Tokyo, Japan
Komorebi Café (木漏れ日)
Komorebi Café was the kind of place that looked as though it had been lifted straight out of a postcard.
The soft afternoon sunlight poured through the large glass windows, painting the café in warm golden hues. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the scent of warm bread and pastries drifting from the front counter.
Light wooden tables were neatly arranged throughout the room, while small potted plants decorated each corner, giving the café a peaceful and welcoming atmosphere.
Outside, Tokyo continued its usual rhythm.
Office workers were returning from lunch.
Students laughed as they chatted with friends.
Couples walked side by side.
It was just another ordinary afternoon.
A peaceful afternoon.
A happy afternoon.
But not everyone inside Komorebi Café shared that peace.
"When I look out that window and see such a beautiful day... people smiling, enjoying their lives... I actually feel a little sorry for you."
The young man leisurely brought his cappuccino to his lips before taking a sip.
At first glance, he looked to be around eighteen or nineteen years old.
But that impression quickly faded upon closer inspection.
His face still carried far too many youthful features.
In truth, Leonardo Leite was only fifteen years old.
Perhaps it was his above-average height or the sharp features inherited from his Brazilian heritage, but most people naturally assumed he was older.
He wore dark pants, a charcoal-gray hoodie, and a pair of black Adidas sneakers.
Nothing flashy.
Nothing expensive.
Just an ordinary-looking teenager.
His appearance wasn't the problem.
His smile was.
Calm.
Natural.
Almost friendly.
As if he were casually chatting with someone he knew.
As if he weren't in the middle of destroying someone's life.
Sitting across from him, a woman in her thirties trembled ever so slightly.
Every word Leonardo spoke seemed to tighten the knot forming inside her chest.
Slowly, she raised her eyes.
Fear.
Regret.
Despair.
Every one of those emotions was written across her face.
Leonardo rested his chin on one hand.
"But then I remember all the shit you've done... and what a despicable person you really are."
His smile widened.
A genuine smile.
Bright.
As if he were commenting on the weather.
"And then I'm happy all over again that I stole—and destroyed—the happiness you once had."
The woman's lips parted.
Not a single word came out.
She wanted to answer.
To defend herself.
To justify her actions.
But nothing would come.
Her hands slowly curled into fists until her knuckles turned white.
She felt powerless.
Weak.
Cornered.
And above all...
Terrified.
"But if it's any consolation," Leonardo continued with a shrug, "you're not even close to being the worst."
He leaned back comfortably in his chair.
"Compared to some people..."
"You actually got off pretty easy."
Easy?
The woman almost laughed at the word.
How could any of this possibly be considered "easy"?
Everything she had was about to be taken away.
Her marriage.
Her reputation.
Her family.
Her life.
Everything.
And the most terrifying part...
This complete stranger truly had the power to do it.
She had never seen him before.
Never spoken to him.
So why?
Why was this boy doing this to her?
How had her life fallen apart so completely?
Before she could lose herself in those thoughts, Leonardo spoke again.
"I bet you're asking yourself the classic question..."
"Why?"
Their eyes met.
His smile only grew wider.
"For fun."
The world seemed to stop.
For several long seconds, she convinced herself she had misheard him.
"...What?"
"Oh?"
"You think you heard me wrong?"
Leonardo leaned back in his chair.
"Then let me explain it a little better."
Something in the way he said those words sent a chill crawling down her spine.
"Just like you enjoyed betraying your husband's love to indulge in forbidden fruit..."
His voice remained calm.
Polite.
Almost friendly.
"I enjoy taking away the things you love most."
He tilted his head ever so slightly.
"Your family."
"Your husband's love."
"And your precious daughter."
The color instantly drained from the woman's face.
The woman's face turned deathly pale.
She opened her mouth.
She wanted to call him insane.
A monster.
To scream that he had lost his mind.
But she never got the chance.
Her head was slammed violently against the table.
