Martin was roaming the mansion, exploring its elegant halls and secret chambers. But now he was feeling as if he had lost his way because he had entered such new and mysterious places of that mansion that in his quest to see them he didn't pay attention to which way he had come and now it felt a maze for him.
He accidentally stumbled upon a large basement area filled with dim lights, one of the many rooms in that basement was filled with muffled conversation and sounds of writhing in pain. As he continued deeper in curiosity yet a little bit fear, the sounds from the room were gradually getting louder and he found himself standing before a slightly opened door, where he could hear the voices of individuals and some noise of muffled groans clearly.
The basement door was only slightly ajar, providing an opportunity to sneak a quick peek. Without even considering the potential danger, Martin dared to look inside, and what he saw sent a shiver down his spine. It was a room full of dark shadows, yet he could see the faint forms of figures standing in various positions, engaged in something sinister. He froze in shock as he witnessed a scene of blood and horror.
In front of him stood the terrifying figure of Jitoku Shin, the father of Gale, stabbing a knife inside of three men's eyes being caged with chains in a cold and calculated manner. Surrounded by his henchmen and Daniel's father, the scene was a chilling tableau of violence and despair. The screams of the three men were coming out muffled because of the tape over their mouth.
Where the view outside the basement room was beautiful and luxurious while the view inside the basement room was terrifying.
Martin instinctively clasped a hand over his mouth, trying to silence any potential scream of surprise or fear. Instinctively, he quickly backed away from the door, his heart hammering against his ribcage and he quickly turned away, attempting to escape the nightmare that unfolded before his eyes. He ran away from that big basement area and reached outside the basement area.
Due to the sheer terror consumed him, he continued to run in panic, he was sweating and his body was shaking. He himself didn't know where he was running. But while running away he reached that part of the mansion where he remembered the paths and where all the servants of the mansion could be found.
However, He was so afraid that he didn't want to trust any adult there, that was why he didn't go to any of the servants or say anything to them, not even look at them.
He just kept running and was searching for Gale.
The people with whom Martin became acquainted in this mansion were the children of the mansion and with Gale he had a different trust and bond.
The servants also noticed Martin running in panic and they all became worried.
As Martin rushed down the long hallway without stopping even for a second, he suddenly came face to face with Daisy. The sight of her stopped him in his tracks, and a sense of relief washed over him. Daisy's eyes widened with concern as she took in his dishevelled appearance.
"Jay, what's wrong?" she asked worriedly. "You look terrified."
Before Martin could respond, she grabbed his shoulders, trying to steady him.
"Jay, are you okay? You're panting like you ran a marathon." She inquired, her motherly instincts kicking in.
"What did I see... what was that..." Martin stammers, his eyes wide with fear and confusion. "I don't understand, Sis." He leaned heavily on her, his breaths still laboured.
Daisy's gaze softened with concern as she supported him. "Calm down, take a deep breath," she urged, her voice soothing. "Try to tell me what happened?" She tightened her grip on Martin's shoulders, wanting to provide a comforting presence.
"I was exploring the basement, and..." He trailed off, shuddering at the memory. "I saw... I saw something terrible, Sis... unspeakable." His eyes welled up with tears. "The voices, the sounds... I was only down there for a few moments, but it felt like an eternity. Your father is a killer."
Daisy's concern deepened as she listened intently, her heart aching for Martin's plight. She wrapped her arm around his trembling form, trying to provide some semblance of warmth and security. She understood exactly what Martin could have seen to scare him so much and make him extremely panic.
She guided him gently towards the safety of her own chamber, keeping a supportive arm around his shoulders as the tremors in his body slowly subsided.
"Come on, let's sit you down," she said softly, pulling him over to the bed. "You're safe here, I promise," she reassured him, her voice warm and soothing.
The room was cosy, with soft, plush pillows and a comfortable bed. Daisy sat down next to him, still holding him close.
"You've been through a lot," she said, her eyes filled with a combination of worry and sympathy. "But you're not alone anymore. Just take a deep breath, and try to calm down; you're safe here with me." She gently stroked his back, her touch intended to help ease his trembling form.
