Chapter 19: The Digital Silence

The training continues for three days. It is grueling, repetitive work. Hitane is a relentless taskmaster, demanding focus when my mind wants to wander, demanding strength when my body wants to sleep. Minaki trains too, sitting for hours trying to build mental walls against the flood of emotions from the village, though she often ends up in tears, overwhelmed by a passing argument or a child's scraped knee.

But the hardest part for me is the silence from my old life.

Every time I touch my phone, I feel a pang of guilt that is sharper than any physical pain. It is dead, the battery drained days ago. I have not turned it on. I have not charged it.

On the fourth night, I cannot take it anymore.

I find Hitane in the inn's small lounge, reading a newspaper that is three days old. The inn is quiet, the guests asleep.

"I need to call her," I say. I do not need to specify who.

Hitane looks up, her face impassive. "It is a risk. We are in the village. We are safer here than in the city, but digital signals are a beacon. If the Cleaners are scanning for your digital footprint..."

"She thinks I am dead, Hitane," I interrupt, my voice tight. "She came to my apartment. She saw the scorch marks. She saw the police. She is my only friend. I cannot let her grieve for me when I am still alive. It is cruel."

Hitane sighs, folding the newspaper. She looks at me, calculating the variables. "The Heart would say yes immediately. The Mind says it is a tactical error."

"And the Anchor says he needs to do it," I say firmly. "I need to tether myself to my reality, right? Aiko is a part of that reality. If I cut her off, I am cutting off a part of myself."

Hitane studies me for a long moment. Then, she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small, rectangular device wrapped in black tape.

"I anticipated this," she says. "You are sentimental. It is your weakness, and your strength."

She slides the device across the table. "It is a signal bounce. It routes the connection through a dozen servers in Eastern Europe and South America. It is not perfect, but it will give you about three minutes before a sophisticated trace could lock on."

"Thank you," I breathe, grabbing the device.

I run back to my room and plug my phone into the charger, connecting the black device between the phone and the wall outlet. I wait for the screen to light up.

As soon as it boots, the notifications flood in. It is a torrent of panic.

Missed Call (42) Missed Call (43) Aiko: Juiro please pick up Aiko: The police asked me questions Aiko: They said nobody could survive that Aiko: I do not believe them

My hands shake as I dial her number. It rings once.

"Hello?" Her voice is small, broken. It sounds like she has not slept in days.

"Aiko," I say.

"Juiro!" The scream is so loud I have to pull the phone away from my ear. "Oh my god! Juiro! Is it you? Is it really you?"

"It is me," I say, tears pricking my eyes. "I am alive, Aiko. I am okay."

"You are okay?" she sobs. "Your apartment is gone! The door was across the hallway! They said it was a gas leak! They said you were..."

"I wasn't there," I lie quickly. "I got out just before. It... it is complicated, Aiko. I told you I had family trouble. I had to leave. I am safe. I am staying with... relatives."

"Why didn't you call?" she cries. "I have been going crazy! I thought... I thought you did it. I thought you finally..."

She trails off, but I know what she means. She thought I had finally killed myself.

"No," I say fiercely. "No, Aiko. I promise. I did not do that. I am fighting. I am trying to get better."

"Where are you?" she asks. "Let me come to you. Please. I need to see you."

"You cannot," I say, watching the timer on the black device. Two minutes left. "It is not safe. There are... bad people involved. Debts. Trouble. If you come, you will be in danger."

It is another lie, but it is close enough to the truth.

"I do not care!"

"I do," I say. "Aiko, listen to me. I need you to be safe. I need you to stay in Tokyo. Keep playing. Keep living. I will come back. I swear to you, I will come back. But right now, I have to go underground."

"Juiro..."

"I have to hang up," I say, my heart breaking. "They might be listening. I just... I needed you to know I am alive. I needed you to know that you saved me. That night on the street corner... you saved me."

"Don't go," she whispers.

"I am sorry. Goodbye, Aiko."

I hang up. I unplug the device and power down the phone immediately.

I sit in the dark room, the silence rushing back in. It feels heavier now. I have reconnected the tether, only to sever it again. But at least she knows. At least she is not mourning a ghost.

I lie back on the tatami, holding the cold phone to my chest. Hitane was right. It was a risk. But as I close my eyes, I feel solid. I feel grounded. My anchor is holding.