He was never raised to be a fighter.
Combat was never part of his upbringing—only intellect. That was his weapon of choice.
Whenever he tried to do something remotely dangerous, the response was immediate—strict disapproval from his parents and the ever—watchful maids.
Being an only child-his mother refusing to endure childbirth a second time—he was doted on, protected, and pampered by everyone around him.
That care, however well—meant, left him unprepared for conflict.
He always relied on others to shield him.
And that made him easy to capture.
"Ayaka," he called out.
Ayaka was in the middle of her duties, humming a quiet tune as she dusted the hallway, every movement precise and practiced.
At the sound of his voice, she paused. Her eyes lit with recognition.
"Yes, young master?" she replied, setting her tools aside neatly.
"I'm heading out," said the blue-haired young man. "Watch the house while I'm gone, alright?"
"As you wish, young master." She bowed, her voice tinged with habitual grace.
"Please be careful," she added, her tone softer now, almost motherly.
"Relax," Ryoma said with a faint smile. "I'm just going to MT. I've got a few gadget blueprints I want to hand over."
"Ah, I see." Ayaka nodded, her worry softened the moment she heard his destination—Murakami Tech.
At least he wasn't heading somewhere reckless this time.
"Please be careful, young master. I'll make sure everything runs smoothly while you're away," she said with a graceful bow.
Ryoma smiled faintly. "I know you will. I always believe in you."
With that, he turned and made his way to the garage. The soft echo of his footsteps faded as he climbed into the sleek black car, the engine humming to life a moment later.
The sky was still painted with pale morning hues as he pulled out of the mansion gates.
The roads were quiet, save for the occasional passerby.
Then he spotted her.
A girl walking ahead on the sidewalk, her long black hair swaying gently with every step.
He recognized her instantly—Takina.
He slowed the car and rolled down the window. "Morning, Takina. On your way to the café?"
Takina paused, recognizing the familiar voice. She turned toward the sound, her calm eyes meeting his.
"Ryoma? Good morning." She said. "Yeah, I'm heading to the café."
"Need a ride?" he offered casually.
She hesitated briefly, then gave a small nod. "Sure. That would be great. Thanks."
Takina walked over and slid into the passenger seat, closing the door with a soft click.
"You're up early," she remarked, adjusting her seatbelt.
"I didn't sleep," Ryoma replied casually, pulling the car back onto the road.
Takina raised an eyebrow. "No sleep? What kept you up all night?"
"I was upgrading my glasses," he said, tapping the frame with a slight smirk. "These aren't your average pair, you know."
That piqued her interest. "Oh? What do they do?"
"They work like a phone. I can make calls, search the web—basically anything a phone can do, but on my face."
Takina glanced over, eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. "That's pretty impressive. So... you've basically got a smartphone in your eyewear?"
"Exactly," he said with a hint of pride. "Hands-free convenience."
Their conversation drifted for a moment as the car glided down the quiet streets. Then Takina's eyes narrowed slightly.
She glanced around.
"...This isn't the way to the café," she said, her tone suddenly alert.
Ryoma didn't respond immediately. Instead, his hands left the steering wheel.
Takina tensed—but the car kept moving, as if on rails. No autopilot light, no confirmation beep.
Her gaze snapped back to him.
"Ryoma—what's going on?"
His expression had shifted-calm, but grave. "The car's been hijacked remotely."
Takina's instincts kicked in instantly.
She snatched her phone from her pocket and tapped Chisato's number with practiced urgency.
But the screen froze.
No signal.
Her eyes narrowed. She tried again—once, twice—each time met with the same dead silence.
"Tch. Damn it. No signal."
She glanced sharply at Ryoma, suspicion flickering in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Ryoma kept his gaze ahead, unreadable. Internally, his mind raced.
Of course there's no signal.
This car had an integrated jamming system—designed specifically to block all wireless transmissions within and around the vehicle.
And he was the one who built it.
But now, caught in the middle of something far more dangerous than he anticipated, he couldn't afford to let that fact slip.
He feigned confusion. "Really? That's weird. The signal just vanished?"
Takina didn't answer. She was already scanning the surroundings through the window.
"It looks like all we can do now is wait... and see where our hijacker wants to take us," Ryoma said, unnervingly calm.
Takina shot him a sharp glance. "And what if they plan to toss us into the ocean? Or off a cliff?"
Ryoma held a finger to his lips. "Shh. They're probably listening."
Takina's eyes flicked to the embedded speaker, lips tightening. She moved fast-pulling her sidearm and firing at the car door with precise force.
Bang!
The bullet struck, but only left a faint dent. She gritted her teeth. "Seriously? Bulletproof?"
