Kapitel 26: Chapter 26: The Unshakable Force
Shizuo's office was a cramped, dimly lit room. Papers were scattered across the desk, and the walls were lined with old posters and faded photographs. The air was thick with the smell of cigarettes and stale coffee. It didn't feel like the kind of place where decisions should be made, but Reiji knew they didn't have the luxury of waiting for a more opportune setting.
Reiji and Chuuya sat on the worn-out chairs across from Shizuo's desk, both trying to gauge the towering man standing before them. Shizuo Heiwajima—legendary for his impossible strength and equally impossible temper—was watching them with a mixture of disinterest and impatience. His arms were crossed, and his brow furrowed as if they were interrupting something far more important.
"So, what do you two want?" Shizuo finally asked, his voice a low rumble.
Reiji exchanged a quick glance with Chuuya, trying to steady himself. He had practiced this conversation in his head a dozen times, but now, face to face with Shizuo, it felt more daunting. Still, he had to start somewhere.
"We're here because we want to invite you to join something big," Reiji began, choosing his words carefully. "We're rebuilding—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Shizuo cut him off with a sharp wave of his hand, his eyes narrowing. "Rebuilding something big, huh? Let me guess, it's some kind of 'special organization,' and you need me to smash a few heads?"
Chuuya bristled at Shizuo's dismissive tone, but Reiji remained calm, determined not to lose control of the situation. "It's more than that," Reiji tried again. "The Vongola is a family—an organization built on trust and—"
Shizuo snorted, clearly uninterested. "Yeah, I've heard it all before. 'Join us, we'll protect the world together,' right? Sounds like a load of crap to me." He turned away from them, walking toward the window. "I've had enough of people trying to recruit me into their little power plays. I'm not interested."
Reiji blinked, taken aback by how quickly Shizuo had brushed them off. He hadn't even heard the full explanation yet. Chuuya, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with irritation, his hands clenching into fists.
"Are you kidding me?" Chuuya growled, his voice low but filled with barely contained rage. "You haven't even heard what we're offering, and you're already throwing us out?"
Shizuo didn't even bother turning around. He just leaned against the windowsill, his gaze distant. "I don't need to hear it. I've seen guys like you come and go. Always looking for muscle, always wanting someone to fight your battles for you. But I'm not interested in being your attack dog."
Chuuya stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor as he pushed it back. "We're not here to use you! We're offering you a chance to be part of something that actually matters!"
Shizuo glanced over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow at Chuuya's outburst. "Really? And what makes you think I care about what you think matters?"
Reiji quickly stood up, stepping between Chuuya and Shizuo before things could escalate further. "This isn't just about fighting," Reiji said, his voice steady but firm. "We're trying to rebuild the Vongola famiglia—a group that once protected people like us. People with abilities that the world doesn't understand."
Shizuo's expression didn't change. He just stared at Reiji as if waiting for him to finish whatever sales pitch he had prepared. But there was no flicker of interest in his eyes, no sign that he was moved by Reiji's words.
"Look," Reiji said, taking a step closer, "we're not asking you to fight for us. We're asking you to fight with us. There are real threats out there, people who want to use our abilities for their own gain. We need people who can stand up to them."
Shizuo let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "And you think I'm that person?"
"We know you are," Chuuya snapped. "You're one of the strongest fighters around. We need someone like you to help us take on people like—"
"Like that assassin earlier," Reiji interjected quickly, cutting off Chuuya before he could mention anything more complicated.
At the mention of the assassin, Shizuo's expression darkened slightly. He pushed off the windowsill and walked back toward his desk, leaning against it once more. "That woman… she's part of something bigger, isn't she?"
Reiji nodded, sensing a glimmer of opportunity. "Yes. She's part of an organization called the Black Lotus. They're after people like you—people with abilities. They won't stop until they've taken out anyone who stands in their way."
"And you think your little 'famiglia' is going to stop them?" Shizuo asked, his tone skeptical.
"We have to try," Reiji said, his voice earnest. "We can't do it alone. That's why we're here. We need people like you—people we can trust—to help us fight back."
For a moment, Shizuo said nothing. His gaze drifted toward the floor, as if deep in thought. Reiji and Chuuya exchanged a glance, hopeful that they might have finally broken through to him.
But then Shizuo let out a short, bitter laugh. "You're just like everyone else," he muttered, shaking his head. "You talk about trust, about family, but all you really care about is what I can do for you. It's always the same."
Reiji's heart sank. "That's not true. We're trying to—"
"Save it," Shizuo interrupted, pushing himself off the desk and walking toward the door. "I've heard enough."
Chuuya, clearly fed up with the conversation, threw his hands in the air. "What the hell is your problem? We're trying to help you, and you won't even listen!"
Shizuo turned, his eyes flashing with something close to anger. "My problem? My problem is that people like you come in here, thinking you can convince me to join your cause because you think I'm some kind of weapon. But I'm not. I've got my own people to protect. I don't need your help, and I sure as hell don't need your famiglia."
Reiji stepped forward, his voice quiet but determined. "We're not asking you to give up the people you care about. We're asking you to help protect them. The threats we're facing aren't going to stop. They're going to come after everyone."
Shizuo didn't respond right away. He just stood there, his massive frame blocking the doorway, his expression unreadable.
"You say that like it's supposed to mean something," Shizuo finally said, his tone cold. "But I've been protecting people my whole life. I don't need your organization to keep doing that."
Chuuya's temper finally boiled over. He took a step toward Shizuo, his fists clenched. "You think you can take on everything by yourself? You think you're invincible? There are people out there—people like that assassin—who won't stop until they've taken down everyone you care about. You think you can fight them all on your own?"
Shizuo didn't flinch. "I'll do what I've always done. I'll fight anyone who comes after the people I protect. And if they keep coming, I'll keep knocking them down. That's how I've survived this long."
Reiji, sensing that the conversation was slipping away, took a deep breath and tried one last time. "Shizuo, we're not your enemies. We're just trying to give you another option. You don't have to fight alone."
Shizuo stared at him for a long moment, then finally let out a heavy sigh. "You're persistent, I'll give you that. But I'm done talking." He stepped aside, opening the door wide. "Now get out. I've got things to clean up."
Chuuya looked like he was ready to argue again, but Reiji grabbed his arm and shook his head. "Let's go."
With a frustrated grunt, Chuuya turned and stormed out of the office, his temper clearly still boiling. Reiji followed, pausing only once to glance back at Shizuo.
"Thanks for hearing us out," Reiji said quietly, even though he knew Shizuo hadn't really heard them at all.
Shizuo didn't respond. He just stood there, his expression unreadable as he watched them leave. As the door closed behind them, Reiji couldn't help but feel like they had just hit a brick wall. Shizuo wasn't going to be easy to win over—but that didn't mean they were going to give up.
As they walked down the street, Chuuya muttered darkly under his breath. "That guy is impossible. How the hell does anyone work with him?"
Reiji sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "We'll figure it out. We have to."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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Stein