The night after the encounter with the strange man was unsettling, the air still thick with tension as Osborn, Mari, and Aya made their way toward the address they had been given. The eerie warning from the masked figure had stuck with Osborn, gnawing at his mind. The deeper they delved into this investigation, the more dangerous it seemed. His instincts told him to be cautious, but he couldn't stop now—not when they were so close to finding something that could explain all the disappearances.
They made their way to a quieter part of Kyoto, the streets growing dimmer, the hum of the city fading as they ventured deeper into the unknown. As they walked, Osborn turned to Aya, his expression serious.
"Aya," he said in a low voice, "this is getting dangerous. I don't want you getting caught up in this. Go home. Leave the rest to us."
Aya hesitated for a moment, but she knew the look in his eyes. She nodded solemnly, her face shadowed by worry but understanding his reasoning. "わかりました,オズボーンさん.気をつけてください."
("Understood, Mr. Osborn. Please be careful.")
Mari looked between them, sensing the weight of the conversation. Aya gave her a quick nod before she turned and walked off without another word, her steps quick and deliberate.
"ありがとう."
("Thank you," Aya whispered as she hurriedly left, not looking back.)
Osborn watched her go, a pang of guilt settling in his chest. He didn't like the thought of leaving her behind, but it was for the best. The investigation was becoming too dangerous for anyone not directly involved.
With Aya out of the picture, Osborn and Mari continued their journey. As they arrived at the location given to them, it was clear that they were getting closer to something, but they couldn't quite grasp it. The building was an old warehouse with an eerie, abandoned feel to it. There was no sign of life, no lights or movement. The door was slightly ajar, but as Osborn pushed it open, they were met with nothing but darkness inside.
They stepped inside, the cold, stale air greeting them, and found themselves in a small, cramped room, its walls lined with rusted machinery and forgotten relics. After searching around, it quickly became apparent that no one here was willing to talk. The few people lingering nearby seemed either disinterested or too afraid to say anything, their eyes flicking nervously between Osborn and the ground.
Then, as if summoned by the silence, a man emerged from the shadows at the back of the room. His face was rough, his eyes narrow with suspicion. He didn't greet them, nor did he offer any pleasantries. Instead, he simply glared at Osborn, his body language tense and hostile.
"What do you want?" The man's voice was low and gruff, tinged with an unmistakable threat.
Mari took a step back, instinctively trying to distance herself from the aggressive figure. Osborn, unfazed, stepped forward. "We're investigating a missing person. We were told you might know something."
The man's eyes narrowed further, his expression hardening. "そんなことには関わらないほうがいい."
("You should stay out of things like this.")
Mari translated, her voice steady but strained. "He says... we shouldn't get involved in this."
Osborn pressed on, not willing to back down. "I'm not asking for your opinion. I'm asking for information. We're investigating a series of kidnappings. Orion... do you know anything about that?"
The man's lips curled into a sneer, his hostility palpable. "お前たちが探しているものはここにはない."
("What you're looking for isn't here.")
Mari translated, her voice now barely above a whisper. "He says... what you're looking for... isn't here."
Osborn could feel the situation escalating. He wasn't going to get any answers from this man. The cold reception they had received, the hostility, everything about this place screamed that they were unwelcome.
He took a step back, realizing they had hit a dead end. "Alright. I'm done here," he said, his voice calm but firm. He turned to Mari. "Let's go."
Without another word, they exited the building and headed back toward the lodge they had rented for the night. The quiet streets of Kyoto felt even quieter now, the soft rustling of leaves in the wind the only sound accompanying them.
Their lodgings for the night were at a traditional ryokan, a Japanese inn that exuded calm and tranquility. The ryokan was tucked away in a quiet part of the city, far from the hustle and bustle of central Kyoto. The building itself was a blend of old and new, its wooden beams and sliding shoji doors giving it a timeless, almost sacred feel.
The inn's lobby smelled of tatami mats and incense, the air warm and inviting after the chill of the evening. Soft lanterns cast a gentle glow in the space, and the staff greeted them with polite smiles. Their room was simple but elegant, with tatami flooring, low wooden tables, and sliding doors that opened to a small, private garden.
Osborn let out a long breath, feeling the weight of the day settle into his bones as he sank into one of the cushions. His mind raced, but the quiet of the ryokan offered a momentary respite. He glanced at Mari, who was sitting across from him, her face pale from the tension they had just faced.
"Do you think we're getting closer?" Mari asked quietly, her voice laced with uncertainty.
Osborn stared out at the garden, the sound of a distant water fountain providing the only interruption to the silence. "I don't know... but I'll keep pushing. We're not stopping until we find something."
He turned to face Mari, his eyes sharp and determined. "We can't afford to back down now."
As they sat in the calm of the ryokan, the night stretched on, but Osborn couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The investigation, the strange masked man, and the dangerous path they had set themselves on—it was all starting to feel like something far darker than either of them had anticipated.
And yet, Osborn was not one to turn back. He would continue his pursuit, no matter what it took.