Ryoma chuckled, clearly too pleased with himself. "Of course. That's what happens when a genius designs a vehicle."
Takina rolled her eyes. "Genius or not, your brilliance is getting us killed."
Ryoma leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing at the route displayed on the car's interface.
The coastline was drawing closer—far too quickly. His pulse spiked. They were being taken straight toward the ocean.
He tried to initiate a remote override, but the lack of signal rendered the connection to the mansion useless.
Nothing responded.
"Tch... figures."
His hand brushed against the hinges of his glasses.
"We will survive," he muttered. "I'm redesigning these glasses to work without a signal."
He pressed the hidden button.
A soft click. Silent. Subtle.
It was his last resort—an encrypted SOS trigger only his system testers would recognize.
Somewhere far away, alarms began to flash red on a silent console.
And someone immediately slammed the system offline. "They knew, huh?"
But far from the chaos, deep beneath the Murakami mansion, Ayaka's eyes widened.
A blinking red notification flashed across her control panel—the SOS signal.
Without hesitation, she sprinted to the underground lab, her footsteps echoing against steel floors.
She slammed her hand against the biometric scanner. The hidden door slid open with a hiss.
Inside, she activated the main screen.
The live feed loaded.
Her breath caught.
The car was speeding toward the cliff's edge—mere seconds from plunging into the sea.
"Not on my watch," she muttered, slamming her palm onto the red override button.
From the depths of the mansion, remote systems whirred to life.
Ayaka, and only Ayaka, had access to the emergency protocols buried deep in Ryoma's design. Systems even the car itself couldn't access.
Back inside the car, Takina felt a violent jolt as the vehicle suddenly swerved, slamming into the road divider.
Her hands gripped the seat instinctively.
She could hear it now-waves, loud and relentless, crashing against the rocks below.
They were too close.
She snapped her head toward Ryoma—
—and stared in disbelief.
He was sitting calmly, legs crossed, crunching on a bag of chips.
"Good thing I left a pack here," he said with a small grin, utterly unfazed.
Takina clenched her fists. "Seriously?!"
Then, with a sickening lurch, the car tipped forward—plummeting.
Splash.
Darkness consumed them. The moment the car hit the water, its power cut out.
The cabin was submerged in pitch-black silence.
"Ryoma?" Takina's voice was cautious, tinged with worry. "Are you okay?"
A pause.
"...You don't need to worry about me."
Before she could respond, the car shifted.
It floated.
A low hum filled the air. A soft blue glow lit the cabin from beneath the dashboard. Then—
"Control Mode: ON," said a calm voice from the speaker.
Takina's eyes widened.
"...Ayaka?"
The voice returned, composed and clear. "Switching from land mode to maritime mode."
A mechanical whir echoed around them as the tires receded into the chassis, shifting and reconfiguring. Panels unfolded, propellers engaged.
The car began gliding smoothly across the waves, transformed-no longer a car, but a boat.
"This is..." Takina murmured, eyes wide as she took in their now—floating vehicle. The transformation from car to boat was seamless—almost too smooth.
She turned her gaze to the blue-haired man beside her, who was still nonchalantly munching on chips as though they weren't just nearly dumped into the ocean.
"...Is there anything this car can't do?" she asked, incredulous.
Ryoma tilted his head thoughtfully. "Hmm. Well, it can't wash your clothes. Or do dishes. Yet."
He casually extended the bag of chips toward her. "Want some? They're a bit salty."
Takina gave him a dry look but shook her head. "No thanks."
Just then, her phone buzzed—signal restored.
At Café LycoReco, Chisato sat by the window, one hand idly stirring her drink, the other tapping against the table.
Ring ring.
She glanced at her phone, then lit up. "Takina!"
She picked up. "Where are you?! You're so late!" Her voice carried a blend of frustration and concern.
"Chisato, listen. Something happened." Takina's tone was sharp, focused. "Ryoma's car—someone hijacked it. We lost control earlier and—"
Suddenly, the interior of the boat-car flickered.
The blue ambient lighting turned an ominous red.
A distorted voice crackled from the speakers, laced with mocking amusement.
"Wow, you're a real piece of work, huh?! What a genius team!"
Takina snapped her head up.
"...Back to being hijacked, huh," Ryoma muttered under his breath, the chip bag now resting on his lap.
The lights flickered back to blue-but only barely.
Ayaka's voice came through, strained.
"Young master, they're breaching control again. If this continues, I won't be able to override their access much longer."
Ryoma leaned forward, eyes narrowing.
"Looks like this isn't over yet."
"I told you already—over time you will continue to be targeted continuously!"
