(BL) Mafia Love; He who falls the hardest loses-Chapter 173: What he wants

Haruki had Kiyoshi investigate what happened immediately.

When the long-awaited knock came, he sat up and invited Kiyoshi in. He gave him the report. "Kataro attacked Aiichiro," Kiyoshi said after Haruki took it from him.

Haruki read through it and couldn’t help but feel his head intensifying. It was found with evidence that Hiroshi exposed to Kataro that Aiichiro was behind Shinya’s death.

It was not hard to predict what Kataro would do with such information, but the more he read, the more he felt Kataro had acted out of character.

Kataro was his lover for more than a couple of months before stabbing him yet he had walked up to Aiichiro and stabbed him without a plan.

It might look plain after all, Aiichiro was drunk when he was stabbed making him slow to defend himself. He tried to make sense of what was happening.

Aiichiro was someone strong enough to fight with Ren and stab him. Even caught unaware, Ren was not someone to get easily killed especially when he didn’t even trust the relationship he had with Aiichiro.

That was enough to estimate how strong Aiichiro was. The attack was clean sending Ren to his grave even after he got the chance to escape.

"I don’t think it is as simple as it seems," Haruki said frowning deeply as he placed the paper down.

"Kataro was taken in by Aiichiro’s men and when he was interrogated, he said Hiroshi told him to do it," Kiyoshi narrated.

"I am not sure about how true that is," Haruki sighed and shook his head. "I am sure it goes deeper than it seems."

"This was all we were able to gather in the last hour. I am sure with further investigation, we’ll find out more but Kataro is still in their custody and there’s no way they would release him. That makes it impossible for us to know the real truth from Kataro but . . ."

Haruki raised his head to meet Kataro’s gaze when the man paused. He could guess what Kiyoshi was thinking. The only person they could get the truth from was Hiroshi.

Haruki had no idea how Hiroshi had planned the attack and to think he decided to use Kataro to attack Aiichiro felt a bit unbelievable but since he had ordered Hiroshi to kill Aiichiro, he wasn’t sure.

"I don’t think he will send Kataro to kill Aiichiro. Even if he told him." Kiyoshi seemed very sure of his thoughts.

"Those are just your thoughts."

"I know but . . ." Kiyoshi couldn’t continue. If Haruki believed Hiroshi did it then there was nothing he could say to defend the doctor. He had no idea why Haruki didn’t doubt that but since he had a reason to believe it, he pressed his lips together and nodded.

"Send some flowers and fruits to Aiichiro with a note asking him what he wants," Haruki said tiredly. Since Aiichiro wanted to use whatever happened to trap Hiroshi, he was willing to play along with him before he killed him.

"Why don’t you visit him yourself?" Kiyoshi asked. He could go himself but the person who would be able to get the right information was Haruki.

Haruki shook his head. "He wants to meet next week. I will plan before then. When we meet, it will make things easier for both of us."

"You are not thinking of . . . right?" Kiyoshi paused and asked narrowing his eyes.

"Do not bother yourself," Haruki replied sternly. He knew Kiyoshi could guess what he was thinking but he didn’t want anyone involved in the mess he had with Aiichiro. He involved Hiroshi and it led to Kataro’s involvement, he was unwilling to add any more lives to Aiichiro’s sick game.

Kiyoshi went away to do what he was ordered to. Haruki was left with his plans. At this point, it didn’t matter whether Hiroshi was behind or not because he never expected Hiroshi to send Kataro in fact, it was impossible.

However, he had planned to end Aiichiro’s life. Kataro was in his custody and the man will do all he can to get Hiroshi too since it seems he was after Hiroshi. It was just a sign for him to hasten his plan.

If anyone had the right to carry out the mission of ending Aiichiro’s life, it was him. All that had happened to him was connected to Aiichiro and it was time for vengeance.

***

Haruki had been so stressed, he had nothing planned for this year’s birthday, and he only remembered thanks to the multiple emails and birthday wishes he got.

He ignored them along with the messages his friends sent asking if he was going to host a party this year. He had no time for that. Kiyoshi had delivered the flowers and fruits along with the note but he got no response from Aiichiro.

He didn’t care about what the man wanted, he just wanted to know what he could use to lure the man in to kill him. There was no way he could do that without a knowledge of the threat he could dangle before the man’s nose before ending his life.

He sighed and placed down his tablet. He remembered when the doctor would pop in with a meal for him. He wished he could have that. There was something about that special delivery that made others unappetizing.

He rose up. It was way past lunchtime. He had been busy at work as usual. They were always handling an important project but none required his attention this time so he prioritised eating lunch.

He stretched slightly and put on his jacket ready to leave. He guessed Kiyoshi or Satomi must have warned the other staff from wishing him a happy birthday thanks to how sour his mood had been.

He was used to celebrating his birthday even though there was truly no joy in that celebration. How could there be when his parents died on that same day?

As though sensing his sadness, the day began to darken. Seeing that it would rain any moment soon, he felt the urge to remain in the office.

With a sigh, he walked back to his seat. Turning the swivel chair to face the ceiling-to-floor window, he sat on it and faced the unobstructed view of the darkening sky.

It reminded him of that night. He had sat down beside the car in tears, drenched before the police and ambulances arrived. It was darker that night, much darker and both of his parents were losing blood so fast it was still a mystery how he survived.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out. It was Aiichiro. The part of himself that subconsciously expected it to be Hiroshi’s call sighed sadly. He had blocked the man’s number yet he still hoped the man would call him to wish him happy birthday.

It all started on his birthday. The day he had cornered the man in the restroom. That was the first time he spent his birthday with someone. They had kissed and he had touched the man in the restroom.

It was then that he fell in love with Hiroshi. He had tried to fight it for a year but he lost. Hiroshi’s brown eyes, gentle gaze, and kindness had drawn him in. Now even in the physical absence of the man, he still craved the warmth.

He enjoyed it for more than a year, they had touched so many times. He threw his principles out of the window and now, he was willing to risk his life to protect Hiroshi.

He had truly fought hard against the feelings Hiroshi awoke in him. He tried his best to make rational choices. He tried all he could but still lost.

He was still hoping for a sudden awakening to rationality to save him from what he was planning but since he hadn’t gotten it yet, he picked up the call.

"Hello," he said, his voice bored.

"Hello," Aiichiro’s voice came from the other end. "I just left the hospital."

"Do you feel better?" Haruki asked despite the reluctance and the bitter taste those words had.

"Yes, I feel a lot better, thanks to the gifts you sent," Aiichiro laughed. "I think we can talk now. Let’s meet tomorrow."

"What do you want?" Haruki asked seriously. This was the only reason he felt the need to pick up the man’s call.

"I think you know very well what I want," Aiichiro replied, his voice stern.

"How will I know if you don’t tell me?" Haruki asked exasperation evident in his tone even though he tried to tone it down.

"It is very easy. I want what I have been trying so hard to protect for more than six months now."

Haruki felt his heart drop at such a statement. He had suspected it. No, he had expected it but hearing it from Aiichiro made him wince as he felt nauseous.

"I will cancel my engagement if that is what you want," Haruki agreed after a few seconds of silence. The engagement he got into for normalcy and to appease Aiichiro had no need anymore if Aiichiro wanted him.