After taking Miyamoto Yumi back to her hotel room, Akai Hideyoshi experienced unprecedented inner turmoil. Seeing Yumi's still-swollen eyes and forced calm, a strong sense of guilt washed over him.
"Yumi... I'm sorry," he said hoarsely, lowering his head, not daring to meet her eyes. "I... I don't know what came over me earlier, saying those awful things... I..."
Miyamoto Yumi looked at his remorseful, pained expression and remembered Kanjuro's gentle comfort, her feelings complex and hard to articulate. She sighed, her tone tired and with a hint of distance: "It's okay, Hideyoshi. Maybe... you've really been under too much pressure lately. Get some rest."
She didn't scold him and then easily forgive him as usual; instead, she carried a calmness that made Hideyoshi uneasy. This "it's okay" unsettled him more than angry accusations. But his mind was in turmoil, and he had no time to ponder deeply, only nodding with relief and a touch of loss.
After settling her (or rather, watching Yumi lie down silently to rest), the restlessness and that morbid "thirst for knowledge" in Akai Hideyoshi's heart took over again. As if possessed, he found himself once again outside Kanjuro's suite door.
Kanjuro seemed to have expected his arrival; the door was slightly ajar. Akai Hideyoshi pushed it open and saw Kanjuro standing by the window, overlooking the city's night view, holding a glass of red wine, his silhouette appearing particularly profound in the night.
"How do you feel?" Kanjuro didn't turn around, his voice calm as if merely asking about the weather.
Akai Hideyoshi stood at the door, his body trembling slightly from excitement and some unspeakable thrill. He took a deep breath, struggling to organize his words:
"Mr. Kanjuro... I... watching Yumi in your arms... my heart ached, as if cut by a knife..." He paused, a twisted expression appearing on his face. "But... but my mind was unusually clear, even... feeling excited! A sensation I've never had before! Is this... the sprouting of the 'power' you mentioned?"
He finally voiced the darkest feelings from the depths of his heart, with a desperate, almost devout madness.
Kanjuro slowly turned around. In the dim light, half of his face was hidden in shadow, half illuminated by the neon lights outside the window, appearing eerie and inscrutable. He gently swirled the red wine in his glass, a satisfied curve lifting the corner of his mouth.
"Yes, that's the feeling," his voice carried an approving praise, like a mentor affirming a student's progress. "Pain and excitement intertwined, reason building a new order on the ruins of emotion. You've felt the threshold, Hideyoshi."
He took a sip of wine, continuing in that mesmerizing voice:
"But it's not enough. Far from enough."
His gaze sharp as an eagle's, locked tightly on Akai Hideyoshi. "The Way of Chess lies in extremity. Heart-wrenching pain, feeling as if cut by a knife, is just the beginning. To touch the supreme 'Way of Heartlessness,' you need... complete despair."
"Com... complete despair?" Akai Hideyoshi murmured, his heart racing, a sense of foreboding mixed with a bizarre anticipation gripping him.
"Exactly," Kanjuro put down his glass and walked step by step to stand before Akai Hideyoshi, looking down at him. His voice was low and clear, each word like a heavy hammer striking Hideyoshi's fragile nerves:
"You need to make the woman you love, Miyamoto Yumi..."
He deliberately paused, savoring Akai Hideyoshi's suddenly constricted pupils and instantly pale face,
"Willingly... offer herself to me."
"Off... offer herself to you?!" Akai Hideyoshi was thunderstruck, stumbling back a step and hitting the door with a dull thud. He stared at Kanjuro in disbelief, his eyes filled with extreme fear, absurdity, and... a tremor he hadn't even noticed himself, shaken by this insane proposal.
"This... this is impossible! It's too..." He stammered, wanting to refuse, to flee, but his feet seemed nailed to the spot. Kanjuro's words echoed madly in his mind like the most evil incantation.
"Why is it impossible?" Kanjuro's voice carried a cold logic. "Only by letting you witness and personally facilitate the complete destruction and possession of everything you cherish by another can you experience what true, irrevocable despair is. In the ashes of this despair, the true 'heart of heartlessness' that discards all emotions can be reborn."
He reached out and gently patted Akai Hideyoshi's stiff cheek, the movement carrying undeniable control,
"Think about it, Hideyoshi. When you are no longer moved by any external thing, when your heart is as cold and hard as iron, who on the chessboard will be your match? That is... true invincibility."
