As debris began to fall from the ceiling, and the building’s structure groaned ominously, it was clear the headquarters wouldn't hold much longer. The crumbling building now posed a more immediate threat than Kazuo. "What are we going to do?" Luna asked, glancing nervously at the ceiling as the building groaned ominously. Despite their weapons still held at Kazuo’s neck, Kaito’s tone shifted from battle-ready to urgent concern.

  “Mori-san, we have to leave—the building’s collapsing,” Kaito urged, his priority shifting to the safety of everyone, even his defeated opponent. He quickly ordered everyone to retreat, knowing they had no time to waste. He and Jake moved to lift Kenjiro, who had fainted from his own struggle with Kazuo, each supporting him from one side.

  Kazuo, however, remained unmoved. With the weapons withdrawn from his neck, he simply sat cross-legged on the floor, as if meditating, oblivious to the falling debris around him. “Mori-san, please, you need to come with us!” Kaito shouted, desperation creeping into his voice. But Kazuo closed his eyes, resigned to his fate. The arrogant leader seemed willing to accept his defeat, choosing to remain in the crumbling building as it fell around him. The Sword of Spirit lay lifeless on the floor beside him, an ordinary katana now that it had been stripped of its power. “It’s too dangerous, Kaito—we have to go,” Jake insisted, realizing there was no convincing Kazuo.

  With a final glance back, Kaito reluctantly turned, and, along with Luna and the unconscious Kenjiro, they hurried toward the spiral staircase, making their escape from the tenth floor.

  Descending to level nine, Kaito searched for Hiroshi, hoping he might somehow convince Kazuo to escape with them. But he found only the remains of destroyed computers, screens cracked and coated with dust from the falling debris. No signs of Hiroshi or other remnants of Kazuo’s loyal subordinates were left. Kaito’s heart sank as he realized Kazuo had likely accepted his end. Urging the group forward, they pressed on, racing against time to escape the crumbling headquarters.

  Back on the tenth floor, Kazuo sat cross-legged, eyes closed, in a meditative stillness. Beside him stood Hiroshi Saito, a figure of unwavering loyalty, unmoving even as debris cascaded around them. The Sword of Spirits, buried beneath fallen beams and rubble, lay hidden from the world—a relic lost to time.

  “Kazuo…” Hiroshi began, his voice low and tinged with both resignation and unbreakable allegiance. Having served Kazuo’s father, Hiroshi now viewed Kazuo with a complex mix of fatherly affection and duty. Neither man spoke further, an unspoken bond keeping them side by side as the structure continued to collapse around them.

  With a rumbling groan, a massive section of the ceiling above finally gave way, casting both Kazuo and Hiroshi in shadows, their forms disappearing beneath the crumbling remnants of the once-mighty headquarters. As the dust and debris settled, they faded from view, their fates seemingly sealed with the fall of Kurokaze-kai.

  As Jake, Kaito, Luna, and the unconscious Kenjiro emerged from the wreckage of the Kurokaze-kai headquarters, they found themselves amidst a large crowd of onlookers. Those who had managed to escape earlier stood in silence, the air thick with dust and the acrid smell of destruction. Jake's friends and cousin—Yoko, Carter, and Akane—rushed to meet them, relief flooding their faces as the building behind them crumbled with a deafening roar. They glanced back, realizing just how narrowly they had escaped.

  Yoko spotted her father on the stretcher, concern etched across her face. “Otou-san, are you okay?” she exclaimed, her voice trembling. Paramedics took over from Jake and Kaito, carefully placing Kenjiro on a stretcher and administering oxygen. They also examined Jake and Luna, treating their bruises and cuts with quick, efficient movements.

  “What happened in there?” Yoko asked, directing her gaze toward Jake and Luna while deliberately avoiding Kaito, her lingering resentment over his previous betrayal evident.

  “Nomura-san took a serious blow from Mori-san,” Kaito said softly, hoping to bridge the gap between them. “But he’s resilient. He’ll pull through.” Yoko gave no reply, her focus solely on her father as she followed the paramedics into the ambulance. “Jake, Carter, Akane, Luna—see you later,” she said, her voice steady but filled with worry.

