Kazuya's heart pounded as he processed Aiko's words. His mind was racing like crazy as he thought that Aiko could be an enemy rather than an ally.
With a determined resolve to get to the bottom of this. He decided to confront Aiko. His mind raced with questions, but he knew he had to keep his composure.
He turned the corner and saw her still on the phone, her back facing him. She hadn't noticed him yet, giving him a few more seconds to prepare. He took a deep breath and stepped forward, his voice calm but firm.
"Aiko," he called out, startling her. She spun around, quickly ending the call and stuffing the phone into her pocket.
"K-Kazuya!" Aiko stammered, her eyes wide with surprise. "You scared me… I didn't hear you coming."
Kazuya studied her closely, trying to gauge her reaction. "I couldn't help but overhear you talking just now. Who were you speaking to, and what were you talking about?"
Aiko hesitated, her eyes darting around as if searching for an escape. She quickly composed herself, forcing a nervous smile. "Oh, that… It was nothing serious, really. Just a friend from the city."
Kazuya didn't respond, his expression unreadable. He could see the wheels turning in Aiko's mind as she scrambled to come up with something plausible.
Aiko then asked. "How much did you heard?" She said as her concern was growing.
Kazuya tried to stay composed as he answered her. "Pretty much of it actually..."
Aiko stared at Kazuya for a moment before taking a deep breath, she decided to lean into an explanation.
"You see... my friend works in a security firm. I was just venting about how worried I was for all of you, especially after everything that happened. I mentioned that you guys were back and… well, I guess I said something that could be taken the wrong way."
Kazuya raised an eyebrow, prompting her to continue.
Aiko nodded, her words flowing more smoothly now. "When I said you guys let your guard down, I meant that you all deserve some rest after everything you've been through. And when I said an attack would be successful, I was referring to how vulnerable everyone could be if we don't stay cautious… I was just worried, you know?"
Kazuya kept his expression neutral, even as he felt his gut twist. Aiko's explanation was cleverly constructed, her tone sincere. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He nodded slowly, pretending to accept her story.
"I see," he said, his voice even. "I guess I misunderstood. It's good to know you're looking out for us."
Aiko let out a small sigh of relief, her smile returning. "Of course, Kazuya. I care about all of you. This place… it's become like a home to me. I just want to make sure everyone stays safe."
Kazuya nodded again, forcing a smile. "That's good to hear. Sorry for interrupting your call."
"No, it's okay," Aiko replied quickly. "I'm glad you asked. Better to clear things up than to have any misunderstandings, right?"
"Right," Kazuya agreed, his voice calm. "Well, I'll let you get back to it. I need to head back inside."
"Of course," Aiko said, her tone light. "I'll join you in a bit."
Kazuya turned and walked away, feeling her eyes on him as he left. He kept his pace steady, forcing himself to appear relaxed. But as soon as he was out of sight, his mind began racing again.
Aiko's explanation had been convincing, but Kazuya knew better. The way she had quickly come up with a plausible story only made him more certain that she was hiding something. He couldn't prove it yet, but he knew he couldn't let his guard down around her.
Kazuya clenched his fists as he walked back to his room, determination hardening his resolve. He needed to figure out the truth, and he needed to do it soon—before it was too late.
---------
The next day, as the morning sun filtered through the dusty windows of the shelter, casting a warm glow on the large dining area where everyone had gathered for breakfast. The smell of chicken ramen noodle soup filled the air, a comforting aroma that seemed to ease the tension in the room. The refugees, a mix of outcasts and displaced people, chatted quietly amongst themselves as they dug into their bowls, grateful for the hot meal.
Kazuya sat at the long wooden table with the rest of the bandits. He stirred his soup absentmindedly, his thoughts far from the meal in front of him. His eyes drifted over to Aiko, who was seated a few spots away, chatting and laughing with some of the children. She seemed perfectly at ease, but the memory of her phone conversation the night before gnawed at him.
'Should I tell the others?' Kazuya wondered, his mind racing. 'But.... what If she's innocent??? I could be putting her in danger for no reason. But if she's not?…"
He sighed, feeling the weight of his uncertainty. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, but he didn't want to accuse Aiko without being sure. His gaze lingered on her, watching as she smiled and played with the kids, her demeanor so natural that it was almost disarming.
Kazuya decided he needed to test the waters, to see if anyone else had noticed anything unusual about Aiko. He turned to Mousa, who was sitting next to him, already halfway through his 5th bowl of ramen.
"Mousa," Kazuya said quietly, trying not to draw too much attention. "Have you noticed anything… weird about the new Aiko lately?"
Mousa didn't even look up from his bowl. "Weird? What are you talking about?" he mumbled between bites.
Kazuya hesitated, unsure how to phrase his concerns without sounding paranoid. "I mean, like… do you think she's been acting strange or anything? Maybe something feels off?"
Mousa paused for a moment, finally glancing at Kazuya with a raised eyebrow. But instead of addressing the question, he let out a satisfied sigh. "Honestly, Kazuya, the only thing we should care about right now is this soup," he said with a cheeky smile. "Miss Akane really outdid herself this time. This is delicious!!!"
Kazuya was shocked but then felt a wave of frustration wash over him. Mousa's nonchalant attitude made him feel foolish for even bringing it up. He forced a smile and nodded, though the unease in his chest remained.
"Yeah, you're right," Kazuya said, trying to mask his disappointment. "The soup is really good."
Mousa grinned and returned his attention to his bowl, slurping up the broth with gusto. Kazuya, on the other hand, couldn't bring himself to eat more than a few bites. His mind was too preoccupied with doubts and questions.
He turned his attention to Toma, who was sitting across from him. Toma was always a bit more perceptive, maybe he would have noticed something. Kazuya leaned forward, keeping his voice low.
"Toma," Kazuya began cautiously, "have you noticed anything odd about Aiko? Like, anything at all?"
Toma looked up from his food, a puzzled expression on his face. "Odd? What are you talking about?"
Kazuya hesitated again, unsure how to explain without giving too much away. "I just mean… I don't know, does she seem different to you?"
Toma blinked, then shook his head, clearly confused. "Nah, man. She seems fine to me. Why, did she do something?"
"No, no, nothing like that," Kazuya quickly backtracked. "Just… forget I asked."
Toma shrugged and went back to his food, clearly not giving the matter a second thought. Kazuya sighed inwardly, feeling more isolated in his concerns. He had hoped that at least one of them would share his suspicions, but it seemed like he was on his own.
As the others continued to enjoy their breakfast, Kazuya couldn't help but feel a growing sense of dread. He decided to stay silent for now, to keep a closer eye on Aiko and try to gather more information before making any accusations. But the uncertainty gnawed at him, leaving him with an uneasy feeling that something bad was brewing just beneath the surface.