The days following Hiroshi's death were a blur for Aika. The coffee shop, once her sanctuary, now felt like a stage where every customer could be a potential threat. She found herself scanning the room constantly, her eyes darting to the door every time the bell chimed. The regulars noticed her unease, but no one dared to ask questions—not even Mr. Tanaka, who had taken to giving her worried glances from behind the counter.
Yumi, however, was relentless. She had thrown herself into investigating Ryohta, determined to uncover the truth before it was too late. Her apartment had become a makeshift command center, with maps of Tokyo, printouts of Ryohta's social media activity, and notes scribbled on sticky notes covering every surface.
"Aika," Yumi said one evening, her voice low but urgent. "I found something. Ryohta's not just some random stalker. He's been planning this for a long time."
Aika sat down across from her, her hands trembling as she picked up one of the printouts. It was a screenshot of a forum post, dated months ago. The username was different, but the writing style was unmistakably Ryohta's. He had been asking for advice on how to "win over" someone who didn't know he existed.
"He's been watching you for months," Yumi continued. "He knows your schedule, your favorite places, even your friends. And now that Hiroshi's gone... he's not going to stop."
Aika felt a chill run down her spine. "What do we do?"
Yumi leaned forward, her eyes blazing with determination. "We fight back. But we need to be smart about it. Ryohta's dangerous, and he's always one step ahead. We need to find a way to trap him."
The two women spent the rest of the evening devising a plan. Yumi suggested setting up a fake social media account to lure Ryohta into revealing himself, while Aika would act as bait, going about her daily routine as if nothing was wrong. It was a risky move, but they had no other choice.
The next day, Aika returned to work, her nerves on edge. She tried to focus on her tasks, but every time the door opened, her heart skipped a beat. Midway through her shift, a new customer walked in—a man in his late twenties, with a quiet demeanor and a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. He ordered a black coffee and sat in the corner, his gaze fixed on Aika.
She tried to ignore him, but the weight of his stare was unbearable. When she finally mustered the courage to look in his direction, he was gone, leaving behind an empty cup and a folded napkin on the table.
Aika hesitated before picking up the napkin. Written in neat, precise handwriting was a single sentence: "You're even more beautiful up close."
Her hands shook as she crumpled the napkin and threw it away. Ryohta was here, in the shop, watching her. And he wasn't going to stop.
That night, Aika and Yumi met again, their fear mingling with a growing sense of urgency. Yumi had managed to trace Ryohta's online activity to a specific location—a rundown apartment building on the outskirts of Tokyo. It was a long shot, but it was their only lead.
"We need to move fast," Yumi said. "If he's already this close, it's only a matter of time before he makes his next move."
Aika nodded, her resolve hardening. She was tired of being afraid, tired of living in the shadow of someone else's obsession. It was time to take control.