Where is he?

"If I could turn back time, I would have stood up to anyone who tried to keep us apart. No matter what, I would have fought for us from the start."

"Wht I need to do to make you trust me again? I'll do anythng. Pleasse give me anotther chnce. I'm srry for everything."

"Sorry, I got really drunk. Please don't hate me any more than you already do."

The man with white hair scrolled through his chats from the past two weeks. He had sent texts that ranged from promises of change to desperate pleas for forgiveness, but despite all of his attempts to reach out, none of his messages had been read.

Every day, he felt a bit more empty as the days passed without an answer and the hope of reconciliation seemed more distant. Never did he think that he would find himself in such a hopeless situation, seeking desperately to repair his relationship with the person he had hated with every cell of his body.

But now all he could think about was how to make things right, how to repair his mistakes, and how to win back the trust he had lost.

When he closed his eyes he imagined the other man's reaction if he could apologize in person. He envisioned how he would explain what had caused him to act in such a way and how he would do anything to be with him again.

In his dreams, he could see the other man blushing and embracing him tightly as he accepted his apology. His soft breaths would soothe the yakuza's worries, while his tattooed arms would hold him close and shield him from nightmares.

In his fantasies, they would kiss passionately and their lips would be like a pair of magnets, drawn to each other as if they were created to be together. They would feel an inexplicable connection to each other as if destiny had planned everything all along.

But when he opened his eyes he found himself alone. He was reminded of his depressing reality by the darkness and silence of the night.

"Brother Takuya?"

Jiro quickly wiped his eyes and spun around, startled by the sudden voice. His black-haired yakuza associate was standing behind him and looked nervous as the man had been caught in such an emotional state.

Shoji swayed slightly from the effects of the alcohol he had consumed earlier, but he still managed to maintain his balance. His suit was wrinkled and unbuttoned, revealing a white shirt with a few stains from spilled drinks.

That night, the entire Kamiwara clan had gathered for a big celebration. Jiro had been invited as well, but he had struggled to muster up the energy to join the festivities. He had retreated outside to the greenery to escape the secret brothel that disgusted him.

The white-haired one had tried to find solace in the mountains and forests that surrounded the large estate, concentrating on the crickets and the rustling leaves. The man chose to soothe his worries through nature instead of alcohol, which had proved ineffective in the past.

The lower rank cleared his throat as he looked at his superior with concern, seemingly not wanting to intrude on the other's private moment.

"Are you okay, brother Takuya? I can leave if you need me to. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

Jiro forced himself to smile, after days without doing so.

"I'm just thinking about things. It's nothing you need to concern yourself with," he said, turning his gaze toward the horizon.

The setting sun peeked through the tangle of trees, casting a faint orange glow on the two men. The peaceful atmosphere was disturbed by distant sounds of drinking, clinking glasses, and banter from fellow yakuza.

"B-brother, I... appreciate everything you have done."

Jiro frowned as he turned to his clansman, surprised to hear such words.

"I could not have asked... for a better teacher than you," Shoji stammered, his voice shaking as he attempted to keep his head upright.

The higher-up couldn't help but laugh at the sudden outburst of sentimentality. It had been the first time in two weeks that he had allowed himself to feel another emotion other than sadness and guilt.

The black-haired man stumbled on his shoelaces and fell to the ground with a thud. His teacher helped him to his feet, brushed dirt from his clothes, and gave him a reassuring pat on the back.

"I know it's a party, but I think you should slow down on the alcohol," he said with a half-grin, but his face froze when he saw something glinting on the ground.

He quickly picked up the golden credit card and noticed it bore his roommate's name. Shoji's face stretched into a timid smile as he realized what had happened.

"I g-guess you might wonder about that - "

Jiro grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him against the nearest tree. His gaze had changed into one of fierce determination, causing his brows to furrow and his jaw to tighten.

"How did you get this?"

Shoji hesitated nervously as if he expected to be punished for his mistake. He opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out as he seemingly tried to formulate an appropriate answer.

Jiro's face became increasingly dark as he tightened his grip, digging his fingers into the man's suit as he held him in place.

"I asked you a question, Arata, and I expect you to answer me. How exactly did you get this?" he growled, his tone low and menacing.

The white-haired man's stance was authoritative and demanding, his gaze intense and unyielding. His demeanor had changed dramatically, turning serious from a state of amusement in an instant.

Shoji swallowed before speaking in a shaky voice.

"I-I found it on the ground the other day. I-I was planning to give it to you, but I never had the chance."

Jiro raised his chin and his piercing eyes narrowed as he heard the lies spilling out of his inferior brother's mouth.

"Tell me the truth or I will get angry for real. You have one chance."

Shoji's face paled even further as he heard the ominous warning. Never had he seen his clan brother so furious, and he looked like it scared him more than anything.

"O-okay, I saw him!"

The white-haired one's eyes softened as he heard that and a hint of sympathy washed over his face.

"H-he... gave it to me so I could pay my m-mother's hospital bills..."

"Where is he?"

"H-he is staying in my hometown, I saw him walking towards the cheapest hostel - but you can't tell him that I broke my promise since I wasn't supposed to te-tell you - "

The upper-level yakuza immediately released his grip and sprinted away without another word.

He jumped over fallen logs and dodged around trees, ignoring branches that threatened to scratch his face and slow him down. His mind was focused as he pushed himself to run faster, determined to reunite with the love of his life as soon as possible.