Akai Hideyoshi stood dumbfounded, his mind blank, only Kanjuro's demonic words roaring in his ears. Offering Yumi... complete despair... invincibility... A cold chill ran up his spine to the top of his head, but at the same time, an even darker, more insane thought, like bubbles in a swamp, began to quietly surface in the depths of his chaotic heart.
Looking into Kanjuro's eyes that seemed to devour all light, he felt as if standing on the edge of a bottomless abyss, with Kanjuro smiling, inviting him... to leap.
Akai Hideyoshi's breathing was heavy, his eyes chaotic and feverish. He was like a man dying of thirst in the desert, knowing the drink before him might be poison, yet still craving the nectar that promised "power." Trembling, he almost squeezed the words through gritted teeth:
"Then... then what should I do? Mr. Kanjuro... Please... please guide me!"
Kanjuro looked at his appearance, completely dominated by desire and twisted ideals, a glint of pleasure at having everything under control flashing in his eyes. He didn't immediately give a cruel instruction; instead, as if considerately thinking for the other, he revealed a 'gentle' smile.
'Don't be in a hurry, Hideyoshi.' His voice slowed, carrying a persuasive tone, 'We still need a... 'confirmation' step. After all, I don't want to force anyone.'
He strolled to the wine cabinet, poured himself another glass of wine, his movements elegant and composed.
'Tomorrow, I'll find a suitable opportunity to 'confess' to Yumi.'
'Confess?!' Shuichi Akai suddenly looked up, his heart feeling as if gripped by an invisible hand.
'Yes.' Kanjuro turned around, swirling the wine glass, the red liquid rippling in the glass like a dangerous vortex, 'I'll clearly tell her that I have feelings for her and hope to be with her.'
He observed Shuichi Akai's instantly pale face and continued:
'This is a test, Hideyoshi. A test of how deep her feelings for you truly are.'
'If she rejects me—' Kanjuro deliberately drew out his tone, watching a faint glimmer of hope ignite in Hideyoshi's eyes, 'then it proves that you are still the most important person in her heart. Her love for you is strong enough to resist external temptations. If that's the case...'
Kanjuro spread his hands, making a seemingly 'tolerant' gesture:
'Then you don't need to do anything else. Proving your 'attachment' is strong enough, perhaps... the 'Way of Heartlessness' we discussed earlier isn't suitable for you. You can continue to protect your precious love and walk the ordinary path of Go.'
These words were like a lifeline, giving Shuichi Akai a glimmer of light in the endless darkness and pressure. That's right! If Yumi rejects Mr. Kanjuro, then it proves she loves me! Then I don't have to... don't have to... However, Kanjuro's next sentence instantly tainted this lifeline with deadly poison:
'But—' Kanjuro's voice suddenly turned cold, his gaze sharp and full of pressure, 'if she rejects me...'
He stared into Shuichi Akai's eyes and, word by word, issued the final twisted and cruel instruction:
'You must personally go find her and then, clearly and unmistakably, tell her—'
'You like it. You like watching her being intimate with me.'
"!!!"
Shuichi Akai felt as if struck by lightning, his entire body trembling violently, almost unable to stand steady! This sentence... this sentence was even more heart-wrenching than directly asking him to offer up Yumi! This wasn't just passive acceptance; it required him to actively admit, express, and acknowledge the twisted 'pleasure' of pushing the woman he loved into another's arms! This was meant to completely crush and shatter his dignity, his love, his emotions as a normal person!
'No... this... this is too...' He instinctively wanted to resist, his stomach churning.
'This is the necessary path to 'Heartlessness,' Hideyoshi.' Kanjuro's voice sounded like a curse, resonating unquestionably in his ears, 'Only by personally strangling what you cherish most and tasting the fallen'sweetness' from it can you completely bid farewell to your past weakness. Tell me, do you want to become stronger? Do you want to touch the supreme path of Go?'
Shuichi Akai opened his mouth, a 'heh heh' sound coming from his throat, cold sweat soaking his back. He looked into Kanjuro's eyes, which seemed to contain endless power and darkness, the desire for 'invincibility' fiercely battling the immense fear and disgust in his heart.
In the end, the twisted desire for power, like poisonous vines, entangled his reason. He closed his eyes, using all his strength, slowly yet clearly, squeezing out a single word through gritted teeth:
'...Yes.'
Kanjuro smiled, a satisfied smile of seeing prey finally fall into a trap.
'Very good. Then, let's look forward to tomorrow's 'result.' He raised his wine glass toward the void, as if celebrating an impending funeral of humanity.
