Chapter 4: A Debt Renjiro Never Pays

The rain that started the previous evening continued through the night.

By morning, Kyoto was quiet and misty.

Thin fog floated between buildings, and the streets were still wet from the long rain.

Inside Aizawa Veterinary Clinic, the warm smell of coffee filled the small room again.

Haruki Aizawa stood beside the counter wearing his white coat, carefully pouring cat food into a bowl.

Four cats sat nearby watching him with full attention.

One grey cat meowed loudly.

Haruki smiled gently.

“Yes, yes. I know you're hungry.”

He placed the bowl down.

The cats immediately gathered around it.

Across the room, Daichi Mori leaned against the door frame while drinking coffee.

He watched Haruki quietly.

“You treat those cats better than most humans.”

Haruki laughed softly.

“They don’t cause trouble.”

Daichi raised an eyebrow.

“That man from yesterday definitely looked like trouble.”

Haruki paused slightly.

“You mean the injured one?”

Daichi nodded.

“Yes.”

Haruki shrugged calmly.

“He was just a patient.”

Daichi crossed his arms.

“People with gunshot wounds are never just patients.”

Haruki thought about the man from last night.

Tall.

Cold.

Dangerous aura.

But strangely polite.

He shook his head.

“I doubt we’ll see him again.”

Daichi sighed.

“You said that yesterday too.”

---

Across the city.

Inside the massive headquarters of Kurogane Group.

Renjiro Kurogane stood in front of the large window of his office.

The city stretched below him.

Rain droplets slowly slid down the glass.

Behind him, Kazuki Takeda sat on the sofa scrolling through his tablet.

The room was quiet for several minutes.

Finally Kazuki spoke.

“You're staring at the rain like a depressed poet.”

Renjiro didn't react.

Kazuki continued casually.

“Still thinking about the doctor?”

Renjiro’s eyes remained on the city.

“I'm thinking about work.”

Kazuki smirked.

“Of course.”

Kazuki stood up and walked closer.

He placed the tablet on the desk.

“I received reports from Osaka.”

Renjiro turned slightly.

Kazuki’s voice became serious.

“The Shindo Syndicate is moving again.”

Renjiro’s eyes became colder.

The Shindo Syndicate was one of the few mafia organizations bold enough to challenge the Kurogane family.

Kazuki continued.

“They’re trying to take our territory in western Kyoto.”

Renjiro walked back to his desk calmly.

“Send a warning.”

Kazuki tilted his head.

“And if they ignore it?”

Renjiro replied without emotion.

“Then eliminate them.”

Kazuki smiled slightly.

“That’s the answer I expected.”

Just then the office door opened.

A young man walked in confidently.

Riku Kurogane.

Renjiro’s younger brother.

Riku looked at both men.

“I heard about Shindo.”

Renjiro nodded once.

“Handle it.”

Riku smirked slightly.

“Gladly.”

He turned to leave but stopped suddenly.

“By the way…”

Kazuki looked curious.

“What?”

Riku spoke casually.

“Someone suspicious has been watching the veterinary clinic near the west district.”

Renjiro’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Kazuki noticed immediately.

“Which clinic?”

Riku replied,

“Aizawa Veterinary Clinic.”

The room suddenly became silent.

Kazuki slowly looked at Renjiro.

Renjiro’s expression remained calm.

But his eyes had turned extremely cold.

“Who is watching it?” Renjiro asked.

Riku shrugged.

“Shindo men probably.”

Kazuki crossed his arms.

“Why would they watch a veterinary clinic?”

Renjiro already knew the answer.

Because he had been seen there yesterday.

Renjiro slowly stood up.

His voice was quiet.

“Bring the car.”

Kazuki smiled.

“Ah.”

Now things were getting interesting.

---

Late afternoon.

Rain began falling again over Kyoto.

Haruki walked through the street carrying grocery bags.

He had finished work early and stopped by the market.

The rain wasn’t very heavy.

But the streets were almost empty.

Haruki walked calmly toward the clinic.

Suddenly—

Two black cars stopped near the street corner.

Haruki didn't notice at first.

He was too busy adjusting his umbrella.

But from inside the cars…

Three men stepped out.

All wearing dark clothes.

Their eyes carefully watched Haruki.

One man whispered,

“That’s him.”

Another asked,

“You sure?”

“The boss said the Kurogane man visited this clinic.”

The third man smirked.

“Then grab the doctor.”

Haruki finally noticed them approaching.

He stopped walking.

The men moved closer.

One of them spoke roughly.

“Hey. Doctor.”

Haruki frowned slightly.

