Yuki's footsteps echoed against the narrow alleyway as she followed Riku deeper into the city's quieter districts. The adrenaline from the close encounter with Okada's men was still coursing through her, but she tried to push it aside, focusing on Riku's calm stride ahead of her. His composure, even in the tensest situations, left her both in awe and unnerved.
As they reached a secluded spot under a flickering streetlamp, Riku slowed down, signaling for Yuki to stop. The cool night air seemed to sharpen around them, and despite the apparent calm of the city around her, Yuki felt a quiet storm brewing beneath the surface.
Riku pulled out his phone, sending a quick text. Yuki could see his fingers typing with practiced precision—every movement he made was deliberate. Nothing was left to chance.
"What now?" Yuki asked, trying to steady her voice. "Are we safe?"
Riku slid the phone back into his pocket, his eyes still scanning the area around them. "Safe is relative. We're not done yet."
Yuki frowned, glancing back toward the main street. "I thought we got what we needed. I handed over the evidence, and we're out. Isn't that enough?"
Riku turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "That was just the first step. Okada's empire won't crumble from one piece of evidence. He'll have backups, safeguards. And his reach is deeper than you realize."
Yuki's heart sank at his words. She had hoped that delivering the USB would be the end of it, but it was clear that Riku was playing a much larger game than she had anticipated. "So what's the next move?"
Riku crossed his arms, his gaze intense. "We need to destabilize his network. Cut off his allies. I've already set some things in motion, but there's more work to be done."
Yuki swallowed hard. She knew revenge wouldn't be easy, but she hadn't expected it to feel so endless, like she was caught in a web of shadowy tactics and unseen forces. And yet, despite the fear gnawing at her, she couldn't stop now. Not after everything she had been through. She needed this—needed to see Okada fall.
As if sensing her doubt, Riku softened his tone just slightly. "This is what it takes to win. Okada isn't just a small-time criminal. He's connected, powerful. If we're going to bring him down, we have to be thorough. There can't be any loose ends."
Yuki nodded slowly. She understood the stakes, but it was still hard to wrap her mind around the enormity of it all. "I just... I don't know how you can stay so calm through all of this. It's like you're always two steps ahead."
Riku gave her a small, almost imperceptible smile. "I've been doing this for a long time, Yuki. Control is everything. As long as I know the pieces on the board, I can anticipate the moves."
Before Yuki could respond, Riku's phone buzzed again. He glanced at it, his expression tightening ever so slightly. "They're here."
Yuki's stomach dropped. "Who's here?"
Riku pocketed the phone, his voice lowering. "Okada's men. They're closing in."
Yuki felt a wave of panic rise in her chest. "But you said—"
"I know," Riku cut her off, his eyes locking onto hers. "I told you, everything is under control."
Even though he said the words with complete confidence, Yuki could feel the tension in the air around them. She knew Riku was good at what he did, but there was always a part of her that wondered just how much of it he could truly control.
"What do we do?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Riku's gaze flicked to the street, watching for movement. "We wait."
Yuki's heart pounded in her chest. "Wait for what?"
"For them to make their move," Riku said calmly. "And then I'll make mine."
Minutes passed in tense silence, each one stretching longer than the last. Yuki could hear the distant hum of the city, but it felt like the world around them had shrunk to this narrow alley and the flickering streetlamp overhead.
And then, just as Riku had predicted, they appeared.
Two figures emerged from the shadows of the street, their movements cautious but purposeful. Yuki recognized them instantly—they were the same men who had confronted her earlier at the building. They hadn't given up after all. They had followed them.
Riku's posture didn't change, but his eyes were sharp, watching their every move. Yuki could feel the tension in the air, her pulse quickening. How could he be so calm?
The men stopped a few feet away, their expressions hard. The larger of the two stepped forward, his hand resting on something beneath his jacket—probably a weapon. "You think you can just walk away from this?"
Riku didn't answer immediately. He took a slow, deliberate step forward, his presence commanding the space around him. "You're not the first to try."
The man's eyes narrowed. "You're messing with the wrong people, you know that? Okada doesn't take kindly to traitors."
Riku tilted his head slightly, as if considering the man's words. Then, in a voice so calm it was almost chilling, he said, "I've already accounted for you."
Before Yuki could even process what was happening, Riku's phone buzzed again. He glanced at it, a small smile playing on his lips. "It's done."
The two men exchanged confused looks. "What do you mean, 'done'?" the larger one growled, his hand inching toward the concealed weapon.
Riku's eyes flickered with a cold confidence. "Your boss. His accounts are frozen. His partners are severing ties as we speak. By tomorrow morning, Okada will be nothing more than a name on a list of disgraced businessmen."
The men's expressions shifted from anger to disbelief. "What…? That's not possible."
"It is," Riku replied smoothly. "And if you think about making a move against me or her"—he nodded toward Yuki—"you'll be dealing with a lot more than just Okada's downfall."
For the first time since their encounter, the men hesitated. Yuki could see it in their eyes—the realization that they were outmatched. Riku had played them from the beginning, and they hadn't even realized it.
The larger man clenched his jaw, but after a tense moment, he backed down, signaling to his partner. "This isn't over."
Riku didn't respond. He didn't need to. The men turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Yuki and Riku standing alone under the flickering streetlamp.
Yuki let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "How did you…?"
Riku turned to her, his expression unreadable once more. "I told you, Yuki. Everything was under control."
As they walked away from the alley, Yuki's mind raced. Riku had known exactly what would happen. He had predicted every move, every threat, and had countered it all without breaking a sweat. But there was one thing Yuki still couldn't understand.
"How did you know Okada's accounts would be frozen? You didn't touch your phone until just now."
Riku glanced at her, a small, knowing smile on his lips. "Yusei."
"Yusei?" Yuki echoed, confused. "But he's a cop. How could he—"
"Yusei owes me," Riku said simply, his tone leaving no room for further questions.
Yuki stared at him, realization dawning on her. Riku's network wasn't just vast—it was deep, and the favors he collected ran further than she had imagined. Every move he made, every plan he executed, was backed by a web of connections she couldn't begin to comprehend.
As they continued walking into the night, Yuki couldn't help but wonder: just how far did Riku's reach truly go?
End of Chapter 22