Revenge

“Stay away from me!!” she shouted.

“I’ll decide when I stay away. Besides, I left you alone all those years and not a word of thanks for it?”

“You left me alone because you knew I’m the only one who can harm you.”

Haruki spat on the floor. “Don’t forget who has the upper hand here.”

“Harukii!!” Sakuya yelled and threw himself at the other man.

They tumbled to the ground, wrestling for a moment, until Haruki punched Sakuya again. Sakuya cried out in pain and Kana shrank into herself. Sakuya’s cheek was red, bleeding from a cut. Haruki hadn’t taken off his rings before the fight. He loomed over Sakuya, puffing himself up.

“Don’t make me hit you again. Give me the paper.”

“Do you really think that’s the only copy I have? We have smartphones. Photos. Everything is digital.”

Haruki sneered. He snatched up the paper with the evidence from Sakuya’s hand and balled it up, tucking it into his pockets.

“Of course not. I’m just taking it to warn you. If you know why I won the audition, you’ll have to know who bought my votes. They risked a lot and will be happy to keep the band together, so if you know what’s good for you…”

Sakuya pulled himself up on the railing and spit out some blood.

“Did you just threaten me, Haruki?”

“Sakuya…” Kana pleaded.

“Shut up!” Haruki yelled. “It’s all your fault anyway! We would be happily preparing for our stage next week if not for you!!”

Kana stared at him, wide-eyed. She should’ve been afraid, being shouted at like that by the one man she feared the most in this world, but somehow… seeing him this angry, cornered, reduced to physical violence… It made him smaller. Pathetic. Like he was out of options. Usually he was scheming in the background, always a step ahead, hidden behind falsehoods and lies. But now…

“It’s not my fault!” Kana shouted, surprised at the volume of her own voice. “It’s all yours!”

“Who was so eager to get into bed with me back then?”

“You used me, just like you used your girlfriend, not telling either about the other. One for home, one for the road. It’s disgusting. You’re disgusting!”

“Don’t you dare…” Haruki said, taking a step forward.

“You made them force me to sign the agreement! You denied approaching me first. You said I seduced you, when I thought you were my first true love!”

Tears of frustration ran down Kana’s face, blurring Haruki in her vision. She rubbed her eyes and they stung. Suddenly Sakuya was behind Haruki, holding his arms together. Haruki yelped in shock and tried to shake him, but Sakuya held strong.

“Hit him. Across the face. Right on his nose. Do it!” Sakuya said.

Kana stared at Haruki and saw every moment of her pain and loneliness reflected in his face. With great satisfaction she took aim and punched him so hard, she thought the bones in her hand might be broken too.

Haruki stumbled to the ground as Sakuya let go of him. His nose was bleeding all over his shirt. He looked like a one-person crime scene.

“I’m going to ruin you,” Haruki growled. “Neither of you is going to be able to return to Tokyo for a long time. Seems like I’m meant to go solo after all.”

He turned and ran.

They watched him disappear down the street, fleeing like a coward.

“I don’t think I should’ve punched him…” Kana said.

“But did it feel good?”

“Yeah… It actually did,” Kana said and rubbed her knuckles. “I can’t believe I did that. I can’t…”

“He deserves worse.”

“And he’ll get worse,” someone said.

The voice was quiet, but steady. And familiar. They looked up to see… Jun standing on the stairs next to them, Yuto right there too.

“What? How are you here?” Sakuya stammered.

“I told you I’m right behind you. I followed Haruki here and…”

Jun held up his phone, where a video was playing, filmed from the beach. It clearly showed Haruki running up to Sakuya and punching him in the face. The rest of their discussion was loud and clear.

“Jun…” Sakuya said, tears forming. “You’re… you’re…”

“The best, I know.”

Yuto fell around Kana’s neck and pressed her to his chest. She let him hold her, burying her face in his shoulder.

“How did you find me?” she asked.

“Company card,” Yuto replied.

“That’s what I get for trusting you with the shop’s finances.”

Sakuya rubbed Kana’s back. “You made us worry.”

“I…” Kana’s voice faltered. “I didn’t know what to do. They were right there, chasing me. I just needed to get away. Clear my head.”

“Next time at least take me with you,” Yuto said. “Though I did get something out of this at least.”

Kana frowned. Just then, Jun put his hand into Yuto’s and smiled.

“Only Sasaki Jun would find a boyfriend during a missing person’s case,” Sakuya said.

“They’re evenly matched then,” Kana mused.