  Carter and Akane hugged Jake and Luna tightly. “Thank goodness you’re all safe!” Carter said, the relief in his voice unmistakable. “We tried looking for you while escaping, but we lost sight of everyone in the chaos,” Jake explained.

  Carter nodded. “Takeshi carried me out, and I saw Hana’s people helping Akane.” His glance shifted to Takeshi and Hana, who stood among the yakuza remnants, their expressions solemn as they looked upon the ruins of Kurokaze-kai’s stronghold. It seemed clear now that some of the horsemen held more complex motives, their loyalty perhaps rooted more in respect than blind allegiance.

  Kaito took a step back from the group. “Excuse me, everyone. I need to talk to the other horsemen.” Jake, Luna, and the others nodded, understanding that Kaito had his own explanations to make. They watched as he made his way over to Takeshi and Hana, his expression one of resolve as they faced the uncertain future that lay ahead.

  Kaito approached Takeshi and Hana with a solemn expression, fully aware of the difficult questions awaiting him. The moment he reached their side, Hana wasted no time, her voice trembling slightly, “Where are Kazuo and old man Hiroshi?” Her tone revealed a deeper worry, less about comrades and more about family, having grown up alongside them.

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  Kaito looked down, preparing himself to deliver news he knew would be hard to hear. “Kazuo… chose not to leave,” he began quietly. “He stayed in the building, even though I tried to convince him. As for Hiroshi… I never saw him.” Hana’s face crumpled, tears spilling down her cheeks as the weight of his words settled over her. The reality of Kazuo and Hiroshi’s likely fate in the collapsing headquarters hit her hard.

  Takeshi placed a firm, comforting hand on Kaito’s shoulder. “It’s alright, Kaito. We know you did everything you could,” he said, his deep voice steady. Takeshi’s words held a note of complete trust, understanding Kazuo’s resolute and mistrustful nature—a trait that had ultimately led him to remain in the building rather than accept help.

  Through her tears, Hana managed to ask, “And Kenjiro? Is he…?” Her gaze shifted to the ambulance, where she’d seen him taken away.

  “He took a bad hit from Kazuo, a deep cut on his back,” Kaito replied, his tone reassuring. “But he’s strong. I’m sure he’ll pull through and recover.” Hana sighed with relief, her expression softening as she processed the news. But as she looked around, the weight of their reality settled back in. Under the dimming twilight, the Kurokaze-kai remnants stood silently before their former stronghold's ruins. The tension in the air was noticeable; hundreds of loyalists, the underlings and affiliates who had built their lives around the gang, awaited the words that would decide their futures. The Horsemen—Kaito, Hana, Takeshi, and the absent Kenjiro—were the only ones left to provide clarity after the sudden, catastrophic end of Kazuo Mori’s rule.

  In a hushed voice, Kaito finally broke the silence. “What are the future plans for Kurokaze-kai?” he asked, his question carrying the weight of uncertainty shared by everyone present. But his own answer, simple yet resolute, surprised even himself. “I... I don’t think I can lead them forward. Probably going back to my old life.” Kaito paused, feeling the reality of it sink in. He wasn’t ready for this world—he had been drawn into it as an outsider, only recently appointed by Kazuo Mori. The path he needed now wasn’t here.

  Hana and Takeshi exchanged a glance, understanding his choice. After all, he was still a student, his future elsewhere. They each took a step back, considering the uncertain road ahead. As they discussed quietly, the two remaining Horsemen reached a decision, nodding in unison.

  Facing Kaito, Hana spoke first, her tone calm yet resolute. “We’ll be ending the operations of Kurokaze-kai,” she announced, a sense of finality coloring her words. “Out of respect for the Mori family… and for Kazuo.” She looked to the loyal men and women who had depended on the Kurokaze-kai’s protection, aware of the impact this would have on their lives.

  “But we won’t abandon you,” Takeshi added, his steady gaze reassuring. “We’ll keep the legitimate businesses going—the sectors Kazuo helped build. For those who still want to work, we’ll offer you roles. You can choose to stay or leave, but we want you to know we’ll support you either way.”

