Underneath the Red Trees

CHAPTER 58: THE END OF OUR GOOD DAYS

Masaki never felt the bullet. But he did hear a clang resonating through the street. He opened his eyes. He saw a back. The back of a man holding a katana. Its hilt was wrapped in black. The silver bullets Nakamura had shot laid at his feet.

He turned his head and his face made Masaki's eyes widen. "Satoru?"

Satoru grabbed Masaki, dragging him away from the fire and into an alleyway.

"Satoru," Masaki said, "You're a..."

"Wielder, yes."

The shock flooded Masaki's expression. He had accepted the existence of Wielders, but he had kept this world completely apart from his personal life. He had never expected to find out someone he had known his whole life was a Wielder. Especially Satoru Akiyama, who abhorred violence. When they were kids Touma had to fight his fights for him.

Satoru's eyes were on the road. He listened. When he was sure they were clear for the time being, he turned to Masaki. "What have you gotten yourself into?"

Masaki swallowed his spit. His legs were weak. He sat down on the ground. "I was really stupid."

"Who are they?"

"ERIS." Satoru nodded thoughtfully. "Please don't tell anyone."

Satoru regarded him with an unreadable expression. "I won't." He reached into his pockets and pulled out his phone. He dialled a number. It rang. "You're telling your brother. Don't tell him about ERIS but try to be honest." He handed Masaki the phone.

"But—"

Before he could argue further, there was an answer. "Hello?" Masaki glanced at Satoru. He was watching the street. His hand still held the phone out to Masaki. "Hello?" Touma repeated.

Masaki took the phone. He squeezed his eyes shut. "Hello," he said.

"Masaki?" Touma sounded at ease, "What's up?"

"I— I'm in trouble."

"What?" Touma's voice was mixed with alarm. "Masaki, are you on drugs?"

"What? No!" he sighed, "I've kind of fallen in with the wrong crowd." His voice shook.

"Then what kind of trouble?" Touma asked, "If it's not drugs, then what is it?"

"Er..."

Before Masaki could answer, however, Touma spoke again, "Are you close by?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Where?"

"I don't know," Masaki said, "Maybe a block or two away. There's a supermarket a street from me, I think."

"I'm coming to you."

"No, Touma, wait!" but the line went dead.

Satoru frowned. "What happened?"

Masaki's face was grave. "My brother is coming to us."

Touma was outside in a matter of minutes. As he walked in search of his brother he noticed a silver sedan parked on the side of the road. It was too dark to make out if a person was sitting inside. Touma didn't give it a second thought as he walked.

He found Masaki and Satoru a block away from his building, near the supermarket.

"Idiot," Satoru snapped. "I would have brought him to you."