Back at school, Aiko couldn't focus. Renjiro's increasingly erratic behavior was eating away at her. He often disappeared without explanation, and when he was around, he looked exhausted and distracted.
Determined to uncover the truth, she decided to follow him after class. Her heart raced as she trailed him through the city, careful to stay out of sight. When he entered a nondescript building, she hesitated before sneaking in after him.
Inside, she found herself in a high-tech facility filled with monitors, weapons, and agents. Her eyes widened as she spotted Renjiro talking to a stern-looking man in a suit.
"You can't keep living like this," Kaito said. "She'll figure it out eventually."
"I know," Renjiro replied. "But I can't drag her into this world. It's too dangerous."
Aiko's heart sank as she realized the truth: Renjiro wasn't just hiding secrets—he was living a double life.
Before she could process what she'd heard, alarms blared, and the facility went into lockdown. Aiko froze as armed agents rushed past her, shouting orders. She ducked behind a pillar, her mind racing.
"Who's there?" a voice demanded, and Aiko turned to see Renjiro staring at her, his eyes wide with shock.
"Aiko?"