SMACK!
An instant later, a brutal slap crashed across her face.
The force of the blow threw her out of her chair.
Everything happened too fast.
Dazed, she instinctively pressed her hands against her nose and cheek.
Pain.
A sharp, throbbing pain.
Shaking, she desperately looked around for help.
No one moved.
No one looked concerned.
No one even seemed to notice what had just happened.
"You must be wondering why nobody's trying to help you."
Leonardo rested one arm casually on the table.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"The answer is simple."
He slowly raised his right hand.
"I rented out the entire café."
The woman froze.
"Everyone here is a hired actor."
Snap.
The moment his fingers snapped, people began standing up.
One by one.
Without haste.
Without expression.
Within seconds, the café was completely empty.
Only the two of them remained.
"Pretty amazing what money can do, don't you think?"
Leonardo chuckled quietly.
At that moment, another woman approached.
She wore an elegant business suit and carried a large brown envelope.
When she reached the table, she handed it to Leonardo.
"Thank you."
He accepted it without even looking at her.
His attention never left the woman on the floor.
"Inside this envelope are your divorce papers."
He gently waved it in the air.
"And every piece of evidence proving your affair."
The woman shuddered.
"Of course..."
"They've already been signed by your husband."
His smile never changed.
"It was surprisingly easy to convince him after I showed him the evidence."
He calmly took another sip of his cappuccino.
"Anger and disappointment are dangerous emotions."
A brief pause.
"Especially when someone finally realizes who they've been living beside all this time."
The woman lowered her head.
"Don't worry."
His voice remained calm.
"I'll make sure he and your daughter have a much better life from now on."
His smile returned.
He placed the envelope on the table before taking another sip of his coffee.
As though he had merely finished another routine task.
"Sign it."
His tone remained perfectly composed.
"And afterward..."
"I want you to post a public apology online."
Silence.
The woman stared at the envelope as if it were her own death sentence.
Leonardo simply watched her.
Waiting.
Patiently.
After several long seconds, he spoke again.
"Of course..."
"You can walk right out of this café."
The woman slowly looked up.
"You can run straight to the police."
He shrugged.
"You can show them the bruise on your face."
"You can tell them you were assaulted by a fifteen-year-old boy."
His smile widened.
"And while you're at it..."
"You can explain how that same fifteen-year-old rented an entire café in Tokyo..."
"...hired dozens of people to pretend to be customers..."
"...and gathered enough evidence to destroy your marriage."
Silence.
"When you put it like that..."
Leonardo laughed softly.
"It sounds completely ridiculous, doesn't it?"
The woman bit her lip.
He continued without the slightest hint of emotion.
"Besides..."
"If you decide to make this into a problem..."
His voice remained gentle.
"Every video of your affair will be released."
"Not just online."
"Your parents will receive copies."
"Your friends will receive copies."
"Your coworkers will receive copies."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Everyone..."
"...will learn exactly who you really are."
The woman felt the blood drain from her face.
Leonardo rested his elbow on the table.
"Oh... and one more thing."
He gestured toward the woman in the business suit standing beside him.
"The settlement my associate prepared will be withdrawn immediately."
His smile slowly returned.
"And in that case..."
"I'll exploit every legal loophole I can find..."
"...to turn your life into a living hell."
"Debt."
"Lawsuits."
"The loss of everything you own."
"The full package."
He smiled almost kindly.
"Honestly..."
"You should be thanking me for my generosity."
He glanced down at the documents.
"Oh."
"I almost forgot one small detail."
The woman's breathing stopped.
"This agreement guarantees you'll still have regular visitation rights with your daughter."
Leonardo crossed one leg over the other.
"But if you decide to fight me..."
"...that could easily become one day a year."
He rested his cheek against one hand.
"If I were you..."
Their eyes met once again.
"I'd sign the papers."
"I'd apologize."
"Publicly."
"And I'd accept the deal."
A brief silence followed.
