Secrets, Suspense, and Scandalous Shenanigans

The night air was thick with heat, and Hinata's slow, teasing kisses on my neck weren't helping my ability to think straight. My hands rested on her waist, and just as things were about to escalate—

BANG. BANG. BANG.

Someone was knocking—no, pounding—on my bedroom door.

"Ryo!" My mother's voice was sharp, panicked.

Hinata and I practically jumped off each other like guilty teenagers caught sneaking out. Well, technically, that wasn't far from reality.

I fumbled with my shirt. "Y-yeah, Mom?"

"Come downstairs. Now."

Something in her voice made my stomach drop. I glanced at Hinata, who raised an eyebrow. "Damn, that sounds serious. Should I hide?"

I shook my head. "Just… wait here."

As I walked downstairs, my heart pounded. I found my mother standing in the dimly lit living room, still holding the cordless phone in her hand. Her face was pale, her eyes unfocused.

"Mom? What's wrong?" I asked hesitantly.

She turned to me, gripping my shoulders. "Ryo, I need you to listen to me very carefully."

That was never a good sign.

I gulped. "O-okay?"

She exhaled sharply, like she was trying to keep it together. "I just got a phone call. From someone I haven't heard from in years."

Now I was even more confused. "Who?"

She hesitated before whispering, "Your father."

I froze.

My father? The man who had been completely absent from my life? The guy I had barely any memories of?

"Wait, what?!" I blurted.

Mom nodded, pacing. "He… he sounded desperate. Like he was in danger. He said he needed to see you immediately."

Okay, what the actual hell was going on?

"That doesn't make sense," I said, shaking my head. "He abandoned us years ago. Why would he suddenly want to talk to me now?"

Mom bit her lip. "I don't know. But he said he has something important to tell you. Something about… your future."

At this point, my brain was short-circuiting. My future? What the hell did that even mean?

The Next Day

After a sleepless night of overthinking, I found myself sitting across from Aoi and Mikasa at a café, telling them everything.

Mikasa whistled. "Damn, dude. Long-lost dad suddenly pops up, asking to meet? Sounds like the start of a murder mystery."

"Not helping," I muttered, sipping my iced coffee.

Aoi, on the other hand, looked serious. "Did mom say where he wants to meet?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Some shady diner on the edge of town. Tonight."

Aoi's eyes narrowed. "Sounds suspicious. What if it's a trap?"

I frowned. "A trap? You think my dad wants to kidnap me or something?"

She shrugged. "Just saying, people don't disappear for years and then show up out of nowhere unless something big is happening."

Mikasa leaned forward, grinning. "Are we gonna crash this father-son reunion? 'Cause I love dramatic family drama."

I sighed. "I was kinda hoping to go alone."

Aoi and Mikasa exchanged a glance.

"Not happening," they said in unison.

That Night – The Meeting

The diner looked straight out of a noir detective movie—dim lights, cracked leather seats, and a jukebox playing some old blues song. I walked inside, Aoi and Mikasa following not-so-discreetly behind me.

And then, I saw him.

Sitting in the farthest booth, wearing a wrinkled dress shirt and looking about ten years older than he probably was. His hair was messy, and his eyes were tired. But there was no mistaking it.

"Ryo," he said, his voice rough but familiar.

I slid into the seat across from him, my pulse racing. "So. You finally decided to show up."

His lips twitched. "I deserve that."

I crossed my arms. "You deserve a lot more, but let's start with an explanation."

He exhaled and leaned in. "There's something I need to tell you. And it's going to change everything."

My stomach clenched.

"What do you mean?" I asked cautiously.

His next words sent a chill down my spine.

"Ryo… You're in danger."