Ayaka's voice cracked with frustration. "You should've just stayed at the mansion! Why are you so damn stubborn?!"
Ryoma's hand froze mid-reach into the chip bag. His grip tightened, crinkling the plastic, the sound sharp in the tense air. His jaw clenched.
"Shut up..." he muttered under his breath, just loud enough to be heard.
Ayaka wasn't backing down. "Ryoma Murakami—!"
"Ayaka Amamiya!" he snapped, his voice cutting through the space like a blade.
A heavy silence fell for a second.
"Stop lecturing me like I'm a child," he growled. "You're just my servant. A trusted one—but still a servant."
His words hit hard. Ayaka went quiet, but her silence said more than words.
"No one—not you, not my family, no one-gets to control my life. Not anymore," Ryoma continued, his voice trembling with restrained anger.
"This life is mine. I make the choices. I bear the consequences."
His tone darkened.
"Remember your place... Ayaka."
A quiet beep came from Takina's phone. She had held it near her ear the entire time, frozen.
Her eyes shifted to Ryoma—this was a side of him she had never seen before.
On the other end of the call, Chisato had gone quiet too.
"...Uhh," she finally said, voice awkward, barely above a whisper, "So... I guess I'll, uh, see you guys later?"
Takina slowly lowered her hand which was holding her phone, then turned to Ryoma, who was now staring blankly out at the water, chip bag forgotten on his lap.
The silence between them grew thick. The only sounds were the soft whirring of the boat engine and the gentle slosh of water against the hull.
No one said a word.
The tension lingered like smoke after a fire.
Ayaka sat frozen in the secret lab, her fingers trembling above the control panel.
She had never imagined this day would come—Ryoma, the boy she had raised and protected, would ever speak to her like that.
The words she had heard from him, sharp and cutting, echoed in her mind.
She clutched her chest, her breath shaky, as though trying to hold her heart in place before it exploded.
The ache was unbearable—like a hole had formed in her chest, growing with each passing second.
He's not the same anymore, she realized, the weight of the thought crushing her.
He was no longer that helpless child who relied on her care, who needed her to keep the world at bay.
He was... different. Stronger, maybe, but it hurt.
Tears stung her eyes, but she wiped them away hastily, refusing to let herself break down.
"I... I'm really sorry, young master," she whispered into the emptiness of the lab, her voice quivering.
Ryoma broke the silence with a cold, clipped command. "Take me back to land."
Ayaka's voice came through, steady despite the hurt in her heart. "Understood, young master."
The boat began to change course, heading toward the shore.
Takina's gaze flickered between Ryoma and the horizon, feeling the weight of the silence grow heavier.
She fidgeted, awkwardly, not sure how to fill the space between them. She glanced down at her phone when it buzzed.
"Takina, where are you now?" Chisato's voice crackled through the speaker, her concern clear.
Takina blinked, a slight frown furrowing her brow as she looked around. "Hm?" she replied.
"Chisato?" Ryoma's voice was calm, though his gaze never wavered from the water.
"Yeah, she's on the phone," Takina replied, flipping the phone into speaker mode.
"Are you guys safe now?" Chisato asked, her tone full of worry, as she started changing into her Lycoris uniform to help them.
"Yes, we're safe," Ryoma responded, his voice flat, as the boat's engine slowed.
A sigh of relief crackled through the speaker. "That's good... I was worried," Chisato muttered, her voice lighter now.
As if to echo the anxiety that had been simmering beneath the surface, the lights inside the boat flickered to a sudden red.
Takina and Ryoma both stiffened, their eyes scanning the dashboard. The hijacker had almost regained control.
But Ayaka, determined not to let them lose this battle, fought back. Her fingers flew over the keys, hacking fiercely.
The blue lights blinked back on, signaling that Ayaka had regained control.
Without a second's hesitation, Ryoma flung open the door and stepped out onto the solid ground.
Takina followed, the awkwardness of the moment still heavy between them.
"I've sent the location," Ryoma said, glancing back at Takina, who was already pulling out her phone.
"Alright, I'm on my way," Chisato's voice crackled through once more before the call abruptly ended.
In the heart of a secret base, a man sat hunched over a control panel, fingers flying across the keys as he hacked into the car's systems.
With a smirk, he grabbed a communication device and barked orders to his men.
He pressed a button. The hacker on the other end complied, activating the vehicle's self-destruct mode.
Takina felt a strange shift in the air, her instincts kicking in just as Ryoma began to step forward.
She yanked him back, positioning herself between him and the looming threat.
Her eyes darted across the scene, taking in the chaos unfurling around them.
