Erika taps Mei, seeking an explanation for her concerned expression.
Mei lets out a deep sigh.
"Nothing, I'm fine."
Erika notices the contradiction between Mei's words and her facial expression,
"Your face says otherwise. Tell me what's bugging you. Is it about your job?"
Mei confirms Erika's suspicion,
"Yes, it is all about my job."
Erika offers words of encouragement
"Sis, this is not the end of everything. You know, they are still other opportunities, and that bastard made it clear that he didn't need you, so just let it be."
Mei smiles.
"Yeah, I will try to get over it."
Mei adds
"But I just received a cryptic message. I am not sure who it is, but i think it's him. "
She asks
"Really? Show me"
Mei hands her phone over to Erika. Erika scans through the message.
"I don't think it's him after all these years. Who can tell it might be him."
Mei sighs
"You know if he knows where I am Hiro Hirai, we surely come to find me. Then I am doomed. "
Erika reassures,
"It may be him. It may not be him. Who knows."
Mei adds
"But lately, I have been feeling that someone is watching me or following me. I don't know, maybe it's him."
Erika replies
"Forget about it."
Mei nods
Erika stops the car, prompting Mei to ask,
"Erika, why did you stop?"
Erika points out the obvious.
"Silly, look, we are at the book store."
Mei realises her mistake.
"Oh, we are here."
Erika utters a familiar phrase.
"Hmm."
Mei laughs.
"Look who was angry when I was saying it. How should I feel when you are now saying it?"
Erika brushes it off.
"It was a slip of the tongue."
Mei suggests moving forward.
"Let's go."
They enter the book store.
Erika encourages Mei to relax.
"Ok, let loose."
Erika and Mei make their way to a book shelf.
Mei's fingers trace book spines as she chats with Erika, but suddenly Mei feels:
A prickling sensation on her neck.
Her heart skips a beat.
She casually glances over her shoulder.
Erika notices Mei's distraction.
"Is everything OK? You looked stressed. Are you alright?"
Mei whispers back,
"I feel like someone's watching us."
Erika scans the book store crowd,
"Weird, I don't see anyone suspicious. Maybe you're just stressed from... everything. "
Mei nods slowly, but the feeling persists.
"What if it's someone watching me from my dad's side. Could it be him?"
Erika reassures,
"It's no one, Mei it can't be him."
Mei points out
"How can it not be him. He has been my childhood friend for years, and you are saying I can't sense his prescene. The only thing that scares me is that the friendship we once had has been buried the time he became my father's right-hand man."
Erika replies,
"You are overreacting. He is not the one."
Mei gives in,
"OK, I will assume he is not the one."
Erika smiles,
"Finally, you know you don't look good while you are stressed out, so forget about him. I will be back. I want to check out the books over there."
Mei wanders through the book shop, fingers tracing spines as she reads titles
Her eyes land on a favourite author, and she smiles slightly.
She pulls out a novel, flipping through pages with gentle curiosity.
But as she delves deeper into the stacks, the air seems to thicken around her, heavy with unseen presence.
Her skin prickles with goosebumps, despite the warm store.
Every rustle of pages or faint whisper makes her heart skip.
She starts glancing over her shoulder more frequently between shelves, over book displays, behind her.
The feeling grows from faint unease to intense dread. Her breathing quickens, silent gasps between parted lips.
Books blur together as her eyes dart towards exits and shadows.
She tightens her grip on the novel, contemplating an excuse to leave.
Mei turns to see a book lying on the floor behind her.
A curious child, around 6 years old, stands beside the book, big brown eyes looking up at Mei.
The child picks up the book and hands it to Mei, then places a small piece of paper in her palm.
Mei's heart races as she unfolds the paper to read.
"hey're always watching. Trust no shadows."
Mei looks down at the child, who simply smiles and says.
"Nero said to give that to you."
The child disappears into the crowd before Mei can ask.
"Who's Nero?"
Mei quickly folds the mysterious paper and shoves it into her pocket, glancing around nervously.
