"Kid, let me tell you something."
"What is it?"
"I still think you're pretty damn strong. But…"
Rinji's father stood before a dilapidated building, gazing at the bloody corpses scattered in every direction—some hacked to pieces—then up at the child standing atop the pile, bloodstained face calm and expressionless.
"…You went a bit overboard, don't you think?"
"When you identify someone as the enemy, you must do everything you can to send them to hell," the young Rinji replied emotionlessly. "Besides, compared to you, this isn't even much."
"Compared to me, sure. But… even I didn't go around chopping people up at your age. And that was during wartime."
He stepped forward, kicking a corpse out of the way like it was trash.
"I'm a man with blood on my hands. I don't think I have the right to criticize you. Everything is your choice… But what I hoped for, back when you were born, was that your generation wouldn't have to pick up weapons. War is a grown-up's job."
"You didn't want me to take up arms?"
His father paused at the question, then smiled gently and reached out to pat young Rinji's bloody head.
"If it's your choice, I'll personally place the weapon in your hands. But…"
"But?"
Young Rinji looked up at his father with crimson eyes, trying to grasp the meaning of his words.
"But… if possible, I hope you won't follow my path. I want you to walk your own."
---
"Ugh…"
Throwing off his blanket, Rinji sat up in bed and stretched with a yawn.
It was the weekend. Unlike other students who had packed schedules, Rinji usually did only two things on weekends.
First, he stayed home—since Ishigami would come over around a fixed time to play games.
Second, he'd go over to the president's house to hang out, and while he was there, help prepare dinner for everyone.
Right now it was Saturday morning. Ishigami wouldn't show up until afternoon, so Rinji's usual routine was to play some games until then.
No one ever invited him out anyway.
"Haah~ Next weekend I should try going out on my own for once."
Yawning, Rinji thought aloud.
He'd probably start going to the gym soon. He wasn't totally satisfied with his current physique.
Knock knock knock.
"Hm?"
He had just finished changing when he heard a knock at the door.
No one should know where he lived. Ishigami was definitely still sleeping, and neither Shirogane nor the other student council members knew his address.
"Could it be Aunt Kaya?"
That was the only person he could think of. Rinji walked to the entryway and peeked through the door viewer.
One look, and he nearly jumped.
He quickly flung the door open, and the old man standing there in a trench coat hurried inside, catching his breath as he entered the apartment.
"Whew…"
"Grandpa, what are you doing here?"
"Shh! Don't speak so loud."
The old man quickly shut the door and ran to the living room window, cautiously peeking outside. After confirming there were no suspicious figures, he exhaled deeply and slid down against the wall.
"Grandpa!!"
…
"I'm really sorry, Little Rinji. Dropping by like this must've caused you trouble."
At the table, Rinji poured tea for the elderly man, whose face finally began to regain some color.
This was Rinji's real grandfather—not like that "Grandpa George" honorary nonsense. His actual grandpa.
"Grandpa, what happened? Weren't you supposed to be in Canada with Grandma right now?"
"Little Rinji."
His grandfather's expression turned unusually serious.
"What I'm about to say… you mustn't be afraid."
"Don't worry, I won't be scared no matter what," Takamine Rinji replied earnestly.
It seemed his grandfather had run into trouble. With his father not around, Rinji would have to step in and handle it.
"Listen closely..."
"I'm listening."
His grandfather took a deep breath and said, "Your grandmother found out about my affair."
Rinji: "..."
"She's chasing me all over the world right now."
Rinji: "..."
"I had no choice but to hide out at your place first."
Seeing his weary-looking grandfather, Rinji sighed and pulled out his phone.
"Wait!"
His grandfather quickly grabbed Rinji's arm.
"You're not going to call your grandmother, are you!?"
"What else?"
"Why would you do something so cruel!? Didn't I dote on you enough when you were little?"
"You've always treated me very well, Grandpa."
"Then why—"
"But Grandma's also treated me very well... and I wouldn't dare cross her. So just go in peace." Rinji said, about to dial.
"Don't! We can talk this out!"
"No, this can't be negotiated."
Rinji had heard a bit about his grandfather's history from his father. Apparently, in his youth, Grandpa was quite the playboy—always hanging around with women and frequenting red-light districts. Supposedly he cleaned up his act after marrying Grandma.
Though it seemed that was only on the surface.
"Have you no concern for your grandfather's well-being!?"
"You're not going to die. Even if Grandma catches you, she's not going to kill you," Rinji said blandly. "At most, she'll beat you half to death. But family harmony is everything, and a little pain should be nothing for you."
"It's a lot of pain!! I might end up spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair!"
"Then take it as a lesson learned."
Rinji buried his face in his hands, speechless at his grandfather's behavior.
"Grandpa, you're already old. Why are you still messing around with women out there?"
"Who said I was fooling around with older women?" Grandpa said indignantly.
"Then why is Grandma so furious..."
"It's because I got involved with a girl in her twenties," Grandpa said, proudly.
"Hello, Grandma? It's Rinji. Grandpa's with me right now. Want me to deliver him to you, or will you come pick him up?"
"Noooooooo!!!!"