Chapter 174: Warm Light After the Storm
It had been a week since that night — since Riku appeared at Manna’s Kitchen like a shadow from nowhere.
The image of him standing there, holding Keiko from behind, still haunted me.
No matter how much I tried to forget it, every time I closed my eyes, I saw that smug grin again.
I’d decided to stop digging for now.
Not because I didn’t want answers — I did — but because every time I thought about Riku, I thought about Keiko and Rin.
If something ever happened to them because of my recklessness, I’d never forgive myself.
Junpei agreed.
He said it was best to lay low for a while. After all, Riku wasn’t just some random troublemaker — she had a past.
A bad one. A dangerous one.
There were still rumors that she’d killed someone years ago. Even Junpei looked shaken when he told me that.
So for now, all I could do was watch. Protect. Wait.
---
It was a Monday evening, around 8 PM. My day off.
I stood outside Manna’s Kitchen, leaning against the vending machine nearby.
From the distance, I could hear laughter echoing faintly — Aki, Suzuka, and Miko, probably joking about something again.
I smiled. Even though I didn’t want to admit it, I missed their chaotic energy. But I stayed hidden behind the corner of the alley.
The last thing I needed right now was Aki catching me and dragging me into another round of teasing about “being whipped for Keiko.”
Still, it warmed me somehow — that sound of life and laughter returning to the place that, just a week ago, had been soaked in tension and fear.
As the trio finally stepped outside, giggling and waving goodbye, I saw two figures left behind.
Ruka and Keiko.
Perfect timing.
I stepped forward. “Hey!”
Keiko jumped a little, eyes wide in surprise.
When she realized it was me, she exhaled — half-relieved, half-annoyed.
Ruka smiled knowingly. “I’ll leave her to you, then. Take care of her, Ryusei.”
“Thanks, Ruka. Be careful on your way home,” I replied with a nod.
As Ruka walked away, Keiko crossed her arms. “Why are you here?”
“Picking you up.”
She blinked. “What?”
“Every Monday, from now on.” I said it firmly. “I’ll wait here for you after work.”
Keiko tilted her head, suspicion all over her face. “Why? You don’t have to. I can handle myself.”
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “You say that, but I still remember what happened last week. I can’t just sit around while you walk home alone.”
She frowned, clearly torn between pride and understanding. “Well… I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“That’s not enough.” I looked away, my voice quieter now. “He’s strong, Keiko. Even I might lose if we fought again. I’m scared…”
For a moment, neither of us said anything. The streetlight flickered softly above us, painting her face in a warm glow.
Then Keiko reached out, gently taking my hand.
“We’ll be okay,” she said softly. “Let’s go home, Ryusei.”
Something about her voice always had the power to calm me down. The way she said my name — it was like a quiet promise that no matter how bad things got, she’d still be there.
We walked home in silence, fingers interlocked, the sound of our footsteps echoing under the cold night air.
Halfway through the street, I broke the silence.
“Let’s have dinner out tonight.”
Keiko blinked. “Huh?”
“Rin already ate earlier. It’s just us. My treat,” I said with a small grin.
Her lips curved upward. “Okay, Mr. Manager.”
---
We stopped by a cozy yakiniku restaurant just a few blocks away. The familiar sizzle and smoky aroma filled the air as we entered.
“It’s been a long time since we had yakiniku,” I said as we took our seats.
Keiko nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah. Did we even have one last year?”
I laughed. “You’re exaggerating. Of course we did. You even burned half the meat that time.”
She laughed, covering her face. “Right, right! I forgot!”
The waitress came to take our order, and I pushed the menu toward Keiko. “Order what you want.”
Keiko smirked. “Oh? The bar business must be booming, huh? You’ve been manager for, what, a week? Maybe next month you’ll buy me a car. Or a house, if I wait a year.” She chuckled playfully.
I leaned forward with a grin. “Sure. I’ll buy you a house, a car… maybe throw a wedding ceremony while I’m at it.”
Her smile froze for half a second.
Then her cheeks turned red. “W-what are you saying? Stop saying silly things.”
“You started it,” I teased.
She looked down, hiding her face with her hands. “You’re impossible.”
I chuckled. “You didn’t answer though. You don’t want to?”
Her lips trembled, and she mumbled something so quietly I barely heard it.
“I… want.”
I blinked, pretending not to catch it. “What? Can’t hear you.”
Keiko pouted and swatted my arm. “Stop teasing me!”
I laughed and leaned back, smiling. The sound of her laughter — that soft, genuine giggle — melted away the heavy thoughts I’d been carrying all week.
When the food arrived, we grilled the meat together, talking about small things — Rin’s school, the bar, Manna’s new recipe ideas. Nothing dramatic. Nothing dangerous. Just… life.
And it felt good.
“Ryusei,” Keiko said suddenly after a while, her tone softer now. “You’ve been… different lately.”
“Different?”
She nodded. “More protective. Like you’re afraid I’ll disappear.”
I was silent for a moment. Then I said quietly, “Maybe I am. After what happened last week-”
Keiko looked up, her eyes shimmering under the soft glow of the grill.
“Hey,” she whispered, “I’m not going anywhere.”
I smiled faintly. “You better not. I’d be lost without you.”
“Drama king,” she teased.
“Truth teller,” I shot back.
We both laughed, and for a moment, it felt like everything — the fear, the danger, the unknowns — had all faded into the background. There was only her, me, and the warm, smoky air between us.
When we finished, I paid the bill despite her protest, and we walked back under the quiet Tokyo night.
Keiko clung to my arm, humming softly, and I thought about how even after everything — the chaos, the body switch, Riku’s threat — moments like this still existed.