Soul Drive: Ignition

Chapter 3: Birthday

Hiro sat quietly at the small dining table, his eyes darting around the room as the aroma of fresh tuna filled the air. His uncle's skillful hands moved with practiced precision, slicing and rolling the ingredients with care. Today was his sixteenth birthday, yet the only other guest in attendance was his best friend, Kimiko.

"Go on, Hiro, open it!" Kimiko urged excitedly, her dark eyes sparkling with anticipation as she slid a neatly wrapped gift across the table to him. Her long black hair shimmered under the overhead light.

"Okay, okay," Hiro chuckled softly, carefully peeling back the paper to reveal a box brimming with assorted sweets. He looked up at Kimiko, a genuine smile playing on his lips. "Thank you! You didn't have to."

"Of course I did!" Kimiko exclaimed, grinning proudly. "I picked all the treats myself, from places we've hung out together this year, all around Osaka." She leaned in slightly, eager to see Hiro's reaction.

As Hiro sampled the sugary delights, he couldn't help but let his mind wander to what this birthday might have been like if his parents were still alive. Would they be sitting here with him, sharing laughter and stories over a hearty meal? The pang of their absence made him savor each sweet even more, grounding him in the present moment with Kimiko.

"Hey, Hiro?" Kimiko's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Would you walk me home?"

"Of course," he replied without hesitation, pushing away the lingering melancholy. They slipped on their jackets and ventured into the crisp evening air, the streets of Osaka bustling with life.

As they walked, Hiro couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Casting a wary glance over his shoulder, he spotted a man with burn scars on his face, trailing them at a distance. Without alerting Kimiko to the potential danger, Hiro guided them through the throngs of people, maneuvering around street vendors and weaving between groups of pedestrians in an attempt to lose their pursuer.

"Didn't we pass this alley before?" Kimiko asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice.

"Must have taken a wrong turn," Hiro lied smoothly, hoping she wouldn't pry further.

By the time they reached Kimiko's apartment building, Hiro was fairly certain they had lost the scarred man. They exchanged goodbyes, and as soon as Kimiko disappeared inside, Hiro cautiously made his way back home, his senses heightened, ever vigilant for the mystery man who had been following them.

Hiro's breath puffed out in small clouds as he approached the front door of his home, the chill of the night air seeping through his jacket. He noticed a folded piece of paper wedged between the doorframe and the door itself, held in place by a tiny magnet. Hiro chuckled softly, plucking the note from its perch. His uncle's affection for old-fashioned communication was endearing if not slightly inconvenient.

"Back soon," the hastily scrawled message read, "Store emergency. Save me some sushi." Hiro shook his head, smiling at the thought of his uncle rushing around their family store, trying to put out proverbial fires. He hoped it wasn't anything too serious.

As he moved to open the door, the reflection of the scarred man on the windowpane behind him sent a shiver down his spine. Before he could react, a calloused hand clamped over Hiro's mouth, muffling his startled yelp.

"Quiet, Hiro," the scarred man whispered urgently, his voice hoarse and gravelly. "I don't want to hurt you, but we need to talk."

Hiro's heart hammered in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He nodded slowly, and the man released his grip, stepping back to give him space.

"Who are you? and how do you know my name?" Hiro demanded, his voice trembling despite his attempt at bravery.

"Yutaka Hayashi," the man answered, adjusting his glasses with one hand while keeping the other visible to show he meant no harm. "I worked at the lab with your parents. I knew them well, and before they died, they made me promise to look out for you."