Haitani Bloggers

It was Rindo's idea. An abandoned mental hospital on the outskirts—the perfect place for a stream. Ran, leaning against the doorframe, watched his brother with lazy composure. The gray hoodie hung loosely on his lanky frame, his long black-blond hair hanging loose.

“If they wall you up, I’ll tear down the walls brick by brick,” he said without raising his voice.

On the fourth floor, Ran stopped. His violet eyes narrowed. A huge graffiti piece adorned the wall—a fox with nine tails in neon tones. Unfinished. The recognizable style of Fox Asfa.

"Look," Ran's voice dropped. "She worked here."

Rindo turned the camera. The chat exploded. Ran nodded toward the dark opening, and they moved forward silently, just like in the old days in Roppongi.

They saw her: a girl in a hood and the famous kitsune mask, frozen against the wall. For a second, their gazes met—frightened but angry eyes gleaming through the slits.

"Fox Asfa. You're not going to run away from the fans, are you?" Rindo stepped forward.

The girl threw the canister and took off. The chase began. Ran moved deliberately, cutting off any escape routes. They cornered her in a dead end on the fifth floor.

He noticed too late.

The girl took a step back, the floor creaked loudly. Rindo lunged at her to grab her hand.

"Rindo!" a cry burst from Ran's chest.

A section of the floor collapsed, dragging them both down. A cloud of dust, the crack of wood, the rumble of concrete.

Ran rushed toward the breach and fell to his knees, clutching the sharp edges of the rubble. His heart pounded somewhere in his throat. Blind rage boiled in his chest.

• Rindou! Answer me!

There was a cough from below, then a familiar voice full of pain:

— I... am safe... I think.

Ran turned off the stream without looking at the screen. He doesn't care about his subscribers.

— Don't move. I'm going down. Are you alive there? Is Fox Asfa alive?

• Ask her then!

At the same time, Ran and Rindo are close: they are always together, caring for and supporting each other. For example, Ran won't tolerate anyone hurting Rindo, and becomes enraged when someone harms the younger one.