The next day unfolded like any other. By afternoon, Aki was in the office with Leo and Frank, sorting through paperwork and keeping busy with the usual workday rhythm.
Meanwhile, Akira was passing through the hallway when he overheard a couple of guards chatting nearby.
"I heard Chief is planning something big for that right-hand man…" one of them murmured.
"What exactly?" another asked, leaning in.
"Maybe ******… I don't know yet."
Akira's brow furrowed. Damn it—I didn't catch that word properly.
Then came the next comment, sharp and careless.
"Who needs Aki anyways?"
That was all it took.
Fury surged in Akira like a wave. Without thinking, he spun around and landed a brutal punch to the guard's face. Blood sprayed. The guard collapsed with a grunt, but Akira wasn't finished—he straddled him, fists flying in blind rage.
"You bastard! Who do you think you are?! Touch him and I'll split you in half!" he roared.
The hallway erupted into chaos. Other guards rushed to pull Akira off, grabbing him by the arms. The guard lay on the floor, barely conscious, face swollen and bloodied.
Just then, Leo, Aki, and Frank came rushing down the hall, drawn by the commotion.
Leo's eyes widened as he took in the scene. "What is going on here?!"
One of the guards spoke quickly. "Boss—Young Master beat up one of our own."
Another chimed in, "Yes, sir. We were just talking—"
The rest echoed him in agreement, voices overlapping. "Yes—yes—"
Akira, now held down on the floor, glared up at them, blood smearing his knuckles, eyes burning.
"You brat," Leo snapped, his face twisting with anger. "You'll pay for this."
He barked an order: "Tie his arms with the chain. Today, I'll teach him a proper lesson."
Without hesitation, the guards bound Akira's arms tightly, keeping him pinned in the same restrained position as before.
Leo stepped forward. "Now tell me—why did you do it?"
Akira spat to the side, glaring up at him. "Old man, these dogs of yours have too damn much to say."
Leo's jaw clenched. "Teach him a real lesson."
The guards obeyed, returning with steel bats and hunters. They began beating Akira ruthlessly, the sound of metal hitting flesh echoing down the corridor. His skin split open, blood spilling freely.
Aki stood frozen, clutching his chest. His body shook uncontrollably, horror carved into every line of his face.
Akira's glare never left Leo, even as his blood painted the floor beneath him.
Leo snarled, "Look at him—still glaring. Beat him until he forgets how to glare."
A steel bat cracked across Akira's head. Blood streamed from his mouth, pooling on the floor, his chest ripped open and raw.
Aki could barely breathe. Tears spilled from his eyes. Watching Akira like this—broken, bleeding—shattered him.
He turned, trying to walk away, but Leo grabbed his wrist.
"Where do you think you're going, huh?" Leo snapped, yanking him forward. "You're the reason he's like this."
Leo snatched off Aki's glasses and tossed them aside. "No need for them."
Aki's green eyes, filled with sorrow, were exposed—shimmering with unshed tears, shaking, helpless.
Leo smirked cruelly. "Seeing that… now say it, Aki. Say you don't love him, and I'll tell them to stop. Say it."
Aki stared at Akira, trembling. Akira met his gaze, shaking his head faintly, silently pleading, don't do it.
Leo's voice hardened. "What are you thinking? You want to save him or not? Look at him—he's bleeding."
Aki bit down on his lip so hard it started to bleed. His whole body trembled.
Leo scoffed. "Guess it's a no then. Bring it in."
The guards returned, this time with steel bats laced in thorns.
Just as they raised the weapons again, a sharp voice cut through the hallway like a blade.
"Stop! Have you gone crazy, Leo?! Will you kill your own son?!"
Astra stood at the end of the hall, furious.
Leo's expression darkened, but his voice was calm. "I was just teaching him a lesson."
Astra's footsteps cut through the hallway, sharp and controlled.The entire room felt like it dropped in temperature.
His glare pierced through Leo like a sword.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Leo?!" she snapped.
Leo sighed like a scolded child. "Fine. Let's go, Frank."
He waved his hand, and the guards immediately released Akira.
Yuke, who had been standing near the back, almost collapsed after seeing his brother's state. His hands trembled. His heart dropped.
Akira, still bound in chains, barely able to breathe, shakily pulled the metal restraints from his arms. Every movement hurt. But he didn't care.
The moment he was free, he stumbled forward, legs weak, bleeding—yet determined. He limped straight to Aki, who stood there, shaking like a leaf, tears pouring silently down his cheeks.
"Aki…" Akira whispered, voice cracked with pain.
And then—he wrapped his arms around him.
Aki collapsed into him without resistance.
Both of them sank to the ground, knees giving out beneath them as if their bodies had nothing left. Akira's bloody hands trembled as he held Aki tight. Aki buried his face into Akira's chest, clutching at his torn, soaked shirt like he was afraid he'd disappear.
"I didn't know they would go this far," Aki sobbed, his voice cracking. "I should have agreed that day… then maybe…"
"Shh," Akira whispered, pulling him closer. "It's okay, Aki. I'm fine. And I'm happy… that you didn't agree. Not that day. Not today."
"But—!" Aki cried, voice louder now, broken.
Akira pressed a kiss to his forehead, his hand gently cradling the back of Aki's head as he ran fingers through his hair.
Yuke, eyes wet, pulled out his phone. "Call the doctor. Now."
—
A little while later…
Akira lay in bed, his wounds freshly bandaged. The doctor sat nearby, packing up his tools.
Aki stood silently beside him, his eyes red and swollen, face pale, sleeves wrinkled from clutching at them too tightly.
"Come closer," Akira whispered, lifting a shaky hand.
Aki stepped forward.
"Don't cry… smile suits you more," Akira said softly, brushing away his tears with his thumb.
Aki breathed in sharply, his chest rising with the effort not to sob again.
"Promise me, Aki… you won't go anywhere without telling me," Akira said, his tone serious but gentle.
Aki nodded. "Yes. I promise."
Akira smiled faintly. "That's a relief, then…"
The doctor spoke up. "Akira, you should rest. You lost a lot of blood today."
Akira nodded weakly. "Thank you, Doctor."
Aki bowed politely, then leaned in, gently laying Akira down properly and covering him with a blanket.
"You should rest now," he whispered.
"Mm…" Akira's eyes fluttered shut, exhaustion pulling him under.
Aki sat beside him, fingers lacing around Akira's hand. He held it tightly against his chest, his thumb brushing along the back of it slowly, like a silent promise.
—
A few hours later…
Click.
The door creaked open.
Frank stepped in quietly. "Aki… Chief is calling you."
Aki looked up slowly, voice low. "...Coming."
He gently placed Akira's hand back on the bed, careful not to disturb him. But as he pulled away, a single loose thread from Akira's torn sleeve caught on the button of Aki's cuff.
Aki paused, looking down at the little snag.
His eyes softened. A quiet moment passed.
He leaned down, kissed Akira's cheek gently, rubbed his head with care, and then—snapped the thread loose.
Then he turned and left the room.