The next day arrived with a clear sky and a gentle breeze, but something felt… off.
Mei entered the classroom with determined steps, eyes scanning the room.
"Asahi's not here," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
Riku leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "She didn't show up."
Mei glanced at the empty desk near the window—Asahi's seat. Still untouched. No bag. No trace.
"She must be home, right?" Mei asked, though she already sensed otherwise.
"No," Riku said calmly. "I checked this morning. Her house was locked. No one answered."
A quiet tension settled between them.
"She's avoiding us," Mei whispered, her fingers tightening around her notebook. "Maybe because of what happened... maybe she's planning something."
Riku looked out the window, eyes narrowed. "Knowing her, this isn't over."
Silence filled the classroom for a beat.
Mei stood tall. "Then we find her. Not to fight. But to end this… properly."
Riku met her gaze, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Let's bring her back. Before the storm begins again."
The sun had already dipped below the horizon when Mei arrived at the small, run-down apartment on the outskirts of the city. The place felt cold, empty, as if something heavy lingered in the air. She hesitated at the door before knocking.
A boy—Kenta—opened the door just slightly, surprised to see her.
"Kenta," Mei said, her voice firm but calm, "you were helping Asahi with her plans, right? Where is she?"
Kenta hesitated, guilt flashing across his face. "…She's not well."
"Where is she?" Mei pressed.
After a pause, he gave her the address.
The streets were dim and quiet as Mei walked briskly through the neighborhood, her heart pounding with worry. Kenta's words echoed in her head.
"She hasn't come back to school. Something's wrong. Here's the address."
As she reached the building, Mei's hands trembled. She pushed open the door and stepped into a silence so heavy it almost felt alive.
There she was—Asahi—sitting on the floor of the dim apartment, her knees pulled to her chest, staring into nothing.
Mei froze for a moment, her breath caught in her throat. Something terrible had happened. She could feel it.
"Asahi?" she whispered, kneeling down beside her.
No response.
Mei gently reached out. "Asahi… are you okay?"
Still silence.
Mei touched her shoulder. "Please, talk to me."
Asahi slowly turned her head. Her eyes were hollow, filled with pain. Her voice, when it came, was brittle.
"It's your fault…"
Mei's eyes widened, her heart breaking. "Asahi…"
But before she could say more, Asahi collapsed forward into her arms, her fragile frame trembling.
"I… I didn't give him the money," Asahi muttered, voice cracking. "He… raped..me…"
Mei wrapped her arms around her, holding her tightly, protectively.
"I'm here now," she whispered. "You're not alone. I promise."
And for the first time, Asahi let herself cry.
A knock echoed on the door.
Mei looked up, heart skipping. She stood slowly, opening it carefully.
"Riku," she whispered.
He stood there, chest heaving slightly from running, worry etched deep into his face. "I heard from Kenta… Are you okay? Is she…?"
Mei stepped aside.
Riku's eyes landed on Asahi—small and shaken, wrapped in a blanket, curled up on the couch. Her face was pale, eyes still red. She looked up at him, startled, then quickly turned away.
Riku stepped in slowly, his steps uncertain, his usual confidence gone.
"Asahi…" he said softly. "I—"
"I didn't call you," Asahi muttered.
"I know. But I came anyway," Riku said, kneeling beside the couch. "I heard what happened. I'm not here to judge. I just… I'm sorry."
Asahi's hands clenched. "I didn't want you to see me like this."
"You were always strong," Riku said. "Even now. You survived. That's strength."
Her voice broke. "I was horrible to you. To Mei. I don't deserve—"
"You deserve help," Mei interrupted, kneeling beside them. "You deserve peace."
There was silence for a moment. Then Asahi whispered, "I'm scared."
Riku reached out, gently placing a hand over hers. "Then let us be your strength until you can stand again."
And for a brief moment in that dim apartment, surrounded by pain and sorrow, three hearts sat quietly—wounded, but not alone. The road ahead would be long. But it would not be walked in silence.
The Door Opens
Just as the air in the room began to calm, the front door creaked.
