Chapter 124: Need for comfort

Hina stepped into the bedroom, her hair still damp from the shower, her body wrapped in a towel.

Her eyes were distant, clouded, as if her mind were somewhere else entirely.

Kai was sitting on the bed, the diary still hidden under the pillow, but his gaze immediately locked onto her.

"Kai-kun... I need you..." She whispered, after removing her towel and revealing her beautiful scarred body.

Her voice sent a shiver down Kai's spine.

A shiver of fear... or maybe something deeper.

He noticed something different in her demeanor—something fragile, almost desperate.

"Hina," he said softly, standing up to approach her. "Are you okay?"

He had the feeling that Hina was having a hard moment.

At the sound of his words, Hina didn't answer right away.

Instead, she closed the distance between them, her hands gripping the back of his neck, pulling him closer.

Her kisses were insistent, almost frantic, as if she were trying to grasp something that was slipping away.

Kai was surprised but didn't pull back.

He could feel the tension in her body, the urgency in her touch.

Moreover, doing these kind of things would've distracted Hina from the journal he found.

"Hina, wait," he murmured between kisses, trying to catch his breath. "What's wrong?"

But she didn't respond.

She kept kissing him, her lips moving to his neck, her hands pulling him even closer.

Kai could feel her trembling, and his heart ached.

Something was off.

This wasn't like her.

This was something deeper, darker.

"Hina," he tried again, this time more firmly, gently cupping her face in his hands. "Stop. Talk to me. What's going on?"

She looked at him, her eyes filled with a desperation he had never seen before.

"I don't want to talk," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I just want to feel you. I want to forget."

Kai's heart sank.

He understood she was trying to escape something, to bury her pain in physical closeness.

But he also knew this wasn't the solution.

Still, he couldn't push her away. Not when she was this vulnerable.

"Forget what...?" That's what Kai thought.

He didn't remember something like that ever happening in their little past.

But if there was something he learned, it was to never ask further questions.

All he had to do was comfort his girlfriend.

"Okay," he murmured, stroking her hair. "But you don't have to forget. You need to face what's hurting you. I'm here for you, always."

Hina closed her eyes, a sob escaping her as she melted into his arms. "I love you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Don't leave me, Kai. Don't ever leave me."

"I won't," he promised, holding her tighter. "Never."

Hina was probably feeling scared to lose him.

Afterward, they lay together in bed, the sheets tangled around them.

Hina's face was pressed against Kai's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

She was calm now, but Kai knew the storm inside her hadn't passed. It was only waiting.

"Hina," he said softly, his hand gently stroking her back. "I know something's bothering you. You don't have to face it alone. I'm here. Talk to me."

She was silent for a moment, then let out a shaky sigh.

"I don't know where to start," she admitted, her voice trembling. "There's so much... so many things I've done, things I've seen. And now... now I have to face it all again. With Rei. With Sabushi. I don't know if I can do it, Kai."

So, Kai confirmed that Hina already knew Rei

Kai held her tighter, feeling the weight of her words. "You don't have to do it alone," he repeated. "We're a team, remember? We'll face it together. No matter what happens, I'll be by your side." He said, not asking any further question.

Hina looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude and fear. "What if I'm not strong enough?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You're the strongest person I know," Kai said without hesitation. "And no matter what happens, I'll always believe in you." He added.

Hina was probably referring to another kind of strenght.

She then closed her eyes, another sob escaping her as she buried her face in his chest.

For the first time that evening, she felt safe.

But she also knew the battle was just beginning. And sooner or later, she would have to face her demons.

Eventually, Hina fell asleep, her breathing slow and steady as she lay in Kai's arms.

But her sleep wasn't peaceful.

She twitched occasionally, her dreams filled with shadows and memories she couldn't escape.

Her hands usually tried to grab Kai in the sleep.

Kai watched her, his heart heavy.

He knew there was much more going on than Hina was willing to admit.

And he knew that, sooner or later, they would have to face it all together.

But for now, he held her tighter, promising himself he would never let her face it alone.

"Rest, Hina," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "I'll watch over you."

And as the night enveloped the room, Kai stayed awake, staring at the ceiling and praying he would have the strength to protect her from whatever was coming.

He kept thinking about a lot of things.

Too many things.

"It's my turn to be a real protagonist now..." He repeated into his mind, thinking about any possible outcome of the situation.

He couldn't sleep peacefully.

His eyes couldn't close easily.

He was still staring at the ceiling... Until someone opened the door.

A little glimpse of light came from the corridor, and soon a face appeared.

Kai moved his gaze to the door and saw Akira's head peeking from the door.

"Pssst! Kai! Come here! I need to talk to you...!" Akira whispered, making a sign with the hand to get up from the bed.

Kai was literally naked.

He hoped that Akira didn't see anything despite the sheets covering him.

He looked at her.

"O-Okay" He whispered.

Akira then closed the door, and the sound of her footsteps became more distant.

Kai took a rapid look at the sleeping Hina next to him.

She looked really relaxed and she felt more calm.

Her breathing became much lighter.

Kai smiled and looked at her with lovingly eyes, before kissing her forehead and freeing himself from her grip.

But before getting out from the bed, he landed a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm returning soon, dear." He whispered before standing up.

Hina didn't react at all.

She was sleeping like a stone.

He then wore his slippers and put on a pajama before walking out of his room, heading to the kitchen.

"I wonder what Akira wants to tell me..." He thought in his mind...