"The Chaos Chronicles: Living with Ryujin Nippon"

Part 9: Mood Shift

The tension in the house had eased a little after Mayu's unsettling package incident. The police had been notified, and Yuki, along with Akihiro, was still on high alert. But despite the seriousness of the situation, the rest of the team couldn't help but return to their usual dynamic—chaos and teasing.

As everyone gathered in the living room, the team's mood began to shift back to something lighter, thanks to Yuji's incessant jokes and Taishi's playful banter. And then, their focus slowly turned toward Tatsunori.

"Tatsu," Ran called from across the room, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. "You've been quiet. What's on your mind, huh?"

Tatsunori, who had been sitting near Mayu and keeping a protective eye on her, looked up, slightly startled. "What? Nothing. Just thinking about the situation."

"Yeah, sure," Taishi chimed in, smirking. "The situation or maybe something else? Like, oh, I don't know, how you rushed off like some action hero for someone?"

Ran's grin widened as he leaned forward. "Yeah, about that... I've never seen you move so fast, Tatsu. You've got some serious motivation there, huh?"

Tatsunori felt his face heat up instantly, and he shot them both a glare. "Shut up. I wasn't thinking—I just acted. It wasn't about anything."

"Really?" Yuji said, raising an eyebrow in mock suspicion. "Because from where we're standing, it looked like a classic case of 'knight in shining armor' syndrome."

Mayu, sitting next to Tatsunori, shifted uncomfortably, glancing between him and the others, her face turning pink. She had felt his protective presence all day, and while she appreciated it, the boys' teasing was making her flustered.

"Guys, stop," Mayu mumbled, waving her hand. "It's not like that."

"Oh, really?" Sekita jumped in, joining the teasing. "So, when you ran to hug Tatsu earlier, that wasn't 'like that' either?" He grinned playfully, clearly enjoying how embarrassed both Tatsunori and Mayu were becoming.

Tatsunori groaned, rubbing his face with his hand, clearly uncomfortable with all the attention. "You guys are ridiculous," he muttered, trying to downplay everything. But the team wasn't going to let him off that easily.

"Oh, come on, Tatsu!" Taishi teased, clapping him on the back. "We're just saying—if you've got feelings for Mayu, no need to hide it. We all see it. Heck, it's been obvious for a while."

The entire room erupted into laughter, except for Tatsunori, who was now red-faced, and Mayu, who was trying her hardest to blend into the couch. Tatsunori shifted uncomfortably, shooting his teammates a pleading look, but they only grinned wider.

Akihiro, who had been observing the whole exchange, chuckled softly but then decided to jump in. "Look, Tatsu, it's cool. If you like Mayu, just be a man and tell her. But just remember..." He leaned in, lowering his voice to a more serious tone, "if you hurt her, you've got me and Yuki to deal with."

Yuki, sitting nearby, nodded firmly, adding his silent but deadly older brother energy to the conversation. "No pressure," Yuki said, completely deadpan.

Tatsunori gave them both a tight smile, feeling the weight of their protective stares. "Right. No pressure at all," he muttered sarcastically.

Mayu, now thoroughly embarrassed, finally spoke up. "Seriously, guys, stop teasing him. He's been amazing today, and I don't need you all making it weird."

Her defense didn't help much, though, as it only fueled more laughter from the team.

"Aww, Mayu's defending her knight in shining armor!" Ran howled, clearly enjoying how red both of their faces had become.

Yuji joined in with an exaggerated swoon. "Tatsunori! The fearless protector! Our very own romance drama is unfolding right before our eyes!"

"Enough!" Tatsunori groaned, clearly done with all the teasing. He stood up, casting a glance at Mayu, who was still blushing but trying to keep herself from laughing along with the others.

But just as he started to walk away, Yuji called after him, "Hey, Tatsu! Next time you chase down a stalker, make sure you ride off into the sunset with Mayu on the back of your bike! It'd be perfect!"

The room exploded into laughter again, and Tatsunori, shaking his head in defeat, couldn't help but laugh a little too, even though he wanted to strangle them all. He might not admit it out loud, but somewhere deep down, even with all the teasing, there was a part of him that enjoyed being seen as Mayu's protector.

And Mayu? She couldn't stop smiling. Despite everything that had happened, she felt safe—knowing these boys, especially Tatsunori, were by her side. Chaos and all, she wouldn't trade this group for anything.

The teasing had died down, but the mood in the house still buzzed with energy. Mayu found herself sneaking glances at Tatsunori, feeling grateful but also strangely unsettled. His impulsive chase after the stalker earlier in the day had left her rattled, and despite the laughter and jokes, her heart hadn't stopped racing since.

But the night was far from over.

A Few Days Later

The situation had settled slightly. The police had increased patrols in the neighborhood, and Yuki and Akihiro kept close tabs on Mayu wherever she went. Tatsunori, however, had become even more protective—always around, always watching out for her. It didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the team, who continued to throw jabs his way, though Tatsunori had learned to brush them off with a grunt or an eye roll.

Mayu appreciated the extra layer of protection, but part of her hated feeling like she was constantly being watched. She wanted to believe that the stalker was done with her—that the police report and the increased security would scare him off for good—but there was always a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that something wasn't right.

One night, as the team lounged around the living room, a knock came at the door. It was late, far later than anyone expected visitors. Everyone immediately tensed.

"I'll get it," Yuki said, standing up cautiously. The team exchanged glances, the carefree atmosphere from earlier vanishing in an instant. Tatsunori stood up, eyes narrowing as he quietly positioned himself closer to Mayu.

Yuki opened the door a crack, and in an instant, his body shifted, blocking the view inside the house. "Can I help you?" he asked, his tone sharp.

The man outside was dressed casually but had a strange, unsettling air about him. "Just delivering a message," he said, pulling something from his pocket—a folded piece of paper. He handed it to Yuki, who took it reluctantly, not moving from the doorway.

The man smirked, his eyes drifting past Yuki for just a moment—long enough to glance inside the house. Mayu, who had risen from the couch, saw the look. A chill ran down her spine.

Without another word, the man turned and walked away, disappearing into the darkness.

Yuki closed the door slowly, his expression hard. "What the hell was that?" Ran asked, breaking the silence.

Yuki unfolded the note. His eyes scanned the message, and his face tightened. Without a word, he passed it to Tatsunori, whose eyes darkened as he read:

"You can't protect her forever."

A wave of unease swept through the room. Mayu's heart sank. The stalker hadn't disappeared—he was still watching, still lurking in the shadows. And now, he was taunting them.