Chapter 88
As soon as we arrive, I know that coming to Tokyo was a bad idea.
The towering skyscrapers, the endless sea of people, the blaring signs in every color imaginable—it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. And judging by the way Wake’s fists are clenched and his eyes dart wildly around the streets, I’d say we maybe should have left him in the train.
We walk shoulder to shoulder down a packed sidewalk, Hiro leading the way through the city’s chaotic pulse. It’s clear that Hiro knows his way around, but for Wake, this is all a very new and dangerous environment. His jaw is tight, his muscles coiled, like he’s ready to fight the entire city.
“Are you okay?” I ask, keeping my voice low as I nudge his arm.
Wake grunts, his eyes never leaving the bustling crowd around us. “This place… is madness.”
I bite my lip, unsure how to explain modern cities to someone who’s spent most of his life beneath the waves. “It’s… a lot, yeah. But you’ll get used to it.”
Just as I say this, a kid on roller blades shoots past us, nearly knocking into Wake. His massive form tenses, and before I can blink, the rollerblader is gone, leaving a whirlwind of motion behind him.
But Wake’s not having it.
He sidesteps into the street to avoid more oncoming pedestrians, only to have a car screech to a halt right in front of him. The blare of the horn makes me jump, but Wake’s reaction is much more intense.
Without missing a beat, he slams his fist down on the hood of the car, leaving a massive dent that makes my stomach drop.
“Shit,” I mutter, grabbing his arm and pulling him back. The driver is yelling, and people are starting to stare.
“Wake!” Hiro hisses, his eyes wide with panic. “Are you trying to get arrested?”
“I will kill the next thing that honks at me,” Wake growls, his voice like the low rumble of an earthquake.
I grab his hand, squeezing it hard. “Hey, no killing, remember? We’re trying to keep a low profile here.”
Wake’s eyes flicker to me, and for a brief second, I can see the conflict in them. He’s not used to restraint, especially when the environment around him feels so hostile. But after a moment, he nods, though his fists are still tightly clenched.
“We need to get off the street,” Hiro says, looking around anxiously. “Like, now.”
We hustle across the street, narrowly avoiding more traffic, and head toward the nearest building we can duck into. As we reach the doors, I glance up to see that it’s a library—a huge one, with high glass windows and, most importantly, very few customers. Perfect.
Once inside, the difference in atmosphere is immediate. The noise of the city fades away, replaced by the soft shuffling of feet and the occasional rustle of pages. Wake’s shoulders relax slightly, though he’s still on edge.
Hiro looks at him, exasperated. “You almost punched a car.”
Wake’s eyes narrow. “It deserved it.”
“Cars don’t deserve things,” I mutter, trying not to laugh. “But let’s focus on keeping you calm, okay?”
Wake glares at me but says nothing. His hands are still tense, and I can see the veins on his forearms bulging, like he’s ready to take on the whole world. I need to find a way to help him unwind before he snaps and turns Tokyo into a battleground.
I tug him toward a quiet corner of the library, away from the main desk. “Come on, sit down for a second. Just… breathe.”
He hesitates, looking around the room like it’s an alien planet, but eventually, he sits, though his posture is still rigid. I sit beside him, gently placing my hand on his arm.
Wake exhales sharply, his eyes still scanning the library. “I have tried, but I do not understand your world. It’s loud, there is no room to think. No space to… breathe.”
“I get that,” I say, nodding. “But there's beauty in it too if you're willing to look.”
He’s quiet for a moment, clearly struggling to contain the anger and confusion roiling beneath the surface. Then he looks at me, his gaze softening just a little. “I don’t like it.”
I smile, brushing my fingers along his arm. “I don’t blame you. But if we’re going to pull this off, you have to try. At least until we’re back somewhere more familiar.”
Wake clenches his jaw, then finally nods. “I will try.”
Hiro sidles over, a nervous look still lingering on his face. “Please try harder. We can’t afford to draw attention right now. Not until we’ve met with Becker and can get you two the hell out of Japan,” he says. “No offense.”
I glance over at Hiro, grateful for his level-headedness in all this. “None taken, believe me.”
"I’ll go grab us some tea," Hiro offers before slipping out, leaving Wake and me alone in the soft, sunlit room.
I turn to find Wake’s wandered off and is now seated in one of the plush armchairs, a book in his hands. The sight of him, this towering figure, nearly too big for the chair, flipping through the delicate pages of a book, is almost comical. Almost.
Curiosity gets the better of me. "What are you reading?”
His eyes flick to mine before looking back down at the book. "Folklore. Religion."
That catches me off guard. "You enjoy reading?"
Wake gives a slight nod, still focused on the page. "Yes. I enjoy learning about the stories that shape human cultures. If it were possible, I would like to bring books to the ocean."
I grin, a teasing note slipping into my voice. "Well, it would be helpful if someone wrote down your history. Could save me a lot of trouble.”
Wake is very serious when he replies, his tone almost grave. "You’re right. It would be helpful. My people have suffered from forgetting our past. Anthozoa and Delphinium’s capture could have ended their familial line entirely. Even now, there is much about your inheritance that you do not know. And I…" He hesitates, his voice dropping to almost a whisper. "I cannot teach you."
The weight of his words hits me, and I see the way his jaw tightens, the tension in his shoulders. He’s ashamed, like he’s failed me somehow.
I reach for his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Wake, it’s not your fault. None of this is. We’re both doing the best we can with what we have."
He doesn’t meet my eyes, just stares down at the book as if it holds answers neither of us have found yet. "Our best is not enough," he murmurs, his voice thick with frustration. "I cannot take you back to the Enkian as you are."
The words sting more than I expect. I pull back, trying to mask the hurt creeping into my voice. "What do you mean? Did I…do something wrong?”
"No," he says quickly, his eyes locking onto mine now, his expression softening. "You did nothing wrong. But make no mistake, Phoebe, we are returning to a kingdom preparing for battle. To bring you into the middle of that, ignorant and unprepared, would be irresponsible."
I swallow hard, the reality of what he’s saying sinking in. The tension between the two of us thickens, and I struggle to find the right words. "So…what do you want me to do?”
Wake falls silent, staring off into the distance like he’s weighing every possible option. For a moment, I think he won’t answer at all. But then he speaks, his voice low and resolute. "We need to find Anthozoa. Your grandmother. I will not return to the sea without her.”
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