The explosion had torn through the area, throwing everything into a state of confusion.
People screamed, scrambling for safety, while others stood frozen in shock, staring at the burning wreckage.
Yet, what they didn't know was that hidden eyes were watching them, lurking in the shadows.
"Sir, they've escaped the vehicle," a scout's voice crackled over the comms.
"What?!" The man cursed, his face contorting with frustration. "I detonated the car! Damn it!"
Ryoma, his gaze fixed on the inferno where his vehicle had once been, didn't show even the slightest trace of disappointment.
"So, they activated the self-destruct," he murmured, almost casually.
Takina raised an eyebrow, noting his indifferent expression. "You don't seem too bothered by the destruction of your car."
Ryoma glanced at her, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "It's just a machine. I can always build a new one."
Takina raised her eyebrows, "Oh? I see."
Somewhere distant, hidden in the shadows, a sniper had Ryoma's head in their crosshairs.
Takina's sharp eyes caught the glint of the sniper's rifle.
Without hesitation, she spun around, drawing her gun with practiced ease.
The sound of the sniper's shot echoed in the air, but before the bullet could reach its target, Takina yanked Ryoma back, pulling him out of harm's way.
The bullet whizzed by, narrowly missing them, but Takina's own shot rang out, striking the sniper's shoulder with deadly accuracy.
Ryoma froze, eyes wide with disbelief. He'd never seen Takina fight like this before, let alone showcase such precision.
It was almost as if she was a different person entirely.
His gaze fell to the broken glasses on the ground, the shards scattered from where the bullet had struck.
His own glasses—destroyed in a split second. "Follow me," Takina said, her voice calm and commanding.
Without waiting for a response, she bolted in the opposite direction, signaling for him to stay close.
Ryoma hesitated only for a moment before nodding and sprinting after her.
Takina led them to the shelter of a nearby building, quickly positioning herself behind its sturdy walls.
She gestured sharply for Ryoma to crouch next to her, her eyes scanning their surroundings, ever-vigilant for any signs of danger.
"Do you think Chisato will be confused if we just leave like this?" Ryoma asked, still a bit rattled by the close call.
Takina's eyes flicked to him, her expression unreadable for a moment.
"Probably," she said quietly, "But staying out here in the open with a sniper on our tail isn't an option."
Ryoma nodded slowly, his fingers brushing against the sleek surface of his phone as he pulled it from his pocket.
Just as he was about to check the screen, a call from Ayaka flashed on the display.
Ryoma's expression shifted, narrowing his eyes before answering the phone. "Yes?"
"Young Master! I'm relieved to hear you're still alive!" Ayaka's voice crackled through the speaker, a mix of concern and relief.
"I saw the condition of the vehicle... they destroyed it, didn't they?" she asked, a hint of disbelief in her tone.
"Yeah," Ryoma replied nonchalantly. "I'll make a new one later." He paused, then added, "I was with Takina. She saved me from a sniper."
"Takina?" Ayaka's voice brightened. "I'll have to thank her later."
"I'll tell her when I can," Ryoma said with a small smile. "For now, if I'm in danger again, I'll send an SOS."
"Don't bother looking for me," Ryoma ordered, cutting her off before she could protest.
Ayaka hesitated, wanting to argue but ultimately surrendering with a light chuckle. "Alright, alright... just don't forget to bring souvenirs, okay?"
Ryoma's smile widened, glad to hear Ayaka back to her usual teasing self. "I'll make sure to."
With a soft click, Ryoma ended the call and glanced over at Takina, who was absorbed in her own phone.
"Chisato?" Ryoma guessed, raising an eyebrow.
Takina, who had been listening in on the conversation, nodded without looking up. "Yeah, I told her where we are now."
Meanwhile, on a quiet beach, Chisato stared at her phone screen, reading Takina's message.
Her eyes scanned the horizon before landing on a pile of charred remains—the wreckage of Ryoma's vehicles.
"No wonder," she sighed, wiping a strand of hair from her face.
"I only saw this one vehicle that looked like it just exploded." She shook her head.
Her fingers quickly tapped out a response. "Don't leave there until I'm three!" she typed with determination.
Back with Takina and Ryoma, Takina glanced at her phone, reading the new message with a faint nod.
"We have to wait," she said, putting the phone away.
Ryoma gave a silent nod, and a long pause followed.
Neither of them were particularly talkative, and the quiet settled between them like a natural companion.
Then, unexpectedly, Ryoma broke the silence. "How can you shoot so accurately?"
Takina turned to look at him, a subtle glint of pride flickering in her usually calm eyes.
His question had caught her slightly off guard, but not unpleasantly so.
