This won't be our last night together

Two men wearing black suits stood in a quiet alleyway, their silhouettes lit up by streetlamps and neon lights. They both held cigarettes, blowing puffs of smoke that swirled around their faces.

"Why did you want to meet so soon, brother?" Shoji asked, inhaling from his tobacco before flicking the ashes away.

"I know what happened to Ayumi," Jiro said, catching his clansman off guard.

"Y-you do?"

"Natsuo said you did your best to save her, but the Baron overpowered her. I appreciate you trying, even though it wasn't your responsibility to do."

Jiro managed to keep his voice neutral, but his younger apprentice began to tremble.

"I... I'm s-sorry I couldn't - "

"Listen. Tomorrow, I will kill him."

Shoji accidentally dropped his cigarette on the ground. He quickly bent down to grab it, but the flame had already burned out.

"Brother..."