Rendezvous. [Arc 17 end]

Helpless, through the screen, Ayane watched it all with horrified eyes.

Her phone slipped from her grasp, as she stared into the void in horror. Tears welled up in her eyes.

It was nighttime, and her room was dark. The dim light from her phone, showing her the worst thing for her heart, was the only thing that lit the room.

If her eyes weren’t lifeless already, it became more. It became void.

“Ah…” she mumbled. “What are you scared of, Ayane?”

She laughed. “Tell me, sweetheart. What are you scared of? Death?”

“No.” She replied. She stared at the ceiling. “I don’t even care anymore. What do I have to lose?”

Her tears dried up. Her heart petrified. Her mind went calm.

“How long are you going to let your heart be crushed?” The ceiling asked, or so she thought. “For how much longer are you going to depend on someone else?”

On her phone, she saw Kanako resisting hard as Sakiko pushed herself further into him.

Sakiko grinned. “See this, Ayane? Doesn’t he look cute like this?”

She asked her mind. “This girl? You are scared of her? That ****?”

She grabbed her phone, talking in a calm, slow whisper. “Hey nee-san.”

Sakiko looked back at the video call in shock. She never thought of hearing Ayane’s voice like this. She expected either pleading or sobbing.

“Nee-san, did you know that you are a ****?” Ayane laughed through the phone. “In fact, you are the biggest and proudest **** I have ever met.”

Sakiko stepped back from Kanako with wide eyes towards her phone. “What. The. Heck did you just say-’’’

“Oh shut up,” Ayane replied. “****”

Before Sakiko could utter another word. Kanako sat up on the couch, still trying to sober up.

“Kanako, I know you can hear this-’’ Ayane said.

As Kanako heard Ayane’s voice, he instantly looked at her. “Ayane-chan?”

She smiled. It is the same Kanako who once saved her, who cared for her and who believed in her. How can she let him go out of her grasp?

“You know where to meet. At-” Before she could say another word, Sakiko cut the call. She felt her weeks of control crumbled, all done by Ayane.

Kanako knew what she was talking about. About where to meet. It was finally time for him to hear her sweet voice again. In person.

He darted out of that room, with tears of joy.

Both of them headed to their rendezvous.