Aika's life had settled into a comfortable rhythm. The café was thriving, and she had found a sense of peace she hadn't thought possible. But that peace was shattered one morning when she arrived at Hikari to find a letter waiting for her. It was tucked under the door, the envelope plain and unmarked. Her heart sank as she picked it up, her hands trembling.
She opened the letter carefully, her breath catching as she recognized the handwriting. It was Ryohta's.
"Dear Aika,
I know you probably never wanted to hear from me again, but I couldn't help myself. You've been on my mind every day since the trial. I think about the café you've built, the life you've created. It's beautiful, just like you.
But do you ever think about me? Do you ever wonder what might have been if you had just given me a chance? I know you're strong, Aika. Stronger than anyone I've ever known. But even the strongest people have weaknesses. And I know yours.
I'll be watching, Aika. Always."
The letter fell from her hands, landing on the floor with a soft thud. Aika's mind raced as she tried to process what she had just read. How had he gotten this to her? He was in prison, wasn't he? The thought sent a chill down her spine.
She called Yumi, her voice shaking as she explained what had happened. Yumi arrived within minutes, her face pale as she read the letter. "This is serious, Aika. We need to call the police."
Inspector Nakamura arrived shortly after, his expression grim as he examined the letter. "We'll investigate how this got to you," he said, his voice firm. "But for now, you need to be careful. Ryohta may be behind bars, but he still has connections. We can't take any chances."
Aika nodded, though her mind was a whirlwind of fear and confusion. She had thought she was safe, that the worst was behind her. But now, the shadows of the past were creeping back in, threatening to undo everything she had worked so hard to build.
That evening, as she closed up the café, Aika couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. She scanned the street outside, her eyes darting to every shadow, every passing stranger. But there was no one there. Just the empty street and the faint glow of the city lights.
As she locked the door and turned to leave, her phone buzzed. It was a message from an unknown number: "You can't hide from me, Aika. I'll always be here."