Chapter 11

Soft Jazz drifted through the empty bar, its slow, melancholic notes bouncing off the walls filling the empty space. The dim lightning barely reaching the corner of the room, casting long shadow that flickered with the lamp.

A man with his head covered in a bag could be seen sitting in one of the tables with two men sitting across him, Kurokawa and Yagoo, behind the two, stand tall Kurokawa's right hand, Ken.

Ken approached the covered man, pulling the bag out of his head, revealing a familiar yet beaten face.

"How's you been, Takehiru?" Yagoo asked, smiling as he meets Takehiru's eyes.

Takehiru struggles, desperately moving both his hand and leg but his struggle come to an end as he realizes the rope on his limbs. "Wh-What does this mean, Tanigo-san?"

Kurokawa chuckles hearing Takehiru response, he nudges Yagoo's arm with his elbow. "We have a joker here." He continued to laugh, pointing at Takehiru.

Yagoo smiled, his smile remained fixed, but in the dim light, it almost seemed to wide.

"We've known each other for a long time, a really long time." Yagoo speaks, his eyes stared deeply into his soul. "And for that, I'll ask you a question."

"A gps tracker was found on Hoshimachi Suisei's purse," He paused, tapping his finger into the table. "Not long after that, another tracker was found on Yuzuki Choco's purse."

Sweat run down from Takehiru's forehead, he gulped, "I do not know what you're talking about." His voice clear beside the threat facing in front of him. "Are you accusing me?"

Kurokawa who remained seated beside Yagoo, started to buttoning his coat, but Yagoo hold him down, his eyes never leaving Takehiru's. "I know you're smart, I know you well." He replied, his fingers following the rhythm of the jazz. "That's why I gave you this job that day, but too bad you cross the line."

"After all the years we've spent together, this is how you treat me?" Takehiru replied, his hand struggling to break free from the bind. "Tied in a chair like a criminal, this is how you treat me?" He continued, his eyes fixed on Yagoo's.

Yagoo sighed, Irritation written all over his face. His fingers stopped tapping to the table as the jazz ended, "My talents, I've thought of them as my family, and you did them wrong, Takehiru you did them wrong." Yagoo pulled a paper, a single sheet of a Picture of him installing hidden camera. "Your problems, it did not end with me, but to this man beside me."

Takehiru shifted his gaze to Kurokawa, his presence only speaks the dangers he brought, and Takehiru definitely knows that, he knows that.

"You are brave, young man, really brave." Kurokawa speaks, his eyes meeting with Takehiru's. "I've been wondering why did I lose some of my income, I thought my men stole the money, it cost them a finger, but all along you are the reason." Kurokawa sighed, "They didn't do anything yet they kept lose their finger anyway, what about you?"

Kurokawa reached to his hip, pulling something from his trouser. Takehiru began to panic, as he struggles more to escape from the rope. "I would be ashamed of myself, using a stolen tracker to stalk someone, and even using stolen hidden cameras."

Kurokawa shifted his gaze to Ken, with only a nod, Ken approached the counter of the coffee shop, playing another jazz music with the volume increased.

"You should be grateful, young man." Kurokawa continued to speaks, at the same time unsheathed his knife, its steel shimmering above the dim light. "Tanigo-san here, just wanted to teach you a lesson. Afterall I wouldn't disobey a client's order, though I wanted to toss you into the bay at first."

He shifted his gaze to Ken again, and in an instant his fist connected to Takehiru's jaw catching him off guard. He winced in pain, but Ken dragged his chair to the back making enough room for Ken to stand in front of him. Takehiru gasped for air as Ken punched his rib, followed by another towards his face, eventually breaking Takehiru's nose.

Yagoo stood up, the sound of his footsteps stopped Ken, he clenched his fist as he approached Takehiru closer and closer. Without any need of words, Ken stepped aside and

THUD

Yagoo's fist meet with Takehiru's right side jaw, He didn't react winced in pain, pleading for mercy but instead Yagoo grabbed his collar. "Do not show your face again, and count this as your payback for Kurokawa."

Ken dragged Takehiru to the table again, slamming his desk to the cold wooden table. Ken cut the rope tying his right hand, putting his hand in the table covering it with a white cloth over his finger, a cold thin metal grazed into the cloth, Takehiru felt the cold steel pressing against his skin.

