Kaito released the wrist and stepped back, hands open, palms visible. Empty. Non-threatening.
“Did I do it right?” Kaito asked.
He applied just enough pressure to make the boy freeze, then leaned close.
“You don’t want to do this,” Kaito said quietly. “Neither do I. Walk away. No one gets hurt.”
“Wait,” Haruki said. “If you go now, what will you do?”
Kaito’s phone buzzed. A text from a friend: Those guys are at the station. Mei’s walking home now.
