---January, 2023
---At Akihabara Tokyo, Japan
In a dimly lit alley in Tokyo, a lone figure stood, back pressed against the cold, graffiti-covered wall. Her breath formed clouds in the chilly night air. The city's hustle and bustle seemed distant, muted by the thick blanket of shadows that enveloped her.
Her name was Rina Itsuki. At twenty-four, she had already lived a life more tumultuous than most twice her age. She tugged her worn leather jacket tighter around herself, her mind drifting back to the events that had shaped her.
---Seven years earlier...
---At Minato Tokyo, Japan
Rina was seventeen, living in a cramped, rundown apartment with her mother and younger brother, Kota. They barely scraped by, her mother working multiple jobs just to keep the lights on. Despite the hardships, they had each other, and that was enough.
"Rina, I need you to watch your brother tonight," her mother had said one evening, exhaustion etched into her features. "I got a double shift at the diner."
"Of course, Mom," Rina replied, trying to sound upbeat. She had grown used to these responsibilities, balancing schoolwork and caretaking like a seasoned juggler.
That night, she sat with Kota, helping him with his homework. The faint glow of the television provided a semblance of warmth in their otherwise chilly apartment. Kota looked up to her, trusting her completely.
But the peace was shattered when there was a loud knock at the door. Rina frowned, wondering who could be visiting at such an hour. She opened the door to find two men standing there, their expressions dark and menacing.
"We're looking for your mother," one of them said, his voice low and threatening.
"She's not here," Rina replied, trying to mask the tremor in her voice. "What do you want with her?"
"She owes us money," the other man said, stepping forward. "A lot of money."
Rina's heart sank. She knew her mother had been struggling, but she hadn't realized the extent of it. "She'll pay you back," Rina promised. "Just give her...more time."
The men exchanged glances before nodding. "We'll be back," one of them said.
"And we better get what's ours, or else..."
They left, and Rina collapsed against the door, her mind racing. She didn't tell her mother about the visit, hoping she could find a way to fix things herself.
---A few months later...
Rina dropped out of school and took on multiple jobs, trying to gather enough money to pay off her mother's debt. She worked as a waitress, a cleaner, and even did odd jobs that came her way. But it was never enough.
One night, as she walked home from her third job, she was ambushed by the same men. They dragged her into a dark alley, their intentions clear.
"You think you can just avoid us?" one of them snarled, shoving her against the wall.
"I'm trying," Rina pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "Please, just give me more time..."
"Time's up," the other man said coldly.
They beat her mercilessly, punching and kicking her until she was left bruised and broken on the ground. One of the men grabbed her by the hair, yanking her head back so she was forced to look at him.
"Look at you," he sneered, his grip tightening. "Pathetic. You think begging will save you?"
"Please," Rina sobbed, her voice raw and desperate. "Stop, please! I'll get the money, I swear...Just give me more time!"
He slammed her head against the wall, making her vision blur. "You better have the money next time, or it'll be worse," he spat.
The other man kicked her one last time, his boot connecting with her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. "Tell your mom we don't mess around," he said, leaning in close.
"Next time, we won't be so nice."
They laughed, the sound echoing through the alley, before finally leaving her there, broken and alone. It was in that moment, lying on the cold, wet pavement, that Rina vowed to never be weak again.
She dragged herself home, every movement a fresh agony. Kota was the one who found her, his eyes wide with terror. "Rina! What happened?"
"Nothing, Kota," she whispered, forcing a smile through the pain.
"Just an accident...I'll be okay."
But she wasn't okay. The physical wounds healed, but the scars ran deep. She couldn't protect her family. She couldn't even protect herself.
---Present day...
Rina shook off the memories, focusing on the present. She had become a hardened woman, learning to navigate the underworld with a mixture of cunning and ruthlessness. The weak, scared girl she once was had been replaced by someone who took what she wanted and let nothing stand in her way.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a message from Kazuo. She had been working for him for the past year, her skills and tenacity making her a valuable asset.
