August 3rd incident
The so-called inevitability and the inability to do so.
It's simply because they lack the ability.
Just because Hanagaki Takedo couldn't stop something doesn't mean Takiya Yuko couldn't do it either.
Less than a day after Yuko issued the order to capture Nagauchi, a sudden change occurred. Yuko, who had planned to capture the leader first, received news that Nagauchi had been stabbed and hospitalized by Haruki Hayashida. Afterwards, Budo informed Yuko of what had happened. Because of Apa's capture, Mikey and Draken had a falling out and entered a cold war. Furthermore, Jichang and Kazutora also left Touman because of Apa. Draken was criticized by everyone, accused of abandoning Apa. It seemed as if everything was directed at him.
During the phone call, Wu Dao stated that Draken did indeed die in a gang war, but rumors circulating online suggested it was due to internal strife. The leader's wife, who is both beautiful and devoted to her master, is in the hospital and unable to clash with Dong Wan; everything that's happening now seems to point to internal conflict.
"Was Draken killed by Dongwan's people?" Wu Dao made a bold guess.
Yuko immediately dismissed this guess. If anyone in Dongwan could defeat Draken, he wouldn't be in the position of vice commander, let alone kill him.
These words reminded Wudao of a bad memory, and he said to Yuko, "Killing someone doesn't necessarily mean a direct confrontation; it could also be an ambush..." because he had once been ambushed and pushed into the tracks, resulting in his death.
Upon hearing this, Yuko realized she had been too naive; she had subconsciously assumed that victory, defeat, life, and death were all honorable acts. At that moment, Yuko seemed to touch the boundaries of her understanding. This world wasn't only inhabited by adults who used dirty tricks; there were also scum among her own age who resorted to despicable methods.
“There is someone stronger than Draken in Dongwanli,” Wu Dao said inexplicably.
Yuko had actually realized earlier than him that only Mikey was stronger than Draken, but she immediately dismissed this possibility. She said, "Manjiro couldn't have killed Draken. The reasoning isn't sufficient. Only if Draken had killed Apa would this have happened."
After this discussion, the two were unsure what to do. After all, the discord between Draken and the others was something that was difficult for outsiders to understand.
The one who tied the knot must untie it. Yuko tells Takedo that she will try to contact Apa, who has been captured, and that his side of the story will be more convincing than anyone else's. Takedo also says he will try to ease tensions between everyone.
Later that evening, Emma and Nono arrived at Yuko's house, clearly also terrified by the unexpected turn of events.
"It seems like Xiao Gui is serious about leaving Dongwan this time. If you ask her a few more questions, she'll tell me not to meddle." Nono picked up her teacup and put it down again, looking very anxious.
Emma couldn't help but shed tears; she had never seen Dongwan like this before.
Yuko didn't know how to comfort them, so she could only stay by their side silently. She was also reflecting on herself; compared to the changes in fate, her response was too slow.
We need to be more decisive.
However, it's not too late; this isn't the worst-case scenario.
Suddenly, a loud bang. Emma and Yuko looked at Nono, probably blinded by confusion and anger. Nono slammed his hand on the table and looked at Yuko seriously: "Why don't we just ask Uncle Takiya to catch these troublesome guys and give them a beating!"
Yuko/Emma: ...
Because she was worried about them, Yuko let them stay overnight.
Just as the three were about to turn off the lights and go to sleep, a phone call shattered their hard-won peace.
Nono took Yuko's phone and handed it to her, but couldn't help but wonder when she saw the caller ID: "Hanamiya? Why is he calling you at this hour?"
Yuko shook her head to indicate that she didn't know, and then answered the phone.
"Yuko, are you still awake?" Ichigo's voice came through the phone. "Sorry for calling so late, there's something urgent I need to ask you."
"As long as I can help," Yuko readily agreed.
Ichigo seemed to have expected Yuko to agree, but her straightforward attitude still left him feeling helpless. Ichigo said, "I think Nono, that big mouth, must have told you about me and Baji leaving Touman. Although Baji and I agreed not to tell a third person why we did this, things have become a bit tricky now, so I had no choice but to come to you without Baji's knowledge."
Yuko became serious because of Ichigo's words: "Don't worry, no one else will know about your conversation with me." As she spoke, Yuko got off the bed and walked out of the bedroom amidst Nono and Emma's curious and suspicious expressions.
