Chapter 17: Strategic Preparations (Chapter 16)
Leo went into bed, sleeping through the night with Saki resting on the futon. They woke up the next morning and walked to school together, noticing Juko's absence. They endured a long day at school without much happening. During PE, Saki approached Leo and asked, "Leo, I was wondering if you wanted to come by my apartment." Leo responded swiftly, "Is that really okay, though? What about your parents?" Saki looked into Leo's eyes, a tear emerging, as the girls rushed over to her, asking what happened. Leo felt confusion and anxiety and tried to apologize, but Saki was dragged away by her friends.
Leo took his bag and left the school premise, walking home, wondering why Saki cried. Suddenly, Juko showed up with bandages around his finger and leg. Leo greeted Juko, "Hello, Juko. Are your injuries getting better?" Juko responded, "Yeah, it's better." Leo then asked Juko if he wanted to swing by his place, and Juko accepted.
They walked into Leo's bedroom and sat, drinking a cup of tea. Then Juko asked, "So how's Saki?" Leo responded, "I don't know, she wasn't too happy today." Juko then said, "Interesting. Do you think she likes you?" Leo responded, "No, not really. I don't think so." Juko then asked, "Well, what about you? Do you like Saki?" Leo responded, "She's a nice girl. I would love to be with her, but it's just not possible when all this gang stuff is over. Everything will go back to the same. I probably won't even talk to Saki." Juko responded, "Huh, really? You think so? I guess time will only tell." Leo changed the subject, "So, Juko, any new plans from Rico yet?" Juko answered, "Nah, man. He is still recovering. His nerve in his left arm got shot, so he can't move it." Leo replied, "Shit, man, that's not good." Juko said, "Yeah, I know. But I might have a plan. I got in contact with a gun dealer from long ago. He's willing to sell us three pistols." Leo responded, "How would we ever afford that? I doubt Rico is paying now that he also has an injury to pay for." Juko then responded, "That's where phase two of the plan comes in." Leo looked confused at Juko. Juko said the word "casino." Leo looked even more surprised before saying, "What? Are you dumb? We are going to lose." Juko cut him off, saying, "No, not particularly. I learned to count cards. I can get us the 150k yen needed quickly. I'll just need 10k from you and Saki. I'll put 10k down as well. Trust me." Leo responded, "Well, alright. I'm in, but I don't know about Saki."
Leo called Saki, but there was no answer. Then Juko looked at Leo, saying, "Let's go to her apartment." Leo looked at him, saying, "Are you sure?" Juko responded swiftly, "Yeah, yeah, let's go." They headed towards Saki's apartment and soon arrived. They knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Leo looked at Juko, saying, "Maybe we should leave." Juko said, "Yeah, I guess she's not at home." Suddenly, Leo heard a silent cry. Leo asked Juko to head down to the car before knocking once more. Still, there was no response. Leo then sprinted at the door, knocking it down. Leo called out slowly to Saki, but there was no response. Leo looked at the bedroom door as he ran into it to see Saki on the floor with cuts over her body and a small razor beside her. Leo quickly took her into his arms, hugging her tightly, Saki still crying. Leo managed to calm Saki to the point where she uttered a small amount of words. "Leo, I'm sorry," Saki said. Leo looked at her before shouting, "Don't be sorry. It's alright. I'm here." Juko rushed up after hearing Leo's shout. Juko saw the scene and quickly helped Leo get Saki.
Saki was seen on the floor, having shallow cuts all over her body and with a small razor by her side. Leo was in absolute rage and confusion upon witnessing such a scene. Leo quickly rushed to her sides and embraced her tightly, managing to calm her down and making her utter a few words. She softly said, "I'm sorry..." to which Leo promptly responded with, "It's alright, I'm here..." Juko then rushed to the scene after hearing the shouting, and upon witnessing the horrifying outcome of the situation, he immediately helped Leo carry Saki.
Into a comfy spot, they all sat beside each other. Finally, Saki calmed down and spoke up, saying, "Leo, I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to scare you at school. And now... it's just... my parents are dead. They've been dead for nearly a decade now. It all happened so fast. It was a drive-by shooting. First, my father, then my mother. They were targeted because they tried to bring down the gang violence in Japan." Leo comforted her, saying, "It's alright." Juko looked at Saki and said, "Saki, I've told Leo this, but I'm going to get us guns because without them, we can't stop this gang bullshit." Saki looked at Juko, saying, "That's very expensive." Juko explained everything about the casino plan to Saki, and she agreed to go along with Juko and Leo.
END OF CHAPTER 16
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