Chapter 169: Shifts and Shadows
–9 January 2027–
Today would be my first day back at the bar. My shift was different now—4 p.m. to midnight.
I stared at the uniform hanging on the rack, a sigh slipping past my lips. Great. So now Keiko and I are completely out of sync.
She’d just gotten used to my presence at home, and now, once again, I’d be coming in late at night while she was already asleep. No matter how I tried to look at it, the distance worried me.
Still… work was work. And the old man was counting on me, especially with his retirement coming up. His last official day would be the end of the month. After that, he said he’d just pop in once in a while to check up on us. The thought of the bar without him made me uneasy.
I shook the thought away, buttoned up my shirt, and headed out.
---
The bar was warm and familiar when I arrived. The chatter of customers, the clink of glasses, the faint smell of whiskey and smoke—it was like stepping back into an old rhythm.
The old man was leaning on the counter, polishing a glass the way he always did. When he saw me, he smirked. "Took you long enough, kid."
I smirked back. "Blame your retirement plan."
But when things settled, I told him about Riku. I didn’t know why, but I needed to get it off my chest.
"You met yourself?" His brows shot up. Then he scowled. "Are you drunk? How’s that even happen, kid?"
I groaned. "I’m serious! Ask Keiko if you don’t believe me. It was insane for me too."
The old man gave me a long, doubtful look before sighing. "Poor Keiko. She’s gotta deal with two crazy guys now, huh."
"Geez, I’m not crazy..." I pouted.
He chuckled, then shook his head. "Youngsters nowadays are just weird. But really… how is something like that possible?"
"If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking you," I shot back, rubbing my temples.
For a while, he just studied me. Then his tone softened. "Just protect Keiko for now. That’s what matters."
I nodded. "I will."
---
By the time I got home that night, it was already 1 a.m. The house was quiet, the lights dimmed. When I peeked into the bedroom, Keiko was asleep, her face relaxed, her breathing soft.
I smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. Even in sleep, she looked tired. My chest tightened. Sorry, Keiko...
I sighed, forcing myself into the shower before slipping into bed beside her.
---
Weeks passed.
Riku didn’t show up. No strange encounters. Nothing. Part of me was relieved, but another part hated the silence. It was like waiting for a storm you knew would eventually come.
But what really weighed me down was Keiko.
Our schedules clashed. When she woke up for work, I was still sleeping. When I came home, she was already out cold. Even on our off-days, they rarely lined up—unless she managed to grab a Monday, which wasn’t often.
The distance grew like an invisible wall between us. We weren’t fighting, but we weren’t talking much either.
Just passing greetings, tired smiles, the occasional, “Did you eat?” and “Good night.” Even those came through chat. I sighed.
I hated it.
One morning, as she got ready for work, Keiko walked past me, already dressed for her shift. Our shoulders brushed in the hallway.
"Hey," I said quickly, almost desperate. "Keiko... can we talk later? About us. About… time."
She paused, her hand still on her bag strap. "Later, huh? You’ll be back after midnight. I’ll be asleep."
"Then tomorrow?" I pressed.
She gave a small, tired smile. "Tomorrow I have a morning shift again."
I clenched my fists, forcing myself not to groan in frustration. "Keiko, I just… I don’t want us to drift like this."
For a moment, her expression softened. Then she reached up, brushed her fingers against my arm, and whispered, "I know. Me neither. We’ll figure it out, Ryusei."
And then she was gone.
I stood there in the empty hallway, heart heavy.
---
–23 January 2027–
My phone buzzed, and Junpei’s name lit up the screen.
"Bro! My man’s got some information about Riku," he said, his voice almost too casual for the weight those words carried.
I straightened. "Really? What did you find?"
"Better if we meet," Junpei replied. "It’ll be easier to explain face-to-face."
I hesitated, glancing at my work schedule pinned on the fridge. "Monday’s my only day off now. Can you do then?"
"Deal, man," he said. "And don’t forget to bring Keiko too. She deserves to hear this just as much as you."
"Got it," I replied.
When the call ended, I leaned against the counter, staring at nothing. My chest felt tight again.
Monday wasn’t far. But what Junpei had hinted at already stirred unease in my gut. If it was serious enough to warrant bringing Keiko along... then it wasn’t just about me anymore.
Riku wasn’t just a shadow in the background. He was moving.
And I wasn’t sure if I was ready for what came next.
---
That night, when I came home, Keiko was, as usual, already asleep. I sat at the edge of the bed, watching her breathe. Slowly, carefully, I whispered:
"Keiko… I’m scared. Scared this thing with Riku will hurt you. Scared our shifts will tear us apart. But I swear, no matter what, I’ll protect you. Both you and Rin."
My voice caught in my throat, but I forced the words out anyway.
"Even if I lose myself, I’ll never lose you."
She stirred faintly, maybe half-awake, maybe just dreaming. Her hand reached out in her sleep, brushing mine.
And even though she didn’t hear me, I held onto that touch as if it was enough to keep me steady.
For now.