The night was darker than usual, the city's lights casting long shadows on the streets as Ryo stepped out of the ramen shop. His coat billowed behind him, the collar turned up to hide his face from the few passersby still walking the streets. He paused for a moment, glancing back at the warm light spilling from Hana's shop window. There, inside, she was still cleaning up, humming softly to herself as she worked. The image of her—so innocent, so unaware—was both comforting and painful. He had to leave before he lost the nerve.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him back to reality. Ryo flipped it open with a practiced motion, his expression hardening as he read the message.
*Job. Midnight. Same location.*
His jaw tightened. Another contract. Another life he was about to take. He could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on him, the familiar gnawing feeling in his gut. This was his life. A life he couldn't escape, no matter how hard he tried.
With one last glance at the ramen shop, Ryo turned and walked into the night, his mind already shifting gears. He couldn't afford distractions. Not tonight.
---
The alley was dark, illuminated only by a flickering streetlamp. Ryo stood under it, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat as he waited. The air was cold, the city sounds muffled as if the world itself was holding its breath. He was alone for now, but that was by design. His targets always arrived late, expecting to feel safe in the stillness of the night. They would never see him coming.
A black car pulled up quietly, and the door opened, revealing a man dressed in an expensive suit. His eyes scanned the area briefly before locking onto Ryo.
"You're late," Ryo said flatly.
The man shrugged, not bothered by the tone in Ryo's voice. "Not all of us have your... punctuality."
Ryo's lips twitched, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Let's get this over with."
The man handed him a small envelope, the weight of it significant. Ryo didn't open it, didn't need to. He knew what was inside: a name, a target, and a price.
"The usual?" the man asked, his voice almost a whisper now.
Ryo nodded. "The usual."
With a silent gesture, the man walked away, his footsteps echoing in the stillness. Ryo waited a moment longer before slipping into the shadows, vanishing into the night as if he were part of it. The job was simple—too simple for someone like him. But simplicity often made it more dangerous. No one was ever truly safe.
---
The target was a businessman, someone with a lot of enemies in the underworld. A few well-placed shots, a clean getaway, and that would be the end of it. Ryo's mind went over the plan as he approached the building where the man would be, his movements smooth and silent.
When he reached the rooftop across from the target's office, he set up his sniper rifle, making sure everything was in place. The city lights glittered in the distance, the sound of traffic a distant hum. Ryo was focused, the cold air sharpening his senses. He could feel the tension in his shoulders, the stillness of the night amplifying every movement.
His finger hovered over the trigger. One shot. One shot to end it all.
But then, just as he was about to pull the trigger, his phone buzzed again. It was an unknown number.
*Are you okay?*
The message was from Hana. He hadn't given her his number, hadn't meant to. How had she gotten it?
For a moment, everything stopped. The weight of the phone in his hand felt like a lead weight, pulling him back from the edge. He stared at the screen, his mind racing. Hana had no idea who he was, what he really did. She was just a girl, trying to make a living in the chaos of the world, and here he was, a monster in the shadows, unable to break free.
He shoved the phone back into his pocket, his hands shaking for the briefest of moments. He could still hear the faint sound of her voice in his mind, asking if he was okay.
The moment passed, and he returned to the job at hand.
The target was gone in a flash, a single, clean shot. Ryo exhaled slowly, his fingers still steady on the rifle.
He packed up his things and left the rooftop, slipping into the shadows once more. His heart was heavy, but he couldn't afford to think about it. Not now. There was no room for weakness in his line of work.
As he made his way back to his apartment, he couldn't shake the thought of Hana's message.
*Are you okay?*
---
The cold night air pressed against his skin as Ryo stood on the balcony of his small apartment, looking out over the city. The job was done, but the unease that had been building for weeks still lingered. He knew he couldn't keep living this double life forever. One day, it would catch up to him.
But until then, he had to keep moving forward. Keep pretending. Keep hiding. There was no place for someone like him in the world Hana had created, a world where kindness and warmth still existed.
But as long as she didn't know the truth, he could still keep his distance. He could still protect her. Even if that meant losing a part of himself in the process.