The rain fell in fine, countless droplets. In the puddles on the ground, tall buildings and scattered lights were reflected. Some came from windows, others from the street in the form of passing headlights.
Splash.
Celian stepped into a puddle. The water gave way to his step.
His thoughts didn't.
The conversation with Lyra had gone exactly as planned. His image was perfect.
He had told her he was a private detective. That he had originally wanted to become a police officer, but had been rejected because of a corrupt commissioner. And that he had found a connection between that very commissioner and Rudi. That the commissioner had been covering up Rudi's illegal business in exchange for money and free VIP sessions.
It wasn't even a lie. The commissioner and the link to Rudi actually existed. But the reason he wanted to help Lyra was a different one.
He had listened to Lyra's plan. Far too naive.
The idea of using a distraction to get to Rudi's phone in Nozomi's office wasn't bad in itself, but far too poorly thought through. Far too dangerous.
"You don't know for certain that the phone is actually there."
"Why would Nozomi come running out of her office if I hassle some random girl in the hallway?"
"The pictures are almost certainly stored in a cloud. Even if you destroy the phone, the recordings won't disappear."
Lyra's plan had obvious gaps, but filling them was easier than luring her out of her own apartment. He had explained to her that it would be enough if she obtained the recordings. That was how they could defeat Rudi.
Not by destroying them, as Lyra had planned — quite the opposite.
Apparently she hadn't been aware that those recordings were illegal. Just like the sex work itself. If they handed the phone with the recordings over to an outside police station, the club would be exposed.
Lyra would be free.
Just like the other bunny girls, whether they wanted it or not. It was visibly uncomfortable for Lyra to hand those recordings over to the police, but she had agreed.
The basicframework was in place. The finer details were still missing, though. They would meet again tomorrow and discuss how to proceed.
Today it made no sense. Today, Lyra was useless.
Throughout the conversation, he had noticed it again and again. Subtle signs that she wasn't fully present. Maybe it was because of Vox and Serena showing up.
But Celian could see there was more to it.
The thoughtless approach. The sporadic flinching, every time he had mentioned the name Hana. The way she had dodged the subject whenever he asked about Hana and tried to include her in the plan. And that despite it being obvious that the two of them were more than just friends.
Something was off. Something that was making her not function properly. And if Lyra didn't function, then his plan wouldn't function either.
Drip.
What had happened between the two of them? Had Hana broken up with her? But even then, why would Lyra act as if she didn't exist? What did that have to do with the club?
The rain murmured almost inaudibly on his umbrella. Small droplets that gathered at the tips of the spokes, merging into a larger one. When the drop grew heavy enough, it fell to the ground.
Drip.
Celian's gaze followed the translucent pearls as though the answer to the riddle might be reflected in them. Over and over they built up, only to splatter against the ground and break apart again. Ironic.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
As Celian's eyes followed the fifth drop in its fall, he saw something.
The missing puzzle piece.
A few meters ahead of him, on the ground, curled up, completely soaked by the rain or tears or both. Black hair with red tips. Skin almost bare, covered only by a blanket. Beside her, an old woman holding an umbrella over them both.
Hana. And Mrs. Ishimori.
He immediately broke into a run. Immediately he was standing next to them. His feet wet from the puddles he hadn't bothered to avoid.
"Good heavens! Hana! What are you doing out here in the rain?" he called to her.
She barely reacted, maybe just twitched.
Mrs. Ishimori, on the other hand, did. She straightened up with effort, sizing Celian up with a critical look. But then she became warm and welcoming.
"Oh, Mr. Chiba! Heaven itself has sent you!" the elderly woman rasped, her free hand still stroking Hana's back. "Do you know each other? I found her here in the pouring rain on my way to the kombini. Thought that face looked familiar!"
Her gaze dropped back to Hana. "The poor girl was completely distraught."
Of course. Because Lyra pushed her away.
Celian nodded understandingly and seriously. "Yes, we know each other through Miss Aihara." He turned slightly toward Hana as he said it.
She raised her head almost imperceptibly – weakly – but it was a sign that she was still there.
"I'll walk her home," he offered and sighed with tired ease. "A few things we need to talk through. You know how it is. Youthful drama."
Mrs. Ishimori nodded knowingly, buying every gesture. "Of course, young man. Take good care of her. At that age the heart is still wild, yet so very fragile."
Celian gave the wisdom an attentive nod, then slipped off his coat and swapped it for the blanket draped over Hana. "Here, take this back." He handed the old woman her blanket.
"What a charming young man you are!" remarked Mrs. Ishimori, almost gushing.
"Finally someone who notices…" sighed Celian, too genuine for his own performance. "Thank you so much for your help!" he added, sincerely.
"You know how to brighten a lady's day. Now off you go, before she catches a cold!"
Mrs. Ishimori waved one hand in farewell.
Celian returned the gesture with a gallant smile.
"Have a lovely day!"
"Lovely day, lovely man!"