After completely calming him down, she hesitatingly and slowly started speaking.
"Listen to me Jay," She looked into Martin's eyes. "We are from a mafia family and now you too are a part of this mafia family." she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Martin's mind reeled as he tried to process Daisy's words. He felt nauseous, his head spinning with a million questions. "What is this mafia?" He asked.
While her gaze locked onto the ground, she took a deep breath before continuing. "The word Mafia refers to secretive, criminal organisations that operate in the shadows, engaging in illegal activities such as extortion, drug dealing, and money laundering. These groups are often known for their strength and power, using violence and cunning tactics to maintain their influence. And the Mafia is seen as a negative thing in most parts of the world." She paused and looked at Martin. "Exactly like movies, do you understand, right?"
While listening to her Martin was silently staring at her with shock and disgust at her words. At such a young age, he was having difficulty in knowing the involvement of such dangerous things in the real world, but he was mature enough that he was able to understand Daisy's words.
And she continued. "But our family has connections with the mafia from generation to generation and is a little different, here some rules keep changing in every generation and the current generation headed by my father also has some rules that whatever illegal work they do, there will be no girls trafficking in it. And the head of the next generation will be my brother Jae."
Daisy was trying her best to keep her explanation appropriate for the 9 year old child's maturity level. She cupped his face gently.
"And Jay, you have to embrace all of this because you're a part of it now. I know it might be a lot to process, but... I need you to understand." Her words hung in the air, like a weight poised to collapse under them.
"What?" Martin's voice cracked in disbelief. He pushed away from Daisy, his eyes slightly wide with disgust as he tried to grasp the enormity of her revelation. "I thought I was just Gale's Shadow here," he whispered, his chest heaving. "Are you telling me... that… I am part of... a mafia family now where one person brutally kills another person?? H..How? Why?....And what does this mean for me? What is expected of me now? I'm too little for this."
"Calm down, I know this is shocking, but Jay, you're a part of something much bigger now," Daisy said softly. "It might take some time to fully understand, but you must embrace this newfound knowledge. As a member of our family and a Shadow of Gale, you're expected to fulfil certain roles and responsibilities."
She watched as Martin's disbelief morphed into confusion and then realisation.
"Will you accept your role? Can you commit to the mafia life?"
She needed to know his resolve. Martin was just looking at her in immense disbelief at her question, what answer would he give to her? He himself was a child, he got trapped in this family, so did he have any other option other than accepting this family? How will he be able to tolerate this bloodshed?
And once again tears gathered in his eyes and he started crying eventually. Seeing which, Daisy embraced him, understanding his situation, but it was important for him to know all this at this age of 9-year old so that he doesn't face any problem in accepting all this when he grows up.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
It was raining quite heavily in the forest and it was around 1 o'clock in the dark night when Martin, 11 years of age, was passing through a small underground tunnel Which connected the forest to the back side of the mansion, where no servants used to come.
After reaching the end of the tunnel he quietly and slowly opened a small square wooden door of the tunnel which was flatly constructed on the top of the ground, he climbed up through the door and finally stepped on the ground of the mansion's back side before quickly covering the door of the tunnel on the ground with soil, the soil was also wet due to rain.
That small tunnel was built by him, Gale, Daisy, Jackson and Daniel together as a secret path about which no one except them had any idea.
The whole place was silent except for the cool sound of rain which was drenching him completely. Martin looked around the whole area to check if there was any guard or servant present there. And on not finding anyone, he slowly moved his steps towards the mansion building.
And as he was moving towards it, suddenly someone familiar whispered mischievously "Martin" in his ear from behind making him flinch and immediately turn back.
And there he found the 11 year old Gale standing right in front of him who was looking at him with a cocky smile which didn't surprise him much because he was aware of Gale's habit of suddenly appearing anywhere, as if he could teleport. The two boys kept looking at each other for a constant moment.
"Where did you go, hm?" Gale asked mischievously. And Martin gave him a sceptical look before turning around and making his way again towards the mansion building while saying. "You already know that I went for a walk in the forest."
