Chapter 15

As soon as the door closed, Reika's presence at his side was immediate. She didn't have to say anything at first—Kenji felt her fury in the sharp inhale she took before speaking.

"You gave him the card." Her voice was low, clipped, like she was trying to contain something far nastier. "Kenji—you know how he is."

Kenji sighed. He should have expected this. "I do."

"Then why—"

"Because it helps."

Reika scoffed, turning to face him fully. "I thought we agreed on this together?"

Kenji finally met her gaze, eyes steady. "And what would you have me do?"

"Stop it." Reika's tone turned harder. "You've been letting him get away with too much. With all of them. We agreed—"

"We agreed to help them," Kenji cut in. He wasn't furious, not yet, but there was an edge to his voice now. "And we did. We worked—for years—to get them where they are. You think I don't remember how they used to be?"

Reika's lips parted like she wanted to argue, but Kenji didn't let her.

"Rei didn't speak for months, Reika. He refused to eat. He—" Kenji cut himself off, jaw tightening, throat suddenly too tight. He forced himself to say it. "He kept trying to off himself."

Reika's nostrils flared, but she didn't look away.

"Arato was worse," Kenji pressed. "Twice as bad. We had to keep him in a straightjacket. Do you remember that? Do you remember how Nagi stopped caring about everything? We took years to fix that. Years. And now you want to undo it?"

Reika's fingers curled into her sleeves. "I am not undoing anything. I am doing what is best."

Kenji exhaled, slow and tired. "Are you?"

Her eyes flashed.

Kenji didn't want to fight. He hated arguing with her. But this—this wasn't something he could just let go.

"Before you go on to defend yourself, Look at Rei. You shouted at him," he said. "And look what happened."

For a moment, just a moment, Reika hesitated. "I am their mother, I care about them. I have researched this, and" she said, voice like steel. "I know what's best."

Kenji let out a sharp, humourless laugh. "Then why aren't they listening to you?"

Reika flinched. A tiny, barely-there movement—but Kenji caught it.

"They need structure," she said. "They need to be disciplined—"

"No," Kenji snapped. "They needed us. And we failed them. We were fools to trust that Father had changed, and look what happened. We left them alone to be tortured. We had to rebuild them from scratch, Reika." He shook his head. "Is it best to go back to disciplining them like normal children? They aren't normal children anymore." By this time, Kenji had turned to her, eagerly leaning into the conversation.

Reika clenched her jaw. "We can't let them do whatever they want."

Kenji's eyes softened, just a fraction. "We don't." He sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. "We gave them what worked. Rei needed outlets, so we let him spend. Arato needed space, so we left him alone. Nagi needed attention, so we gave it to him. And guess what? They're alive."

Reika's face was unreadable.

Kenji ran a hand through his hair. "I'm tired of this," he muttered. "I don't want to follow your new plans anymore. They don't work."

That hit a nerve. Reika's expression finally cracked—anger, frustration, something desperate. "Kenji! Can we let them remain like this… forever?"

Kenji didn't answer right away. He looked toward the door, where their children had left. When Reika saw he wasn't going to answer. She turned on her heel and left. Her steps were graceful, clipped and precise, but Kenji knew she was hurt.

He sighed, rubbing his temple. He hadn't meant to hurt her. 

Rei barrelled down the hallway towards his best friend. Adrian barely had time to grin before a fist slammed into his face. Arato who was quite a way behind him saw the drama and slipped into a different hallway.

"Ow—!" He staggered back, clutching his jaw. "What the hell!?"

Rei stood in front of him, furious, his breathing heavy, his pupils blown wide with rage.

Adrian blinked at him, still reeling. "Did you just—punch me?"

"All of you are out to get me!" Rei seethed. He pointed an accusatory finger at Adrian's chest, practically vibrating with fury. "Even my own best friend! Traitor! Backstabber!"

Adrian wiped his lip, checking for blood. "What are you even talking about!?"

"You—you posted those pictures, didn't you!?" Rei's voice cracked, dramatic as ever. "All of you—everyone is against me!"

Adrian gave him a flat look. "I didn't post them."

Rei's glare wavered. "Liar."

"I didn't."

Rei scowled, shifting on his feet. "…You took them, though."

Adrian sighed. "I didn't do that either."

Rei's rage dimmed, just slightly. "Then who—"

Adrian rubbed his temple, still nursing his jaw. "Look, I was a bit drunk yesternight, okay? I don't remember much. But I know for a fact I wasn't the only one in the car."

Rei frowned. "What?"

"There were some girls in the back," Adrian said, his tone wary. "I think they might've been the ones who took the pictures."