About fifteen minutes later, Yuko returned from outside.
Ye Ye and Emma immediately pinned her to the bed as if they were interrogating a criminal.
"Tell me quickly, what did he say to you? Why are you being so secretive!"
"That's right, that's right, hurry up and tell the truth!"
Yuko sighed as she lay in bed and said, "He just asked me for help."
"Why are you looking for me?" Emma asked, puzzled.
Yuko reminded them, "Have you forgotten where you are? And who's in front of you?" Then she raised her hands in apology, "I'm sorry! I promised Ichigo I wouldn't tell anyone, so I can't tell you for now. But I promise, once this is all sorted out, everything will be back to normal."
Emma and Nono exchanged a glance, then got up and let Yuko go.
"Fine, since you've said so."
"Although I don't really trust Yihu, Xiaoyou wouldn't lie to me, I believe you."
Yuko finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After turning off the lights, the three of them continued to lie in bed.
In the darkness, no one seemed to feel sleepy.
"It seems like the Musashi Festival is in a couple of days."
Will there be fireworks?
"I guess so. I was thinking of inviting everyone... but I think I'll pass."
"Um."
Nono and Emma hugged Yuko on either side, and Emma whispered in her ear, "Will everyone make up and... go back to the way things were before?" Her voice was choked with emotion.
In the darkness, Yuko held their hands: "...Yes. It will happen."
On August 2nd, things took a turn for the better. Takedo told Yuko that Mikey and Draken had reconciled, and the crisis was over. At the same time, Emma, who wanted to bring Takedo and Hinata together, called Yuko to invite her to the Musashi Festival.
Yuko breathed a sigh of relief. But was the crisis really over, as Takeshi had said? Because she hadn't been involved in their reconciliation, Yuko still felt uneasy.
She also received news about the matter Yi Hu had asked her to handle. However, listening to her subordinates' reports, she didn't notice anything amiss and simply told Yi Hu everything.
After receiving the information, Ichigo also revealed his recent situation to Yuko. He and Baji had infiltrated a biker gang called Headless Angels. The vice-leader was a man named Shuji Hanma, and the leader was still missing. However, Ichigo didn't tell Yuko why they had infiltrated this organization. Since he didn't want to talk about it, Yuko didn't ask. She trusted Ichigo to a certain extent. If Baji had been infiltrating alone, Yuko would definitely have tried to dissuade him and made him return regardless of his wishes. But Ichigo was different; his presence made her feel a little more at ease.
August 3rd arrived as scheduled.
Yuko changed into a yukata and went to the place she had arranged to meet everyone. When she saw Takedo, he looked relaxed, as if the crisis had been averted.
Yuko looked worried, and Nono, standing beside her, wasn't very interested either. He hadn't shown up as promised, for the obvious reason that he didn't want anything to do with anyone from Dongwan right now. Nono and Yuko followed a few steps behind Draken and Emma, with Budo and Tachibana Hinata behind them. Mikey, who was supposed to come along, had to cancel at the last minute.
"Yuko, do you want to buy a mask? We have Ultraman ones." Nono seemed afraid of affecting everyone's mood, so she tried to pique Yuko's interest by looking at the mask stall.
Yuko paused for a moment, then said, "Huh? I'm fourteen years old already..."
"So what if I'm fourteen? I'll still be watching tokusatsu shows when I'm forty."
Yuko smiled at Nono's cool statement. The two girls walked hand in hand to the stall, one saying she wanted Leo and the other saying she wanted Gaia.
Yuko turned and called out to Emma, but Emma and Draken were nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, the masks in her hands fell to the ground. Nono muttered as she picked them up to give them to her, but Yuko ran back to Takedo and Hinata to ask, "Where's Draken?"
Just then, it started to rain.
They should seek shelter from the rain, but Yuko is worried because she can't get through to Emma on the phone. She also tries to contact the caregiver who is monitoring the two of them, but she loses track of him because of the large crowd at the festival and the distance.
Yuko had a bad feeling; she had to go find Draken and Emma.
The other three couldn't dissuade them, and Takedo realized something was wrong after a phone call. Hinata and Nono also noticed the two's unusual behavior, but the situation was urgent, and they wanted to go with Yuko, but Yuko sternly refused.
"no!"
