Entering the subway station, Tangze avoided the hurried crowds of workers and students heading home. He slowly circled through the maze-like Shibuya exits twice before arriving at a restroom marked with a "Under Maintenance, No Entry" sign.
He glanced down at the email, confirmed that there was no mistake, then walked around the sign and into the men's room.
Shuichi Akai, a cigarette hanging from his lips, was leaning against the wall on the other side.
"Did you need something... Mr. Akai?" Tangze weighed it for a moment, decided the other forms of address felt too awkward, and chose one that was less intimate.
Shuichi Akai paused, stubbed out his cigarette, and did not correct the way Tangze addressed him. He simply said, "Your exit arrangements and false identity are ready. In another ten days, we can arrange for you to leave... Akira, you need to prepare to get away as soon as possible."
Tangze pressed his lips together. Instead of agreeing, he asked, "Are you going to do something?"
Shuichi Akai smiled. "Yes. I told you before, I'm carrying out an undercover mission. Now I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It's risky, but worth trying. However, whether it succeeds or fails, once this operation is over, it'll be difficult for me to keep my identity hidden properly. I won't be able to guarantee your safety anymore."
"...Do you have to go?" Tangze hesitated.
Actually, it was not worth it for Shuichi Akai to run off and trade lives with Gin at the limit like that.
Perhaps the Tang Ze couple's appearance had become a variable in this world. Shuichi Akai had not exposed his undercover identity years ago, and his current position was definitely higher than it had been when he was exposed in the manga. Even a Beika superhuman