Fragile Hope

The previous night faded away with the morning sun's light. When Akari awoke, she was back in Jun's bed. She did not know how or when she got there. 

The night before seemed like a bad dream, but when Akari realized she was still in last night's clothes, the dread of reality grasped her heart sharply.

She lay in the bed not wanting to ever get out again, afraid that if she got up then it would make everything real. She didn't want to face it. 

The sun crept further in from behind the curtains, but the previous night's weight did not lift - only sunk deeper within Akari's chest.

The door softly creaked opened, followed by quiet footsteps. 

Akari sat up, noticing Jun's presence. He came in carrying a thermos, a bottle of water, a bottle of eye drops, and a pack of makeup wipes.

"Oh. I didn't know you were up." Jun said surprised.

Akari eyed the items in his hands. "What are those for?"

"Oh. I figured you were going to want to be alone." Jun said as he set the things gently down beside the bed. "So, I made some soup and brought some water. You also wear your contacts too much so I thought these might help." He hesitated, holding the makeup wipes. "And I thought maybe these would help to clean the makeup... I don't know if this is the right kind though."

Akari looked at him, eyes still stained with tears, exhaustion, and glitter. A faint, grateful smile tugged at her lips. "You think of everything, don't you?" She reached out for the wipes in his hands.

He handed the wipes to her. "Someone has to."

She pulled a wipe out and began to gently clean her face. "What happened last night?"

"You passed out." He leaned against the wall. "Exhaustion. Shock. Maybe both, I don't know. But I had to get you out of there."

"How did you?"

"I carried you." He said simply.

Akari stopped mid wipe. "Carried me?"

Jun gave a small nod as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

Her cheeks began to warm. "You carried me all the way back here?" She repeated, disbelief and embarrassment mixed in her voice. The image on him hauling her through the building, through the night, and up all those stairs - it was almost absurd.

He shrugged lightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I didn't really have much of a choice. You weren't exactly walking anywhere on your own."

Akari looked down. "I know... But you still didn't have to. I could've woken up."

"I know." His tone soft, almost teasing. "But I wanted to."

Jun made his way to the door. "When you're up for it, we have a lot to discuss."

The door closed softly behind him.

Akari sat there for a long moment, the silence fighting with her thoughts. The anxiety still lingered - restless, gnawing at the edge of her chest. But when her eyes fell on the items beside her, something in her lightened.

The thermos of soup. The bottle of water. The bottle of eye drops. The pack of makeup wipes. Such simple things. But the weight of the gesture, the quiet care behind them, reminded her she wasn't alone.

She drew a slow breath and reached for the soup. The warmth spread through her hands. After a few sips, the tightness in her chest began to loosen. She removed her red contact lenses and rinsed her eyes with the drops. She grabbed a towel and some spare clothes that Jun got her before and went to quickly wash up.

-

When Akari stepped into the living room, hair still damp, Jun was on the couch looking over something on his computer.

He looked up as soon as he sensed her presence, his expression softening. Without a word, he shifted and gestured for her to sit beside him.

"You said we have a lot to discuss." Akari said quietly as she sat. 

"Are you sure you're up to talk about it?"

She nodded.

"I went over the audio from last night." He exhaled slowly; guilt laced in his voice. "I'm sorry I didn't get there in time to prevent him from threatening you." His jaw tightened. "I should've got to you sooner."

She stared at him, taken aback by how heavily he carried the blame. "Jun... You did get to me. I should be thanking you."

He shook his head, not satisfied with himself. "I shouldn't have let it get that far. I should've been faster."

"It wasn't your fault." Akari hesitated for a moment before reaching out, placing her hand gently over his. His fingers tensed beneath hers - startled, then still. "You did enough. More than enough."

Jun met her eyes. The stubborn frustration in his expression wavered, replaced by something quieter, more vulnerable.

She offered a small, earnest smile. "Thank you."

Jun's hand shifted slightly - not pulling away but allowing himself to feel the warmth of hers.

For a moment, they simply sat there, breathing in the stillness between them. No case to solve, no threats, no masks. Just them.

Then Jun drew a slow deep breath and broke the silence. "You didn't sign the contract, did you?"

Akari shook her head. "But he wants a decision by midnight tomorrow. If I don't then they'll expose me..."

"I don't think you should sign it."

"But I don't want the world to find out about my past..." Her hands tightening in her lap.

"Is it so bad if they do?" He asked as gently as possible.

"What?"

"I was thinking..." He hesitated before continuing with care. "What if you came forward with the truth yourself?"

She stared at him in disbelief. "Why would I do that?"

"The Hanakai Network would have nothing to hold over you."

"You think they'd just leave me alone afterwards?"

"No, I doubt it..." Jun continued. "But if you tell your story first, then they can't weaponize it. They can't twist it, or trap you in it, or ruin the dream you want to keep alive. If the truth comes from you, you take away their power over you. And you can choose how much of the story is told and how it is told."

Akari looked away, not wanting to hear his words.

He paused and then added softly. "And even if they try to expose anything after that. The public will side more with you. You'd have more credibility than if the syndicate came out with it first."

Silence echoed between them - loud, heavy, uncertain.

"But..." Akari finally whispered. "This isn't just some rumor... It's my past. My family. Everything I ran away from."

Jun's eyes softened even more as he gently took her hand into his, his thumb brushing lightly over her hand. "I think it's time you stop running."

The words lingered in the air between them, heavy but warm - like something she had needed to hear for years yet always denied.

"Jun..." Her voice wavered. "You don't understand... If I tell the world about my father, the debt, the things he did, that I did - they'll look at me differently."

He shook his head. "No. They'll look at you honestly"

She tried to pull her hand back, but Jun's grasp tightened just slightly, just enough to stop her without trapping her - to anchor her.

"You've carried this alone for so long you forgot it isn't shame." He said softly. "You didn't do anything wrong."

A wave of guilt flooded her insides. It wasn't something she could just shake off so easily.

"I don't think I'm strong enough..." She whispered.

Jun moved closer to her, his voice steady - not pushing, not demanding, just present. "You are. And even if you're not... I'll be by your side."

Akari looked at him, their eyes met, and something in her cracked open - not fear this time, but a small fragile hope.