  Hana smiled softly, continuing, “Takeshi will run security, and I’ll take over the bars and cabaret clubs. We’ll make sure the families and those who are loyal are taken care of, so no one has to turn back to the streets.”

  “And Kenjiro,” Takeshi chimed in, “has plans to transition the loan sharking side into a legitimate financial loan business, something legal that can actually help those in need, not just profit off them. Together, we’ll ensure Kurokaze-kai’s spirit of loyalty lives on, even if the name itself fades.”

  With their plan set, Hana turned to face the awaiting crowd of underlings. Her voice steady, she announced, “The Kurokaze-kai, as you know it, is officially dissolved.” Her words echoed through the silence, marking the end of Japan’s most powerful yakuza gang. What was once an unbreakable force in the city had come to an end, the legacy of Kazuo Mori sealed in respect and loyalty.

  Kaito stepped forward, casting one last look at the people who had, in such a short time, become his comrades. With a mix of emotions swirling inside him, he nodded to Hana and Takeshi.

  Hana offered him a warm hug, pulling him close. “It’s been an honor working with you, Kaito,” she murmured. “Keep in touch, okay? Don’t be a stranger.”

  Takeshi clapped a reassuring hand on Kaito’s back, nodding firmly. “If you ever need anything, you can still come to us. You’re a Horseman in our eyes, even if you weren’t here from the beginning.”

  Kaito took a deep breath, the familiar weight of camaraderie and farewell settling on his shoulders. He waved goodbye to his two friends, leaving behind the memories of a life he was ready to move on from. As he joined Jake and his friends in the distance, he knew he was stepping forward, his own journey now free of Kurokaze-kai’s shadow.

  Kaito returned to Jake and his friends, a weight of unfinished explanations on his mind. He took a deep breath, then bowed deeply. "I know I owe you all explanations for my actions, especially for what must have looked like a betrayal,” he began, his voice steady but shadowed by regret. "I promise, once we visit Kenjiro in the hospital, I’ll explain everything, including why I chose to assist Kazuo in taking the Sword of Flame," he said, his gaze landing apologetically on Jake.

  Jake, however, shook his head, his expression one of understanding rather than blame. "Kaito, you don’t need to explain yourself. You’re the reason we were able to defeat Kazuo. Without you, we wouldn’t be standing here." Kaito nodded gratefully, though his mind lingered on Yoko’s reaction, hoping one day she might forgive him too.

  Kaito then turned to Luna. "As you know, Kazuo had the Sword of Spirit. With the headquarters now in ruins, and Kazuo gone… locating the sword will be nearly impossible." He glanced toward the cordoned-off rubble, knowing it was littered with ordinary katanas indistinguishable from the Sword of Spirit in its dormant state. "Without a chosen owner, there’s no way to tell it apart.”

  Luna nodded, accepting the loss, though the weight of her purpose remained. "I understand, Kaito. The sword only reveals itself to its rightful master. I had only just learned this after traveling back here to the past."

  Before the mood could grow too heavy, Carter stepped in with his usual optimism. "Hey, everyone! We’re all safe, and that’s worth celebrating, right?" His words brought a lift to the group’s spirits, a reminder of the resilience and camaraderie they’d built together through the trials they had endured.

  Akane, however, gave Carter a playful slap on the back, nudging him to rein in his enthusiasm. "Ow, hey! What’s that for?” he protested, rubbing his back with a grin. "I’m just saying, I’m starving! We haven’t had a good bowl of ramen yet, and I think we deserve it!" He winced as Akane gave him another slap, drawing laughter from their friends, the tension melting away.

  “Bro,” Jake intervened with a smile, “maybe we should check on my uncle Kenjiro and Yoko at the hospital first, don’t you think?”

  Carter’s face shifted with sudden understanding. “Right! Let’s visit them first, of course. My bad!” he said sheepishly.

  "I know a great ramen stall nearby. After we check on them, it’s on me,” Kaito offered with a grin. With a final wave to the two remaining horsemen, they left the ruined Kurokaze-kai headquarters behind, hoping for Kenjiro’s swift recovery and looking forward to the explanations Kaito had promised to share. Together, they followed Kaito’s lead toward the hospital, ready to face whatever it might hold.

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