The shop was unusually quiet without Min's soft footsteps or Airi's endless chatter. Kei moved through the shelves with his usual precision, but every sound seemed louder in the silence—the creak of wood, the faint rustle of paper, the steady tick of the clock.
He paused at the counter, pulling out the folded letter once more. His eyes traced the lines, though he'd memorized them already.
*You cannot run from the past forever.*
A humorless smile touched his lips. "They never change," he murmured to himself.
The bell above the door jingled. Kei's head lifted sharply.
A man stepped inside—tall, dressed neatly but with an air that didn't belong in this town. His eyes scanned the shop quickly before landing on Kei. The faintest smirk tugged at his lips.
"It really is you," the man said smoothly, as though he'd stumbled across an old acquaintance. "I wasn't sure until now."
Kei's posture stiffened, though his face remained calm. "You've mistaken me for someone else."
The man chuckled, shaking his head. "No, Kei. I never forget a face. And neither do the others."
Kei's jaw tightened. He stepped from behind the counter, placing himself squarely between the man and the rest of the shop. "Leave."
"Ah," the man said, tilting his head. "Still so cold. But tell me… how long do you think you can keep them in the dark? The boy. The girl. They'll learn eventually."
Something in Kei's chest twisted, but he didn't move. His voice dropped, quiet and dangerous. "If you go near them—"
The man held up his hands, mockingly innocent. "Relax. I'm only here to deliver a message. The past isn't done with you, Kei. You can pretend, but it will always come knocking."
He turned, strolling casually back toward the door. Before leaving, he glanced over his shoulder with that same smirk. "I'll be seeing you again soon."
The bell jingled as he disappeared into the street, leaving the shop colder than before.
Kei stood frozen for a long moment, his hands clenched tight at his sides. The calm mask he wore for Min and Airi cracked, just for an instant, and his eyes hardened with a resolve that carried both fear and determination.
The shadows weren't waiting anymore. They were here.
To be continued...