"The Chaos Chronicles: Living with Ryujin Nippon"

Part 6: Protecting Mayu

The house felt unnaturally still the moment Mayu stepped out. For the past month, it had been filled with her sharp humor, endless teasing, and a constant flurry of sarcastic remarks. But now, in the rare quiet, Ryujin Nippon's team sat in an awkward silence, unsure how to adjust.

Yuki leaned against the wall, rubbing the back of his neck as he watched the door close behind his little sister. His usually stoic expression faltered for a moment. He let out a deep sigh, catching the attention of the guys around him.

"Yuki," Yuji finally spoke up, breaking the silence. "Why did Mayu stay with us, anyway? You never really told us the whole story."

The other boys nodded, curious but respectful up until now, sensing there was more to the situation. Yuki hesitated, eyes flickering with concern.

"I didn't tell you guys before because... well, it wasn't my story to share. But now that she's gone back, you deserve to know." He looked down at the floor, his tone serious. "Mayu's been dealing with a stalker."

A collective gasp went through the room. Tatsunori, usually laid-back and calm, sat up straight, his brows furrowing in concern. Kentaro, who had been quietly listening, clenched his fists. Sekita's mouth opened slightly, clearly shocked.

"It started a few months ago," Yuki continued. "Some guy kept following her around, sending her strange messages, showing up at her work and apartment. At first, she tried to handle it herself, thought it would just stop, but things started escalating. I made her come here for her safety, while the police investigate."

The room buzzed with tension. Yuji's face twisted in anger. "Why didn't you tell us sooner, man? We could've kept an eye on her, done something."

"I didn't want to make a big deal out of it until things settled," Yuki explained. "I thought... maybe she could move on from it. She's been through enough stress already."

Suddenly, Akihiro stood up from his seat, his expression unusually intense. Without saying a word, he strode toward the door, grabbing his car keys from the kitchen counter.

Yuki blinked, confused. "Aki, what are you doing?"

Akihiro turned sharply, his voice like steel. "I'm going to grab Mayu, you idiot! You just let her walk out of here alone after telling us that?"

Yuki opened his mouth to protest, but he realized with a sinking feeling that Akihiro was right. Mayu had left alone, and he hadn't even considered the possibility that the stalker might still be around, watching her every move.

Before Yuki could say another word, Ran, Yuji, Sekita, and the rest of the team jumped up, ready to follow Akihiro's lead.

"Wait, I'm coming too!" Taishi called, already slipping into his sneakers.

"Let's go!" Tatsunori urged, grabbing his jacket and rushing toward the door.

Sekita was already in motion. "No way we're letting her out of our sight, not when we know what's going on."

Within seconds, the once-quiet house erupted into action. The team piled out the door, Akihiro leading the charge, a determined fire in his eyes. They didn't need to speak; they all knew what needed to be done. Their usual banter and jokes were nowhere to be found—the protective instincts of these athletes were in full force.

Yuki stood there in disbelief for a second, watching his teammates rush out in a whirlwind of urgency. It hit him like a ton of bricks—he had underestimated just how much these guys cared about Mayu. She wasn't just his sister anymore; she had become part of their chaotic, dysfunctional family.

As Yuki grabbed his jacket and sprinted after them, he couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and regret. Pride, because his teammates had instantly understood the seriousness of the situation. Regret, because he should've done something sooner, instead of trying to handle everything alone.

On the Road

Akihiro gripped the steering wheel tightly as they sped down the street, his mind racing. Behind him, the car was packed with the rest of the team. Yuji, always eager for action, was already mapping out every possible place Mayu could be on her way back home.

"We should head towards her old apartment," Ran suggested from the passenger seat, his playful demeanor replaced by fierce concentration. "That creep might still be lurking there."

"Text her," Sekita added, pulling out his phone. "Tell her we're on the way and not to go anywhere alone."

Tatsunori's voice from the back was low, almost growling. "We're not letting anyone get near her. Not a chance."

Akihiro nodded, focusing on the road. He was usually the quiet, steady one, but when it came to Mayu, something in him had shifted. Over the past month, he had come to see her as more than just Yuki's little sister—she was part of their team now, part of their family. And family didn't get left behind, not on his watch.

Meanwhile, with Mayu

Unaware of the chaos unfolding behind her, Mayu walked down the street toward her apartment, feeling a strange mix of emotions. As much as she loved teasing Yuki and his teammates, part of her had missed the calm of being on her own. She didn't regret the time spent with them—it had been fun, comforting even—but she was ready to get back to her normal life.

As she approached the corner near her building, her phone buzzed. She glanced down, and her eyes widened as she saw multiple texts from Sekita, Yuji, and even Yuki. Don't go anywhere alone. We're on our way. Stay where you are.

"Wait, what?" she muttered under her breath.

Before she could even finish processing the message, a car screeched to a halt beside her. The door flung open, and there was Akihiro, looking dead serious.

"Get in, Mayu," he commanded, his usual calm replaced by urgency.

Mayu blinked, completely caught off guard. "What? Why?"

"Just get in!" Yuji shouted from the back seat. "We're not leaving you out here alone."

Realizing something serious was happening, Mayu quickly climbed into the car, squeezing in between Ran and Tatsunori, who were looking out the window like they expected trouble at any second.

"Can someone explain what the hell is going on?" Mayu asked, still confused.

"We know about the stalker," Ran explained, his eyes scanning the street. "And you're not going anywhere alone from now on."

Mayu blinked, processing the weight of his words. Then, despite the tension, she couldn't help but smirk. "Wow, you guys really do care about me, huh?"

Akihiro, still focused on driving, glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "You're part of the team now, Mayu. We've got your back."

Mayu couldn't stop the warmth spreading in her chest as she looked around at the guys who, despite all the teasing and chaos, had become her protectors. She rolled her eyes playfully, but the gratitude in her voice was unmistakable. "Fine, but if any of you think this means I'm going easy on you from now on, you're seriously mistaken."

Ran grinned, elbowing her. "Wouldn't dream of it, Mayu-chan."

And with that, the chaotic family of Ryujin Nippon sped off, determined to keep Mayu safe—no matter what.