"Because that's by far..."
"...the best outcome you're going to get today."
Silence once again settled over Komorebi Café.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
The woman remained on her knees, staring at the documents as though they were her final sentence.
Leonardo, on the other hand, looked like a businessman waiting for the outcome of an ordinary meeting.
At last, he stood up.
His chair slid softly across the wooden floor.
"Let's do this."
He straightened his hoodie.
"You have until 8:30 tomorrow morning to sign those papers."
He gestured toward the woman in the business suit.
"My associate will personally come to collect them."
The woman said nothing.
"If you choose not to sign..."
Leonardo shrugged.
"I'll assume you'd rather settle this in court."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"And believe me..."
"My associate will be representing your husband."
"If necessary..."
"I'll hire three or four more attorneys."
"Money is definitely not an issue."
Every word crushed the woman a little more.
Then Leonardo let out a quiet laugh.
"But try looking on the bright side."
He began walking toward the exit.
"At least you and your lover will finally have a place all to yourselves."
The venom hidden within those words struck its target perfectly.
The woman slowly closed her eyes.
Just as Leonardo reached the door, he suddenly stopped.
"Oh."
"I almost forgot about him."
He slipped a hand into the pocket of his hoodie and pulled out a photograph.
Without another word, he dropped it at the woman's feet.
Her trembling fingers picked it up.
The color drained from her face the instant she saw it.
It was her lover.
His face was covered in bruises.
One arm was wrapped in a cast.
His knee was visibly injured.
Leonardo watched her reaction with obvious amusement.
"He was terrible in a fight."
A small laugh escaped him.
"He started begging me to stop after only a few minutes."
He shook his head.
"Honestly..."
"That was disappointing."
The woman's eyes trembled.
"But I'll admit..."
"I had a little fun."
He shoved both hands back into his pockets and continued toward the exit.
"Anyway."
"I've got other appointments."
"I don't like being late."
He opened the café door.
The afternoon sunlight flooded inside.
"I'll be waiting for your answer tomorrow."
"Have a nice day."
Then he left.
As though none of it had mattered.
Outside Komorebi Café, a black Toyota Corolla was waiting beside the curb.
Nothing flashy.
Nothing luxurious.
Just an ordinary sedan.
The kind thousands of people drove through the streets of Japan every single day.
Leonardo climbed into the back seat without any sense of urgency.
His associate entered right after him.
The doors closed.
The engine started with a soft hum.
For a brief moment, the woman watched through the window as the car drove away.
It felt absurd.
Everything about it felt absurd.
Just a teenage boy.
An ordinary car.
Ordinary clothes.
Nothing about him suggested wealth.
Nothing suggested power.
And yet...
He had destroyed her life.
The driver remained silent behind the wheel.
Leonardo settled comfortably into the back seat and pulled out his phone.
"Drive."
His voice was flat.
As if everything that had just happened had been nothing more than another boring task checked off a list.
The driver quietly obeyed.
The Corolla pulled away from the curb and blended into Tokyo's traffic.
...
As he scrolled through his phone, Leonardo stretched and let out a long yawn.
"Aaaah..."
"I'm getting sleepy."
"But pretending to be Petri Jane was pretty fun..."
"...or..."
"What was that guy's name again?"
"Hmm..."
"I'll remember when I remember."
He laughed to himself.
"Next time I'll just be myself, you know?"
Neither the lawyer nor the driver could hide their tension.
For a brief moment, both unconsciously held their breath.
How could someone remain so relaxed...
...after ruining another person's life?
"Being that tense isn't gonna help either of you."
Leonardo didn't even bother looking up from his phone.
"Especially when your lives could end up just like hers."
A grin spread across his face.
"But hey..."
"On the bright side..."
"The three of you can become friends and support each other."
He burst into laughter.
What made it so unsettling...
...was that there wasn't a trace of malice in his voice.
He sounded like someone making an innocent joke.
