“Luxury Hotel Shion is currently under investigation after an unknown source leaked a video exposing illegal activities inside the hotel."
The reporter’s voice echoed from the phone in Kentas hand
“According to the footage, prostitution and drug-related activities may have been taking place inside the hotel for years.”
Behind her, police tape sealed off the entrance. Flashing lights reflected off the hotel’s glass fa?ade as officers moved in and out of the building.
“At this moment, these are all the confirmed details. Stay with us,we’ll bring you more information as soon as it becomes available.”
“He actually did it.”
Kenta slid the phone back into his jacket, disbelief written all over his face.
“He did it, Takashi,” he said again, grabbing Takashi’s arm, almost shaking him with excitement.
Takashi stood still, frozen for a moment.
He finally turned toward Kenta, his eyes wide.
“This is good,” he said slowly.
“This is really good, Kenta.”
“Yes,” Kenta replied, energized.
“We hit them where it hurts.”
Then he laughed, breathless.
“Sota… that man,” Kenta said, shaking his head.
“I could hug him right now.”
Takashi nodded once.
“Yes.”
But the smile faded from his face almost immediately.
“But they won’t stay silent,” Takashi said, his voice dropping.
“They’ll strike back.”
Kenta stiffened.
“Call Ryo,”
Takashi continued.
“Tell him to be careful.”
He clenched his jaw.
“This is just the beginning.”
It was already dark outside.
“Come on. I’ll drive you home,”
Takashi said, starting toward the car, still holding the paper Dr. Akiyama had given him.
He slipped the address into his pocket and opened the driver’s door.
“You’re going to look for Sota after you drop me off, aren’t you?”
Kenta asked as he pulled on his seatbelt.
“I don’t know,” Takashi replied, starting the engine.
“I’m not sure yet. I don’t know if that’s the smart thing to do.”
Kenta leaned back, adrenaline still rushing through him.
“I’m sure he’s already heard the news,” he said.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“And maybe he’ll have more information for you now.”
He turned his head toward Takashi, eyes sharp.
“We need to move fast. So fast they won’t have time to strike back.”
“Yes… you’re right,”
Takashi said, though he didn’t sound nearly as excited.
“Just make sure you call Ryo and tell him what I said.”
“Don’t worry,”
Kenta replied confidently.
“Ryo isn’t a child. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”
He glanced o
ut the window, then added, trying to sound reassuring,
“Everything’s going to be fine.”
“I wonder why no one from the station called us after the news broke,”
Kenta said, frowning.
“Probably because we’re off duty,”
Takashi replied calmly as he parked the car.
“And they already have enough staff handling it.”
“You’re probably right,”
Kenta said as he opened the door. He stepped out and let out a tired sigh.
“See you tomorrow at the office.”
He paused, then added,
“I just hope the bastard doesn’t run before they arrest him.”
“I don’t think he’ll have time to run,” Takashi added.
“See you tomorrow.”
Kenta closed the door and stood there for a moment, watching as Takashi drove away.
After dropping Kenta off in front of his building, Takashi found himself driving in slow circles around Sota’s neighborhood, unable to decide what to do.
He stopped the car across from Sota’s apartment building and turned on the radio.
“Masaru Kanzaki, the owner of Hotel Shion, was arrested earlier today after an unknown source leaked a video containing evidence of illegal activities inside the hotel,” the reporter announced.
Takashi’s grip tightened on the steering wheel.
The news continued in the background, voices blending into noise as his thoughts raced.
Sota must have heard this by now.
If Kanzaki was arrested, the organization would be in chaos
Takashi glanced toward the darkened windows of the apartment building.
Should I go up?
He turned down the radio and, without thinking any further, crossed the street quickly and entered the building.
He took the stairs two at a time, his pulse pounding in his ears.
He rang the doorbell without hesitation.
Nothing.
He waited, staring at the door.
No answer.
He rang again.
Maybe he’s not home, Takashi thought.
I’ll wait a little longer.
Just as doubt started creeping in
the door suddenly opened.
And there he was, standing in the doorway, wearing only his pants.
The tattoo on his arm immediately caught Takashi’s eye, unmistakable, a reminder of exactly who Sota was… and the life he belonged to.
“You really never give up, Detective,”
Sota said, a trace of amusement in his voice.
“Come on in.”
Sota stepped aside, clearing the doorway for Takashi.
“Sorry about the mess. I didn’t expect company.”
He didn’t seem bothered by it at all.
The table was cluttered with empty bottles.
The ashtray was overflowing.