"[We have a new target. Ryujin's family. Meet me at the usual place.]"
Rina pocketed her phone, her jaw tightening with determination. She knew this job would be dangerous, but she also knew she couldn't afford to back down. Not now, not ever.
She pushed off the wall and headed towards the meeting spot, the echoes of her past driving her forward into an uncertain future.
---Some time later...
Kazuo's hideout was a nondescript building in the industrial part of town. Inside, it was a different world – a labyrinth of rooms filled with stolen goods, weapons, and shady characters. Rina made her way to Kazuo's office, where he was waiting, a cigar in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other.
"Rina," he said, his voice a gravelly purr. "Glad you could make it. Got some news for you."
She nodded, standing tall despite the oppressive atmosphere. "What's the job?"
Kazuo's eyes gleamed with a mixture of excitement and danger. "We're going after Ryujin's family. His wife, Yukiko, and son, Soya. They're in the crosshairs now."
Rina felt a pang of something – guilt, maybe? – but she quickly buried it. This was the life she had chosen, the life she needed to survive. "What's the plan?"
Kazuo leaned back in his chair, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Simple. Find them, get the information we need, and make sure they know we mean business."
She nodded, understanding the unspoken implication. It was going to get messy.
Just then, the door opened and Kazuo's informer, Kai, walked in. Kazuo greeted him with a nod. "Kai, what've you got for us?"
Kai handed over a folder, his expression serious. "Their address in Kyoto Prefecture. They're laying low, but we have eyes on them."
Kazuo opened the folder, revealing photos and documents. "Good work, Kai. This will make things easier."
Kai continued looking at Rina,
"Ryujin and Kenji, the ones who escaped years ago, are confirmed dead. Kenji was shot in the chest, and Ryujin died by lethal injection in prison after committing two terror attacks in Tokyo. Here are the photos of Kenji's body and Ryujin's tombstone. This is where Ryujin's family lives now."
Kazuo's smirk widened as he looked at the papers. "You know now Rina, you ready for this?"
She took the papers, her expression unreadable. "I'm ready."
As she left Kazuo's office, she couldn't help but think of her own family. Her mother, who had worked herself to the bone to provide for them. Her brother, who had looked up to her with such trust and hope.
She had to be strong. For them. For herself. She had to survive.
And she would. No matter the cost.
---Hours later...
---At Kyoto prefecture, Japan
Yukiko took off her gloves and hairnet, rubbing her tired eyes. She had been working at the fish-scale removing job for months now. It was grueling work, but she had no choice.
Her coworker, Mika, was also taking off her hairnet. "Man these days are just getting weirder," Mika sighed, glancing at Yukiko.
"And my husband, ugh. All he does is drink beer and be drunk all day. It's driving me crazy."
Yukiko managed a weary smile. "He's probably just stressed. Maybe things will get better."
"Hope so," Mika replied, shaking her head. "See you tomorrow, Yukiko."
"See you, Mika."
Yukiko walked away from the factory, her thoughts a jumble of worry and exhaustion. She made her way to the casual fruit vendor she always went to, a small stand run by a kind old woman.
"Hello, dear," the granny greeted with a warm smile. "Rough day?"
"Yes, very rough," Yukiko replied, selecting some Vegetables. "Must be hard doing this at your age."
The granny laughed, a light, airy sound. "Oh, I'm not that old...Keeps me busy and I enjoy it. How's Soya?"
"He's doing well," Yukiko said, handing over the money. "Thank you."
"Take care, Yukiko," the granny said, waving her off.
"Goodbye," Yukiko replied, walking away with her bag of fruit. She sighed as she made her way down the empty street, the day's fatigue weighing heavily on her.
Her phone buzzed, and she smiled when she saw Soya's number on the screen. "Hello?"
"Mom?" It was Soya's voice, serious and somewhat strained.
"Are you hungry?" Yukiko asked playfully, trying to lift his spirits.
"Yes," Soya replied, his tone serious.
