"Did Aki tell them about me? About my power?"
Unable to stand it any longer, Kanro stormed over to the table. "Aki," he said sharply, cutting through the laughter.
Her smile faded as she looked up at him. "Kanro? What's wrong?"
"Can we talk?" he asked, his voice tight.
Aki blinked, confused by his tone. "Uh, sure. What's going on?"
"Outside," he said, already heading toward the door.
Her friends exchanged puzzled glances as Aki got up and followed him. Once they were outside, Kanro turned to face her, his expression dark.
"You told them, didn't you?" he accused.
Aki froze, stunned. "Told them what?"
"Don't play dumb," Kanro snapped. "I heard you talking about time travel and going back into the present. You told them about me, didn't you?"
Her eyes widened. "Kanro, no! We were talking about- " she stopped herself from saying anything further.
He frowned, his disbelief clear. "Really? Do you think I'm gonna believe that?" he smiled but his smile looked furious.
"Yeah…" Aki answered in a lower voice, then looked at the ground because she remembered something so familiar with that look.
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone about what happened."
"I won't tell"
"I won't"
Kanro smirks not because he was happy but because he's angry "LIAR!" said he in his head, clenched his fists, anger and hurt flashing in his eyes. "You don't get it, Aki. Just i thought I can't afford to trust anyone—not even you."
Unable to hold back the surge of displeasure, the harsh words escaped his lips:
"Especially to someone as a thief as you. Looks like I made the right decision not to consider you as a friend."
"Because it turns out, a thief like you is not trustworthy after all."
"LIAR!"
Aki's breath hitched, his words cutting deeper than she expected; she couldn't speak at all.
She stared at him for a moment before shaking her head. "You don't know the full story, so stop acting like you know everything." she said in a low voice
With that feeling so downcast as before she turned and walked back inside, the wind blew as she looked at him "Yeah right i was a thief" with a smile she said and leaving Kanro standing alone outside.
Inside, Aki sat back down with her friends, forcing a smile as they asked her what happened. She didn't answer, her thoughts too tangled.
Kanro walked away from the store, his chest was so heavy. And for the third time the walls had built around himself again felt safer than the pain of trusting someone again.
.
.
.
Aki lay on her bed in her small rented house, her hand covering her face. Her thoughts kept going back to what Kanro had said. His angry words stayed in her mind, making her chest feel heavy.
Her phone buzzed on the table next to her. She reached for it and saw Mike's name on the screen. She unlocked her phone to read his message.
Mike:Hey, Aki. You seemed upset earlier. Are you okay?
Aki stared at the message for a while.After thinking, she typed a reply:
Aki: I'm fine, Mike.
Not long after, Mike replied again.
Mike: Don't pretend, Aki. I know something's bothering you.
A small smile appeared on Aki's face. Mike always noticed when something was wrong.
Aki: It's nothing serious. Just a tough talk with someone earlier. But I'll be okay.
Mike:Alright, but remember, you don't have to deal with it alone.
Aki smiled again, feeling a little better. Even though she didn't say much, it was nice to know someone cared.
Her phone buzzed again, and another message from Mike appeared:
Mike:But if it's a dog chasing you, you're old enough to handle that yourself. 🫡
Aki smiled and replied:
Aki: Didn't you say "you don't have to deal with it alone"? You're coming with me, right? 😩
Mike laughed at her reply and answered: Fine, but only if the dog's just chasing you. 😉
They talked for a few more minutes, and after their conversation, Aki put her phone down and turned onto her side. Her thoughts were still messy, but she didn't feel as lonely anymore.
Meanwhile, Kanro wandered through the cold night. The city lights looked like stars scattered on the ground. Suddenly, a faint voice far behind him. "I've finally found you," it said quietly, almost too far to hear clearly.
As he walked in the quiet street he look at the stars in the sky with a gloom eyes but suddenly,
The quiet was broken by a small voice. "Excuse me." Kanro looked down, startled, to see a young boy standing in front of him, holding out an envelope.
Kanro narrowed his eyes. "Yes? What do you want?"
The boy hesitated before saying, "Someone told me to give this to you."
Kanro stared at the envelope, his heart racing. What is this? Who sent it? His instincts screamed at him to stay cautious. "Who sent you?" he asked firmly, not moving to take the envelope.
The boy shook his head. "I don't know. They just said it was really important."
Kanro's gaze flickered between the boy and the envelope. Important? Or a trap? He didn't trust anyone easily—he couldn't afford to. For all he knew, this could be a trick, a way to lure him into something dangerous.
"What's in the envelope?" he asked, his voice cold.
The boy shrugged. "I don't know. They didn't tell me. I'm just supposed to deliver it."
Kanro stared at the boy, trying to read him, but the kid's nervousness seemed genuine. Finally, with a reluctant sigh, Kanro reached out and took the envelope from the boy's hands. "You better not be lying," Kanro muttered.
"I'm not! I swear," the boy said quickly before running off, leaving Kanro alone again.
Kanro looked at the envelope in his hands, turning it over as if it might reveal something about its sender. His grip tightened, and after a moment of hesitation, he carefully opened it. The folded paper inside felt heavy as he unfolded it and began to read:
To Kanro,
I know about Shiki's death. It wasn't an accident—it was planned. I have information that could help you uncover the truth. I want to help you find the person responsible. Shiki was my friend, and his death shouldn't go unanswered.
If you're willing to work together, meet me tomorrow at the abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town tomorrow night at 8 PM. We can discuss the plan to find the killer.
Concerned Friend
Kanro stared at the words, his jaw clenching. A lead, he thought. But can I trust it? Many people have betrayed me, so how can I trust him?
While looking closely at the envelope holding the letter, he found another note inside. This second letter makes him trust the person who sent it, Because he saw a picture of an unfamiliar person next to the face of his best friend, Shiki.
The discovery stirred a mix of confusion and curiosity, leaving him wondering about the connection between the stranger and Shiki.
"But what if he's telling the truth?"
He folded the letter and placed it in his jacket pocket, his mind swirling with questions. Who is this person? Ishe really Shiki's friend—or could they be connected to the killer? And why now?
His hesitation was still there, but he couldn't ignore the letter's promise of answers. For Shiki, he had to go. Even if the meeting brought danger, he was ready to face it.
The next day:
Kanro began walking towards the specified location, feeling a mix of fear and hope. Perhaps this was his chance to uncover the truth and seek justice for Shiki.
As Kanro entered the abandoned warehouse, his heart pounded. The place was eerily quiet, and shadows danced in the dim light. He took a deep breath and stepped inside, ready to face whatever awaited him.
A voice called out his name. "Kanro, I've been expecting you."