Filler: Ema's PoV before the events with Chiko

 ~~~~~Ema's point of view before the event with Chiko~~~~~

As soon as Fumihiro left getting into that taxi, my parents looked me straight in the eyes.

"Ema. That boy loves you too much," my mother said, with a very serene tone. "You're very lucky to have him."

My father nodded in agreement with her.

"I hope you two get married soon. Fumihiro is really perfect for you. I'm happy that my daughter is loved so much," he said.

"You're right," I replied coldly, then walked to my room.

I felt a lot of insincerity in their words.

I was sure they didn't truly love Fumihiro, but were saying these things only to avoid making me feel burdened for being with him.

But that's not all.

They treat Fumi better than a son, in such a beautiful way that it seems unnatural.

They've never treated me like that, in fact, they've often made me feel the weight of being born a woman.

Kanna told me how many times my mother and father had hoped for a boy.

In practice, Fumihiro is as if he were the son they never had.

While on one hand I'm very happy that Fumihiro is welcomed by my parents as a family member, on the other hand, I'm also jealous because I've never had such a close relationship with them despite my efforts.

After entering my room, I lay down on the bed, thinking about what to cook for Fumihiro.

So many, too many things have happened lately.

My mind was overflowing with thoughts, anxieties, and fears, and Fumihiro was my only salvation.

I was so lucky to have an angel like him by my side.

I felt so sorry for lying to him so much, and I really felt guilty for doing so.

But I didn't want to cause him any more trouble, I wanted to be a better girl for him.

He deserved it.

I kept tossing and turning in bed for a few minutes, overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts and guilt.

The situation with Chiko had been going on for a long time and was reaching its limit.

I couldn't hide anything from him anymore.

Sooner or later he would find out, and he could react much worse.

I had to get rid of that criminal as soon as possible.

He threatened me, him, and even my family.

I was lucky I never did anything with him.

I couldn't imagine having sex with another man outside of Fumi.

Just the thought disgusts me.

Just lying to him to hide everything made me feel very bad.

Every day I felt like I had betrayed him, and I always sought his presence for comfort.

I wanted to talk to him about my situation but I didn't have the courage.

"It doesn't matter if he doesn't know, since I never did anything with Chiko...," I thought, to alleviate my guilt.

I always felt the need to keep Fumihiro under control, every time I saw him interacting with a girl, my heart pounded with anger and jealousy.

I felt like I could explode at any moment.

I had never been like this... I wonder why at that moment.

Then I also saw him interacting with Kazuha... that damned viper.

Kazuha Hasegawa... another childhood friend of his.

I did everything possible to make him forget her and I succeeded, but fate brought her back unexpectedly.

I'm so afraid she might try to take him away from me.

Luckily she pretended not to know me.

Fumihiro is mine and mine alone. No one else~

After all these reflections, I decided to get up.

I had the idea to stop by Sakura Brew Haven to get the vanilla aroma that Fumihiro loves too.

I wanted to surprise him, so I quickly tidied up a bit and left the house.

Kanna offered to accompany me but I refused.

I walked, with headphones in my ears playing music.

To be more specific, I was listening to Fumihiro's piano compositions.

I felt the need to always have him with me.

As I walked, with the soft spring breeze caressing my face, I saw a shadow approaching me.

I turned, curious, and saw Chiko behind me smiling with a wicked and superior smirk.

My eyes widened in fear.

His overbearing and macho appearance disgusted me.

"Well, well, well... look who we have here," he said, approaching me.

"D-Don't come near me, Chiko," I replied, stepping back.

"Oh, come on! I just want to spend some time with you...! You know what could happen if you don't listen to me, right?" Chiko said, with a very nasty tone.

My body started shaking with fear.

I was on the verge of a crying fit, but I had to hold back.

My luck was that there were many people around me.

Chiko approached me and put an arm around my neck, hugging me.

I was totally disgusted.

I wanted to cry.

"Where are we going, baby?" he said.

"... Sakura Brew Haven," I replied, with a trembling voice.

"Come on, don't be afraid. I'm not going to eat you... maybe..." Chiko chuckled.

"Disgusting," I whispered.

Fortunately, he didn't make any bold moves, and just walked with me.

We walked for about ten minutes until he removed his arm from me since we were almost at our destination.

And it was at that exact moment that we turned the corner and... I saw Fumihiro and Evangeline.

My boyfriend caught us.

I will never forget the expression full of pain he had on his face when he saw us.

It was all a big misunderstanding but he couldn't know.

At that moment it was as if he had seen his girlfriend betraying him.

Actually, it was a real betrayal.

I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces.

Fumihiro was boiling with anger.

Even seeing him with Evangeline made me die of jealousy, I can't deny it.

"Who is this? Is he the same one who knocked on your door that night, right?" he asked me.

My eyes widened.

I was trembling with fear.

Fear of being caught...

What happened was tragic.

Fumihiro jumped on Chiko as if he was about to beat him.

Evangeline stopped him.

I should have been the one to do it, but I was paralyzed with fear.

A huge crowd had gathered around us.

Fumihiro was looking for me with his eyes, I remember it perfectly.

I didn't have the courage to look him in the eyes.

I decided to do what I've always done: Run away without facing the situations.

I ran, ran home crying like a child.

As soon as I arrived, my parents opened the door.

Without letting them see me, I went to the kitchen and took a knife secretly.

I arrived just in time, because shortly after my mother and father left because they had to run errands in another city.

My head was overflowing with thoughts.

The only thing I could do was hurt myself.

I felt guilty.

I thought my beautiful relationship with Fumihiro was over...

And that's how the blade touched the skin of my left arm several times.

It hurt a lot. It burned.

A lot of blood came out, but I didn't care.

I even went downstairs to look for some napkins to clean myself, but the blood was flowing and stained the floor.

I went back upstairs and kept hurting myself...

Then I received a message from Suzuki telling me that Fumihiro was in the hospital, perhaps due to a heart attack, but fortunately, he wasn't in life-threatening danger.

At that moment, I felt my heart break again, and to avoid further internal pain, I continued to hurt myself...

It was a terrible day, perhaps the worst of my life.

"Fumihiro... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry," I said, crying and sobbing, as the blood fell from my arm, staining even my bed.

I quickly sent a message to Fumi's phone, hoping for a response, but there was nothing.

"I'm so scared... I don't want it to be over..." Those were the only things I could think of.

I was sad... I wanted to die...

Because without Fumihiro, i am nothing.