"Hm hm." Gale immediately ran towards him and stood in front of him, blocking his way, moving his face closer to Martin, making Martin move his head back a little. Gale looked at him with narrowed eyes for a moment, a teasing smile plastered on his face, raindrops clinging to his eyelashes.
"Isn't it too late today? And you look a little different right now." Gale stepped closer, making Martin step back, Gale's eyes scanning him with an almost analytical intensity. Martin stood there, his heart thudding against his chest, the rain pelting down harder, almost as if adding its own chorus to the growing unease.
He was used to Gale's intense and sometimes observant eyes, but the way he was looking at him tonight made him feel exposed, as if all of his secrets were written all over his face but in reality there was only poker expression on his Face.
"Hmm.." Gale stepped back, placing his fingers on his jaw, looking intently at Martin, pretending to think something. "You encountered someone in the forest, right?" There was a teasing smile on his face as he spoke.
For a moment the intense silence filled the rainy air and while hearing him, Martin didn't give any reaction and his expression was unreadable for a moment but it immediately turned into a surprised one.
"How do you know everything? Are you intuitive or can you read minds?" He asked in disbelief, moving his head closer to Gale, staring into his eyes back and forth deeply.
Gale chuckled at his comment. "Now tell me who the person was?"
Upon Gale's question Martin smiled deviousnessly and narrowed his eyes slightly, tilting his head a little away. "You know everything, so you must already know this too." His tone was teasing.
Hearing his words Gale laughed lightly. "Okay, let me guess," Gale turned around, showing his back to him, his fingers making their way on his jaw again while his arm was making a surface for his other hand's elbow.
"You met that little girl Jia." Gale responded confidently while spinning around to face Martin and pointing his index finger on him, making his jaw drop. For some time, Martin was not able to utter even a word. And on the other hand, Gale was staring at him with a smug smile, adding to his disbelief.
"How do you know, after all?" Martin's voice came out like a slow whisper in a mix of surprise and disbelief.
"So you really met her." A small smile was plastered on Gale's face as he spoke.
While Martin was totally stiffened in his place in surprise. And seeing him like this, Gale chuckled. "Let's go inside now."
In a blink of an eye, Gale grabbed his wrist and ran towards the back door of the mansion to enter. While Martin was still in his surprised mode being dragged or one could say being forced to fly because of Gale's speed of running.
••••••
"Now will you tell me how you know about her?" Martin asked while wearing the white t-shirt as he was changing his soaked clothes.
On the other side Gale was sitting on the edge of bed, putting his weight on his hands which were resting on the bed either side of his body. His drenched clothes were also changed, he was looking at Martin with a smug expression without saying anything.
Then Martin sat beside him, his eyes now fixed on him with a tired, pleading look at Gale's delaying his answer. "Gale, now tell me already."
Gale narrowed his eyes with a teasing smile, moving his head a little away. "First, tell me that you liked that little girl in the very first meeting today, don't you?"
Hearing his unexpected question, Martin looked away in hesitation, trying to suppress his blushing smile, remembering Jia.
"Um…there is nothing like that—I mean yes I liked her, but it is nothing like that. She is cute, lovely just like a fairy but she is just a little girl." He uttered in hesitation without daring to make eye contact with Gale. While Gale gave him a sly and playful hum.
"Now will you tell me how you know her and how did you find out that she was the one I met in the forest today?" Martin asked again.
While after enjoying Martin's continued confusion Gale finally started to tell.
"Actually that little girl Jia's father used to work under my dad's mafia organisation and he was also a member of my dad's gang. However, due to some personal reasons, he left my dad's gang and joined another gang in his own country South Korea, but even after joining the other gang, he and my dad are in touch and keep visiting dad many times." He paused, looking at Martin with a mischievous gleam in his eyes before continuing.
"And as for me, how do I know that you met Jia in the forest today ... .that is because she is a little naughty girl too, so she would definitely run away from home and come roaming in the forest." Martin felt a mix of surprise and disbelief as he listened to Gale's explanation.