And Shuichi Akai, like a puppet whose soul had been drained, collapsed to the ground, his heart filled only with endless coldness and a... morbid anticipation and fear of tomorrow's cruel 'test.' He knew that no matter how Yumi chose tomorrow, he had already stepped onto an irreversible path leading to a dark abyss. The next day, sunlight dispelled the gloom of the previous night but couldn't disperse the fog in some people's hearts. Miyamoto Yumi forced herself to stay alert, wearing her neat traffic police uniform, patrolling the streets under her jurisdiction. However, those originally bright and lively big eyes still held a trace of barely noticeable redness and confusion.
When she was directing traffic at an intersection, the corner of her eye caught a familiar figure. Kanjuro was standing at a street corner not far away, quietly watching her. Today, he had changed into a simple yet high-quality casual outfit, his posture upright and his demeanor outstanding, standing out prominently in the crowd.
Yumi's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively adjusted her cap brim. Seeing that she had noticed him, Kanjuro walked over, wearing a perfectly appropriate, reassuring gentle smile on his face.
'Officer Yumi, good morning.' His voice was clear, like morning light.
'Mr. Kanjuro? Goo... good morning.' Yumi tried to make her voice sound natural, but a barely noticeable tension leaked out.
'Seeing you busy here, full of vitality.' Kanjuro's gaze fell on her, carrying appreciation but not overly intrusive, 'Feeling... better?' His tone was filled with sincere concern.
Mentioning her feelings, Yumi's eyes dimmed for a moment, but she quickly forced a smile: 'Yes, much better. Yesterday... I really want to thank you, Mr. Kanjuro. If it weren't for you...' She didn't finish, but her gratitude was evident.
'It was nothing, I'm glad I could help you.' Kanjuro smiled slightly, a smile that seemed to have the power to soothe wounds. He paused, his tone becoming slightly more formal but his gaze still gentle: 'Yumi, I wonder if you're free for lunch? I thought... perhaps we could have lunch together?'
This direct invitation made Yumi freeze for a moment. Almost instinctively, with a hint of panic and a clear sense of boundaries, she blurted out: 'Mr. Kanjuro, thank you for your kindness. But... I have a boyfriend.' She mentioned Hideyoshi, even though her heart was filled with disappointment and confusion about yesterday's Hideyoshi, years of feelings and a sense of morality made her immediately draw this line.
Hearing this, Kanjuro didn't show any displeasure or offense; instead, he seemed to have expected her to say this. He sighed softly, a sigh carrying an indescribable, faint sadness, his gaze slightly lowered, revealing a rare vulnerability that didn't match his usual strong and confident image.
'I understand.' When he looked up again, his eyes were complex, as if carrying many things not easily spoken, 'I didn't mean anything else. It's just... some words, things I've kept in my heart for a long time, I really want to talk to someone about them. Chatting with you yesterday, I felt you're very kind and understanding.' He looked at Yumi, his tone carrying a barely noticeable plea, 'Just... as accompanying a friend who occasionally feels lonely for a simple meal, okay?'
His demeanor completely struck the softest part of Miyamoto Yumi's heart. Looking into Kanjuro's eyes, which seemed to hide stars and loneliness, hearing the faint sense of solitude in his words, and recalling his meticulous comfort and tolerance last night, her kind nature made it impossible for her to harden her heart and refuse.
He looks... like he really needs to talk. Did something sad happen? As someone he helped, just listening to him talk should... be okay, right? After all, he helped me so much yesterday... The internal struggle lasted only a few seconds; compassion and that inexplicable heartache for Kanjuro (perhaps mixed with a curiosity and fondness she herself hadn't noticed) took over.
'...Okay.' Yumi finally nodded, her tone softening, 'But it can only be a simple lunch, and... I still have to patrol in the afternoon.'
Kanjuro's face immediately bloomed with a warm and sincere smile, like sunlight breaking through dark clouds, its brilliance almost dazzling Yumi for a moment.
'Thank you, Yumi.' He said softly, his eyes filled with gratitude, 'I know a quiet restaurant nearby with great food.'
Thus, driven by compassion and kindness, Miyamoto Yumi took a dangerous step. She didn't know that this seemingly simple lunch would be the entrance to a deeper trap meticulously prepared for her by Kanjuro. And the boundary in her heart named 'boyfriend' was becoming blurred under Kanjuro's superb acting and emotional manipulation.
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the story has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 chapters in advance over on my Patreon: patreon.com/TLHimejima1
Every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone and let me know.