"Years of training," she replied simply. "I've been honing my aim since I was young."
There was another beat of silence as Ryoma processed that.
Then, Takina glanced at him, curious. "Have you never held a gun or used one before?"
"No. Never," Ryoma answered, shaking his head. "I've always relied on my gadgets."
Takina sighed inwardly, though her expression remained composed.
"Gadgets and tech can be useful," she said, her tone firm but not unkind.
"But overreliance on them can become a weakness. It's important to have other skills too—skills that don't need batteries or signals."
Ryoma blinked, momentarily stunned. The realization hit him harder than he expected—how completely dependent he had become on his technology.
"I'll keep your advice in mind," he said at last, voice quieter.
Takina arched an eyebrow slightly, surprised by how easily he accepted it.
She had expected more resistance—or at least a witty comeback.
"Good," she replied.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind a nearby corner. Both of them turned toward the noise, alert.
"She's here, huh?" Ryoma said, stepping forward with a relaxed smile forming on his lips.
The moment Takina saw the approaching figure, her instincts flared—that wasn't Chisato.
"Ryoma!" she shouted.
"Hm?" Ryoma turned around, but too late. The stranger was already upon him, plunging a syringe into his neck.
Ryoma's eyes widened. He managed a subtle hand gesture—barely noticeable—before his body went limp and collapsed.
Takina didn't hesitate. In one swift motion, she drew her gun and fired.
The bullet struck the kidnapper in the shoulder, but the man gritted his teeth and powered through the pain.
He hoisted Ryoma over his shoulder and dashed to a nearby car.
"Tch—!" Takina cursed under her breath as the engine roared to life and the vehicle sped off, vanishing down the street.
Left behind in the dust was Ryoma's phone, its screen flickering from the fall.
Takina sprinted toward it, grabbing the device before pulling out her own phone.
"Chisato, emergency. Ryoma's been kidnapped," she said, her voice sharp and breathless.
"What?! Kidnapped?!" Chisato's voice on the other end was filled with disbelief.
Takina didn't hide her irritation. "For a genius, he's such an idiot!" she snapped, already running in the direction the car had gone.
I can't lose them.
"Where is he?! Where are you?!" Chisato asked, now clearly panicked.
Takina's eyes scanned the area—rows of unfamiliar buildings, indistinct streets.
"I'm not sure exactly. But I'm chasing them—on foot."
Chisato fell silent for a moment. Then, her voice came back, low and determined. "Alright... I'll find you. Just don't lose them."
Ryoma's eyes fluttered open.
The dim light of the car's interior greeted him, and the sharp ache in his wrists reminded him he was tied up-hands bound tightly behind his back, ankles secured.
He was lying across the back seat, the vehicle in motion.
Kidnapped.
Again.
He let out a soft breath and closed his eyes once more.
The feeling of helplessness gnawed at him. So this is what it means to be a burden. He hated it.
I couldn't do anything. I couldn't even defend myself...
A bitter thought crossed his mind. "I'm ashamed... to call myself a Murakami."
"Kid's awake, huh?!" a gruff voice from the front seat called out.
Ryoma didn't respond. He kept his eyes shut, forcing his breathing into a slow, even rhythm—playing dead, or at least unconscious.
Eventually, the car came to a stop. Doors slammed. Rough hands grabbed him, dragging his limp body out.
Through half-lidded eyes, Ryoma stole a glance at his surroundings.
They brought him into a dim apartment. The room was unexpectedly spacious, yet cold and cluttered— wires snaked along the walls and floor like tangled vines, and multiple monitors flickered with streams of data and code.
This must be the hacker's den...
"Looks like he's awake," a new voice remarked, cold and amused.
"Not bad. The Murakami kid isn't as soft as he looks."
Ryoma barely had time to react before he was hurled across the floor.
His body hit the ground with a dull thud, rolling to a stop near the edge of the room.
He winced but said nothing, trying to push himself up despite his restraints.
A pair of polished black boots stepped into his view.
Ryoma looked up to see a man with jet-black hair and piercing black eyes glaring down at him with quiet disdain.
Around him stood two others-both clearly armed, and loyal.
The hacker smirked.
"You were supposed to be a weak tech brat," he said, crouching to meet Ryoma's eyes. "But maybe we underestimated you."
Ryoma didn't flinch. He met the man's gaze, even as sweat trailed down his brow.
I'm not strong like Takina and Chisato... but I'm not helpless either.
The man with pitch-black eyes smiled as he stepped closer. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Null."
"A pleasure to meet you, Ryoma Murakami."
Ryoma raised an eyebrow, the corners of his lips tugging into a smirk. "Null? What, your parents ran out of names?"
