A sharp voice broke the tension, echoing through the deserted street like a lifeline.

"Himeko?"

Startled, both Himeko and Kavei turned toward the sound. Emerging from the shadows was a young man with a confident stride, his presence cutting through the oppressive atmosphere.

Himeko's face lit up in recognition. "K-Kai?" she stammered before rushing toward him, relief spilling over as she threw her arms around his neck.

Kai embraced her protectively, his brows knitting in concern. "Hime-chan, it is you! What are you doing here?" His voice was warm but laced with worry as he held her close.

Before Himeko could explain, movement behind Kai drew everyone's attention. Two towering men in black suits stepped into view, their broad shoulders and stern expressions a stark contrast to the disarray around them.

"Young Master Kai," one of the bodyguards said firmly, ignoring the scene before them, "you shouldn't be wandering around unsupervised. It's dangerous."

Their imposing figures immediately unnerved the masked man. Without a word, he turned on his heel and bolted into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as he had arrived.

Himeko released a shaky breath, her fear giving way to gratitude as she stepped back to face Kai. "Thank you so much, Kai," she murmured, bowing deeply in reverence.

Kai shook his head, offering a gentle smile. "No, don't thank me. I didn't do anything."

His expression shifted as he surveyed the surroundings-the crumbling buildings, flickering streetlights, and empty, debris-strewn roads. He frowned. "But Himeko, what are you even doing here? This isn't the kind of place for someone like you."

Before she could answer, another voice cut in, dripping with sarcasm. "Some of us live in this neighborhood, you know," Kavei muttered from his spot by the stairs, his hands still in his coat pockets.

Kai's gaze snapped toward him, his eyes narrowing in recognition. "You! The waiter!" he exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger.

Kavei raised an eyebrow, smirking as he ascended the stairs toward his apartment. "Oh, wow. What a way to remember someone," he quipped, not bothering to hide the mockery in his tone.

Kai stepped forward, his frustration bubbling over. "Dude, you should have helped her!"

Kavei stopped midway up the stairs, his gaze fixed forward, but his posture stiffened at Kai's words. "Why?" he asked flatly, turning his head just enough to glance at Kai.

Kai's hands balled into fists. "What do you mean, why? She was in danger!"

With a sigh, Kavei turned fully to face him, leaning casually on the railing. His tone was colder now, carrying a hint of disdain. "And what if she wasn't? What if she was planning to scam some good Samaritan who happened to come along? Maybe she's an accomplice to that idiot who just ran off."

Himeko gasped, her face flushed with anger and disbelief. "How dare you!"

Kai's frustration boiled over. "You can't just assume the worst about people! You saw someone in trouble and chose to do nothing. That's inexcusable!"

Kavei's lips curled into a bitter smile. "It's called survival instinct. You should try it sometime. Besides," he continued, his voice dropping into a lower, more measured tone, "the gun was fake."

Kai froze, his anger momentarily replaced by confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"The gun," Kavei repeated, his voice laced with a quiet confidence that made everyone fall silent. "It was fake. If it were real, he'd have shot the moment anyone approached. That man wasn't here to kill-just to intimidate. And judging by the fact that your so-called 'bodyguards' are unarmed, he probably could've gotten away with it."

The guards exchanged uneasy glances, their pride stung by the revelation.

Kavei turned back toward his apartment, muttering under his breath, "Idiots, the lot of you," before continuing up the stairs.

Kai and Himeko were left standing in stunned silence. As Kavei reached his door, he cast one final glance over his shoulder. "Next time, try being less loud about your gratitude. Some of us are trying to live in peace."

With that, he disappeared inside, the sound of the door closing behind him punctuating his departure.

Himeko's shoulders slumped as she turned to Kai. "What was that guy's problem?"

The two stood in silence for a moment before Kai sighed, nodding to his guards to escort them out of the neighborhood. As they walked away, Himeko cast a glance back at the apartment building, a mix of curiosity and irritation swirling in her eyes.

Kavei leaned heavily against the door of his apartment, his breath escaping in a tired sigh. The events of the morning clung to him like a persistent shadow. A foolish man had declared himself a criminal and attempted to kidnap a young girl, only to run at the first sign of resistance. It should have been laughable, yet it left Kavei irritated. He wasn't angry at the man's incompetence but at the sheer absurdity of the situation-and the judgmental stares from strangers like that guy from the diner.

Pushing off the door, Kavei muttered to himself, "This world isn't the pretty place they all think it is. No good comes from being naive." He shook his head, slipping off his coat and tossing it onto the wooden floor next to the phone stand.

Still muttering, he moved into the cramped living room and turned on the small television. The hum of the news provided a monotonous backdrop as he busied himself in the kitchen. Grabbing a potato and a knife, he settled into the familiar rhythm of peeling. The simple, repetitive task usually helped clear his mind.

But not today.

The reporter's voice from the television shattered his focus.
"A young thirteen-year-old boy helps the police solve the case-"

The knife slipped from his hand and clattered onto the counter along with the half peeled potato. Kavei froze, his heart hammering as the words sunk in. Stumbling over the mat, he tripped and fell to his knees in front of the TV.

"What?!" His voice cracked, disbelief surging through him. He scrambled closer, his wide eyes glued to the screen.

The news anchor continued to talk about the recent Najima case, detailing how a brilliant young boy had played a pivotal role in solving the mystery. And then it happened-a photograph of him flashed across the screen. Kavei's face stared back at him, the name "Kavei" emblazoned underneath.

"No. No, no, no!" Kavei muttered in disbelief, backing away from the TV. His breathing quickened as panic clawed at his chest. "He said no one would know!"

Desperation took over as he stumbled toward the door, clutching at the small table by the entrance to steady himself. His fingers fumbled for the old rotary phone sitting atop it, trembling as he dialed a number he knew by heart.

The line rang once, twice, before a familiar voice answered.
"Senzaki here-"

"Senzaki, sir!" Kavei's voice cut through sharply, laced with betrayal. "What the hell is going on with the news?"

There was a pause, and Kavei could almost hear the inspector wince. "K-Kavei-kun... I can explain-"

"Explain?!" Kavei barked, gripping the phone so tightly his knuckles turned white. "You said-no, promised-this would stay confidential! And now the whole world knows?!"

Senzaki's voice faltered, his tone placating. "Kavei-kun, listen-"

"No! Don't even start! You gave me your word!" Kavei's voice rose with each word, his anger and hurt bleeding into every syllable.

On the other end of the line, Senzaki's voice softened, tinged with confusion. "But why, Kavei-kun? Why do you care so much? You should be proud-"

"Proud?!" Kavei laughed bitterly, cutting him off. "Do you have any idea what you've done? I didn't ask for this attention. I don't want it!" His voice cracked slightly, and he bit his lip, trying to steady himself.

Senzaki's tone turned apologetic. "Kavei, I'm sorry. The reporters somehow got wind of it. We tried to keep it under wraps, but it spiraled out of control."

Kavei slumped against the wall, dragging a hand down his face. "Right. So your solution was to just let them broadcast everything? Great work, Inspector."

"I didn't have a choice, Kavei-kun!" Senzaki pleaded, but Kavei was done listening.

"Save it," he muttered. "I'll call you later-if I feel like it."

"Kavei-kun, wait-"

Kavei hung up, his chest heaving as he threw the phone onto the tatami mat with a dull thud. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the soft drone of the television.

"Stupid," Kavei muttered, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "What the hell do I do now?"

He sank onto the floor, his mind racing. The betrayal stung, but what scared him more was the exposure. His photo. His name. The world now knew about him, and Kavei wasn't sure he was ready for the consequences.