After wandering around Yongen-Jaya longer than he'd meant to, Ren finally stopped in front of an angry-looking police officer and asked for directions to Sojiro Sakura's address.
The answer led him to a quiet residential street.
Ren rang the doorbell and waited.
Nothing.
"Oh, looks like no one's home," a delivery man nearby muttered to no one in particular. "Sakura-san should be around the café about now. Next delivery's in the back alley, so I may as well—"
Café… Ren thought. I think I saw one earlier. Leblanc, wasn't it?
As Ren left the area, unnoticed by him, someone peered out from a second-floor window and watched him go.
First impressions were important.
Taking a breath to steady himself, Ren opened the door to Café Leblanc.
The place was rustic and comfortable. Somewhere you'd bring a date—or sit down with older customers. Not a hangout spot. A man sat alone at the counter, legs crossed on a stool, muttering irritably at a crossword puzzle.
The chime above the door rang.
The man looked up. "Oh yeah… that was today," he said in a gruff voice.
As the remaining customers filed out, Ren took in the café more carefully. It was genuinely nice. Warm. Maybe—if things went well—he could work here part-time.
His thoughts were interrupted.
"Four hours for a single cup of coffee. Haaah," the man sighed. Then he glanced at Ren. "So you're the kid, huh?"
"Thank you for taking me in, Sakura-san," Ren said, bowing politely. "My name is Ren Amamiya. It's nice to meet you."
The man blinked, clearly caught off guard. He'd been expecting arrogance. Or hostility. Not this.
"…Name's Sojiro Sakura," he said at last. "I'll be looking after you for the next year. I'm a friend of—well. Never mind. Follow me."
They climbed the stairs above the café.
"This is your room," Sojiro said as they entered the loft.
"It's huge," Ren said honestly.
"I'm sure it beats a juvie cell," Sojiro replied. "I'll get you a bed and some sheets. Everything else is on you."
He paused, then added bluntly, "So you stuck your neck into a fight between two adults and got charged with assault. Shouldn't have stuck your nose into adult business."
Ren clenched his fist, then forced his voice steady. "She was in danger… didn't I do the right thing?"
Sojiro sighed. After a moment, he patted Ren's shoulder gently. Ren flinched at the contact.
Sojiro pulled his hand back. "That came out wrong. I do think you did the right thing. But sometimes the world doesn't agree."
As he turned to leave, he added more quietly, "Sorry for making you jump."
Ren cleaned the loft thoroughly, partly out of habit, partly to clear his head. When Sojiro returned later, he stopped short in the doorway.
"…Wow. I forgot how nice this room actually is," he muttered. "Only problem now is the dust."
"I wanted to clear my mind," Ren said casually.
"Well, makes sense," Sojiro replied. "I'm heading out. Don't touch anything downstairs. And don't leave the café."
"Yes, sir," Ren answered automatically.
Sojiro paused, surprised. Tomorrow, he told Ren, they'd be heading to Shujin Academy. "Just nod and smile. You're lucky anywhere's taking you."
"Yes, sir," Ren replied again.
This time, it made him uncomfortable.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Sojiro said. "Good night."
Later, as Ren prepared for bed, he heard a phone ringing.
That's not my cellphone… he realized. There's a payphone downstairs.
He answered it.
"Hey. It's me."
"Sojiro?"
"I forgot to flip the sign to closed. Not like anyone'll come in, but take care of it for me."
"No problem."
"Thanks."
Beeeeeeep.
Ren flipped the sign and headed back inside. As he passed the counter, something caught his eye—a faint glare underneath it. He bent slightly and spotted a small black cord taped to the underside.
Guess it makes sense, he thought calmly. I'm a paroled criminal in his place of business.
Sighing, he retreated upstairs and lay down on the lumpy futon resting atop old milk crates. Settling in, he checked his phone.
The red eye app was back.
Did I not delete it? He shrugged. Oh well.
He deleted it again and set the phone aside.
"Shujin, huh…" Ren muttered as sleep took him.