Broken Glasses (1)

The boys lingered in front of the apartment building, their eyes fixed on the flashing lights of ambulances and police cars crowding the street. The scene buzzed with activity, a chaotic blend of uniformed officers, paramedics, and news crews scrambling for space. Voices overlapped, urgent and frantic, while cameras flashed like lightning, capturing every grim detail. The air was thick with tension, the kind that prickles the skin and makes it hard to breathe.

"Sorry, I was frozen in fear… I couldn't do anything. I couldn't…" Shouichi vented his regret to his tall friend, who had stayed by his side all this time.

"Don't blame yourself, mate," Shinji tried to console him. Despite his usually playful character, Shinji knew when to be mindful and considerate.

"How did you know?" Shouichi asked.

"Hm?" Shinji responded, confused.

"That the gun was a fake one," Shouichi clarified, glancing up at the empty sky.

"Well… I took a gamble. A calculated risk." Shinji smiled slightly and continued, "That gun model is a Desert Eagle, a popular weapon featured in many FPS games. But it's never legalised in Japan, so I assumed it was most likely a prop one."

"Hmm… I didn't know that." Shouichi rubbed his chin, following Shinji's logic. He surmised that Shinji's analysis was sound.

"Even so, we managed to save Yoko-san, but I think we were too late…" Shinji trailed off.

"Don't beat yourself up. You did your best, your hunch about room 304 was spot on." Shinji gave his friend's shoulder a light tap, an act of care.

"I could've been faster. I could've solved it quicker… I~." Shouichi's voice faltered. He seemed incapable of saying any more. His mind was consumed with thoughts of what could have been, a reality he couldn't change.

"Shouichi… you have to be strong for your mum, okay? From now on, she will need you the most," Shinji suggested gently. "Let go of the past, mate. Your future problems await."

After taking a deep breath, Shouichi nodded. "Right! Thanks, Shinji."

"Anytime."

Akiyama Suzuki emerged from the crowd and walked towards Shinji and Shouichi. Her fluffy black hair swayed as she moved, her graceful and mature composure captivating.

"Shouichi-kun, would you mind if I had a private word with you?" She approached him.

"Just call me if you need anything," Shinji said, waving before heading off to his minivan, giving them space.

"About Yoko-san…" Suzuki continued, her brows furrowed.

"Yeah…"

"It was clear that she was traumatised by it. She wouldn't let any man touch her at all. That's expected in these kinds of situations, especially when the wound is still fresh," Suzuki explained. "I think you need to tread carefully from here on out." She gave him a piece of her mind.

Shouichi nodded a few times but still didn't fully understand how it worked.

"On top of that, the cyber police managed to cut down the source of the livestream, meaning there will be no more videos of her online… but~." Suzuki paused to find the right words.

"If someone recorded it from the livestream, then we wouldn't know, right?" Shouichi finished for her.

"Exactly! That's something we can't control." She gently touched his shoulders with both hands.

"Listen carefully, if the video resurfaces, it's best that Yoko-san doesn't know about it." Suzuki's dark, beautiful eyes were serious and fixed on him.

"I understand," He replied.

"Okay, I'll get back to work. Take it slow. This mental wound is invisible, but there will always be signs. I know you can save her, Shouichi. I believe in you." Suzuki shared her wisdom before turning her back.

"Wait, Akiyama-san!" Shouichi reached out, catching her wrist. The female police officer flinched at his touch, her eyes widening in surprise before quickly regaining her composure.

"Thank you so much for everything," Shouichi said earnestly, his voice full of genuine gratitude. He was aware that Suzuki had been watching over Yoko's store, though he couldn't fully grasp her true intentions. Still, he knew the situation could have taken a much darker turn if she hadn't alerted him this morning. At least Yoko was still alive, and for that, he was thankful. "I swear, I'll never leave her side again," Shouichi silently promised himself.

"Yeah, you're welcome," Suzuki replied before disappearing into the crowd.

***

Since the incident, every day had become a struggle for Shouichi. The mental wound inflicted by Kasunagi Nabe was deep and seemingly incurable. The trauma of sexual assault had turned his sweet Yoko into an empty shell of her former self. Every time he saw her in that state, his heart shattered. Deep down, he believed it was all his fault. He'd taken that stupid trip with his friends while his mum was left unguarded.

If he hadn't gone… If he'd convinced Yoko to come with him, maybe he could have prevented this misery.

"I'm the worst. I'm the worst. I'm the worst." These words echoed constantly in his mind.

"You are the worst, Shouichi…" It was Yoko's voice, muffling everything else. Though it was soft and quiet, it was so deafening that he couldn't hear anything else.

"Yoko-san… I'm so sorry…" Shouichi bit his lip in frustration. He knew it was his fault, but hearing it from her made his world crumble.

"Please say something… Yoko-san." Shouichi reached out to touch her, but she flinched. Her face twisted in revulsion.

"P-Please… just get out of my sight," Yoko whispered, her voice trembling as she curled into the corner of her bed. She hugged her knees to her chest, trying to make herself as small as possible.

"You have no idea how much your words affect me. They're eating me alive…" Shouichi wanted to say, but the words died in his throat, his resolve faltering. He knew too well that when people went through deep trauma, they often dragged those around them down with them, like a drowning soul clutching for a lifeline. Just like that time with his ex, Ishikawa Misaki.

His phone buzzed, and Shouichi picked it up to check the screen. It was Morimura Ayane. She visited his house every day. Since she was a close friend of Yoko's, she could reach the side that Shouichi couldn't.

"Hey, I'm at the front gate. Open the door for me," Ayane messaged.

"Okay," Shouichi replied and left his mum's room.

Ayane's jet-black head poked out from the fence. He opened the metal gate to let her through.

"You look rough, Shouichi…" She commented, her usual honesty tempered with concern.

"Yeah, it hasn't been easy… It feels like there's an invisible wall I can't get through." Shouichi confessed, exhaling.

"I'm sorry you have to deal with this. But you're not alone. At least, you and Yoko have me," she said softly. "I made a lunchbox, so I'll feed her, okay?" Ayane showed him the box in her hand.

"Thank you for that. I don't know what I'd do without you," Shouichi admitted gratefully. Ayane had played a huge role in helping with Yoko's recovery.

"No worries." She paused and then added, "Please smile more. I really miss those smiles of yours." She extended her hand, gently patting his black hair.

Later in the afternoon, Ayane came down from Yoko's room after feeding her.

"She liked my cooking!" Ayane beamed with satisfaction, showing off her empty lunchbox.

"That's a relief," Shouichi responded.

"She smiled today." Ayane whispered softly in Shouichi's ear.

"Really?" Shouichi couldn't quite believe it. "I haven't seen her smile since that day. It's been almost a week, I think…"

"It's a big step forward, right?" Ayane's dark purple eyes shone with hope.

"Yes! Ayane, you're wonderful!" Shouichi smiled with joy, grabbing both of her shoulders and shaking them gently.

"Umm… about school…" Ayane averted her gaze. "We start next week. You'll go, right?"

Shouichi's smile disappeared entirely.

"I-I can't leave her side. I have to stay — I have to protect her," Shouichi fumbled with his words, his thoughts a mess.

"Shouichi-kun… I know you blame yourself for all this…"

"..."

"... But that's not true. This isn't your fault. Please…" Ayane pleaded with her gentle eyes.

After a long pause, Shouichi eventually replied, "... I'll try."

"Right! I'll ask the teachers if we can check on Yoko during lunch. We might be allowed to leave campus on special request," Ayane said, already formulating a plan.

"Okay, I'm off now. Take care, alright?" After a quick exchange, the foxy girl bid her farewell.