Under the sun of the early Sunday morning, the Hoshizawa mansion gleamed.

It was like a crown jewel of the city, pure opulence perched on the hillside overlooking the rest of the world.

Around it was an estate of green, other tall white buildings stretching high and a sprawling architecture of modern minimalism and traditional Japanese elegance.

A fortress of wealth, security, and untouchable status.

Since it was a Sunday, the Hoshizawas were certainly at home.

Ding! Ding!

The doorbell sang.

After a while, it sang again, echoing through the vast halls like a polite intrusion.

"I'll get it!" a youthful voice said.

Kaito, lounging in the foyer in his designer casuals, a half-eaten luxury pastry in hand, sauntered to the massive oak double doors and swung one open with lazy arrogance.

His brow raised sharply at the figure on the threshold. "Hey you… aren't you my mom's former bodyguard?"

Indeed it was.

Hideo.

Standing there, he looked nothing like himself. He was more of a shadow of his former poise and pride.

He was wearing a suit, yes, but it hung loose on his frame, like he wasn't really proud in it as he used to be.

His tie was askew, shirt collar unbuttoned and stained faintly with what looked like coffee spills.

His hair was combed roughly and he had dark circles under his darting eyes.

In his hands, he clutched a worn envelope bulging with photos.

After what he had seen yesterday, Hideo hurried as fast as he could to inform Mrs. Hoshizawa.

He knew he could get his job back if he just proved to her that that kid was behind it all.

Hideo had been so excited that he didn't even take time to present himself. He looked disheveled, desperate, a far cry from the stoic security professional he'd once been.

"Who is it, Kaito?"

Mrs. Hoshizawa appeared moments later, gliding down the curved staircase in a flowing gown that hugged her voluptuous curves.

She seemed dressed up for an occasion, her purple hair combed in beautiful perfect waves.

The moment her beautiful face saw Hideo, it hardened instantly.

"Kaito, go inside. Now."

Her voice was serious.

Kaito shrugged, even though he was curious, he had better things to do than care about his mom's antics. He disappeared into the living room with a muffled crunch of his pastry.

Hana stepped to the door, arms crossed under her massive chest, eyes blazing with fury and disbelief. "What are you doing here, Hideo? You're not supposed to be anywhere near this house—or me—ever again."

Hideo dropped to one knee right there on the marble stoop, head bowed, voice cracking with raw begging.

"Mrs. Hoshizawa. Please, ma'am, I beg you to just listen to me. If there's a chance that you could give me my job back, this is it right here."

Hana's eyes widened. "What are you doing?"

"I have proof, ma'am! I have irrefutable proof that that Renji kid is no good, he's dangerous, a manipulator! He set up the bike incident! Let me show you, see—!"

Hana's eyes narrowed to slits. "I can't believe you're still on about this even after everything! Renji saved my life while you were elsewhere, doing god-knows-what! He did your job better than you and your insecurity won't let you accept that? Why are you trying to defame my friend?!"

Hideo scrambled, pulling photos from the envelope with trembling hands, thrusting them toward her. "Pictures! Look, he's paying off a biker. That could be the same guy from the accident! He's plotting, ma'am, please—"

Hana slapped the photos away, scattering them across the stoop. "So you think Renji wants to kill me? The boy who risked himself for me? Stop this, Hideo! If you want me to still have a speck of respect for you, stop this right away."

"But ma'am—"

"What's the racket about?!"

The noise drew Taiga Hoshizawa who was putting on his cufflinks.

Hideo's eyes widened, fear making him jitter.

The millionaire patriarch stormed into the foyer, his suit impeccable.

But as soon as he saw Hideo, he paused and his face twisted in rage.

"What is going on here?!" His voice boomed, eyes widening with pure fury. "How dare you come to my house, you insolent worm! Who let this mentally ill man through the gates?!"

The security team—four burly guards in crisp uniforms—rushed in from the side entrance, faces paling.

Taiga pointed a trembling finger. "You're all fired! Every last one of you, for letting this parasite near my family! Near my wife! Pack your things and get out!"

The guards had astounded looks on their faces. They stared at each other, not knowing what to say or do.

Hideo was still on his knees, and he quickly began to plead, "Please, Mr. Hoshizawa, I beg you to just let me explain. I have nothing left—"

Taiga's face contorted. "I signed a restraining order and you're not to come within 500 meters of us or this home! Now, get out! Get out before I have you arrested!"

Hideo wailed as rough hands hauled him up, dragging him backward down the driveway, his pleas echoing:

"No, please,Mrs. Hoshizawa, sir! I have proof! Please don't do this! I'll do anything. I'm begging you!!!"

He was tossed unceremoniously outside the gates, landing hard on the pavement, photos fluttering around him like confetti of his ruin.

Sad and broken, Hideo gathered the scattered images with shaking hands, standing slowly, head hung in defeat as he shuffled away.

But as he turned the corner, a voice snarled, "Hey, where do you think you're going?"

Hideo spun.

Before him, seven guards advanced, cracking knuckles, faces twisted in rage. "You told us the boss invited you. You lied straight to our faces and you just made us lose our jobs!"

One burly guard spat, "This gig was all I had to feed my wife and my sick daughter. Now you've ruined my family!"

Hideo backpedaled, hands up, begging frantically. "Wait, guys, let's talk this out. Please. I didn't mean... Okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, okay? Please don't—"

"We're gonna let out all our rage on your stupid face," the lead guard growled, and they swarmed him.

POW!! POW!!! CRACK!!!

Fists descended on him, hitting his jaw and gut, boots struck his ribs and stomped his face.

Hideo curled to a ball as he cried, begging through bloodied lips, "Stop! Please, show mercy. I'm sorry—"

They left him a pulp on the sidewalk; bruised, bleeding, clothes torn, whimpering in the dirt.

Later, in his dingy one-room apartment, where the walls were peeling and depressing, and the air was stale with despair, Hideo slumped at a rickety desk.

His gloomy eyes were plastered obsessively on his laptop screen and the image on it:

'Renji Kenshiro, the selected representative for Seihou High in the Inter School Arts Competition.'

The boy's face stared back. Hideo could swear that innocent smirk on his face was mocking him.

Renji Kenshiro.

Renji.

Renji.

The name burned in his mind like acid.

It had been like this ever since he got fired.

First it was a grudge, and now, it was an all-consuming hatred.

His life had crumbled tragically.

His agency fired him immediately after Taiga's complaint, he now had a lawsuit, millions in damages bankrupting him, and his girlfriend broke up with him.

It didn't end there..

He was evicted from the expensive apartment given to him by his agency, his friends were ghosting him, and his goldfish died last night.

All because of Renji. Yes, all of it.

That cunning kid ruined him.

He ruined everything.

Hideo clenched his fists, fury boiling in him. He wanted nothing more than to destroy him. To make him suffer!

He tapped the boy's name, and a dropdown of his classmates appeared.

Hideo's eyes randomly locked on one: Kaito Hoshizawa.

His brows raised.

'Isn't this interesting?'

So… Renji and Mrs. Hoshizawa's son were classmates.

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