Remember Me, Baby.
Zeotrope

A black Bentley slowly drove down the streets of Tokyo. Street lights illuminate pedestrians and other vehicles going back and forth. Activity and fun out there are inversely proportional to the tense faces in the car.

Jovanka sat on the front bench with one of Mr.'s men. Tanaka, while Andrew and Hiro sit in the back seat. The two people just kept quiet and stared at the window glass on their sides. Hiro still remembered Keiko's sad face when he said goodbye earlier. The girl was clearly trying to stay strong, but Hiro also knew her fiance was just pretending to be strong. Her tears as they hugged explained everything.

Suddenly Hiro turned to Andrew and said, “If anything happens to me, please take good care of him. Although it looks hard and tough, his heart is actually very soft.”

Andrew was stunned for a while. In this kind of situation, he did not expect that the man beside him would discuss this openly. Andrew knew what and who Hiro meant. But for a moment he did not know what to respond to. He wanted to pretend not to understand what Hiro was saying, but when he turned his head.Hiro's eyes showed that the man already knew everything.

“This is not the right time for—“

“This is a good time, Mr. Rouxes. I don't know if I can get out of there alive. I want to make sure you can take good care of it,” sela Hiro fast.

He did not want to give Andrew a chance to dodge. Right now, the only hope for Keiko is Andrew, so he won't bother thinking about ego and self-esteem. To him, the most important thing was Keiko's safety.

In the front seat, Jovanka held her breath. The guess was right, there was something between Andrew and the Japanese girl! He clenched his hands tightly. Although upset, Jovanka still looked straight ahead and acted as if she did not hear the conversation behind her.

The car they were riding entered the Shinjuku area, then shortly thereafter turned into the Zeotrope courtyard. Andrew remained silent. There was a lot he wanted to say, but the timing was really not right. In addition to Jovanka who has certainly heard this talk, they have also reached their destination. The sooner all of this is done, the better. They could sit down and talk after returning to headquarters later. Maybe he'll negotiate Hiro's sentence with Mr. Tanaka because the man beside her was very cooperative.

“We have arrived,” said Andrew while opening the door, “I will give a warning if it is in.”

“I won't get off this car before you promise,” Hiro replied in a clear and calm voice. He's not going anywhere even though these guys are pointing guns at his palate.

One leg of Andrew who had come out floated in the air. All of his movements paused for a moment before he finally turned around and returned Hiro's gaze demanding an answer.

“I swear I will take good care of it. Not because of your request, but because I love her. Is this answer enough to satisfy you, Mr Kobayashi?”

Hearing that answer, instead of feeling angry, Hiro just chuckled softly and muttered, “I expected it. That look of yours, not the gaze that strangers are used to. Good. This time, even dead I was calm ..”

“No one will die. Get ready!” andrew exclaimed before getting out of the car.

He immediately walked towards the entrance guarded by half a dozen burly men and full of tattoos. After being scanned and showing the members' cards, Andrew stepped into a dimly lit room filled with decorations in fantasy and sci-fi movie memorabilia.

The sea of humans had filled the dance floor even though it was not too late. Some patrons sat at tables lined up in front of the bar, shouting at each other and throwing dirty jokes. Andrew slowly walked out among the crowd. He ordered a rare Malt car Ichiro whiskey to the bartender, then chose to sit at one of the desks.

He sipped a drink in the glass slowly circulating his gaze, trying to find signs of Robert's men. Searching among the hordes of very many humans is not an easy matter. Thankfully, Jimmy helped Andrew do his job.

Andrew took out the bridge card he was carrying and arranged it on the table. His hand was not seen intentionally when nudging the tip of the card until some of it fell to the floor. When he looked down to pick up the falling card, he glanced a glance towards the right. Two men who had yellow triangular handkerchief folds in their suit pockets were standing at the end of the stairs.

“Good. It looks like it will work on the first try,” Andrew said as he got up and put his card on the table.

He spun a small circle on the edge of his watch and said, “Bring in.”

“Copy,” replied Jovanka from the communication tool. He got off and opened the car door for Hiro.

“Do not mind if you want your girl to stay safe,” threatened before giving way to Hiro.

Hiro snorted softly and replied, “I won't let you go until he gets hurt.”

“Quick the road!” exclaimed Jovanka while glaring at the man in front of her.

Hiro tidied up his suit and walked slowly into the Zeotrope. The guards gave him a path without checking him first. They already know Hiro who comes there almost every week. After all, you could say Zeotrope is one of the subsidiaries that “mastered” by the Kobayashi family.

The man stepped over without hesitation, entering a room filled with the frenetic music and aroma of alcoholic beverages. Slim, sexy women swerved on stage in scanty clothes, while men shouted and uttered obscene words. Hiro's facial features did not change, as if all the frenzy did not bother him at all.

Andrew glanced at the entrance, following Hiro every step with his tail. He was just about to confirm to Jovanka that Hiro had arrived when suddenly his desk was surrounded by several gunmen. The muzzle of the gun was pointed at his head.

“Master wants to meet you,” said one of the men with an expressionless flat face.

“Really? Who is your master?” asked Andrew while putting on a thin smile.

“Don't say much! Quickly wake up!” snapped the man again while pointing the gun handle at Andrew.

“Good. Where is your master?”

Andrew squinted quickly and woke up immediately. For now, he has to buy some time before Robert meets Hiro in person. So ... inevitably, he must give in and obey their will.

***