Perhaps because they had never seen Yuko reject them so decisively and without any mercy, Nono and Hinata were stunned for a moment. It wasn't until they watched their backs gradually disappear into the distance that Nono regained her voice.
Although he had always been by Yuko's side and had always worried about her indecisiveness, Yuko had unknowingly grown into someone who could show a cold expression. Seeing Yuko like this, Nono felt a mix of relief and melancholy.
＊
Yuko was extremely glad that she hadn't split up with Takedo to search, but instead went to the shrine with him. If she hadn't been with Takedo, she wouldn't have been able to witness the conspiracy between Touman's spy and the man who loved beauty and the Lord, their plan to murder Draken.
So that's how it is. Draken's ordeal is here... The unknown danger is unsettling, but now that she knows the key, Yuko feels a strange sense of peace. She can't help but feel glad she made preparations in advance. Yuko takes out her phone and dials a number, saying to the person on the other end, "At Musashi Shrine, we can move out."
Shortly after hanging up the phone, Yuko and Takedo's hiding place was discovered. One of them grabbed Takedo by the hair and dragged him out, while the other grabbed Yuko's arm.
"Isn't this the big shot, Hua Yuanwu Dao? He's actually on a date with a woman here."
"This kid is really lucky; the women surrounding him are all incredibly beautiful."
"You dare to challenge me?" Qing Jiang squatted down and looked at Wu Dao.
Wu Dao glared angrily: "You traitor, Qing general!"
Enraged by these words, Qing raised his fist, about to strike Wu Dao's face. A gunshot rang out, drawing everyone's attention.
Wearing an arrow-patterned yukata and with her hair neatly styled, she looked like a refined young lady from a wealthy family, yet she held a terrifying weapon in her hand.
The gun barrel, which had been pointed at the sky, was now aimed at Kiyoshi. As Yuko cocked the gun, she calmly asked him, "Have you decided what flowers to plant on my grave?"
Qing instinctively took a step back, but then seemed to feel that this would make him appear weak, so he laughed loudly, his bravado masking his cowardice: "Ha, ha, trying to scare us with toys? Don't be afraid..."
"A toy?" Yuko smiled and looked at Kiyosho. "You can try it."
"Yuko, I'm fine, don't be impulsive!" Takedo quickly spoke up to stop her. It's no wonder he was nervous; Yuko's undeniable family background made him believe that Yuko was capable of doing such a thing.
Even a kind lion is still a lion at heart.
At this moment, more than a dozen people came up the stone steps of the shrine one after another.
The men, dressed in dark suits and exuding an imposing aura, bowed and greeted Yuko, saying, "Young Miss."
It's truly astonishing that such a scene, which seems to have only been seen in movies, has appeared in reality.
Just who is she?!
Apart from Wu Dao, who knew the truth, everyone else was astonished.
The group was quickly brought under control.
Ultimately, they are just arrogant biker gang members who don't know their own limitations. When faced with a real enemy, they don't even have the ability to fight back.
Yuko holstered her gun, helped Takedo up, and looked at the man who loved beauty and God. She asked him, "Can you tell me why you killed Draken?"
The man hesitated for only a second, just a second. Immediately, the person restraining him punched him in the stomach. The punch was so powerful, it felt like it hit his stomach, and he vomited on the spot.
Yuko looked at the person kneeling on the ground clutching their stomach, her face devoid of any pity: "Don't try to deceive me, and don't test my patience."
The man looked up and saw Yuko as if he were seeing a ferocious beast. Fear and pain made him betray the mastermind without hesitation: "It's...it's Kisaki! He sent me! He also sent people to ambush Draken, and they may have already run into him."
There was even an extra bonus.
At the same time, the surveillance personnel who had previously lost track of him sent him a location.
Yuko opened the app and found they weren't far away. She put her phone away and said, "These people are yours to take care of." After giving the instructions, she grabbed Takedo and turned to leave, telling him, "I've found Emma and Draken." But she had only taken one step when her legs went weak and she looked like she was about to fall. Takedo quickly caught her.
"Yuko-san!"
"I'm fine, it's just..." Yuko's fingertips trembled. The gun she was carrying wasn't real; it was a replica she'd received as a birthday gift. The ammunition inside could only make a loud bang, not actually hurt anyone. Her composure was just a bluff; she only felt the lingering fear after the crisis passed.
