---April 22, 2016
---At Shibuya Tokyo, Japan
Takashi stared at the food in front of him, his appetite dulled by the thoughts swirling in his mind. He took a few bites, mechanically chewing while his mind raced. Aiko sat across from him, smiling awkwardly. She kept talking, her words a jumble of unrelated topics.
"Did you know that the cherry blossoms in the park are blooming early this year?" she said, her voice overly bright.
"It's really beautiful. Maybe we can go see them when you're feeling better."
Takashi nodded absently, but he couldn't help but notice the strain in her smile. Something felt off. Aiko was never one to make idle chatter. Her conversations were usually purposeful, direct. Now, she was filling the silence with meaningless drivel.
"Also, I heard there's a new restaurant opening downtown. They say it's the best sushi in the city. We should try it sometime."
Takashi set down his fork, his appetite completely gone.
"Aiko, why are you talking like this?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.
"You're not making any sense."
Aiko's smile faltered, and she glanced away, her hands fidgeting with the edge of the tablecloth.
"I'm just trying to keep your mind off things," she said softly.
"You've been through so much."
Takashi leaned back in his chair, studying her closely.
"No, it's more than that...You're hiding something. What is it?"
Aiko's eyes widened slightly, and she bit her lip, struggling to maintain her composure.
"I'm not hiding anything," she insisted, but the quiver in her voice betrayed her.
Takashi's suspicion deepened.
"You're a terrible liar, Aiko. What's going on...Why are you so nervous?"
Aiko stood up suddenly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor.
"I need to go to the bathroom..." she said quickly, avoiding his gaze. Before Takashi could respond, she hurried out of the room, shutting the door behind her.
Takashi watched her go, his mind churning with confusion and suspicion. The bathroom was just down the hall, a mere few steps away. Her abrupt exit only made things more suspicious. He knew Aiko well enough to recognize when she was hiding something.
He glanced at the closed door, then at the bathroom, feeling the weight of unease settle heavily in his chest. His thoughts raced back to the news broadcast he had seen earlier. The police had claimed no one died in the attack at Café Harmonia. But Takashi vividly remembered the chaos, the terror, and the lifeless bodies sprawled across the café floor.
"They're lying." he thought, his eyes narrowing. "What the hell is going on?..."
The room felt oppressive, the silence heavy and stifling. Takashi's mind raced, piecing together the fragments of information he had. There was something bigger at play, something he couldn't yet understand. And Aiko's strange behavior only added to his growing sense of unease.
Determined to uncover the truth, Takashi made a silent vow to get to the bottom of it all. He couldn't let this go. Too much was at stake, and he had to find out why the truth was being buried—and what Aiko was hiding from him.
---A week later...
---April 29, 2016
---At Shibuya Tokyo, Japan
A week had passed since the strange encounter with Aiko in the hospital room. Takashi was finally discharged and ready to return to his life, though his mind was far from at ease. As they settled into the back of a taxi, Takashi couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had taken root in him.
Aiko sat beside him, staring out the window with a distant look on her face. She had been growing more distant over the past week, ever since he started pressing her for answers. Her usual warmth and openness had been replaced by a guarded demeanor, and it gnawed at him.
Takashi's thoughts swirled with doubt and suspicion.
(Why is she distancing herself away from me...What is she hiding?)
His mind replayed the events of the past week, searching for any clue that might explain her behavior.
He glanced at Aiko, who seemed lost in her own thoughts. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken words and unanswered questions. Finally, Takashi couldn't take it anymore.
"Aiko," he said, his voice breaking the silence.
"You've been acting strange ever since that night in the hospital. What's going on? Why are you avoiding me?"
Aiko turned to look at him, her expression unreadable.
"I'm not avoiding you," she said quietly.
"It's just... there's a lot going on right now."
Takashi's frustration bubbled to the surface.
"That's not an answer. You've been distant, and I can't help but feel like you're hiding something from me. I need to know what's happening."
Before Aiko could respond, the taxi driver glanced at them through the rearview mirror.
"Hey, folks, I don't allow arguing in my cab. Let's keep it civil, alright?" he said sternly.
Takashi bit back his frustration, leaning back into his seat.
"Sorry," he muttered, though the interruption did little to ease the tension between them.
The rest of the ride was spent in uneasy silence. Takashi kept glancing at Aiko, who had returned to staring out the window. His mind was racing with questions, but he knew he wouldn't get any answers now.
As the taxi pulled up to Takashi's apartment building, Aiko quickly opened the door and stepped out, leaving Takashi to follow. He paid the driver and climbed out, his mind still reeling from their interrupted conversation. He caught up to Aiko as they walked towards the entrance of the building.
"Aiko wait," he said, frustration creeping into his voice.
"I need to understand what's happening."
Aiko stopped and turned to face him, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions.
"I know it's hard, but you have to trust me. I promise, I'll explain everything when the time is right. But right now, we need to stay safe."
"Protect me from what?" Takashi's voice rose, his patience wearing thin.
"From the truth...From Ryujin? What is it, Aiko?"
Aiko's expression softened slightly.
"Just give me a little more time. I promise, everything will make sense soon."
Takashi searched her eyes for any hint of deceit, but all he saw was a deep, genuine concern. He nodded reluctantly, though his heart was still heavy with doubt.
"Okay, fine." he said bluntly
With that, they walked into the building together, the weight of their unspoken fears hanging heavily between them. Takashi knew he had to be patient, but the growinf suspicion and unanswered questions continued to haunt him. And as they made their way to his apartment, he couldn't shake the feeling that their ordeal was far from over.
---Some time later...
---April 29, 2016
---At Minato Tokyo, Japan
Hours later, in the dimly lit alleyway, a man in his early forties dashed through the shadows, his breath ragged as he stumbled over discarded boxes and debris. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness, wielding a crowbar. With a swift swing, the man was sent sprawling to the ground, the impact reverberating through the narrow passage.
Ryujin emerged from the darkness, panting from the pursuit. He glanced down at the man he had just incapacitated, his eyes cold and calculating.
"Kenji." he called out to the figure wielding the crowbar, who stepped forward into the dim light.
Kenji, his features hardened with determination, looked down at the man on the ground.
"I thought you said he'd be an easy target," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.
Ryujin shook his head, his expression unyielding.
"He put up more of a fight than I expected. But it doesn't matter now. We need to finish this."
Kenji nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.
"What's the plan?" he asked, his grip tightening on the crowbar.
Ryujin's gaze flickered with a dangerous intensity.
"We'll make sure he doesn't talk. And then we'll deal with anyone else who tries to get in our way,"
he said, his voice low
With grim determination, Ryujin and Kenji set to work, disappearing into the shadows of the alleyway as they carried out their ruthless mission.