The Hitman and Ramen Girl.

The bustling streets of London were a far cry from the quiet, solitary existence Ryo had gotten used to in the past few months. Despite the chaos of his life, there was something comforting about being back in the city—something that reminded him of simpler times.

Ryo's phone buzzed in his pocket, and as he glanced at the screen, a slight smile tugged at his lips. It was a message from Anzaki, one of the few people Ryo had ever truly trusted. He hadn't heard from him in a while, but he knew it was time to catch up.

With a deep breath, Ryo exited the quiet alley he had been walking down and made his way to the agreed-upon meeting spot—a small, cozy bar on the outskirts of the city. The place had become a quiet haven for the three of them over the years. A place where the shadows of their past couldn't reach them.

As soon as Ryo entered, he saw Anzaki and Micca sitting at a corner booth. They both looked just as they had years ago—stoic, yet with the familiar warmth that Ryo cherished. They had all grown up together in the same children's home after losing their parents at a young age. There were no blood ties between them, but in many ways, they were more family than anyone else Ryo had ever known.

Anzaki, with his sharp features and commanding presence, stood up first as Ryo approached. "You're late, Ryo," he said, his tone playful yet direct, a familiar edge to his words.

Ryo gave him a half-smile, shrugging off his comment. "Traffic. You know how it is."

Micca, who had been sipping a drink, raised an eyebrow and greeted Ryo with a grin. "You look like hell. Been working too hard, huh?"

Ryo gave a slight nod, though he didn't go into detail. He'd never been good at opening up about his work, especially when it came to the dangerous things he was involved in. Instead, he sat down and leaned back, looking at his two friends.

"How's life been treating you both?" Ryo asked, his voice low but filled with genuine curiosity.

Anzaki chuckled, leaning forward. "Same old. You know me, always staying out of trouble." His dark eyes glinted with amusement, though there was an underlying sadness in them.

Micca snorted. "That's a lie. You're always stirring up trouble, Anzaki. But me? I've been doing fine. Got a few side gigs here and there. Nothing too exciting, just staying busy."

The three of them shared a comfortable silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts, but all sharing the same deep bond that had formed from years of hardship. Ryo couldn't help but feel a sense of relief in their presence. No matter how much he fought to distance himself from his past, moments like these brought him back to reality.

Finally, after a long pause, Anzaki looked at Ryo with a knowing glance. "So, when are you going to tell us about the girl?"

Ryo froze for a moment. His eyes narrowed as he glanced at both of them. "What do you mean?"

Micca leaned in, his grin widening. "Come on, man. We've been friends for how long? You think we wouldn't notice you smiling at your phone like that? You've been acting different lately."

Ryo's heart skipped a beat as he realized they had noticed. He had tried to keep Hana out of his mind, to focus solely on his work, but the truth was, she had started to occupy a place in his thoughts that he couldn't easily dismiss.

"It's... nothing," Ryo muttered, looking away.

Anzaki wasn't buying it. "Come on, Ryo. We grew up together. Don't act like we can't tell when something's going on. You've been distracted lately. Is it that girl you've been talking about?"

Ryo hesitated. He knew Anzaki and Micca were right. They knew him better than anyone. He let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair, and looked back at them. "Her name is Hana. She runs a ramen shop. I—" He stopped himself, realizing just how much he wanted to say. "I care about her, but it's complicated."

Anzaki leaned back, his expression softening. "Complicated, huh? Sounds like you're in deep, my friend."

Micca's grin widened even further. "Sounds like someone's in love. Are you going to tell her, or are you going to keep running from it?"

Ryo scowled, but there was no denying the warmth in his chest at their teasing. "I don't know," he muttered. "I can't get involved. Not with the life I'm leading."

Anzaki placed a hand on Ryo's shoulder. "You know, sometimes you have to choose, Ryo. It's not about the life you lead; it's about what you want."

Micca nodded. "Yeah, and if you keep running from it, you might just lose the chance to have something real."

Ryo looked between the two of them, his mind racing. For the first time in a long time, he felt the weight of their words. Maybe they were right. Maybe he was running from something that could actually make him feel alive.The playful teasing slowly died down, and the atmosphere at the table became more serious. Anzaki leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced at Ryo.

"So," Anzaki said, his voice dropping to a more serious tone, "I take it you're still keeping things under wraps with the organization, huh? No word from the higher-ups yet?"

Ryo took a slow sip of his drink, his gaze distant. "Not yet. But I know they have something in mind. It's always a matter of time." His eyes flicked to the phone in his hand again, where he had just seen Hana's message. He could feel the pull of her words, but he couldn't afford to think about it now. Micca cracked his knuckles, leaning back in his chair. "I've heard whispers about a new job coming up. Some big player in the city's underground business. The kind of deal that could change everything if we're involved."

Ryo's eyes sharpened, his mind snapping back to the present. "Who's the target?"

Anzaki let out a small sigh. "It's a powerful businessman named Gerald Lark. Known for running a few shady deals, but nothing concrete has stuck to him yet. Word is he owes a lot of money to the wrong people. And if he doesn't settle his debts, he's going to end up on a few hit lists."

Ryo's expression darkened, his fingers tightening around his glass. "Debt collection, huh? The usual mess."

Micca leaned in, his tone more cautious now. "It's not just that. There's also a huge risk in going after him. Lark's got connections—people who won't hesitate to take us down if we make a move. We'll have to be smart about this one."

Ryo nodded slowly, processing the information. He was used to these kinds of jobs—dangerous, high stakes—but this one felt different. Maybe it was because the mission involved more than just a typical hit. The tension in the air was palpable, and Ryo could sense that the higher-ups were ready to pull the trigger on something big.

He leaned back in his chair, staring into the distance. "I'll take care of it. We'll handle the job like we always do. But we need to be careful. One wrong move, and this could blow up in our faces."

Anzaki's eyes were sharp as he met Ryo's gaze. "I agree. This one's tricky, and it's going to require more than just the usual clean kill. We'll need to gather intel, set up a strategy. I'll handle the background work and connections. Micca, you'll help with surveillance."

Micca grinned. "You got it. Nothing gets past me."

Ryo's mind was already working, formulating plans and tactics. As much as he hated to admit it, he was already mentally preparing for the risks and dangers ahead. The life he led was filled with danger, but it was all he knew. And there was no escaping it.

"Let's meet tomorrow night. We'll go over the full plan and make sure we have everything we need," Ryo said, his voice steady and authoritative.

The conversation shifted back to the details of the assignment as Anzaki and Micca shared their thoughts on how to approach Lark and his associates. But even as the conversation continued, Ryo couldn't shake the thought of Hana from his mind. It was a constant battle within him—the tension between the life he led and the life he craved. But for now, there was no room for distractions. The mission came first. Hana would have to wait.