A loud screamed echoed inside the coffee shop.

But, nobody hears a thing.

The jazz played on.

Three days later...

Everyone gathered inside of Hololive Headquarter, all the talents and staff gathered waiting for someone. And as usual his presence is hard to notice, he loves to watch the girls but forgot about today's event before someone reminded him about it.

His voice brought attention to anyone, "Everyone, thank you for you hard work. As for today, I have an announcement that Manager Takehiru are no longer works here." His eyes glances to Suisei who stood beside Miko.

Hearing the news, Suisei smiled almost spilled her tears out of joy, but Miko are able to stop it. Relief washed both the two, together with Choco who smiled happily hearing the news.

"And, I've come also to announce the new manager, Y/N L/N-san. Please, introduce yourself, Y/N-san."

Everyone gazes shifted towards the man beside Yagoo, especially Suisei, her eyes widen the moment she saw his familiar hair.

"Pleased to meet you, my name is Y/N L/N, I'm looking forward to work with you." He speaks, his voice professional one that Suisei never heard before. His eyes met with hers, but he quickly glances away focusing on the others.

A round of polite applause filled the room. Some of the talents exchanged whispers curious about the new manager. Others like Suisei, stood still frozen in disbelief, while Miko just shocked to see him again since High School.

"Y/N-san will begin his role immediately," Yagoo speaks again, catching everyone's attention. "I expect you all to cooperate with him and ensure a smooth transition like always."

The room hummed with a mix of approval and silent curiosity. Among them, Shirakami Fubuki stepped forward.

"Y/N-san, huh?" She repeated his name. "You're nervous, aren't you?"

A slight smirk ghosted his lips, but his posture remained formal. "I simply prefer to remain professional."

Fubuki pouted, "Boo, not fun!"

"Give it some time, Fubu-chan." Matsuri chimed in, nudging Fubuki with her elbow. "We'll break him eventually."

The room erupted in light laughter, breaking the tension, but Suisei didn't hear anything at all. Her mind raced with question, why in such time, how did this happen?

As the introduction wrapped, Yagoo stepped in again, gesturing towards him. "Y/N-san, would you like to say a few words?"

He exhaled and gave a small nod. "I'll keep it in brief. I know stepping into this position suddenly may feel jarring, but I assure you that is my priority is to help you all. Although I'm personally managing Nekomata Okayu-san for a while, but please do not hesitate to come to me if you need any help."

His words were met with approval, though some talents exchanged glances, unsure about him but then someone speaks breaking the silence.

"He's with me, you know?" Okayu suddenly speaks, his usual voice catching everyone's attention. "Sooo, he's safe! Just don't tease him too much, he's not fun!" She pouted, glaring at Y/N.

"I can see that, though..." Marine replied, taking off her coat. "He will not resist for my beauty!"

"Shut up, peko! You're embarrassing us!" Pekora who stood beside her covered Marine's mouth, bowed down apologizing for Marine's behaviour, though everyone didn't faze at all and instead just laugh at the scene.

Yagoo clasped his hands together. "With that being said, let's wrap up this meeting. Those with upcoming project, please stay behind for further discussion."

As the group slowly dispersed, Suisei stood still rooted in place. Her pulse quickened when she saw Y/N step away toward the hallway, his back turned.

Out of all times, why now? Her mind raced with thoughts, whether to approach him or just wait.

After that day in the Coffee Shop, she was waiting for him, hoping to receive his message, hoping that things could be sweet once again like it used to be. Hoping that the years whom stretched their relationship would disappear like it never happened.

But, does it really matter if there are no actions?

Miko's touch on her shoulder tracked her back to reality, and he's already gone from the hallway.

His steps stopped by a voice shouting his name from the back, he turns around and it was the CEO itself. "What's wrong, Tanigo-san?" He asked, worried at Yagoo's serious face.

Yagoo look at him in the eyes, and it's enough for him to understand, Y/N followed him to his office. Sweat running down from Y/N's forehead as he took a seat across Yagoo's desk. The atmosphere thick as neither of them speak until Y/N took the initiative.

"A-Am I getting fired?" He asked, his voice trembled as nervous filled his whole body.

Yagoo didn't reply immediately, he took a deep breath, "Y/N-san, after Okayu's manager returned." He paused, his eyes met with Y/N's. "You will be Suisei's new manager."