The sound of my sneakers hitting the pavement echoed softly in the morning quiet.

The sun was hiding behind a bunch of clouds, and in the air the scent of rain was starting to spread.

The streets were mostly empty—just a few joggers like me, early risers on their way to work, and delivery trucks making their rounds.

I didn't go running for the last two days and my flabby body was already feeling bad.

Luckily with each step, the tension in my muscles began to loosen, the tight knot in my chest started to unravel.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was running toward something, rather than away from it.

The fresh air, cool against my skin, cleared my mind.

I had spent the whole early morning cleaning, organizing my apartment like a man possessed.

It was still a far cry from being livable, but at least now I could see the floor, and the overwhelming stench of stale food was starting to fade.

Aiko’s message from last night replayed in my mind as I ran.

I still couldn’t wrap my head around it.

She had a baby.

My sister, who had always been so fiercely independent, now had someone completely dependent on her.

It made me feel even more like I had missed out on so much—on her life, on everything that mattered.

“Focus, Keisuke”

I muttered under my breath, picking up the pace as I turned the corner onto a quieter street.

Despite the mess in my head, the simple act of running grounded me

My body fell into a rhythm, each stride pushing me forward, every breath a steady intake of life.

The city around me started to come alive—shop owners rolling up metal shutters, cafes putting out chairs, people walking their dogs.

It was just an ordinary morning for most, but for me, it felt like the beginning of something new.

As I rounded the next corner, I found myself at the entrance to a small park I never visited, even if it is so close to my house.

It was a quiet place tucked away from the hustle and noise of the city.

I slowed down, breathing heavily as I walked over to a bench under a large oak tree. The leaves rustled gently in the breeze, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

I sat down, wiping the sweat from my brow, and closed my eyes for a moment.

The sound of birds chirping above me filled the air, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to relax.

The memories came unbidden, as they always did when I wasn’t busy enough to keep them at bay.

Aiko and I had go in a park exactly like this, back when everything was simple.

We’d sit under a large tree, talking about our dreams, making plans for the future.

I could almost hear her laughter, see the way her eyes sparkled with determination.

I opened my eyes and sighed.

Life hadn’t turned out the way either of us expected.

She was a mother now, and I... well, I was still trying to figure out who I was.

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As I sat there, lost in thought, a group of kids ran by, their laughter piercing through the quiet.

They were playing some sort of game, their shouts of excitement and giggles filling the air.

One of them tripped and fell, but he quickly got back up, brushing the dirt off his knees before joining the others without missing a beat.

It made me smile.

Kids were resilient like that.

They didn’t stay down for long.

I watched them for a while, feeling a strange sense of peace settle over me.

Maybe I hadn’t completely figured out my life yet, but I was still here.

Still standing.

Still moving forward.

That had to count for something.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket, breaking the spell.

I fished it out, hoping it was another message from Aiko, but instead, it was Sasaki.

“Keisuke, we need to meet. Something’s come up.”

The peaceful feeling vanished in an instant. My pulse quickened, and the knot in my chest returned.

I stared at the message, dread pooling in my stomach.

What now? I thought everything had been settled after the warehouse.

The Shima-Kai members were arrested, the police raid had gone off without a hitch—what could possibly have gone wrong?

I typed a quick reply, my fingers moving a little too fast on the screen.

“What’s going on?”

A few seconds later, Sasaki responded.

“It’s complicated. Let's meet here.”

He sent me a location.

I stared at the message, feeling a wave of unease wash over me.

Sasaki wasn’t the type to mince words, and if he said it was complicated, it was complicated.

I glanced around the park, the peaceful scene suddenly feeling out of place.

I had hoped that today would be the start of something normal, but it looked like the world wasn’t done with me yet.

With a heavy sigh, I pushed myself up from the bench and started jogging back toward my apartment.

There was no use in delaying whatever this was.

I needed answers.

The place was a dingy little ramen shop tucked away in one of the city’s quieter alleys.

It didn’t look like much from the outside—just a worn-out sign above the door and a few plastic stools scattered around—but the food was good, and it was a place where people like Sasaki and I could talk without prying eyes.

When I walked in, the familiar smell of broth and garlic hit me, making my stomach growl.

I hadn’t eaten since last night, and the sight of the steaming bowls being served to other customers made me realize just how hungry I was.

Sasaki was already there, sitting at one of the small tables in the back.

His face was serious, and he barely acknowledged me as I slid into the seat across from him.

A cup of tea sat untouched in front of him, and his fingers drummed lightly on the table—a telltale sign that something was weighing on his mind.

I didn’t bother with pleasantries.

“What’s going on, Detective?”

He looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly as if calculating how much to tell me.

After a moment, he leaned forward, lowering his voice.

“There’s been a complication with the Shima-Kai arrests”

He said quietly.

“Most of the members are in custody, but there’s one... loose end.”

My stomach twisted.

“Loose end? What do you mean?”

Sasaki took a deep breath, his fingers still drumming against the table.

“You remember the name Mitsuo Nagasuki?”

The name sent a chill down my spine.

Mitsuo was one of the higher-ups in the Shima-Kai, a man known for his ruthlessness.

I had seen him at the warehouse that night, just before the raid, but I hadn’t given him much thought since then.

He was supposed to have been arrested like the rest of them.

“Yeah, I remember”

I said slowly.

“What about him?”

Sasaki’s eyes darkened.

“He’s not in custody. He slipped through the cracks during the raid, and now... he’s out there. And he knows you were involved.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Mitsuo was still out there.

And he knew.

He knew I had betrayed the Shima-Kai.

I felt the color drain from my face.

“So what are we going to do about it?”

Sasaki leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

“We--I need to find him before he finds you.”

The rest of the conversation blurred together as Sasaki laid out the plan. He was going to track Mitsuo down, and I was going to have to keep a low profile until we did.

It wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear, but at this point, I didn’t have a choice.

By the time I left the ramen shop, the was completely hidden by the clouds and small raindrops start falling.

The streets were bustling with people going about their day.

But for me, it felt like the world had shifted again, and I was back on unstable ground.

I started walking, unsure of where I was headed.

My thoughts were a jumbled mess, a mix of fear and frustration.

I had thought things were finally turning around, that I could start living a normal life again, but it seemed like the universe had other plans.

As I passed by a small playground, I heard the familiar sound of children laughing.

I paused for a moment, watching as they ran around, chasing each other in circles.

They didn’t have a care in the world.

For a brief second, I envied them.

But then I shook my head, clearing the thoughts away.

There was no use dwelling on what could have been.

I had a problem to deal with, and right now, that was all that mattered.

With a determined sigh, I pulled out my phone and sent a message to Aiko.

“I'm sorry but these days I’m quite busy, can we do next week?”

I wasn't happy about it. I couldn’t control everything in my life, but I could control this—rebuilding the relationship with my sister.

And now, in this moment, i can't put her in danger.

As I waited for her reply, I took a deep breath and started walking again, my mind already racing with thoughts of what the next day would bring.