Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094088809262/episodes/16818622170405660383
There is no light in Akino san’s eyes.
Looking at the man trembling next to her, could it be…the rumored ex-boyfriend?
He looks like a quiet otaku type with glasses.
He was wearing a light gray hoodie and saggy jeans, and his downcast face lacked a sense of control.
I hadn’t heard from her since then, but what the hell had happened?
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the amusement park, Akino san just stands there as Aira gets involved with them.
I’ve got to help, right?
I mean, why is Aira getting involved…?
I signal to Yua chan with my eyes, [Stay here]] and approach with my bangs swept up in an all-back style, shoulders slightly hunched.
“Hey, hey ! Look who it is, Akino san〜! You borrowed money from us and then ran away, and now here you are on a date with your boyfriend? You must be getting a lot of money !”
I intentionally raised my voice and walked up to her.
Ignoring Aita’s wide-eyed response of “Eh? What are you doing, Senpai…” I grabbed Akino san’s hand.
“If you can’t pay me, I’ll have you pay me with your body? Ahn?” I screamed, and the man grabbed my hand with a trembling hand.
“P-please don’t do that ! What are you doing to my girlfriend !”
Seeing him raise his voice even though he was scared, it made me wonder if a man like this could be committing domestic violence…?
No, nothing can start without first hearing from Akino san.
“Ah? If you’re her boyfriend, you’re gonna pay in her stead? Two million yen.
Then we can talk about it quickly. You can pay for it, right? I remember she said her boyfriend was the reason she got into debt…could it be that you’re the main culprit?”
The man’s face turns pale and he looks as if he is about to pee his pants.
“N-no, I’m not ! We were just on a rental date ! I had nothing to do with that !”
He shouted in a shaky voice, turned on his heel and ran away into the crowd.
Rental…?
I hesitated about chasing after him, but it would be better if he disappeared.
Holding Akino san’s hand, I gave Aira a look and told her to follow behind me, then returned to the bench where Yua chan was hiding.
“…..Even though we came all the way here, I’m sorry. Go to the car.” I said, taking the two of them to the parking lot.
Akino san doesn’t resist, just follows silently. Her steps were just like Yua chan’s from two months ago.
◇
As we returned to the car, there was a knock at the window.
I looked outside and saw Aira standing there, gasping for breath.
Her red hair sticks to her forehead with sweat, and she waves at me with her bag pulled over her shoulder.
I hastily open the door and say, “You weren’t followed, were you?” I check.
“No, I’m not. I mean, do you know this person?”
Aira says as she hops into the passenger seat.
“I should be asking you. Why were you involved?” I replied, and she shrugged.
“Well, something was obviously wrong with the girl, so I just thought I might help her.”
“…..You’re a surprisingly nice guy.”
“You just noticed that now?”
Akino san seems unaware of the conversation and is just spacing out in the back seat.
Sinking into the seat, she stares out the window with unfocused eyes.
Suddenly, I notice something in her ear. It’s a wireless earphone.
Was she listening to music while on a date with her rental boyfriend?
I asked her, “Can I take these?” but there is no response.
I carefully remove the earphones, and a low male voice comes out.
[Hey, hey, hey, you’ve done it, you fucker. What the hell do you want with my toy?]
Is this…her ex-boyfriend?
“….Are you Akino san’s ex-boyfriend?”
[Ex? No, no, we never broke up.]
“…That’s not important. What did you do to Akino san?”
[What did I do? I just punished her a little. So what are you to Rinoha?]
“..What’s the point of telling you that? I’m lending her money, it’s true.
I’ve heard some of the story behind it. You made her borrow money, didn’t you? Then, would it be faster to collect it from you?”
[….Loan shark, huh? What a troublesome acquaintance she’s got. I thought I’d destroyed all of the relationships around her, but there are still people like that out there. So what are you planning to do with Rinoha?”
”…That’s up to you.”
A laugh echoes from the room.
[Are you sure? Making an enemy of me. I don’t care what happens to that little girl and that band girl, do you?]
I was being watched… was I being followed?
No. If he was letting her date her rental boyfriend, he could have been watching from afar.
There’s also the matter of the boss, and I don’t want to get him into any more trouble.
But relying on that detective…it would only make me look weak.
Thoughts swirl in my head.
The risk of putting Aira and Yua chan in danger. My desire to save Akino san.
How to do it….
I can’t get an answer right now.
“…..Okay. I will return Akino san to you. But you still owe me money. Don’t forget that I’ll be keeping a close eye on Akino san from now on.”
[You’re surprisingly smart, aren’t you? Well, as for the money, I think I can pay it back by renting you a girlfriend or sending her to a brothel.]
“……”
[What? You’re a loan shark and you don’t like that sort of thing? Come on, it’s not good playing the victim just because something like that happened to someone you know. Anyway, whatever, can you give her back to me quickly?]
“..Yeah.”
The sound of crushed earphones and shattered plastic echoes in the car.
I’m sorry Akino san, but…I can’t take care of you any longer.
“I’m sorry.” I muttered softly, and she grabbed my sleeve with a weak grip.
Her trembling fingertips appealed for SOS as best she could.
Yua chan gripped the sleeve on the other side.
“…I want you to help her.” she said quietly.
”…..Okay.”
I start the car with Akino san in it.
Her cell phone continues to ring, and she rolls down the window and tosses it to the side of the road.
The sound of breaking glass echoes in the distance.
◇
When we arrive home, Yua chan pulls Akino san by the hand and takes her to her room.
Akino san followed silently, and the sound of the door closing echoed quietly.
“We’re in trouble, aren’t we? Senpai !”
Aira sits smack dab on the sofa in the living room and crosses her legs.
“…Uh…I guess so,” I replied, and she stood up and came over to me.
“If you leave her at your house, it would be troublesome if something goes wrong, so leave her at my house. I’ll contact you immediately if anything happens !”
“….Are you sure?”
“Of course ! Leave it to me !”
“….Thanks.” I muttered as Aira slapped her chest with a big smile.
“No problem ! But you have quite a lot of debts to pay ! I’ll make you pay with your body, you hear me…?”
She shakes her shoulders while laughing.
After that, Aira and I went shopping to get some household items for Akino san.
The fluorescent lights of the supermarket were dazzling, and we tossed shampoo and towels into the basket.
Yua chan had tried many things at home to cheer Akino san up, but it didn’t seem to have much effect.
When I returned home after shopping, I felt a rush of exhaustion.
Aira said, “I’ll cook dinner for you !” I decided to take a nap for about 30 minutes. I sank into the sofa, closed my eyes, and immediately fell asleep.
In a slight daze, I got up to go to the bathroom and opened the door to the room with the sink.
There, standing there, was Akino san with a towel wrapped around her body.
Droplets of water fall from her wet hair, creating a small stain on the floor.
[Illustration.]
https://kakuyomu.jp/users/tanakamatao01/news/16818622170406886791
“S-sorry ! ! //”
When I try to close the door in a hurry, Akino san doesn’t seem to be embarrassed, but just moves nonchalantly holding the towel.
That unresponsiveness is conversely awkward.
At that moment, footsteps approach from the living room, and Aira and Yua chan peek out.
Aira says, “What !? Senpai !?” Yua chan silently glares at me.
“N-no, it’s not what it looks like !” but the two looked at each other and scolded me.
So, in addition to that incident, I was faced with another problem.
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