Never Not
Ch. 102: Honesty Rai

For hours Yuriko sat dumbstruck in the corridor of Shohei's apartment, next to the entrance of the man's residence. The absence of news from Rai for five days, plus knowing that Shohei also did not return to his apartment after the last Black Shadow show, made Yuriko worried about the two of them.

"What's wrong with them? Why don't they go home? Is that information really being spread out? Does that mean Rai is really a fugitive? What about Shohei himself?" Yuriko asked herself with a face that looked anxious. "Arght ... Why do I worry about others!" The girl ruffled her hair as her mind became tangled like thread.

Because he had been there for a long time, he was forced to decide to go home to Rai's apartment. Hoping to return to the apartment, the man was already there. Yuriko walked blankly up the sidewalk along the shop. Reflexively, his head turned to the right, looking at the row of luxurious cakes displayed in a storefront. One of the cakes on display, looked familiar to him.

This is the cake Rai once bought for me ....

When he looked into the store, he only realized it was a cafe that had been visited with friends and then coincidentally met with Rai. Yuriko went inside the cafe, then headed to the place of order.

"I want to buy this cake." Yuriko pointed at the same cake Rai gave her back then.

The shopkeeper immediately took the piece of cake, then packed it in a pink box that was very sweet.

"The price is 2,500 yen. Payment can be cash or by card."

Yuriko's eyes widened instantly. "2,500 yen for one small cut? That's expensive!"

The girl suddenly screamed. However, because he had already ordered with confidence, inevitably he had to spend the money mediocre.

The night is getting late, the color of the sky is getting thicker. Yuriko just got off the train station. He walked to the apartment as usual. Throughout the steps, his mind continues to dwell on the case of the death of the justice minister who is still heating up in the public. Not only that, Mr. White as the figure who controls the masked man so far, also revealed in the media that suddenly makes people guess who the mysterious figure behind Black Shadow.

"If Rai is the original Black Shadow, then it should be Mr. White is Yamazaki Shohei. Surely the reason he's been keeping me off for a week has something to do with that incident. But ... the justice minister is the father of future fiancee Shohei. If Rai as Black Shadow really killed the justice minister, it must be on Shohei's orders as Mr. Whites. Then, doesn't that mean that Shohei can eliminate the father of his own future fiancee?" Yuriko muttered stiffly as she walked slowly, her fingers swinging as if interpreting the words coming out of her mouth. "No way! A man as good as Shohei couldn't possibly be like that even though it might be true that his fiance's father was corrupt." He shook his head quickly, denying his own conjecture.

Thinking about a little of their problem, Yuriko's stomach suddenly rumbled from hunger. He took the cake he bought earlier, then devoured it in one small bite.

"Guishi ...." Yuriko closed her eyes as the piece of cake shook her tongue. So much to enjoy it, he was unaware there was a car that drove at high speed from behind and almost grabbed it if only someone did not pull it fast. Yuriko gasped while in someone's arms. Not only pulled him, the man also hugged and rested Yuriko's head on his shoulder

"Yo, do you have so many lives that you're not afraid of getting hit?"

The baritone's voice made Yuriko aghast. When he looked up, the face of a handsome man wearing a casual hat and a black jacket with the interior of a white T-shirt instantly filled his net. The man pulled the corner of his lips upwards while opening the hat.

"Tie!" call Yuriko with incredulous eyes.

Yes, it is true that the man who pulled her into that embrace is Rai even though her cheeks look more tapered than before. However, before long his gaze was fixed on Rai's chest.

Instantly, Yuriko's eyes widened in tandem with her mouth wide open. "Oh, my 2,500 yen! You destroyed 2,500 yen of mine." Yuriko stared tragically at the cake she bought at a great price, now crushed and stuck to Rai's shirt.

Rai's facial expression suddenly became ugly. "Ah, you're soiling the clothes I just bought! The tone will definitely be hard to remove."

Rai took a handkerchief from his pants pocket to clean the cake attached. Meanwhile, Yuriko still showed a grimacing look upset because of her cake that was destroyed when she had just one bite. For a moment, their eyes clashed in silence.

"Are there no warm words of welcome for me after I haven't been home for five days?"

Yuriko directly examined Rai's entire body, wiggled left and right, then twisted it like a top.

"Are you okay? No one's hurt in your body, right?" yuriko asked in a worried tone while looking at her from top to bottom.

Rai instantly pulled Yuriko's arm, forcing her closer to his side. "Hey, do you miss me?" tanyanya while attaching their views.

Yuriko pursed her lips, then forcibly removed Rai's hand from her arm. "Why did he come home so soon? I wish you were home much longer!"

The girl's words certainly made Rai pursed her lips with round eyes. Meanwhile, Yuriko walked quickly ahead of Rai. A smile fell on her soft lips. He exhaled a sigh of relief as the man had gone home with his usual manner. Nothing strange, or changed.

On the contrary, Rai was still pondering Shohei's words on the phone a while ago. He tells her that Yuriko might be able to join them. The reason being, Yuriko was close to them and the girl had high spirit and capable martial skills. However, how do I say it if every one that comes out of his mouth is not trusted by the girl. Especially if it had to dismantle its identity as Black Shadow.

They arrived at the apartment. Rai immediately kept his backpack. However, as soon as he was about to close the closet, his hands became stiff.

Yuriko looked at the petrified Rai, then tried to start a chat. "Has your work over the past few days been a success?" the question seems to be ignorant.

There were a few seconds of silence missed just like that. Rai remained fixed with an empty view.

"Ano .. have you heard from the justice minister? Isn't he Shohei-san's future fiancee's father?"

Realized, Rai immediately nodded slowly but chose not to make a sound.

