You Came with the First Spring Breeze... - Episode 1: Bound by the Past

Chapter 2: Side—Aki: Igniting on a Scorching Night

Episode 1: Bound by the Past

“I like you. Let’s start as friends!”
Tomoya said this, handing me a bouquet of red roses just a week ago.

It was such a cliché scene, the kind you don’t even see in shoujo manga or movies anymore, yet it made my heart flutter, and my eyes grew warm.

Like Tomoya’s hand gently cupping my cheek that day—

Is this what they call happiness? The sun-scorched asphalt seemed to burn me to the core.

Impatient with the “friend” phase, I blurted out my reply right away: “I like you too. I like you, Tomoya.” And just like that, we officially became a couple.

When he said, “Let’s take our time getting to know each other,” I genuinely felt cherished.

I’d even put on a new outfit just now, ready for tonight’s date…

But life isn’t so easy.

The shadow of a murky past still looms, refusing to disappear, a specter I know I’ll always have to fear.

I re-read the message on my phone’s screen.

“So, you’re dating Ikehira, huh? You know he used to be my colleague, right? How about I send him that adult video you starred in as a little celebration?”

It was from Mita, my former lover. Mita runs a staffing agency, but behind the scenes, he also arranged AV actresses. When there were no other girls willing to do it, he’d send me out a few times.

Those free videos with my face clearly visible will never vanish from the internet.

A trickle of cold sweat slid down my cheek. If Tomoya saw something like that, I’d die.

I felt like I’d been pushed to the depths of hell, and despair pierced me through.

With trembling fingers, I typed a reply.

“Please stop. What do you want from me?”

The message was immediately marked as read, and a response came within seconds.

“Come here. To my apartment.”

I knew what awaited me if I went. I’d be subjected to unspeakable, degrading acts.

Though I’d become used to it, this time felt different.

I don’t want to go through that again. I have zero feelings left for Mita—less than zero, if that’s possible. I don’t even want to see his face or hear his voice.

But it would be better than Tomoya finding out.

The clock by the bed read exactly 5:00 p.m.

My date with Tomoya was at 7:00.

If I went to Mita’s place, I wouldn’t be able to leave easily. The thought of meeting Tomoya after being used by Mita… I couldn’t bear it.

There was no time to wonder what I should do.

If following his orders would avoid disaster, I had no choice.

This tainted body of mine can never be pure again—

Tomoya, I’m sorry. I’m just not fit to be by your side.

You’re pure, dedicated, clumsy, honest—

Someone wonderful will surely come into your life someday.

I’m just not the right person.

I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.

Words of farewell welled up in my mind. But my shaking fingers refused to type them out, and only my tears flowed.

The frustration of being dragged back into my past and the pain of saying goodbye to Tomoya was unbearable, and I sobbed uncontrollably.

Can’t I be happy?

Why won’t they just leave me alone?

My cries filled the room.

“Uwaaaaaaaaah—!”

The first night I ever served a client in that line of work, I cried as if I’d shed a lifetime’s worth of tears.

I wanted to wash away the sickening feeling with all those tears.

“Nnnnnghhhh—aaaahhhh—!”

But it was useless, and even now, the smells and sensations come flooding back.

“Noooooooo!”

I bit down hard on my index finger, feeling the crunch as the pain replaced my revulsion.

Since that day, I’ve numbed myself to pain to block out the feelings.

As long as I felt pain, I was somewhat freed from the discomfort.

Biting down again and again, I forced down my sobs.

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

Ding-dong.

I was jolted back to reality by the sudden chime of the doorbell.

Mita? My body froze, paralyzed with fear.

Ding-dong.

The second ring—like he was telling me to hurry up. Two rings meant he had a reason to be here. Mita?

I squeezed my sides and clasped my hands in front of my chest.

Ding-dong.

The third ring, like he was checking if I was home.

But Mita had messaged just a few minutes ago, telling me to come to his place. If he was here at my door, he probably wouldn’t have been able to leave right after sending that message. And delivery people don’t ring three times.

Trembling, I got up and looked at the monitor.

—Tomoya!

I hurriedly unlocked the front door and opened it. Dressed in a suit, he looked at me with concern, his eyebrows furrowing softly as he gazed into my face.

“What’s wrong? Were you crying? Did something happen?”

It was obvious that I’d been crying a lot, given how terrible I must have looked.

Slowly, I shook my head.

“No, nothing. I just hurt my finger.”

When I showed him my scraped index finger, Tomoya took out a neatly pressed, perfectly square handkerchief from his pocket and gently placed it over the wound.

“Thank you, but I’m fine. More importantly, why are you here? You’re early.”

Our date was at 7:00.

It was only 5:00.

“My last appointment got canceled, so I figured I’d come pick you up early since I was already heading home.”

He grinned, his smile so carefree that it almost made me cry again.