As Yuuki was escorted to his designated room, a sense of dread filled him. With each step down the corridor, he scanned his surroundings desperately, searching for any opportunity to escape. Doors lined the hall, each one a potential exit or a hidden sanctuary, but for now, they stood as barriers to his freedom.

As they approached room 202, one of the guards instructed, “This is your room.” But Yuuki’s attention was drawn away from his designated space when he spotted a staircase leading down to a lower level. The stairs were a tantalizing possibility, a flicker of hope amidst a haze of uncertainty.

He didn’t know where the lower level might lead, but it was worth a shot. It could harbor an escape route—or a hiding place. A surge of adrenaline coursed through him as he made up his mind.

A moment later, his eyes landed on a striking owl-shaped woolen statue, about 100 cm tall, standing near the door. Inspiration struck him like lightning. **This could work. **

As the guards became momentarily distracted, Yuuki saw his opening. He lunged for the statue, swinging it with all his might toward the nearest guard’s head. The impact was jarring; the force sent the guard stumbling back, shock etched across his features.

Emboldened by his sudden success, Yuuki followed up with a swift kick to the gut of the second guard. Shoving past the now-stunned men, he darted toward the staircase, adrenaline fueling his movements.

However, in his haste, Yuuki miscalculated his footing, tripping on the stairs. He fell hard, rolling down about three steps before crashing onto the landing. Pain shot through his left leg, a sharp reminder of the consequences of his boldness, and he gasped as he landed awkwardly.

Gripping the railing, Yuuki quickly pulled himself up, struggling to shake off the pain. With his heart racing, he glanced back over his shoulder, uncertain of how much time he had left before the guards recovered. The hallway stretched ahead of him, leading back toward the bar counter he had glimpsed earlier.

As he cautiously made his way down the hall, he could see the imposing figures of club guards ahead, standing sentinel, their postures alert and watchful. Yuuki pressed himself against the cool wall, heart pounding in his chest as he considered his next move. **He would have to be careful**—every moment counted.

He strained to maintain his calm as he hid behind a corner. He couldn’t let fear dictate his actions now. His leg throbbed painfully, and he bit down on the inside of his mouth to suppress the discomfort threatening to overwhelm him.

Then, he heard a group of visitors approaching, their voices and footsteps mingling with the ambient noise of the lounge. He plastered a smile on his face, attempting to appear casual as they walked by, pretending to fit in among the crowd.

As he continued through the lounge, he caught sight of Ryu, his heart skipping a beat. **Shit!** Ryu was there, and it only added to the urgency of the situation. He saw Ryu absorbed in a phone call, his expression hardened and focused. Yuuki’s pulse quickened, fear gripping him tightly.

He realized that Ryu might already be aware of his absence, and panic surged in Yuuki’s chest. He needed to move faster.  The guards who had previously escorted him were also near, their voices growing more pronounced as they searched for him.

In an effort to evade their attention, Yuuki closely monitored the guests around him, searching for an opening. Just then, he noticed a door behind the bar counter that led to what appeared to be a liquor storeroom. It might be his chance for refuge—a place to hide.

Without wasting a second, he ducked into the storeroom, closing the door quietly behind him. The room was dimly lit and filled with shelves stacked high with bottles, the lingering scent of alcohol heavy in the air. He squeezed himself into a corner, his heart racing as he listened for any sounds outside, hoping to go unnoticed as he planned his next move.

---

Ryu's phone buzzed insistently in his pocket, interrupting the murmur of conversation and the clinking of glasses in the lounge. He glanced at the screen, recognizing the number instantly—it was one of his guards. A sense of foreboding washed over him as he answered the call.

“Sir, we have a situation. The boy—Yuuki—he's escaped,” the guard's voice crackled over theline, tinged with urgency and a hint of panic.

Ryu's jaw clenched, his teeth gritting together audibly as he processed the news. Hisfist tightened around the phone; a surge of frustration welled up inside him. Part of him wanted to curse the guards—how could they fail to manage a boy so much smaller and seemingly less formidable than them? The incompetence stung at his pride, and yet he knew that anger had to be set aside.

Across from him, Nakajima noticed the shift in Ryu’s demeanor, the tension crackling in the air like a live wire. He raised an eyebrow, a silent question hanging between them. “What’s happened?” he inquired, though he had already guessed the answer.

“Yuuki’s gone,” Ryu muttered, vexation evident in every word. “He’s somewhere in the building, we need to find him.”