After catching her breath, Yuko steadied herself and continued on her way with Budo. Along the way, she encountered Mitani, who had also received the message and was rushing to the scene. The three exchanged information as they traveled, eventually arriving at the location Yuko had received.
Draken had clearly been in battle; many people lay on the ground groaning in pain, and he himself was wounded.
Emma was still shaken, but seeing Yuko and the others arrive gave her a sense of security. Aside from a few minor characters, the most noticeable person still standing was Apei, also a member of Dongwan.
"Why did you betray me? Bah!" Mitani questioned him.
When confronted with this question, Apei roared at everyone, "Why did you betray Appa! Appa is my everything!"
For a moment, no one could answer. Mitani and Draken, as his companions, felt no guilt towards Apa, and the others, as outsiders, seemed even less qualified to speak.
Seeing that everyone was silent, as if stumped by the question, Yuko's unusual focus became apparent. She approached Ape as if seeking confirmation, looking at him with her clear, bright eyes, as if expressing her incomprehension, and asked, "So, did Haruki-kun instruct you to do all this? Did he tell you to avenge him?"
"What do you know!"
“Yes.” Yuko nodded. “I don’t understand your bond with him. I only know that when someone chooses to take responsibility for their actions, a friend shouldn’t deny them. And just like how devoted you are to Haruki-kun, Haruki-kun must be worried about you just as much as you are.” Yuko slowed her speech. “Do you want to see him?”
Tears streamed down Ape's face. At that moment, he suddenly realized that what he wanted more than revenge was to see Apa one last time. He choked out, "Will I really be able to see Apa again?"
"Yes, you can do it, trust me." Yuko took a handkerchief out of her bag. "So, wipe your tears and then go apologize to everyone, okay?"
Appa took the handkerchief. His personality was like a straight line, incapable of circumvention, which often led others to perceive his actions and behavior as foolish. No one had ever spoken to him like Yuko had, without fear or contempt, but earnestly reasoning with him. It was precisely because of her attitude that Appa was willing to trust her this once.
The farce of the night seemed to have come to an end with Ah Pei's final apology.
Emma was going to take Draken to the hospital, since he had a head injury. Takeshi and Yuko went with him, and Nono and Hinata, who had received the news, joined them.
As a result, everyone accompanied him to the hospital.
On the way, Mitani seemed to suddenly think of asking Yuko, "Yuko, how did you come up with your location?"
Yuko, who had forgotten about this: ...
"What positioning?" Ye Ye chimed in.
"So, where are Emma and Draken... You didn't put a tracker on Emma, did you?" Mitani stared at her in disbelief. However, Mitani's assumption was too simplistic; if he were a little bolder, he would have guessed the whole story.
Between a 'pervert who installs tracking devices on people' and a 'pervert who hires people to monitor him,' the former seems a little more acceptable.
“I’m just worried…” This is tantamount to not denying it at all.
"Yuko, you're such a clingy type." Draken even had the mood to joke with her.
"Hey, is it one of those things in the movies where they put a GPS tracker in my phone? Wow, that's like being a spy." Emma didn't seem to mind Yuko putting a GPS tracker in her phone at all; on the contrary, she found it quite novel.
"Isn't Emma annoying?" Yuko asked her.
Emma laughed and replied, "If someone else did it, I would think it was super weird, but I don't know why, but it's you who did it, and I actually feel very safe."
"Yuko's being biased! I want some too!" Nono squeezed in between the two of them.
Emma held up her phone and showed off to her: "Hehe, Ye Ye, you're just jealous, Xiao You likes me the most."
＊
Soon, the group arrived at the hospital. Draken was receiving treatment, with Mitani accompanying him, while the others waited outside.
Yuko called Takedo aside, while the others were talking and didn't notice. Yuko took out her phone and showed it to him: "Takedo, look." She showed him the screen, which displayed the time as August 4th, 12:10 AM.
With a huge weight lifted from her heart, Yuko couldn't hide her joy. Takedo, equally excited, met her gaze, and in each other's eyes saw the joy of success.
Draken did not die on August 3.
They finally! Finally changed their fate.
"That's great..." Yuko smiled, but tears streamed down her face.
She's actually quite timid. She's been on edge all this time, and it's already a huge effort that she's held back her tears until now. Poor Wudao, seeing this, scratched his head, unsure what to do, and could only dryly tell her not to cry.
"What are you doing?" a voice suddenly rang out.
