Episode 47 – The final problem and beginning
Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094088809262/episodes/16818622171820142821
A few days later, Shindo was sent overseas.
A closed-off prison country where the bossknows someone.
A place where it would probably be almost impossible to escape and where he would have to atone for his crime.
I breathed a sigh of relief when the boss made the arrangements and said, “Well, that settles the matter.” while blowing on his cigarette.
◇
The morning stillness enveloped my house.
The autumn breeze crept in through the windows, bringing with it a pleasant aroma.
I sat on the sofa, sipping coffee and listening to Yua chan picking cookies in the kitchen.
The peaceful routine is slowly taking root in my life.
Then the mailbox on the front porch clanked.
I had already picked up the newspaper.
I opened the door and found a small paper package.
I picked it up and found it was a blank disc.
There was no title or anything written on the case.
There was no sender’s name either, but I had a bad feeling about it.
I returned to the living room and set it in the BD player on the TV.
Yua chan approached me, tilting her head, “What is it?” but the moment I pressed the play button, I froze.
What I saw on the screen was Akino san.
In a dimly lit room, she’s pushed down on the bed with a frightened look on her face.
A man’s voice echoes low and whispers, “You can’t escape, Rinoha.”
Her trembling hands grab the sheets and a cry escapes.
The image goes wild and my stomach tightens.
Yua chan calls out, “Yuuto kun…?” I hurriedly hit the stop button.
“S-sorry. I didn’t think it would be like this…”
I pulled Yua chan away from the TV.
Her eyes widened back in surprise, and I took a deep breath to calm myself.
I knew the sender without even looking.
It was Kadokawa.
Akino san’s ex-boyfriend.
That trash, the man who keeps her tied up.
“Yuuto kun…that was Akino-san, wasn’t it….?”
Yua chan’s voice was trembling.
I nodded and said, “Yeah…. I’m sorry I showed you something you didn’t like.”
She gave a small shake of her head and said, “It’s okay…. But I’m worried about Akino san.”
At those words, anger welled up deep in my chest.
The past that Akino san confided in me came to mind.
The forced rental girlfriend, the violence after it was found out, the threats with the video, the re-intimidation after the abortion.
And now this BD.
Kadokawa’s harassment has begun.
◇
That evening, I received a phone call from Aira.
“Yuuto senpai, it’s serious ! There’s a strange notice at my house…!”
Her voice was panicked and her breath was coming out.
“Notice? What’s that?”
“[This guy’s in a crime organization] or [She’s a criminal who kidnaps people] and so on…there are so many lies being written about me ! No, it’s true that I work in a loan shark company ! But what if the people in my neighborhood see it…!”
I could feel Aira’s impatience.
My blood rushed to my head.
“It’s Kadokawa. They sent the video of Akino san to my house. It seems he’s started harassing Aira’s house too.”
“Rinoha…!? That son of a bitch…!”
I heard Aira gnashing her teeth.
I immediately contacted Soichi.
“Hm～ What’s up?”
“Is Akino san safe?”
“What’s with you all of a sudden? Nothing really happened.”
Then, I explained lightly what had just happened.
“Ugh…it’s just one thing after another, so troublesome.”
“I agree.”
A small voice was heard near the phone, “…I’m sorry, Yamasaka kun…it’s my fault…”
“It’s his fault. Tell him we’ll do something about it.”
“Yes.”
Her voice was shaky, and I could imagine her empty eyes.
Maybe the empty look I saw in that park is covering her again.
So I went about my business as usual, and when I returned home, I found a new piece of paper taped to my front door.
[Yamasaka Yuuto is a kidnapper. Police have been notified.]
The words, scribbled in red magic marker, looked eerie against the setting sun.
Yua chan stood behind me and said in a frightened voice, “Yuuto kun…this….]
I peeled off the paper, rolled it up, and calmed her down.
But I couldn’t stop the anger in my heart.
Kadokawa is trying to get all of us involved, to push Akino san further into a corner.
◇
The next morning, I went straight to the boss’s office.
The boss leaned his elbows on his desk and asked “What’s up, Yamasaka?”
I put the BD on the desk and said, “It’s from Akino san’s ex-boyfriend. He’s started harassing me and Aira’s house. Putting up notices, spreading rumors, etc.”
The boss narrowed his eyes and picked up the BD.
“…What’s in it?”
“It’s the one where Akino san…is being forced to do something.”
The boss’s hand stopped and his brow wrinkled.
What a helpless piece of junk. So what do you wanna do?”
“I….want to stop Kadokawa. I want to save Akino san.”
The boss pushed his cigarette into the ashtray and said, “Stop him….huh. I see…. Then I’ll get on board. I’ve had her help me with a lot of paperwork at the office, too. And this BD is evidence. Well, if you know his name and address, we can talk.”
At that moment, the door opened and Soichi walked in.
“Hey, Yuuto. I brought Akino san.”
Soichi, wearing a leather jacket, said so.
“Sorry. This is probably the safest place. It would be terrible if he found out and went to Souichi’s house, so I’ll have Akino san stay here for a while.”
“Sure. I’ll help you keep an eye on things, okay? I’m actually studying law to become a lawyer. If I have this video, there is a chance he could be prosecuted for blackmail.”
Soichi grinned, and I was surprised but relieved.
“I see. I’m sorry about all this.”
The boss muttered, “Oh, Soichi is the law, huh? That’s interesting.” lighting up a cigarette.
◇
I took Akino san to the room that Yua chan always used.
As soon as we were alone, she apologized, “Yamasaka kun…sorry…”
“It’s okay. It was Kadokawa’s fault. There’s no need to apologize.”
“But…”
“I won’t compromise anymore. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect the people I care about. But I will consider the means to do so. In my own stupid way.” I said with a laugh.
Then people started coming in one after another.
Soichi said, “If it’s a crime of intimidation, we may be able to make a case. If we can find out Kadokawa’s whereabouts, and this video, and if there’s anything from the past in the history, I think it would be enough as evidence.”
Aira follows suit, saying, ‘I’ll never forgive whoever did this to Rinoha. Yuuto senpai, I’ll do anything.” her eyes blazing.
Then the boss came in and said, “I’ll have someone put up at that guy’s house for the time being. If there’s any movement, it’ll be evidence, no? You don’t want to use that kind of means as much as possible this time, do you?” as if he had guessed everything.
“If possible…that is. The police and the judiciary may not always make the right decision. When that happens…” I mumbled with a determination that I had made up my mind to do everything I could.
Akino san looked up with a small face and muttered “…Thank you…everyone…”.
I felt a little light returning to her eyes.
But Kadokawa’s shadow has not disappeared yet.
His harassment would not end there.
I swore in my heart.
I vowed to save Akino san.
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