The gates opened, sunlight flooding in after three long years of dim corridors and steel bars. Freedom. Every step outside felt heavier, sharper, and more deliberate than any step I had taken inside. Three years of survival, strategy, and unrelenting control had forged me into something stronger, faster, and sharper.
Waiting near the parking lot was Kou, my best friend, grinning as if no time had passed. "Three years, huh?" he said, clapping me on the shoulder. "Finally, you're out."
"Some things never change," I replied, allowing a faint smile. No words were necessary; we both knew the weight of what those years had cost—and built.
I pulled out my phone and dialed the number Jun had given me months ago. After a few rings, his voice came through: warm, commanding.
"Akira," he said. "Good timing. I've got a place for you to come. Don't worry about the details—just follow instructions."
Minutes later, Kou and I were driving through the bustling city streets, neon lights reflecting off wet asphalt. Everything outside was vivid, alive, and unpredictable. Every honk, every pedestrian, every shadow felt sharper than the dull monotony of prison corridors.
We arrived at a small, discreet bar tucked into a side street. Nothing flashy—just enough to keep casual eyes away. This was Kurogane-gumi's Kanagawa branch, a hub for the organization's operations in the region.
Inside, the low hum of conversation, clinking glasses, and faint laughter filled the room. I approached the counter. "Akira Hasegawa," I said firmly.
The waiter's eyes flicked toward me with recognition, and without a word, led us through a back hallway into a VIP room, secluded from the main floor.
Inside, the air was thick with smoke and conversation. Jun sat at a large table, surrounded by other Kurogane-gumi members and women, the atmosphere casual yet commanding. His eyes lit up when he saw me.
"Akira!" he called warmly, standing to meet me. "Three years, huh? You made it. Welcome to the other side."
I inclined my head in acknowledgment. Then, a moment of introduction. "Jun, this is Kou," I said, gesturing to my best friend. "Kou, this is Jun."
Jun's smile widened, extending a hand. "So this is the partner-in-crime, huh? Good to finally meet you. Akira speaks highly of you."
Kou nodded, shaking Jun's hand firmly. "Good to meet you, sir. Thanks for looking out for him."
Jun clapped me on the shoulder, pulling both of us toward the table. "Sit, relax. We'll talk about your future soon. But first, let me give you the lay of the land."
He leaned back, voice dropping slightly. "Kurogane-gumi controls Western Japan—all the way from Tokyo down to Fukuoka. Branches operate in every major city. Kanagawa is a key area, and you're going to be No. 3 in this branch. That puts you in charge of operations under me. I'm No. 1 here, and we have another lieutenant running point as No. 2. Your task is to manage your crew, expand influence, and maintain order. Got it?"
I nodded, taking it in. The structure was clear, the expectations heavy, but the opportunity was enormous. "Understood, Jun. I'll handle it."
Jun smiled, satisfied. "Good. That's why I brought you here. Build your crew, keep things in line, and remember—you earned your place through skill and discipline, not recklessness. Kanagawa is yours to command. But don't forget: the wider world of Kurogane-gumi is watching. Perform, and bigger things will come."
I sank into the chair, letting the atmosphere wash over me—the city, the bar, the powerful figures of Kurogane-gumi. I had seen the shadows behind bars; now I would navigate the world in light and shadow alike.
For the first time in three years, I felt the full weight of choice. Outside, the real game had begun.