Gale continued with a chuckle. "To be honest, our guards have seen her many times in the forest and as his father used to be a member of my father's gang, our guards stick to her and keep an eye on her from far away so that nothing happens to her in the forest."
"So have you met her? But I have never seen her coming to this mansion with her father. So how do you know her personality??"
Gale chuckled at Martin's confused expression. "I have never even seen her nor has her father ever brought her here."
"So how did you come to know about her?"
Gale looked at Martin in disbelieved tease with slightly widened eyes. "You are asking a lot of questions ... .are you already feeling jealous, Martin?"
His sudden question left Martin off guard and he immediately tried to protest.
"There is nothing like that, I was just asking out of curiosity, anyway she was also saying that her parents often talk about you, and she was thinking that I am you. But they have never seen me and shadows identity can't be revealed, right?"
As soon as Martin let out these words, suddenly Gale came so close to his face, looking deeply into his eyes, making him confused yet a little uncomfortable.
"You are wrong, the identity of the shadow can be revealed but it can't be revealed that those persons are shadows, and whoever reveals it gets killed." His tone was like he was telling any horror story in a mocking way and hearing him Martin couldn't help but make a done face.
"Whatever it is, but her parents don't know about me yet, right?"
"Yes you are right." Gale agreed before standing on his feet and bending down at Martin's level while placing his hands on his shoulders. He took a deep breath as if he was going to say something serious.
"Martin, You will have your cute, lovely Fairy in the future, I promise." Determination was audible in his voice as he spoke in a reassuring tone and with an unnoticeable smile.
As Martin listened to his words, he became perplexed and a little hesitant at his sudden sentence.
"Where did it come from out of nowhere?" He asked. "Oh yeah yeah, I forgot that you have future experience." His sarcastic tone made Gale chuckle immediately and after a moment of stare they both slightly laughed together.
"Okay then bye." With a breath Gale said before turning around to exit from there.
And as soon as he stepped forward, Martin's voice halted him.
"Why don't you stay in my room today?" He suggested or one could say he was indirectly requesting.
Gale immediately turned his head. "You sure? Think again." He asked, raising his eyebrow, looking at him with a small smirk. The mischievousness was lingering from his eyes.
"Absolutely sure." Martin confirmed, stretching his body before making it loose and fell on the mattress on his back.
And as soon as he said this, with a mischievous smirk, Gale jumped on the bed in just 2 seconds and spread himself all over the bed, deliberately pushing Martin off the bed, making him sit on the floor quickly and look at him in disbelief.
Then suddenly,
"Martin!" Gale called and Martin was still looking at him but after his sudden low call, his eyes waited for him to continue. "If I ever disappear, you will blur me from your memories."
Hearing his words, Martin first looked at him intently whose eyes were on the ceiling then Martin's expression changed into scepticism at his words and he grabbed the pillow from the bed then threw it on Gale while saying. "Stop nonsense."
While being hit by the pillow on his face, Gale started laughing. And seeing him being not serious Martin also started laughing lightly in disbelief.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
Martin was sitting alone on the lush, green grass, his hand tightened its grip on a small piece of paper. In which it was written that,
"Cure, I have to leave Japan for good, which means we will never meet again. Remember, you are dear to me, Good bye. –Your Fairy."
The handwriting on the note was unmistakably that of a little child. The sunlight filtered through the branches of the large, ancient tree, casting dappled shadows across Martin's face, emphasising his mix of anger and sadness. His shoulders were hunched, and his back leaning against the rough bark. It was a tense and quiet moment, punctuated only by the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds in the nearby treetop.
The backyard, too, was a mix of beauty and sorrow. Flowers of various hues painted a vibrant mural of colour, their petals dancing in the gentle breeze, yet their delicate fragrance seemed to mock Martin.
In the background, the mansion loomed majestically, its grandeur a stark reflection of Martin's own internal struggles. The sound of laughter and joy echoed from somewhere within, a stark contrast to the sombre moment he was experiencing.
It was as if the world around him was taunting him, rubbing salt into the wound while he was already hurting. But amidst the turmoil, there remained a faint spark of determination, a stubborn resilience that refused to let him break down completely.
