Chapter 4 – Shadows at the Harbor
The sea breeze blew harshly, carrying the sharp scent of salt. The harbor lights flickered—some dim, some trembling as if about to die. That night, Shima, Ryuji, and Toru followed Hayato's steps toward an old warehouse standing at the edge of the pier.
Shima glanced around warily. The place was all too familiar—every rusty pillar, every shadow of the warehouse, even the smell of salt mixed with blood lingering in the air.
"This harbor…" he muttered.
Ryuji frowned. "Isn't this… where the Viper gang used to be?"
Toru stopped in his tracks, his sharp eyes narrowing at Hayato. "Why did you bring them here?"
Hayato halted in front of the rusty iron door. He turned, a faint smile on his lips but coldness in his gaze.
"Because there's something you need to know. And this is the only place I can show you."
Shima clenched his fists. Memories of the night they crushed Viper flashed back—the clash of chains, shouts of rage, and the bloody fall of the gang in their hands.
"This place is dead," Shima said firmly. "Viper is finished."
"True," Hayato replied as he pushed the iron door open with a loud screech. "But something dead can always be brought back… if someone knows how."
---
Inside the warehouse, dim light illuminated stacks of wooden crates. Two figures stood at the front, freezing Shima in place.
Bright yellow hair, a scarred muscular body—Tetsuo.
Beside him, a man with pink hair and a sly grin—Kaito.
"You… you're still alive?" Ryuji's voice cracked.
Tetsuo only sneered, baring his sharp teeth.
"Hard to die when the world still has a place for people like us."
Kaito chuckled, his eyes narrowing with malice.
"And now, we have a reason to stay alive. Our new boss gave us a path."
Shima's head snapped toward Hayato. That word—boss—stabbed at his ears. Boss? To whom?
Hayato stepped forward, standing between the two men with authority.
"Correct. They were once Viper. But now, they are part of Shadow. I gave them a new purpose, and they chose to follow me."
---
Ryuji stepped forward, wide-eyed. "What do you mean, Hayato?"
Hayato raised his hand, signaling Tetsuo, Kaito, and the others to step back. Silence filled the air, broken only by the crashing waves outside.
"My meaning is simple. I've taken over the district Viper once ruled. Their distribution lines, their networks… all of it now belongs to Shadow."
Shima's blood surged. "Without telling us?"
"Yes," Hayato answered calmly. "Because I knew you wouldn't agree—not at first. But the underworld doesn't tolerate empty spaces. If we don't claim what Viper left behind, someone else will. And when that happens, we'll be the ones crushed."
Toru sighed, his eyes narrowing cautiously. "You're playing a dangerous game, Hayato. Taking Viper's business also means inheriting all their enemies."
A faint smile spread across Hayato's face.
"Their enemies would become ours sooner or later anyway. Better we face them at full strength than hide behind a small garage."
---
Shima lowered his gaze, his thoughts in turmoil. Shadow was never meant for power. It was created to survive, to protect. But what Hayato was doing… this was ambition. Expansion.
"Why are you doing this?" Shima's voice was low but sharp.
Hayato walked closer, stopping directly in front of him. His eyes were darker than ever, hiding a deep scar.
"Because I won't let you suffer the same fate as my old crew."
The room froze. Ryuji swallowed hard, Toru furrowed his brow, and Shima simply stared, waiting.
Hayato drew a deep breath.
"I once stood where you are now. A small gang, full of dreams, fighting to survive. But we were too weak, too naïve. A bigger gang crushed us overnight. I lost everything. I won't let Shadow repeat that history."
Toru studied him for a long moment, weighing each word.
"So this is your reason? To take Viper's territory so Shadow won't share their fate?"
"Exactly," Hayato replied without hesitation. "The three of you were strong enough to take Viper down. But strength alone isn't enough. We need networks, influence, and money. And now, all of that is within our grasp."
---
Ryuji clenched his fists, torn between anger and admiration. "You… you should have told us from the start. Don't you realize how dangerous this is?"
"I do," Hayato said steadily. "That's why I couldn't leave room for doubt. Everything is already in motion. All we need now is to move forward."
Shima shook his head slowly. "You made decisions for us, Hayato. That's not the way of Shadow."
Hayato smiled faintly. "Maybe not your way. But in this world, sometimes someone has to make the unpopular choice."
---
The harbor air grew colder that night. Waves battered the pier walls like a grim soundtrack to their debate.
Toru finally spoke, his voice heavy.
"If Shadow truly takes this path, there's no turning back. There's no place for half measures anymore."
Shima looked at his mentor, then at Ryuji whose face was clouded with doubt. In his chest, emotions clashed—fear, anger, and perhaps a faint spark of admiration for Hayato's resolve.
But one thing was certain: from that night on, Shadow was no longer just a small gang with a garage for cover. They had stepped into a larger, deadlier arena, filled with enemies and secrets.
And it all began at the harbor—the place where Viper once reigned, and where new shadows had now taken their place.
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