Ryo parked the car with a screech, as if he was on his way to meet death. His reckless driving mirrored the storm of emotions he held inside. Emi had asked him to take the bodyguards, but he refused. This was something he had to do alone.
Now, he stood in front of the ramen shop, the one that was supposed to be bustling even at night. But instead, the neon sign was off, and the doors were closed. His eyes narrowed. Something was wrong. Without wasting another moment, Ryo pushed the door open and stepped inside. His heart sank as he saw the state of the shop. Furniture was broken, shelves were overturned, and glass shards littered the floor. It was a mess, as if a hurricane had torn through the place.
Ryo didn't linger. His instincts pulled him toward the back, where Hana and Kaede lived in a small house attached to the shop. As he got closer, the sound of a woman's voice shouting filled the air. Without thinking, he kicked the door open.