“Yes?”

The man grabbed Haruki’s arm suddenly.

“You’re coming with us.”

Haruki immediately pulled back.

“What are you doing?”

The second man stepped forward.

“Relax. We just need to ask you some questions.”

Haruki’s eyes sharpened slightly.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

The third man sighed.

“Then we’ll force you.”

Just as the man reached for Haruki—

A black luxury car suddenly appeared at the end of the street.

It stopped violently.

The car door opened.

And a tall figure stepped out.

Rain fell around him.

His black coat moved slightly in the wind.

The three men froze immediately.

They recognized him.

Renjiro Kurogane.

Behind him stood Kazuki Takeda and Riku Kurogane.

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Renjiro slowly walked forward.

Each step was calm.

But terrifying.

The men holding Haruki panicked slightly.

One whispered,

“Boss… it's him…”

Renjiro stopped a few meters away.

His cold eyes moved slowly toward the man holding Haruki’s arm.

Then he spoke.

One quiet sentence.

“Let go.”

The man hesitated.

Then quickly released Haruki.

Haruki stepped back, confused.

He looked between the strangers and Renjiro.

Renjiro's gaze moved briefly toward Haruki.

“Are you hurt?”

Haruki shook his head slowly.

“No…”

Renjiro nodded once.

Then his eyes returned to the three men.

The temperature of the entire street seemed to drop.

Kazuki cracked his neck slightly.

“Well… this is awkward.”

Riku looked excited.

“Can I handle them?”

Renjiro spoke calmly.

“No.”

The three Shindo men slowly stepped backward.

Their leader tried to laugh nervously.

“M-Mr. Kurogane… we didn't know he belonged to you.”

Renjiro’s eyes became darker.

“Belonged?”

The man swallowed.

“We only wanted information.”

Renjiro’s voice remained cold.

“You tried to touch someone under my protection.”

Haruki blinked in confusion.

Protection?

Before he could say anything—

Renjiro pulled out his gun.

The movement was calm.

Effortless.

The three men immediately panicked.

“WAIT—”

BANG

The first man fell instantly.

Haruki froze.

His eyes widened.

Renjiro didn’t even blink.

The second man tried to run.

BANG

He fell beside the first.

The third man collapsed to his knees.

“PLEASE! PLEASE!”

Renjiro slowly walked closer.

Rain continued falling quietly.

The man cried desperately.

“I didn’t mean it!”

Renjiro stared down at him.

“You came near him.”

The man shook violently.

“I won't do it again!”

Renjiro’s expression never changed.

“That’s the problem.”

He raised the gun.

BANG

Silence returned to the street.

Three bodies lay motionless.

Haruki stood frozen several steps away.

He had never seen someone killed before.

Renjiro calmly put the gun away.

Kazuki sighed slightly.

“Shindo is getting stupid.”

Riku looked annoyed.

“They should have run faster.”

Renjiro finally turned toward Haruki.

Haruki looked pale.

Renjiro walked closer slowly.

His voice softened slightly.

“Are you injured?”

Haruki stared at him.

“You… killed them.”

Renjiro answered calmly.

“They threatened you.”

Haruki struggled to process everything.

“You didn't have to—”

Renjiro interrupted quietly.

“I repay my debts.”

Haruki suddenly understood.

“This is because I treated you?”

Renjiro nodded slightly.

Haruki looked shocked.

“That doesn't mean you should kill people!”

Renjiro studied his face.

For him…

This was normal.

But Haruki looked genuinely disturbed.

Finally Renjiro said quietly,

“They won't bother you again.”

Haruki didn’t know what to say.

Renjiro looked at him for a few seconds longer.

Then he turned toward his car.

“Go home.”

Haruki stood in the rain silently.

Watching the most dangerous man in Kyoto walk away.

Renjiro entered the car.

Kazuki followed.

As the car drove away, Kazuki looked at him with amusement.

“You just started a war with Shindo over a veterinarian.”

Renjiro looked out the window.

His voice remained calm.

“He's under my protection.”

Kazuki smiled slowly.

“Oh.”

He leaned back.

“This is getting interesting.”

And somewhere deep inside Renjiro’s mind…

One thought had already become clear.

Haruki Aizawa…

Was now his responsibility.

Whether the doctor wanted it or not.

---

Next chapter continues the arc:

Chapter 5 — The Palace Invitation

Where:

Renjiro forces Haruki to come to Kurogane Palace

Haruki meets ML older brother and his husband

The mafia family becomes very curious about Haruki

Renjiro’s possessive behavior starts becoming obvious.

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