A flicker of annoyance passed through Null's gaze, but it quickly morphed into amusement.
"Sharp tongue," he said coolly. Behind him, the two guards chuckled.
Null crouched, bringing himself to eye level with Ryoma, who was still tied up on the floor.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he reached forward, gripping Ryoma's chin and tilting his face upward.
"Don't forget your place," he whispered. "You're in no position to act cocky."
"Don't touch me," Ryoma growled, jerking his head away.
Null chuckled and rose to his feet, brushing imaginary dust from his coat.
"Do you know why I kidnapped you, young master Murakami?"
Ryoma rolled his eyes. "Let me guess... money? That's usually the top of the list."
That earned a louder laugh from Null. "You're not wrong. You Murakamis have deep pockets—it would be a waste not to take advantage of that."
He turned his back to Ryoma and began pacing slowly, hands behind his back.
"But that's only part of the reason," he added, his tone dropping a degree colder.
Ryoma tilted his head, keeping his eyes on the man. "Oh? Then enlighten me. What else do you want, besides my family's bank account?"
Null stopped mid-step and turned, his grin widening.
"I want you to hand over Murakami Tech to me," Null said, arms crossed, his voice filled with icy confidence.
Ryoma blinked once, then raised an eyebrow. "Oh, that?" he replied, almost casually.
"Makes sense. A hacker with control of a major tech company... You could turn Tokyo into your personal playground."
Null chuckled, clearly pleased. "You're sharper than you look, Ryoma," he said.
"With your company's resources and my skills, I could reshape Japan's technological future—bend it to my will."
His gaze bore into Ryoma, but the younger Murakami wasn't flinching.
He heard footsteps in the distance—someone was coming.
Still, a flicker of frustration tugged at his chest. Why is it always someone else saving me?
Ryoma narrowed his eyes. "But the real question is—can you make me hand it over?"
Before Null could answer, the door burst open-gunfire erupted.
One of Null's men jumped in front of him, taking the bullet. "Ah! Good job!" Null praised sarcastically. "I'll give you a raise later-if you survive!"
Null slapped his hand against a nearby emergency switch. A siren blared, and another wave of armed men poured into the room.
"Well, well," Null said, backing toward safety, "I'm honestly surprised you found us so fast."
A calm, cold voice cut through the chaos.
"That's because the person you kidnapped isn't an idiot."
A black-haired woman stepped through the smoke, holding up a phone—the screen displayed a blinking dot.
"Before you injected him, he activated a tracker," she said plainly.
Null's eyes widened. He spun around and saw the small, blinking device hidden in the seam of Ryoma's jacket.
Ryoma glanced up at him, a wry smirk playing on his lips. "Maybe try being more thorough next time."
Null's jaw tightened. That smug expression on Ryoma's face was infuriating.
"Shut up!" he barked.
Takina stepped forward, gun raised. One of the men lunged at her—but his attack missed. A single shot rang out. Takina's bullet found its mark.
The man staggered backward, collapsing to the ground. But before she could breathe, a group of thugs rushed her from behind.
Takina spun on her heel, dodging every blow with precise, fluid motion.
Then she struck back-swift, merciless, and efficient.
From a distance, Ryoma had been watching in silence.
His eyes shifted to Null, who was frozen, fear written all over his face as he witnessed Takina's lethal skill.
Without making a sound, Ryoma began to loosen the ropes binding him.
One by one, they slipped free—until finally, he could move again.
Just as he was about to act, something caught his eye—a gun, thrown aside in the chaos, lay just inches away.
He stared at it. Ryoma had never held a weapon in his life.
To him, intelligence had always been the ultimate power—stronger than fists, faster than bullets.
But reality had been cruel. He'd been kidnapped, beaten, and forced to rely on others again and again.
His hand hovered over the weapon. Doubt gnawed at him.
Then, with a deep breath and a heavy exhale, Ryoma made his choice.
From the right, one of the men charged at her—but Takina twisted out of the way and fired without hesitation.
Another attacker lunged in from the left, a knife glinting in his hand.
Once again, Takina evaded effortlessly, delivering a brutal counter that left the man on his knees, groaning in pain.
But she didn't notice the shadow creeping up behind her.
"Get down!" Ryoma shouted.
Takina dropped instantly. A gunshot echoed—and the man behind her was hit clean, stumbling backward with a cry of pain.
Ryoma stood there, pistol in hand, his fingers trembling. He stared at what he had done, barely believing it.
Takina turned, momentarily stunned to see Ryoma had pulled the trigger.
But there was no time for shock.
The last attacker tried to make a move—but Takina was faster.