No one seems to have noticed the exchange.
She exhales slowly, heart still racing from the surprise.
Mei rejoins Erika, who's browsing nearby.
"Find anything interesting, cuz?"
Erika holds up a romance novel.
"Just this cheesy love story. You?"
Mei forces a smile, pocketing the secret message.
"Just browsing… my mind's elsewhere today."
Erika raises an eyebrow but drops the subject.
Mei feels the paper's presence, burning with curiosity.
"Who is Nero, and what do they know?"
Mei taps Erika
"I haven't found a book yet. I will go find one."
Erika nods.
"Ok."
Mei begins to explore the bookstore, eventually heading to a shelf.
As she reaches for a book, someone's hand meets hers.
The stranger speaks up.
"Oh, sorry, are you interested in this story?"
Mei offers,
"I just wanted to check it. If you are interested in it, you can take it."
He smiles.
"Do I know you?"
Mei clarifies.
"I believe we are just meeting each other today."
He insists,
" You look really familiar. I think we have met before."
Erika spots Mei and heads in her direction.
"Mei, what are you doing? Let's…"
Erika stops and looks at Mei, blinking twice.
"Lee Asher Do-hyun."
Mei looks at Erika.
He explains,
"I didn't know anyone would recognise me in Japan, especially in casual clothes."
Someone shouts from a distance.
"Asher, let's go! Time for sightseeing is over!"
Mei tries to see who is calling out to him, but his face is not visible.
Asher bids farewell
"Bye, that's my cue. See you, maybe next time. I hope we meet again. "
He smiles and leaves. Mei turns to Erika,
"How did you know him?"
Erika smiles.
" He is a member of The Trio."
Mei asks.
"Which Trio? I have never heard of them."
Erika explains,
"How is it that you don't know of them? They are Masato Miraki's Rival Company. They are called the three musketeers because of how they work perfectly together. Gosh Mei, you've worked with Masato Miraki for years , but you don't know his top rival."
Mei inquires.
"Ok, but his name isn't Japanese, more like Korean, and he doesn't look like a Japanese more like a Korean. Is he Korean?"
Erika replies,
"Do you expect anyone you meet in here in Japan to be Japanese? He is a Korean businessman."
Mei yawns
"Hmm."
Erika yanks her hair.
" You little rascal."
Mei says.
"You should know when I lose interest."
Erika teases.
"I understand your body language all too well."
Mei sighs.
" I will take this book then."
They pay for the books.
Erika shrieks.
"Oh no, it's already quite late, let's go! Mom will definitely lecture us."
Mei agrees.
"Let's go."
They both enter the car.
As Erika drives, Mei feels a surge of desperation, wanting to tell her cousin about what happened earlier. But the same question rings in her head.
"Who is Nero?"
Soon, they arrive home, only to enter and see Natsu pacing anxiously,
"What took you two so long? Did you really go to the bookstore?"
Mei confirms.
"Yes, aunt."
Natsu questions.
"Evidence?"
Erika asks,
"Meaning?"
Natsu explains,
"If you really went to the book store, like you claim to, you must have bought books, so where are they?"
Erika, present the books.
"Here are the books, Mom. Are you happy now? You always treat like a kid."
Natsu instructs."Come in."
Mei sees Natsu's face etched with worry. She asks,
"Aunt Natsu, you look worried is everything fine."
Nastu explains
" Mei dear, I am worried and scared. Your father isn't going to easily give up on searching for you. Three people were killed today. People who he taught knew your whereabouts, but where hiding you. You need to leave Japan as soon as possible."
Erika adds.
"This has always been a game of who had the upper hand. Mei needs to leave here as soon as possible."
Natsu replies,
"Mei, rumours say he is back. You know who I mean?"
Mei's heart skips a beat.
"It's just rumours. None of them can actually be true. Let's forget about it."
Erika mentions,"Mom, I have something important to discuss with you."
Natsu delays the conversation.
"You can tell me after, dinner alright you two go freshen up."