Renjiro pulled Aiko into an empty corridor of the facility, panic flashing in his usually calm eyes.
"You shouldn't be here," he whispered harshly, glancing over his shoulder to ensure no one else had noticed her presence.
"I… I followed you," Aiko stammered, trying to make sense of the situation. "Renjiro, what is this place? Who are you?"
Renjiro sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. He'd dreaded this moment, but there was no turning back now. "It's not safe for you to be here. You need to leave."
"No!" Aiko's voice was firm. "Not until you tell me the truth."
Before Renjiro could answer, Kaito appeared, flanked by two agents. "Who is this?" Kaito demanded.
Renjiro hesitated. "She's… someone I trust. Please, let me handle this."
Kaito's eyes narrowed, but he nodded reluctantly. "Five minutes, Renjiro. Then she's escorted out. And if she talks…"
"I'll make sure she doesn't," Renjiro promised.
As Kaito left, Aiko crossed her arms. "Start talking."
Renjiro hesitated before finally admitting, "I'm a spy. Everything you've suspected is true, but I kept it from you to protect you."
Aiko's expression was a mix of disbelief and anger. "And you thought lying to me was the best way to protect me?"
Before he could respond, the facility shook violently. "We're under attack!" an agent shouted.
"Stay close to me," Renjiro ordered, grabbing Aiko's hand as they ran toward safety.