Chapter 12 – After the Smoke Clears
The alley was silent except for Natsuki's heavy breathing. The last of the gang members had stumbled away, clutching bruises and cursing under their breath. The night smelled of iron and sweat, broken bottles crunching under his shoes.
Mitsuri stood a few steps behind him, her arms crossed tightly. "You're reckless," she said, though her voice trembled. "If I hadn't been here, you would've—"
"I'm fine," Natsuki cut her off, wiping the blood from his lip with the back of his hand. His knuckles ached, skin split open from the punches he'd thrown. He didn't regret it. Those guys had cornered them, and backing down wasn't an option.
Mitsuri exhaled, stepping closer. Her eyes softened for just a second before she scowled again. "You keep saying you're fine, but one day you won't be."
He didn't answer. The fight had left a storm inside him—not just anger, but unease. That letter from "H.T."… tonight's ambush wasn't random. His instincts screamed it was connected.
Mitsuri bent down, picking up his jacket that had been thrown aside during the scuffle. She dusted it off before shoving it back at him. "Don't make me watch you get torn apart again," she muttered, low enough that he almost didn't catch it.
Natsuki froze. He wasn't used to hearing Mitsuri's voice shake like that. But before he could say anything, the sound of footsteps echoed from the mouth of the alley.
He stiffened instantly, raising his guard—only to see a familiar figure approach.
"Natsuki?"
Her voice carried warmth that clashed with the tension of the night. Hanako stood there, clutching her schoolbag, eyes widening as she saw his battered face. Her presence was like sunlight forcing its way into the shadows.
"What happened to you?" she asked, rushing forward without hesitation. She touched his cheek, worry written all over her face. "You're bleeding!"
Mitsuri's eyes narrowed. She hadn't moved, but her expression darkened at how naturally Hanako closed the distance between her and Natsuki.
"I'm fine," Natsuki muttered again, pulling slightly away.
Hanako frowned. "Don't say that. You've been like this since we were kids—always taking hits and pretending it doesn't hurt." She glanced back at Mitsuri briefly, then leaned closer to Natsuki, her voice softer. "But you don't have to carry everything alone anymore. You still have me."
The words struck harder than any punch he'd taken tonight.
Mitsuri stepped forward then, her tone sharp. "It's late. We should go before more of them come back."
Hanako turned to her with a polite smile, but her eyes were daring. "I'll walk with him. You can go ahead if you want."
The tension between the two girls was immediate and unspoken, like sparks in the dark. Natsuki stood between them, blood drying on his hands, caught not only in the aftermath of a fight—but in the first clash of two forces he couldn't control.
Somewhere deep in his chest, he realized: tonight's battle hadn't ended. It had only changed shape.