Seiji didn't return at all. His friend stayed gone and nobody had ever seen him again. Hirato was pretty concerned, but he started losing hope that Seiji actually was still alive and out there anywhere. It was just too good to believe.
While Takashi was out working, Shin stayed at home, doing home office. Hirato was busy doing his home work and when he finished it, he went to Shin's working place. "Shin? Shall I make you some coffee?", "No, but could you eventually bring me some beer?" Shin asked. "...Since when are you...?" He sighed. "Whatever, it's not like it's any of my business..." He went into the cellar and returned with a bottle. He gave it to Shin and the man leaned back in his chair, staring at the screen of his computer. "... Thanks, Hirato.", "You seem exhausted." Hirato commented. Shin signaled his refusal. "Nothing big... Don't worry. But you seem a little off lately, Hirato." He turned his chair to his son. "What's wrong?", "Seiji's gone.", "Your friend?" Hirato nodded. "After the deaths of two classmates, Seiji ran away from home... I just don't get what the heck is going on here.", "Hmh..." Shin looked into the bottle in his hands. "You don't know why?", "No, Seiji didn't tell me anything. Ryuuzaki-Sensei already surveyed me but I can't give any useful information.", "I see..." Shin sighed. "Poor boy, Hirato... I can't imagine how that must feel but it won't be a nice feeling at all, right?" Hirato nodded. "It hurts watching people change. But it's hurts even more to look at them now and remember who they used to be... I gotta live with that now." he said. "Anyway, sorry for disturbing you, Shin." He turned around and left.
Some weeks later, when Hirato returned from school, he heard Shin cursing. He usually didn't do anything like that. He put his bag in a corner and walked to Shin's office. "Uh... is everything alright?" Shin looked around. "...No, like heck it is. The fourth worker quit the job in just one week! The company's running down and my work doubles with every single person leaving! I am one of the only people who keeps it alive still. And I can't hold on to my deadlines since I have so much to do..." Two bottles of beer were standing next to his table. Hirato took them. "I'll throw these away for you.", "Thank you, Hirato." Hirato went outside and threw them into the bucket in which they collected glass. Once per week, Hirato got on his bike to bring it to some glass containers four streets further.
For some reason, Shin's situation got even worse, even if Hirato thought that wasn't possible. He didn't even appear for dinner anymore because he had total stress with doing his job in time. Takashi was really concerned and so was Hirato. But they knew that there was nothing they could do about it, especially Hirato did. But one day, when he came home, Shin was acting different than usual. When Hirato came home from school, he yelled: "He, Hirato, is that you?", "Yeah...", "Bring me another bottle please." Hirato pulled up his eye brows and came into Shin's office. "Huh...? Not even a 'hello, how was your day'?" He asked confused. "Got no time for that." Shin replied. Hirato discovered the three cans next to Shin's table. "Uhm... You already drunk three tins of beer...? Are you sure that's good for you?" Shin turned around to him. "Just do what I say, son." Shin ordered. Hirato sighed. "Okay..."
And not enough of that. Not only that Shin was drinking a lot of alcohol lately, he even drank more than he actually should. Hirato didn't need to be an expert for that. And lately, Shin seemed to be pretty much off. He was drunk, as far as Hirato knew. But what the worst thing about that was... Shin seemed to have eruptions of anger pretty often now too.
It went even farther when Shin started hitting Hirato out of the blue. When Hirato returned home and went to Shin's office as his adoptive father was taking a sip of another can, he remarked: "Shin, you're drinking way too much! That can't be good for you, honestly! Cut it out!", "Shut up, boy. I'm an adult, I can do whatever I like.", "But as an adult, you have to be reasonable, don't you? And right now, you're not giving off that much of a good example.", "Watch your sassy mouth, Hirato.", "But it's the truth, isn't it? You should quit drinking so-" And that was when Shin hit him for the very first time in his life. His dark eyes pierced Hirato. "I said you should shut up, disobedient boy!!" Shin hissed. Hirato put a hand on his cheek. "What the heck? What's gotten into you?", "Get out!" Shin growled. Hirato stared at him for some moments before he went out of the room backwards. 'Now, this is new... What happened to Shin? Is he drunk again? When he's drunk, he can't control his anger... His work must really stress him out. I guess I should really let him alone for now...' He went up into his room. And this situation didn't remain the only one. Every time Hirato tried to talk some common sense into his father, all he got in return were some slaps and heavy hits. He was already carrying bruises on his skin, but he decided not to show or tell Takashi any of this. Takashi himself noticed that Shin was acting odd so he majorly kept a certain distance to him. Hirato turned pretty quiet and that was what made Takashi wonder. The man that adopted him, that he got so close to... He knew that something was wrong with Hirato but the boy refused to explain. What made Takashi even more concerned. 'I'm like Seiji...' Hirato thought. 'I'm keeping quiet about what's going on... This is not right but I don't want Takashi to suffer...'

