzing with excitement about an upcoming field trip. It was a welcome distraction, something different from the usual grind. The teachers had arranged for the class to visit an abandoned mansion that had once belonged to Yuya Funagami, a once famous pop star singer. Before he passed away, it was said he was the richest man in the whole of Japan, his wealth unused. The mansion, now empty and rumored to be haunted, was a massive, eerie place full of forgotten history and mystery. The perfect setting for an adventure.

As the day of the trip arrived, the students gathered in the gym, waiting to hear which groups they would be placed in. Okuyasu leaned against the wall, arms crossed, trying to act disinterested, but inside, he was eager for a change of scenery. Reimi was by his side, as always, her presence both comforting and suffocating. She was his escape, his distraction, but also a constant reminder of the darkness he was sinking into.

The teacher began calling out names, grouping students into teams of four. Okuyasu barely paid attention, lost in his thoughts. Reimi nudged him, a smirk on her face. "Hope we get paired together," she whispered.

Okuyasu shrugged, though he secretly hoped the same. At least with Reimi, he knew what to expect. The teacher continued down the list, and Okuyasu zoned out again until he heard his name.

"Okuyasu, Reimi, Koichi..."

Okuyasu didn't care much about Koichi—a cheerful short boy he barely knew. But then the teacher called out the last name, and it hit him like a punch to the gut.

"And Josuke."

The room seemed to go silent, the air thick with tension. Okuyasu's heart skipped a beat as he looked over at Josuke, who ignored his gaze, eyes wide with surprise and something else—something that Okuyasu couldn't quite place. A mix of dread and anticipation settled in his stomach. This field trip was about to become much more complicated than he had expected.