A month had passed since that first brutal workout with Kento, and things had started to change—slowly, but definitely for the better.

My muscles no longer screamed in protest every time I got up from the couch, and I’d lost a solid 11 kilograms, which Kento was only too happy to remind me of every time we trained.

"You’re looking leaner, Keisuke!"

He’d say with that smug grin of his, playfully punching me in the arm as we stretched out on the living room floor.

"Soon enough, you’ll be able to take me on in a real fight."

I’d just roll my eyes and laugh it off, but the truth was, I felt stronger—more in control of my body and, weirdly enough, my mind too.

There was something about the rhythm of training that helped quiet the mess of thoughts constantly swirling in my head.

The routine, the discipline, the physical effort—it all forced me to focus on the present moment, and that was something I hadn’t realized I desperately needed.

Kento and I had grown closer over the weeks.

Our training sessions became a regular thing, and between sets of squats, push-ups, and the occasional banter, we found ourselves talking more openly about our lives.

Kento would share stories about his time training under Sasaki—tales of intense police drills and the mental fortitude it required to stay sharp on the field.

I found myself opening up more about my struggles with guilt over the Shima-Kai fallout, the strange limbo I felt stuck in, and how the weight of my past decisions lingered even as I tried to move forward.

And then, of course, there was Nagasuki.

Despite the police’s initial confidence in tracking him down, the man was still out there.

No leads, no new developments.

It was as if he’d vanished into thin air.

Kento was clearly frustrated by it, though he tried not to let it show too much.

But I could tell—especially on days when he’d check his phone between sets, a frown creasing his usually laid-back features.

Today was one of those days.

We’d just finished another intense workout session, and I was slumped on the couch---Kento's bed, still catching my breath while Kento scrolled through his messages with a frustrated expression.

The air between us was heavy with unspoken thoughts, and I could tell something was weighing on him more than usual.

“Still nothing on Nagasuki, huh?”

I asked, wiping the sweat from my face with a towel.

Kento shook his head, slipping his phone back into his pocket.

“Yeah. It’s weird, man. He’s a slippery guy, sure, but this long with no sign of him? It doesn’t sit right. Sasaki’s been on edge too. He’s got a gut feeling something’s up, but no solid leads.”

I frowned, feeling a knot of unease tighten in my chest.

Nagasuki had been a constant shadow in the back of my mind ever since the day he fled.

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The fact that he was still out there, free, made everything feel unfinished.

“You think he’s still in the city?”

I asked, trying to make sense of it.

Kento shrugged, leaning back against the wall, arms crossed.

“Hard to say. If I were him, I’d have skipped town by now. But something tells me he’s not done here yet. He’s got unfinished business.”

Unfinished business.

The phrase hung in the air between us like a warning.

It made sense, though.

Nagasuki is the last piece of the Shima-Kai... his actions could be more than revenge on behalf of his clan, there might even be bigger forces at play-things I hadn’t even considered.

“I just don’t get it”

I muttered, more to myself than to Kento.

“If the police have been tracking him this whole time, how is he still slipping through the cracks?”

Kento sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“It’s not as simple as tracking, man. People like Nagasuki know how to disappear. They’ve got connections, resources. And if there’s someone higher up protecting him, pulling strings… well, that complicates things.”

I nodded, staring down at the floor, deep in thought.

The more I learned, the more tangled this whole mess became.

It wasn’t just about Nagasuki anymore.

It was about what he represented—everything I’d been caught up in without even realizing it.

Kento broke the silence with a sudden, thoughtful look on his face.

“You know, Keisuke”

He said, his tone more serious than usual.

“I’ve been thinking… maybe it’s time you considered taking things a step further.”

I raised an eyebrow, glancing over at him.

“What do you mean?”

He pushed himself off the wall, pacing the room for a moment before stopping in front of me.

“You’ve been working hard—getting stronger, mentally and physically. You’re not the same guy you were a few months ago. And I think you’re ready for something more… serious.”

I sat up a little straighter, intrigued.

“Serious? What are you getting at, Kento?”

He hesitated for a moment, as if weighing his words carefully, then spoke with a tone of sincerity I rarely heard from him.

“Sasaki’s always looking for new recruits. You know that. And I think you’ve got what it takes to join the force.”

The words hit me like a ton of bricks, and for a moment, I was too stunned to respond.

“Join the police?”

I echoed, my mind racing.

Kento nodded.

“Yeah. I’m serious. You’ve already been through the wringer with the Shima-Kai stuff.

You know what it’s like to deal with this kind of pressure. And you’ve proven to me—and to yourself—that you’re ready to change.

So why not take it a step further? Sasaki-senpai could take you under his wing, like he did with me. You’d have to go through the academy, sure, but I think you’d be a good fit.”

I blinked, still trying to process what he was saying.

Me? In the police?

It seemed like such a far cry from the life I’d been leading up until now. But as the initial shock began to wear off, something about the idea started to resonate.

I had spent so long trying to fix the messes in my life—patching things up with Kozumaru-san, getting my body back in shape, making up for past mistakes.

But joining the police… that would be a whole new way of starting fresh. A real, tangible way to make a difference.

Still, there were doubts.

“I don’t know, man”

I said slowly.

“I’ve never thought of myself as police material. I mean, I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I’ve got baggage. Would they even want someone like me?”

To be honest i've never thought of myself working...

Kento smiled, a look of understanding in his eyes.

“Keisuke, everyone’s got baggage. Hell, I’ve got my own skeletons. But that’s the thing—people like us, who’ve been through the mud? We know what it’s like on the other side.

That’s exactly what makes you a good candidate. You’ve seen both sides. And Sasaki—he’s not the type to care about your past if you’ve got the guts to face your future.”

I stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in.

Could I really do it?

Could I really leave my old life behind and start something completely new?

The idea both scared and excited me in equal measure.

Kento must have sensed my hesitation, because he placed a hand on my shoulder, his expression serious.

“Look, I’m not saying you have to decide right now. But just think about it. You’ve come this far already, Keisuke. Don’t sell yourself short. If you want to make a real change—not just for yourself, but for the people around you—this could be your chance.”

I nodded slowly, letting out a deep breath.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Good”

Kento said, giving me a pat on the back before sitting on the couch.

“No rush. But if you decide to go for it, you know I’ll be right there with you. Sasaki too.”

As he sat down, his phone rang. I sat next to him, staring at the ceiling, my mind vibrating with thoughts about what he had said.

It looked like it was Sasaki.

"All right, boss."

He said as he hung up on the call.

"It looks like you can get out."

"What do you mean?"

I said as my eyes widen.

"Sasaki-senpai invited us to eat something with him and Hana in a nearby place. After all this time you can go out, I’m happy for you."

"For real?"

"For real, real."

After almost two months locked in my apartment I could have the smell of outside again.