Butterfly Shadow

Unknown Faces

Tokyo, 1989

It was a rainy night, the dim street lights shimmering between the scattered puddles on the sidewalks. In one of the old neighborhoods of Tokyo, the small café "Yukimura" attracted its regular customers. The place was warm and cozy, filled with the quiet buzz of conversations and the aroma of fresh coffee.

In a corner sat a young man, lost in thought, watching the passersby through the window with a sly look. Izumi Kai, a thirty-year-old man, was tall and slender with sharp features and a cold gaze. He didn't talk much, but when he did, his words cut like a knife.

Izumi (muttering to himself): "This city is full of masks, no one shows their true face."

He worked as a private investigator, a job that suited his indifferent and aggressive nature. That night, he was waiting for a new client, unaware that this case would change his life entirely.

A Mysterious Encounter

A woman in her late thirties entered the café, carrying a wet umbrella. Yamada Natsu, dressed in a gray coat, let her black hair fall over her shoulders. She walked towards Izumi and sat in front of him uninvited.

Yamada: "Mr. Izumi Kai, right?"

Izumi (coldly): "Yes, what do you have?"

She handed him a brown envelope. He opened it with hands that didn't tremble for a moment. It contained photos of a young woman and some documents.

Yamada: "This is my daughter, Haruna. She disappeared two weeks ago. I want you to find her."

Izumi's face showed no expression. He flipped through the photos one by one. Haruna seemed like a happy girl, but there was something in her eyes.

Izumi: "Did you report to the police?"

Yamada (with restrained anger): "Yes, but they did nothing. I need someone who will go beyond official investigations."

Izumi nodded, took the envelope, and placed it in his bag. He stood up, and before leaving, he looked at Yamada and said:

Izumi: "I will find her, but don't expect to get the same person back."

The Beginning

The next night, Izumi began his investigation. He went to the small apartment where Haruna had lived. The place was neatly organized, but something felt off in the air. He searched the rooms, opened drawers and closets, and found Haruna's diaries. They were filled with drawings, scribbles, and disjointed words.

Izumi (thinking): "She was suffering from something, but what?"

As he flipped through the diaries, he found an old group photo. He recognized one face in it, his old friend "Oyama Ken," a man he wished he could forget.

Izumi (in a low voice): "Ken...

Memories rushed back forcefully. Ken had been his partner in petty crimes in the past, before they went their separate ways. He had a bad influence on everyone around him, and Izumi knew that well.

Izumi decided to visit Ken in his old apartment, hoping he might have some answers. But he knew this visit would open long-closed doors to his dark past.

Meeting the Past

Izumi stood in front of Ken's apartment door, hesitating for a moment before knocking. Ken opened the door, looking surprised.

Ken: "Izumi? What are you doing here?"

Izumi (coldly): "We need to talk."

Izumi entered the apartment, closing the door behind him. The place was filled with random items, just as he remembered it.

Ken: "What's up? I haven't seen you in years."

Izumi: "Haruna. You know her, don't you?"

Ken's expression changed, showing signs of tension.

Ken (nervously): "Why are you asking about her?"

Izumi (in a threatening tone): "She's missing. And I think you know something about it."

Ken seemed conflicted, as if there was an internal struggle.

Ken: "Izumi, I didn't want to get involved in this... It's a dangerous matter."