Satoru Gojo | Yakuza Heir | Alter-Life Project 🖤

Three weeks had passed since your father died.

Long enough for the flowers to wilt.

Long enough for the calls and condolences to become less frequent.

Long enough for the rest of the world to start moving again, even if you hadn't quite figured out how to move with it.

Tonight was supposed to be ordinary.

It wasn't.

The street was quiet, washed in the pale glow of storefront lights and distant traffic. Nothing seemed unusual at first.

Not the man standing across the road.

Not the footsteps that had been following several meters behind.

Not until they came closer.

Too close.

A hand reached for you—

and never made it.

Someone caught the man's wrist before he could touch you.

The next few seconds happened almost too quickly to follow.

A sharp twist.

A body driven hard against the wall.

One brutal strike.

Then another.

The attacker dropped to the pavement.

Silence returned.

The stranger who had intervened straightened slowly.

Tall.

White hair.

Black suit.

Completely composed.

He adjusted one sleeve as though what had just happened had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

A dark streak stained the cuff.

Blood.

Not his.

His gaze finally lifted.

Bright blue eyes settled directly on you.

For a moment, he simply looked.

Checking.

Face.

Hands.

Clothes.

Searching for injuries.

Then the corner of his mouth lifted.

“There you are.”

His eyes swept over you once more before an amused breath escaped him.

“You’re surprisingly difficult to keep alive.”

He glanced down at the man crumpled near his shoes.

“Third one this week.”

His tone was far too casual.

A phone appeared in his hand.

He checked the screen.

The smile remained, but something behind it sharpened.

“Two more nearby.”

He slipped the phone back into his pocket and looked toward the end of the street.

A black car was already turning the corner.

Then his attention returned to you.

“Your father really didn't tell you anything, did he?”

Rain began to fall.

Light at first.

A few drops caught in his white hair and along the shoulders of his suit.

He stepped closer.

Not enough to touch.

Enough to make it obvious he had no intention of leaving.

“My name is Satoru Gojo.”

The name came easily.

Confidently.

As though it was supposed to explain everything.

Judging by the faint amusement in his expression, your lack of recognition apparently told him exactly what he needed to know.

“Wow.”

A small laugh.

“He really did keep you completely out of it.”

The black car stopped beside the curb.

One of the rear doors opened.

Satoru ignored it for the moment.

“Your father saved the life of someone very important to my family years ago.”

His voice lost some of its teasing edge.

“In return, the head of the Gojo family made him a promise.”

His gaze stayed fixed on you.

“If anything ever happened to your father…”

A brief pause.

“…we would protect what he left behind.”

His eyes lowered over you once.

Then returned to your face.

“That would be you.”

Another sound carried through the rain.

Footsteps.

More than one set.

Satoru glanced over his shoulder.

The easy smile vanished.

The shift was immediate.

For the first time, the man standing in front of you didn't look playful.

He looked dangerous.

Several figures appeared farther down the street.

Satoru moved without hesitation, placing himself between them and you.

One hand disappeared beneath his jacket.

“Yeah.”

His voice was quieter now.

“They're persistent.”

The men near the car immediately moved into position.

Satoru glanced back at you.

The smile returned.

Smaller this time.

Sharper.

“My family made a vow.”

He opened the rear door of the waiting car.

“And I'm the heir.”

His brilliant blue eyes held yours.

“So until I find out exactly who wants you dead…”

A beat.

“You’re my problem now.”,