Chapter 3: Shadows and Whispers

 Yuuto's life was a chessboard, and he was the king—always one move away from checkmate. The cafe had become his sanctuary, a place where he could shed the weight of his crown. But even kings can't escape their fate.

Yuuto (thinking): This peace is just an illusion, a fleeting moment before the storm hits again.

As he sat in the cafe, sipping the hot chocolate Camilla had made for him, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. His instincts, honed by years of survival, screamed that danger was close—too close.

Yuuto (to Camilla, voice low): Have you noticed anyone unusual around here lately? Someone who doesn't fit?

Camilla (frowning): Now that you mention it, there's been a man, keeps to the shadows, comes in just to watch, never orders much.

Yuuto's mind raced. An enemy? A spy? His world was full of them, but what would they want from such a sweet girl or were they really after her? He knew he should stay away, to protect Camilla from the darkness that followed him. But the thought of not seeing her again was unbearable, they had created a bond that felt like they were soulmates forever no matter what. Like twins who have grown together and swore to protect each other till death to separate from her was a hard thing to do.

That night, as Yuuto left the cafe, the feeling of being followed grew stronger. He took a detour, leading his potential tail into an alley where the shadows were his allies.

Unknown Voice (from the shadows): You're not as untouchable as you think, Yuuto-San.

Yuuto (coldly): Show yourself.

A figure stepped out, the glint of a knife visible under the streetlight. Yuuto didn't hesitate; he was a man of action, not words. The struggle was silent but intense, a dance of death in the dim light.

Yuuto (panting, after disarming his attacker): Who sent you?

Attacker (spitting blood): You'll never know. They'll keep coming.

Yuuto left the man in the alley, a message to those who would dare come after him. As he walked away, his thoughts were not of the danger he'd just escaped, but of Camilla. He couldn't involve her in this life, this endless cycle of violence.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans. For when Yuuto returned to the cafe the next day, he found it closed, a single note on the door:

Camilla (note): Gone for a week to clear my head. Be back soon. - C

Yuuto's heart sank. The cafe without Camilla was like Tokyo without its lights—dark and lifeless. He realized then that Camilla had become his light, and he would do anything to keep that light from going out.