Then a mischievous, playful voice suddenly called out, "Martin!" The voice, laced with a hint of melody, echoed through the backyard, instantly familiar to Martin.
He scanned the area frantically, his eyes darting left and right, hoping to catch sight of Gale, but there was no sign of him anywhere.
The voice then rang out again, this time, with a soft laughter, "Look up."
Confused, Martin looked up, his gaze landing on a familiar majestic face perched confidently on a high branch of the tree with which Martin was sitting by leaning his back. There, grinning and carefree, sat Gale, his mischievous eyes twinkling in the shadow of branches.
Martin's eyes slightly widened and his mouth slightly dropped open as he took in the sight of him. Gale's eyes, a deep, dark oceanic blue, seemed to swirl and hypnotise him for a moment. His long, layered, onyx black hair cascaded down his face like a waterfall, framing his delicate features. His flawless, majestic presence, coupled with the way he was perched effortlessly on the tree's branch, captured Martin's full attention.
Martin then snapped back to reality, shaking his head slightly to clear his head. He had a lot on his mind, but seeing Gale here now, carefree and cheerful, brought a small, reluctant smile to his lips. "You've been up there this whole time?" Martin finally managed to say, his voice tinged with a hint of disbelief and resignation and weakness in tone.
Gale chuckled, his long hair swaying slightly with the breeze and the movement of his head. He looked down at Martin, his eyes sparkling with a hint of carefreeness. But he immediately noticed the sadness in Martin's eyes and the piece of paper in his hand's grip. However, he didn't show any reaction of concern on his face for Martin.
"Today is Sunday, and the weather is exceptionally good. The bright sun was shining, making for a perfect day. I took advantage of the good weather and decided to take a nice, long nap here. I slept with great comfort." he replied casually. "What's the matter, don't you like this sunny weather today?" He leaned forward slightly on the branch.
Hearing his question, Martin looked away quickly, his shoulders slumped as he leaned back against the tree.
"No, Gale," he replied quietly, his voice laced with sadness, "Today's beautiful weather seems the worst to me."
There was no reaction on Gale's face even after hearing the words, his own face resting on his hands and his elbow resting on the tree branch surface.
"It looks like someone's heart has been broken again, huh?" Gale said, his tone casual.
Martin let out a small, forced laugh, trying to mask the pain in his eyes. "You always have this uncanny ability to read my mood without even trying….But don't worry, I'm fine." Martin added, despite the evidence to the contrary.
"You're a terrible liar, Martin." Gale said bluntly. "I can see right through you. So, spill it. What's got you all mopey?" he asked, his eyes studying Martin's face intently.
Martin let out a deep sigh, his shoulders sagging further as he leaned his head against the tree trunk.
"It's not like I can keep it a secret from you." he muttered, knowing that Gale would pry it out of him anyway. "I just...well, I got this note from Fairy." Martin felt a pang in his heart as he said quietly, his voice heavy with sadness. "She left me forever."
Gale, listening to his despair, he could see the pain etched on Martin's face. He asked softly, "Do you really believe she has abandoned you for good?"
Martin remained silent, his mind consumed by thoughts of abandonment from the person he loved and cared the most, his gaze distant, lost in the darkness of his own thoughts.
As the silence between them grew, Gale spoke again, this time offering a different perspective. "It's a strange thing, fate," he began. "Many people come and go according to their purpose and many people go away without any explanation, but those who come across us again are mostly those people for whom we don't know the reason for leaving us. It's just an unexpected twist of fate and we call it an unexpected destiny."
Gale's words echoed in his ears, a poignant reminder of the unpredictable twists and turns life took. And still, Martin couldn't find the strength to respond. He let the silence speak for him, the emotions he couldn't express hanging heavy in the air.
"You think this is just destiny messing with me?" Martin managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper. "And that the people who left me without any explanation will come back into my life for some twisted reason?"
Gale's eyes were fixed on Martin, and a small smile appeared on his face.
