But once Kai tried to relax for a bit, Akira seemed to have changed her mind.
She remained silent for some instants before she spoke in a very decisive tone of voice.
Akira was resolute. "We need to move tonight, we'll hit like a shadow." she said with her usual firm tone, her eyes fixed on the map spread out on the table. "If we wait too long, we'll miss our opportunity. Sabushi moves quickly, and we can't let him slip away."
Hina and her boyfriend looked at her with a confused look on their face.
She changed idea way too fast.
Kai was trying to keep up with every detail, but he couldn't shake the tight knot in his stomach.
All of this was too much, too fast, and the weight of the mission felt overwhelming.
Before he could respond, though, Hina shook her head, cutting into the conversation.
"That's not a good idea," she said, her voice calm but decisive, leaving no room for argument. "We've already missed too many days at school. And let's not forget Kai's parents. They're already suspicious, and the last thing we need is them asking more questions… or worse, getting involved."
"And they also got informed by Yuki Nakamura by something." Kai added, remembering their conversation.
Akira was silent for a moment, studying Hina closely.
Convincing Akira to change her mind wasn't easy when she had her sights set on a target, but Hina had raised an important point.
She was always the one who wanted to do her tasks as soon as she could.
Any mistake could expose them, and they couldn't afford any more complications.
Kai, at that moment, felt a strange sense of relief.
While the thought of facing Sabushi terrified him, he was equally scared of drawing more attention from his parents.
Everything had to be done carefully, and every single step had to be studied.
"It's still afternoon," Hina said, placing her hands on the table. "We have time to explore other options before we make a rash move."
Just as she was organizing their next steps, Hina's phone buzzed.
With a surprised expression she picked it up, glancing at the new message.
She was clearly not expecting a message from someone.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Who is it?" Kai asked, leaning in curiously.
Hina looked up from the phone, her face unreadable.
"Emi Fujimoto. She's asking me to hang out in town and stop by the cat café. She wants to talk about the festival." She said, with an almost bothered tone of voice.
Kai raised an eyebrow. "She… didn't invite me?"
"No," Hina replied, her tone thoughtful. "Just me. And I think it's better."
The room fell silent.
There was something strange about the message.
An innocent enough invitation, but Hina couldn't shake the odd feeling she had when she first met Emi.
She had been too friendly since the beginning, too comfortable.
Something felt off, and Hina wanted to figure out if Emi was a threat or an ally.
Maybe she really was a good girl with no bad intentions.
Hina had to figure it out.
Kai, however, stepped forward, concerned. "I don't think it's a good idea. If there are gangs around, Emi could become a target, especially if she gets too close to you or us. I don't want her getting involved since she could be kidnapped, or worse…"
Hina looked at him for a moment, considering his words.
But then, she shook her head. "No, Kai. I must see her. If there's something wrong with her, I need to find out. Emi could be dangerous, or she could be useful. I have to figure it out myself. I didn't have a good feeling when I saw her for the first time."
Kai bit his lip, wrestling with his anxiety.
"What? Really? What did you think about her?" Kai asked.
"She was being too friendly. With me. Nobody has ever done that. More than that, I had the feeling that I had already seen her… and if something happens, she'll be with me." Hina said with a resolute tone of voice.
The idea of Hina being alone with Emi didn't sit well with him, but he knew Hina well enough to know she wouldn't be stopped easily.
"Akira and I will stay here," he said finally, with a tone of reluctant acceptance. "But be careful."
Hina nodded, and as she prepared to leave, she cast one last glance at Kai and Akira, like she was saying "Don't do anything harsh."
But inside her eyes, there was was no jealousy, no doubt.
Just trust.
She wanted to protect both Kai and Akira.
Leaving her boyfriend alone with Akira, knowing their history, was a sign to the faith Hina had in both of them.
Or maybe, it was just a test of loyalty, who knows.
The fact that Hina left Kai alone with another woman was a REALLY big sign of trust.
With a final glance at them, Hina opened the door and walked out, leaving them alone.
"I'll be back soon." That's the only thing she said.
The air in the room seemed to lighten immediately, but the tension of what was to come still lingered, thick and palpable.
Akira watched him for a moment before speaking. "You have a good girl, Kai. Her trust in you is something you shouldn't take for granted."
Kai nodded, but his eyes were fixed on the door, wondering what would happen at that café and, more importantly, who Emi Fujimoto really was.
And more than that, he realized one important thing.
Hina was the true protagonist of all the story they weee living.
But he also promised himself that one day , he would've been the one who would save her.