His alone
Im just trying this writing style out, im open to requests
Izana had always looked to his brother with envy. The only person who ever acted as “family” to him favored Mikey over him. His older stepbrother, Shinichiro Sano, had been the only one he sought comfort in, until Shinichiro’s accident. That loss consumed him, leaving behind a gnawing emptiness. Ever since, Izana had searched for that same kindness, that same sense of comfort, in all the wrong places.
Years later, that longing still haunted him. Now, as the leader of the criminal organization Bonten, standing side by side with Mikey, the envy had only grown stronger. His longing turned into obsession whatever Mikey had, Izana needed to have too.
So when Mikey started frequenting a small coffee shop on the edge of town, a place Izana himself despised, he had to know what kept his brother so enthralled.
“Mikey, we need to talk.” Izana’s cold voice cut through the silence as the Bonten board meeting ended.
Everyone rushed out of the room, too afraid to linger and risk angering their leaders.
Expressionless, Mikey turned to him, waiting.
Already irritated, Izana spoke. “There’s a rumor going around that you’ve been visiting that coffee shop because of a girl.” His golden eyes narrowed, studying Mikey’s every movement. “Your constant visits seem suspicious. Explain yourself.”
Mikey inhaled sharply, jaw tightening, a reaction Izana didn’t miss. “None of your damn business,” Mikey snapped. “Stay out of it.” He stood, ready to leave.
Izana’s hand shot out, gripping Mikey’s arm with enough force to leave an imprint. His voice was low and venomous. “You. Are. Trash. Don’t forget that, Mikey. You don’t deserve love or kindness.” He leaned in closer, eyes burning. “After all, it was you who let Shinichiro die.”
Mikey froze. His eyes widened, lips parting slightly.
“Because he didn’t get to live happily,” Izana seethed, “you won’t either.”
With a sharp motion, Mikey ripped his arm away, his expression returning to its usual cold blankness. Without another word, he walked out.
Izana watched him go, unsatisfied. He wanted more. Needed more. The lack of reaction made his blood boil.
That desire for control, for some kind of reaction, led him to the very place he had mocked, Mikey’s coffee shop.
The rich aroma of roasted beans hit him as he stepped inside. He took a seat by the window, scanning the quiet shop. Only one person stood behind the counter, a girl, mumbling to herself until she noticed him.
“Oh! Sorry about that!” she said, smiling. A faint blush colored her cheeks. “Hello, sir. What can I get for you?”
Her genuine warmth caught Izana off guard. It felt foreign. As the leader of Bonten, he rarely interacted with anyone normal. This kindness was something he hadn’t felt in years.
“Anything is fine,” he said curtly.
“Iced coffee okay?” she asked, a hint of hesitation in her tone.
He waved her off dismissively, turning to stare out the window.
“Rude,” she muttered under her breath as she went to prepare his drink.
When she turned away, Izana’s eyes followed her movements, studying her every detail. She returned soon after, heels clicking against the floor as she approached. Without hesitation, she plopped down across from him, bold enough to make him raise an eyebrow.
“You seem pretty gloomy,” she said, tilting her head. “Something bothering you?”
Izana narrowed his eyes, not in hostility, but out of instinct. She didn’t seem fazed.
When he didn’t answer, she hesitated, then blurted out before she could stop herself, “You have really beautiful big eyes.”
Silence stretched between them, then she burst out laughing. “I’m so sorry!” she said between giggles.
Izana stared, stunned. For the first time in ages, a small chuckle escaped him.
“So you can smile after all,” she teased. “You should do that more.”
Realizing how disarmed he’d become, Izana quickly regained his composure, clearing his throat.
She went on to ramble about her day, occasionally prying with personal questions. He lied through every answer, of course. Still, by the time the sun began to set, she had managed to chip away at his usual coldness.
When he stood to leave and reached for his wallet, she stopped him. “It’s on the house,” she said.
Irritation flickered across his face. “I don’t need your charity.”
“I enjoyed talking to you. Think of that as your payment,” she replied with a soft smile.
“Just take the money. Don’t argue,” he insisted, pushing it toward her.
She pushed it right back. “Then I’ll take it next time you come. Make sure you visit again, okay?” she said coyly before returning behind the counter.
As Izana left, he hesitated by the door and glanced back. She waved. His heart hammered loudly in his chest as he turned away, confused by his own reaction.
On the ride home, his mind was blank, until realization hit him like a truck. He hadn’t even asked if she was connected to Mikey. He’d let her distract him. How careless, he thought bitterly. How weak.
The next day, Izana returned. Through the window, he froze.
Mikey sat inside with her.
She was smiling, taking his order, and Mikey, cold and detached Mikey, was smiling back. That faint curve of his lips ignited something violent inside Izana.
Anger. Envy. Betrayal.
He hadn’t realized how much their brief encounter had meant to him until now. Seeing Mikey, his brother who already had everything, stealing even this small spark of warmth pushed Izana over the edge.
He entered the shop, holding the door open for a passerby before locking eyes on them. His hand slipped to the gun tucked in his waistband.
Mikey’s eyes widened as Izana approached, the gun now raised and pressed against his forehead.
“Izana, what the hell are you-” Mikey began, but the cold metal silenced him.
The girl gasped, her notepad slipping from her trembling hands. “Please,” she whimpered. “Don’t hurt him.”
Izana’s head snapped toward her, disbelief flashing across his face. “So the kindness you showed me meant nothing?” His voice cracked into a shout. “Is Mikey all that matters to you?” Tears welled in his eyes. “It’s always Mikey, isn’t it?”
“Izana,” Mikey said carefully, taking a slow breath. “Please. This isn’t what you want.”
Izana’s trembling lips curved into a chilling smile. “You have no idea what I want.” His gaze flicked back to the girl. “I’m doing this for your wellbeing.”
Then, he pulled the trigger.
The shot echoed through the small shop. Mikey collapsed, blood pooling beneath him as the girl screamed.
Izana laughed an unhinged, broken sound as her cries filled the room.
He had never understood kindness. He had never had time for it. The one person who had ever shown him love had always chosen Mikey first. And now, once again, Mikey had taken what was his.
So he made sure Mikey couldn’t anymore.
The girl fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably, hands covering her mouth as the reality of what just happened sank in.
Izana knelt beside her, pulling her into his blood-stained arms. “Don’t be afraid,” he whispered. “Nothing can hurt you now. You can be kind to me again.”
She struggled, pushing him away with all her strength, but he caught her before she could run. His hair, streaked red with his brother’s blood, clung to his face as he chuckled.
“We’re matching,” he said softly. “Aren’t you glad?”
Her body trembled violently before she finally passed out.
Izana lifted her gently, carrying her out the back door and into his car. As he drove off toward his house, the image of his brother’s lifeless body lingered behind him, but he didn’t care.
Because now, she was his alone.