One day then, it happened. When Hirato decided to claim the offense and hide Shin's alcohol, Shin immediately knew there was something going wrong. He went up to Hirato's room while Hirato was reading a book. "Hirato.", "Hm?", "Where's my alcohol?", "I don't have it.", "Don't lie. There were a bunch of cans left in the morning and now, they're gone.", "Do you suspect me to keep them hidden?" Hirato asked. Shin nodded. "Who else?" Hirato wanted to answer 'Takashi, maybe', but he held it back. If Shin's anger was turning against Takashi, his father could end up like he did. So, Hirato decided to keep him outta this. "Yeah, I hid it. But do you know why?" Hirato closed the book. "First you take a drink, but then the drink takes first your consciousness and then you entirely.", "Give it back, Hirato.", "When did you grow so addictive to alcohol, Shin?" Hirato asked. Shin narrowed his eyes. "Give me the damn alcohol!", "I never consciously heard heavy curse words from your mouth. Only when you were drunk. Are you drunk again?", "Watch your sassy mouth and gimme back my alcohol.", "No, you're going to kill yourself with it.", "Give. Me.", "My answer's still 'No'.", "Disobedient kid, you should do what your father tells you!!!" Hirato stood up. "...You know... you aren't my father. Neither is Takashi, but he is more like one. He always cared a lot more for me than you did. I'm feeling miserable since a few months now because you're literally beating me up when I try to help you and even when you were sober, you never noticed. Takashi did.", "You don't talk to me like that.", "I do, Shin, and I am not afraid of doing so. As you know, I cannot fear.", "I say it one last time, Hirato. Tell me where you put my alcohol.", "What part of no was not understandable for you? The 'N' or the 'o'?" That's when Hirato crossed the line. Shin went towards him pretty fast and hit Hirato so heavy that he staggered against the wall. And Shin started beating the shit out of him. Hirato clenched his teeth and a heavy punch against his cheek made him fall down to the ground. Shin started kicking him in the stomach and Hirato struggled for breath. "Sh-Shin, stop!!", "Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!!!" He continued kicking until Hirato even got trouble breathing. His bones were hurting like hell and he felt as if he would suffocate. His mouth was widely open, his eyes closed as firm as he could. He spat blood when the next kick followed. Then, Shin stopped. "I hope this is a lesson for you, kid.", "...under my bed..." Hirato choked. Shin grinned. "Do I always need to beat obedience into you?" He knelt down and took a can from under Hirato's bed. Hirato remained on the ground in a bend position, still barely able to breathe. His eyes were half closed. "...Shi...n..." Then, his breath was entirely taken as suddenly heavy pain hit his chest like a knife blade. His eyes widened and his mouth formed to a mute scream. But no sound came out. Shin looked at him. "Whaddcha want?" He sipped at the can. "Curse... you...", "What did you say?" Shin extended his leg to kick Hirato's head as three scars appeared on Hirato's left cheek. A red one in the middle and two black ones on the sides. Hirato clenched his teeth, but he was able to catch Shin's leg. "...Curse you and your damn alcohol..." he gasped. "You're not the person I used to know anymore..." As the pain subsided, Hirato got back up again, feeling a huge wave of strength waving through his body. His eyes were now as red as blood when he wiped the red liquid from his mouth. "I've got enough of this hell. I'VE GOT ENOUGH!!!!" He drew back his arm and then rammed his fist against Shin's chest. Shin gasped from the surprising amount of force and was smashed against the wall. He let his can fall. Hirato's eyes were filled with anger. He was still gasping but the look in his eyes was unmistakable. "I've got enough." he repeated. "Stay here and die slowly in misery if that's the path you choose! Without me!!" With these words, Hirato ran away.