"Certainly," Gale continued. "Fate has a way of guiding us, encouraging us to seek answers to those questions we might have. All we need to do is have patience and trust in the process, and hopefully, the answers will reveal themselves in their own time."
Hearing him Martin scoffed in pain, and a forced smile appeared on his face. "Why do you talk like an old man? And where do you learn all this from?" He asked without looking up at Gale while hearing his question Gale chuckled.
Then suddenly his voice came in a serious tone with a mysterious smile. "Do you know I am immortal and can see the glimpse of the future?"
Hearing his sudden confusing and unbelievable words, Martin quickly looked up at him in shock, trying to find any dishonesty on his face but Gale's expression was unreadable, his eyes were gleaming with mystery, his long hair were slightly flowing with the breeze, adding his existence more mysterious and majestic which left Martin completely bewildered, disbelieved and curious.
And then Gale laughed softly, making Martin feel dumbfounded. "It's a joke!"
Even after his clarification, Martin kept looking at him for a few more moments and then, finally deciding to not take his words seriously, he looked away from him. There was silence between them again, but Gale, who was aware of the painful storm raging in Martin's mind, broke the silence once again.
"Isn't it a bit strange, If you are content, you may feel your life is fleeting but if you experience sorrow, you will perceive it as lasting an eternity?" His voice was thoughtful and his eyes were reaching the distant view of the forest.
Martin, who was intently listening to him, didn't utter anything. At that moment he felt that only Gale's presence was providing solace to his sorrow. He had not forgotten how two years ago, after his dad had left him, Gale's presence had mysteriously made his sorrow disappear and in the present his presence was doing the same.
In a time when just moments earlier he had felt hollow, now his heart felt filled with vitality, the towering trees, the lush greenery, the swaying leaves, the gentle wind and, above all, the knowing presence of Gale.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
The afternoon heat hung heavy in the air. A group of more than 20 boys, experts in street fighting, whose ages were around 20 as well, their eyes brimming with a mix of adrenaline and determination, took centre stage on the playground. They engaged in a fierce brawl, flying fists and kicks as they grappled for supremacy.
16 years old Daniel and Jackson, only opponents of those boys, despite their youth, held their ground, battling through each attack with an intensity befitting their opponents' size.
The leader of those boys named Sano Hiroto, watching from the side with ego yet confidence, while across the playground, Martin and Gale, both 13 years old, were silently observing the fight sitting on the top of the play slide.
This intense confrontation emerged from the inadvertent use of offensive language aimed against Gale's sister Daisy by the leader Hiroto of the opposing group. The loser would have to publicly apologise to the winner before the other spectators in a submissive and regretful manner while kneeling down.
The spectators in the playground watched eagerly as the fight unfolded. Among those spectators present, no one was below 12 years of age and all of them were boys, there were no single females.
The fight showed no sign of stopping, as Daniel and Jackson fought with a ferocity that belied their youth. They didn't hold back, each punch and counter-punch landing with a solid thud. The air was thick with a sense of rivalry, as if the two boys were locked in a silent battle of willpower. Despite the difference in age, with Daniel and Jackson being younger and facing off against a larger group of older boys, the fight was undoubtedly an imbalanced and unequal. However, for Jackson and Daniel, it felt like a fierce and important battle to defend their honour.
The spectators, including Martin and Gale, watched with a mix of awe and fascination. They couldn't look away, their attention completely captured by the intense exchange of blows. The leader Hiroto in the corner now appeared impressed, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of witnessing the raw power and skill on display.
As the fight raged on, the younger spectators held their breath, their eyes wide with excitement and slight fear. The older boys spectators, too, were drawn in, unable to resist the magnetic pull of the brawl. The noise of the playground faded into the background, as all attention was focused on the fight that played out like a brutal dance of fists and kicks.
And eventually after an intense and brutal fight that put their opponents on the ground, Jackson and Daniel emerged victorious, triumphantly displaying their strength and determination. Both of their eyes glittered with determination as they stood over their defeated opponents.
They had shown a level of skill and coordination that was beyond their years, taking down each of more than the twenty boys one by one. Whether through well-timed dodges and counters or calculated attacks, they had managed to outwit and outmuscle even the most experienced of their adversaries.
