The Night Market was still busy. It was eleven at night. The strings of lights glowed bright against the dark sky. The air smelled of grilled meat and sweet sauce. It smelled of oil and spice. It smelled of life. Kaito walked with the group. They were leaving the karaoke box, heading toward the station. The night was cool. The pavement was dry.
Ryota walked ahead. He was humming a song, off-key, but he did not care. Jin walked beside him, watching the crowd, the shadows, and Kaito. Hana walked beside Kaito, slightly behind. She matched his pace. Her shoulder brushed his arm. It was accidental, or it was not. She did not move away, and he did not move away.
Kaito felt it. The vibration started in his pocket. The cards hummed at a low frequency. It was a warning. He stopped walking and looked to the left. There was an alleyway between two stalls. The air shimmered like heat haze and sounded like tinnitus. It was a crack. It was small, and it was close.