With one precise strike from the side, she knocked him out cold.
Null could only stare, frozen in disbelief—until he felt cold metal press against the back of his head.
It was Ryoma.
"Checkmate," he whispered.
Null stared in disbelief, arms slowly rising in surrender.
He had been completely outmaneuvered by the very boy he thought would be easy to control.
His plan, built on arrogance and calculation, had crumbled in front of him.
Takina approached swiftly, her expression unreadable.
She grabbed the same rope that had been used to bind Ryoma and, without hesitation, used it to tie Null's hands behind his back.
Meanwhile, Ryoma stood still, his eyes fixed on the gun he had fired earlier.
His hands were trembling slightly-not from fear, but from realization.
I actually did it... I pulled the trigger.
A wave of relief washed over him, followed by a strange sense of exhilaration.
He smiled faintly.
Takina glanced at him, noticing the subtle shift in his demeanor despite his attempts to remain composed.
"You did good," she said, stepping closer.
Ryoma turned to her, surprised-but grateful. "Thank you."
Takina allowed herself a small smile. "And I guess you're not so dependent on your gadgets after all."
Ryoma blinked, her words sinking in. "So I can take action without needing them, huh..."
He looked down at his hands, then back up. "It's... kind of fun," he mumbled, almost sheepishly.
Takina nodded, the faintest glint of approval in her eyes. "Glad to hear that."
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.
The three of them turned toward the source—eyes narrowing until they caught a glimpse of red.
"Heyyy! Are you guys okay?!" came a familiar, cheerful voice.
It was Chisato.
Takina let out a sigh of relief, her shoulders easing for the first time in a while. "Yeah, we're fine now," she replied.
Chisato's expression softened, her concern melting into a warm smile.
"That's good." She walked over quickly, then stopped when she noticed the man tied up on the ground.
Her crimson eyes flicked toward him. "And who's this guy supposed to be?"
Ryoma glanced at Null with disinterest. "The guy who caused all this mess."
"Hey! Don't think this means you've won, Murakami!" Null barked, glaring up from the floor.
Without hesitation, Ryoma raised the gun and aimed it straight at Null's head, his expression flat. "You have no right to speak."
Chisato's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, Ryoma, are you holding a gun right now?!"
"Yes," Ryoma replied coolly. "Since about four minutes ago."
Chisato stared at him for a moment, then chuckled. "Well, you actually don't look half-bad with it."
Takina nodded beside her, her gaze flicking between Ryoma and the gun with mild amusement.
"Surprisingly, he's good with it."
Ryoma gave a faint shrug, not denying it.
Chisato then pulled out her phone and called for backup. "I'll have someone pick up this trash and his friends."
With the situation under control, the tension in the air slowly dissolved, the three of them walked side by side, leaving the building.
The three of them walked together in silence, the lingering tension from earlier slowly dissipating with each step.
After a while, Chisato broke the quiet. "You're surprisingly calm after getting kidnapped," she said, glancing at Ryoma with a mix of concern and curiosity.
Ryoma sighed. "It's not my first time. Honestly, I'm getting tired of it."
Takina raised an eyebrow. "Must be tough being the heir of a major tech company."
"That's the risk that comes with the name," Ryoma replied flatly, slipping his hands into his pockets.
Chisato let out a soft laugh, though her eyes reflected a quiet worry. "You might want to try being a little less reckless."
Ryoma checked the time on his phone. "We've still got quite a way to the café... and I need to get back to the company soon."
He stopped in his tracks. "Wait here for a moment," he said, then turned and walked off without explanation.
Takina and Chisato watched him go.
"Where's he going now?" Chisato asked, tilting her head.
Takina crossed her arms. "No clue."
A few minutes later, the hum of an approaching engine reached their ears. A sleek, new car rolled up and stopped right in front of them.
Chisato blinked. "Why did that car stop next to us?"
The window of the sleek car rolled down, revealing Ryoma in the driver's seat. He looked at them with his usual calm expression.
"What are you waiting for? Get in," he said.
"Ryoma?!" Chisato blinked in surprise, exchanging a look with Takina before they both slid into the passenger seats.
Takina glanced around the spotless interior. "Did you just buy this?"
"Yeah," Ryoma replied, casually starting the engine.
Chisato let out a chuckle. "Rich people really do enjoy spontaneous spending, huh?"
"You know," Takina said, crossing her arms, "we could've just taken a taxi."
Ryoma kept his eyes on the road. "I just didn't want anyone to get surprised by the fact that I'm the son of the Murakami family."
Chisato laughed, clearly amused by his reasoning. "Well, they'll definitely be surprised when they see you get dropped off at your big mansion."
