The police enter the warehouse, their flashlights and flashlights creating a maze of light and shadows. They're moving cautiously, weapons drawn. One officer spots the disturbed dust on the floor where they entered. He signals to his partner.
"Check behind those crates. I saw something move." His voice echoes in the empty space. The officer approaches the fireplace, his light illuminating the area. He shines it directly into the dark corner where they're hiding. Kaze holds his breath again, his heart pounding in his chest. The fireplace is a poor hiding spot - it's old and rusty, with gaps between the bricks. They can be seen if they look closely. The officer kneels down, reaching for his radio. "I think I found something. Bring the others." He calls out, his hand moving toward the fireplace grate.
Mizu's hand is shaking, and he's sweating from the pain and stress. He's fighting to stay conscious. Kaze can hear more officers rushing over. The grate rattles as the officer tests it. It's slightly loose, a relic from its original purpose. He glances at Mizu, silently urging him to stay quiet and not make any noise that could give them away. He's mentally calculating their options - they can't outrun them, and fighting is not an option with Mizu injured.
The officer freezes at the sound. His head snaps toward the opposite side of the fireplace, where the crack came from. It's not from them. It's from something else - perhaps a rat or a loose pipe. But it's enough to make him suspicious. "Did you hear that?" He asks his partner who came with him. The partner nods, aiming his gun in that direction. "Check it out. I'll stay here." The first officer orders. He keeps his light trained on the fireplace, but his attention is split now.
The partner moves away, leaving the officer alone with the fireplace and the crackling sound continuing from the other side. The officer follows his partner, leaving the fireplace unguarded. They're called away by the other officers who found something else. Kaze waits until their footsteps fade completely, then carefully peeks out. He sees them running towards the opposite end of the warehouse, where there's a loud commotion.
"What the hell is going on now?" He mutters, confused by the distraction. There's shouting and commotion coming from the other end. It sounds like they found a real threat - perhaps another illegal racer or someone who actually belongs here. Kaze looks back at Mizu, who's barely holding on. He can't see what's happening, but he can hear it. "This is our chance. We need to move. Now." He whispers urgently, ready to help Mizu up again. As they hear the chaos intensifying, Mizu tries to stand, but his legs give out. He stumbles against the wall of the fireplace.
"I... I can't walk. Not like this." He says through gritted teeth, his voice strained. Kaze catches him before he can fall, supporting his weight. "Damn it, Mizu. You need medical attention. But we can't get it here." He looks around frantically, trying to think of a way to get them both out safely. The sounds of the police are getting louder again as they finish with the other thing.
Kaze lifts Mizu onto his back, carefully avoiding his injuries. He moves quickly but quietly, heading toward a back exit he knows leads to the shipping docks. The docks are dangerous at night, but it's their best shot. There might be hiding places among the containers and cargo ships. And he can get to Giyuu's place faster than from here. As they reach the exit, Kaze can hear the police regrouping, realizing their mistake.
"They're checking the docks next! We have to hurry!" He urges, breaking into a run. The dock area is dimly lit by a few security lights. The sound of waves crashing against the concrete echoes in the distance. Container ships loom like dark sentinels in the night. Kaze ducks behind a large container, setting Mizu down gently. He peers around the corner, spotting several police officers moving in formation.
"They're splitting up again. Stay here and don't move until I say so." He instructs Mizu, then disappears into the shadows to scout for a safer route. Mizu nods weakly, leaning against the container. He's barely conscious now, his breathing shallow and irregular. His phone buzzes in his pocket, but he can't check it. Kaze returns moments later, his expression grim.
"There's a patrol boat coming this way. We can't go forward. We have to go back." He points to a narrow gap between two containers. "Through there, and then we can head to the west side." The patrol boat's engine grows louder as it approaches the docks. The searchlights beam across the water, casting long shadows that dance across the containers. Kaze helps Mizu to his feet again, supporting him as they squeeze through the gap. It's a tight fit, and Mizu's body scrapes against the metal.
"Just a bit further. Almost there." He whispers, encouraging him despite the pain he must be in. They emerge on the other side, facing a maze of stacked containers. The coastline is visible ahead, but there's a steep drop-off and a fence with barbed wire. Kaze curses under his breath. The fence is too high to climb with Mizu, and the coast is too exposed. They're trapped in this area.
"Shit. We're cornered." He looks up at the containers above them, calculating if they could climb them to get over the fence. Kaze makes a split-second decision to try and reach their bikes. He remembers where he parked them - not far from the racing area, but still a distance away. He supports Mizu as they run, keeping low and using the containers for cover. The sound of the police radio crackles nearby.
"They're searching the area near the bikes. We have to be extra careful." He whispers, his eyes scanning for any movement or patrols. They split up at the last moment, Kaze heading east while Mizu goes west. It's a calculated risk - splitting up makes them harder to track, but also increases the chance of getting caught alone.
Kaze speeds off on his motorcycle, weaving through the streets. He glances back occasionally, making sure he's not being followed. His heart is racing, both from the adrenaline and worry for Mizu. Sanemi bursts into the dorm room, sweat dripping down his face. Tengen is lounging on his bed, playing video games. "Tengen, I need your help. Something happened at the races." He says between breaths, slamming the door shut behind him.