Firecracker - Choso Kamo

1. help

Hey, this is a new story I hope you'll like it. Please check my other Choso story "The Hunt" if you haven't. Please vote and comment for support and motivation!

Enjoy!

The road was desolate, stretching endlessly under the gray sky. Choso sat in his car, eyes narrowed as the engine sputtered one last time before giving up entirely. He clenched the steering wheel, jaw tight with frustration. Of course, this would happen now far from the city, far from any service stations. He should've just stayed at the office like he always did. No distractions, no variables. But he'd wanted space, a moment away from the constant barrage of demands, decisions, and responsibilities.

He cursed under his breath, stepping out of the car and slamming the door behind him. The air was crisp, and the mountains loomed in the distance, shadows swallowing the late afternoon light. He checked his phone no signal. Typical.

Choso hated being out of control. It grated against every part of him. In his world, nothing got done unless he did it himself. Relying on someone else? That was for the weak. He had built his empire by trusting no one. Everyone wanted something, and people were unpredictable, unreliable. But now, standing on an empty road with no other cars in sight, he realized he might be forced to make an exception.

As if on cue, the sound of tires on gravel broke the silence. Choso looked up, seeing a small pink car approaching. It slowed as it neared him, and the driver's window rolled down.

"Need some help?" A woman leaned out, her black hair tucked behind her ears. She had a casual smile, the kind that suggested she wasn't aware of the hundred reasons why he should refuse her offer.

"I'm fine," Choso replied curtly, his voice cold as ever. The last thing he needed was a stranger involved in his business.

"You sure?" The woman, y/n, raised an eyebrow. She clearly wasn't convinced by his answer. "It doesn't look like your car's going anywhere anytime soon."

Choso felt his pulse tick faster, a mix of irritation and unease bubbling under the surface. He wasn't used to people questioning him. "I'll handle it."

Y/n didn't move. She glanced at his car, then back at him. "How? You don't have any tools, and if you're waiting for a tow truck, you'll be here for hours. There's no signal out here."

Her words struck a nerve. Choso glanced back at his dead car. She was right, of course. That didn't make accepting help any easier. He turned his head slightly, avoiding her gaze.

"I can give you a ride to the next town," she offered again, this time softer, less insistent. "It's only a few miles ahead. You can make a call from there."

Choso felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He had no other choice, and he hated it. Reluctantly, he nodded.

"Fine," he said, his voice clipped.

Y/n smiled, as if she hadn't noticed his tension, and unlocked the passenger door. He slid into the seat, his shoulders stiff, every muscle in his body resisting the idea of relying on someone else. She pulled back onto the road, the quiet hum of the engine filling the space between them.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Choso kept his gaze forward, eyes scanning the horizon, mind racing. He would find a way to fix this, to take control back. This was temporary. As soon as he made the call, he would never have to see her again.

But y/n, unaware of his inner turmoil, simply focused on driving. After a few minutes, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

"So, you're not much of a talker, huh?"

Choso didn't respond, his jaw tightening at her attempt to make small talk. He wasn't here for pleasantries.

"That's okay," she said, undeterred by his silence. "I'm just glad I could help."

Her words hung in the air, light but unsettling. Help. Choso hated that word. It was foreign to him something he didn't ask for, didn't accept. Yet here he was, sitting in a stranger's car, being driven to safety because he had no other options.

As they continued down the winding road, y/n hummed softly to herself, the radio crackling with static. Choso remained tense, staring out the window at the darkening sky. He told himself this was just a setback, nothing more. He would return to his life of control and isolation soon enough. But for now, he was trapped in this moment, tethered to someone else's kindness something he didn't trust, didn't understand.

And that, more than anything, unsettled him.

—stay safe.