Which only made it worse.
The lawyer silently clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white.
"You don't have to remind me, you demon..."
"I know better than anyone that I could end up exactly like that woman..."
"But I can still save myself..."
"Unlike him."
The driver tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
He was furious.
Absolutely furious.
But he forced himself to stay calm.
This wasn't the time.
"Oh?"
"You two are really holding yourselves back."
Leonardo laughed again.
"This is going to be fun."
"I just hope whatever you've prepared is actually good..."
"...because if it isn't..."
"...what happens to you will be far worse than what that stupid bitch went through."
His eyes slowly shifted toward the driver.
"Especially you."
There was no mistaking his intention.
He was provoking him.
Tormenting him.
Enjoying every second of it.
Leonardo suddenly seemed to remember something.
"Oh, right..."
A grin spread across his face.
"I should probably pay your son a visit."
"See how he's doing."
The driver's expression didn't change.
"But then again..."
"We both know you never really cared about him, did you?"
"...you piece-of-shit rapist."
Leonardo's tone remained light.
As though he were chatting about the weather.
"You only wanted to screw that girl..."
"...that pathetic woman with a mommy complex."
He burst into laughter.
"Hahaha..."
Then he shrugged.
"But if it's any consolation..."
"She's still alive."
"She's currently in the psychiatric ward of Tokyo's best hospital."
He paused for a moment.
"And you know the best part?"
"It all happened because of you."
"After all..."
"You and your little girlfriend were practically celebrities."
"The police loved you."
"The media loved you."
His words struck the driver like a punch to the stomach.
Even he hadn't expected them to hurt that much.
The lawyer, sitting beside Leonardo, also froze.
She already knew part of the driver's past.
But hearing Leonardo lay it all out so casually filled her with even greater disgust.
She was far from innocent herself.
Even so...
She could never compare herself to the monster behind the wheel.
The driver's grip tightened until his knuckles turned white.
Without taking his eyes off the road, he stared at Leonardo through the rearview mirror.
"I know exactly what kind of situation I'm in..."
His voice was low and heavy.
"And I also know..."
"That one day..."
"I'll make you pay for everything you've done to me..."
"...and to Natsuko."
"You damned brat."
Leonardo's smile only grew wider.
"Oh?"
"The claws are coming out again."
He laughed loudly.
"Hahaha!"
Resting his elbow against the door, he looked lazily out the window.
"But seriously..."
"I think you're a masochist."
"You almost seem to enjoy getting your ass kicked by me."
Another chuckle.
"Relax."
"Once I'm done warming up..."
"...we can finally settle our score."
A spark of excitement shone in Leonardo's eyes.
"I really want to see whether you've finally used that brain of yours..."
"...to come up with a decent revenge plan."
He tilted his head.
"Instead of repeating the same stupid mistakes."
Silence returned to the Corolla.
A few moments later, Leonardo unlocked his phone, glanced at the screen, and spoke in the same casual tone as always.
"Take me to this address."
The driver entered the destination into the GPS and quietly changed course.
"Keep smiling while you still can, you little bastard..."
"I've finally figured out how to crush that arrogance of yours."
Almost as if he had heard the thought itself...
Leonardo let out a quiet laugh.
"Heh."
"A pissed-off face doesn't scare me."
"Hunger does."
He glanced out the window.
"Now keep your eyes on the road."
"I'm not interested in becoming some internet meme because you crashed the car."
The driver merely ground his teeth together.
Without another word, Leonardo leaned back into his seat and closed his eyes, patiently waiting to arrive.
Silence once again filled the Corolla.
The driver felt utterly powerless.
For now...
All he could do was obey the orders of a fifteen-year-old boy.
But deep inside...
He still believed the day would come when he'd be standing over Leonardo's corpse.
Several minutes later...
The Toyota Corolla gradually slowed before pulling over beside the curb.
"We're here."
The irritation in the driver's voice was impossible to hide.
