"Why…?" Eizo's voice was hoarse, breaking through his sobs. "Why does everything in my life… always fail? Always fall apart…?"
His fists clenched against the ground, his body trembling.
"I just want to be happy… that's all," he whispered. "I just want to live with the ones I love… without stealing… without selling my dignity. But why? Why is it so hard… even just to be happy?!"
No one answered.
Archer, Zayan, and Aiden stood in silence. None of them interrupted—for a moment, they understood… Eizo's tears were real. His wound was deep. And perhaps, there wasn't a single word that could heal it.
Eizo's sobs slowly faded. But the quiet didn't last long.
"Braaather!!"
Suddenly, a cry calling his name echoed from the direction of his home. Eizo instantly sprang to his feet, eyes widening in panic. It was his siblings' voices.
Without a second thought, he dashed toward the house—his breath ragged, his chest tight with dread. But when he arrived…
Empty.
No one was there.
"Ara! Rai! Zay!" he called again and again, but there was no reply. He began searching frantically, opening doors, calling his siblings' names over and over—his panicked voice thickening the air.
Nothing.
Eizo collapsed to his knees. His face was a mess. His breath caught in his throat.
Then…
"Something's off," Archer murmured quietly.
Zayan and Aiden approached. Archer crouched and pointed at the floor—a drop of blood.
"This is fresh…" he said, then straightened, his eyes sharp. Focused. "They were taken."
Eizo's head whipped around, his eyes wide again.
"You know where they are?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Archer locked eyes with him.
"I know," he said curtly, then glanced at his brothers.
"But…" he continued, "we can't just rush in. This time… we'll need backup."