Crimson Connections

I stare at the screen. It's been five hours since I had stumbled upon the file. Five hours since I found out what happened to Hinata.

She was murdered. Stabbed to death by a man she considered her best friend. The police recovered the bloody knife from his home and it matched the wounds perfectly. But why, why would he do something like that? I had practically begged him to stay away from her, he was a bad influence on her but he never listened. Every time I saw him in public with her I wanted to rip him apart but she always insisted on being friends with him.

I can still remember the day I first met her...

I never thought I'd be able to live in Tokyo when I was younger, my parents were too busy working to even notice me, let alone fund my studies overseas. But after I graduated from high school and got a job at an engineering firm, they finally decided it was time for them to stop taking me for granted and support me in whatever dream I had chased down all these years.

It was only natural that my dream was to study abroad and of course I wanted to go to Tokyo University because that's where Hinata went - at least that's what the internet told me back then. Never mind the fact that we could have gone to different schools or that she could have even been a fictional character but hey, isn't love all about delusions and fantasies?

After graduating from university and getting my degree, I was finally free of my parents' wishes for me to get married and produce grandchildren as if I were some sort of breeding cow (as mom would call it). Instead, I boarded a plane heading for Narita International Airport and began the long journey towards my destination: Tokyo Metropolitan University.

Being the hipster-ish kid that came out of his shell in his teenage years, wearing black clothes and dying my hair black didn't really help me when entering Japan in those days. So instead of trying to blend in with Japanese fashion trends (which are hard as fuck to understand by the way), I changed into more practical attire which involved a jacket and jeans, a few shirts and undergarments which would last me a while, some cash (which was almost worthless here) and my student visa card before jumping onto a train bound towards Tetsudo Kogyo station.

The ride itself wasn't so bad; after buying myself an all-day ticket from the machine near the exit gate, I stowed away in one of the corners of the train where no one could see me, not even the conductor passing by every so often. All around me were people reading newspapers or manga books or just staring blankly through their windows or cell phones but somehow it didn't bother me much; if you've ever been on a crowded subway across New York before then you know how calming it is once you get used to it. It's like your own little world where everyone's focused on their own work or their own thoughts so no one really bothers you unless you start bothering others yourself but fortunately this wasn't New York so there weren't any crazy people shouting obscenities at random strangers.

Once the train pulled into Tetsudo Kogyo station fifteen minutes later - which was probably one of the most packed stations on the line - I made my way out into an underground shopping mall connected with several other shopping malls below ground level like spokes in a wheel (or better yet, like Jenga blocks stacked atop each other). There were restaurants selling various food dishes like fried chicken and ramen noodles as well as cafes serving coffee drinks that cost more than my monthly salary back home (for real). There were also capsule hotels where you can rent out a small room for several hours if you don't want to spend hundreds or thousands on an actual hotel room - how those things even passed fire safety regulations is beyond me - alongside vending machines offering everything from canned coffee drinks (which didn't smell foul unlike American ones) to condoms and tampons (so glad condoms are legal here unlike back home).

There were also some shops selling video games consoles along with games galore which ranged from RPGs to FPSs; apparently this place is called Akihabara which apparently is THE otaku haven here in Tokyo... boy did we ever have nothing like this back home! But enough sightseeing for now; it's time for me to find somewhere cheap enough where I can find lodging while waiting for university orientation tomorrow morning.

***

I awoke early the next morning after having a fitful sleep due to jet lag but nevertheless making sure not to miss orientation on account of laziness or lack of motivation. After dressing myself up in more fitting attire - white button-up shirt with black slacks along with formal sneakers - plus checking over all my luggage once more just to make sure everything was there (my passport included), it's time for me to head off towards Mita station where orientation will be held within an hour or two depending on how early you arrive there (and thanks god for GPS technology otherwise finding that station would be hell). The walk itself wasn't so bad; lots of people walking about either going towards their jobs or taking trips outside Tokyo itself ranging from families travelling together or couples holding hands plus even lone travellers who seemed as lost as I did during those first few weeks after arriving here... no wonder why Tokyo is known as "the city that never sleeps"!

