I woke up to the sharp sound of someone pounding on my front door, each thud reverberating through my skull like a hammer to the temple.

My eyes snapped open, the dreamless haze of sleep fading quickly as reality came crashing back in.

“Keisuke! Open up!”

The voice was unmistakable. Shiro Takawa, my landlord. And he didn’t sound happy.

Groaning, I pushed myself up from the couch, my muscles stiff and aching.

For a moment, I debated ignoring him, pretending I wasn’t home, but the banging continued relentlessly.

I forced myself to my feet, the cane propped against the wall nearby, though I didn’t need it.

Not for walking, at least.

The hospital had been clear that I was physically ready for normal life again.

But mentally? That was a different story.

I shuffled to the door, every step filled with an inexplicable sense of dread.

Finally, I turned the lock and pulled it open, revealing Shiro standing there, his face twisted with irritation.

"Keisuke"

He snapped, barely giving me a chance to speak.

"Do you know how long it’s been since you paid your rent?"

I blinked, trying to pull my thoughts together.

Rent.

Of course.

I hadn’t thought about rent in... Months?

“I—I’ve been in the hospital”

I stammered.

“I just got out.”

Shiro crossed his arms, glaring at me like I was some kind of delinquent teenager.

“I know about your accident, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re three months behind. This isn’t a charity, Mori.”

I opened my mouth to say something—an excuse, an apology—but nothing came out.

The truth was, I didn’t have an answer.

I hadn’t paid attention to anything since the accident.

To be honest, not even before.

It felt like life had been happening to someone else, and now I was being dragged back into it, kicking and screaming.

Shiro sighed heavily, running a hand through his graying hair.

“Look, I get that you’ve been through a lot. But I’ve got bills too. I can’t keep letting this slide.”

“Okay”

I said, my voice hoarse.

“I’ll get you the money soon.”

His eyes narrowed.

“You’ve got forty-eight hours, Mori. If I don’t have the full amount by then, you’re out. Got it?”

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

I nodded numbly, the weight of his words sinking in.

Forty-eight hours.

That wasn’t enough time to pull myself together, let alone scrape together the rent. But there was no use arguing. Shiro wasn’t the kind of man who gave second chances.

“Fine”

I muttered, already closing the door as he turned to leave.

As soon as the door clicked shut, I leaned back against it, my heart racing.

Forty-eight hours to pack up my things, or figure out where the hell I was going to find that much money. I didn’t even have enough to cover a week’s worth of groceries, let alone rent.

I was still standing there, my mind whirling, when a second knock sounded at the door. This one softer, more measured.

My pulse quickened.

Something told me this wasn’t Shiro coming back to negotiate.

I opened the door cautiously this time, revealing a tall figure dressed in a neatly pressed suit.

His dark hair was slicked back, his sharp eyes studying me with a mixture of curiosity and intensity.

It was really him, Detective Taichi Sasaki.

"Keisuke Mori? it's been a while. You seem to have recovered."

He said, glancing occasionally at my messy apartment.

I nodded, a chill running down my spine.

I hadn’t seen him since the investigation into the accident, when he had questioned me about the strange circumstances.

Something about this man always felt off—like he could see through every word, every lie.

“May I come in?”

Sasaki asked, his tone polite but firm.

I hesitated, then stepped aside, letting him enter.

The detective walked in, taking in the cramped, messy apartment with a critical eye.

“What can I do for you, Detective?”

I asked, trying to sound casual, though my heart was racing again.

His presence felt like a shadow creeping into the corners of my life.

Sasaki didn’t respond right away.

Instead, he moved toward the small kitchen table, where a few unpaid bills were scattered haphazardly.

He picked one up, glanced at it, then set it back down without a word.

“I came to ask you a few questions.”

He said finally, his voice calm and steady.

“About what happened with your neighbors and... some "financial issues".”

I stiffened. Neighbors? Financial problems?

It seems that the old couple next door reported me after i shouted at them about something i don't even remember.

Sasaki turned to face me, his hands tucked neatly into his pockets.

“It’s come to our attention that some of your neighbors have raised concerns. Noise complaints, odd behavior. They say you’ve been... disrespectful and violent, while speaking to them.”

I stared at him, my mind struggling to catch up.

“I’ve been recovering”

I said carefully.

“From the accident.”

Sasaki nodded, as if he expected that answer.

“And the financial troubles? I'm not talking about your rent.”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry.

“It’s just been... difficult.”

The detective’s eyes never left mine, unblinking and sharp.

“That's not an excuse to ask money from criminals.”

My heart skipped a beat.

“So... you know?”

Sasaki paused for a moment, his expression unreadable. “Of course. And i have a proposal for you.”

My eyes widened.

A proposal, for me? How many tricks do you have up your sleeve, Sasaki?!

“What is it?”

Sasaki’s gaze darkened, a slight smirk appeared on his face.

“We've been looking for this gang, the Shima-Kai, for months. They mainly do extortion and petty robberies. You took the money from them, right?”

I could feel the walls closing in, my breath growing shallow.

“Yes.”

I nodded as i said it, my voice barely above a whisper.

Sasaki took a step closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

“They are very sneaky, hard to track down but you, you are a witness. They don't seem to know that you are already out of the hospital. You will probably have to give them some money in exchange for the ones taht they lent you, right? So we will use you to arrange a meeting and arrest them.”

My stomach turned to ice.

Was he really thinking to use me as a bait?

Does he know what kind of animals are they?

Before the accident I always had rent problems.

Luckily, or unluckily, I met a boy who went to school with me, one of the few who was nice to me.

He told me he had financial problems and these friends of him helped him. He introduced us and they also lent me a fair amount of money.

Thinking back now they will ask me at least four times as much. I don't want to think about what they could do to me if i don't give them their cash.

"The plan is simple. If you collaborate you will be part of our witness protection program. Plus we will pay your debts with the landlord. Seems fair enough."

Sasaki put on a weird smile.

I understood that he was trying to be convincing but it seemed like he was looking at me like a priest looks at a--- No, forget it.

“They'll not find me, right?” I said, clearly worried about my safety.

Sasaki’s eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a faint smile.

“When the meeting will happen we will pretend to arrest you. This will make them less suspicious of you. They will think instead that there is a spy.”

"But i have only forty-eight hours. It'll be ready in this time?"

"Leave it to me."

Sasaki proudly said.

“Now i have to get ready. You too preapre yourself, i'll call you when you have to do the move.”

While leaving Sasaki said this.

As he got out, i layed on the bed.

I checked my phone to see if Aiko had answered.

I was disappointed, there were no notifications.

Out of curiosity, I opened the chat and a step forward was made.

She saw it.