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A/N - I highly recommend that you press play on the video above and let the music run throughout this chapter! ;)
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Restlessness gripped your weary soul as you lay in the embrace of your sleepless night. Moonlight spilled through the gaps in the curtains, casting ghostly patterns upon the walls, mirroring the labyrinth of thoughts that consumed you. The air felt thick, heavy with unanswered questions that danced through your mind like elusive shadows.
In the depths of darkness, your thoughts became a tempest, swirling with worry and uncertainty. Your imagination conjured countless scenarios, each more bewildering than the last, as you tried to unravel the enigma of Ranpo's sudden disappearance. It was as if he had been swallowed by the night, leaving behind only a void in your heart and a tapestry of unanswered whispers.
Minutes melted into hours, yet sleep eluded you like a capricious lover. Tangled in your sheets, your body grew restless, twisting and turning in an attempt to find solace. The silence of the room, usually comforting, now echoed with the weight of your unanswered questions. You longed for a reprieve, for your mind to find respite, but the tendrils of sleep remained just beyond your reach.
As the night wore on, a faint light painted the horizon, a promise of a new day inching closer. It was in the darkest hour before dawn that you finally succumbed to an uneasy slumber, your mind still wrestling with the mysteries that plagued you.
Suddenly, the stillness shattered like delicate glass as a shrill ring pierced the silence. You jolted upright, your heart pounding against your chest like a war drum. Eyes wide open, you groped for your phone, the room bathed in the surreal glow of its screen. The cacophony of thoughts in your mind gave way to a singular focus; the voice on the other end.
As you pressed the phone to your ear, a mixture of relief and apprehension flooded your senses. It was Ranpo's voice, crackling with urgency and excitement, as if he held the key to the secrets of the universe. In the dimness of the room, his words painted vivid images, sparking a fire within your soul.
The world outside your window, cloaked in the hushed hues of dawn, seemed to hold its breath. Time stood still as you listened intently, your mind racing to catch up with the sudden turn of events. A symphony of possibilities unfolded before you, a kaleidoscope of paths waiting to be explored.
"Where the hell are you?"
"I'm in Arashiyama."
"You're in Kyoto?"
"Yes, I am in Kyoto," Ranpo answered, and you suddenly wondered how on earth he managed to get there all by himself. Did he ride the train? He hated going alone. "I'm actually in a teahouse by the name of Kotogiki Chaya. Their rice cakes are absolutely delicious. Come and join us."
