"Dr. Nakamura!" A high-pitched voice called out, slicing through the low hum of chatter in the mall.
Akihiko stopped in his tracks, his sharp blue eyes narrowing as he turned to locate the source of the voice.
He was greeted by the sight of two young women approaching him with urgency, their expressions a mixture of relief and concern.
"Ms. Ito and Ms. Fujimoto, right?" Akihiko said politely, recognizing them from previous introductions.
"Yes! That's right!" Yuki said with a bit too much energy, her nervousness betraying her.
Keiko, more composed but no less anxious, tilted her head and studied him. "It's unusual to see you in a women's clothing shop, Dr. Nakamura."
Akihiko glanced briefly at the racks of dresses and blouses around him and smiled faintly.
"I'm just wandering around the mall, that's all." His tone was calm, his demeanor as collected as ever.
Without missing a beat, he shifted the conversation. "Are you two going to the reunion? You're Ayaka's classmates, aren't you?"
Yuki and Keiko exchanged a quick glance, the kind that spoke of unspoken understanding. Yuki cleared her throat before responding.
"Oh, Ayaka transferred to our school during the last year of middle school. Then, we all went to high school together."
"Ah, I see..." Akihiko said with a nod. "That explains it."
Keiko hesitated for a moment, fidgeting with her handbag before finally speaking. "Actually, we've been wandering around the mall too…"
Akihiko's brows furrowed slightly. "Why is that?"
Yuki bit her lip before answering. "Ayaka hasn't been answering our calls or messages ever since she sent us the reunion address."
Akihiko shrugged lightly, though his curiosity was piqued. "It's just a reunion. What could possibly go wrong? If you're so concerned, why not check on her? You already have the address."
Yuki took a deep breath, her usual chipper demeanor dropping. "You don't understand…" Her voice trailed off for a moment before she found the courage to continue.
"If we just show up unannounced, Ayaka will be upset. She doesn't want us to get involved."
"Not involved in what?" Akihiko asked, his tone steady but his gaze sharpening.
Keiko cleared her throat, her voice quieter, more solemn. "Ayaka… was bullied. That's why she transferred schools."
Akihiko's calm exterior cracked, his surprise evident in the flicker of his expression. "Bullied? What happened?"
"There were some girls who thought Ayaka was stealing someone's boyfriend. They were seen talking behind the school, and then the guy broke up with his girlfriend. After that, the rumors spread like wildfire..." Keiko explained, her voice tight.
"Every day, they made her life a nightmare. Name-calling, sabotage, even threats…"
The weight of the revelation pressed down on Akihiko like a stone. His fists clenched involuntarily. "Then why let her go to the reunion? And why would she want to go at all?"
Yuki shifted uncomfortably. "She told us to trust her. She said she wanted to move on, to put the past behind her. She hoped maybe… they'd changed."
Akihiko frowned deeply, his mind racing. "Do you have the address?"
Yuki hesitated before pulling out her phone. She showed him the restaurant's location on the screen.
"At least if I'm the one to pick her up, she won't get upset, right?" Akihiko asked, his voice firm and decisive as he glanced at the two women.
"I-I guess…" Keiko stammered, taken aback by his sudden intensity.
"Alright." Without another word, Akihiko turned on his heel and strode away with purpose, his coat flaring slightly behind him.
As he hurried through the mall, the knot of worry in his chest tightened.
His mind replayed the image of Ayaka's bright smile, her determination, and now the painful pieces of her past he hadn't known about until now.
------
The atmosphere in the restaurant was suffocating now, thick with the unspoken venom building at Ayaka's table.
Every whispered insult, every sidelong glance only added to the oppressive weight in the air.
The faint clinking of glasses and the soft murmur of other diners seemed to exist in another world, far removed from the boiling tension that threatened to spill over.
"You really have the nerve to show up, boyfriend stealer!" Asami's voice cut through the noise, sharp and biting, her words dripping with malice.
She leaned forward, her sneer full of hatred, her dark eyes glaring daggers at Ayaka.
Ayaka sat still, refusing to let her tremble. Her fingers gripped her skirt beneath the table, her nails digging into the fabric, but her face betrayed nothing but cool indifference.
She let out an exaggerated sigh and rolled her eyes. "And here we go again..." she muttered under her breath. She couldn't let them see how deeply their words cut.
