26

Kenzo busied himself with handling the dishes, skillfully cooking up some delicious delicacies. However, he couldn't shake off the nagging feeling of impending doom. It was a gut instinct that Kenzo knew he should never ignore. There was something ticking, a metaphorical time bomb that needed to be diffused before it detonated. But amidst his concerns, Kenzo couldn't help but wonder what the Succubus he had left in his home was up to.

He hoped she wasn't drawing too much attention or engaging in inappropriate activities while he was away.

Soon enough, Hitomi and Mizumi returned, but they didn't divulge much about what they had witnessed outside. They didn't think much of it. Kenzo glanced at the two ladies and could tell they were captivated by the enticing aroma wafting through the house. They hurried towards the kitchen; their curiosity piqued.

Before a conversation could unfold, Kenzo's attention was diverted as Mizumi entered the room, clad in an outfit that accentuated her curves and assets.

She exuded confidence in her own body, and Kenzo couldn't help but appreciate her allure.

Just then, Kenzo's phone beeped in his pocket, an unusual occurrence since very few people had his number.

This indicated that the call was work-related. However, there was no reason for anyone from work to contact him, especially considering their intentions to eliminate him. Mizumi, astutely observant, noticed the subtle change in Kenzo's carefree demeanor.

"I wonder who is trying to contact you..." Mizumi questioned, hoping to confirm her suspicions about something being amiss with him.

Kenzo let out a sigh and, with a deft sleight of hand, pressed a button on his phone as he pulled it out of his pocket.

This action allowed him to open an app that made it appear as though an alarm had gone off. It served as a clever cover-up, reassuring Mizumi and Hitomi and dispelling any potential suspicions before they could take root.

"As you can see, I have somewhere to be," Kenzo blurted out, leaving the ladies wondering about his sudden departure, considering the time of day. However, it was none of their business, and they had no intention of interfering. Hitomi, in particular, was more interested in the mouthwatering food behind Kenzo. The alarm's caption indicated that he had to go pick something up, and they had no reason to doubt this explanation.

Kenzo excused himself and found himself on the first floor, holding his phone tightly in his hand. As he suspected, there was a message waiting for him.

[SOS! LEAVE!]

The message was short and to the point, but Kenzo didn't doubt its urgency, even though he didn't know who it came from. His eyes narrowed, scanning the area for any signs of trouble, but all he saw were college students strolling by, occasionally stealing glances at him, admiring his good looks.

"I need to get out of here," Kenzo thought to himself. He didn't have time to playhouse with a couple of girls. He had underestimated the extent of his enemies' network and connections. It was foolish of him to think he would be safe, even for a brief moment.

Kenzo felt a presence creeping up behind him and swiftly moved out of the way before anyone could grab him. "You're jumpy," a voice remarked. It was Mizumi, but Kenzo had no time for pleasantries.

"Yeah, I'm still recovering from the attack, so I'm a bit on edge," Kenzo responded, his demeanor noticeably different.

Mizumi didn't know what to make of this, so she placed a cigarette between her lips and lit it, adding a sense of nonchalance.

Kenzo couldn't help but wonder what Mizumi was up to. There was a possibility that she posed a threat.

He knew nothing about her, or the other girls present, and judging by Mizumi's physique, it wouldn't be far-fetched to assume she had some combat experience. Kenzo's eyes narrowed, momentarily revealing his bloodlust, but it was a test.

"Whoa! You look like you want to murder me," Mizumi pointed out, causing Kenzo to halt in his tracks.

"She sensed it?" Kenzo thought to himself. She shouldn't have been able to, and that realization gave him his answer.

Amidst the commotion, Kenzo's attention was drawn to a conversation not too far away. The tone and choice of words caught his attention. They were filled with curse words and slang, making him turn around to see two tattooed men. Kenzo immediately recognized the significance of the tattoo, but he wasn't worried. There was no way for them to identify him, giving him a sense of relief.

They caught a glimpse of him and recognized Mizumi from their earlier encounter, but they didn't engage with him. 

"I see, so they have sent the Yakuza," Kenzo thought to himself, perplexed as to why they suddenly wanted him dead.

Everything went downhill the moment he was assigned the task of killing a Succubus. He couldn't shake the feeling that she had something to do with it, wondering if this was another twisted test.

It all seemed too coincidental, and the fact that she had literally ascended from hell indicated that she was far from being good.

Kenzo realized he had to keep her around, as going against her now would surely work against him.

But then, the worst-case scenario unfolded before his eyes. Akujin appeared, and their gazes locked. In that primal, instinctive moment, both predator and prey recognized each other. Akujin smirked, and Kenzo knew it was too late.

However, to his surprise, Akujin simply tilted his head and continued down the street, showing no intention of engaging with Kenzo.

"I see..." Kenzo thought to himself, realizing he had to settle this. If Akujin didn't go for his head the moment he saw him, there had to be a reason behind it.

Kenzo took it upon himself to uncover that reason. He followed Akujin, bidding Mizumi farewell in a seemingly casual manner.

Little did she know, Kenzo had no intention of returning, and the only reason he might come back would be to eliminate all three of the girls and Mizumi's boyfriend, ensuring no trace of his actions remained.