Hotaru's assassin

Hotaru lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The graduation ceremony was tomorrow, and she hadn't been able to sleep all night. Memories of her high school life flashed through her mind—some warm, but most painful. The very people who had broken her, who had pushed her to the edge, would be there.

She turned on her side, gripping the blanket tightly. I don't want to go. I don't want to see them.

But as the first light of dawn crept into her room, a thought struck her.

"Why should I be the one to hide when I have done nothing wrong?"

Taking a deep breath, she made up her mind. She would go—not for them, but for herself.

As she sat up, she heard something unusual coming from downstairs—the sound of movement. It was as if someone was doing workout. Heavy yet controlled. She quickly got out of bed and rushed downstairs, only to freeze at the sight before her.

Kai was moving. Too much.

His body twisted and shifted with fluid, calculated movements, each motion precise and powerful. He looked completely different from the injured man she had dragged home.

"Stop!" Hotaru panicked, stepping forward. "Your wounds will reopen if you keep moving like that!"

Kai barely glanced at her. "Oh, I'm hungry after a workout," he said casually, stretching his arms before heading toward the kitchen.

Hotaru watched in disbelief as he calmly pulled out ingredients and started cooking. She huffed in frustration but gave up arguing. He was impossible. Instead, she went to freshen up.

When she returned, Kai called out, "Come. Your breakfast is ready."

Hotaru hesitated, but when she stepped into the kitchen, her eyes widened. The dish before her looked insanely good. The aroma alone made her stomach grumble in betrayal.

She sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and took a bite.

Her entire body froze.

What the hell is this? She covered her mouth, eyes widening. It's so good… is he secretly a chef?!

Kai smirked, watching her reaction closely. "Go ahead, praise me."

Hotaru scowled, swallowing quickly. "It's… not that good."

Kai leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "What a bad liar you are. Your thoughts are written all over your face." His smirk widened. "Your expression clearly screams that this is the best food you've ever eaten."

Hotaru clicked her tongue and focused on finishing her meal, refusing to give him the satisfaction of admitting the truth.

After eating, she grabbed her bag. "I have to attend the graduation ceremony," she announced. "Take care of the house. If there's a medical emergency, call the hospital."

Kai waved her off lazily as she rushed out the door.

As the door clicked shut, Kai stretched and lay down on the carpet, staring at the ceiling.

"What should I do today?"

A slow smirk crept onto his lips.

"First, I'll have to change my look so that those old bums have a hard time finding me."

With that, he stood up, grabbed a jacket, and headed out to the nearest salon.

---

The bell chimed as he entered the salon. The hairdresser, a middle-aged woman, gave him a quick once-over.

"What style are you looking for?" she asked.

Kai sat down in the chair, his crimson eyes glinting mischievously in the mirror. "Cut it short and dye it silver."

The hairdresser blinked in surprise but nodded. "Silver, huh? That's a bold choice."

Kai simply smirked.

---

After finishing his transformation, Kai returned home and scanned the place. It was a mess—dusty, cluttered, and looked like it hadn't been thoroughly cleaned in years. He sighed and rolled up his sleeves.

With swift efficiency, he cleaned every corner, dusted every shelf, and scrubbed the floors until they shined. The once old, haunted-looking house was now spotless.

He even stepped outside, cutting the overgrown grass in the garden. By the time he finished, the sun had dipped lower in the sky. Wiping the sweat off his forehead, he laid down in the garden and closed his eyes, satisfied with his work.

"Now, let's see what expression she makes when she sees this."

---

Meanwhile, Hotaru walked back home, relieved. She had somehow avoided running into them. Even though she knew it was them who were wrong, she couldn't bring herself to see them again. It was the last thing she wanted.

But then she shook her head and slapped her cheeks lightly. Stop being so negative. Stop thinking about them.

Taking a deep breath, she focused on the road ahead.

But when she reached home…

She stopped dead in her tracks.

Her eyes widened.

Her heart skipped a beat.

"What… happened here?"

And then—

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~~~~~~~~~End of Chapter 5~~~~~~~~~

WARNING

This is the original version of the webnovel "Hotaru's assassin" by the author "Hanagaki Ryuka". Please don't copyright or upload it in your name

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O1cON4UEjsjFPMZxqNSY425-fdHW19779uAKscbDsy8/edit?usp=drivesdk