“On her own”

Saturday had arrived.

He hated this. Hated the place, hated the person waiting for him, and, most of all, hated the way his heart pounded against his ribcage every time he had to do this.

The uneven gravel crunched under Koji's sneakers as he walked down the secluded path, his heart pounding louder with each step. The late afternoon sun dipped lower behind the buildings of Seun, casting long shadows across the deserted lot. It was quiet, save for the distant hum of the city behind him and the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze.

This wasn't the first time he'd been here. He hated how familiar it was, how his feet found the way without hesitation. The envelope in his pocket felt heavier than it should have, as though the money inside had grown in weight and guilt since he'd stuffed it there earlier that morning.

Arata was already waiting when Koji arrived, leaning casually against a rusted metal barrier that marked the edge of an abandoned park. He was dressed in his usual all-black outfit, his hands buried in his jacket pockets, his posture relaxed as if he didn't have a care in the world. But his sharp eyes betrayed him, cutting through the distance as they locked onto Koji's approaching figure.

"You're late." Arata said simply, his voice low and cool, cutting through the silence like a blade.

Koji hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. "It's only five minutes.." he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "The train was delayed."

Arata's smirk widened as he tilted his head slightly, letting the silence stretch long enough to make Koji's stomach twist. "And whose problem is that?" he finally said, his tone mocking. "Because it's not mine."

Koji bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from snapping back. He couldn't. Not here, not now. He just wanted to get this over with.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the envelope, his hand trembling slightly as he extended it toward Arata. "Here." he said, his voice quieter now. "This is the rest of it. Just like I promised."

Arata didn't take it immediately. Instead, he let his gaze drop to the envelope, then back up to Koji's face, his expression unreadable. "You've been a good little pig lately, haven't you?" he said, his smirk returning.

Koji's jaw tightened, but he said nothing, refusing to meet Arata's gaze.

Arata took the envelope finally, his fingers brushing against Koji's as he snatched it away. He opened it, flipping through the bills with practiced ease. "All here." he murmured, more to himself than to Koji. Then his eyes flicked back up, sharp and calculating. "You're learning, Nakamura. Maybe there's hope for you yet."

Koji clenched his fists at his sides, the heat rising in his cheeks. "I'm doing this because I have no choice."he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Arata laughed at that, the sound cold and hollow. "No choice?" he echoed, shoving the envelope into his jacket pocket. "You always have a choice, Koji. You could walk away, let the chips fall where they may. But you won't, will you?"

Koji's eyes snapped up to meet Arata's, a flicker of anger breaking through his fear. "Because you'd ruin me if I did!" he said, his voice trembling but firm. "You've made that very clear."

Arata's smirk softened, but it wasn't kindness—it was something far more dangerous. "I don't ruin people.." he said softly, stepping closer, his shadow falling over Koji. "People ruin themselves. I just give them a little push."

Koji swallowed hard, forcing himself to hold Arata's gaze even though every instinct told him to look away. "I gave you what you wanted" he said, his voice strained. "Just… leave me alone."

Arata studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he chuckled, shaking his head as he stepped back. "You know, Koji, I almost feel bad for you" he said, his tone dripping with mock sympathy. "Almost."

Koji shifted uncomfortably under Arata's gaze, feeling the sharp edge of the smirk that hadn't left his face since their meeting began. He hated being here, in this quiet, secluded place, with Arata looming over him like a shadow he could never outrun. But he had done what was required, handed over the money, and now he could leave.

Or so he thought.

As Koji turned to walk away, Arata's voice cut through the air, casual but laced with something venomous. "Oi, Nakamura!" he called, his tone almost amused. "Before you go… I have a question."

"Your little blonde friend…"

Koji's stomach twisted, and he froze. "What about her?"

Arata finally looked up, his sharp eyes gleaming with something cold and calculating. "Does she have, I don't know, some kind of mental problem?"

Koji blinked, completely taken off guard. "What?" he said, his voice cracking slightly. "What are you talking about?"

Arata shrugged as he leaned back against the wall. "I ran into her the other night. She was acting… weird. You know, staring at me like I had three heads or something. Then she just bolted like I was about to rob her." He smirked, though there was no humor in it. "Is she always like that? Or is it just me?"

Koji's confusion morphed into anger as he took a step forward, his fists clenching at his sides. "Don't talk about her like that." he said, his voice firm despite the tremor in his hands. "You don't know her."

Arata's smirk widened, as if Koji's reaction was exactly what he'd been hoping for. "Relax, Nakamura. I'm just asking a question. But now that you mention it…" He tilted his head slightly, studying Koji like he was some kind of puzzle. "Why do you even bother with her? You really think someone like her is going to stick around? You're just a convenient seat buddy. That's all you'll ever be."

Koji's jaw tightened, his knuckles whitening as he struggled to keep his composure. "Lily's my friend." he said, his voice low but resolute. "And she doesn't deserve to be treated like a target. She hasn't done anything wrong."

"Yet I'm not the one hiding behind her, huh?

Adorable, really."

Arata laughed softly, shaking his head as he straightened up. "You really don't get it, do you? This isn't about what she's done. It's about who she is. A loud, clueless foreigner who sticks out like a sore thumb. She's practically begging for attention. I don't even have to do anything—she's embarrassing herself just fine."

"Stop it!"Koji snapped, his voice rising before he could stop himself. "You don't know her. You don't know anything about her! If she ran away, it's probably because she knows she needs to stay far away from you! And she has every reason to! Don't you dare lay a finger on Lily-chan!"

"Or what, Piggy Porky? Hmm?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Koji regretted them. Arata's smirk disappeared, his expression hardening as he stepped forward, closing the distance between them. Koji instinctively took a step back, his heart racing as Arata's presence loomed over him.