Clothes were scattered carelessly across the room.
Sota walked toward a chair and picked up a shirt.
As he moved, the tattoo of a phoenix spread across his back, clear and unmistakable, its wings stretched wide across his skin.
Takashi’s eyes widened, but not because of the tattoo.
It was the scars.
They crossed Sota’s back in uneven lines, old and brutal, as if his body had been broken and put back together too many times.
Tortured.
Takashi felt the urge to step closer, to ask, to touch
but instead, the words that came out were different.
“Did you see the news?”
Sota slipped the T-shirt on quickly, as if he knew exactly what Takashi had seen.
“You came all this way just to ask me that?”
He turned to face him fully.
“Sit down, Detective. Make yourself comfortable.”
His tone was cold.
And Takashi knew immediately—
the moment Sota called him detective—
that something had shifted between them.
Takashi sat down on the sofa.
“No. Not just because of that,” he said quietly.
“I came to see you. They beat you pretty badly last night.”
He looked straight at him.
“I wanted to know if you’re all right.”
He didn’t know why, but every time he was around Sota, he felt off balance.
Like nothing he said or did ever came out the right way.
One moment, Sota was gentle...almost warm.
The next, he was cold as ice.
And Takashi never knew which version of him he was about to face.
“I’m all right,” Sota said, as if the matter were settled.
He stood there, looking at Takashi calmly.
“Do you want something to drink?” he asked.
“No. I’m fine. Thank you.”
Sota sat down on the chair, resting one arm against the back.
“They’re shaken,” he added casually.
“They didn’t expect this to happen.”
“Do you think they suspect something?” Takashi asked.
“No.”
Sota didn’t hesitate.
“We’re safe for now.”
He leaned back slightly, completely at ease.
“But they’ll try to find out how it happened,” he continued.
“That much is certain.”
Not a trace of worry crossed his face.
“I shouldn’t have come to see you last night,” Takashi said quietly.
“I could’ve put you in even more danger than you were already in.”
Sota studied him for a moment, then gave a faint, almost amused smile.
“I’m glad you understand that, Detective,” he said.
“But… thank you.”
He touched the corner of his mouth absently.
“They beat me pretty badly.”
Then he added casually, almost lazily,
“You couldn’t just let something happen to your inside man, could you?”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Takashi said quickly.
“I’m… actually pretty bad at choosing my words.”
He exhaled and looked at him honestly.
“I was genuinely worried when I didn’t hear anything from you.
I thought they might’ve found out you came to my apartment.”
Sota smiled faintly.
“No worries, Detective. I’m not holding a grudge.”
Then his expression shifted...subtle, but unmistakable.
“But you need to be more careful.”
His voice lowered.
“I told you not to look for me.”
He straightened, seriousness settling over him.
“The town is safer for us to meet. Don’t come to Shirogawa again.”
He held Takashi’s gaze.
“If anyone sees you there… this won’t end well.”
“Yes,”
Takashi said quietly.
“I’m aware of that now."
His expression hardened.
“Do you have a plan? What happens next?”
Sota didn’t answer right away.
He stood, reached for his jacket, and slipped it on with practiced calm.
“I have something to take care of tonight,”
he said.
“But I’ll find you. And when I do, I’ll tell you what to do next.”
He was already halfway toward the door.
Takashi stood as well.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Takashi pulled his phone from his pocket and placed it into Sota’s hand.
“Here,” he said.
“Put your number in.”
It wasn’t a request.
Sota looked at the phone, then at him caught off guard for the first time that night.
“Why?”
Takashi didn’t look away.
“I don’t want to imagine things anymore,”
he said calmly.
“I want to know where you are.”
His voice lowered, steadier now.
“And if anything feels wrong...anything at all, I want you to call me.
Not when it’s already too late.
Even if it’s just a bad feeling.”
Silence stretched between them.
Sota entered the number and handed the phone back.
Takashi didn’t hesitate.
He pressed call.
A second later, the sound of ringing came from Sota’s jacket.
Takashi looked up at him.
“Give me your phone.”
It was a demand, not a question.
Sota hesitated for half a second, then pulled the phone from his pocket and handed it over.
Takashi typed quickly, saved the contact, and placed the phone back into Sota’s hand.
“Now you have my number too,” he said calmly.
“No more hiding. No more disappearing.”
Sota stared at the screen, visibly caught off guard.
What he didn’t know...what Takashi didn’t say
was that if it were possible, Takashi would follow him everywhere.
Would keep him in sight at all times.
Would never let him walk alone into the dark again.
Not for a second.