Leonardo slowly opened his eyes.
The moment he looked outside...
His smile returned.
This part of the city looked like it belonged to a completely different Tokyo.
Old apartment buildings.
Walls covered in graffiti.
Abandoned storefronts.
Rusted streetlights.
Broken windows.
There were almost no people around.
Even the noise of bustling Tokyo seemed unable to reach this forgotten place.
It was a place no one cared about.
A place where nobody asked questions.
The perfect place...
...to deal with matters that should never come to light.
"Nice..."
Leonardo stretched before flashing another grin.
"Looks like it's finally time for the fun part."
Leonardo reached into the pocket of his hoodie and pulled out a small plastic bottle.
It was about the size of one of those children's probiotic drinks.
Without the slightest hesitation, he broke the seal and drank the entire contents in one gulp.
The lawyer watched silently.
So did the driver.
Neither of them had the faintest idea what the liquid inside had been.
Leonardo slipped the empty bottle back into his pocket.
Then he smiled.
"Now let's see if this works exactly the way I want it to."
He rolled his neck, producing a sharp crack.
"If it doesn't..."
He laughed quietly.
"...that'll be embarrassing as hell."
Another grin crossed his face.
"Like they say..."
"Trust the process."
Next, he pulled his hood over his head.
Then he reached into another pocket.
This time, he took out a simple black mask.
Plain.
Unremarkable.
It covered the lower half of his face, stopping just below his eyes.
Once he adjusted it, only his eyes remained visible.
His relaxed attitude hadn't changed.
But...
Something about him felt different.
His gaze.
For a brief moment, even the lawyer felt a chill run down her spine.
Leonardo looked at the two of them.
"Park the car farther up the street."
His tone remained casual.
As though he were giving directions for a weekend outing.
"Then wait for me."
He paused.
"When you get the signal..."
Another pause.
"Call a few ambulances."
A muffled chuckle escaped from behind the mask.
"They're going to need them."
His eyes shifted from the lawyer to the driver.
"Oh..."
"And don't forget to call the police."
The two exchanged a quick glance.
Neither of them understood what was about to happen.
The lawyer took a deep breath.
Even knowing she might regret asking, she couldn't hold back.
"...What kind of signal are we supposed to look for?"
Leonardo slowly turned toward her.
Even with half his face hidden, it was obvious he was smiling.
"Don't worry."
His voice remained calm.
"You'll know it when you see it."
He took another step toward the door.
Then stopped.
"Now..."
He slowly raised one hand.
"As my teacher always says..."
He closed it into a fist.
"Maximum effort."
Without another word, he opened the Corolla's door and stepped outside.
A cold breeze stirred the fabric of his hoodie.
Hands tucked into his pockets, he started walking without looking back.
Standing before him was an old apartment building that looked ready to collapse.
Deep cracks ran through its walls.
Most of the paint had peeled away years ago.
Some windows were shattered.
Others had been boarded up with rough wooden planks.
The place looked dangerous enough to make any normal person turn around.
Leonardo...
Just kept smiling.
Like someone who was finally about to have some fun.
Behind him, the Corolla's engine came back to life.
Following his instructions, the driver parked several dozen meters farther down the street.
Inside the car...
Neither he...
Nor the lawyer...
Had the slightest idea what was about to happen.
Leonardo stopped in front of the abandoned building and looked all the way up to its roof.
Then he let out a long sigh.
"Oh, come on..."
He scratched the back of his neck beneath the hood.
"I was really hoping I wouldn't have to climb all these damn stairs."
He looked at the building again.
"Couldn't they at least install an elevator?"
"Cheap bastards."
He shrugged.
"Oh well."
"No pain, no gain."
As he reached the entrance, he pushed the heavy iron door open without hesitation.
CREEEEAK...
The metallic groan echoed through the empty lobby.
The inside looked even worse than the outside.
Dust covered every surface.
