It only took a smile - Chapter 3- Bruised

Back in the research laboratory, there was always a reason why Kenji carried guilt whenever his eyes fell on Naoto.

It was because he had a daughter the same age. And every time Naoto screamed, every time he cried for help, Kenji felt as if it were his own little girl calling out to him.

The weight of that guilt piled up slowly, unbearably, until one day he couldn’t take it anymore.

“Chihiro is the reason I saved you,” Kenji admitted at last, his eyes lowered. “I know you must still hold a grudge against me… even more so now that you know it wasn’t kindness, but just my guilty conscience—”

“It doesn’t matter what the reason was, Sensei,” Naoto interrupted gently. His voice softened. “What matters is that you risked everything for me… and later suffered imprisonment for it.”

After helping Naoto escape, Kenji had taken every shred of evidence he could gather and delivered it to the government—proof that a powerful businessman had been experimenting on humans under the guise of chemical production.

For that, Kenji earned merit. But the truth was unavoidable: he had been part of the human experiments himself. So while his name was kept out of public records, the system demanded punishment. He was sentenced and spent seven years behind bars.

Kenji let out a weary sigh. “When I came out of prison, the very first place I visited was a divorce lawyer.”

Naoto’s brows rose. “You… aren’t with your wife anymore?”

Kenji’s smile twisted with bitterness. “Who would want to stay with a mad scientist like me?” He shook his head slowly. “I never tried to persuade her. I knew I didn’t deserve forgiveness.”

He rose from his chair and turned toward the tall window, his reflection faint in the glass. His voice grew quieter, heavier.

“Chihiro’s custody was given to Mayuri, of course. My little one barely spent any time with me after she was born. Naturally, she chose her mother. And how could I blame her? I… I was never the kind of father or husband anyone could desire.”

Naoto’s gaze lowered, “I feel…in a way, I am one to be blamed.”

Kenji turned around instantly, shaking his head firmly. “No, Naoto. You saved me from destroying myself. You made me realize the grave mistake I committed by ever getting myself involved with them.”

Naoto let out a quiet sigh, his lips pressed shut, choosing not to argue further.

Kenji drew in a shuddering breath before speaking again. “Since then, Mayuri and I barely exchanged words unless it was absolutely necessary. But then…two days ago, she called me.” His voice faltered. “She was crying on the phone.”

Naoto frowned, his chest tightening, but he remained silent.

Kenji’s voice shook as he forced the words out. “S-She…accidentally stepped into Chihiro’s room while she was changing and…then she saw it.” His hands trembled as he lifted them, as though afraid to shape the memory into words. “Bruises. So many bruises. Cut marks. Burn marks.”

Tears welled in his eyes, blurring his vision. “When she asked her, she brushed it off, saying it happened during sports. When we questioned the teachers, they avoided us—gave us empty words. But we know. We know our little girl is being bullied…tormented by those entitled, cruel brats who can’t stand to see her smile.”

His hand clutched his chest, his voice breaking as he whispered, “And when Mayuri told me…When I pictured Chihiro curled up in pain…the first image that came to my mind was you.” His eyes met Naoto’s, trembling with both guilt and desperation.

“That small boy, broken and terrified…wounded, hiding in the shadows, praying that no one would notice him—so he could be forgotten.”

Naoto’s expression remained unchanged.

He had lived through those nightmares too many times. At some point, the memories had stopped cutting into him—they were no longer wounds, but scars carved into his very being.

In a weak voice, the older man said, “Maybe…this is what they say karma…whatever sin you commit, your children face the consequences. And now…my Chihiro…my precious daughter…”

Silently, he reached for the tissue box on the table, pulled one out, and walked over to Kenji. Without a word, he extended it to him.

Kenji accepted it with trembling fingers, dabbing at his tears. He heard Naoto’s calm voice ask, “Can I talk to your wife?”

Kenji lifted his head, blinking away the blur in his eyes, before nodding. “Yes…but not now. Chihiro must be home, and if we go there together, she’ll realize we’re still worried about her. That would only make her retreat further.”

Naoto gave a slow nod. He understood.

The daughter didn’t want to burden her parents with her pain. The parents, in turn, couldn’t bear to watch their daughter suffer. Both sides were protecting each other, and yet the distance between them only grew.

‘Familial bonds…’ Naoto sighed inwardly. A warmth he could never fully grasp, yet one he could not ignore.

Kenji steadied his voice again. “Chihiro leaves for cram school at seven. I’ll let Mayuri know we’re coming over then.”

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.