The quiet hum of the refrigerator seemed to echo in the small apartment as I stared at the phone, Aiko’s name lighting up the screen.

I hadn’t spoken to her properly in weeks, ever since the academy.

Guilt churned in my stomach as I hesitated before answering.

She deserved better—more than the excuses and vague answers I’d been giving her.

Taking a deep breath, I answered.

"Aiko"

I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Hey."

"Keisuke"

She replied, her voice holding a mix of relief and frustration.

"It's been too long. I’ve been worried. You’ve barely spoken to me in weeks. What’s going on?"

I winced. There it was—the question I had been avoiding.

Aiko wasn’t the type to beat around the bush.

She knew something was off.

"I know"

I said, rubbing the back of my neck.

"I’ve been busy... with work. I just finished at the academy, and I’ve got my first assignment."

There was a pause on the other end.

I could feel her trying to hold back her frustration.

"That’s great, Keisuke. But that doesn’t explain why you’ve been avoiding me. Why we haven’t seen each other. Last time, you begun the training. Now the work. I have been horrible with you but this doesn't mean you can avoid me like this."

My grip tightened on the phone.

I have been horrible.

She had all the reasons to hate me.

I hated that I was doing this to her—keeping her in the dark.

But it was for her safety, or at least that’s what I kept telling myself.

"It’s complicated"

I said, my voice quieter now.

"All of this... Is dangerous."

"Dangerous?"

Her tone shifted, becoming more suspicious.

"What do you mean dangerous? You’re a cop now, Keisuke. I know it’s not going to be easy, but this... this doesn’t sound right. What are you hiding from me?"

I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of her words.

She was right.

I couldn’t keep lying to her, not anymore.

"It was before all."

I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.

There was a long silence.

I could hear her breathing, processing what I’d just said.

"What do you mean?"

She replied, her voice tinged with sadness and confusion.

I swallowed hard, the memories flooding back.

I told her about the Shima-Kai and the debt.

I told her about Nagasuki Mitsuo.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

I told her about Kento.

"I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to put you at risk. I thought it would be easier if you didn’t know."

Her breath caught.

When she spoke again, her voice was softer, filled with understanding.

"Keisuke... why didn’t you tell me? You don’t have to do this alone."

"I thought I could handle it"

I admitted.

"But you’re right. I should’ve told you."

"I’m not angry"

She said, her voice filled with concern.

"I just want you to be safe. You told me how much Kento meant to you. But shutting me out isn’t the answer. Even if in the last years we didn't talk to each other, you are still my brother. Remember? We’ve always faced things together."

"I know"

I sobbed.

I couldn't keep the tears and I started to cry.

"I'm a real asshole. I’m sorry Aiko. You deserve someone better than me."

There was another pause, then her voice came through, steady.

"No. I wouldn't no one apart of you. Just... don’t push me away again, okay? I’m here for you, Keisuke."

"Thanks, Aiko"

I said, a small smile tugging at my lips as i wiped off the tears.

"I’ll keep you updated. I promise."

"Good"

She replied softly.

"Just be careful. And... Catch that bastard."

I smiled.

The call ended, and I stood there for a moment, feeling the weight on my shoulders lighten just a bit.

Aiko understood now, but it didn’t make the road ahead any easier.

I had a job to do—a dangerous one.

And there was no turning back.

The next morning, the sky was still dark as I got ready, the chill of the early hours seeping into my apartment.

I hadn’t slept much, the adrenaline from the day before still pulsing in my veins.

When I stepped outside, Hana was already waiting for me in the car.

She leaned against the door, her eyes sharp as she watched me approach.

"Ready?"

She asked, her voice steady and focused.

"Yeah"

I said, sliding into the passenger seat.

We didn’t waste time on small talk.

The tension in the air was thick with the knowledge that today might bring us closer to Nagasuki.

We had leads to follow, threads to pull, and no time to waste.

As we drove through the city, the familiar pulse of determination settled into me.

Hana was silent for most of the drive, her eyes focused on the road, but I could sense the same urgency in her.

“Any word from Sasaki?”

She asked after a while, breaking the silence.

“He’s got a couple of new leads, but nothing concrete yet”

I replied.

“We’re still in the dark about Nagasuki’s exact whereabouts, but we’re getting closer.”

“We need more than just leads”

Hana muttered.

“We need a breakthrough. Nagasuki’s been quiet for too long, and it’s making me uneasy.”

I nodded, feeling the same pressure.

We couldn’t afford to take any missteps now.

If Nagasuki was planning something, we had to be ahead of him.

We pulled up to a dingy bar on the centre of Kyoto, a place where whispers of criminal activity hung in the air like smoke.

Our target was an ex Shima-Kai member who had ties to Nagasuki, someone who might be able to give us the information we needed.

He has never participated in criminal actions except to be part of the gang itself.

However, he never wanted to live that life and was fined and sent away.

“Let’s see if this guy knows anything”

I said as we stepped out of the car, my hand instinctively going to the badge tucked under my jacket.

Hana nodded, and we made our way inside.

The bar was dimly lit, the stench of stale alcohol and cigarette smoke clinging to the walls.

We spotted our guy at the back, hunched over a drink, his eyes darting nervously around the room.

As we approached, he stiffened, recognizing us instantly.

Before he could bolt, Hana flashed her badge.

“Sit down"

She ordered.

“We just want to talk.”

I was surprised at first.

Seeing her like that excited me.

At least a little.

The man hesitated but slowly sank back into his seat, his eyes flicking between us like a trapped animal.

“We know you talked to Nagasuki lately.”

I said, keeping my voice low but firm.

“And we know you’ve been in contact with some of his men recently. If you tell us where he is, we might be able to cut you a deal.”

The man’s eyes widened in fear, but he shook his head.

“I don’t know anything. I swear. Nagasuki’s people—they don’t talk to me anymore.”

Hana leaned in, her voice cold and dangerous.

“We know you’ve got connections. Don’t play dumb. If you keep lying, things are going to get ugly.”

He swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly.

After a long pause, he finally broke.

“Alright, alright. There’s a warehouse on the east side. I heard some of his guys are holed up there. They’re planning something, but I don’t know what.”

“That’s all we need"

Hana said, standing up.

We left the bar quickly, the tension between us thick as we drove toward the warehouse.

This could be it—the lead we needed to finally get a step ahead of Nagasuki.

The warehouse was tucked away in an industrial district, hidden among rows of abandoned buildings.

Hana and I approached cautiously, scanning the area for any signs of Nagasuki’s men.

As we slipped inside, the dim light revealed stacks of crates and scattered papers.

It was empty.

"That bastard told us a bunch of shit."

I said while kicking some papers on the ground.

"Look at this."

Hana pulled up a blueprint of the Kyoto Detention House.

I moved closer, my eyes narrowing as I took in the details.

Hana’s eyes widened in realization.

“They’re planning a breakout.”

My heart pounded as I scanned the blueprints.

There was no mistaking it.

The circled area on the map was sector 6-B of the prison.

Organized criminality.

Nagasuki was planning to free the members of the Shima-Kai.

“This is it”

I muttered, adrenaline surging through me.

“This is what Nagasuki’s been planning. He’s going to break them out.”

Hana grabbed her phone, already dialing Sasaki.

“We need backup. Now.”

As she relayed the information, I stared at the blueprints, the enormity of what we had just uncovered sinking in.

Nagasuki wasn’t just hiding.

He was preparing to reignite the Shima-Kai.

“We need to move fast”

I said, my voice tense.

“If Nagasuki pulls this off, we’re looking at a full-scale war on the streets.”

Hana nodded, her expression grim.

“We’re not letting that happen.”