**Chapter 4: The Truth Revealed**

Akira's eyes were fixed on Kaito, her mind racing with questions and fears. She had been sensing that something was off about him, and now she had stumbled upon a cryptic message that hinted at a dark and troubled past. The words "Eclipse protocol engaged. Target acquired" echoed in her mind, refusing to be silenced. As they walked home from school, Akira's anxiety grew. She knew she had to confront Kaito about the message, but she was scared of what she might discover. What if he was involved in something sinister? What if he was in danger? When they arrived at Akira's house, she invited Kaito in, hoping to have a calm and rational conversation. But as soon as they sat down in the living room, Akira's nerves got the better of her. "Kaito, we need to talk," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Kaito looked at her, his eyes cautious. "What's going on, Akira?" Akira took a deep breath and pulled out her phone, showing him the message she had seen. Kaito's expression changed, and for a moment, Akira saw a flash of fear in his eyes. "Where did you see that?" he asked, his voice tight. "I saw it on your phone," Akira replied, her eyes locked on his. "What does it mean?" Kaito sighed and rubbed his temples. "Akira, I...I don't know how to explain this." "Explain what?" Akira pressed, her voice rising. Kaito looked up at her, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and resignation. "I'm an assassin, Akira. I'm trained to kill people." Akira's world stopped. She felt like she had been punched in the gut, and she couldn't breathe. "What?" she whispered. Kaito nodded. "My father trained me. He's a notorious figure in the underworld, and he's been teaching me the trade since I was a kid." Akira's mind reeled as she tried to process this information. She had suspected that Kaito was hiding something, but she had never imagined this. "Why?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Why are you doing this?" Kaito shrugged. "I don't know. My father always said it was just part of the family business, but I never felt comfortable with it. And now...now I have a mission to complete." Akira's eyes widened. "A mission? What does that mean?" Kaito's expression turned grim. "I have to eliminate a target. It's a high-priority mission, and my father is breathing down my neck to get it done." Akira felt a chill run down her spine. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Kaito, the charming and kind boy she had fallen for, was an assassin. "What can I do to help?" Akira asked, her voice firm. Kaito looked at her, his eyes filled with gratitude. "You don't have to do anything, Akira. This is my problem." But Akira knew she couldn't just sit back and do nothing. She had to help Kaito, had to find a way to stop him from completing his mission and getting hurt. As she looked at Kaito, she knew that she had to take action. She couldn't let him go through with this, not if it meant putting innocent lives at risk. "I think I know someone who can help us," Akira said, a plan forming in her mind. "My friend's older brother, Ryker, and his wife, Lila. They're...they're involved in the underworld too." Kaito's eyes narrowed. "What makes you think they can help us?" Akira took a deep breath. "I've heard they're good people, and they might be able to help us stop you from completing your mission." Kaito nodded, a small smile on his face. "Okay, let's go see them. Maybe they can help us find a way out of this." As Akira stood up, she knew that she was taking a risk. But she also knew that she couldn't just sit back and do nothing. She had to help Kaito, no matter what it took.