Whispers of the Matcha Latte

Ren woke up to the faint sound of shuffling. His eyes blinked open, adjusting to the dim glow of the city beyond the cracked windows. His ears caught the sound of footsteps – Asahi was leaving.

For a moment, Ren debated staying behind. Maybe Asahi would be back soon. Maybe he was just going to check something.

But something inside him resisted.

Maybe it was the fear of being left alone.

Maybe it was curiosity.

Or maybe, deep down, he didn’t want to be left behind.

Silently, he slipped out of the sleeping bag and followed.

For most of the journey, Ren trailed behind from the shadows, careful to match his pace with Asahi’s.

Asahi wasn’t heading anywhere in particular – he was wandering.

His movements were slow and deliberate, yet without direction. He walked through the ruins, peering into abandoned stores, glancing into dark alleyways, as if searching for something – or someone.

He would pause in front of certain buildings, staring at them with an unreadable expression before moving on. He stopped in front of a café before muttering something under his breath, which Ren couldn’t make out.

At one point, Asahi crouched near a rusted-old car, running his fingers across its dusty hood before sighing. Ren saw him reach into his coat, pulling out a cigarette. He lit it with shaking hands, took a slow drag, then exhaled the smoke into the cold air.

Something about the way he stood – told Ren that Asahi was restless.

Minutes passed. Ren’s legs grew weary. His eyelids felt heavier, and his breathing turned sluggish. “Maybe I should just head back,” he thought to himself.

Then –

He saw two figures emerge from the ruins.

Ren barely managed to duck behind a pile of rubble before they came into view. Their silhouettes were barely illuminated under the moonlight. One of them had broad shoulders while the other had a lankier frame with a loose and casual stance. Their faces were obscured in the night.

Asahi noticed them immediately.

He flicked his cigarette to the ground and crushed it underfoot before stepping forward.

Ren crouched low, pressing himself against a nearby wall, peeking out cautiously.

The three men exchanged quiet words. Ren strained his ears but couldn’t make out much. There were a few nods, a few smirks. Then, as they turned to part ways, he heard Asahi mutter a single phrase.

“Finally, Aiko…”

Ren stiffened.

His brows furrowed.

Asahi had never spoken of this name before.

Before he could process it, Asahi turned around, slipping his hands into his pockets as he started making his way back.

Ren remained frozen in place. Then, just as he was about to follow him back to their hideout, he heard another voice.

It came from the two men, who were now a considerable distance away.

“Man, I really wanted a turn with that girl… Aoi, was it? But that bastard cut in.”

The other man let out a laugh. “Tch. Forget about her. Focus on Boss Ishikawa’s orders. We ain’t got time for distractions.”

Ren’s blood ran cold.

His hands clenched into fists.

Aoi.

Without a second thought, he bolted after the men.

The two men led him towards the outskirts of the city, where an abandoned warehouse stood in the middle of a ruined industrial district.

Ren crouched behind a crumbling wall and scanned the perimeter.

There were guards. Several of them. Scattered around the main entrance, armed and talking among themselves. There was no way he could get in through the front.

He carefully navigated to the back of the warehouse in hopes of finding a way in. His gaze flickered upwards and he finally saw a broken window, which was quite high up.

Ren swallowed hard. It was risky, but it was his only chance.

Carefully, he moved through the debris, climbing onto a rusted metal crate before leaping up towards the broken window. His fingers gripped the jagged edges, ignoring the sting as he hoisted himself inside.

Darkness.

The interior was cold and smelled of rust, damp wood and something familiar. Blood.

Muffled voices echoed from deeper inside. Ren crouched low, pressing himself against a wall as he crept forward.

In the dim light of the full moon filtering through the cracks of the warehouse, he caught sight of two silhouettes standing further inside. Were they the same people he had seen earlier or were they different? Ren couldn’t be sure.

Their hushed voices echoed in silence.

“The Order expects us to complete the ritual soon.”

“We’re nearly there, aren’t we? The sacrifices are being prepared.”

“And if something goes wrong?”

“It won’t. Once the last ones are in place, everything will be set in motion.”

A pause followed. Then, in a voice laced with conviction:

“Our purpose will finally be fulfilled.”

With that, the first man turned and walked away. The second man remained behind, murmuring to himself.

“And with it… I’ll finally be able to re– “

A piercing scream tore through the air with the rattling of chains, cutting his words short.

It was a familiar scream. It was… Aoi’s scream.

Ren’s eyes widened.

She was here.

A gruff voice snapped through the room. “Y’all better shut that bitch up, or I’mma fuck you guys up myself.”

Another voice responded immediately, “Yes Boss!”

Ren gritted his teeth, his small body trembling as he pressed himself against the cold walls. His heart pounded in his chest due to a mixture of fear and determination.

Aoi.

He had to save her.

On the other hand, Asahi didn’t return right away.

Instead, he kept walking. The city was eerily silent except for the occasional gust of wind that sent loose debris rolling down the empty streets.

Eventually, he found himself in an open clearing – a rare sight in the ruined landscape.

Here, the night sky stretched out unbroken, unobscured by the towering wreckage of the city. Stars flickered faintly above, scattered like distant echoes of something long forgotten. The moon hung high, casting a pale glow over the ruins.

Asahi exhaled, tilting his head back.

For a long while, he simply stood there, watching.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small marker – its body worn and its cap barely hanging on.

Without hesitation, he stepped toward the nearest wall of a small store and pressed the tip against the cracked surface.

With slow, deliberate strokes, he began to sketch.

He worked in silence as his hands moved with precision.

When he finally pulled away, his gaze lingered on the image. He reached out, running his fingers along the lines.

For a moment, his expression softened.

Then, the moment passed.

He capped the marker, slipping it back into his pocket, and turned away, leaving the image behind. Only then did he make his way back to the hideout.

The moment he walked in, however – he stopped.

Ren was gone.

His bros furrowed. He glanced around as he checked the sleeping bags and the supplies.

Then –

Bang!

The door suddenly burst open.

Run stumbled inside, his face drenched in tears.

He was gasping for air, his chest heaving as he stood frozen in the doorway.

Asahi’s expression shifted in an instant – from surprise to something eerily calm.

He crouched down. “Calm down Ren. Breathe. And now, tell me what happened?”

Ren trembled.

His lips parted, struggling to form words.

Finally, he forced them out.

“…Aoi.”