The Professor|| Sylus

Her

Sylus crossed his arms, his figure stiffening as he regained his usual composure, though the tension in his posture spoke volumes. Mina clapped her hands, and immediately, a group of men dressed in black rushed in, efficiently beginning to clean up Hiroshi's lifeless body and the pool of blood as though this was routine work. Mei's eyes widened at the swift, almost clinical manner in which they disposed of the evidence, her confusion deepening with each passing second.

Mina turned her attention to Mei, her smile never faltering. "Mei, is it?" she asked, her tone playful but carrying an edge that made Mei feel uneasy.

Mei, startled, quickly bowed politely, trying to regain her composure. "Y-Yes. I'm assuming you're Mina?"

Mina chuckled, her eyes glittering with amusement. "Yes, that's correct. It's finally nice to meet you—accompanying Sylus on his endeavors, no less. Quite the role you've found yourself in."

Sylus, standing nearby, looked visibly dissatisfied with the mess unfolding around them. His eyes narrowed as he watched the men clean up Hiroshi's body. Mina could sense his frustration, and her playful smile faded slightly as she sighed. "Alright, fine. Come with me."

Without waiting for a response, Mina turned and began walking toward the back of the building. Sylus followed, not once glancing at Mei, which caused her heart to ache with a sudden, inexplicable pang. She brushed it off, telling herself it was nothing, then quickly hurried after them.

They emerged at the rear of the place, where the air was cooler, the noise from inside fading into the distance. Mina reached into her pocket, pulling out a cigar and lighting it with a casual flick of her lighter. She took a long drag, then offered the pack to Sylus, who shook his head and declined.

"Since when did you start smoking?" Sylus asked, his tone edged with irritation as he watched her puff.

Mina exhaled a cloud of smoke before replying, her eyes glinting with something unspoken. "You were long gone, Sylus. Things changed."

Sylus's expression tightened as he rubbed his forehead, clearly struggling to process everything that was happening. "I don't think I can handle this whole situation—" he started, his voice strained, but Mina interrupted him before he could finish.

"You're overthinking, Sylus," she said firmly. "I'm still Mina. Ryoichi's daughter."

Sylus's eyes flashed with something darker at the mention of Ryoichi, the infamous crime lord. "Who's supposed to be with him, not showing up all of a sudden," Sylus retorted, his frustration mounting.

Mina took one last drag from her cigar before tossing it to the ground, crushing it under her heel. She stepped closer to Sylus, her expression hardening. "Look, do you think I agree with my father's corruption? The man has cost so many lives, all while showering in blood money."

Her voice wavered, and for a moment, she allowed her vulnerability to show. "Sylus, you're being hunted, bounties are placed on your head. We may be on opposite sides now, but that doesn't mean we didn't share a childhood. I still care."

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and Sylus felt a wave of guilt wash over him, the weight of their shared past bearing down on him. Mina's words hung heavily in the air between them, pulling at the old wounds they both carried.

"I still do..." Mina whispered, her voice soft, almost breaking. She turned away from him, the brief moment of vulnerability slipping back behind the wall she had built around herself. Before she walked away, she glanced over her shoulder, her expression resolute.

"When the time comes for you to kill my father...that's when we'll forget everything we had. I assure you of that. Ryoichi is still my father, after all."