Chapter 1
Chapter 1 — The First Encounter
The night in Yokohama was dark and mysterious.
Thick clouds covered the sky, hiding the moon completely. Strong winds moved between the tall buildings and swept through the streets.
The city was still awake.
Cars moved along the roads, signs glowed above the buildings, and the sound of the wind filled the streets.
But there was something unusual about that night.
Something that could not be seen...
But could be felt.
---
On the rooftop of a tall building in Yokohama's business district, a man stood alone.
Itsuki Kisaragi.
He was twenty-six years old.
Tall and fit, he stood there wearing a dark charcoal suit. His black hair moved slightly in the strong wind. His dark brown eyes were deep and sharp, while his defined jawline and straight nose gave his face a striking appearance.
An expensive watch was on his wrist.
Itsuki was not an ordinary businessman.
At the age of twenty-six, he was the owner of Kisaragi Holdings, one of Yokohama's most successful companies, operating in technology, real estate, and luxury investments.
People described him as successful, intelligent, and extremely calm.
But the people close to him knew that his most dangerous quality was not his anger.
It was his self-control.
He never allowed his emotions to control his decisions.
Itsuki looked at his watch.
It was eleven at night.
He looked down at the city from the rooftop.
Then his eyes stopped on someone across the road.
A girl.
---
Shiori Tachibana.
She stood on the sidewalk wearing a long black coat.
Her long, silky dark-brown hair moved gently with the wind. Her fair skin looked even paler under the soft streetlight.
Her greyish-brown eyes were fixed on an old building in front of her.
She was beautiful, but the most noticeable thing about her was her eyes.
There was a strange calmness in them.
As if she was not afraid of anything.
Shiori was not an ordinary girl either.
She was the young owner of Tachibana Group, a successful company known for fashion, luxury brands, and international investments.
In the business world, people described her as intelligent and unpredictable.
Shiori checked her watch.
Then she looked at the old building again.
Itsuki's eyes remained fixed on her.
He did not know why he had been watching her for so long.
Shiori suddenly started walking.
Itsuki watched her for a few seconds.
Then he left the rooftop.
---
A few minutes later, Shiori entered a narrow street.
Itsuki followed her from a distance.
There was only one question in his mind.
What was she doing near that old building so late at night?
Shiori suddenly stopped.
Itsuki stopped as well.
Shiori slowly turned her head.
Itsuki stood in the shadow of a building.
For a few seconds, Shiori remained completely silent.
Then a small smile appeared on her lips.
She turned around and continued walking.
Itsuki stared at her.
A strange feeling came over him.
Had she noticed him?
---
A little later, Itsuki reached the same place.
Shiori was gone.
There was no one around.
Only the sound of the strong wind filled the narrow street.
Then something caught Itsuki's attention.
A small silver pendant was lying on the ground beneath a streetlight.
Itsuki picked it up.
There was only one name engraved on the back.
SHIORI.
Itsuki stared at the name for a few seconds.
Then he put the pendant in his pocket.
At that moment, he had no idea...
He had no idea that this small object would become the biggest mistake of his life.
---
The Next Morning
Itsuki sat in his private office.
There were business reports spread across his desk.
But he was not paying attention to them.
His eyes kept returning to the silver pendant.
Shiori.
He picked it up.
He remembered how the girl had stared at the old building the previous night.
Then he picked up his phone.
He searched:
Shiori.
Several results appeared on the screen.
Itsuki looked through them.
Then one result caught his attention.
Shiori Tachibana — Owner of Tachibana Group.
He opened her profile.
It was the same girl.
The same eyes.
The same face.
Shiori Tachibana.
A small spark of interest appeared in Itsuki's eyes.
“Interesting...”
He put his phone down.
But a few seconds later, he picked it up again.
He started searching for more information about Shiori.
Her company.
Her business.
Her public appearances.
Her interviews.
Her past.
Itsuki did not understand why he wanted to know so much about her.
She was just a girl.
A girl he had met only once.
And yet...
His mind kept returning to her.
---
At the same time...
Shiori stood near the window of her private office at Tachibana Group.
The strong wind hit the glass windows.
She was holding a phone in her hand.
A photograph was open on the screen.
The photograph showed Itsuki Kisaragi standing near the old building that night.
Shiori looked at the photograph for a few seconds.
Then a small smile appeared on her lips.
She locked the phone.
“Finally...”
She spoke softly.
“You noticed me.”
Shiori opened the drawer of her desk.
Inside was another silver pendant.
Exactly like the one Itsuki had found.
Shiori looked at the pendant.
Then she slowly said:
“Now let's see, Itsuki Kisaragi...”
“Will you follow me...”
“Or will I make you follow me?”
---
At that exact moment, Itsuki's phone received a message from an unknown number.
“If you want to know about Shiori Tachibana...”
Itsuki's finger stopped on the screen.
A second line appeared.
“Come back to the same place tomorrow night at 11.”
Itsuki read the message again.
Then another message arrived.
It contained a photograph.
He opened it.
His expression immediately became serious.
The photograph showed Itsuki himself.
But it was not from the previous night.
The photograph had been taken at the exact moment Itsuki first saw Shiori.
Itsuki stared at the screen for several seconds.
Only one question was in his mind—
“Who was watching me?”
And he had no idea that his meeting with Shiori Tachibana might never have been a coincidence.
To Be Continued...
