Shinji sat on the bed, quietly counting the small bundle of cash he had been saving. Each note he touched felt like a step closer to his dreams, but the weight of his reality was always pressing down on him. As he flicked through the bills, he heard footsteps approaching the room. Instinctively, he shoved the money into his pocket, heart racing. The door creaked open, and he sighed in relief as Aiko stepped into the room, her soft expression melting away the tension.
She noticed his awkwardness and tilted her head. "Shinji, what were you doing just now?"
For a moment, Shinji hesitated, but seeing her standing there made him smile. Slowly, he pulled out the crumpled notes from his pocket and held them up. "It's the money I've been saving for a studio session," he said, feeling a bit sheepish.
Aiko's eyes widened with genuine surprise. "You write and record songs?"
"Yeah," Shinji nodded, his voice filled with the quiet hope that had driven him through countless sleepless nights. "I want to make it big and be rich off my talent… but the lack of money makes everything twenty times harder." His words trailed off, a bitter reality settling over the room. He felt the weight of his circumstances dragging him down once more, but Aiko's reaction caught him off guard.
She stepped closer, her eyes softening. "I had no idea you were working on something like that." She paused for a moment before continuing, her face lighting up. "I have a friend who owns a studio. I could call her, and you can go there whenever you want to record."
Shinji blinked in disbelief. "Are you serious?" His voice was laced with excitement and disbelief, the opportunity feeling too good to be true.
Aiko nodded. "Of course. You'll be able to pursue your dreams. I'll make sure of it."
Unable to contain his joy, Shinji stood up and pulled Aiko into his arms, hugging her tightly. A surge of emotions overwhelmed him as he kissed her deeply, his heart racing with both love and gratitude. Slowly, their shared passion took over, and in that moment, they moved with the unspoken understanding that they needed one another. He kissed her softly, his hands finding their way to the buttons of her blouse. They consummated their marriage.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Aiko's mother was far from idle. She had never been fond of Shinji, and his presence in her home only fueled her disdain. Sitting at the table, she exchanged glances with her other children, Shinichi and Akari, her lips curling into a mischievous smile.
"That boy," she muttered, shaking her head. "He doesn't belong here."
Shinichi leaned forward, sensing the mood. "So what do we do about him?"
Aiko's mother smirked, her voice low and venomous. "We put him in his place."
Later that evening, as the family gathered in the living room, a sudden, ear-piercing scream echoed through the house. Aiko's mother came running from her room, her hands flying up to her neck in dramatic fashion.
"My gold chain!" she shrieked, her voice filled with accusation. "My 24-karat gold chain! It's gone!"
All eyes turned to Shinji, who stood frozen in the middle of the room, bewildered by the sudden outburst. The atmosphere grew tense, and before Shinji could defend himself, Akari pointed at him with a smirk.
"Who else could it be? You're the only one who doesn't belong here," she said, her tone sharp and accusatory.
Shinji's heart sank. "I didn't take anything," he stammered, his voice firm but shaky. "I wasn't raised that way."
But Shinichi wasn't about to let him off so easily. "We've been living here all this time, and nothing like this has ever happened until you came around."
Aiko's mother stepped forward, her face twisted with fury. "Give me back my chain!" she snarled, grabbing Shinji by the collar. Her grip was tight, her nails digging into his skin. "Where is it?"
Shinji recoiled, pulling back, hands raised in surrender. "I swear, I didn't steal anything," he repeated, his voice desperate.
But his words fell on deaf ears. Akari stepped in next, grabbing at Shinji's shirt while Shinichi shoved him from behind. The siblings circled him like wolves, raining punches and slaps down on him as he tried to shield himself from the blows. His vision blurred, and the room spun as pain shot through his body. His ribs ached, his lip split, but the worst part was the humiliation. They treated him like dirt, like he wasn't even human.
"You're a thief, admit it!" Shinichi spat, kicking him in the stomach.
Shinji groaned, doubling over from the pain. He held his sides, gasping for air as the taunts continued. Akari sneered, her eyes gleaming with malice. "That money you've been hiding? We're taking that too." She snatched the crumpled bills from his pocket, the very money Shinji had painstakingly saved for his dream studio session.
Shinji could only watch, helpless, as they ripped away the little he had.
When it was over, they left him on the floor, broken and bruised. His body ached, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the betrayal and hopelessness that gnawed at him from the inside. He sat there for what felt like hours, trying to process what had just happened.
Tears streamed down his face as he realized the gravity of his situation. He had entered this family hoping to build a new life, but instead, he had become a target for their hatred. Aiko didn't even know what was happening, and he didn't know how to tell her.
"What kind of mess have I dragged myself into?" he muttered through gritted teeth, his voice barely audible.
He wiped his face, struggling to his feet, his body trembling from the pain. His vision was blurred, but his mind was clearer than ever. He had to bear all of this, for himself, for his brother, for the dreams he had yet to realize. And most of all, he had to survive this hell for Aiko.