"I wonder…"

He stepped even closer, assuming a fake air of concern as he lowered his voice "..if she'd still look at you the same if she found out why the name 'Pig' suits you so well. What do you think? Should I tell her… or will you?"

"D—don't bring her into this, she's my friend. I already know I'm not worthy!"

"You've got a lot of nerve, Nakamura," Arata said quietly, his tone dangerously calm. "Raising your voice at me. I thought we had an understanding."

Koji swallowed hard, his earlier courage evaporating as he averted his gaze. "I—I didn't mean—"

"Save it." Arata interrupted, his voice cutting like a blade. He took another step forward, and Koji flinched. "You can play the hero all you want, but it won't change anything. Your little friend? She's on her own. And you? You're lucky I don't feel like teaching you a lesson today."

Koji's shoulders sagged, the weight of Arata's words pressing down on him like a vice. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he nodded stiffly, his fists trembling at his sides.

Arata watched him for a moment longer, then scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "Get out of here, Nakamura. You're starting to bore me."

Koji didn't need to be told twice. He turned on his heel and walked away, his steps quick and unsteady as he put as much distance between himself and Arata as possible. But even as he left, Arata's words echoed in his mind, each one cutting deeper than the last.

Lily's on her own.

Koji clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as guilt twisted in his chest. No matter what Arata said, he wasn't going to let that happen.

He couldn't.

(・_・ヾ

The chill of Seon's late afternoon nipped at Lily's cheeks, turning them a soft pink as she stepped out of the sleek coffee shop where her father was deep in conversation with a group of executives. The gentle hum of the city enveloped her—the sound of bustling crowds, distant laughter, and faint music spilling out from nearby shops. She pulled her scarf tighter around her neck, the soft cream fabric contrasting against her camel coat, and adjusted her beanie with a sigh.

Her Dad— aka her favorite person, had told her to stay nearby, to keep her phone on, and to call him if she needed anything. The usual dad drill. But she needed air. Space. Time to think.

"What do I even do now?" she muttered, shoving her gloved hands into her pockets. The events of the past week looped endlessly in her mind: Koji's sudden withdrawal, the cryptic messages, the weird encounter with the delivery guy—or whoever he was. And Hayato. Just the thought of him made her brows furrow in frustration.

With his arrogant attitude and that face that looks like… what? A commercial? Tsk. And his hair isn't even naturally blonde.

Her boots clicked softly against the pavement as she wandered further into the heart of Seon, the crisp air biting at her nose. The streets here were lively, with bright signs advertising trendy boutiques, cozy cafés, and specialty stores. Everything looked straight out of a manga, the kind she used to see her classmates in Seattle obsess over. She almost felt like she didn't belong here.

Maybe she didn't.

A small gust of wind pushed her forward, and as she rounded the corner, her eyes fell on a brightly lit storefront tucked between two larger shops. Its windows were plastered with colorful posters of characters she didn't recognize, and bold lettering announced "Seon Manga Paradise."

Lily froze mid-step, blinking up at the sign.

"No way." she whispered, her breath puffing out in the cold. She tilted her head, glancing through the glass. Inside, rows of neatly packed shelves stretched to the back of the store, each one overflowing with books. People browsed quietly, some sitting in corners flipping through pages, others chatting animatedly near a display of figurines.

She had never stepped foot in a place like this. Back in Seattle, manga had been this mysterious, niche thing. She had friends who read it obsessively—coff coff Claire, who collected figurines and fan-merch like it was gold. But Lily? She never really got it. The flashy covers and dramatic expressions just didn't click with her.

The warmth of the shop beckoned her, promising a temporary escape from the cold and, maybe, from her spiraling thoughts.

"It's just a store," she muttered, squaring her shoulders. "No big deal."

Pushing open the door, she was greeted by a soft chime and the faint smell of paper and ink. The warmth hit her immediately, melting the icy stiffness in her fingers. She unwound her scarf, letting it drape loosely around her neck as she took cautious steps inside.

The shelves were taller than she expected, towering above her with vibrant spines that seemed to glow under the store's warm lighting. The covers featured everything from dramatic action scenes to blushing couples to cute animals. It was… overwhelming.

But also kind of magical.

Her boots squeaked softly against the polished floor as she wandered down one of the aisles, her eyes scanning the rows of books. Most of the titles were in Japanese, though a few had English translations on the covers. She picked up a random one with a bright pink cover and flipped through it, her brows knitting together as she tried to make sense of the dramatic panels.

"How do people even read this? Right to left? Duh, what a stupid question.." she muttered, turning the book in her hands. She squinted at a page, only to see a character dramatically yelling something about a forbidden love triangle. "This is so… intense."

She placed the book back carefully, shaking her head with a small laugh. But as she moved further into the store, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of curiosity tugging at her. Every shelf seemed to tell its own story, filled with worlds she'd never considered exploring before.

Turning a corner, her eyes landed on a small display labeled "Staff Recommendations." A few volumes were propped up neatly, accompanied by handwritten notes. One in particular caught her eye—a sleek black-and-white cover featuring a lone figure standing in a snowy landscape. The note read: "A hauntingly beautiful tale of loss, love, and redemption. Perfect for fans of heartfelt stories."

Lily hesitated before picking it up, running her fingers over the smooth cover. The art was stunning, each line delicate and precise. For a moment, she forgot about everything—the cryptic messages, the awkward encounters, even Koji. It was just her and the book.

"Maybe this isn't so bad after all" she murmured, flipping through the first few pages.

The soft murmur of voices around her faded into the background as she sank deeper into the story. It wasn't what she expected at all. It was… quieter. More emotional.

She found herself smiling, just a little.

But as she continued her patrol through the shelves, her eyes landed on a figure she would have recognized anywhere.