(BL) Mafia Love; He who falls the hardest loses-Chapter 157: Two women lost

Ren frowned when he was invited into Haruki’s study and saw Hiroshi. He had heard that the man was present but he had not expected him to be in Haruki’s study especially when they were meant to have a meeting.

Hiroshi could easily sense the hostility in the man’s eyes even with Ren masking up. He rose up from the sofa along with the book he was reading.

"I will go work out," he told Haruki stretching casually.

"Okay," Haruki replied. He could easily sense that Hiroshi was trying to excuse them but considering what they had to discuss, he didn’t make the man stay.

Kiyoshi arrived shortly after and they began discussing.

"You should stay away from the doctor for now," Ren spoke unable to hold back what was bothering him.

"I thought I made it clear that I won’t give in to his demands?" Haruki asked his brow furrowed.

Ren calmly met his gaze showing no intention of backing down but holding back from showing any sign of challenging Hiroshi.

"He isn’t stopping you from getting married and having kids. He is giving you what you want. What the family approves of. What is stopping you from accepting it?"

Haruki pressed his lips into a thin line. He had made up his mind to respond to whatever his mentor said the way he wanted but that question struck something within him.

He responded firmly though, "What I won’t do is follow someone’s orders."

That was not the truth. With every second that passed, his thoughts got deeper. Why couldn’t he let Hiroshi leave as they had discussed?

What was so difficult about pulling apart and ending the contracted relationship? Why was it so difficult? Why did it hurt so much to think about it? When did it all become so complicated?

His heart raced. Even with the thought of wanting to marry, he could not bring himself to let go of the man. He wanted Hiroshi by his side. He wanted the man on his bed, he wanted to touch the man, kiss him, forever.

If Aiichiro wanted him to end something he had come to love, something he could not live without even with the chance to live the normal life expected of him, then he would not give in to the man’s order.

"Just for this moment. You are going to get married anyway, so why is it so hard to end this and get engaged?"

"Arrange for the engagement, find a suitable woman if that is what you want so badly," Haruki sighed tired of the argument. "If you think getting me married will end his madness, then do it, but I would not end the relationship with the doctor though."

Haruki, realising how firmly he had spoken about not letting go of Hiroshi, massaged his brow tiredly. Why were they all trying to separate him from Hiroshi? His legs shook as he thought of how tiring the meeting was.

"Are we done?" he asked, his voice serious, yet unable to stop his restlessness.

"I have not succeeded in persuading you," Ren replied.

"Then keep trying," Haruki said, fatigued. He rose up and returned to his work desk clearly dismissing the meeting.

Kiyoshi watching from the sideline could finally understand what Ren was worried about. How would the world view the legacy of their family if he can’t keep the legacy going because of a sexual relationship Haruki has with his doctor? But what if it was something beyond sexual?

Seeing had no intention to keep the meeting, Kiyoshi and Ren exited the study together.

"Don’t tell me you support what is going on?" Ren turned and asked Kiyoshi exasperated.

"I am Haruki’s assistant. I support all his choices as long as he is happy." Kiyoshi replied sincerely. "I am not responsible for the family." Kiyoshi could understand Ren’s worry after all he was trained by Haruki’s grandfather to protect the family’s legacy but all that mattered to him was Haruki’s happiness.

"Do you think that happiness would last when he begins to face the ridicule of society?"

"I believe he will be fine. It is just a relationship. They might break up in a couple of years and even if they don’t, Haruki will be fine."

Ren frowned unable to understand what was wrong with Kiyoshi too.

"Just as Haruki said, what we have to do should be done properly. Haruki must not get hurt on our watch. That’s all that matters to me."

The meeting was meant to focus on a long term solution but they had wasted so much time bothering about Haruki’s relationship with Hiroshi. If he ends the relationship, he could still be with someone else which would most likely lead to such a response from Aiichiro so Hiroshi was not their problem.

***

Haruki and Hiroshi continued the routine they followed before Haruki travelled but this time, they stayed at the main throughout the week. Haruki would be better protected in the main house compared to at Hiroshi’s house or his other apartments.

The man didn’t want Haruki dead meaning if the doctor was with him, his safety was guaranteed. He made sure to pick up Hiroshi from work every day and drop him off so they would ride in the same car.

They had their plans set in motion. Aiichiro was difficult to defeat but with the close circle of his most trusted subordinates, it was not impossible to protect himself and plan Aiichiro’s defeat.

"Good morning," Hiroshi murmured into Haruki’s ear when he noticed the man in his arms was awake.

"Hmm," Haruki replied turning to press his face against Hiroshi’s chest.

To think that he was asked to give this up because a madman was in love with him? His arms around Hiroshi’s waist tightened slightly as he inhaled the clean male scent from Hiroshi.

There was a knock on the door. "Come in," Haruki’s deep morning voice invited the person identifying the knock as Kiyoshi’s. "What’s the time?" he asked Hiroshi hoping he could get an hour more sleep considering they slept pretty late last night.

"Eight forty," Hiroshi replied calmly just in time for Kiyoshi to step in.

"I will sleep more," Haruki yawned. Remembering he had invited Kiyoshi in, Haruki finally moved and sat up brushing back his bed hair.

"Something happened," Kiyoshi said looking down solemnly.

That was enough sign from someone like Kiyoshi that whatever happened had to be grave. He brushed his hair back once again but his black hair fell against his forehead curling as he rose up from the bed.

He took the tablet Kiyoshi stretched to him and looked down at the screen. A news report of an explosion in a high-end residential area. Just when he recognised where the explosion had happened, Kiyoshi stepped closer to him and swiped. Another gas explosion in a villa.

Haruki stood frozen while holding the tablet. Just last night two women who meant a lot to him, while he was rolling in the sheets, had died in gas explosions.

He felt his blood run down he could not hold back a slight shudder. They died in similar accidents on the same night. It felt like a fatal blow. Despite all he was planning, all they had begun to do, he could not protect these innocent women.

The world called it an accident but there was nothing like an accident with all these. I swallowed and pushed the tablet back to Kiyoshi. Kiyoshi took the device from him and pulled out an envelope from his chest pocket.

He gave it to Haruki and said, "This was delivered just now."

The envelope had been opened already, it had no address on it and was made of high-quality red paper. He pulled out a small card from the envelope and on it, a question was written on it boldly in cursive.

’Who will be next?’

Haruki raised his head from the message on the card and turned to look at Hiroshi, who was sitting on the bed. He could easily guess who would be next, Hiroshi.

His grandaunt was the only relative he could have a comfortable conversation with before his uncle’s death. His aunt was the only one who truly cared for him, the only family he had from his past, the only person connected to his father.

Aiichiro had killed both of them brutally ensuring that everyone in those houses survived except both of them. Haruki’s grip on the card tightened as he met Kiyoshi’s gaze.

"I will be out in ten."

Haruki walked to the bathroom still holding the card while Kiyoshi left the room ensuring he didn’t look at Hiroshi, who was giving him a questioning gaze.

Hiroshi grabbed his phone and scrolled through the news and even after seeing those news stories among those he saw, he could identify them among the others. He immediately sent a message to his lawyer asking him to investigate.

When Haruki finally got out of the closet fully dressed, Hiroshi rushed to him and asked, "What happened?"

Seeing no need to keep it secret, Haruki replied, "My grandaunt and aunt died." He could still remember the day they met. He had not wanted to meet anyone from his past causing him to dismiss her.