"It's... really hard to tell if that's a man."
After observing the illusory figure for a while, Hayasaka, an expert in disguise and casual wear shook her head slightly.
She had only noticed the discrepancies because Amamiya Ren had ntioned that the mysterious woman was actually a man.
"There's a faint Adam's apple, but that's not definitive, so won naturally have one."
"The breast shape looks slightly... off, but that could be from plastic surgery."
"Physical and costic fillers can create that unnatural symtry."
"And then there's the height, she's much taller than the average woman."
"But without context, I'd have assud she was just a statuesque beauty."
Hayasaka was impressed.
She'd dealt with disguises her whole life, but this level of detail was rare.
Even with her trained eye, she would've been fooled if she hadn't known beforehand.
"Yeah... it's surprisingly convincing," Maria agreed.
"Without Amamiya's insight, I never would've guessed."
"But if he went to such lengths to disguise himself... his hatred must run deep."
The male avenger had clearly spent months, if not years preparing for this.
But...
"He doesn't deserve sympathy."
Ren's voice broke the silence with icy certainty.
"His father trafficked drugs. He wasn't so innocent victim, he was a willing accomplice to that world."
"And just because his family was killed by other criminals, we're supposed to feel sorry for him?"
"Drug trafficking is a choice and anyone who makes that choice deserves what they get."
His disdain was palpable.
Fujiwara blinked in surprise.
"But... he never sold drugs himself, right?"
"I'm not denying that his revenge is justified."
"But I'm not going to sympathize with him either."
Ren leaned back slightly.
"His father built a life on the suffering of others."
"And he didn't stop him. Didn't turn him in. Didn't cut ties."
"He was fine with the dirty money until it backfired."
His eyes narrowed.
"To ... his death in the original story was a fitting conclusion."
Maria tilted her head.
"How did he die originally?"
"He burned himself alive after killing the drug dealers."
"He knew his revenge was righteous but also illegal."
"So after completing his revenge, he chose self-immolation as his final act."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Fujiwara exhaled softly.
"I guess... that's justice, in a way."
"He killed monsters... but didn't want to beco one."
Ren nodded.
"Exactly."
"I'm not saying his pain wasn't real. Or that his rage wasn't justified."
"But the mont he chose revenge—he accepted the consequences."
---
"Hey, Amamiya..."
Fujiwara shifted closer to him.
"Do you really hate drugs that much?"
"I despise them."
Ren didn't hesitate for even a second.
"Of all the vices in the world—pornography, gambling, and drugs—I hate drugs the most."
"Pornography hurts those who fall into it."
"Gambling destroys families."
"But drugs? Drugs destroy entire communities."
"Porn can be avoided. Gambling can be quit."
"But drugs... drugs never let go."
He clenched his fists.
"Drugs don't just ruin the addict."
"They devour their family, their friends, and everyone they touch."
"I don't just hate drugs..."
His voice turned cold.
"I hate the people who sell them."
Fujiwara swallowed nervously.
She could feel his contempt, like a poisonous mist radiating from his very soul.
And she understood why.
As a child of privilege, she'd been warned about drugs her entire life.
Her family drilled the dangers into her from an early age.
So had the families of every other young lady present.
They might not have grown up on the streets, but they knew how easily even the wealthiest could fall if they let their guard down.
Hayasaka broke the silence.
"Honestly? I agree."
"My family worked for a rich family in Europe once."
"They had a son who got hooked on th."
"He went from a straight-A student to a violent ss in months."
She folded her arms.
"Drugs don't care if you're rich or poor."
"They destroy you either way."
The room fell into uneasy agreent.
"So... what happened to the revenge-seeker?"
Fujiwara broke the silence with a curious tilt of her head.
"Now?"
Ren considered it.
"Well, the drug dealers he wanted revenge on have been captured."
"His targets are gone."
"He's probably just sitting sowhere, conflicted."
Fujiwara blinked.
"Wait... he beca a doctor, right?"
"Yeah."
"Maybe he beca one to prevent more families from suffering like his did."
"But now that his revenge is impossible..."
Ren shrugged.
"I think he'll just keep being a doctor."
"That's not a bad outco."
"Better to heal the sick than hunt ghosts."
He glanced at the clock.
29 minutes since the community center raid ended.
The mountain assault should be underway.
"Looks like it's ti for to go."
He stood up.
"I'll head to the back mountain to check the situation."
"Wait, alone?!"
Fujiwara jumped to her feet.
"I'll be back soon."
"Just sit tight and trust ."
And with that—
He vanished.
His body dissolved into thin air, leaving behind only a faint, shimring ripple.
Fujiwara gasped.
"Whoa! He just disappeared!"
She ran to the spot where he had stood and waved her hands around.
"He's really gone!"
"It was like... magic!"
She turned to Kaguya.
"Kaguya, can you do that?"
Kaguya shook her head.
"I can rge with elents... but I can't vanish like that."
Fujiwara stared at the empty space with wide eyes.
"Just what kind of power did Amamiya get?"
"He seems... way too versatile."
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