𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝑪𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒍 |니키˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚

2.5🦢

Japan; Okayama

Weeks passed in a blur, each day heavier than the last as Jiyoung juggled the weight of her suspicions about Minho and her growing involvement in Riki's tangled web. The more she dug into her brother's activities, the more confused she became. Minho maintained his story, adamant that he was only staying close to Riki to bring him down from within. But his actions, the late-night meetings, the cryptic phone calls—everything screamed of something far darker.

Jiyoung spent sleepless nights in her small apartment, poring over documents, surveillance footage, and every scrap of information she could gather. Sunghoon helped where he could, but even he knew this was a battle Jiyoung had to fight alone. The bond between her and Minho made everything more complicated. She had to be the one to uncover the truth.

The tension between her and Minho grew with each passing day. He noticed her coldness, her hesitation around him. Jiyoung tried to act normal, but it was impossible. Every time she saw him, a part of her wondered: Was he lying to protect her? Or had he crossed the line into Riki's world?

Riki, meanwhile, remained a looming presence. He made it clear after that night at the warehouse—Jiyoung was playing with fire. His warning haunted her, but she couldn't back down. Not when she was so close to finding out the truth about her brother. And yet, there was something in the way Riki looked at her during their brief, tense encounters—something possessive, something that suggested he wasn't just going to let her slip away.

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Japan; Okayama; 17-9-2026

One evening, weeks after Jay had nearly caught her, Jiyoung sat alone at her desk, staring at the file open on her laptop. It was another string of financial records, linking Riki to several off-the-book arms deals. Minho's name didn't appear directly, but there were connections, subtle ones that hinted at his involvement. It wasn't enough to confront him, but it was enough to keep Jiyoung up at night.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. Sunghoon's name flashed on the screen.

"We need to meet," his voice came through the line, urgent. "I've got something."

Jiyoung's pulse quickened. "What is it?"

"I can't talk about it over the phone. Just meet me at the usual spot."

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Japan; Okayama; Miyama Park; 17-9-2026

When Jiyoung arrived at the secluded park where they often met, Sunghoon was already waiting, his posture tense, eyes scanning the area like he always did. She could tell from his face that whatever he had discovered was serious.

"What's going on?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady as she approached.

Sunghoon handed her a manila envelope, his expression grim. "I've been following a new lead. I wasn't sure it would pan out, but... well, see for yourself."

Jiyoung hesitated before opening the envelope. Inside were photos—grainy, taken from a distance, but unmistakable. One was of Riki, leaning casually against a sleek black car. Next to him, in clear view, stood Minho, speaking to him as if they were old friends.

Her breath caught in her throat. "When were these taken?"

"Last night," Sunghoon said, his voice low. "I followed him after one of his meetings. This wasn't the first time either."

Jiyoung's hands shook as she sifted through the photos. There were several more, all showing Minho and Riki together in various locations over the past few weeks. They weren't just casual encounters—there was a familiarity in Minho's posture, a closeness that made her stomach twist.