One Sided Feelings

"I see the sorrow and pain in your eyes. There's something dark and deeply wounded in you. I won't harm you."

Kiyomi woke up, tears in her eyes, and went to the bathroom to wash her face. She had dreamt once again about how she used to ask the same foolish questions and give the same foolish answers as her son does now. Was there a reason to call him foolish? Hardly. He was inexperienced, but that didn't mean he was stupid. Her son wasn't so foolish that he wouldn't listen.

Kiyomi reflected on the past few weeks, during which her son seemed to be struggling more and more. What had happened at school? Why didn't he talk about it anymore? He barely spoke a word. Occasionally, he would say goodbye before heading to school, but he no longer wanted to greet his mother. He probably needed more time to get over the situation. Currently, he twisted her words to use them against her and his father.

Kiyomi recognized that she had been a troubled child herself, especially during her time in the gang. Did her son have to go through the same thing she did? Was it her fault that he was feeling so bad? Was she becoming the kind of mother she used to despise? History was repeating itself, Kiyomi thought.

But if history was repeating itself, maybe that meant Akio would soon find hope again—just as she had once. Her mother had abandoned her but eventually returned, and she was able to forgive her, even if it took a long time. Perhaps Akio would also meet someone who could help him out of this situation. She hoped for that.

However, it wasn't her place to decide Akio's fate. In the end, she would support him on any path he chose. She was his mother but not his master. She just wanted the best for him.

"It would be nice if Akio came home laughing again."

Kiyomi wandered aimlessly through the apartment, lost in thought. She thought about Ferruccio and his difficult case. He might solve it soon. But why was it taking so long? The old case they worked on before having their first child took only two years. But this case had been dragging on for six years with little progress. She wanted to support Ferruccio, but there was a reason he had adopted an alias. She didn't want to risk losing their second child. In this case, she allowed herself selfish thinking.

Kiyomi lay on the sofa and stared at the ceiling.

"What am I even doing here?"

She remembered how she first met her husband. That time with him was worth more than gold. But how much she had hated him back then!

At that time, she had been in the gang for seven years and was now 23. She had learned a lot about fighting from her mother, and her cooking skills had improved thanks to Weronika's help. Back then, she felt strong and ready for anything.

Flashback: Seika at the Age of 15

When Seika joined the gang at 15, it was a time full of uncertainties. She had felt lost and didn't know what to do with her anger. The fighting and training gave her direction. But it wasn't just her own determination that shaped her—it was also the lessons from her mother and, even more, those from her teacher. Without these teachings, harsh as they often were, she might never have developed as far as she did.

Time in the gang passed, and Seika had now been with them for seven years, almost 23. It wasn't far from her birthday, the one before she had joined the gang. She didn't regret her time there one bit. She had learned a lot, experienced a lot, and done a lot. But then, on a cold but still sunny day, she met him...

She saw this guy strolling through their streets in everyday clothes as if they were his own. The signs were clear: No entry, especially not for men. She jumped directly in front of him and kicked him under the chin with her right foot.

"Get out of here!" Was the kick too hasty? Hardly! Entry was forbidden for men. "Serves him right," thought Seika, justifying her impulsive decision.

The man lay on the ground briefly, then stood up again. With his back turned to Seika, he said:

"It's not too late yet."

Seika: "What do you want here?"

Ferruccio: "I'm looking for someone or something."

Seika: "You won't find anything here. Leave."

Ferruccio: "I can't do that."

The man pulled a document from his pocket, identifying himself as a police officer with a search warrant. Seika wanted to bruise his face, but she restrained herself.

Seika: "People like you have no business here!"

Ferruccio: "That's exactly why I'm here."

Seika circled him, looking for possible weapons. She ran at him, intending to kick him in the stomach. However, Ferruccio grabbed her leg.

Ferruccio: "Nice legs! Freshly shaved?"

Seika rotated, trying to kick him with her other foot, but he caught that one too. Finally, he released her gently.

Ferruccio: "Enough with the kicking."

Seika: "You have no authority over me."

Seika had had enough of his stupid jokes. She punched him, but he just stood there, seemingly waiting for her to finish. This only made her angrier. She searched for her bat and found it under a staircase railing.

Seika: "If fists aren't enough…"

She swung the bat, but Ferruccio remained calm.

Ferruccio: "I don't want to fight you."

Seika: "Do you think I'm weak?"

Seika grew angrier. She traced the outline of the bat in the air and muttered something. She wanted to strike Ferruccio with a fiery blow, but he only looked at her sadly.

Ferruccio: "I see your sorrow and pain. There's something dark in you. I won't harm you."

Seika's strike should have hit him, but a quick beam of light from Ferruccio made her drop the bat. She didn't understand how he had stopped her so easily.

Seika: "What do you know?"

Ferruccio: "I can sense it. You were betrayed and abandoned by those closest to you."

