The Hunt Begins

The city was on edge. News of Ryohta's escape and his attack on Aika's café had spread quickly, and the police were working around the clock to find him. Inspector Nakamura had assigned a team to watch over Aika and Yumi, but the fear was still there, lurking in the back of Aika's mind.

She had tried to return to her normal routine, but it was impossible. Every time the door to the café opened, she would glance up, half-expecting to see Ryohta standing there. The security cameras had been upgraded, and the police had increased their patrols, but it wasn't enough to ease her nerves.

One evening, as Aika was closing up the café, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Inspector Nakamura: "We have a lead. Stay safe."

Her heart raced as she read the message. A lead meant they were closer to finding Ryohta, but it also meant he was still out there, still a threat.

Yumi noticed her expression and frowned. "What is it?"

Aika showed her the message, her hands trembling. "They have a lead. They might find him soon."

Yumi's eyes widened. "That's good, right? It means they're closer to catching him."

Aika nodded, though the fear was still there. "But what if he finds us first?"

Yumi reached out and squeezed her hand. "We'll be okay. The police are watching, and we've got each other."