Chapter 3 – Shadows Behind the Door
The Shadow hideout felt more alive ever since the sign "Shadow Garage" was put up at the front door.
Ryuji was busy arranging tools, Shima remained immersed in his work with the engine, while Toru sat on an old wooden chair, quietly watching the two of them.
That afternoon, the sunlight streamed through the small window, casting long shadows across the workshop floor. The sound of hammering, the scrape of metal, and sparks from welding created a new rhythm, one that marked the beginning of a different path.
Yet beneath it all, Shima couldn't shake off the unease inside him.
The face of the mysterious man, their first customer yesterday, kept resurfacing in his thoughts.
There was something in the man's gaze that refused to let him rest easy.
"What's with the blank stare?" Ryuji's voice snapped him out of it.
Shima lifted his head. "Nothing."
Ryuji walked over, wiping sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. "You're still thinking about that guy, huh? Come on, don't overthink it. Isn't it good if he brings his friends? That means more customers for us."
Shima stayed silent, staring at the bolt in his hand as though his mind was somewhere far deeper.
Toru, who had been quiet all this time, finally spoke. "Shima is right to be cautious. The world isn't as simple as you think, Ryuji. Sometimes, a person doesn't come just to fix his bike, but to see who might become a rival."
Ryuji turned, his face growing serious. "Rival? You mean…"
Toru stood, patting Ryuji's shoulder. "This garage may look small, but to some, our presence could be seen as a threat. And threats… are rarely left alive."
The room fell into silence. Even Shima stopped working, his eyes fixed on their mentor, filled with unspoken questions.
---
As night approached, the workshop door knocked. The sound was soft, but enough to draw everyone's attention.
Hayato walked in, carrying his usual coffee thermos. "You all seem too serious today," he said casually.
Toru glanced at him before sitting back down. "We were just discussing the kind of problems that might be coming our way."
Hayato placed the thermos on the table. His eyes swept across the room before finally resting on Shima. "You look restless."
Shima exhaled. "Our first customer yesterday… he was strange. I don't think he was just an ordinary man."
Hayato gave a faint smile as he poured coffee into a cup. "Sometimes, the most ordinary-looking people carry the deepest secrets."
Shima's eyes narrowed. "You talk as if you know something."
Hayato only shrugged. "Just speaking from experience."
No one continued the conversation. But in the tone of Hayato's voice, Shima sensed something hidden. The man clearly carried a past shrouded in shadows.
---
Later that night, just as they were about to close the garage, the roar of motorcycles echoed outside. Two bikes screeched to a halt in front of the door, their engines growling before going silent.
Two men dismounted, their faces hardened with scars. Their jackets bore unfamiliar emblems Shima had never seen before.
One of them strode inside without permission. "So this is the so-called Shadow Garage?" he asked mockingly.
Ryuji immediately stepped forward. "That's right. What do you need?"
The man chuckled. "Need? Hah! I just came to see if the rumors were true, that there's a new garage trying to steal customers in our territory."
Shima stood tall, his body tense. "We're not stealing anyone. We're just fixing bikes."
The man approached, staring Shima down. "You're Shima, right? The kid who races in the south side. I heard you're fast, but don't be too quick to forget the rules of the street."
Ryuji clenched his fists, but Toru placed a hand on his shoulder before anger could boil over. "If you're here to start trouble, this isn't the time."
The man narrowed his eyes, then smirked. "Not trouble. Just a warning. Don't try to rise too high or we'll be the ones to tear you down."
Without waiting for a reply, the two men turned, started their engines, and roared away, leaving behind the deafening echo of their exhaust.
The garage fell silent again, but the air felt colder, heavier.
"Who were they?" Ryuji asked tensely.
Toru sat back down, his face grim. "Rival gang. Looks like they don't like us showing up in their territory."
Shima tightened his grip around the wrench in his hand, his gaze locked on the door where the strangers had stood moments ago. Inside his chest, something stirred, a mix of anger and determination.
"If they want to bring us down," Shima muttered, "then they better be ready to face Shadow."
---
That night, for the first time since the garage opened, Shima truly realized their path would not be easy.
What had seemed like a simple idea had now become the spark of a new conflict.
And the shadow behind the door the rival gang, was only the beginning of the storm to come.
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