Seika: "That's not true! You're wrong!"

Ferruccio: "You can't lie to me, and I wouldn't lie to you."

Seika: "You just barge into this forbidden zone and accuse me of whatever."

Ferruccio: "A forbidden zone? Then what are you doing here?"

Seika: "I'm protecting this place from people like you!"

Ferruccio: "What did I do? Wasn't it you who attacked me before I even had a chance to react?"

Seika reflected on the fight and realized that she had been the only one attacking the entire time. But she couldn't let this guy win, not even in a discussion.

Seika: "That's called a preemptive strike, you idiot. Of course, someone like you wouldn't understand that."

Ferruccio: "Someone like me? What do you mean by that?"

Seika: "A man."

Ferruccio: "Haha, that was unexpected."

Seika: "Why are you laughing?"

Ferruccio: "It was just so sudden and out of nowhere. Sorry."

Seika was confused. Had he just apologized?

Ferruccio: "Listen, I have a reason to be here, just as you do. It's my duty to investigate this area. Terrible things have been reported around here. There's supposed to be a gang called Warriors Woman in the area. Their influence is significant, and they are to be investigated and questioned for suspicion of murder or complicity in murder."

Seika: "That can't be true, and besides, you're not allowed here anyway. Men are forbidden. You'd regret it. My gang has done nothing!"

Ferruccio: "Your gang? You're part of them? Then I'm sorry, but I'll have to question you…"

Seika: "Save it, I won't say anything. I know nothing of such things. We don't kill."

Ferruccio: "The evidence and supposed witness statements suggest otherwise."

Seika: "Witness statements?"

Ferruccio: "Yes, we've received repeated reports of fatal torture, murder, and mutilations. Some escaped women, but also men, have anonymously informed us that the Warriors Woman might be involved in these acts."

Seika: "That's impossible and not true."

Ferruccio: "Are you sure about that?"

Seika: "Yes, and now leave. You won't find anything here."

Ferruccio: "I can't do that…"

Seika: "…"

Ferruccio: "But I can make you an offer."

Seika: "I don't make deals with men."

Ferruccio: "Listen. It's about you helping me prove your gang's innocence, if you're interested."

Seika didn't understand what was wrong with this man. Was it… politeness? Did he believe her? Just like that? That was extremely naive and stupid, but Seika also knew that her gang couldn't have anything to do with it, yet still…

Maybe Ferruccio could prove her gang's innocence, but men were forbidden in the area.

Seika: "We have a problem. My gang is innocent, but you can't stay."

Ferruccio: "I need to investigate the area."

Seika: "No chance! You're a man. Law is law."

Ferruccio: "Alright. If you're so sure, you probably aren't afraid that your gang might be involved, are you?"

"This guy... What is he up to?" thought Seika. Despite the situation and the suspicion on her gang, he remained so friendly. Was this a ploy, a trick?

Ferruccio: "Even though you're sweet, you come off as very harsh. Don't you think it could be the same, or even worse, for your gang members?"

Seika: "Shit..." He was somewhat right. Her nickname, given to her by Wero, Saika, meant exactly that. What exactly did this man know about this incident she had never heard of? It was annoying, but she couldn't deny his logic.

Ferruccio suggested giving her a communication device to stay in contact.

Seika: "What's that supposed to be?"

Ferruccio: "It's like a phone, but you can use it on the go. It has no cable."

Seika: "Is that magic?"

Ferruccio: "No, it's technology."

Seika: "..."

Ferruccio: "Would you accept my gift?"

Seika: "What? A gift? ...You mean this thing…"

Ferruccio: "Would you prefer something else?"

Seika: "I don't want anything from you." She looked sideways, checking behind her briefly to see if anyone was there.

"Whatever…"

Ferruccio: "Should I explain how…"

Seika: "Do you think I'm stupid?" Ferruccio was still holding the device when Seika suddenly knocked it out of his hand, sending it to the ground.

Ferruccio: "Alright. I think you'll figure it out."

Seika didn't even glance at the ground. "You should leave now."

With a "Thanks for your cooperation," Ferruccio turned away from Seika and walked back in the direction he had come from.

When Ferruccio was out of sight, she took another look at the strange device still lying on the ground. Seika hid the device in her closet and locked it. She felt strange. What was really up with Ferruccio? Was it a trick? Yet he hadn't attacked her and had given her something. His words echoed in her head. Maybe it was just the unexpected that had surprised her.

She put it in a small box under her bed in her room. A few days later, Seika heard the device ringing. She searched for the key to open the box, but by the time she found it, the ringing had stopped. She felt disappointed but also relieved.

"Well, doesn't matter now."

Just some seconds later it rang again, and Seika got the device. She didn't know how to answer, pressing all the buttons until the ringing stopped.

"Why did he hang up again? Now I definitely won't answer."

And the device didn't ring again for the next three days.