The roads are cold. The tension's hotter. And she's not the only one watching me anymore.
---
9:12 AM — Hibasaki Street Café
Most mornings after dropping Mari off, I edited at Cafe Frame, a tiny two-story anime café lined with soundproof booths, ramen cups, and neon signs that read "Sync Your Soul With the Cut."
Today was different.
Today, she showed up.
---
The bell above the café door jingled.
She stepped in like a splash of color—long legs in leather leggings, a navy jacket cut sharp over a racer tank top, and wet, streaked pink hair tied into a twin-tail loop. Her earrings glinted like carbon rotors.
She carried herself like a girl who could kill you on the track—and make you enjoy it.
And she walked straight up to my booth.
"You're Phantom Redline," she said casually, popping a lollipop into her mouth.
I didn't answer.
She dropped into the seat across from me, ignoring the "Reserved" sign.
"Relax. I'm not gonna bite." She winked. "Unless you're into that."
I raised an eyebrow. "You got a name, or should I call you Violation Notice?"
She laughed—low, smooth, and just a little too familiar.
"Reika. Reika Tsukino. I drive an S2000. You clipped my best friend on the Spiral last month."
I closed my laptop slowly. "Not my fault your friends can't take a turn without kissing the guardrail."
She leaned forward. "I like that mouth. I like your car more."
Then, more serious: "You should be careful. People are starting to notice you, Phantom. And not just drivers."
My stomach tightened. "Cops?"
She smirked. "Worse. Fans."
---
2:40 PM – Home, Editing Room
I sat in front of my dual monitor setup, one screen rendering a Tokyo Ghoul AMV, the other displaying race footage. Mari was out at cram school.
My fingers hovered over the keyboard. I was trying to ignore the message on the screen:
Reika (S2KPrincess):
> "Drift duel Friday night. Just us. If you win, I'll stop teasing you. If I win… you let me ride shotgun."
---
My stomach twisted.
I hated distractions.
I hated how close Reika got to the truth.
How easily she stepped into my space.
How I'd let her.
I closed the file.
---
4:18 PM — Pick-Up Time
The rain was lighter today. A soft drizzle.
Mari stood under her usual awning, phone in hand. She spotted me immediately, waved, and ran over.
But when she opened the door, she hesitated.
"...Is that lip gloss?" she asked.
"Huh?"
She pointed to the passenger seat.
I looked down.
A tiny smudge of pink on the vinyl.
Shit.
Reika must've—
I rubbed it away quickly. "Just something from earlier."
Mari slid in, quiet.
---
Drive Home – The Tension Shifts
She didn't talk this time.
Just stared out the window.
The rain painted her reflection into a blur, but I could still see the crease between her brows.
"You okay?" I asked.
She nodded. Then, after a pause—
"Kaito…"
"Yeah?"
"Would you… ever let someone else sit here?"
My heart stuttered.
"…Why?"
She shrugged. "No reason. I just… I don't know. This seat feels like mine, y'know?"
I gripped the wheel tighter.
"It is," I said.
---
Silence.
But different from before.
This silence had weight.
And in the reflection of the glass, I saw her bite her lip.
Not like she was upset.
But like she was thinking about something she wasn't supposed to think about.
[End of Chapter 4]