1

Six months

It had only been six months, but my mind, my body acted as if it had been a year. Six months eating bad food, showering with other boys, doing group activities, and talking to psychologists about our feelings.

Feelings?

It was pathetic and a punishment.

But what else was juvenile detention supposed to be if not an unbearable punishment designed to contain lost boys who threatened society? The great society.

'Your belongings,' the guard said, passing the small paper bag through the glass opening that separated us.

With my bruised hands, I grabbed the bag, feeling the guard's gaze on me. Inside the bag, I found my phone, watch, and wallet. I shot the guard one last look, noticing the scorn and irritation in their eyes.

I did something bad.

But I didn’t pay the way I should have.

They knew it. Everyone knew it. But that’s what happens when you have a lot of money and one of the best lawyers—the world is different for people like me.

I smiled and gave them the middle finger, making the other guard hit me hard on the back of the neck. But I just kept smiling as I was dragged outside.

The first sunlight in three days, after being locked in solitary, hurt my eyes. I squinted, trying to adjust to the brightness of the world beyond those cement walls. The guard kept dragging me toward the exit while my attention was drawn to the boys in the yard playing soccer, some of whom were watching me.

The guard practically shoved me through the door leading to the parking lot. I heard him spit on the ground before closing the gate and walking away grumbling.

'You haven’t changed at all.'

I turned toward the voice and found one of my best friends leaning against a parked car.

'Kenji,' I said, feeling my smile widen.

My childhood friend approached quickly, pulling me into a tight hug. His familiar scent overwhelmed me, bringing back memories of grabbing food after school or collapsing on the couch after a night of fights.

'Shin bet you wouldn’t be able to tell us apart,' he commented, pulling back with a big grin.

'I just had to remember which one of you was the ugliest,' I teased, making him burst out laughing.

'I missed you,' he said, holding my gaze.

'Me too,' I admitted, taking in his comfortable black clothes and white jacket. Besides his platinum hair, the jacket stood out the most. The leather was smooth and new, as if he was trying to draw attention, but I knew Kenji better than anyone—he’d always been a perfectionist about his clothes.

He opened the car door, gesturing for me to get in.

'I’ll drive.'

Kenji didn’t argue, just tossed me the keys and got into the car. I turned toward the noisy yard, spotting two boys leaning against the fence. Hitaki and Akemi had been my only companions over the past six months. They were the ones who stayed awake so I could sleep and who beat up the other guys when I was too bored to do anything but stare out the tiny window at the patch of blue sky.

They raised their hands, small smiles on their faces. I did the same, knowing everything would’ve been much worse without them. I felt relieved knowing they’d be out of that hell in a few months.

I got into the car and started driving.

'The first thing we’re doing is stopping by the barber. Your hair looks awful,' Kenji grumbled, running his hand through my messy hair. 'You’re embarrassing the Hebi clan looking like this,' he teased, amused.

I didn’t need a mirror to know how bad it looked after months of washing it with just soap or the terrible cuts Hitaki gave me when it got in my eyes.

'I bought you new clothes in case you want to change,' he said, eyeing my plain shirt and worn-out jeans. 'Do it before seeing your father. You don’t want to look like a street kid after all these months,' he advised, reaching for a bag in the back seat.

I kept driving without looking at him.

'You’ve also got a new phone. Yours is outdated,' he said before casually tossing my old phone out the window. 'I’ve already saved everything you’ll need and backed up the photos from your cloud,' he explained, showing me the new phone. I didn’t take my eyes off the road.

I’d been driving for an hour. We were close to our city, and I knew exactly what I’d do when we got there.

'You okay?' Kenji asked, noticing my silence.

'I still have time before I see him. Until then, don’t let anyone bother me,' I ordered, resting my elbow on the door.

'You sure? We bought drinks and ordered food from your favorite place,' he said, watching me. 'And you need to meet the new members and go over your duties this week,' he added, shifting in his seat.

'I’ll do it tomorrow. Today, you won’t let anyone bother me,' I repeated, turning to meet his gaze, my eyes just as dark as his.

'If that’s what you want,' he agreed finally.

'I’ll be fine. Don’t worry,' I assured him as we approached the entrance to our city.

It had been six months away from my life, my city, everything I knew, hated, and loved. I wondered which of those things still existed and which of the things I loved I would begin to hate from now on."