The Deal Beneath the Night Sky

After a casual conversation, Sakamoto left in the afternoon.

Yūto and Shiro returned to their work at Haruka’s restaurant.

Yūto sat quietly at the cashier counter, lost in thought as he pondered the name Suyou.

Shiro walked over to him.

“Hey, Yūto… Yūto…”

“Ah. Yeah. What is it, Shiro?”

“Go serve the customers over there so you don’t keep spacing out.”

“Alright.”

Haruka approached Shiro.

“Is Yūto alright? Does this have something to do with that boy earlier?”

“Don’t worry, Auntie Haruka. Yūto is fine. That boy just came by to have a casual conversation with him,” Shiro said casually as he organized the money.

Later that night...

Just as the restaurant was about to close, a customer walked in to buy something.

Step... Step...

“Are you still open?”

Shiro and Yūto were cleaning the dishes while Haruka approached the man.

“Ah. Sorry. We’re about to close.”

“Oh, I see. Would it be okay if I just ordered one drink?”

The man was wearing a black hooded sports jacket and a mask.

“Ah. Of course. Just wait a moment…” Haruka said.

She quickly prepared the drink.

“Is there still a customer, Auntie?” Shiro asked.

“Yes. He only wants to buy a drink.”

Yūto approached Haruka.

“I’ll take it to him, Auntie.”

“Alright.”

Shiro went back to cleaning the tables and chairs.

Yūto approached the customer.

“Here’s your drink.”

“So it’s true… You live here…”

The man lowered his hood.

Yūto stared at him carefully.

“You… You’re Ryu, Takeshi’s grandson, aren’t you?”

Shiro, who overheard them, immediately walked over to Yūto.

“You still remember me… Good,” Ryu said.

He took the drink and continued.

“After this restaurant closes, meet me near the field over there. I want to talk to you about something…”

Ryu pointed toward a large open field in the distance.

Then, he placed some money on the table and immediately walked away.

“Hey! What do you want from Yūto?!” Shiro shouted.

Yūto stopped Shiro with a gesture.

“Calm down, Shiro.”

“But he’s dangerous!”

Haruka, hearing the commotion, came over from the cashier counter.

“What’s going on? Did something happen?” she asked, confused.

“Nothing, Auntie. That man just left in a hurry,” Shiro replied.

Yūto continued watching Ryu as he walked away.

“Yūto, you know he’s dangerous, right?! Don’t go…” Shiro whispered.

Haruka returned to the cashier counter.

“It’s alright, Shiro. Help Auntie Haruka for a while. I’m going to meet him…” Yūto said.

He asked Haruka for permission to leave for a while.

Then, he walked toward the open field Ryu had pointed out earlier.

When he arrived, he saw Ryu sitting alone on a bench, gazing up at the sky.

Yūto approached him.

“I’m here. What did you want to talk about?”

Ryu remained silent for a moment, still staring at the star-filled sky.

Then, he slowly turned toward Yūto.

“I want to make a deal with you…”

His voice was calm, but there was a heaviness behind it.

“A deal? What for?” Yūto asked.

Ryu lowered his head for a moment before answering.

“If my guess is correct, you probably hold a grudge against "The Covenant"…”

Yūto remained silent for a moment before answering.

“That’s none of your business… Just answer my question. I don’t want to waste my time,” Yūto said firmly.

Ryu smiled.

“I’ll help you find "The Covenant". But…”

Ryu paused for a moment.

“But what?” Yūto asked.

“Suyou is mine! I’m the one who will kill him…” Ryu said with a sharp gaze.

Yūto was shocked and remained silent for a moment.

“Why are you after Suyou? Aren’t you part of "The Covenant"?” Yūto asked in confusion.

Ryu stood up and slowly walked toward Yūto.

“You don’t need to know why I’m after Suyou. The deal is simple: I’ll give you information about "The Covenant", and you’ll leave Suyou to me.”

Ryu stared sharply at Yūto.

Yūto said nothing, simply staring back at him.

“I’ll take your silence as a sign that you agree,” Ryu said.

The night wind seemed to fall silent, as if it too were watching the two of them.

After saying that, Ryu turned around and walked away.

From a distance, Shiro came running toward them.

“Yūto… Are you alright?”

Shiro looked Yūto up and down.

Yūto smiled.

“I’m fine, Shiro.”

“Where did he go?! He didn’t do anything to you, did he?” Shiro asked, breathing heavily.

Yūto shook his head.

“No. We just talked. He left a while ago, before you arrived."

“Good. Come on, let’s go home. Auntie Haruka told me to come get you.”

Yūto and Shiro returned home.

A few days later…

The days passed as usual until, one morning, a text message arrived on Yūto’s phone.

Beep… Beep…

Yūto looked at his phone and read the message.

“Who’s this number?”

He opened the message and read its contents.

'Minamibōsō City, Chikura Town, Kubo 742-18, Chiba. That’s the location where "The Think" is hiding. You can get a great deal of information if you manage to defeat him. Remember, he's one of Suyou’s most trusted men. The two of them are extremely powerful, so be careful.

— Ryu'

“This is from Ryu. So I’ve finally found you, "The Think". One step closer to Suyou’s location… and I can put an end to all of this.”

Yūto clenched his fist, his gaze turning sharp.

That afternoon, inside Haruka’s restaurant, Yūto approached her.

“Auntie Haruka, I’m sorry. I have to leave because I’ve already made plans with Aoi. I’ll be home late,” Yūto said, lying.

Haruka smiled teasingly.

“How far along is your relationship with Aoi? When you’re in love, you really do want to spend all your time together, don’t you? That’s fine. Shiro can keep me company.”

Yūto smiled shyly.

“Ah. Stop teasing me, Auntie.”

Shiro watched Yūto from behind the cashier counter.

Yūto glanced at Shiro several times before leaving.

Shiro approached Haruka.

“Auntie, where's Yūto going?” he asked curiously.

Haruka smiled at him.

“Are you jealous of Yūto? Just admit it, Shiro. Do you already have a girlfriend?” she teased.

“Huh? Jealous? Why would I be? That’s ridiculous."

Shiro turned his face away awkwardly.

He watched Yūto walk farther and farther away until he disappeared into the night.

'Why is he heading south? Isn’t Aoi’s house to the east?' Shiro thought.

“Shirooo, come help me for a moment,” Haruka called.

The atmosphere suddenly became quiet.

Haruka looked around.

“Where did he go?” she muttered.

Meanwhile, the night grew darker.

The sky helped conceal Yūto’s footsteps within its shadows.

The silence of the night was a good companion to those who sought solitude.