Dawn at the Japanese team's residence brought with it a dense fog that covered the garden, paired with a biting cold that seeped through the house's windowpanes. In the kitchen, the scent of freshly brewed coffee was the only thing attempting to dispel the heaviness of the atmosphere. Jake had been awake since five in the morning; standing beside the counter, he wore an oversized gray sweatshirt and held a mug between his hands, staring fixedly at the wooden table.
In the center of the table, resting on the dark surface, the silver necklace with the moonstone was still there, just as Aibek had left it the night before.
Taishi entered the room checking his tablet, his expression serious and dark circles under his eyes marked by the lack of sleep.
