"The Chaos Chronicles: Living with Ryujin Nippon"

Part 13: The Danger

Life at the Ryujin Nippon house had settled back into its usual rhythm. The chaos of volleyball practice, loud banter, and teasing jokes filled the air, creating a comforting backdrop for Mayu and Tatsunori as they navigated their slow-burning connection. They exchanged shy glances and stolen smiles, but neither had dared to voice their feelings again since that night in the kitchen.

That all changed one fateful afternoon during practice.

As Yuki drilled the team on their formations, he felt the familiar buzz of his phone in his pocket. He reached for it absentmindedly, expecting a routine message. Instead, his heart sank as he read the text:

"The suspect has fled the precinct."

His mind raced, thoughts of Mayu flashing through his head. Panic gripped him, and he turned to his teammates, who were laughing and joking around. "I need to go home," he announced, urgency lacing his voice.

"Why? Practice isn't over yet!" Ran protested, glancing up from his phone.

But before Yuki could respond, his phone buzzed again. This time, his breath caught in his throat as he read the chilling message:

"I have Mayu. Don't bring anyone if you want her to stay safe."

Yuki's heart pounded as he stared at the screen, the weight of the message sinking in. He had to act quickly. He couldn't risk the stalker getting away again, and he couldn't let anything happen to Mayu.

Just as he started to move toward the door, he heard a voice behind him. "Where are you going, Yuki?" Tatsunori called out, having just finished his last set of drills. His tone was light, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes.

Yuki hesitated, torn between keeping Tatsunori in the dark and trusting him with the terrifying truth. Finally, he turned, a sense of urgency clear in his expression. "I need to go. Mayu's in danger."

Tatsunori's eyes widened. "What happened? Is she okay?"

"The stalker... he escaped. He has Mayu," Yuki replied, his voice strained. The weight of the situation pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe.

Without a moment's hesitation, Tatsunori stepped forward, determination igniting in his gaze. "Then I'm coming with you. We can't let him hurt her."

Yuki opened his mouth to protest but found he didn't want to. Tatsunori was right—he couldn't protect Mayu alone. He needed someone he trusted by his side, and Tatsunori had proven time and again that he wouldn't back down in the face of danger. "Alright. Let's go."

The Chase

As they rushed out of the gym, the rest of the team was blissfully unaware of the impending chaos. Akihiro, Yuji, and the others continued their practice, laughing and joking, completely ignorant of the dark storm brewing just outside.

Yuki and Tatsunori hopped into Yuki's car, the engine roaring to life as they sped away from the gym. The streets blurred past them, but all Yuki could focus on was the gnawing fear in his gut. He thought of Mayu—how brave she had been through everything, how she had supported him and his team. He wouldn't let her down now.

"What's the plan?" Tatsunori asked, his tone steady despite the gravity of the situation.

Yuki shook his head, frustration mounting. "I don't know. The message didn't give me a location, just that I shouldn't bring anyone."

"Then let's check the places he might have gone," Tatsunori suggested. "We can't wait for him to come to us."

They drove through the city, stopping at various locations—parks, abandoned buildings, even the outskirts of town. Each place was a dead end, but their hope remained steadfast. As they made their way through the streets, they communicated in short bursts, their focus sharp, adrenaline coursing through their veins.