The door of the office closed with a sharp click as Reiji and Chuuya left, leaving Shizuo Heiwajima standing in the middle of the room, surrounded by the mess from the earlier scuffle. The room was quiet now, but the tension lingered in the air. Shizuo crossed his arms, staring at the closed door, his thoughts churning.
They really think they can just walk in here and ask me to join their little famiglia? he thought, his jaw clenched. It's always the same—people see me fight, and suddenly I'm some kind of weapon they can use.
He sighed, running a hand through his blond hair. His temper had nearly gotten the best of him when Chuuya started running his mouth. Reiji had kept things under control, but even his calm approach hadn't stopped the frustration that gnawed at Shizuo's mind. They wanted him to be part of something bigger, something that wasn't just about brute force. But after everything he'd been through, after all the fights he'd been dragged into, how could he trust that they were any different?
As the minutes ticked by, his mind drifted back to his past, to the days when his anger was more unpredictable, more dangerous. He remembered the fights, the destruction, the feeling of being out of control. People were always scared of him. And even when they weren't scared, they wanted to use him. They saw his strength and thought they could mold it to suit their needs.
But what about me? Shizuo thought bitterly. What do I want?
For as long as he could remember, he had been a protector—a force of nature that couldn't be ignored. But being a protector didn't mean being part of some grand plan. He had people he cared about, people he needed to keep safe. Like Tom.
The thought of his long-time friend and boss pulled him back to the present. Tom Tanaka had been the one constant in Shizuo's life, giving him purpose and direction when the rest of the world only saw him as a threat. Shizuo frowned, wondering how Tom would react to Reiji's offer.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, the door swung open again. Shizuo turned, watching as Tom stepped into the room, his eyes immediately surveying the damage.
"Whoa, what the hell happened here?" Tom asked, taking in the overturned furniture, the broken chair, and the general disarray. He raised an eyebrow at Shizuo, who stood among the chaos with his usual calm yet brooding demeanor.
Shizuo scratched the back of his neck, feeling a twinge of guilt. "Had a bit of a… situation."
Tom sighed, rubbing his temples. "You and your 'situations.' I swear, every time I leave you alone, something like this happens. Care to explain?"
Shizuo hesitated before answering. "Some guys came by. Said they were rebuilding something called the Vongola famiglia. Wanted me to join them."
Tom's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Vongola? That sounds like mafia business."
Shizuo nodded. "Yeah, they're some kind of old organization—said it was made up of people with powers."
Tom's expression grew serious as he processed the information. "And they want you to be a part of it?"
"Seems like it." Shizuo shrugged, his voice lacking any real enthusiasm.
Tom looked around the room again, taking in the damage one more time. "So, you're telling me they asked you to join their fight, and you trashed the place instead?"
Shizuo smirked, shaking his head. "No, this was from the fight earlier—some assassin tried to take you out. They showed up after."
Tom's face went pale at the mention of an assassin. "An assassin? Coming after me?"
Shizuo's expression darkened. "Yeah. She was fast—better than most of the thugs I've handled. Called herself part of something called the Black Lotus. Don't worry, I dealt with her."
Tom stared at Shizuo for a long moment, then let out a slow breath. "Shizuo, I appreciate everything you do, but you can't be my bodyguard forever."
The words hit Shizuo harder than he expected. He frowned, confused. "What are you talking about?"
Tom crossed his arms, his expression softening. "You've been watching my back for years, and I'm grateful. But you can't keep putting yourself in the middle of all this for me. There's always going to be someone after me. And it's not fair to you."
Shizuo scowled. "It's my job, Tom. You know that."
"I know it's your job," Tom said, his tone gentle but firm. "But it doesn't have to be your life. You're strong—stronger than anyone I know. But you're also more than just a bodyguard. You deserve to do something that means something to you."
Shizuo fell silent, his mind reeling from Tom's words. He had always seen himself as the protector, the one who kept people like Tom safe. But Tom was telling him he didn't need that anymore—at least, not in the same way. It was a strange feeling, realizing that his loyalty might not be enough to justify sticking around forever.
"You've got a lot to think about," Tom added, placing a reassuring hand on Shizuo's shoulder. "And hey, if these guys want you to help rebuild their famiglia, maybe that's something worth considering. Just… don't let them use you."
Shizuo didn't respond, but Tom's words lingered in his mind as he started cleaning up the mess in his office.
A day passed, but Shizuo couldn't shake the conversation with Tom. He sat in his now-clean office, staring at the floor, lost in thought. His hands clenched and unclenched as he replayed the events of the past few days. The attack from the Black Lotus assassin, Reiji's offer, Tom's advice—it all swirled in his mind, leaving him with a nagging sense of uncertainty.
Maybe Tom's right. Maybe I've been protecting him for so long that I've forgotten about myself, he thought. But the idea of joining a new famiglia? Of trusting people he barely knew? It felt foreign.
A knock on the door pulled Shizuo from his thoughts. He glanced up, expecting Tom, but to his surprise, it was Reiji and Chuuya again.
"You two don't know when to quit, do you?" Shizuo grunted, leaning back in his chair.
Reiji stepped forward, his expression determined but not forceful. "We're not here to push you. We just wanted to see if you've thought about what we said."
Shizuo eyed them both, his mind torn between irritation and understanding. They weren't like the others who had tried to use him before, but the wounds from those experiences still stung.
Chuuya, leaning against the wall with his usual smirk, added, "Look, we're not asking for a miracle. We just need people who can fight—and fight for the right reasons."
Shizuo frowned, his gaze shifting between them. "You really think this 'famiglia' of yours can take on something like the Black Lotus?"
Reiji nodded, his eyes unwavering. "If we get the right people together, yes. But we can't do it alone."
Shizuo sighed, leaning forward in his chair. "I don't know. I've got things to think about."
"We're not asking for an answer right now," Reiji said quickly. "Just… consider it. You've got people depending on you, and this might be the best way to keep them safe."
For a moment, there was silence in the room. Shizuo's eyes flickered with a mix of emotions—anger, confusion, maybe even hope. He wasn't sure what to make of their offer, but he couldn't ignore the truth in their words.
Finally, Shizuo let out a long breath. "I'll think about it."
Reiji and Chuuya exchanged a glance, a small glimmer of hope passing between them.
"That's all we're asking," Reiji said softly, stepping back toward the door.
As they left, Shizuo remained seated, staring at the empty room. The silence was heavy, but for the first time, he didn't feel as if he was alone in it.
Maybe it's time to stop fighting alone, he thought, but the decision was still too far away for him to grasp fully.