Yukiko's smile faded immediately. "I'll be home soon," she said, concern creeping into her voice. "We can talk then."
"Okay."
As Yukiko hung up, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. She quickened her pace, the streetlights casting long shadows as she made her way home.
---Meanwhile...
Soya lay on his bed, eyes closed but far from sleep. His mind raced with thoughts about school, his mom, and the constant feeling of unease that had settled over him lately. He sighed deeply, rolling over to glance at his phone as it buzzed.
He opened the message and saw,
"[Claim this ¥1,000,000 free bundle! By clicking this link!]" But Soya scoffed,
"Yeah, right. Who falls for this crap?" He deleted the message, feeling irritated.
Just as he was about to block the number, another text came in. This one was from an unknown number:
"[When the shadow awakens, it seeks those tied to the fallen. Generations will tremble under its hunt.]"
Soya stared at the screen, feeling a chill run down his spine. The cryptic message made no sense, but something about it felt menacing.
"I'm not a guesser," he muttered to himself, quickly blocking the number.
He put his phone down, trying to shake off the unease. He knew it was just another weird text, probably some prank or another scam. But the words lingered in his mind, making him feel unsettled.
The front door opened, and he heard his mother calling out, "Soya, I'm home!"
Relieved to hear her voice, he sat up and walked out of his room. "Hey, Mom."
Yukiko looked at him, noticing the tension in his eyes. "Everything okay?"
Soya forced a smile. "Yeah, just the studies. It's been a bit much lately."
Yukiko sighed softly, setting down her bag of fruit. "Soya, you shouldn't stress yourself too much. You're still young. You need to take care of yourself."
He nodded, appreciating her concern. "I know, Mom. I'll try to relax more."
"Good," she replied, giving him a reassuring smile. "Now, let's get dinner started. You must be starving."
"Yeah, I am," he replied, feeling a bit better with her around. They moved into the kitchen, trying to find some semblance of normalcy in their daily routine, even as a silent threat loomed over them.
---Some time later..
Soya sat at the kitchen table, texting his friends about the latest school project. His fingers flew across the screen.
Soya: "[Hey, guys, did anyone finish the math homework yet?]"
Friend 1: "[Nope, struggling with it. Mr. Watanabe really outdid himself this time.]"
Friend 2: "[I'm barely halfway. Want to work on it together tomorrow?]"
Soya: "[Yeah, sounds like a plan.]"
Meanwhile, Yukiko was in the kitchen, heating up water for the noodles and stirring a pot filled with soup and vegetables. The comforting aroma filled the air, making the small apartment feel warm and inviting.
A sudden, loud knock on the door echoed through the room, startling both Soya and Yukiko. Yukiko quickly took off her cooking apron and moved to answer the door, a concerned look on her face.
Soya glanced up from his phone, watching as his mother approached the door. He heard the sound of the lock clicking and the door creaking open.
Without warning, dozens of men barged into the apartment. Among them was Rina, her expression cold and determined. One of the men grabbed Yukiko by the hair, yanking her into the living room and throwing her beside Soya.
"Mom!" Soya shouted, immediately kneeling beside Yukiko, checking her for injuries. "Are you okay?"
Yukiko winced, trying to sit up. "I'm... I'm fine, Soya. Just a little shaken."
Rina stepped forward, her gaze locking onto Soya. "We're not here to play games. We're looking for something, and you'll help us find it."
Soya glared at her, his fear slowly turning into anger. "We don't have anything! Leave us alone!"
One of the men chuckled darkly. "Oh, I think you do. And we're not leaving until we get it."
Yukiko, struggling to stand, reached out to Soya. "Please, don't hurt us. We don't know what you're talking about."
Rina leaned down, grabbing Soya by the collar and pulling him to his feet. "You're going to tell us everything you know about Ryujin. And if you don't, things are going to get a lot worse for both of you."
Soya's heart pounded in his chest as he looked at his mother, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He knew he had to protect her, but he had no idea how to get them out of this terrifying predicament.