"The Chaos Chronicles: Living with Ryujin Nippon"

Part 10: Mission Impossible

After the late-night incident, the team decided to take things into their own hands. Waiting for the police to act felt too passive, too slow. The guys agreed they needed to up their game in protecting Mayu and find a way to track down the stalker on their own.

"We can't just sit here and let this creep play games with us," Taishi muttered, pacing in front of the couch. "We've got to be proactive."

Yuki nodded. "We need to figure out who this guy is. He's clearly someone who's watching the house."

Akihiro leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "We should work in shifts—make sure someone's always outside or nearby to keep an eye out. No one goes anywhere alone."

Mayu, sitting quietly on the couch, felt overwhelmed by the tension in the room. Her life had been turned upside down, and now, her brother and his teammates were forming a strategy like they were preparing for battle. It made her feel both comforted and guilty.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Tatsunori, who had been standing by the window, turned and looked at her, his expression softening. "This isn't your fault, Mayu. Don't apologize."

Before Mayu could say anything else, Ran piped up. "I'll take the first night shift outside, then. Someone should stay with Mayu in the house, though, just in case." His eyes flickered toward Tatsunori, the teasing tone from earlier gone. "You're up for that, right, Tatsu?"

Tatsunori hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Yeah. I'll stay."

Later That Night

The house was dark, except for the faint glow of a single lamp in the living room. Everyone had settled into their designated positions, with Ran and Akihiro keeping watch outside while the others stayed in. Mayu sat curled up on the couch, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her. Tatsunori sat nearby, quietly keeping an eye on her while pretending to scroll through his phone.

The silence between them was thick, but not uncomfortable. It was as though both of them were waiting for something to happen—unsure if it would, but unable to shake the feeling that they weren't done with this nightmare.

"Tatsu..." Mayu finally spoke, breaking the stillness. "Why do you keep doing this?"

Tatsunori looked up from his phone, confused. "Doing what?"

"Looking out for me. You've gone above and beyond what anyone else would do. It's not just about being protective. I can tell."

He was silent for a moment, caught off guard by her question. He wasn't sure how to explain it—how to tell her what had been growing inside him for months. His feelings for her had always been there, simmering under the surface, but he had tried so hard to push them aside. And now, with everything happening, it was harder than ever to ignore.

"I just want you to be safe," Tatsunori finally said, his voice low. "That's all."

Mayu searched his face, her own feelings more tangled than ever. There was something in the way he looked at her—something unspoken but undeniable. The air between them felt charged, but neither of them dared to acknowledge it.

Before she could respond, a loud thud echoed from outside. Both of them jumped to their feet instantly.

Tatsunori's eyes narrowed, and he moved quickly toward the window. "Stay here," he ordered, his voice calm but firm. He grabbed the baseball bat they kept by the door, his muscles tensing as he opened the front door cautiously.

Outside, Ran and Akihiro were already on high alert, looking around the yard with flashlights. "Did you hear that?" Ran whispered, eyes scanning the perimeter.

"Yeah," Tatsunori replied. "Something's out there."

Mayu watched from the doorway, her heart pounding. She felt like she was holding her breath, waiting for something to happen, for the stalker to finally reveal himself.

Suddenly, a shadow darted behind one of the trees. Tatsunori saw it too, and without thinking, he took off running, his eyes locked on the figure moving in the darkness.

"Tatsu, wait!" Mayu shouted, but he was already gone, disappearing into the night as Ran and Akihiro followed.

In the Darkness

Tatsunori sprinted across the yard, his legs pumping as he followed the shadowy figure. His heart raced, not from fear but from determination. He wasn't going to let this guy get away again.

The figure darted through the trees, trying to lose him, but Tatsunori was fast—faster than the stalker had anticipated. He closed the gap between them, adrenaline surging through him. Just as he was about to tackle the guy, the stalker slipped, crashing to the ground.

Tatsunori didn't hesitate. He grabbed the stalker by the collar, dragging him up and pinning him against a nearby fence. "Who the hell are you?" he growled, his eyes blazing with fury.

But the stalker only smirked, his eyes cold and calculating. "You can't protect her forever," he hissed, his voice dripping with malice.

Before Tatsunori could react, the man slipped out of his grip and bolted, disappearing into the night once again.

Tatsunori returned to the house, breathing hard and filled with frustration. He hadn't caught the stalker, but at least he had sent a message: they weren't going to stand by and let Mayu be terrorized anymore.

As he stepped inside, Mayu rushed toward him, her face pale with worry. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I'm fine," Tatsunori assured her, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. "He got away, but we'll get him next time."

Mayu nodded, but her eyes were filled with fear and concern. Without thinking, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. Tatsunori froze for a moment, startled by the sudden closeness, but then his arms came around her, holding her tightly.

It wasn't the time for romance, but the tension between them was undeniable. Slowly, the line between protector and something more began to blur.

And Tatsunori knew that from this moment on, he wasn't just protecting Mayu because she was Yuki's sister.

He was protecting her because she meant everything to him.