Graffiti stained the walls.
Bare concrete stretched in every direction.
The smell of mold and dampness made it obvious the building had been abandoned for years.
With both hands still in his hoodie pockets, Leonardo began climbing the stairs.
Each step echoed softly through the silent building.
First floor.
Nothing.
Second floor.
Still nothing.
Third floor.
Not a single sign of life.
Leonardo sighed.
"Seriously..."
"These idiots really think they're clever."
He kept climbing.
Then...
Voices drifted down from the floor above.
Leonardo stopped halfway up the stairs.
A small smile appeared beneath his mask.
"Finally..."
He leaned casually against the handrail and listened.
"I can't wait until those three are done playing with her."
The voice belonged to a skinny man in his early thirties.
His messy hair and neglected appearance made him look like someone who hadn't cared about himself in years.
"When she wakes up..."
"It'll finally be our turn."
Another man answered with a laugh.
He was much bigger than the others.
Fat.
Yet his arms were surprisingly muscular, suggesting he possessed at least some physical strength.
"Relax."
"That bitch's gonna pay for acting smart."
The other three burst into laughter.
None of them looked particularly fit.
Just ordinary men.
Leonardo silently counted.
"Five out here..."
"And three more inside."
"Eight in total."
His smile widened.
"Using that might be a little overkill..."
His hand slowly slipped into the pocket of his hoodie.
"But it'll be the perfect chance to test its effects."
Without bothering to hide his footsteps, he continued climbing the stairs.
The sound of his sneakers against the concrete steps immediately caught the criminals' attention.
Every one of them turned toward the staircase.
And then...
Leonardo appeared.
Leonardo stepped onto the floor.
His hands remained tucked inside the pockets of his hoodie.
He stopped a few meters away from the group.
"Well..."
He looked around with an amused expression.
"Looks like I showed up at just the right time."
One of the men frowned.
"Huh...?"
"Who the hell is this kid?"
Another flashed a lewd grin.
"What?"
"They send us another toy to play with?"
The biggest man slowly shook his head.
"No."
"The deal was that there'd only be the five of us out here."
"The other three are still inside."
His expression hardened as he stared at the hooded teenager.
"So..."
"Who the hell are you?"
Leonardo tilted his head ever so slightly.
"Relax..."
A faint chuckle escaped from behind his mask.
"You don't have to remember my name."
He paused.
"After all..."
His smile widened.
"You'll be far too busy screaming in pain."
Silence.
For a brief moment, the entire floor went quiet.
Then one of the men burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"You hear that?"
"This brat actually thinks he's some kind of hero!"
The others laughed with him.
Leonardo simply sighed.
"A hero?"
He slowly shook his head.
"Are you out of your damn mind?"
He took another step forward.
"I'm not a hero."
His voice remained calm.
"I just enjoy hearing pieces of shit scream..."
"...when their bones start breaking."
The laughter stopped.
The criminals exchanged uneasy glances.
There wasn't an ounce of fear in the boy's voice.
No anger.
No hesitation.
He sounded...
Completely sincere.
Before anyone could react—
Leonardo moved.
Or rather...
That was the only explanation their brains could come up with.
One moment he was standing several meters away.
The next—
CRACK!!
His fist slammed directly into the nearest man's jaw.
The impact echoed through the hallway like a gunshot.
Three teeth flew through the air, followed by a spray of blood.
The man's jaw twisted unnaturally.
His entire body spun before crashing onto the concrete floor with a sickening THUD.
He didn't move again.
Unconscious.
Everything had happened in less than a second.
The remaining four men froze.
None of them had actually seen him move.
It was as if the boy had simply...
Teleported.
Leonardo glanced down at the unconscious man.
Satisfied that he wouldn't be getting back up anytime soon, he slowly turned toward the others.
His eyes curved into a smile behind the black mask.
"So..."
He casually cracked the knuckles of his right hand.
Crack.
"Who's next?"