Logan walked out of the bar with a helpless expression, leading the way.
"Senpai, this is the last time, I mean it..." He said as they stepped outside, glancing at the bustling street filled with all kinds of people.
The neon lights of the nearby bars clashed with the distant, dazzling glow of the city's nightscape, creating a vivid tapestry of red and gold.
He continued his lecture, but behind him, Olivia, still riding the high of her excitement, wasn't paying much attention.
She mumbled to herself, replaying the events in her mind, her fingers twitching slightly as if reliving the thrill.
"Are you even listening?" The night lights shifted across her face as they walked, casting fleeting shadows. For a moment, Logan was reminded of the times he'd practiced climbing trees with Chakra… there was a strange resemblance in her expression now, so unguarded and innocent compared to her usual aloof demeanor.
'Well, at least no one got hurt.'
The fresh air outside was a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere of the bar. The street was crowded, and among the throng, two conspicuously packed vans stood out, surrounded by burly men in black suits who clearly didn't fit in with the usual crowd. At their center, Damian waved them over, his expression mirroring Logan's earlier helplessness.
"Ah, Logan, my friend..."
The two groups met halfway, and the conversation quickly turned to a friendly discussion, though 'friendly' might have been a stretch, given the circumstances.
For Damian, tonight had been a strange mix of emotions. A minor disturbance in his territory was nothing new, but having it happen right under the nose of someone like Logan was… awkward, to say the least.
And even more baffling was the fact that Logan seemed genuinely interested in the whole affair.
'Was this some kind of eccentric habit shared by all hidden experts?'
He'd barely gotten a word out before his underlings came running with news of trouble.
"Hand over your phones." Damian snapped at the two lackeys who'd delivered the message, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Huh?"
Reading the room was a crucial skill, and two of his more astute subordinates stepped forward immediately, confiscating the phones and berating their owners.
"What kind of professionalism is this? Don't you know to keep your phones on silent during work? And why the hell are your phones so fast? What if you scared the customers?"
The commotion had long since died down, but the street was still buzzing. A few police officers arrived, and Damian's men smoothly handled the situation with cigarettes and familiar banter.
Damian himself couldn't be bothered to stick around, ushering Logan and Olivia to a quieter spot away from the noise.
In the grand scheme of things, it was a trivial incident. No rival gangs involved, no serious injuries, just the kind of drunken scuffle that probably happened every night in places like this. The street was soon back to normal, as if nothing had happened.
Logan, on the other hand, felt like he'd gotten lucky. The whole thing had been oddly satisfying, like scratching an itch he hadn't realized was there.
The teachers' advice had been spot-on, there was something to be said for experience. He almost felt energized enough to tackle a few more exam papers.
The night bus rumbled past, its destination lit up in bright letters as it merged into the flow of traffic. With business concluded, it was time to part ways. Damian tried his best to persuade them to stay, but Logan was unmoved. Money had changed hands, and his conscience was clear.
The nightlife was just getting started, the city's lights stretching endlessly into the distance, a river of desire and indulgence. Two people from vastly different worlds had crossed paths today, sharing a moment of shared exasperation and something faintly nostalgic, a gangster and a teenager pretending to be weak.
It was almost poetic.
Olivia, sobering up in the cool night air, finally snapped out of her daze just in time to catch the tail end of an equally awkward conversation between the two.
"Logan, my friend, I'm really sorry about tonight. How about I make it up to you with another round?"
"Can't. I have to catch the bus."
"Tomorrow, then?"
"Uh… I have school."
"Ah, right. My bad. Well, you're always welcome here."
Logan waved his hands dismissively, "This is the last time, seriously… I'm about to graduate and look for a job."
The statement was oddly specific, as if he was trying to convince himself as much as Damian. But Damian just smiled knowingly, "Hey, don't say that. We just bought a couple of new clubs, it's great atmosphere. You should drop by sometime."
"Uhh…"
After several rounds of polite refusal, Logan finally gave in, agreeing halfheartedly just to end the conversation.
Olivia rolled her eyes.
A nearby skyscraper bathed the area in light, erasing all shadows.
Olivia couldn't help but recall the intoxicating rush of power she'd felt in the dim confines of the bar, the thrill of breaking free from her usual restraints, if only for a moment.
Now, as the adrenaline faded, replaced by the mundane glow of the city, she clenched her fists. The last traces of Chakra had long since dissipated, leaving only a faint, lingering ache, proof that she'd truly felt alive.
The odd duo's conversation finally ended, and Olivia dragged Logan away before he could start lecturing her again.
A few steps later, she flagged down two taxis to shut him up.
"Boss."
Fifteen minutes later, the subordinate returned to report that everything had been handled.
Damian loosened another button on his shirt, staring out at the ordinary streets beyond the glittering lights. The further out you looked, the more mundane the scenery became, a stark contrast to the chaos behind them.
"Is Mr. Logan gone?" The subordinate asked, following his boss's gaze.
"Yeah." Damian nodded, his weathered face unreadable.
As a good subordinate, this guy knew when to play along. He sighed, "Boss, if you're so interested in him, why not try harder to win him over?"
"It's not the same."
"…"
"It's not the same. People like him… they don't belong in our world. Sooner or later, they always leave." Damian shook his head, watching as Logan's figure disappeared into the city's shadows.
He could see it, the way the night light seemed to fade as he walked away.
As the month turned, the weather grew colder. Even the gentle coastal breezes couldn't hold back the frost creeping across the land.
People bundled up in thick coats, and Logan found himself blinking through the last of his holiday freedom.
By the time the ice thawed again, he'd no longer be a high school student, he'd be an adult.
…
Tokyo, Japan.
The festive atmosphere here was no less vibrant, especially with Christmas, an imported holiday, taking center stage. Everywhere was decked out in lights, and whenever Logan glanced at the calendar, he was reminded of Sumika's first arrival.
And of the towering Tokyo Skytree.