The afternoon was settling over the city, painting the buildings in shades of orange. Kaito pushed open the agency door, expecting to find work.
Inside, Aiko was slouched back in a chair, flipping through a magazine. Reiko was leafing through a pile of paperwork, while Renjiro leaned casually against the wall, fiddling with his phone.
'Evening,' Kaito greeted in his usual curt tone.
Reiko looked up.'Nothing today, Kaito.'
He exhaled, turning to leave.'Then I'll be off.'
'Wait,' Renjiro said, pocketing his phone. 'Why don't we go out for a drink? It's been years, you're not slipping away that easily.'
Kaito arched an eyebrow.'I'll pass.'
'Come on!' Aiko chimed in, grinning. 'The three of us. We could even ask Reiko to come.'
'I've no intention of going out,' Reiko replied flatly, eyes still on her papers. 'You go.'
Renjiro smirked.'Perfect, karaoke it is. We'll eat, drink, sing a bit.'
Kaito let out a quiet sigh, unable to come up with a decent excuse.'Fine… but only for a while.'
Super Jankara – 9:17 p.m.
The neon sign flickered above the doorway. Aiko arrived first, in a simple black dress with her hair pinned up. Renjiro came minutes later, and finally Kaito.
'We're all here!' Aiko said, pushing the door open.
A low table, cushions, small plates of fried food and a jug of beer soon filled the space between them. Between bites, Renjiro broke the quiet.
'Speaking of old times… did you know Hiroshi's retired?'
Kaito looked up from his glass.'What? He wasn't that old.'
'Who's Hiroshi?' Aiko asked, curious.
'A police chief we both knew,' Kaito explained.
Renjiro took a long drink before going on.'Last year, he joined a raid against a crime syndicate. Took a bullet to the back of the neck. Survived, but ended up in a wheelchair.'
Aiko's hand went to her chest.'I'm sorry… that must be hard for you both.'
Kaito was silent for a few seconds.'Is he doing better now?'
'He can move his arms fine,' Renjiro replied, 'but his legs… not at all.'
The conversation faded as the beer flowed. Renjiro, clearly cheerful, got up to chat up a group of women at another table. Kaito and Aiko were left alone.
'Shall we sing something?' she asked, with a mischievous smile.
'No,' he replied without hesitation.
'Oh, come on…' Aiko insisted, already two beers in. 'Just one song.'
'I don't like singing.'
She lowered her gaze, disappointed. Kaito watched her for a moment, sighed, and stood up.'Alright… one song.'
He stepped onto the small stage, took the microphone, and began to sing with a deep, surprisingly steady voice. Aiko watched him, smiling. But the moment broke when, at the back, Renjiro landed a punch that sent a man crashing onto a table.
Kaito dropped the mic and leapt down.'Renjiro!'
Aiko ran after him. Two more men joined the scuffle. The venue's manager intervened.
'Out! I won't have trouble here.'
Outside, Renjiro, swaying on his feet, muttered:'Thanks… didn't want to be left on my own. Sorry for wrecking the night.'
'I don't mind,' Kaito said. 'Not a fan of karaoke anyway.'
Aiko glanced at him.'You sing well.'
'Thanks.'
'We could go to mine,' Kaito suggested. 'It's nearby. Renjiro's in no state to get home alone.'
Aiko nodded, and the three of them walked through streets lit by warm lamps until they arrived.
Kaito's House
It was spacious, two storeys, with a modest garden.'Wow…' Aiko murmured. 'For one person, it's huge.'
'I like having space,' Kaito said, unlocking the door.
Renjiro collapsed onto the long sofa. Aiko settled into a single armchair.'I'm stepping out back to make a call,' Kaito said, cigarette already between his lips.
Once he was gone, Aiko said softly:'This place is beautiful… I wish I had a house like this.'
Renjiro smiled faintly.'Normal for him—he's got two salaries.'
'Two salaries?' Aiko frowned.
'Forget I said anything.'
Renjiro stood, wobbling slightly.'I'll find the loo.'
Aiko helped him upstairs. At the far end, on the right, she opened a door thinking it was the bathroom… and froze.The walls were covered with crime scene photographs. All women. In the centre, a corkboard crammed with clippings and notes, and one yellowed newspaper: "Murder of Rina Nishida".
Aiko stepped back.'What… is this?'
Renjiro swallowed.'I think… Kaito never stopped looking for his wife's killer.'
At that moment, a shadow filled the doorway. Kaito.
'What were you doing in here?' His voice was cold steel.
'Looking for the bathroom,' Renjiro said quickly.
'What is all this?' Aiko asked.
Kaito lit his cigarette without breaking eye contact.'I didn't want you to know. Or get involved.'
Then he spoke. Told them who he really was. How he knew Renjiro. How his wife had been murdered three years ago.
'I want to help you find who did it,' Aiko said.
'It's too late. I've searched all this time, but never found a trace.'
Renjiro added quietly:'When you left, Riku tried to keep looking. He still does… but nothing.'
'Best you both leave,' Kaito said.
They went down in silence and out into the night. Kaito returned to the room. He took a necklace from his trouser pocket—the one he had bought for Rina. He held it for a moment, memories flooding in: laughter, glances, moments that felt like another lifetime.
'Time to let go,' he murmured.
He placed the necklace on the table. For the first time, he seemed ready to move forward.