"Surely Shohei was devastated! Is she okay?" ask Yuriko who started to look at what happened. Honestly, he was no less worried about Shohei. Moreover, the man also did not return the message.

"I haven't met him yet" Rai replied.

"How about Black Shadow? I heard he's been a national fugitive and it turns out that there's been a man who's been his controller all along."

Rai who was opening his shirt, re-moved. "Yu-chan ...."

The man immediately slammed his body on the bed, then said, "Sleep!" He undoes his intention to tell the truth to the girl. For some reason, he was afraid that what he would reveal made Yuriko not believe it or more unlucky to be away from him. Given now he's a police fugitive.

When Yuriko dissolves deeply, Rai looks agitated. His head moved to the left and right, his mouth rummaging indistinctly despite not making a sound. Cold sweat began to appear in the pores of his face. The face of master Matsumoto along with the pool of blood on the floor again filled his mind. Not only that, the news narrative that proclaims Black Shadow is a national fugitive continues to resonate in his ears. Like a mantra repeated over and over again. Since then, she has had this kind of sleep disorder.

"Rananahhh ...." Rai shouted and woke up spontaneously.

This made Yuriko wake up. "What's wrong?" yuriko asked looking at Rai's frantic face covered in sweat. The man's chest seemed to rise and fall, as his breathing sounded irregular.

Rai shook his head slowly. Yuriko who was still hit by severe sleepiness, then chose to return to connect her sleep. A minute later, his pair of eyes opened constantly as Rai leaned his head on his shoulder.

"Can I borrow your shoulder for a minute?" ask the man weakly.

"Gum." Yuriko just nodded slowly.

"Arigatou" he said again.

Silence ruled both. Surprisingly, none of them closed their eyes.

"Do you have a problem? It's not like you used to!" ask Yuriko.

"No," Rai replied while still leaning on Yuriko's shoulder.

Yuriko laughed blandly. "It turns out I misunderstood. I thought you thought of me as a friend. It seems like you only think of me as someone else, so you don't want to tell me about your problems" Yuriko said sarcastically.

Rai was stunned as he turned his head slowly towards Yuriko. "I'm afraid you don't trust me."

"It was like that at first. At first everything that comes out of your mouth sounds absurd, but I decided I would continue to trust you. Even if it's hard to believe. Please believe me too. Tell me what you've been through these five days."

Rai gulped roughly at his saliva, then wet his dry lips. "Open my closet. There's a backpack I've been carrying for five days. Open the backpack and look at the contents."

Yuriko glanced at Rai who was also looking at her while nodding. The girl got off the bed and opened the closet according to Rai's instructions. With hesitation, he unzipped the zipper of the bag he had seen. The moment the bag opened, the first thing caught by his eyes was a mask and a dagger.

Rai sat down on the edge of the bed, then said in a slow tone, "I used to be a con man who was always changing identities. A year ago I was in prison for drug possession. I vilified my own friends and lovers. Then, there's a police officer interested in investigating my case. He is Shohei. Thanks to him, I am free from the snare of the law. But, he came back to see me and offered to cooperate. He wants me to help him eradicate 10 corruptors who are officials and politicians. He wanted me to be a character that many people dream of. Justice figures. In return, he offered a life guarantee and also split a quarter of his salary until the mission was completed. I, who was lonely and devastated after the betrayal of those closest to me, felt no reason to refuse his request. I accepted his offer and became Black Shadow."

Yuriko froze in place. Despite knowing that Rai was Black Shadow, he was still shocked.

"Belati in the bag is the evidence used to kill Mr. Matsumoto" Rai said.

Instantly, Yuriko's eyes opened wide. "So .. you—"

"No. That wasn't me. For some reason, all was not in line with our predictions. Our broadcast was hacked, and I duplicated someone. The man was the same height as me and also the exact shape of my lips so that people did not suspect. This is our last mission, but ...." Rai did not continue his words, he rubbed his face violently showing how frustrated he had been for several days.

"Is this a conspiracy?"

"Yes .. that's how. You must've heard the news that I was a national fugitive." Rai took a deep breath and said, "Yu-chan, continuing to be next to me might be dangerous. I could get caught at any time and you'd be dragged down because we live together. Get the fuck out of here! Beside my bag, there was money that Shohei had just given me. Take that, and find a shelter worthy of you. Get away from me!"

"Don't just rule!" yuriko snapped with a wavy sound. The girl was still glued in front of the closet and did not change position at all.

Rai remained silent. He threw away his sight. Although Shohei told her to invite Yuriko to join, she somehow did not want to involve the girl in their mission.

"As long as you don't do it, there'll be a way to uncover the truth." This time Yuriko's voice sounded slow, barely audible.

Yuriko immediately closed the closet, then returned to the bed and chose to lie on her side against Rai. While Rai was only able to raise his head staring at the ceiling of the room.

The clink of time continued to run, rotating around each corner of the clock in a circle. The dawn was ready to close the exhausting night. Rai opened his eyelids heavily as the incisions sounded the sound of wood swinging and colliding with the wind. The man turned to the side and found Yuriko no longer there.he woke up in shock, while circulating his gaze throughout the room without a partition.

New time shows at five in the morning. His view shifted to the window. He felt the sound of wood clashing with the wind felt from the backyard of their apartment. He rolled up the curtains and peered down.

From the third floor where he was now, he could see Yuriko was down there, wearing a martial uniform complete with a black belt wrapped around her waist. Her hair was dikonde high, with a bandana inscribed with kanji coiled on her forehead. The girl held onto a wooden stick, while making an artful martial move.

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author note:

2,500 yen is equal to 300,000 Rupiah gais. that's the price of cutting cake.

this is puanjaang gais, so do not forget to provide useful comments that are in accordance with my novel.