Drinking the Night

Eight Years Ago

“You can’t run away forever, Rei Tsukihara. Let me help you.”

It took three days before Rei broke down and spoke to the old investigator in the sleek forest-green suit and funny red tie. It was a deadline the man himself set. “I can only keep the police waiting for long, kid.”

“Why the hell would the police hire a private detective for a trespasser?” Rei spat back. “I just want a peek at the institute’s records, alright? I’m exalted like you said. Abandoned.” He told the detective his life’s story, thinking if the old man waited three days before turning him in, he was already sympathetic. Instead, Kazuo Ninomiya was intrigued.

“How exactly do you plan to help me anyway?” Rei asked.

“Truth is, kid, the police didn’t hire me,” Ninomiya explained. “But I work for them. And seeing all the places I’ve seen you sneak into… I’m kind of obligated to make a report. Then I see this.” He gestured around the darkly lit warehouse and the crates of stolen goods they had stored. “This looks bad. Luckily for you, I haven’t told the police a single thing. Yet.”

Rei’s eyes must’ve looked desperate. Feral. He could’ve jumped the detective then and there to shut him up, but they both knew he didn’t have the heart for it. He could barely manage the damned warehouse. If it wasn’t for Kakohime’s favor, the others would’ve kicked Rei out long ago. Or worse.

Ninomiya stood next to Rei and whispered conspiratorially in his hear. “So, here’s the thing. One of the police divisions caught a… transaction… about to happen in the lower ward. Your gang butted heads with the Anti-Exalt Faction a year ago, but it seems they made peace. Something bigger is afoot.”

Rei hadn’t heard a word of it. “I don’t know anything.”

“Sure, sure. But you see where I’m going with this?”

“You want a mole.”

“Just information. It’s my trade, you see.”

“Trade.” Rei snorted. “So, what? Information for my safety?”

“How about information for information? You said you’re looking for your past—which I currently know nothing about—but not gonna lie, kid, you got me extremely curious. Who doesn’t want to know the truth about a mysterious exalt?”

Midnight after the second challenge

December 11th, 2050

Roppongi Gardens

The door of the restaurant slammed open, its chime clanking against the sound of sudden rainfall. It rarely rained at night, but sometimes the wind carried tears from the ocean, glittering light of reflected bronze. It was an extraordinary sight to behold, but Rei’s circumstances were already beyond ordinary.

He dusted the droplets of rain from his shoulders, stared at the empty room smelling of pork broth, then lifted his phone to see what the internet had to say.

Sporadic terror attacks. Hate crime against the Tennojima family. Tension between exalts and humans.

There was more news about the faction’s appearance in Akihabara than what happened at Kanda Summit.

Rei tried calling Ruby a few times but received no answer. Kiyotaka texted him a ‘don’t worry’ message, but he needed more details than that.

Rei cursed under his breath, then saw Souichiro sitting at the bar counter waving his hand. He pocketed his phone, then sat next to the guy.

“I got us both tonkotsu ramen,” Souichiro said, “light on stock and richness, tons of garlic, firm noodles. Hope you don’t mind.”

“It’s fine,” Rei replied. “Will your car be fine outside?”

“That hunk o’ junk? Leave it.”

That hunk o’ junk was a luxury car decaled with the same white wings they got on their jackets.

“You wanna tell me what your task is now?” Rei asked. “You have somebody you need to protect?”

Souichiro made himself green tea from the cups and powder provided. “Want some?”

Rei made his own.

“My task, dear Reiji, is to make sure only exalts reach the shrine tomorrow.” Souchiro sipped his tea slowly, then sighed. “Unfair, don’t you think? The hell do they expect from me?”

Only exalts? Odd. What was the point of having a diverse group in the first place then? Or was this meant to intentionally pit them against each other?

Souichiro made his aether glow at the tip on his index finger, making the light sway as he moved it in a circle. “Guess flexing my aether got me the crappy task of babysitting exalts. Or maybe it’s because I went first? What do you think, oh bodyguard of mine?”

“I don’t know,” Rei said. “But there aren’t that many non-exalts left. Ringo and Carlos are dead. Keisuke withdrew. I’m pretty sure Hidenori isn’t exalted… so that leaves him and Gen’ichi.”

Souichiro nodded. “My odds are actually pretty good.”

“No comment on Gen’ichi?”

Souichiro shrugged as if he couldn’t care less.

“Tonkotsu ramen for our exalted guest!” A short, mustachioed chef with a big smile appeared from behind the kitchen carrying two bowls. “I saw that light just now. Aether, right?”

“Sure is,” Souichiro said, snapping his fingers, producing a wave of light shaped like musical notes.

“Amazing,” the chef said. “I believe yours is the regular broth.”

The chef placed the bowl in front of Souichiro, then raised an eyebrow at Rei.

“I’m afraid I’m not good at controlling my aether,” Rei said.

The chef grinned, then placed a bowl of ramen in front of him… looking unusually red. “Five times spicy as ordered. No need to worry about paying, you two can eat free at this establishment.”

“Seriously?” Souichiro beamed. “Score! Thanks, old man.”

“We don’t get many exalts in this old place,” the chef explained, “but I know how much good your presence does to this city. It keeps us safe. And strong. Enjoy the ramen, you two.”

The chef left looking pleased with himself.

“Now that’s how you treat your betters,” Souichiro said, though his voice was low enough. “I was gonna make you pay for the meal, Reiji, but this works out.”

Rei’s phone vibrated. Another text from Kiyotaka. ‘Escaped Kanda. Focus on the challenge. No backup.’ Dammit. At least add a few more details.

“That your lady love?”

“Something like that.”

“Well, tell her I need her up at Heaven’s Reach tomorrow.” Slurping noises. “If she can get rid of Hidenori and Gen’ichi that would help too.”

“Who are you, Souichiro Miura?” Rei asked. He took the ladle placed next to his bowl and took a sip. The temperature was perfect for the cold. “How is it that you’re so keen on pissing off everybody involved in the challenge?”

“Mhmmm…” Souichiro chewed as he stared at Rei. “It’s part of the game, bro. It’s on them if they get pissed off and fumble their way through it.”

“That why you put that gold medallion on the former general’s pocket?”

Rei mixed the spicy powder with the broth, then tasted it again. His tongue burned.

Souichiro chuckled. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You used your aether to dazzle others while you slipped the medallion in,” Rei stated. “Nice trick there, making it look like you got wings.”

“Oh, you liked that part?” Slurping noises. “That’s what I think about the legend guy. What was his name again? The one who reached heaven.”

“Satoru Hijiyama,” Rei replied. “You think he faked the whole thing?”

“I think people saw what they wanted to see,” Souichiro said, his voice sounding serious for the first time. “What is it you wanted to see from me, Reiji?”

Rei ate some of his noodles before it got cold. He almost forgot how hungry he was because of all the excitement back in Kanda. The broth was good, but everything else was just okay. “Do you have anything against Daiki Tennojima or his institute?” he asked.

That got a genuine laugh out of Souichiro.

“Against? I love the guy. My gramps and him are good friends, and because of that I get the chance to inherit his research. Plus, all the money I get from the silver medallions.”

Souichiro smiled at Rei. “You guessed it yet?”

It was obvious. If Souichiro had the gold medallion, then he was the one who attacked Issei and his team.

“Funny,” Rei said. “Issei should only have my silver medallion. If you have more, then…”

Souichiro leaned closer. “Now then, Reiji Shimomura, here’s a question for you. Was the task I told you real… or not?”