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Nakajima nodded succinctly and immediately reached for his phone. He began contacting the security team responsible for monitoring the CCTV—a group tasked with ensuring seamless surveillance throughout the expansive property.

“We’ll track his movements through the cameras,” Nakajima said, already orchestrating the logistics. “we’ll find him.”

With Reina out of sight, having excused herself earlier, it was down to Ryu and Nakajima to take charge of the operation. Every second counted now, and they couldn’t risk any more delays.

“Let’s move,” Ryu ordered, his voice steady despite the urgency propelling him forward. His eyes scanned the room, noting every potential hiding place. With Nakajima by his side, they delved into the labyrinth of corridors, their presence radiating authority as they sought Yuuki’s shadow.

Ryu watched as Nakajima coordinated the search strategy, splitting the screen feeds to maximize coverage. “We’re splitting up,” Ryu affirmed, turning to Nakajima. They needed to spread out, cover more ground, and find Yuuki before he slipped.

They parted ways, pursuing different routes within the extensive compound, each armed with the determination to retrieve the missing piece of their plan. As Ryu navigated the maze of halls and rooms, his focus sharpened, considering every possible hiding place Yuuki might seek.

Despite the urgency pressing down on him, a reluctant admiration for Yuuki’s audacity simmered beneath the surface of his thoughts. By escaping, Yuuki had demonstrated grit and tenacity—traits Ryu hadn’t fully credited the boy with, yet shouldn’t have underestimated.

--

Nakajima's voice was tense as he spoke quickly, urgency lacing his words. “ I just received an update from the CCTV team. They’ve tracked Yuuki’s last movement, and he was last seen entering the liquor storeroom.”

The news hit Ryu like a jolt of electricity. **Yuuki was still in the building. ** A mix of relief and irritation coursed through him; while he was glad they had an idea of where Yuuki might be, frustration bubbled at the thought of the boy managing to slip away, even for a moment.

 “Where is the storeroom?” he barked into the phone, his tone sharper than intended.

“It’s tucked away behind the bar counter,” Nakajima replied, voice steady but serious. “But you need to know—the boy looks hurt.”

Ryu took a deep breath, the tension in his chest tightening further. He had internalized enough anger and bitterness; he wouldn't let his emotions get the better of him. “I’m on my way,” he stated firmly, ending the call.

He rushed through the lounge, weaving past the mingling guests, determination fueling his stride. The patrons were oblivious to the storm brewing within him, their laughter and conversation drowning out the chaos he felt. As he reached the bar area, he quickly scanned for the hidden door that led to the storeroom.

Finding it, Ryu flung the door open and stepped inside, urgency pulsing through him. And there, crumpled against the wall, was Yuuki. The moment their eyes locked, Ryu could see the resigned realization washing over the boy’s face. In an instant, the thrill of the chase morphed into a stark acknowledgment of capture.

“Fuck my life!” Yuuki shouted, the frustration spilling over as he instinctively backed away. “Get away from me!”

Ryu’s irritation flared, a reaction to Yuuki's defiance mixed with the stirring concern for the boy's wellbeing. “Stop fighting!” he snapped, exasperation lacing his voice. But before he could process his own intentions, the spikes of protectiveness surged within him, leading him to spring into action. Without giving it a second thought, Ryu quickly grabbed Yuuki's arm, pulling him closer before throwing him across his shoulder, effectively controlling him in one swift motion. Yuuki gasped in surprise but was unable to retaliate against Ryu's iron grip.

The guard met Ryu's eyes, a flicker of concern crossing his face as he witnessed the chaos unfold. Ryu couldn’t afford to be gentle; he had to maintain control. There was still a part of him that recognized Yuuki’s pain—the boy had tried to escape, after all. Yet, when he saw the anguish on Yuuki’s face, anger simmered beneath the surface. If Yuuki wasn’t in so much pain, Ryu would be tempted to slap him for trying to escape.

“Let me go!” Yuuki gasped, the boy’s voice strained with both fear and frustration, but Ryu remained firm. It wasn’t just a matter of capturing him; it was about asserting control over the situation, a flicker of dominance amidst the confusion.

"You're not thinking clearly" Ryu said, attempting to keep his tone steady as he adjusted the weight of the boy’s body on his shoulder.

As Ryu navigated through the storeroom, he felt the heat radiating from both his frustration and Yuuki’s desperation. There was a volatile tension swirling between them, one that neither could fully articulate. Yet, as he moved toward the room, it became increasingly clear that this confrontation would redefine everything.