Chapter 7
The training room was quiet except for the dull thud of fists against a punching bag.
Yumi Sato's knuckles stung as she struck again.
And again.
And again.
Every hit carried years of anger.
Every hit carried the same memory.
Fire.
Gunshots.
Her father collapsing.
"Still thinking about revenge?"
Yumi froze.
The voice came from the doorway.
Low.
Calm.
Too familiar.
She slowly turned.
Ryuji Takeda stood there, leaning against the frame like he had been watching for a while.
Her chest tightened slightly.
"What did you say?" she asked carefully.
Ryuji stepped into the room.
The overhead lights cast shadows across his sharp features.
"I asked if you were still thinking about revenge."
Her stomach twisted.
That word again.
Revenge.
She forced a neutral expression.
"You're imagining things."
Ryuji tilted his head slightly.
"Am I?"
He walked closer.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Like a predator circling something interesting.
"You hit that bag like you're trying to kill someone."
Yumi wiped sweat from her hands.
"Maybe I just enjoy training."
Ryuji stopped a few feet away.
His dark eyes studied her face carefully.
Too carefully.
"Maybe."
But his tone said he didn't believe her.
The room fell silent.
Then Ryuji suddenly said,
"Your father owned a restaurant, didn't he?"
Everything inside Yumi stopped.
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.
"How do you know that?"
The question slipped out before she could stop it.
Ryuji's expression didn't change.
But something dark flickered in his eyes.
"So it's true."
Yumi realized her mistake immediately.
Her fingers curled into fists.
"You investigated me?"
"Of course."
He said it like it was obvious.
"You walked into the headquarters of the most powerful Yakuza syndicate in Tokyo."
His voice lowered.
"You expected me not to look into your past?"
Yumi forced herself to stay calm.
"What does my past have to do with anything?"
Ryuji stepped closer.
The distance between them shrank again.
"You lost your family in a fire," he said quietly.
Yumi's breath caught.
He knew.
Too much.
"How—"
Ryuji interrupted her.
"And that fire…"
His voice softened in a way that made the air feel colder.
"…was connected to the Yakuza."
Yumi's pulse roared in her ears.
Her hand slowly tightened around the knife she had hidden in her sleeve.
"Careful," she said quietly.
But Ryuji wasn't looking at the knife.
He was looking directly into her eyes.
Searching.
"Tell me something, Yumi."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Did you join this organization for revenge?"
The question hung between them like a loaded gun.
For a moment…
Yumi genuinely thought he might already know everything.
Her heartbeat pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
Ryuji watched every tiny reaction on her face.
The tension in her shoulders.
The flash of fear in her eyes.
The anger she tried to hide.
Then slowly…
A smile appeared on his lips.
Not mocking.
Not cruel.
Almost intrigued.
"Interesting."
Yumi narrowed her eyes.
"What is?"
"You."
He stepped even closer.
Close enough that she had to tilt her head to look up at him.
"Most people in your position would lie better."
Yumi's voice hardened.
"I'm not lying."
Ryuji studied her for a long moment.
Then suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist.
Not harshly.
But firmly enough that she couldn't pull away.
His thumb rested against her pulse again.
It was racing.
Ryuji chuckled softly.
"You know what fascinates me?"
Yumi glared at him.
"What?"
His eyes darkened.
"The fact that you walked straight into the lion's den…"
His voice dropped lower.
"…while carrying a knife."
Yumi's breath caught.
He knew.
Or at least he suspected.
Ryuji leaned closer.
So close that his words brushed against her ear.
"If you came here to destroy me…"
His grip tightened slightly.
"…I hope you're prepared for what happens if you fail."
Yumi felt a chill run through her spine.
Not because she was scared.
But because something about the way he said it sounded almost…
Excited.
When he pulled back, his eyes held that same dangerous interest again.
Like the idea of her betrayal didn't anger him.
It fascinated him.
And that realization was terrifying.
Because if Ryuji Takeda already suspected her revenge…
Then keeping her alive meant only one thing.
He wanted to see how far she would go.