Chapter 05 : Stray Bullet, Stray Truth

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✍🏻  Story by : Seraph

𓂃🖊 Edited by : Violet

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After her mother and Daiki went to the kitchen, Ayane was left alone with Dean.

The atmosphere between them was heavy with silence ـــ awkward, filled with unspoken questions.

Even so, Ayane saw an opportunity. She wanted to know him better, to feed the curiosity that had been burning in her chest since she first heard his voice.

She made her way to the chair where her mother had left the plate. Dean, seeing her approach, stood and quietly helped her settle into the seat beside him.

"What's your name?" Ayane asked without hesitation.

A simple question ـــ yet Dean flinched as if she'd struck a nerve. He hadn't expected this .

He stared at her unseeing eyes, the way they waited so eagerly for the answer. part of him wanted to tell the truth ـــ but something heavier pressed on his chest.

"No .. no yet. Not here"

He took a breath and forced a small smile.

"Michael. My name is Michael White."

A lie ــ or so he thought.

But what Dean didn't know was that Ayane had a gift. She could feel lies like a built-in lie detector.

Yet something in his words rang oddly true. She couldn't read him clearly, and that intrigued her more than it worried her.

"Oh," Ayane murmured, surprised.

"Michael !?" Almost unconsciously, she repeated the name to test it on her tongue.

Then without waiting for confirmation, added, "You're a foreigner, then ?"

Dean only nodded stiffly. A bead of sweat slid down his neck.

Ayane could hear the tension in his breath. She leaned a little closer, her curiosity a quiet flame.

"Why are you here?"

Dean stiffened. Did she know something? His mind raced ــ what had he done to make her suspicious? Did they know why he was really here?

Ayane sensed his pulse quicken ـــ not through sight, but through the subtle shift in his voice and the silence that stretched too long.

She softened her tone, trying to ease the moment.

"I mean ... this area's dangerous, you know?"

Dean's shoulders sagged ـــ a small, visible exhale.

"Ah .. i was out with some friends and lost my way."

Another lie. Ayane knew instantly. But instead of calling him out, she felt a strange thrill. There was more to him ـــ she could feel it.

Before she could press him further, a loud crack shattered the tension.

Gunshots ـــ sharp, echoing through the walls.

Ayane flinched instinctively. Her training kicked in before fear could freeze her. She felt Dean's hand brush hers ـــ steady, guiding her under the table, half hidden by a white cloth.

Dean ducked beside her, heart pounding so hard he could feel it in his teeth.

Ayane's hands trembled slightly but she steadied them against her knees. She could feel the floor vibrating beneath her feet, echoing with footsteps.

But, knowing Daiki and her mother were close by eased her pounding heart.

In the kitchen, Mrs. Cho and Daiki froze when the shots rang out.

plates hit the floor and shattered. Mrs. Cho moved first ـــ gliding to the potato bin, retrieving a hidden gun as easily as pulling out flour for a recipe.

Daiki was already moving like a shadow. He slipped into the hall, eyes scanning, breath controlled. he caught a glimpse under the table ـــ Ayane hidden, Dean shielding her.

A silent signal passed between him and Mrs. Cho. She reached for Ayane, her voice calm but firm.

"Come on. Let's go."

She tugged Ayane out from under the table with surprising strength, her fingers  warm and reassuring.

Dean hesitated ــ but Mrs. Cho sharp gaze told him everything. Follow us.

He scrambled after them, blood roaring in his ears.

Behind them, Daiki peered through the curtains ـــ just enough to glimpse the street outside.

A handful of men were exchanging fire in the darkness. More shadows lurked, waiting.

A street that should have been empty now alive with gunfire and shouted orders.

This is just a random gang violence, Daiki told himself ـــ but he was wrong.

Dead wrong.

Dean pressed his back to the wall as he followed them, breath shallow. For the first time in a long while, he wondered if leaving someone behind was really the right choice.

TO BE CONTINUED .....

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🌸 Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the start of all the action! I had so much fun writing it, and trust me ـــ there's plenty more excitement coming next!

Thank you so much for reading and staying with me on this journey. Your support means more than words can say.💖

Stay tuned and let's see what happens next together!

See you soon, and take care until then.✨

ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐ ٍSeraph ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐

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