---
The highway out of Tsu was empty.
Streetlights passed like ticking seconds, each one counting down what little time Akhil had left. The city faded behind him—not with sirens, not with fear—just silence.
135 kilometers.
That's all that separated him from Kamaguchi Isaki.
Akhil drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting loosely near the gear. His face was calm, but his mind wasn't replaying plans.
It was replaying memories.
Hinata's shaking hands.
Her voice cracking when she said his name.
The way she looked at him—not with love, not with hatred—but with understanding mixed with fear.
That was worse than bullets.
"She knows now," Akhil muttered.
"That's enough."
The radio crackled to life on its own.
News.
> "—authorities are still unable to locate the suspect responsible for multiple mass killings across Tokyo, Shibuya, and Roppongi. Officials believe the target may now be moving west—"
Akhil turned it off.
He didn't need confirmation.
He was the confirmation.
---
Somewhere Outside Kyoto
The rain returned.
Not heavy. Not dramatic.
Just enough to blur the road and make the headlights stretch like dying stars.
Akhil pulled over briefly at an abandoned rest stop. He stepped out, letting the rain soak his hair, his clothes, his skin.
He looked up at the sky.
"You always hated the rain," he said quietly.
"Called it annoying."
A pause.
"But you smiled anyway."
He closed his eyes.
"For you… this ends tonight."
He got back into the car.
Engine on.
No hesitation.
---
Osaka — Midnight Approaches
The skyline rose slowly, neon bleeding into low clouds. Osaka didn't know yet. It was still alive—still laughing, still eating, still pretending tomorrow was guaranteed.
Akhil merged into traffic like a ghost.
Kamaguchi Isaki was careful. Always had been. Private residence. Rotating locations. Layers of men who believed loyalty could buy survival.
But fear travels faster than money.
And tonight, fear was already here.
Akhil checked the time.
05:12AM
"Thirteen minutes late," he said.
"Sorry."
He took off the mask and tossed it onto the passenger seat.
No more hiding.
No more games.
He parked the car near the edge of the city and stepped out, the rain washing over him as Osaka breathed unaware behind him.
One man left.
One ending left.
And after that—
Nothing.
---