Chapter 19. Whispers that Cut Deeper

He stood tall, a protective barrier between her and her tormentors. His grip on Hina's wrist didn't falter as his icy gaze locked onto hers.

"That's enough." he said, his voice low but cutting, each word a sharp blade in the tension-filled room.

The room seemed to shrink under his presence, the weight of his authority suffocating. No one dared to speak.

"Let. Her. Go." Akihiko ordered, his tone brooking no argument.

Kanako and Asami hesitated, but the warning in his eyes was enough. They released Ayaka, stepping back in stunned silence.

Akihiko's hand shifted to Ayaka's back, steadying her. "Come on." he said softly, his voice a stark contrast to the ice in his tone moments ago.

Ayaka stared at him, her heart pounding for an entirely different reason now. And for the first time that night, the suffocating weight lifted, replaced by a fragile sense of safety.

Akihiko gently took Ayaka's hand, his fingers instinctively wrapping around hers with a firm yet reassuring grip, as though silently promising that he wouldn't let her go.

Without hesitation, he led her away from the chaos, his determined gaze scanning their surroundings until he spotted a small park tucked away amidst the quiet streets.

It seemed like a refuge—a place where Ayaka might find a moment of calmness. Without a word, he guided her toward it, his steps steady and purposeful, as if his resolve alone could carry her fragile heart to safety.

The evening air was crisp, and the world around them seemed muted, as though respecting her pain.

With each step, Ayaka's body trembled slightly. Her breaths were uneven, and the weight she'd been carrying for so long finally broke free.

The tears came silently at first, soft streaks on her cheeks, but as they entered the park—where the gentle rustle of leaves welcomed them—her restraint shattered.

Ayaka slowed, her feet halting on the paved path. She turned her face away, her free hand shakily rising to wipe the tears that streamed freely now, as though they couldn't be stopped.

Her small shoulders quivered, betraying the storm raging within her.

Sensing her pause, Akihiko stopped too. He turned, and his chest tightened when he saw her—vulnerable, fragile, fighting to hold herself together.

Without thinking, without hesitation, his body moved on instinct.

In a heartbeat, Akihiko closed the space between them and pulled Ayaka into his arms, his embrace strong yet gentle, like a shield against everything that was breaking her apart.

One hand cradled the back of her head, while the other wrapped protectively around her back, holding her close as if to shield her from the world.

"Cry it all out..." he whispered, his voice low and soothing, carrying a warmth that enveloped her like a soft blanket.

The words were simple, but they carried so much meaning—permission, comfort, and a silent promise that she didn't have to carry this pain alone.

Ayaka stiffened for a moment before the dam inside her burst.

In the safety of Akihiko's arms, the sobs came freely now, raw and unrestrained. She buried her face into his chest, her tears soaking through his shirt, but he didn't care.

His embrace tightened slightly, his hand brushing gently against her hair, as though each touch could silently say, "I'm here. I've got you."

His warmth was overwhelming. It wrapped around her like the sun after a long winter, melting the ice that had held her heart captive.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Ayaka allowed herself to fall apart. In Akihiko's arms, there was no judgment, no pity—only safety, only him.

Her sobs eventually softened, but Akihiko didn't let go.

He held her for as long as she needed, his heartbeat steady and calm against her ear, anchoring her to the present.

In that moment, the park seemed to disappear. It was just the two of them—her tears, his embrace, and the unspoken promise that she wasn't alone anymore.

------

When everything calmed down, Ayaka and Akihiko sat by the swing. Ayaka was fingering her fingers before starting to speak.

"It's fine if you're not ready to talk about it." Akihiko said calmly.

"I-I want to... I'm just looking for the right words to begin it..." Ayaka replied.

For a moment there was silence, Ayaka took a deep breath and began.

"It was during middle school..."

Ayaka leaned back against the bench, her eyes distant as memories from middle school resurfaced like waves lapping against a shore—gentle at first, but quickly overwhelming.

"It wasn't just the bullying, you know?" Ayaka began softly, her voice tinged with weariness.

"There were so many layers to it. I think that's why it hurt so much." She paused, gathering her thoughts.

"It all started when he showed up—Hina's boyfriend. But it wasn't just him. Aiko… and Taichi… they were part of it, too."

"Taichi?" Akihiko asked, unfamiliar with the name.

Ayaka nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Taichi was Aiko's best friend. They were inseparable—always laughing, always together. I used to watch Aiko look at him when he wasn't paying attention. She was in love with him. I think she had been for years."

She hesitated, her smile fading. "But… Taichi liked me."

Akihiko's brows furrowed slightly, though he said nothing. He waited as Ayaka pushed forward.

"I never wanted his attention. I barely even talked to him because I knew how Aiko felt. She was the only friend I had, and I wasn't about to hurt her."

Ayaka shook her head slowly. "One day, Taichi confessed to me. He said he'd liked me for a long time, and I…"

She laughed bitterly. "I turned him down. I told him I couldn't accept because there was someone who cared about him far more than I ever could. He looked so confused, so hurt, but I didn't care. I wanted to protect Aiko."

Akihiko's gaze softened. "You did the right thing."

"I thought so too..." Ayaka replied. "But after I turned Taichi down, everything got more complicated."

