As Sakura, Ryato, and Kaito burst through the door of her apartment, a wave of relief washed over them. The chaos of the warehouse felt like a distant nightmare, replaced by the familiar comforts of home. The dim light cast shadows across the room, but the air was heavy with the promise of safety.
"Are you sure it's safe here?" Ryato asked, glancing around nervously.
Sakura nodded, though her heart raced. "For now. We just need to lay low."
Kaito moved to the window, peering out into the night. "We can't stay here long. They'll come looking for us."
Meanwhile, across town, Natsumi sat in her hospital room, the sterile scent of antiseptic still lingering. She had just been discharged, her mind racing with thoughts of vengeance. Akira's men were out there, and she needed to find Sakura and her friends before they disappeared for good. She reached for her phone, dialing Akira's number.
"Have you found them yet?" she snapped when he answered.
"Not yet, but we're closing in. We'll find them," Akira replied, his voice calm yet laced with frustration. "Where are you?"
"I'm out. I'll head to the usual spots. They won't get far." Natsumi hung up, determination fueling her steps as she made her way out of the hospital.
Back at Sakura's apartment, the trio settled into a tense silence. Kaito broke the quiet. "What's our plan? We can't just wait around for them to find us."
Sakura thought for a moment, her mind racing. "We need to contact someone who can help us. Maybe we can get in touch with the old contacts from the underground. They'll have information."
Ryato frowned. "And risk exposing ourselves even more? We're already in enough trouble."
Sakura clenched her fists. "We don't have a choice. If we just sit here, we'll be trapped. We need allies."
Kaito nodded reluctantly. "Okay. But let's be smart about it. We should use a burner phone. We can't risk them tracking us."
As they prepared to make their next move, Natsumi's car screeched to a halt outside the apartment building. She scanned the area, her instincts heightened. With a steely resolve, she exited the vehicle and made her way inside, intent on finding Sakura before she slipped through her fingers again.
Back in the apartment, Sakura's phone buzzed unexpectedly. Startled, she quickly silenced it, glancing at Ryato and Kaito. "What if it's a trap?"
"Check it," Kaito urged, his voice low.
Sakura hesitated but then reached for the device. The screen lit up with a message: "I know where you are."
Panic surged through her. "We need to move. Now!"
Before they could react, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway. They exchanged worried glances, knowing they might already be too late.
"Hide!" Ryato hissed, darting into the bedroom.
Kaito grabbed Sakura's arm, pulling her toward the kitchen. They crouched behind the counter, breath held tight in their throats. The footsteps drew closer, the tension palpable.
Natsumi entered the apartment, a predatory glint in her eyes. She scanned the room, the silence almost deafening. "Sakura! I know you're here!" she called out, her voice echoing off the walls.
Sakura's heart raced, and she exchanged a glance with Kaito. They had to think fast.
Suddenly, Natsumi spotted the slight movement of a curtain, and her gaze sharpened. "I will find you," she said, a dark promise lacing her tone.
With no time to lose, Sakura gestured to Kaito and Ryato to escape through the back. They slipped out just as Natsumi lunged forward, crashing into the kitchen, but they were already gone, darting into the shadows of the alley behind the building.
"Split up!" Kaito urged, breathing heavily. "We'll meet at the old café."
As they fled into the night, Sakura could feel the weight of their choices pressing down on her. They were no longer just running from Akira; they were now evading a force more personal, a vengeance that would stop at nothing to reclaim what was lost.
In the darkness, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.