The days following the birthday party were a blur for Akane. She couldn't stop thinking about Zenkichi's actions, the way he had been attacked on his way to her party. The image of him lying in that hospital bed, battered but still trying to lighten the mood, kept replaying in her mind. Despite the bruises, he had still managed to smile, still thought of her—still cared enough to show up, even if it was late.
The whole situation had shaken her to her core. Zenkichi had been hurt because of her, and she didn't know how to process that. She kept telling herself that he wasn't the one who needed to apologize—it was the bullies who should be held accountable—but part of her still felt guilty. He had sacrificed his own well-being for something as trivial as a birthday party.
---
It was a week after the incident when Akane finally decided to visit him at his house. He had been discharged from the hospital, but his bruises were still visible, and he had insisted that he was fine, despite the evident exhaustion in his eyes. She knew it wasn't true—Zenkichi was stubborn, but even he couldn't hide the toll the attack had taken on him.
As Akane approached his door, her heart raced. She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but she knew she needed to see him—to make sure he was really okay.
The door swung open, and Zenkichi stood there, leaning slightly against the frame, a faint smile on his lips. His face was still bruised, but his eyes sparkled with his usual mischievous light.
"Well, well. What's the occasion?" he teased, stepping aside to let her in.
Akane didn't smile. She couldn't. She was too focused on the bruises, the cuts, the way he still tried to act like everything was normal.
"I came to check on you," she said, her voice softer than she intended. "Are you really okay?"
Zenkichi raised an eyebrow, a defensive wall falling into place. "I'm fine. It's just a few bumps and bruises. I've had worse."
Akane crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "That's not what I'm talking about. I know you, Zenkichi. You're not fine. You were hurt because of me. And I—" She stopped herself before she could say too much, her throat tightening.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, Akane, I'm not trying to make you feel guilty or anything. You didn't do this. I did. I was the one who decided to walk right into it. I knew those guys had it out for me, but I figured I could handle it. I wasn't expecting them to be so... intense."
Akane's eyes softened. "But you still showed up. You took the hit. You risked yourself to make sure I wasn't left alone. Why?"
Zenkichi looked at her, his expression unreadable for a moment. "Because I don't want to see you upset. And yeah, I knew it would mess with you if I didn't show up. I may be an idiot, but I wasn't about to let that ruin your day."
Akane blinked, trying to hold back the emotions that swelled up inside her. She could see how hard this was for him—how hard it was for him to admit that he cared.
"Zenkichi…" she whispered, taking a step forward. "You didn't have to do that. You didn't have to protect me like that. You shouldn't have gotten hurt for my sake."
Zenkichi's gaze softened, and he shook his head. "Don't say that. I made my choice. No regrets."
Akane couldn't help herself. She stepped closer, gently reaching out to touch his arm. "But I regret it. I don't want you to get hurt because of me."
Zenkichi was silent for a long moment, looking down at her hand before meeting her eyes again. He gave her a half-smile. "I'm not asking for your pity, Akane. I did it because I wanted to. You're not just someone I want to protect, you're someone I want to be around. I don't want to let anything—especially some idiots who can't mind their own business—drive a wedge between us."
Akane's heart skipped a beat at his words. She had always known that Zenkichi was a bit of a show-off, a flirt, and someone who liked to keep things light. But hearing him say those words, hearing him speak so seriously and honestly, took her by surprise. She had never realized how deeply he cared until that moment.
"You don't need to prove anything to me," she said softly. "I don't want you to feel like you have to sacrifice yourself for me. But… I'm glad you're okay. I don't think I could forgive myself if anything had happened to you."
Zenkichi let out a small laugh, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Yeah, I get it. But I'll be fine. Besides, I've got you now. If you're going to keep worrying about me, I'll be forced to make you my personal bodyguard."
Akane rolled her eyes, but her smile was genuine. "You're impossible."
They stood in a comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of everything that had happened settling between them. For the first time in a while, Akane didn't feel any tension. She felt calm. At ease.
Zenkichi's voice broke the quiet. "You know, I'm still not sorry I showed up at your party. Even if it didn't go as planned."
Akane smiled. "I'm not sorry either. It was still the best birthday I've had."
"Good. And next year, I'll make sure no one messes with my plans," Zenkichi said, a hint of determination in his voice.
Akane's smile widened, and for the first time in a while, she felt the weight of everything lift. Whatever had happened, whatever they had been through—it had brought them closer.
She didn't need Zenkichi to be a hero. She didn't need him to sacrifice himself for her. But she was glad to have him in her life—bruises, jokes, and all.
"Well," she said, breaking the silence. "Let's make sure next year's birthday goes off without a hitch. And no more getting beat up, okay?"
Zenkichi grinned. "Deal."
As Akane left his house later that evening, she felt a quiet warmth in her chest. Zenkichi's actions, his care, and his willingness to put himself out there for her had all been sacrifices she hadn't expected—sacrifices that went unseen by most. But not by her.
And for the first time in a long while, Akane felt like she wasn't alone in this world.
---
As Akane stepped out of Zenkichi's house and walked down the street, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and checked the notification—it was from her school.
"Reminder: The inter-college competition is just around the corner. Don't forget to sign up!"
Akane paused for a moment, her thoughts drifting. The competition would be the next big thing for both her and Zenkichi. It was their chance to prove themselves—again—this time in front of a much larger audience.
As she walked back toward her home, Akane couldn't shake the thought. There was a lot to look forward to, but for now, she was focused on the road ahead, both figuratively and literally. The inter-college competition would be a new chapter, a new challenge—but she knew one thing for certain.
This time, no one would be left behind.