Aiko didn't know about his confession, but she could tell something had shifted between us. I think part of her started to doubt me, even though she didn't want to.

She never said it out loud, but sometimes I'd catch her watching me with this look… like she wasn't sure she could trust me.

"And then Hina's boyfriend came into the picture."

Her tone darkened, and her fingers dug into the fabric of her skirt as if to steady herself. "He bumped into me, and after that, he wouldn't leave me alone. I saw him everywhere—lurking at corners, waiting outside the school gate, even near my house. I was terrified, Akihiko. No one knew what was happening except me, and I didn't know how to make it stop."

Her voice wavered, but she kept going. "The worst day of all was when he dragged me behind the school building. I was coming back from lunch when he grabbed my wrist and pulled me so fast I couldn't react. He shoved me against the wall, his eyes cold and cruel."

She mimicked his voice, low and mocking: "If you don't do as I say, I'll tell everyone you've been seducing me."

Akihiko tensed, his fists tightening at his sides. He stayed silent, though his anger was palpable.

"I remember glaring at him, trying to keep my voice steady even though I was shaking. I told him no. I told him he was disgusting, and I turned to leave. But he grabbed me again. He pinned me to the wall, and I—"

Her voice caught, but she swallowed hard and pushed through. "I thought I was done for. I thought no one would find me, that no one would believe me if I screamed."

She paused, her breathing shallow, as the memory threatened to overwhelm her. "But then I heard Aiko. She'd been looking for me and stumbled across us. I still remember her voice—sharp and panicked—yelling, "Hey, what are you doing?!"

Akihiko let out a small breath, as if hearing that provided a shred of relief.

"The guy ran off immediately, like the coward he was. Aiko ran to me and asked if I was okay. I was shaking so badly, I couldn't even answer at first. Finally, I managed to tell her everything. I begged her to believe me. And she did. She said, 'Of course I believe you.'" Ayaka's voice trembled.

"Those words meant everything to me in that moment. I thought maybe things would get better."

"But they didn't..." Ayaka shook her head, her expression tight with old pain.

"The next day, the rumors started. Hina found out, and her boyfriend—that monster—told everyone I was the one who seduced him. He twisted everything. Hina was furious, and she made sure everyone turned against me. They called me a liar, a snake, a boyfriend-stealer. Taichi? Aiko? They didn't defend me. And after awhile, I think even Aiko started to doubt me. Maybe it was because of Taichi, or maybe she was just exhausted. Either way, I was alone again."

The silence hung heavily between them for a moment before Ayaka continued. "The bullying got worse. My desk disappeared one morning, my books were thrown in the trash. Notes with awful names were stuffed into my locker. I couldn't walk through the halls without hearing whispers and laughter. I held on for as long as I could, but…" She looked away, blinking back tears.

"I broke. I begged my parents to transfer me. And they did."

Akihiko finally spoke, his voice low but steady, as though barely containing his anger. "They were all cowards. None of them deserved to stand next to you."

"But the most painful part is finding out earlier that it wasn't Hina's boyfriend who spread the rumors but Aiko." Ayaka looked down.

Akihiko said firmly, leaving no room for doubt. "All of them were fake friends. You didn't do anything wrong, Ayaka.You turned that guy down because you cared about Aiko. You fought back against that monster. And you survived. They didn't break you, no matter how hard they tried."

Ayaka stared at him, his words slowly sinking into her. For the first time in years, the weight on her chest felt just a little lighter.

"Thank you..." she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Come now, my car is parked nearby I'm taking you somewhere." Akihiko stood up from the bench, offering his hand to Ayaka.

She smiled faintly while taking Akihiko's hand. "Are we going to your favorite place again?"

"Hmmm... not quite." Akihiko smiled, holding her hand tighter.

------

The soft hum of the engine filled the quiet car, a steady rhythm that seemed to sync with the faint patter of rain tapping against the windshield.

Ayaka sat in the passenger seat, her gaze drifting out the window where the world blurred past like an endless painting of shadows and faint glimmers of light.

Streetlamps flickered by, their pale glow streaking across her face as she tried to guess where Akihiko was taking her.

The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable—it was warm, like a familiar blanket on a cold night.

Occasionally, Ayaka would steal a glance at Akihiko, his hands steady on the wheel, his face calm and focused as the faint glow of the dashboard lit up his features.

His blue eyes, always sharp and clear, flicked toward her just once, a subtle smirk curling at his lips.

"What?" Ayaka asked, narrowing her eyes at him playfully.

"Nothing." Akihiko said, his voice smooth but teasing. "You look like you're overthinking again."

Ayaka huffed, folding her arms as she sank back into her seat. "Maybe because I don't know where we're going."

"Good." he replied casually, his grip tightening briefly on the wheel as he made a sharp turn. "You'll just have to trust me."

The car rolled smoothly through quiet roads lined with tall trees whose branches curved like archways, forming a tunnel overhead.

Finally, the car rolled to a gentle stop, and the engine quieted with a low sigh as Akihiko turned off the ignition.

Silence rushed back in, punctuated only by the faint whisper of the breeze outside. Ayaka blinked, adjusting to the stillness, and unfastened her seatbelt.

"Come on." Akihiko said as he pushed open his door, his voice light with promise.

"W-wait isn't this...?"