Shinya's POV
Shinya Kogami sat at his desk, a grim frown on his face. The recent reports from the fight echoed in his mind—Reiji and the strange flame he had wielded. It wasn't just any flame; it was tied to something deeper, something he had uncovered during his research into the Vongola. The sparse information he had gathered hinted at these flames being wielded in battles by this elusive mafia family, but nothing had fully prepared him for what he had witnessed.
Shinya leaned back in his chair, frustration gnawing at him. His investigation into Reiji had drawn Shogo's attention, and now the kid was caught in the middle of a much bigger game. He couldn't shake the feeling that his curiosity had set things in motion, something he regretted now. Reiji was just a pawn to Shogo, but one who could become dangerous with the right push—or the wrong one.
The flames Reiji used...they weren't just some random ability. They had history, weight, and danger. They were the Vongola's legacy. Shinya had read about this family in fragmented reports—rumors, whispers, all incomplete. It was said the Vongola used strange flames to fight, flames unlike anything he'd seen. Now, with Reiji wielding that power, the reality of the Vongola's existence weighed heavily on his mind.
Shogo wouldn't be interested in Reiji if this was just a minor detail. He only got involved when there was something to be gained, and that made Shinya wary. How long had Shogo been watching? How much did he already know?
Shinya sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. Reiji was in this mess because of him. His own investigation, digging too deeply into the boy's past, had probably triggered Shogo's interest. And now, Reiji was in danger. Shinya had seen enough of Shogo's twisted games to know this wouldn't end easily. But without solid evidence, without proof of Shogo's manipulations, there was nothing he could do. Confronting him head-on would be reckless.
For now, the only thing Shinya could do was watch over Reiji and hope he could keep him out of the line of fire. But deep down, he knew—this wasn't just about Reiji anymore. Shogo had set his sights on the Vongola, and that meant the situation was about to spiral out of control.
He glanced out the window, his jaw tightening. He didn't have time to waste. If Shogo was involved, something bigger was brewing, and Reiji was at the center of it.
Reiji's POV
The crisp air hit Reiji's face as he stepped out of the hospital, his bag slung over his shoulder. He took a deep breath, feeling the freedom of the open streets after being stuck in a sterile room for what felt like an eternity. His body still ached from the fight, but his mind was sharper now. The folder Shogo had given him weighed heavy in his bag, and the information it held buzzed in his thoughts.
The Vongola legacy, the rings, the Guardians—it was all starting to make sense, but it raised even more questions. The mansion hidden deep in the forest was the key. It held answers he desperately needed. The Vongola was real, and it was his legacy, but how was he supposed to rebuild something so ancient and powerful?
Reiji's steps quickened as he left the busy streets and headed toward the forest path. His mind drifted to Shinya. The man was strong, capable, and independent. Reiji had already considered him for the role of Cloud Guardian. But how would he ask him? Would Shinya even be interested in something like this?
Reiji frowned, the question gnawing at him. Shinya wasn't the type to follow orders, and the Cloud Guardian's role required someone who was fiercely independent, someone who could protect the famiglia without being tethered to it. That fit Shinya perfectly, but offering him the position felt...complicated. Would Shinya see it as a responsibility? Or would he reject it, seeing the Vongola as just another burden?
Reiji sighed. Shinya wasn't someone who could be easily convinced. He had his own views, his own sense of justice. Reiji couldn't rush this. He had to find the right moment, the right way to ask.
"I'll ask him when the time's right," Reiji murmured under his breath as the forest path came into view. The dark silhouette of the mansion loomed in the distance, quiet and foreboding, like it was waiting for his return.
As the cool breeze brushed against his skin, Reiji felt a strange mix of determination and uncertainty. He had to understand what the Vongola legacy truly meant. But for now, he needed to focus on the task at hand. He couldn't turn back now.
Shinya's POV
Shinya thanked the nurse before turning away, irritation gnawing at him. The nurse had mentioned Reiji left in a hurry, but Shinya knew the direction he took wasn't toward his apartment. This wasn't a casual walk—Reiji had a purpose. But what?
Shinya paused, thinking back to the mansion Reiji had mentioned before. The so-called Vongola mansion, hidden somewhere deep in the forest. Shinya hadn't taken it seriously at first, thinking it was just another myth. But now...he wasn't so sure. Something about the way Reiji had spoken about it, the urgency in his voice—it stuck with him.
But there was no record of a mansion. He had checked. The area Reiji was headed toward was thick with forest, abandoned, with no signs of life for decades. And yet, Shinya's gut told him there was more to this than he could see. Maybe the mansion was hidden, something off the grid, unseen by the usual channels. If that was the case, then Reiji was likely headed straight for it.
"What are you up to, kid?" Shinya muttered under his breath as he walked through the hospital exit.
His instincts were rarely wrong, and right now, they screamed at him to follow Reiji. He quickly asked the nurse for the direction Reiji had taken, and after getting the information, he set off in a brisk walk. It wasn't a typical route. If the Vongola mansion was real, it had to be hidden in that forest, far away from prying eyes.
As Shinya walked, his mind drifted back to the strange flame Reiji had used. It wasn't just dangerous—it was tied to something far deeper. The Vongola. Shinya didn't fully understand what it meant yet, but one thing was clear: if Shogo was interested, then this wasn't just about Reiji anymore. This was about control, power, and something much larger at play.
He quickened his pace, his hand resting on the grip of his gun. Shogo wouldn't leave this alone. Reiji was involved now, and Shinya couldn't let him face it alone. The forest loomed ahead, dark and silent. Whatever awaited him there, Shinya knew he had to be ready for it.