Now the onlookers watched with awe and disbelief, their eyes wide with shock at the display of strength and talent from the young boys.
Jackson and Daniel took a moment to catch their breath, their chests heaving with exertion. The adrenaline and excitement were still coursing through their veins, their hearts racing as the realisation of what they had just achieved set in.
On the other side Martin and Gale smirk victoriously, proud of Jackson and Daniel. But the fight did not end there, because this fight would be considered over only when the leader Hiroto would be defeated.
The street boss, a name feared and respected throughout the criminal world, had a reputation as an unbeatable force on the streets. He had connections to numerous criminal gangs and had never been defeated in the ring. But today, Jackson and Daniel, their martial arts training giving them an edge, face him in a one-on-one fight. Despite their tiredness, Jackson and Daniel were determined to take on the leader.
The fight began between them and the leader Hiroto. In the fight, the leader demonstrated remarkable skill and precision. His attacks were calculated and precise, each move aimed at targeting the most vulnerable parts of Jackson and Daniel's bodies. They tried to defend themselves, but Hiroto was too experienced to be caught off-guard. Each attack was met with a counter, but Hiroto seemed to anticipate their moves, keeping them on the defensive. They did their best to match his ferocity, but Hiroto's experience and combat skills were too strong for them to overcome.
The fight was both brutal and intense, but in the end, Hiroto emerged victorious, leaving Jackson and Daniel sprawled and exhausted on the ground. Hiroto stood over Jackson and Daniel, his breathing heavy but his expression one of cool satisfaction.
Then he turned his head towards Martin and Gale who were still sitting on the top of the play slide. And his gaze locked onto them, a mock smirk playing on his lips. Slowly, he began to walk towards them.
The spectators watched with fascination, unsure of what would unfold next.
Martin and Gale returned his gaze with intense, unwavering looks filled with hatred and contempt. Hiroto moved closer, standing right down in front of them, his smirk still present.
However, Martin and Gale still sat there, neither showing an ounce of fear or weakness. In fact, their faces were filled with a steely resolve that seemed to challenge Hiroto's authority. It was as if they saw Hiroto's bravado as nothing more than an act, and they refused to be intimidated by his presence. While Jackson and Daniel dragged themselves and sat by a tree in exhaustion.
Hiroto stood tall, his voice dripping with condescension as he began to taunt them.
"Did you honestly think that you little boys could defeat me?" He mocked, his smirk growing wider with each word he spoke.
Hearing this, Martin scoffed in disdain, his eyes narrowing as he retorted. "You should be feeling ashamed. Jackson and Daniel, despite their youth and small stature, managed to take down more than twenty of your goons bigger and older than them. Then you think you actually defeated them when entering the ground after they were already injured and exhausted. And you're still asking whether we can defeat you or not?"
Hiroto's smirk faded, replaced by a growing anger in his eyes at Martin's taunt.
"You know who I am, don't you?" he growled. "I could beat you all senseless right here, right now, and no one would be able to stop me." he threatened. But Martin and Gale remained calm, their confident smirk unwavering.
"You are so scared of us children that killing us seems to be your last option?" Martin asked with a light mocking laugh.
Hiroto's rage continued to build, his face reddening with anger. His initial impression of them was favourable, but he had a strict code of conduct that forbade anyone from speaking to him without fear, irrespective of status or age. He was fiercely protective of his authority and expected complete respect from everyone, even from children.
Martin slided down onto the slide, and stepped on the ground, standing right in front of Hiroto. "We're still left for you" he reminded him. Hiroto's glare intensified, his eyes narrowing on Martin.
"You're just a kid, and you think you can take me on alone, you can defeat me?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous. But Martin's expression remained defiant, his eyes locked with the older boy's.
"And can you defeat him?"
Suddenly finally for the first time Gale's authoritative voice echoed through the place. And every person present there felt goosebumps, such was his effect.
Hiroto looked up at Gale and sneered before finally making his way towards the centre of the play ground to fight with Martin.
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