Both Wudao and Yuko were startled.
Mikey looked at them with a sullen expression.
His mood was just like his expression.
He was lured away by Ah Pei under a pretext, which gave others the opportunity to harm Jianzai. The burning anger in his heart was self-evident.
Mikey's commotion drew the attention of Hinata and the others.
"No, this, I..." Wu Dao wanted to explain, but didn't know how to say it.
“Mikey…” Ah Pei stepped forward, his face showing a look of coming to his death, a mixture of fear and a forced composure to face Mikey’s rage. Then he received a solid punch to his left cheek, fell to the side, and spat out bloody teeth as he lay on the ground.
"This punch was from when you colluded with outsiders to ambush your comrades." Mikey walked over and extended his hand to Ape. Ape wiped his mouth, looked at Mikey's hand, and then took Mikey's hand, being pulled up by him. Ape, tears streaming down his face, loudly apologized, "I'm sorry, it was my fault!"
Mikey took his hand and placed it on his chest, looking at him: "We were both wrong about Apa. If you have any complaints, you can take them out on me. I won't fight back until you're satisfied. Because we're comrades."
“Mikey…” Ape was already sobbing uncontrollably.
The others remained silent and watched their actions without making a move.
At this moment, Mitani, who had just returned from accompanying Draken to the hospital, finally came out and told everyone that Draken had been hit on the head with a stick, but luckily there was nothing seriously wrong with him. He was just being kept in the hospital for observation for a while as a precaution.
At this moment, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
The matter was resolved, and everyone except Mikey and Yuko was gradually sent back home. Draken's guardian also came by, seemingly not very surprised by his injury since he knew Draken was a biker gang member. After completing the formalities, he returned to the store.
"Is he Draken's father?" Yuko asked, unaware of Draken's background.
"Ah, you didn't know?" Draken wasn't ashamed of his background and simply told Yuko about it. His mother was a prostitute who abandoned him at the shop after giving birth to him, and he grew up there.
After hearing this, Yuko exclaimed, "We're so similar!"
"Huh?" Draken and Mikey were both taken aback by her exclamation. She acted like a child who grew up in a healthy family, so how could she be similar to Draken?
Just as Yuko didn't know Draken's background, they didn't know Yuko's parents either.
Yuko slowly recounted, "My family said that my biological mother absconded with the money not long after I was born. Maybe it was because she was timid and didn't want to live a life of fear with my father, or maybe she was only with my father for money from the beginning."
After listening, Draken stared at the ceiling and sighed, "I see. You've had it tough too." Then, he angrily yelled at Mikey, who was munching on an apple he'd somehow acquired, "At least look at the air, Mikey!"
Mikey stared wide-eyed with an innocent expression.
Yuko chuckled at their interaction and continued Draken's earlier words, saying, "It wasn't difficult at all. My father and brother gave me double the love, so I'm not sad about my biological mother at all."
Upon hearing this, Draken couldn't help but ask, "By the way, Yuko, is your father really the president of the Meteor Society?"
Yuko nodded: "Absolutely genuine."
"It feels so unreal. As the eldest daughter, you should be more... how should I put it, it's not what I imagined." Draken really couldn't connect Yuko with □□.
Yuko thought for a moment, then, as if she had come up with a good idea, she put her hands together and said to Draken, "Then I'll introduce you to Dad when you're discharged from the hospital."
Draken hadn't expected Yuko's response and instinctively waved his hand, saying, "No, your dad might misunderstand and think you're bringing your boyfriend home. I don't want to be drowned in Tokyo Bay."
"No way," Yuko said, but after thinking about it carefully, well... probably not.
After chatting for a while, the nurse came and told them to go home, so Yuko and Mikey didn't want to bother them any further.
The two walked side by side down the hospital corridor. The inpatient ward was very quiet at night. With no one else around, they seemed unsure how to start a conversation. This subtle awkwardness lingered until Mikey watched Yuko get into the car.
Yuko sat in the car watching him get on his bike, and opened her mouth: "Manjiro..."
Mikey remained silent, watching her as if waiting for her to continue. Yuko, however, didn't know how to begin, and finally only said, "Be careful on the road."
"Okay," Mikey replied.
The two then parted ways.
Yuko didn't know what she wanted to say; she had so much to say. "Draken is alive. With him by your side, I will try my best to live too." And maybe, "I'll be here watching over you."
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