Page 130 of The Dragon 1

Reo continued, “tonight Hiro made Nura take the night off. He had one of the Claws cover her shift.”

My brows rose. “Which Claw?”

“Daisuke.”

I grinned, picturing Daisuke with his sharp black mohawk and tall lanky body, naked in a room of nude women, sorting and weighing drugs because Hiro wanted a date.

I shook my head. “How did Daisuke do?”

“The Candy Room guards complained that he kept getting an erection.”

“And that scared the women?”

“Actually. . .the guards complained that they giggled and flirted with him, instead of focusing on their tasks. Apparently, Daisuke got several numbers at the end of his shift.”

“Good for Daisuke.” I smiled.

Reo continued, “Hiro and Nura went to Akihabara together. He bought them manga and hit up several arcades.”

I could picture it now—neon lights flickering across Nura’s shaved head as she tilted her face toward a claw machine, her small hands gripping the controls. Hiro standing beside her, silent and still but his eyes sharper than the prize sensors.

“After two or three arcades, our people say they went to the food stalls.” Reo added, “They gotdango.”

Ah. Dango.

Those skewered rice dumplings brushed with that shiny, sweet soy glaze.

I imagined Hiro handing her one without a word, his expression unreadable as always—just watching her take the first bite.

Soft.

Chewy.

Warm.

A comfort snack with a whisper of smoke. The kind of food that didn’t ask questions, just sat quietly in your mouth and reminded you that you were alive.

Reo smirked slightly. “Then Hiro got her karaage.”

That made sense. Crispy fried chicken sold from street stalls in little paper cups was the way to go for a true date in Akihabara.

“Hiro ate his plain,” Reo’s voice was flat, but amused. “Nura dumped spicy mayo on hers. Our people were close enough to hear Hiro tell Nura that she was ruining it. She said he had no taste buds. They playfully argued the entire time.”

I huffed a laugh through my nose.

God. That woman had real guts if she was teasing Hiro.

Reo went on. “He bought hertaiyakitoo.”

Of course he did. His favorite sweet after lollipops.

That warm, fish-shaped waffle with molten chocolate oozing from its center.

Reo smiled. “Hiro bit into hers without asking.”

I shook my head.

“Then she must have gotten extra chocolate.”