Where the Noise Can't Follow

After the press conference, headlines exploded online within minutes, every news channel covered the story, and Akari's name trended with a ferocity that felt unreal.

Inside the private meeting room, her staff gathered around her - worried, shaken, shocked, but determined. Tsukasa spoke quickly through his phone - arranging statements, crisis strategies, legal responses. Others whispered amongst themselves about damage control, police involvement, and the near attack that had already started circulating the media.

Akari tried to focus and keep up with the chatter, but her body felt heavier with each passing minute. The adrenaline that had carried her through the conference was fading fast, leaving her drained and trembling. 

"We'll handle the public." Tsukasa said firmly, though his eyes screamed out his stress. "I'll clear your schedule, and I'll call you when things have settled down. Just stay safe..."

Akari blinked between Tsukasa and the rest of her team - their sympathetic eyes, worry clenched in their jaws, and their quiet resolve made her heart twist.

She bowed before them. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I have caused you. And if this is the end of my career, I want to offer my sincere gratitude to all of you for staying by my side for so long. I couldn't have made it this far without such an incredible team. Thank you."

Tsukasa's mouth tightened. "Don't talk like that. This isn't the Akari we know." His voice didn't hold any anger, just cracked at the edges. "We'll figure something out with your career."

Her main makeup artist, Kei, wiped at her eyes, her own makeup started to run.

"Kei, keep it together." One of the stylists whispered.

"I can't help it..." Kei choked up. "I'm in charge of her makeup, but she always came to work already all done up. There was never much for me to do. I couldn't help but always wonder why she felt the need to cover herself up so much... I thought maybe she was a perfectionist. Or maybe she just didn't like me doing her makeup. Why did I never just ask?"

Akari's breath caught. She turned towards Kei, her expression softening despite her exhaustion. "It wasn't your job to know. You have no reason to feel any guilt. None of you do."

The room fell into a somber silence. Despite Akari's words, regret and guilt lingered faintly in the air. For the first time, her team finally understood how much she had been holding inside, and how carefully she had crafted her facade to protect herself. 

A soft knock on the door broke the heavy silence. 

Jun stepped inside, his expression steady and unreadable, though a faint strain around his eyes from the pain in his side traveling through his body. "It's time." He said quietly, his voice carried a sense of urgency. "We should leave before more reporters arrive."

Akari nodded. Tsukasa placed a hand briefly on her shoulder, his voice quieter than usual. "Call if you need anything. We're still your team."

Akari managed a small, grateful smile before turning to follow Jun out of the room.

-

She expected to be headed to Jun's apartment as planned. But as they pulled onto the highway and the city faded behind them, Akari felt a slight unease.

"Jun...? This isn't the way to your place."

"I know." He said quietly, eyes focused on the road. "We're not going there."

"Why?"

"We're headed somewhere safer."

She blinked. "Somewhere safer?"

"You need space from the press. I called my connections and handed over all the evidence we had, but the investigation will take time. The Hanakai Network will be unpredictable after today, especially since their little stunt at the conference didn't work. So, we need to be just as unpredictable while we wait out the investigation."

Akari's heart thudded uneasily. "What happened with the attack? I couldn't see it very well from the stage."

Jun exhaled softly, his arm rested stiffly on the wheel, trying to alleviate the pain from his side. "You don't need to know. What you do need is rest." He nodded towards the back seat. "I packed a bag for you. Clothes, toiletries, things I thought you'd need for a while."

She turned in her seat. Two large travel bags sat neatly behind them. She had no idea when he could've packed and loaded them in the car. "How did you find enough stuff to pack for me?"

"I had Michi help me. I picked out a few things from her place that I thought would suit you."

"You went all the way to her place?"

"Her place was closer than yours." Jun simply replied. "And I didn't want to risk anyone seeing me going in or out of your building."

"I see..." Her voice was quiet. "Where are we going?"

Jun finally looked her way, the faintest softness touching his stiff expression.

"Okunikko. A secluded onsen in the mountains run by Michi's husband's family. No press. No crowds. No eyes." He paused. "Just somewhere you can breathe for a while."

Akari swallowed hard, emotion rising unexpectedly.

Jun had thought ahead.

Michi had helped without hesitation.

Her team was still trying to protect her.

Her chest tightened.

"Thank you..." She quietly murmured.

Jun nodded, gaze steady on the road ahead. "You don't need to worry about anything right now. You're safe with me."

A warmth settled within her chest - something small but undeniable.

Jun hadn't just taken her away.

He prepared to take her away.

He planned for her safety, her comfort, her future needs. All before she even stepped foot into that press conference room.

The realization softened something inside of her that had been locked away for far too long. 

For the first time in a long time, she believed she wasn't alone anymore.