Chapter 10: Whispers of Concern

The warm sunlight streaming through the window highlighted the dust particles dancing in the air as Murie sat on her bed, staring at Kaito's text message on her phone. She had been trying to focus on her studies all morning, but her mind kept wandering back to the cryptic message she had found on his phone - "Red-Handed Fate." The words seemed to echo in her mind, leaving her with a sense of unease. As she pondered the meaning behind the message, Murie couldn't help but think about Kaito's family. She had met them just once, but there was something about their dynamics that seemed...off. His older brother, Akira, had seemed kind and protective, but there was a deep-seated concern in his eyes that Murie couldn't ignore. The memory of their meeting lingered in her mind, and she found herself wondering what secrets they might be hiding. Just as Murie was starting to get lost in her thoughts, there was a knock on the door. It was Akira, Kaito's older brother, and his wife, Lila. They had arrived on campus unexpectedly, and Murie couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity. "Hey, Murie," Akira said, with a warm smile. "Can we talk for a minute?" Murie nodded, inviting them in. Lila closed the door behind them, and they sat down on the bed beside Murie. "We wanted to talk to you about Kaito," Akira said, his expression serious. "We know you care about him, and we appreciate that." Murie's heart skipped a beat as she sensed that they were getting close to something. "What about Kaito?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant. Lila took a deep breath before speaking. "Kaito's family has a complicated history, one that we're trying to change. But we need your help." Murie's eyes widened as she felt a surge of curiosity. "What do you mean?" she asked, leaning in. Akira hesitated, glancing at Lila before continuing. "Kaito's father...he's not a good person. He's done some terrible things, and we're trying to stop him." Murie's mind was racing as she tried to connect the dots. "What does this have to do with Kaito?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Lila's expression was sympathetic. "Kaito's been hurt by his father's actions. We're trying to help him, but it's not easy. He's caught in a web of secrets and lies." Murie felt a pang of concern as she realized that Akira and Lila were trying to tell her something without directly saying it. "What are you trying to say?" she asked, her voice firm. Akira's eyes locked onto hers. "We're saying that Kaito's in danger, and we need your help to protect him. But we also need to protect someone else...someone he might be targeting." The words hung in the air, leaving Murie with a sense of shock and confusion. What did Akira and Lila mean? And who was Kaito targeting? The questions swirled in her mind as she tried to process the information. As they stood up to leave, Lila turned to Murie with a serious expression. "Be careful around Kaito, okay? We don't want anything to happen to you." Murie nodded, feeling a sense of unease. She knew that she had stumbled into something much bigger than herself, something that could change everything. As the door closed behind Akira and Lila, Murie couldn't shake off the feeling that she was walking into a storm, one that could destroy everything she held dear.