In a night that felt endless, the city had finally begun to settle. The bustling crowds that had filled the streets during the day had returned to their homes, leaving behind a soft, comforting silence.
Only a handful of people remained outside, their distant footsteps occasionally echoing through the quiet roads beneath the glow of streetlights.
Somewhere within the city, inside a modest apartment, laughter filled the air.
A little girl, no older than nine, ran through the rooms on her tiny feet, her joyful giggles bouncing off the walls.
"Grandpa, you can't catch me! Hehehe!"
Chasing after her was an elderly man who appeared to be in his late fifties.
He wore a black shirt and white pants, with round sunglasses covering his blind eyes. Long silver hair flowed down his back, shifting gently as he moved. Despite his age, there was something surprisingly athletic about him, a quiet strength hidden beneath his calm appearance.
Holding a cane in one hand, he followed after her at an unhurried pace.
"Hey, kid, don't run so much," he complained with a smile. "You're taking advantage of my blindness, huh?"
The little girl darted into the living room and quickly crouched behind the sofa.
The room fell silent.
Only the slow hum of the ceiling fan could be heard spinning overhead.
The girl covered her mouth to suppress a laugh.
"Heh~ no way Grandpa can find me here."
The moment the words left her mouth—
"BOOOO!"
"Aaaah!"
The little girl nearly jumped out of her skin.
Her heart felt as if it had leaped straight into her throat.
She looked up in shock.
Standing directly in front of her was her grandfather.
A teasing smile rested on his face as he looked down at her through his dark sunglasses.
"Found you."
The girl puffed out her cheeks immediately.
"Aaa, that's cheating!" she protested. "How do you find me every time? It's not fair!"
The old man chuckled softly.
"Hey now, don't be so sad. It's just luck." He gently patted her head. "Next time I probably won't be able to find you. That's a promise."
The little girl narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You said that last time too."
The old man laughed.
Without another word, he effortlessly lifted his granddaughter with one arm and began walking out of the living room.
The girl crossed her arms dramatically.
"Next time it won't happen," she declared confidently. "I'll find the perfect hiding spot."
"Sure," the old man replied, still smiling.
The little girl nodded firmly, already plotting her next hiding place, while the old man carried her down the hallway, their laughter quietly filling the apartment and pushing back the silence of the night.
After half an hour, the little girl finally fell asleep in her bedroom while her grandfather continued telling stories. The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the room, casting warm shadows across the walls. Her tiny chest rose and fell steadily beneath the blanket, her peaceful breathing filling the quiet space.
As soon as she drifted into sleep, the old man gently closed the Braille storybook resting in his hands. He carefully placed it on the bedside table before reaching for his cane. Standing up from the bed, he tapped the cane lightly against the floor, letting the familiar vibrations guide him.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
The rhythmic sound echoed softly through the hallway as he made his way toward another room.
Stopping before a closed door, he raised his knuckles and knocked gently.
"Hey, Aira, are you in there? Please open the door."
For a moment, nothing happened.
The apartment remained silent.
Click.
Click.
The doorknob shifted slightly before the door opened soundlessly.
Standing there was a stunning young woman around twenty-four years old, dressed comfortably in her pajamas. A few loose strands of hair framed her face, giving her a slightly tired yet graceful appearance.
It was Aira, the old man's daughter-in-law.
"Yes, Father?" she asked softly.
The old man smiled faintly.
"You're really overdoing it. I know the office is putting a lot of work on you, but you don't have to push yourself this much." His voice remained calm and gentle. "You haven't been sleeping properly for quite a while now."
He extended his hand, offering her a packet of biscuits.
"Here. Have some snacks. Staying healthy is important."
Aira accepted the packet, her expression softening.
Then the old man suddenly grinned.
"By the way, your husband husband is on his way home. Aren't you excited?"
Aira instantly froze.
"Hey, Dad, stop it. There's nothing to be excited about."
Despite her words, her cheeks turned bright red, making it painfully obvious that the teasing had landed perfectly.
The old man chuckled knowingly.
Before the conversation could continue—
Ding dong!
The doorbell rang through the apartment.
Aira immediately headed toward the main entrance.
Behind her, the old man remained standing quietly.
As the door swung open, however, the person waiting outside was not who either of them expected.
Two men stood there wearing formal attire.
One carried himself with lazy confidence, while the other looked calm and composed.
It was Recardo and Kio.
Kio immediately flashed a carefree grin.
"Yo! Rimuro, how's life going?"
The old man's lips curved into a smirk.
"That's Mister Rimuro to you. Show some respect to your seniors."
"Yeah, yeah," Kio replied dismissively. "All that old yapping as usual."
Meanwhile, Recardo stepped forward slightly and addressed Aira politely.
"Hello, ma'am. Sorry for coming this late and so suddenly, but could we have some private time with Sir Rimuro?"
Aira nodded.
"Yeah, sure."
Even though Recardo had been perfectly polite, there was something about his presence that made her hesitate subconsciously.
Without questioning further, she stepped aside and allowed them inside.
"I'll make some tea."
As Aira headed toward the kitchen, the aroma of freshly stored tea leaves already lingering faintly in the air, Rimuro, Kio, and Recardo walked into the living room.
The playful atmosphere from moments ago gradually faded.
The soft ticking of the wall clock became strangely noticeable.
Kio dropped onto the sofa without a hint of formality, stretching comfortably as if he owned the place.
Recardo remained standing.
And Rimuro slowly turned toward them.
The smile that had been on his face moments ago disappeared.
The room suddenly felt quieter.
More serious.
Because if both Kio and Recardo had arrived together this late at night—
Then whatever brought them here was unlikely to be good news.