***

Okay so orientation went pretty well despite some minor setbacks mainly due to language barriers between us foreigners and our Japanese instructors who had trouble understanding our accent sometimes even though they tried their best not be rude about it... good thing our translator managed not only understand them but also act as an intermediary between us foreigners and our Japanese professors whenever we couldn't seem to understand each other properly! Once term started though we hardly saw him aside from during class; he said he needed extra credit so he transferred schools out west somewhere near Kyoto? Guess he has family hiding out there somewhere... shame really since he ended up being one of our closest friends during those three years living together in dorms!

As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, my friendship with Hinata grew stronger. We were inseparable, spending our days exploring the city and our evenings studying together. We shared dreams, hopes, and aspirations, always encouraging each other to reach for the stars. Tokyo became our playground, its neon lights guiding us through its maze of streets. Every alley, every corner held a new adventure waiting to be discovered.

But there was one constant in our lives, the man who had been a thorn in my side since the day I met Hinata. His name was Katsuo, a charismatic and enigmatic figure who somehow managed to mesmerize everyone he met. And he had cast his spell on Hinata. Despite my warnings and pleas, she couldn't resist his allure. She believed in him, saw the good in him that no one else did, least of all me.

I watched as Hinata fell deeper into Katsuo's web, her laughter and smiles no longer reserved for just me. It ate away at me, the jealousy and anger festering within my heart. I became consumed by darkness, a darkness that threatened to engulf me whole. But I couldn't let it destroy me. I had to protect her, even if it meant pushing her away.

One winter evening, as the snowflakes gently fell from the sky, I found myself standing outside Katsuo's apartment building. I had followed him, desperate to uncover the truth behind his facade. The bitter cold bit into my skin, but I was immune to it. All I cared about was finding the answers I so desperately sought.

With a flick of the lockpick, I entered his apartment, my heart pounding in my chest. The apartment was eerily quiet, the only sound the faint humming of a refrigerator. I made my way towards his study, where I knew I would find the answers I needed.

As I opened the door, the sight before me sent chills down my spine. The walls were covered in photographs, each one depicting Hinata in various stages of her life. Some seemed innocent, captured moments of happiness, while others were far more sinister. My hands trembled as I picked up one particular photo. It showed Hinata and Katsuo, their faces contorted with rage, as if locked in a deadly battle. It was then that I understood. Katsuo was not who he appeared to be. He was dangerous, capable of unspeakable things.

A sudden noise behind me made me turn around, my heart pounding in my chest. And there he was, standing in the doorway, a malicious grin plastered across his face. "I've been expecting you," he said, his voice dripping with venom.

My mind raced, desperately searching for an escape route. But I was frozen in fear, trapped like a deer in headlights. Katsuo slowly approached me, his eyes burning with a twisted delight. "You see, my dear friend," he said, his voice filled with sadistic pleasure, "Hinata was always mine. She was never yours to protect or love."

The room began to spin, the walls closing in on me. Katsuo's words echoed in my ears, drowning out all rational thought. And in that moment, I knew what I had to do. I had to fight for Hinata, for the love that had been stolen from me.

With a surge of strength, I lunged at Katsuo, my fists connecting with his face. The room descended into chaos, a tumultuous battle between two rivals. It was a battle for love, a battle for Hinata's soul.

As the fight raged on, the truth began to unravel. Katsuo was not just a bad influence, he was a monster. A psychopath who had manipulated and controlled Hinata, using her as a pawn in his sick game. And now, it was my turn to show him that I would not let him win.

With one final blow, I knocked Katsuo to the ground. Blood dripped from my knuckles as I struggled to catch my breath. It was over. Hinata was finally free from his grasp.

But the scars ran deep, both within my heart and within Hinata's. We had both been touched by darkness, forced to confront the demons within ourselves. And as we stood together, hand in hand, I realized that our journey had only just begun.

Together, we would heal. Together, we would find solace in each other's arms. And together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead. For love had triumphed over evil, and nothing would ever break us apart.

And so, as the snow continued to fall outside, we walked away from that apartment, leaving behind a chapter in our lives that had brought us pain and suffering. From here on out, we would create our own destiny, guided by the love that had carried us through the darkest of times.

And as we stepped into the night, our footsteps muffled by the soft blanket of snow, I knew that no matter what lay ahead, we would face it together. For love, in its purest form, was the greatest weapon against the terrors of this world. And as long as we had each other, nothing could stand in our way.