Chapter 27 The Detective Is Already Angry
Chapter 27 The Detective Is Already Angry
I slammed the door in my father’s face and stepped out into the night. I knew exactly where I was going; I’d been thinking about it all week. What was I supposed to do with my life now? Go back to school? Find a new relationship? Pick up some pointless hobby? How the hell was I supposed to settle this storm inside me?
The only answer I had was revenge.
My hand brushed the heavy plastic of the construction knife in my pocket. Since when had I been carrying this? Where had the idea even come from?
I let out a harsh breath. An image flashed through my mind: a lone boy in the wilderness, surviving, fighting beasts with nothing more than his wits and a small blade.
I chuckled involuntarily. I hadn’t watched that anime in a long time. Not since I was actually happy. Not since Kota was still with us. I wondered if it was because of us that the show never got a rerun.
It probably was.
I kept walking, mentally reviewing everyone who might have been responsible.
First up: Kenta. That gorilla bastard from third year. Was it really him? Or did he just know who did it? Hell, maybe it was him, and he'd only acted like there was someone else involved to mess with my head.
The next suspect was nameless. Somebody from the council. After all, that bitch had spent a lot of time there. But it was hard to pinpoint anyone—the council was packed with students, male and female.
The face of the president flashed in my mind. I stopped dead.
Was it you? That tall, nerdy-looking, skinny guy. Yoon was his name. Was he part Korean or something? He always looked stuck-up as hell. Anyway, he didn't really look like the type to pick up a lot of girls. But regardless, the real problem was that both he and Kenta had already graduated, and I had no idea where the hell they'd gone.
Should I go back to school?I might be able to dig up more about them there. I could finally figure out what was really happening behind those walls.
My hands shuddered. The rage was already rising, hot and blinding.
Calm down, I told myself. When the time comes, I'll unleash all of it.
I arrived at the spot, right next to the police box. There was an alley on the corner, and a convenience store glowing softly nearby. I peered through the glass. A clerk was there—a thin woman in a cap, her back turned to me as she stacked products on a display. For a split second, my chest tightened. I remembered when I first met them, how they had helped me back then.
But getting involved with them had come back to bite me. It had torn a piece right out of my heart.
I walked inside. That bastard had probably been walking out of this exact store that day.
The clerk turned. “Welcome.”
I grabbed a juice and a chocolate bar—I was going to need the energy. I paid, stepped back out into the night, and walked over to the police box. I stared down at the pavement where the fight had gone down. I even spotted a loose tooth resting in the dirt. I walked over and kicked it into the dark.
Standing dead center in the spot, I looked around and closed my eyes. I forced myself to relive the fight. Each memory of a hit was a cold, burning strike against my soul. His taunts echoed perfectly in my mind.
My eyes snapped open.
That guy was wearing sporty clothes… that gorilla.
I scanned the neighborhood. Nothing stood out except the store and the police box. I started walking, sweeping the perimeter, hunting for a connection.
Then, I stopped.
"Jackpot."
Three blocks down sat a gym. The bright sign read: Maximum Fitness 24/7. Just below it, a smaller board caught my eye: *Boxing — Classes.*
It made sense. He was a striker, so aside from the occasional kick, he mostly relied on his hands.
I tried to piece the timeline together. What time had it been when we bumped into each other? I pulled out my phone—10:00 p.m. The attack happened somewhere between nine and ten.
I posted up across the street in the shadows. I cracked my neck, rolling my shoulders and shaking out my arms to prepare. I waited. Eventually, the gym doors opened and two guys walked out.
Neither of them was him.
Either way, I thought, I can’t afford to get caught by the police again. Whenever I confront him, it has to be somewhere isolated.
I scanned the exterior. It didn't look like there were any cameras. After waiting a little longer, I decided to risk it and go inside. If someone recognized me, I’d just have to deal with it.
I pushed the doors open. Inside sat a small reception desk, manned by an old man holding a newspaper and scribbling over the pages.
“Welcome,” he said, looking up.
“Hello... I, uh, I’d like to check out the gym. Could you show me around? Tell me the prices?” I asked, feigning a nervous hesitation.
The old man’s eyes lit up.
"Oh, come here, boy, I will show ya." He practically jumped up, moving with surprising excitement.
He led the way. We passed weightlifting zones and rows of cardio machines, but I didn’t care about any of it. My eyes swept the room, hunting for familiar faces. I was looking for anyone—even that sidekick the bastard hung around with back then. He was probably working out too.
But the floor was mostly empty. There weren't many people around at this hour, and I didn't recognize a single one of them.
I glanced over at the boxing area. It was completely deserted.
Then, I froze. I stepped closer to the far wall.
There he was. Framed in a picture hanging on the wall was the gorilla himself, posing with a pair of boxing gloves like he was about to fight.
The old man noticed my stare. “Oh? Are you interested in boxing, perhaps?”
I gave a small nod. “Maybe a little. I was just wondering if boxing could make me as big and strong as this guy. He looks tough. I bet nobody messes with him, right?”
Suddenly, the old man reached out toward me.
Pure instinct took over. I jerked back, throwing my hands up to block and bracing for a fight—only to freeze when I realized he wasn't attacking at all.
“Oh, you have good reflexes,” he said. "Please, allow me."
He placed his hands on my arms and shoulders, shifting me into a proper boxing stance. "You do have a good build—a solid base of muscle. How much do you weigh? Seventy-five kilos? You might have a real future if you dedicate yourself to boxing."
I kept up the act. “So you mean, if I trained, I could get as strong as that guy in the picture?”
The old man waved his hand dismissively. “Ah, forget about that guy. He might have strength, but because he’s so big, his speed and endurance aren’t up to par for going pro. You, on the other hand… you have a body better suited for fast punches and stamina. Especially if you learn proper technique, you could become a great fighter.”
“Okay, okay,” I said, raising my hands. “But I just want to look big and strong. Actually, how much would I need to train to get as big as him? Is it even possible? I'm curious—what time does that guy usually train? He's probably here all the time, right? I'd like to learn his secret.”
The old man shook his head.
“Don't try to imitate him. And that guy, Kenta, doesn't even come around that often anymore.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I feel that boy really went down a bad path. Last year, he came in here hurt, looking like he'd been in a street fight. Missing teeth and all. I gave him a scolding. That kid... he stopped following my teachings and started fighting outside the ring.”
He shook his head again.
I tried to keep the conversation going.
“Oh, really? A guy that big? Did he lose? Maybe he fought a whole group of people,” I said, feeling a surge of twisted pride in myself.
“Don't know. But why do you want to be that big?” he asked.
“Who knows? Respect, maybe?” I replied.
I walked out of the gym and back into the night air. We hadn't finalized anything, but I told the old man I’d think about joining. As much as I liked the idea of getting real fight training, doing it on enemy turf was a bad move. Besides, I couldn't exactly ask him where the gorilla lived; pushing for details like that would have been way too suspicious.
Where to now? I thought, leaning back against the brick wall outside the gym.
Then, it hit me. The hotel.
How the hell did she know there was a love hotel around there?
Without another thought, I broke into a run.