Naoki slipped away in secret, making sure no one followed. His steps were as silent as snow falling to the ground, utilizing his well-known skills in stealth to disappear unnoticed. He was mainly avoiding his Soldati, Ayame—his black rose. She was as strict as he was, and what he was about to do wasn’t exactly a bonding moment or an excuse to train.

He moved swiftly between the buildings, heading deeper into the alleyways. His gaze remained as sharp as ever. It was well-known throughout the syndicate that making friends outside the families with other 'families' was forbidden. The fragile alliances between them could collapse with the slightest wrong move. They weren’t exactly enemies, but the constant struggle for power made any misstep dangerous.

When he arrived at his destination, Naoki leaned back against the wall. Taking a deep breath, he sheathed his katana and tilted his head back, lost in thought. His heart raced slightly—not from the adrenaline of possibly being caught, but from the excitement of potentially seeing them again.