The ride continued with quiet chatter and the hum of the engine.
After some time, the car pulled up in front of Café LycoReco. "Alright, we're here," Ryoma said, putting the car in park.
Chisato and Takina stepped out, stretching slightly.
"Thanks for the ride," Chisato said with a smile.
"No problem," Ryoma replied.
Takina gave him a firm look. "Just don't let your car get hijacked again."
Ryoma smirked slightly. "It won't happen again."
With a light wave, he added, "Later," and drove off.
"Be careful!" Chisato called out as his car disappeared into the distance.
As the city lights streaked past his windows, Ryoma tapped his phone's screen and held it to his ear.
"Ayaka."
The call barely rang once before a soft, gentle voice answered on the other end.
"Young master! If you've called, that means you're safe, right?"
"Of course. Who do you think I am?" Ryoma replied with a smirk.
"Besides, I had a bit of help from Takina and Chisato."
"Is that so?" Ayaka's voice brightened with delight. "Then you should invite them over to the mansion sometime! I'll cook something special for them!"
"Yeah, I'll bring them by one of these days," he replied.
There was a brief pause before Ryoma's tone shifted. "By the way, I have a favor to ask."
Ayaka's voice turned even warmer, touched with loyal cheer. "Of course, young master! Anything you need-don't hesitate to ask. I'm at your service!"
"I want you to build a shooting practice area," Ryoma said, eyes focused on the road ahead. "In the underground training space."
There was a moment of stunned silence from the other end.
"A shooting practice area... in the underground place, you said?" she repeated, surprised.
"Yes. And get in touch with some military trainers to help me out."
Ayaka took a quiet breath before responding, her tone now steady and composed.
"Understood. As you wish, master. I will make the necessary arrangements."
Ryoma nodded to himself. "Thank you."
With that, he ended the call, the screen going dark as his thoughts continued down a sharper path than before.
Ayaka nodded to herself, the phone sliding into the pocket of her uniform.
She could always tell when Ryoma was serious-he rarely joked around, especially when it came to matters like this.
"A shooting practice area, huh?" she murmured, her brow furrowing slightly as she thought about the unusual request.
"That's a pretty unconventional request..."
Without wasting another moment, Ayaka set to work, making the necessary arrangements with quiet determination.
She knew her master's wishes were never to be taken lightly.
Meanwhile, Ryoma, hands gripping the steering wheel, steered the car smoothly through the streets.
His expression remained focused, eyes scanning the road ahead as his thoughts sharpened.
"Alright... time for work," he muttered, pulling into the driveway of Murakami Tech.
The company loomed ahead, its glass facade reflecting the early morning light, a symbol of the empire that awaited his attention.
In a dimly lit lounge far from the bustling city, a man with fiery red hair lounged carelessly on a leather sofa, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers.
The silence was broken by the sharp buzz of his phone. He answered lazily, not bothering to sit up.
A cold, emotionless voice came through the receiver. "Been a while since we last talked, Tatsuma."
Tatsuma's lips curled into a grin, his eyes narrowing. "Oh? You still remember your old friend, huh? Touching."
The voice on the other end replied with venom. "You're a problem that's hard to get rid of, Tatsuma."
Tatsuma chuckled. "Then why the hell are you calling me?"
"Are you still targeting that boy?" the voice asked, calm and sharp like a blade.
Tatsuma's eyes gleamed with dangerous amusement. "Of course I am. With him in my hands, I could control all of Tokyo... hell, maybe even the whole country!"
His laugh echoed through the room like a madman entertained by his own ambition.
"Aren't you afraid of ending up in prison again?" the man asked again.
"Afraid?" Tatsuma scoffed. "I just got out a few weeks ago. I'm not planning on going back anytime soon."
There was a pause, then a sharp shift in tone. "Why? Is it because of your son, Masaru?" Tatsuma said, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Back then, I asked you to work with me, but you refused, threw me in prison, and then ran overseas."
"But your son... your son is still in Japan. Are you seriously that stupid?"
Silence.
Then came the voice, lower, colder, deadlier. "That's exactly why... I'm coming back to Japan."
Tatsuma's grin didn't falter. "Oh? Then come. I'll be waiting," he said, still lounging like a predator in wait.
"Just wait… I'll make sure you rot in prison forever"
Click.
The call ended.
Tatsuma sat there in the silence, then let out a dark, satisfied chuckle. His eyes gleamed crimson in the low light.
Tatsuma stared at the phone for a moment, then slowly stood up, cracking his knuckles.
His grin widened. "Come back then, Masaru… This is going to be fun."