**Chapter 15: Gathering Information**

The dimly lit coffee shop, with its aroma of freshly brewed coffee and soft hum of conversation, provided a quiet refuge for Murie, Akira, and Lila to discuss their plan. As they sat down, Murie's eyes locked onto Akira and Lila, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "Thank you for meeting us, Murie," Akira said, his voice low and soothing. "We need to talk about Kaito." Murie's eyes never left Akira's face. "What do you know about him?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Lila reached out, taking Murie's hand in hers. "We know about his training as an assassin. We know about his father, Ryker. And we know that he's been tasked with killing Akane Nakamura." Murie's eyes widened, and she felt a surge of fear. She had suspected that Kaito was hiding something, but she had never imagined that he was an assassin. The revelation seemed to hit her like a ton of bricks, leaving her breathless and disoriented. Akira's expression turned grim. "We've been trying to stop Ryker and Kaito for months. We've been tracking their movements, trying to anticipate their next step." Murie's mind reeled as she processed the information. She had been torn between her love for Kaito and her moral obligation to protect Akane. Now, she had a chance to make things right. "What do you need me to do?" she asked, her voice firm. Lila smiled, a hint of relief in her eyes. "We need you to help us gather information about Ryker's plans. We need to know when and where he's going to strike." Akira nodded in agreement. "And we need you to help us get to Akane. We need to protect her before Kaito can carry out his mission." Murie nodded, a sense of determination building up inside her. She was ready to do whatever it took to stop Kaito and Ryker, to protect Akane and make things right. "I'm in," she said, her voice firm. As they discussed their plan, Murie learned more about Ryker's background and his reputation as a ruthless assassin. She realized that Kaito had been trained to be just like his father, and that he had been tasked with killing Akane as a test of his skills. The group decided to start by gathering information about Ryker's movements and contacts. Akira would use his connections to try and get a lead on Ryker's location, while Lila would try to hack into Ryker's communication channels. Murie, meanwhile, would try to get closer to Kaito and see if she could gather any information from him. As they made their plan, Murie couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. She was using Kaito's trust in her to gather information that could potentially put him in danger. But she knew that she had to do what was right, even if it meant putting her relationship with Kaito at risk. With a newfound sense of purpose, Murie stood up, her eyes locked onto Akira and Lila. "Let's do this," she said, her voice firm. Akira and Lila nodded in agreement, a hint of a smile on their faces. Together, they walked out of the coffee shop, ready to face whatever lay ahead. The game was on, and they were ready to play. As they walked, Murie felt a sense of excitement and trepidation. She was about to embark on a journey that would change her life forever, one that would test her courage and her wits. But she was no longer alone. She had Akira and Lila by her side, and together, they would stop at nothing to protect Akane and bring Kaito's father to justice.