The Nogiku Series

Years later on Yūsei… A cold breeze zips through the house, a sign of fall coming. The paper screen doors rattle, and Jiro takes the time to walk through the hallways and close any of the outer doors.

Lying in bed with Sanaa, Jiro listens to her hum as she rubs her forehead against his side and sighs. These are her happy sounds.

Her skin is smooth, effortlessly soft. He runs his right hand lightly over her stomach, tracing the outline of her belly button and leaning over to kiss it.

The street outside the dōjō is busy this morning as Sakai lets himself in the front door and climbs the stairs to the second story. He breathes in deep, smelling the sweet aroma of cooking rice and grilled fish wafting up from the restaurant below.

Jiro’s date with Sanaa is going well so far. She’s not afraid of his katana, and she even wants one of her own.

Sakai sighs as he scrubs through the footage of street cameras from around the dōjō. “How long has she been followed.

Jiro taps his foot impatiently under the table at Izakaya Tanaka, waiting for Sanaa to show up for their date. He’s early tonight, already secured a booth for dinner, and in a few minutes, Miko and Yoichi will join them too.

Sakai stares at the ceiling, letting Lucy’s light breathing lull him into a sleep-inducing trance. If he ever slept, which he doesn’t anymore.