You Came with the First Spring Breeze... - Episode 2: Side-Aki: I\'m Going to Be Killed!!

Episode 2: Side-Aki: I’m Going to Be Killed!!

The unexpected gift from him fills me with happiness every time I open the closet.

The fresh scent makes my heart skip a beat, and the day starts with a burst of energy.

I glance at the calendar and confirm that today is the day marked in red with a circle.

Today, I should be hearing from Mita. Everything will be completed. The sun is shining brightly outside, fitting for such a clear and refreshing day.

After hanging up his laundry on the balcony, I finish my chores and get ready for work.

I feed Haru, who’s been nibbling on food softened with milk, then leave the house.

“See you later,” I say, and Haru meows meaningfully, as if to say “Take care.”

Before the deal with Mita was set, Tomoya used to worry and drive me to and from work, but now, I’m fine on my own.

I take the bus to my job at a dry-cleaning shop.

As I walk down a narrow alley toward the main street, a car pulls up next to me from behind.

It’s a black Benz with the steering wheel on the left side.

The window rolls down silently, and a man in a suit sticks his head out.

With a gentle smile, he says:

“I was asked by Ikeda-san to pick you up. Let me drive you to work. Please get in.”

He gestures toward the back seat.

The windows are tinted so darkly that I can’t see inside.

This is the first time something like this has happened.

This morning, Tomoya had warned me just as usual: “Work hard. Be careful on your way, and don’t follow any strange men.”

Plus, there’s no need to take a car—my bus stop is just five minutes away, and the next bus will arrive in ten minutes.

“No, that’s okay. The bus will be here soon.”

I bow politely, but before I can say anything more, the back door opens, and another man in a suit steps out.

“Come on, don’t say that.”

Before I can resist, I’m quickly shoved into the back seat. There’s already another man inside.

Fear grips my entire body as I face the two men, who are both grinning broadly.

“No! What is this? What do you want?”

I’m squeezed between them, unable to move.

“Stop! What are you doing?”

As the man in the back covers my mouth with a handkerchief, a sweet smell fills the air. The more I struggle, the more I’m overpowered by the other man. I don’t know where to push or how to move. I’m just desperately flailing my arms and legs in a panic. My breath grows shallow with fear.

The handkerchief stifles my screams, and all that comes out is a muffled, broken noise.

The car is moving, heading somewhere with purpose. That much I can understand.

Gradually, I lose all strength, and my vision starts to blur. My consciousness fades away.

I feel utterly powerless, unable to move freely. My fingers are numb.

In the dimming haze of consciousness, I hear low voices from the men, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. The only word that sticks in my mind is “chloroform,” and then I realize—they’re going to make me sleep.

I come to, my whole body in pain and a splitting headache throbbing.

My body moves, albeit with difficulty. The cold, hard sensation of a stone floor beneath me tells me I’m lying on my side. I realize I’m blindfolded because everything is pitch black.

I can shift slightly, but my hands are bound behind my back, limiting my movement.

With the small movement I have, I confirm I’m still dressed.

The fear in my brain hasn’t fully registered the situation, and I’m too busy trying to comprehend what’s going on.

Where am I?

Although I can’t see, my other senses are heightened. The strange, familiar smell surrounding me starts to register.

The air is stale, almost suffocating. There’s a damp, dusty odor, and something sickly sweet, like an aroma.

My memory returns.

This is the place where adult films were once filmed.

A room surrounded by lead walls, designed for a scenario where someone is trapped in a cage.

Footsteps echo. I’m not alone. Several people are getting closer.

—Who are they?

My body finally realizes the danger, and sweat starts to pour down as I tremble with fear.

What are they going to do to me?

I try to roll my body, attempting to scream.

Then I realize my mouth is still covered.

I try to scream, but something is blocking my throat. The only sound I can make is a muffled, strained groan.

The footsteps are almost right next to me, and I sense someone’s foot near my nose, the smell of leather.

Fear paralyzes me, and I can’t even scream.

“Aki. It’s been a while.”

A breath brushes against my ear.

—Mita.

What is he planning to do? This isn’t what we agreed on!

I try to speak, but all I can make are unintelligible sounds:

“Ughhh… mmmm… uuuuuuuuuuuu.”

Suddenly, my hair is roughly grabbed, and I feel a sharp pain. My body is pulled upright, changing from lying down to sitting.

The blindfold is slowly removed.

The light is dim, but I can make out the situation.

Mita stands before me, flanked by two men. They are different from the ones who were in the car.

“I’m sorry,” Mita says with a smirk, “Ikeda wanted all the videos you appeared in deleted. I got them erased for you, as promised. But… well, Jules wasn’t satisfied with that. So, we’re going to film a new one right now. Don’t worry, we won’t show your face.”

“Uhhhhhh… nooo… noooooooo…”

I shake my whole body to reject it, but they don’t listen to me. It’s like they don’t even care.

“Well then, let’s get started.”

Mita slowly begins to undress me.

Another man stands in front of me, holding up a syringe filled with a transparent liquid.

The silver needle reflects in the light, gleaming ominously.

A drug? I’m going to be killed!!

“How about this—let’s live-stream it on a video call for Ikeda to see.”

Mita pulls out his smartphone, laughing crudely.

The phone rings, and I hear a familiar ringtone.

—What’s going on?

The heavy door creaks open, followed by a shout:

“Mita! That’s enough!”

—Tomoya!!