Footsteps.
Mei stiffened. Riku stood, shielding both girls instinctively.
Then, the voice came—casual, disgusting.
"She's still here? Brought you a friend, girl. You wanted more, didn't you?"
The man entered the room with another boy behind him, his face smug—until his eyes locked on Riku.
Silence.
His smirk vanished.
Riku took a slow step forward, jaw clenched, eyes sharp with fury. "You."
The boy behind him faltered. "T-That's Riku…!"
"What the hell are you doing here?" the man barked, suddenly defensive.
Mei stood too, standing between Asahi and the door.
Riku's voice was low, controlled—but lethal. "You hurt her. And you dared to come back?"
The man laughed nervously. "She asked for it—!"
Before he could finish, Riku moved.
A flash of speed. A crash.
The man slammed into the wall, choking as Riku pinned him by the collar.
"You think pain is a game? That you can break someone and walk away?"
The boy tried to flee, but Mei stood firm, stepping in his path. Her eyes burned.
"Touch that door," she said coldly, "and I'll break your legs."
Asahi slowly rose, trembling, but her voice was steady.
"That's him," she said, pointing. "That's the one."
Riku turned to Mei. "Call the Hero Guild. Tell them we're turning in a criminal."
Mei nodded, pulling out her phone.
The man sputtered, fear now in his eyes. "You can't prove—"
"She doesn't need to," Riku snarled. "She survived you. That's all the proof I need."
The moment the man smirked, Riku's fist flew.
CRACK.
Blood burst from the guy's nose as he flew back into the wall. The younger boy tried to rush Riku from behind—but Riku twisted, grabbed his arm mid-strike, and flipped him over his shoulder.
BAM.
The floor cracked under the boy's weight.
The older man growled and wiped his face, pulling a knife from his coat. "You little punk. You don't know who you're messing with!"
Riku's eyes darkened. "You messed with someone who trusted you. Who suffered because of you."
He dashed forward.
The man slashed—Riku ducked under it, sweeping his legs. The man fell, but rolled back and lunged again.
A blur of fists, knife swings, and dodges filled the room.
Riku's movements were sharp, trained. A right hook to the ribs. A knee to the stomach. A block. A counterpunch.
The man finally caught Riku's side with the blade—tearing cloth and skin.
But Riku didn't stop.
"I used to be a guy who didn't care," Riku growled. "I hurt people. I was reckless."
Another punch. The knife flew from the man's hand.
"But now—" Riku grabbed the man's collar, dragging him to his knees, "—I protect the people I care about."
BOOM.
One final punch to the face. The man collapsed, unconscious.
The boy groaned on the floor, trying to crawl.
Mei kicked his arm away. "Don't even try it."
Blood dripping from his side, Riku turned to Asahi, still standing frozen.
He walked over, placing a hand on her shoulder gently.
"You're safe now," he whispered. "No one's going to hurt you again."
Riku glanced at Mei and the shaken Asahi.
"You two go outside. I'll handle this," he said, his voice calm but laced with steel.
Mei hesitated. "Riku…"
"I'll be right behind you."
They nodded and stepped out, closing the door.
As the silence settled, Riku turned slowly toward the man who sat slouched against the wall, blood on his shirt, breathing hard—but his eyes wandered, flicking toward the door where Asahi had just left.
Riku's expression darkened. "Hey."
The man looked up lazily.
"Don't you dare look in her direction again," Riku said coldly, taking a step forward.
The guy scoffed, then raised his hand and slowly flipped his middle finger at Riku with a smug grin. "What're you gonna do about it, pretty boy?"
Riku didn't hesitate.
CRACK.
His foot drove straight into the man's groin. The guy let out a strangled gasp and collapsed to the floor, clutching himself, his body curling in agony.
Riku leaned down, his voice low and razor-sharp.
"You're lucky I'm letting you live."
He turned, opened the door, and walked out.
Mei and Asahi stood waiting. Asahi looked at him, eyes trembling.
"It's over," Riku said quietly. "Let's go home."