The Hitman and Ramen Girl.

The air between Ryo and Hana still carried traces of unspoken words as they returned inside the ramen shop. Aiko and Mei exchanged knowing smirks but chose to remain silent—for now.

Ryo settled at his usual seat at the counter while Hana busied herself behind it, her movements a little more delicate than usual. She was thinking, and he knew it. He could see the way her fingers hesitated as she ladled steaming broth into a bowl, the slight furrow between her brows.

Micca, having wandered in at some point, slid into the seat beside Ryo, propping his chin in his hand. "So, lover boy, how's your night going?" he teased.

"Shut up," Ryo muttered, eyes fixed on Hana.

Micca snickered. "You're really bad at this whole 'acting normal' thing, you know that?"

Ryo ignored him. His mind was elsewhere—on the weight of Hana's doubt, on the looming presence of Kazuki, and on the increasing difficulty of keeping his two lives separate.

Just as Hana placed a bowl of ramen in front of him, the bell above the shop door jingled, drawing everyone's attention. A tall figure stepped inside, dressed in a dark coat, his presence exuding a quiet menace.

Kazuki.

Ryo's grip on his chopsticks tightened.

Kazuki's sharp gaze swept over the shop, lingering briefly on Ryo before shifting to Hana. A slow smirk curled his lips.

"This place smells good," he mused, stepping forward. Hana, oblivious to the tension in the air, smiled politely. "Welcome! Would you like to try our special ramen?"

Ryo was on his feet before he even realized it. "You shouldn't be here." Kazuki tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Oh? I'm just a customer, enjoying the best ramen in town." Hana blinked, confused by the sudden hostility between the two men. She glanced between them. "Uh… do you two know each other?"

Kazuki chuckled. "You could say that."

Ryo's eyes narrowed. "Leave."

Kazuki sighed, placing a hand over his heart in mock offense. "So rude. I just wanted to get a taste of what keeps you coming back here." His gaze flicked to Hana. "She must be really special."

Ryo stepped forward, but Micca's hand shot out, gripping his arm. "Not here," Micca warned in a low voice.

Kazuki smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction. "Relax. I'm not here to start anything." He leaned slightly toward Hana. "But I do wonder… does she know what kind of man you really are?"

Hana stiffened at the words, but before she could say anything, Ryo grabbed Kazuki by the collar, yanking him close. The entire shop went silent.

"Say another word," Ryo growled, voice low and deadly, "and you won't walk out of here."

Kazuki merely grinned, unfazed. "Looks like I hit a nerve."

Hana gasped. "Ryo! Stop it!"

Hearing her voice snapped Ryo back to his senses. With a rough shove, he released Kazuki, who merely dusted off his coat like nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, Kenta had gone pale, gripping the counter as he nervously looked at Mei and Aiko. "I-Is this guy serious? What if he starts a fight here?!" he whispered in panic.

Mei nodded rapidly, her hands clenching into fists. "This is bad… This is really bad."

Aiko, though trying to keep her composure, swallowed hard. "Maybe we should just stay behind the counter and pretend we don't exist…"

The three of them huddled together, watching the confrontation with wide eyes, too afraid to move.

"Well," Kazuki drawled, turning toward the door. "I think I've seen enough for tonight." He cast one last glance at Hana, his smirk widening. "See you around."

As the door closed behind him, an eerie silence settled over the shop. Mei and Aiko exchanged nervous glances, while Kenta let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.

Hana finally spoke, her voice quiet. "Ryo… who was that?"

Ryo exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "No one you need to worry about."

But the way Hana looked at him told him she wasn't convinced. And for the first time, Ryo wasn't sure how much longer he could keep her in the dark.