Celian swallowed dryly. Mrs. Ishimori's flirting sat awkwardly on the tip of his tongue. Once she was far enough away, he lowered his gaze. To where Hana was crouched.
"So you're Hana."
Her knees were pulled tightly to her chest, her face resting lifelessly on top of them. She didn't look up. Even when he said her name, even though she hadn't introduced herself.
Her voice came out small, but cool.
"What do you want?"
Celian slipped his free hand into his pocket. "Wow. Not even curious how I know your name?"
"No idea. Do you work for Rudi?"
Celian laughed out loud, running a hand through his hair.
"You couldn't be more wrong."
No answer from Hana, only the soft patter of rain on the umbrella.
"Lyra sent me."
She lifted her head almost reflexively, looking up at Celian properly for the first time. One eyelid twitched, half dead.
"Lyra?"
Celian scratched the back of his head, his grin turning crooked.
"Well, not directly. But I'll do her the favor."
Hana loosened the grip from around her bent knees and turned her upper body toward him. Her raw hands on the wet asphalt.
"What? Who— who are you?!"
"Celian." He twisted his face into a pained smile. "Or Creepian, as Lyra would say."
Hana's corners of her mouth twitched on the spot, unsure whether to go up or down. Her gaze settled on down.
"She needs you," he said. Quite serious.
Hana's arms began to tremble, but not from the cold asphalt burning under her hands.
"More than she admits," he added.
Her teeth pressed together, fighting off the thought.
"B–But… wh–… why…?"
There it was again. The quiet sobbing that understood nothing. So small, and yet it pulled her throat tight like a noose.
"Wh–wh… why did she—"
"Run away?" Celian finished. "Because she's a coward."
He crouched down to Hana's eye level. "I don't know what you two argued about, but one thing I know for certain. That she isn't running away from you." His gaze held hers so she couldn't look away. "She's running from her own feelings."
Hana's eyes trembled as if they didn't believe a single word he said. And yet — there was that faint flicker.
He straightened up again. "So, are you coming?"
Her fingers trembled into each other on her lap. "I… I need to get to her."
Celian shook his head. "First we talk."
Hana got on her feet, her legs nearly buckling and burning like they would after a marathon, but that didn't matter.
"Stop."
He grabbed her wrist and held her fast.
Hana tried to pull free, but couldn't. Her body had barely any energy left. Still, she tugged at it clumsily until a joint nearly dislocated.
"Let me go, I have to—"
"HANA."
Celian's eyes dug into hers, harder than his grip.
"No."
For a moment something broke through that didn't fit with the rest of his usual manner. Not relaxed. Not cool. Not witty. Simply serious. "If you go running off now, you'll lose her again," he said.
Hana's eyes trembled, not from the cold in his voice.
"Let's talk first. I'd like to understand you better. And Lyra too…" he suggested.
"...wouldn't you?"
A question like a slap. Especially through the memory.
"You don't understand me anyway."
The words Lyra had left with.
Hana tore herself out of his grip, but she didn't run. Her hands clenched together in front of her chest. In front of her heart. As though she wanted to wrench that sentence out of herself.
The rain kept falling.
She raised her eyes again.
"Fine… I'll come."
Celian's shoulders dropped almost imperceptibly. The friendly expression returned.
"There we go…" he sighed.
His gaze briefly swept over her.
"I don't know what you were planning on doing with her, but what you're wearing isn't exactly the outfit you have serious conversations in."
Hana's cheeks went red. She turned away and slipped into the black coat Celian had laid over her.
"Seems like it's good enough for a serious conversation with you," she countered, somewhat annoyed.
"As Mrs. Ishimori already said: I am, after all, an absolute gentleman."
"Mhm, sure…"
The exchange faded into the rain.
"So, to your place?" Celian asked.
Hana nodded, walked ahead without a word, but immediately started limping. The countless falls and scraped knees had been too much, just like the rest of the day.
"Need a hand?" Celian offered her a shoulder.
Hana glanced over, blinked. But she accepted the help.
The walk to Hana's apartment dragged.
By now Celian's shoes were so soaked that avoiding puddles made no difference. Every step was cold, waterlogged with grime and heavy. But it had to be worth it. Because he had found it. The missing puzzle piece.
Hana.
Without her, Lyra didn't function. And without Lyra, his entire plan fell apart.
Celian sighed.
Now I have to play Cupid too…
The two Bunny Girls were two crucial chess pieces in toppling Rudi's club. Not to deliver justice. Not to do the two of them a favor. Not to get back at the corrupt commissioner. And not to earn himself a spot on the police force either.
All of that performance served only one purpose. The rescue of his sister.
Asaki Chiba.
But in his delight at finding the missing puzzle piece, he had made a mistake.
One thing had escaped him.
Asaki was standing on the other side of the street, hidden behind an advertisement for strawberry vodka featuring Hatsune Miku in pink.
And she had seen everything.
Click. Click. Click.
And photographed it.