Chapter 33 – The Promise That Broke the Night

The walk home was quiet.

Mai had fallen asleep on Yuji’s back, her small arms loosely wrapped around his neck, her head resting against his shoulder. Aiko walked beside them, holding Mai’s tiny jacket in her hands, watching the slow rise and fall of her daughter’s chest.

For a few hours, the world had been gentle.

Too gentle.

They stopped outside the apartment building. Yuji carefully lowered Mai into Aiko’s arms.

“She’s out cold,” he whispered.

Aiko smiled softly. “She ran herself empty.”

Yuji nodded. “I’ll carry her upstairs.”

Aiko shook her head. “I can do it.”

For a moment, they stood there, neither quite ready to say goodnight. The air felt fragile, like a glass thread stretched too thin.

“Today was… nice,” Yuji said finally.

Aiko nodded. “It was.”

Their eyes met.

Then her phone rang.

The sound sliced through the moment.

Aiko froze when she saw the name on the screen.

Hiroshi Hoshizora.

Her father.

Her fingers trembled as she answered. “Father?”

Yuji noticed the color drain from her face.

“Aiko,” Hiroshi’s voice came through the phone, sharp and heavy. “Come home. Now.”

“My father is sick,” Aiko said quietly to Yuji, panic creeping into her voice. “I—I need to go.”

Yuji nodded. “I’ll take Mai.”

She hesitated, then handed Mai back to him, brushing her daughter’s hair one last time before stepping back.

“I’ll call you,” Aiko said.

Yuji watched her leave, a bad feeling settling deep in his chest.

The Hoshizora house felt colder than ever.

Aiko rushed inside to find servants moving frantically. Her mother, Midori, stood in the living room, face pale, eyes red.

“Mom,” Aiko whispered. “What happened?”

Midori grabbed her hands. “Your father collapsed. He—he said his chest hurt. The doctor is on the way.”

Aiko’s heart pounded violently. “Where is he?”

“In his room.”

She ran upstairs.

Hiroshi lay on the bed, eyes half-closed, one hand pressed dramatically against his chest. The sight made Aiko’s knees weaken.

“Father…”

He opened his eyes slowly, just enough to look at her. “Aiko… you finally came.”

Tears spilled instantly. “Are you okay? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Hiroshi coughed weakly. “I’m an old man. My heart can’t take… disappointment anymore.”

Guilt crashed over her like a wave.

“I’m sorry,” Aiko cried. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

He turned his head slightly, voice low and calculated beneath the weakness. “Then listen to me.”

She leaned closer.

“I arranged a marriage for you,” he said.

Aiko stiffened. “What…?”

“A good man. A respected businessman. He can protect you. Give you stability. A proper life.”

Her hands shook. “Father, I’m already—”

“Enough,” Hiroshi interrupted sharply, then clutched his chest again, breathing heavily.

Midori gasped. “Hiroshi!”

Aiko panicked. “Please don’t talk. Please, just rest—”

“I won’t survive another shock,” he said weakly. “If you truly care about your father… you’ll do this.”

The room spun.

“You want me to… marry someone else?” Aiko whispered.

“Yes,” Hiroshi said. “End everything else. No more mistakes. No more shame.”

Her chest hurt. Her throat burned.

“And if I refuse?” she asked, barely audible.

Hiroshi closed his eyes. “Then don’t come to my funeral.”

The words crushed her.

Aiko fell to her knees beside the bed, sobbing. “Why are you doing this to me…?”

Hiroshi placed his hand on her head, his grip firm.

“Promise me,” he said. “Promise, or my heart won’t last the night.”

Midori looked away.

The doctor arrived moments later. After a brief examination, he reassured them it was stress-related. Nothing fatal. Rest was required.

But the damage was already done.

Hiroshi turned to Aiko once more. “Promise me, Aiko.”

Her mind screamed.

Yuji. Mai. That day. That laughter.

Her father’s pale face.

“I…” Her voice broke. “I promise.”

Hiroshi exhaled, relief settling in instantly.

“Good,” he said. “Then I can rest.”

Aiko stood slowly, numb.

She walked out of the room, past her mother, down the long hallway that had never felt like home.

Outside, night had fully fallen.

Her phone buzzed.

A message from Yuji.

Did you get home safe?

She stared at the screen.

Her hand hovered.

Then trembled.

And finally… she locked the phone without replying.

Inside her chest, something cracked quietly.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just enough to bleed forever.