LOVE CAN'T BE SAID

moved Tokyo's elite: politicians in charcoal suits, their spouses in gowns that whispered old money. Waiters weaved through t

it all with a calm that had

n his head was out of place. Every nod he gave was subtle, every smile precisely measured. Th

to this wo

cooed, offering both hands like a dove. "You gr

lightly. "You

is stomach, however, churned under

ru Takamura didn't need to move to dominate. He had built his reputation on presence alone

he beginning

n the room's ener

white-an echo of wedding whispers. Her hair was sculpted into a

of the ballroom like she belonged there. Of course, she did. The da

et her

eeted, his voice

," she replied

t quite a clasp, just

es came i

ent," she murmure

you. Sm

" she said. "So doe

hat a

ly for the camera, smiling

end, then,"

pretendin

r: a perfect image of promise. And y

n the rest. Ryo Kanzaki adjusted his grip, watching Reiji's expression like a

ic

led som

Thirty Min

ndshakes, smiles, small talk delivered in perfec

to the terrace a

ur of glass and neon. Tokyo never truly slept

, letting it hang

opened be

his father said, voice a

n't i

d beside him. "Symboli

spond. The sile

ek," his father said flatly. "We'll make

oke into the win

ssary. You

doesn't m

aid, eyes narrowing. "You're here to continue

ubt t

more. You have her. You have po

name. Th

and left witho

ine, alone with the one thing

- Shibuya,

ng neon and candle stubs, Akira Ts

paint. His jeans were torn, splattered with color, his boots heavy against the concrete flo

. A clash of reds and go

called over the music. "Y

ithout looking. "Tha

eyes. "You're su

back, panting. "It's n

tle of water. Yuki, ever the flirt, slid a

bout Tomo?" he

t. Then shook his hea

a and snapped a shot.

painting. "Someone

n the

find Reika laughing-genuinely

rutal honesty and sharp suits, stood close en

rest

them with me

die

a fox's smile. "Takamura-s

s with t

elong glance. "You m

n the morning news,"

"It will. Some of us k

ress line. Ryo Kanzaki

him

em all

lay the pa

- Takamur

terile. White marble, black leather, glass and chrome. He pou

nt ring sat inside its ve

n't op

st st

one. Scrolled through th

Reika Mori: Tok

dern Love? The Eyes o

overed over

d the not

e - Akir

he ceiling, one hand hanging off the edge of t

t the wall. Red and gold

a man's face in the corner. Sh

seen that

t

in his gut w