~ Thank you for the 10 Reviews. This is the Bonus Chapter
--------------------------------------------------
We're getting close to 200 Power Stones, if we reach it before I go to sleep, I might post another bonus chapter today
--------------------------------------------------
"..."
Hearing the title "Haruhikage," Sakiko's expression noticeably softened. Her initial guard dropped significantly, and a nostalgic glint slowly filled her eyes. She was reminiscing about her days in the band.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but... the band is no longer together!"
As she forced out the last few words, she couldn't stop her hands from balling into tight fists.
It was all her fault the band broke up. Because of her, everyone...
"It's fine. I'm sure you just ran into some difficult circumstances, Togawa-san. But I've seen you up on that stage—you were absolutely radiant and brimming with confidence. I genuinely believe that someone like you can overcome whatever hardships you're facing right now."
"..."
Kai's sincere words actually made Sakiko feel a sudden wave of guilt. After all, just a few moments ago, she had genuinely entertained the thought of giving up entirely.
"Please, come with me. It looked like you twisted your ankle just now. My apartment is literally right next door. If you feel like you're in any danger, you can just scream for help. The soundproofing here is terrible, so the entire floor will hear you."
"I wasn't..."
Prompted by his words, Sakiko suddenly felt a sharp throb of pain shooting up from her left ankle. But hearing him lay everything out so honestly made her feel deeply ashamed for suspecting his intentions.
Wait...
"The soundproofing is terrible?" Realizing the implication, Sakiko's head snapped up in disbelief.
Knowing exactly what was running through her head, Kai supported her weight as they walked to his door, smiling and nodding.
"Yep. I've heard the shouting from your side plenty of times. You've been having a really rough time lately, haven't you, Togawa-san?"
"..."
She had refused to let anyone see her vulnerability. But Kai's gentle concern made her nose sting. She quickly tilted her head back, forcefully suppressing the urge to break down in tears right there in the hallway.
'No! Sakiko Togawa, you are no longer the heiress of the Togawa family. You absolutely cannot let anyone see you looking this weak and pathetic. Hold it together.'
Watching her stubborn display, Kai just offered a soft smile. He unlocked his door and guided her inside.
"Excuse the intrusion!"
As she slipped into a pair of guest slippers, Sakiko felt a jolt of surprise. She hadn't actually expected to follow a complete stranger into his apartment. Maybe it was because he was a fan of her music, or maybe... deep down, she was just desperate for a little bit of warmth and care.
"Make yourself at home. I live alone," Kai said casually as he helped her sit down before heading over to a cabinet. "Give me a second, I'll go find the first-aid kit."
"You really don't have to go through all this trouble."
Seeing that he completely ignored her protest, Sakiko pressed her lips together and began to scan the room. The layout was nearly identical to her own apartment. However, there were no empty liquor bottles haphazardly strewn across the floor, and no discarded bento boxes rotting on the table. Even though the space was small, it was very clean and meticulously organized.
That stark contrast made her subconsciously relax her guard.
"Found it!"
Kai walked back over with a tube of medical ointment and a warm smile, seamlessly taking a seat on the floor right in front of her.
"What are you doing?" Seeing him reach out for her ankle, Sakiko instinctively tried to pull her leg back.
"You still have to go to work tomorrow, right?" Kai's smile was perfectly disarming. "If a sprain like this isn't treated properly right away, it'll only swell up and get infinitely worse by tomorrow morning. I doubt you want to be limping through your shift."
"..."
Hearing that it might compromise her job, her resistance instantly evaporated.
"Relax. I've twisted my ankle plenty of times before, so I know exactly how to handle this. You can trust me!"
Kai's movements were gentle and precise. Staring at her delicate, pristine foot, he had to take a slow, deep breath to keep himself from completely losing his composure.
"Hiss..."
"Does it hurt? I'll use a lighter touch."
"I-It's fine!" Sakiko frantically shook her head.
Seeing the intense concentration on his face—as if treating her ankle was some sort of sacred duty—a bright flush began to creep across Sakiko's pale cheeks.
"You..." The atmosphere in the room suddenly felt entirely too intimate. She desperately searched for a way to change the subject.
"You can just call me Kai," he offered without even looking up.
"Kai... do you live alone?" The second the words left her mouth, Sakiko wanted to slap herself. Wasn't that blindingly obvious just from looking around the room?
"Yep. My parents are still back out in the countryside. I moved here to Tokyo to attend high school all by myself."
"That's incredible!"
That wasn't just empty flattery, Sakiko genuinely meant it. Her recent plunge into poverty had brutally taught her exactly how suffocating it was to survive entirely on your own. Considering he was living in a cheap rental apartment like this, his family clearly wasn't wealthy. He was likely in the exact same boat as her—juggling high school academics with grueling part-time jobs.
"It's not that bad, I'm pretty used to it by now. You're the truly amazing one here, Togawa-san. After all, you have to work to support your family as well."
If Sakiko only had to worry about providing for herself, even if she wasn't rich, she wouldn't be dragged down into such a miserable, suffocating situation.
"Just call me Togawa."
After a brief moment of silence, Sakiko firmly sidestepped his comment. Even in her current state, she fiercely clung to the last shreds of her dignity.
Kai just nodded understandingly and went back to massaging the ointment into her ankle.
"SAKIKO! SAKIKO!"
Right as the atmosphere settled into a comfortable quiet, her father's violently drunken shouts completely shattered the peace through the thin walls.
"WHERE'S THE BOOZE? WHERE'S MY DAMN BOOZE?"
"..."
He yelled for another minute or two before the apartment fell completely silent again. He had likely passed out in a drunken stupor.
Sakiko deeply ducked her head, an overwhelming wave of crushing humiliation washing over her. If she could, she would have ripped a hole in the floorboards and buried herself alive.
"I'm sorry, I really have things to do. I need to go back."
Even though they had just officially met, not only was he a fan of her old band, but they were also practically living in the exact same harsh circumstances. Sakiko had subconsciously already begun to view him as a friend. And precisely because he felt like a friend, she was even more desperate to maintain the fragile illusion of her dignity in front of him.
However...
Just as she tried to stand up, Kai gently but firmly pressed her right back down onto the chair.
"Kai...?"
"It's fine. He's probably already passed out for the night. Even the strongest, most capable people in the world need to rest sometimes. You've already been working so hard, Togawa. If it had been literally anyone else in your shoes, they would have completely broken down a long time ago. Don't you think?"
--------------------------------------------------
Drop Some Powerstones~~