Chapter 31 – Past ⑤

The two of them had managed to maintain their grades steadily as winter approached.

However, Reiha’s home environment showed no signs of improvement.

Just as her mother had said, her stepfather continued to put on the face of a “good man” in front of Reiha, no matter what.

But the truth of what he was doing was already unforgivable—whatever he did, it was nothing but disgusting.

And yet, the fact that he tried to deceive her by putting on a false face made Reiha feel even sicker.

“…You don’t look well. Maybe you shouldn’t push yourself so hard?”

Satoru had been sensing that Reiha’s condition was deteriorating day by day.

That girl who used to be so cool and prickly now clung to his side with visible unease—it was becoming a common occurrence.

It wasn’t due to illness—he could tell there was something deeply troubling her mentally.

“I-I’m fine…”

“You say that, but you don’t look fine at all. What happened? I didn’t want to pry, so I’ve avoided asking. But you’re clearly falling apart. I can’t just ignore it anymore.”

He had assumed that as long as she didn’t open up about it, it was a boundary not to be crossed.

But things had gotten far too serious for him to pretend everything was okay.

“…My mom remarried a few months ago. But the guy she married is violent—he hits her. She’s suffering. And she told me not to get involved, so I wouldn’t get hurt too. I’m doing my best to pretend I don’t see anything, just like she asked. But it’s so painful! I hate that man. I’m terrified of him!”

“…”

Satoru immediately regretted asking.

Even for an adult man, how many could hear a story like that and know what to say?

He was just a third-year middle schooler—a kid. There was no way he could offer a solution to such a heavy problem.

He could listen, but he had no words to offer in return.

Even if he didn’t run away from the gravity of it, he lacked the ability to properly carry it.

And that made him feel deep regret.

“…You’ve still managed to push through and do so well, even in all that?”

The only thing he could muster was pure amazement at how she had continued to perform despite her circumstances.

“Because I promised my mom. I told her I wouldn’t go off the rail.”

Reiha was clinging firmly to the promise she made with her mother.

To Satoru, who was right in the middle of his rebellious phase, that hit him hard.

A girl his age, with absolutely no fault of her own, bearing such suffering, and still caring for her parent.

Compared to her, he was always fighting with his own parents over the smallest things, even though he lacked for nothing.

He couldn’t help but feel angry at himself—at how powerless he was in the face of her burden, and how spoiled he seemed in contrast.

(I really do hate myself…)

That feeling stirred up a dangerous impulse—the desire to destroy himself.

Still, that didn’t mean he would actually harm himself.

It was more like a mental storm—a fury that spun violently in his head, confusing and overwhelming him.

“Please… I don’t want to see that face on you too.”

“S-Sorry…”

“Because it’s you, I’m sure this story has you thinking all sorts of things on my behalf, right? And that makes you feel helpless, doesn’t it?”

“…Even though you’re a wreck yourself, you still read me so perfectly.”

“But please, just understand this: because of you, I can still stay sane. You talk to me, stay beside me like this… That alone is the one and only comfort I have right now.”

Her complexion still pale, Reiha offered Satoru the gentlest smile she could

manage.

“…Isn’t there anything more I can do to comfort you?”

“Well, then…”

Reiha stood up from the seat across from him, then sat down right beside him.

Then, quietly, she leaned her weight against him.

“…I just want to lean on you… for a little while.”

“You don’t have to limit yourself. Lean on me as much as you want.”

Satoru gently stroked her head.

And Reiha, in turn, buried her face more deeply against him.

“…I’m so glad you’re here.”

“The way we met was the worst, though.”

“P-Please forget about that!”

“Still, now we’re spending more time together than anyone else. Life’s funny like that.”

“…Yeah.”

As they exchanged those words, Satoru continued to stroke her head to calm her down.

Compared to what she was going through, his support might’ve seemed like a

drop in the ocean. But even so, he offered what she needed—gently and sincerely.

And then—

“!”

Suddenly, Reiha’s phone vibrated loudly.

The moment she picked it up and saw the screen, the calm that had finally begun to return to her shattered in an instant.

She began trembling, her face turning the palest it had been all day.

“…I’m sorry. I need to go home.”

“W-What happened? What’s going on!?”

“I-It’s fine. Nothing, really…”

“There’s no way it’s nothing!”

Even as she forced out those words, she looked anything but fine.

“I really am okay! So let’s just call it a day!”

She quickly gathered her things and rushed out of the shop.

She had to get home. Quickly.

Reiha ran through the darkened streets, desperately trying to get back home

as soon as she could.

The message was from her mother: her stepfather had insisted on picking her up after his drinking party. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Until now, she had never been alone with the man.

But if he was actively trying to pick her up, it meant there was a real chance they’d end up alone.

And if that happened… she didn’t even want to imagine what might follow.

She had to get home before he found her.

She never told anyone where she went, so he couldn’t have known she was with Satoru.

But that also meant she had no idea where he might be searching.

In other words, he could be anywhere—and she could bump into him at any moment.

“Ah, there you are.”

“!!”

Even knowing it was a possibility, she had never cursed her luck more than she did in that moment.

Of all the voices she didn’t want to hear in the world, she had to hear his—at the worst possible time.

“Reiha-chan, that’s not good. Even if you’re studying, you shouldn’t be out walking in the dark like this.”

His speech was slightly slurred.

Just as her mother had warned, he was clearly drunk.

“I-I’m sorry…”

She bit her tongue to keep from yelling “It’s none of your business, shut up”.

“That’s why I was waiting—figured you’d come this way.”

Those words made her knees nearly give out.

The sheer horror and disgust of being “predicted” by someone like him was too much to bear.

“Come on, let’s go home. Your mom’s worried too.”

“…”

She couldn’t fight him. All she could do was follow quietly.

She tried to keep a little distance, but he closed the gap right away.

Her legs trembled with every step, but she forced them to move forward.

“You really are a good girl. Just like your mom said.”

As he spoke, the man reached out and stroked Reiha’s head.

At that moment, she felt something precious being defiled.

Just earlier, she had been comforted by the same gesture—from someone who truly cared.

“Don’t touch me!!!”

That was the breaking point.

Fear and disgust alone she could’ve endured.

But this man was trying to defile the one thing she couldn’t lose right now.

She slapped his hand away with all her might—and froze as she looked at his face.

For the first time, she saw his true nature.

Until now, he’d kept it hidden from Reiha. But the alcohol had let it slip out—effortlessly.

“Damn it… You can’t even listen to your father? Looks like you need to be taught some discipline…”

“D-Don’t… What are you trying to do?”

She instinctively stepped back, but he advanced without hesitation.

He grabbed her arm tightly.

“I said, I need to teach you a lesson. So you’ll start listening to me. Don’t worry. You’ve got a pretty face—it’ll all work out. And once you behave, things’ll be even easier.”

She didn’t fully understand what he meant.

But her instincts screamed that something far more terrifying than she could

imagine was about to happen.

“You’re going to serve me now. I’ve done plenty for you, haven’t I? It’s time you showed a little gratitude.”

“You… You’re not my father…”

That was the truth.

But fear and despair left her unable to speak clearly.

“Then this won’t be a problem, will it!? If I’m not your father, then we’re not family!”

“!!”

In that moment, it all clicked.

If we’re not family, it’s not wrong.

If that logic applied, then there was only one thing someone like him would want.