Hello!"
"It's me. Where are you now, Hidara? I have completed the information, and you will definitely like it."
Hidara: "I'm on a date with Rein right now."
Neil: "Alright, then we'll meet later."
Hidara exhaled slowly into the air.
"Never mind, we'll meet now… we're coming to your house."
Neil: "But—"
Hidara: "We're coming."
Neil surrendered.
"Alright, I'm waiting for you." Then he ended the call.
Rein: "Who was that?"
Hidara: "It's Neil. He wants to meet us."
Rein: "And what did you tell him?"
Hidara: "We're going to his house… do you mind? I know it's your date."
Rein: "Don't be stupid. We're dealing with something far more important than this."
Hidara: "Alright, let's go."
Rein: "Let's go."
[On the way]
Rein said in a faint voice, "Hidara, I'm scared."
Hidara: "Of what?"
Rein: "I'm scared of the pain… scared of the future."
He replied gently, "Don't be afraid, Rein. Everything will be fine."
But anxiety continued to gnaw at her.
Rein: "But…"
Hidara patted her on the head.
"Don't worry."
Rein grumbled, trying to hide her tension.
"Ugh! Get away, you idiot."
Hidara laughed.
"Alright, here comes the bus. Get on."
Rein: "Where is Neil's house located?"
Hidara: "This is my first time visiting him, but I have the address."
Rein: "It's clearly deep in the city."
Hidara: "Yes."
After a while, Hidara said to the driver, "Alright, stop here for us. We're getting off."
They both stepped down, and Hidara looked around him.
"This is the area where Neil lives… or that's what the address says."
Rein looked at the people and their strange gazes.
"The people here are suspicious… look at the way they're staring. I'm scared."
Hidara: "Yes, they are. Don't worry. Just keep walking. Umm… the address says this is the house."
Rein: "Are you sure?"
Hidara: "Yes."
He knocked on the door. (Knock, knock, knock.)
A voice came from inside: "Yes? Who is it?"
Hidara: "It's me, Hidara, Neil's friend."
Neil's mother opened the door with a smile.
"What a surprise! Neil told me about you. You're his friend… please, come in. And who is this girl with you? Neil didn't tell me anything about her."
Hidara: "She's Neil's friend as well."
Neil's mother: "Hmm… alright, but—"
Hidara: "Thank you, Auntie. Where is Neil?"
Mother: "He's in his room."
Neil came out to receive them.
"Hidara, Rein! You came… come in, this is my room."
Hidara whispered to himself as he examined the place,
"What's with this room?"
He looked at Neil.
"Neil, are you depressed?"
Neil shrugged slightly.
"I don't know. That's what my mother says. Actually, I just love books and rare items, so I keep them here. Don't worry about it. Now, do you want tea or coffee?"
They both shook their heads nervously.
"Thank you, we don't want anything."
Neil smirked lightly.
"Alright, you saved me the trouble."
Rein leaned forward.
"We want to hear what you have, Neil."
Neil sat down.
"Alright, everyone sit… hmm. Okay. The people are: Shady and Karam."
Hidara added, "And we have Riya as well."
Neil nodded.
"Alright, let's start with Shady. He's a lonely person. I don't know much about him, but I searched and found out that he works for someone in a restaurant. I spoke to a man there who told me that Shady is someone everyone abandoned. Despite that, he never gave up on life; he fought for it. So I admired his personality… that's what I found out about Shady."
Neil sighed and continued.
"As for Karam, he couldn't handle the restrictions and constant conflicts with his parents. He wanted an independent life lived according to his own decisions. One day, after a heated argument that reached the point of screaming, his father kicked him out in a fit of rage. Karam hasn't returned since. I don't know the full details, but I got the main points. Of course, I found out from one of the people who know Karam in exchange for money… I'm broke now. You're going to pay me back, Hidara."
Hidara frowned.
"From where would I get the money?"
Neil shrugged.
"I don't care. You'll pay me, or you'll treat me to a feast."
Rein snapped at them,
"Shut up, you idiots."
Then she continued more calmly,
"Alright. I'll tell you about Riya. Poor girl… she fled from her home, and she didn't want to. She was forced into it. They tried to force her to marry someone she didn't want—the same person who used to harass her. She tried to discuss it with her father, but he sees nothing but money. So her mother helped her escape until she ended up here."
Hidara lowered his voice.
"Ah… I see. Sometimes anger and the desire for freedom impose themselves. All of these people are living on the edge of danger. Each one carries his secrets and pain, and it seems that each of them is trying to survive in his own way."
Neil nodded firmly.
"Exactly. We must act before the next catastrophe happens."
Hidara looked at him.
"Is this all the information you were able to gather?"
Neil answered,
"Yes. This is as far as I've reached so far."
Hidara smiled slightly.
"You're very interesting. You have incredible intelligence. I don't know how to thank you."
Neil waved a hand dismissively.
"No need to thank me. You're my friend, Hidara… but you still have to settle the bill."
Hidara laughed.
"Hahaha, I told you I don't have money."
Then his expression grew serious.
"Anyway… tomorrow we start the surveillance."
Rein nodded.
"Alright, but it's late now."
Hidara sighed.
"You're right. My mother will worry."
Neil walked them to the door.
"Alright. See you tomorrow."
[After leaving Neil's house]
Rein asked softly,
"What will you do now, Hidara?"
He answered firmly,
"I'll do what I must."
She hesitated.
"Are you sure you don't want to tell the police?"
He met her eyes.
"Yes, Rein."
Rein noticed that his hands were trembling. She took his hand and squeezed it tightly.
"Everything will be fine, Hidara."
He swallowed quietly.
"Yes… I hope so."
[Meanwhile — Neil alone]
Neil spoke to himself in a low voice.
"I have to prepare early. I need more than one thing… alright, I'll take this, and I'll develop this device… and this is the controller."
He looked at a small box and pulled out a weapon. He hesitated for a moment.
"Should I take it?"
Then he hardened his expression.
"Yes… I must. Nothing is stopping me from taking it."
He glanced at an old safe.
Rein's voice echoed in his mind:
"This is not the time for that."
[The next morning]
Hidara greeted her,
"Good morning, Rein."
She smiled faintly.
"Good morning. As usual, Neil is waiting for us at the gate."
Hidara shouted loudly,
"Heyyy, Neil! We're here!"
Then he whispered to himself,
"I have nothing important except my dagger."
Neil approached them.
"Hello, Hidara. Are you ready?"
Hidara nodded.
"Yes, I'm ready. And you?"
Neil answered calmly,
"Yes."
Hidara looked at the bag curiously.
"What's in the bag?"
Neil replied casually,
"Nothing important. Don't worry about it."
Hidara stepped closer.
"I want to see."
Neil pulled it away.
"Get away, you fool. I won't show you."
Hidara insisted,
"Ugh, I'm going to see."
Neil snapped,
"Get away. Leave me!"
Then he landed a light punch on Hidara's face.
"Stay away from me!"
Hidara let out a pained laugh.
"Ouch… what a loss. Alright. You'll monitor Shady, and we'll monitor Riya."
Neil nodded.
"Alright. Count on me."
Hidara took a steady breath.
"Then… we start now."
Neil turned to leave.
"Alright. I'm going immediately."