Aftermath

Present day…The cramped, messy room was filled with morning sunlight. Dust particles floated lazily in the air, dancing in the quiet of the peaceful morning.

Bzzz… Bzzz…The loud vibration of a phone on the nightstand shattered the silence.

Empty bottles, an ashtray, and crushed cigarette packs surrounded it.

A tattooed hand stretched out from beneath the covers and grabbed the phone.

“Yes?”“I’m on my way.”Now fully awake, the young man in his late twenties sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes wide open.

Messy, shoulder-length blonde hair fell across his face, partially hiding his sharp features.

“I’ll be there in half an hour.”He tossed the phone onto the bed and ran his fingers through his hair, as if shaking off the remnants of a nightmAfte

After a moment, he stood up, wearing only his pants.Morning light spilled across the room, revealing his sculpted body as he walked toward the chair beside the bed.

A snake tattoo coiled around his arm, its body trailing across his skin before ending in a phoenix spread across his back.Against his muscular frame, the ink looked fierce, almost alive.

He grabbed the black button-up shirt from the chair, and within seconds the tattoos disappeared beneath the fabric.

He tied his hair into a loose half-up style, revealing sharp features and deep, dark eyes that seemed to shine in the morning light.He picked up the car keys from the nightstand and grabbed his black leather jacket before rushing outside.

Behind him, the dust particles continued to dance silently in the morning light.

In the Shirogawa district, nothing had changed.Beautiful scenery stretched along the coast. Old Japanese houses lined the road, while a light breeze carried the scent of salt and seawater through the air.

He parked his car by the roadside and hurried out, moving quickly toward the courtyard of an old house.Inside, he rushed through the hallway.

When he reached the sliding doors, he stopped. 

His face tensed slightly, his jaw tightening as if preparing himself for what waited behind the door.

He knocked once and waited.A sharp voice came from behind the doors.

“Come in."

He slowly slid the doors open and stepped inside, immediately meeting the eyes of the men seated around a low table on the tatami flor

“Come in, Sota. You finally decided to show up,”

said the middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table.
Several of the younger members glanced at him quietly as he entered.

Sota lowered his head in a respectful bow.

“It won’t happen again,”he said quietly.

“I’m sure it won’t.”The man leaned back slightly.

“I assume you have a good reason for keeping us waiting"

Sota only nodded, still bowing slightly, tension visible in his posture

“Well,” the leader said after a moment,“come. Sit down.”He gestured toward the empty seat beside the table.

“Let’s continue.”Sota lifted his head with a quiet breath of relief and quickly moved to the vacant place.