You Came with the First Spring Breeze...

https://ko-fi.com/senna2003

Episode 2: Payback Time!!

I deeply regretted not escorting Aki back to her apartment.

If he’s her ex, of course he knows where she lives. He must have been waiting for her. Realizing this, I scrambled to my feet, grabbed my shoulder bag, which I’d just put down a moment ago.

“Tomoya? What’s wrong? You look really pale.”

Nao looked at me anxiously.

There was no time to explain the situation.

This was an emergency.

“You can stay here tonight. I’m not coming back tonight. You should cut ties with Mita as soon as possible.”

I turned my back on Nao, who blinked at me in confusion. I left a spare key on the table and quickly exited the room.

It was about a three-minute sprint to the main road where it would be easier to catch a taxi. I ran full speed and scanned the passing cars.

Empty taxis were hard to come by.

I kept raising my hand, trying to flag down any taxis I saw while heading towards Aki’s apartment, but… none stopped.

I had no choice but to run the whole way to Aki’s apartment.

It was about 10 kilometers to the destination.

How long would it take me to get there?

I regretted not putting on sneakers instead of my work loafers.

Within five minutes, sweat was pouring from every part of my body, and my legs were starting to feel heavy.

My legs were slowing down, but my blood was racing uncontrollably. My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

As I ran, I unbuttoned my dress shirt and stripped down to my undershirt.

Tying my dress shirt around my waist, I kept running. The stagnant, muggy air brushed against my exposed skin, adding to the heavy discomfort weighing me down.

After promising her I’d protect her no matter what, how could I have made such a terrible mistake?

I clawed at my head, flinging sweat droplets.

This wasn’t some mild betrayal. The person I loved was being assaulted by an evil, depraved man.

—That’s it. Assault… the police!

I took out my phone from my bag and dialed 110 while running.

The call connected immediately, and I heard, “Is this an emergency or an accident?”

“It’s an emergency. A woman is being assaulted. Please send someone right away.”

“An assault, understood. Where is this happening?”

Through gasping breaths, I told them Aki’s address.

“Could I get the name of the caller?”

“Ikehira. Tomoya Ikehira.”

“Did you witness this, or—?”

“She called me for help!”

I wanted to scream, “Just hurry and get moving already!”

Holding back that urge, I forced my legs to keep going even though they felt like they were about to give out.

“She’s my girlfriend. Her ex has been relentlessly pursuing her, and that’s why—”

It was no good. My brain wasn’t getting enough blood. My words were slurring.

My breathing was strained.

“Please, just help her.”

“What’s her name?”

“Aki.”

“Uh, is that her first or last name?”

“It’s her first name.”

What was her last name again? Uh—ugh, it wasn’t coming to me. I’d only heard her full name once.

Miyata? No!

Imada? No!

Imai? That’s it!!

“Imai Aki. Her name is Imai Aki!!”

“Understood. We’ll send officers immediately.”

Yes!!

I didn’t know where the strength came from, but I gave a massive leap.

With this, Mita would be done for. His future is ruined.

He might not face the death penalty, but he can’t escape prison.

Even if he avoids jail time, if he gets probation, he’ll think twice about trying something like this again.

It took me about an hour to finally reach Aki’s apartment after covering the 10 kilometers. My throat was parched, but my body felt strangely light, as if I’d hit a runner’s high.

I jumped into the elevator and rushed to Aki’s room.

Just as I was about to press the intercom, the door opened, and Aki appeared, wearing sandals.

“Tomoya.”

She looked slightly surprised at first, then started darting her eyes around, as if possessed by something.

She looked both anxious and frantic, reminding me of my mother in the past, like the time she went out to look for my brother when he hadn’t come home by dusk.

“I have to go.”

With that, she headed toward the elevator.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to find a kitten. It’s hurt.”

“A kitten?”

“I can hear it crying. It’s still alive. I have to hurry.”

She turned her back on me as she spoke.

Without fully understanding the situation, I followed her into the elevator.

“I’ll come with you. I won’t leave you alone again.”

When I said that, it was like a spell was lifted, and she collapsed into my chest. I stroked her back.

“Did they arrest Mita?”

She shook her head.

“Why?”

“So, you really did call the police. Thank you. I’ll explain everything later.”

“I was such an idiot. I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”

Aki rubbed her forehead against my chest, shaking her head.

As we exited the elevator and left the building, I shined my phone’s light from behind Aki.

Sure enough, I could hear the crying of what sounded like a kitten.

The voice cried out continuously, as if pleading for help, growing louder and louder.

“Kitty, kitty, where are you?”

Aki carefully approached the direction of the sound, searching under the bushes and around the curbs.

“There it is!”

The light from my phone revealed a tiny gray kitten.

The kitten’s eyes shone, its mouth wide open, crying out in high-pitched, distressed meows. When Aki gently picked it up, it let out a particularly loud cry, almost like a scream.

“It must hurt. I’m so sorry.”

On the verge of tears, Aki held the kitten in her arms.

“It’s hurt. When animals cry in high-pitched tones, they’re in pain. Let’s take it to a vet tomorrow.”

“That guy… that guy threw it from the fifth floor.”

Aki’s voice, filled with bitterness and sorrow, shook as she spoke.

Once we returned to the apartment, Aki explained how she’d found the kitten and why the police hadn’t taken Mita away.

“When the police came to the door, he knew right away that you’d called them. Mita panicked and forced me to say it was consensual. He threatened me, saying that even if they arrested him, he’d be out soon, and he’d come back to haunt me even worse if I didn’t do as he said. He promised that if I lied to the police, he’d never contact me again, and he wouldn’t reveal any secrets.”

“You filthy piece of—!”

My fists trembled with rage.

“It’s fine now. It’s all over. I just want to live in peace.”

In a voice that sounded like it was fading away, Aki murmured those words.

“What are you talking about? We can’t let someone like him roam free. We have to make him pay.”

Aki shook her head vigorously, forcefully rejecting the idea.

“I don’t want anything more to do with him. Please, I never want to think about him again.”

She curled up, looking utterly exhausted.

Of course, she’s drained. She’s been through something horrendous, left both mentally and physically scarred.

“You’re right. Let’s end it here.”

I patted her shoulder to reassure her.

Aki nodded, stroking the kitten on her lap. The kitten, too, seemed at ease, sleeping peacefully.