But Kanako was ready to pile on. Her lips curled into a sly, cruel smile as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping into a venomous whisper.
"Oh, don't act like you're above all this now, Ayaka. Fame hasn't changed what we know about you. You've always been good at pretending. But we all know your dirty little secret."
"Hey, that's enough!" Aiko's voice rose, a tremor of desperation in her tone as she stepped between them.
Her arms were spread in a weak attempt to mediate. "We didn't come here to fight, okay?"
"Why should I stop?!" Asami barked, her voice rising with barely contained rage.
She pushed forward, her movements aggressive.
Her sneer deepened, and her eyes burned with the kind of hatred that had been festering for years.
Kanako's laugh was cold, calculated, meant to sting. "Yeah, Aiko, why are you even protecting her? Don't forget—you're the one who saw Ayaka sneaking around with Hina's boyfriend back then. Or did you conveniently forget that?"
At the mention of her name, Hina stirred at the edge of the table.
She'd been sitting quietly, her head tilted slightly downward, her hands clasped tightly together. But now, her gaze lifted, cold and sharp.
She didn't speak, but her presence grew heavier, like a brewing storm.
Asami slammed her palm on the table, making everyone flinch. "Why the hell is she even here?!" she shouted, her voice echoing across the room.
And before anyone could react, she reached out and grabbed Ayaka, yanking her out of her seat.
"Enough!" Haruki's voice boomed as he rushed forward, pulling Asami's hand off Ayaka.
He stood between them, his eyes filled with frustration and disbelief. "What the hell are you doing? We're supposed to be having fun! Not dragging up this petty crap!"
Ayaka staggered back into her seat, her breath unsteady as she adjusted her collar.
But her focus shifted to Aiko, whose head was lowered in guilt. A sinking feeling churned in Ayaka's stomach.
"Aiko…" Ayaka's voice was quiet, trembling. Her wide eyes searched her supposed friend's face. "Is it true?"
"I…" Aiko stammered, her lips quivering. She couldn't meet Ayaka's gaze.
The knot in Ayaka's chest tightened into a crushing weight.
"You knew the truth, Aiko! I told you! Hina's boyfriend—was stalking me! He blackmailed me!" Her voice cracked as the words tumbled out.
Aiko's shoulders tensed, and then she snapped. "You don't get it!" she screamed, her voice raw with frustration.
"You don't know how it felt to watch you waltz in, looking so perfect, taking everything that was supposed to be mine!"
Ayaka froze, shocked into silence.
"I hate it! I hate you!" Aiko's voice broke, her fists clenched at her sides.
"Even Taichi—my best friend, the guy I've loved for years—he only ever had eyes for you!"
The revelation hit Ayaka like a physical blow. She staggered backward, but before she could process the words, Kanako and Asami moved like vultures, each grabbing one of her arms and pinning her in place.
"Why don't we play like old times?" Kanako sneered, her grip tightening cruelly around Ayaka's arm.
Asami's laughter rang out, loud and unhinged. "Hina, this is your moment! Revenge is sweet, isn't it?"
"H-Hey! Let go of me!" Ayaka struggled, but their grips were iron.
"No way, princess." Kanako taunted, her voice dripping with mockery.
Hina stood at last, her movements deliberate and slow.
The room seemed to hold its breath as she approached.
Her expression was eerily calm, but her eyes gleamed with something dangerous.
"You've always been just a pretty face, Ayaka Yamamoto." Hina murmured, her voice low and steady.
"But let's see if anyone still adores you when that face is ruined." She raised her hand, fingers curled into a tight fist.
Time slowed for Ayaka. Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst from her chest. The world blurred, the faces around her indistinct.
And in that moment, Ayaka gave up. Her struggles ceased. No one would stop them. No one cared.
The betrayal burned deep, searing her from the inside. She squeezed her eyes shut and braced for the impact.
*CRACK*
The sound echoed in the room, but there was no pain.
Ayaka's eyes snapped open. The first thing she saw was Hina's arm—stopped mid-swing. A strong, slender hand gripped her wrist with unrelenting force.
Then she saw him.
A man with piercing blue eyes, his silver hair shimmering under the dim restaurant lights. His expression was calm, but the intensity in his gaze silenced the entire room.
Ayaka's voice trembled, barely above a whisper.
"A-Akihiko…?"