That night, Renjiro returned home to find an envelope slipped under his door. Inside was a single sheet of paper with one chilling sentence:
"Aiko is next."
Renjiro's heart pounded as he grabbed his phone and called her. She answered on the second ring.
"Renjiro? What's wrong?"
"Are you home? Lock your doors. Don't open them for anyone," he said, his voice urgent.
"What's going on?" she asked, panic creeping into her voice.
"I'll explain later. Just do it. Please."
Renjiro hung up and grabbed his gear. Katsuro had crossed a line, and Renjiro wasn't going to let him get away with it.
As he stepped into the night, his mind was clear. Protecting Aiko wasn't just a mission—it was personal.