Three years had passed since that fateful night in 2030 when Hikaru had first been introduced to the Neon Dragons. Now, in the year 2033, he was deeply entrenched in their operations. The boy who once imagined performing on stage was now playing a different kind of role, one which required him to navigate the shadowy underbelly of Tokyo's criminal world.
Meanwhile, Daiki was leading a decidedly different life. He had found employment at a local convenience store, saving diligently for the day he could escape the constraints of their shared apartment and realize his dream of a college education.
Despite their diverging paths, the bond between the two boys remained strong. However, their once easy camaraderie was becoming strained by the secrets that Hikaru was forced to keep and the concern that Daiki couldn't hide.
One day, Hikaru returned from a meeting with the Neon Dragons, a strange excitement radiating off him. "We have a big job coming up," he announced. "If we pull it off, it'll change everything for us."
Daiki knew better than to ask for details, but the fear gnawing at the edges of his mind was hard to ignore. He'd heard rumors of what a "big job" could entail, stories whispered in hushed tones of heists gone wrong, of unforgiving retributions and lives ruined.
Despite his worries, Daiki understood that Hikaru was on a path he couldn't follow, and perhaps, didn't want to. He was beginning to accept that their dreams, once so closely intertwined, were now pulling them in opposing directions.
Over the following days, as Hikaru was consumed with preparations for the heist, a heavy silence descended upon their apartment. The laughter and camaraderie of their youth felt like a distant memory, replaced now by whispered phone calls and hushed conversations.
The morning of the heist arrived, marked by an eerie quiet. Hikaru, usually so full of energy, was solemn, his usual cheer replaced by an intense focus. As he left their apartment, he turned to Daiki, offering a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"See you on the other side, Dai," he said, before disappearing into the neon-lit streets of Tokyo.
Daiki was left in the silence of their shared apartment, the unease in his heart battling with the hope that his friend would return unscathed.