A knock came.
I blinked.
Then the door opened before I could even speak.
Zo and Hiroko stood there, framed in the doorway like two mismatched angels—one in silk, one in cotton.
Hiroko’s expression was distant and almost soft, like she had been crying but refused to talk about it. Her dark kimono wascinched too tightly at the waist, lips set in a line that wasn’t her usual regal composure—it was grief barely concealed.
Zo looked wild-eyed. Hair frizzed. Blue hoodie wrinkled like he’d been pacing for hours. He stepped in first, waving his phone like it was a badge.
“Are you well-rested, Queen Princess?” His voice was high and sarcastic. “Have the gods of black silk and Japanese incense gifted you with serenity?”
I rose. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Me?”
“And stop threatening Kenji’s staff—”
“I had to wake you up!”
“Why?” I held my hands out. “What was so serious that you had to threaten the staff and wake me?”
Hiroko moved forward and handed me her phone. “Watch this video.”
I looked down at the device and caught the horrifying image.
Oh shit!!!
And then Hiroko pressed play.
Chapter nineteen
The Broadcast
Nyomi
Hiroko’s phone trembled in my hand as the BBC logo faded into view, and the male news anchor’s voice began—crisp, polished, and British in that unnerving way that made everything sound more civilized than it was.
“Good morning. We interrupt programming with breaking news from Japan.”His voice was too calm for the words spilling from his mouth.“In a surprise coordinated attack early this morning, over forty bombs detonated across Tokyo, targeting key buildings and infrastructure. This has shocked the world and left authorities scrambling for answers.”
The words didn’t hit like news. They rang out like a funeral bell—clear, heavy, and already too late.
I knew Kenji would start the war. But hearing it spoken aloud—formal, final, and real—on international news. . .that was different.
“The blasts have severely disrupted the city’s eastern power grid, plunging large parts of Tokyo—and several surrounding towns—into darkness for hours.”
My body trembled, then my brain did too. A tremor of horror moved through my spine. My fingers went cold. My heart forgot its rhythm.
Because this wasn’t abstract anymore.
This was real.
Fire.
Ash.
“Emergency crews are working to isolate damaged substations while rerouting electricity from neighboring prefectures. Officials warn rolling blackouts could continue for days.”
