After the end of the call, Mitsuri sighed in relief at her shoulders now but remembered that she had to go shopping with Natsuki later in the morning worrying too much about it she didn't even fall asleep she was wide awake the whole time until the sunrise
Later that morning, Natsuki leaves Hanako's apartment for fewer issues, and humor spreads about them.
Natsuki arrived earlier than he expected so he decided to call Mitsuri's phone
Natsuki:It's ringing but not answering what's wrong with that girl?
As I remember correctly only Mitsuri and their attendants are there because her parents are working abroad right now and that's the reason they hired me to guard Mitsuri which is why I doubted anything would happen to a high-class lady like herself I mean if they try to they will be locked forever in jail ngl that's a kinda scary thing to happen so let's avoid that one and focus on guarding her right now this time while shopping with her now that I think about this is it a date?
Mitsuri: A date you said? Don't dream, Natsuki. It's not like I'm going to date a gangster like you.
Natsuki:What!? When did you arrive did you hear everything I said?
Mitsuri:About what exactly?
Natsuki: Never mind.
Mitsuri:Ah you mean dating you?
Natsuki: You did hear it after all.
Mitsuri: Well come on let's go
Natsuki: Okay, did you need me for something like this?
Mitsuri: Of course, and it's your job, right? To protect me?
Natsuki: Job? Anyway I don't have any plans either way so it works out
Mitsuri: Just follow my lead
After that, we went to different stores and I realized that girls take their time shopping still
Natsuki: You are buying too much
Natsuki carrying all the things Mitsuri bought
Mitsuri: Did you say something?
Natsuki: Nothing
Mitsuri: What do you think about this?
Showing two different clothing
Natsuki: Cute I guess?
Mitsuri: I want your honest opinion about it so think carefully
Natsuki: Okay I think the dress suits you more since it fits your image
Mitsuri: Image? Just what do you think my image is?
Natsuki doesn't respond but looks away
Mitsuri: Btw I have a question
Natsuki: What is it?
Mitsuri: Why are you working part-time jobs?
Natsuki: For money of course what else
Mitsuri: I mean what do you use it for?
Natsuki: Hospital bills and other things
Mitsuri: Hospital bills are you sick?
Natsuki: I'm not my mother she's overworked and fell sick while working
Mitsuri: Oh so that's why you're working hard I hope your mother gets out of the hospital soon
Natsuki: Thanks, ready to head home?
Mitsuri: Hmm I think that's enough for today
Natsuki: Finally
Mitsuri: Thank you for accompanying me today Natsuki
Natsuki: No problem call me if you need anything
After that, they went home
Back Alley Beatdown
The alley was dark, the only light coming from a flickering streetlamp above. The scent of damp concrete and motor oil filled the air. Hoshino cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders as he faced off against Jax, a towering bruiser with fists like cinder blocks.
"No weapons," Jax sneered, flexing his fingers. "Just our fists."
Hoshino smirked, wiping a trickle of blood from his split lip. "Just how I like it."
Jax lunged first, swinging a wild right hook. Hoshino ducked just in time, feeling the air shift as the punch whistled past his head. He countered with a sharp jab to Jax's ribs, but the bigger man barely flinched.
Jax came back with a brutal uppercut. Hoshino managed to sidestep, but Jax's knee drove into his gut, knocking the wind out of him. Stumbling back, Hoshino barely had time to raise his guard before Jax was on him again. A heavy fist crashed against his jaw, sending him sprawling into a stack of crates.
Pain flared up Hoshino's side, but he gritted his teeth. He couldn't afford to stay down. As Jax closed in, ready to finish it, Hoshino rolled to his feet and exploded forward. His elbow slammed into Jax's nose with a sickening crunch. The big man staggered back, cursing, blood streaming down his face.
Hoshino didn't let up. He hammered Jax's ribs with rapid punches, forcing him onto the defensive. Then, with a swift step forward, Hoshino planted his foot and drove a hook straight into Jax's jaw. The impact sent the giant crashing to the pavement.
Jax groaned, struggling to push himself up, but Hoshino placed a foot on his chest, pinning him down.
"Stay down," Hoshino growled, wiping blood from his mouth. "Or next time, I won't stop."
Jax stared up at him, fury flickering in his swollen eyes—then he let his head fall back, defeated.
The fight was over.
"I'm coming for you next Natsuki," Hoshino said
Meanwhile Mitsuri
Her Thoughts After Shopping with Him
She flopped onto her bed, a soft sigh escaping her lips as she stared at the ceiling. The shopping bags sat neatly in the corner, but her mind wasn't on the clothes or the shoes. It was on him.
The way he held the door open without thinking like it was second nature. The way he laughed when she got distracted by every cute outfit in sight. The way he looked at her—really looked at her—when she asked for his opinion as if she was the only thing that mattered at that moment.
She hugged a pillow to her chest, replaying little moments in her head. The time their fingers brushed when he handed her a shopping bag. The teasing grin he gave her when she tried on that dress he swore looked "dangerously good" on her. And, oh God, the way he casually carried her extra bags without her even asking.
Her heart did a little flip. Did he feel it too? The way they just fit together?
She turned onto her side, smiling to herself. Maybe shopping wasn't just shopping after all. Maybe, just maybe, today meant something more.
In Natsuki's case
His Thoughts After Shopping with Her
He dropped onto his bed, exhaling deeply as he stretched out. His feet were sore, his arms a little tired from carrying bags—but none of that mattered. His mind was on her.
The way her eyes lit up when she found something she liked. The way she spun around, grinning, asking, "What do you think?" like his opinion mattered. The way she playfully pouted when he teased her about taking too long, only to laugh a second later.
He smirked to himself, remembering how their hands brushed more times than he could count. Was it an accident? Maybe. Maybe not. And that one moment—when she tugged on his sleeve, pulling him closer just to show him something—his heart had nearly stopped.
She looked so happy today. And damn, if that didn't make it all worth it.
He ran a hand through his hair, staring at the ceiling. Did she notice the way he looked at her? The way he kept finding excuses to stay close? He sighed, a lazy smile tugging at his lips.
Yeah, he'd shop with her again. No hesitation. As long as it meant spending more time with her.
There's a fight going on between gangs
Blood dripped from a split lip, pooling at the corner of a clenched jaw. A fist slammed into a cheekbone, whipping the head to the side with a sickening crunch. No time to recover—a boot crashed into ribs, sending the body sprawling across the filthy concrete.
A cough, wet and sharp. Spitting crimson, hands pushed against the ground, forcing broken limbs to move. Too slow. A knee smashed into the face, snapping the head back. Stars exploded behind bloodshot eyes as the skull cracked against the pavement.
Heavy boots stomped closer. A shadow loomed. A hand grasped a handful of hair and wrenched upward, exposing a battered face barely clinging to consciousness.
"Stay down," a voice growled.
Defiance burned through the pain. A last burst of strength surged through trembling muscles. A wild lunge, a headbutt—bone against bone. A grunt of pain, a stagger. The moment was there.
Elbows drove into ribs, fingers clawed at throats. A sharp jab found a soft spot, forcing a gasp. Blood sprayed from a broken nose, mixing with the sweat and grime of the alleyway.
No hesitation. A grip on the back of the head. A knee rocketed upward. Cartilage shattered. Another hit. Another. Something cracked. The body went limp.
Silence, save for ragged breathing. Then, the dull thud of a body hitting the ground.
Chapter 8 ends