There was something warm holding her hand. Shion's body had felt like it'd been dragged under a bus; weeks of exhaustion catching up to her at once. The warm force squeezed her hand, and she focused all her efforts on squeezing it back. Beside her there was a small gasp.

"Shion?!" It was Nobu's voice, but it felt so far away. Her head was woozy and she couldn't recall how she had come to be here. She struggled to open her eyes, and she found herself back in her bedroom.

"Shion-chan's awake?" she heard Hachi say. "Thank goodness!" She tried sitting up but Nobu wouldn't let her.

"You need to rest." he told her. "You look awful."

She peered behind him to see all her other bandmates congregated outside her bedroom door. Images of what had happened after she left work came flooding back to her, almost as vivid and explicit as the first time she had experienced them. She rolled over so her back was to them all, burying her face in her pillow so they couldn't see her cry. She felt as though she should have been lucky - it could have gotten much worse if Naoki hadn't helped her - but all she could think about was the stalker's lips pressed up against her own. She felt so violated and uneasy - like the stalker would walk in at any moment to finish what he'd started.
"Why didn't you tell us you were working at a hostess club?" Nobu asked.

She froze and kept her back to him. "You knew?"

"Naoki told us." It was Nana who spoke. The older woman came in and stood by her bedside. "He dropped you off here a few hours ago after getting the address from Ren."

"Oh." She had to thank him if she ever saw him again, or she'd ask Ren to pass the message along. "I'm sorry I made you all worry. And that I ruined your party."

Nobu gave her a small smile, ruffling her hair. "Idiot. We're just glad you're okay."

After making sure she was okay, Yasu, Shin, and Nobu headed out, per Nana's orders. She wanted to give Shion a chance to fall back asleep. "No practice for the next few days." The lead singer had told them. "I want to give Shion a break, and it wouldn't hurt for the rest of us to have one too."

Hachi said she would make something for Shion to eat before she went back to bed, and got to work in the kitchen, leaving Nana to sit on the edge of the bed, watching over Shion.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

Shion shrugged. "I'm alive."

"You know Hachi and I, we're here for you. You can rely on us." Nana said. "You don't have to sit in here and agonise over what happened by yourself."

"I know." she said. "But I probably will."

•─────⋅雨⋅─────•

In the morning when her alarm woke her, she got up and started getting ready for her day, as usual. She was prepared to just forget the night before had ever happened. She needed to forget. Nana stopped her on the way out the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" she said, arms crossed. "You're supposed to be resting."

"I need to do something." Shion said, her voice pleading. "It'll drive me insane sitting in my room - I need something to distract myself with." She felt Nana eye the two violin cases she was carrying. Band practice might have been cancelled but today was one of the days she needed to play outside the music shop.

"You don't need to worry about playing at that club for a while." Nana said. "Shin felt guilty after yesterday so he found someone to fill in for you for two weeks and told your employers what happened after you left last night. Apparently your boss was eager to keep the authorities out of the matter."

Shion could only stare. "What? But, you don't understand - I need to go."
"To pay off that fancy violin you bought, right?" Nana said. "I did wonder how you managed to get it so quickly." Shin really must have told her everything. Nana sighed. "You bought that violin so the band would sound better - we'll help you pay it off too."

"You can't!" Shion said. "It's too expensive - I can do it! I was only planning on working at the club for two months and then I was going to quit, I swear!"

"That doesn't change the fact that you've been walking home alone, late at night for almost a month and no one but Shin knew where you were."

"Last night was a fluke. It was the first time anyone from the club had even tried to interact with me - usually it's fine." Shion said. "I don't want to be a burden."

"You're not." Nana patted her head. "So just take two weeks off, okay? Let yourself recuperate and then think about it again in two weeks. How about that?"

She could see that there was no point in arguing, so Shion nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But I still need to go to my part-time job at the record shop, and the manager at the music shop I bought my violin at gave me a discount if I played outside his shop."

Nana flashed her a confident smile. "I'll talk to the manager. He's had quite enough of your time. I'll sort it, don't worry."

With all her worries alleviated for the time being, Shion left for work - her back feeling strangely light without a violin case there. The memory of last night still tried to force itself into her brain, so she shoved some earbuds in and listened to music on the bus ride. It was a relief when she finally arrived at the record shop. Nobu was surprised to see her.

"I didn't think you'd be coming in today." he said. "Are you sure you're okay?"

She nodded. "I just… I really need the distraction."

The manager had tasked her with putting up posters in the window advertising TRAPNEST's final concert, which would take place in the city next week. Nana had told them a few weeks ago that Ren had gotten tickets for the entire band to go and scope out the competition, and Nobu had been soaring at the idea he'd be able to see Reira sing live. Shion got to work, and her eyes couldn't help but linger over the picture of the band - specifically, Naoki. He'd really come through for her last night, but she couldn't help but wonder about her interaction with him at the club before that. What was he doing in La Priorité? Why had he approached her? And why had he asked Takumi to take a photo of her when she wasn't looking? She'd conveniently forgotten about the photo after his rescue, but now she wasn't sure if she wasn't to thank him or slap him if she ever saw him again.

She heard a customer enter, but she kept focused on the posters. Nobu was behind the counter, after all. Or perhaps not. She hadn't heard him. Maybe he was helping the manager with something in the back. She quickly made her way to the counter, slapping on her work smile. "Irrasshaimase! How can I help you toda-!" She almost couldn't believe her eyes. It was him. The one who had made her feel so disgusted and violated. He was standing in front of her, sporting a black eye and the same pinstripe suit. He offered her a charming smile despite himself.

"Shion-chan. How are you?"

She backed away from the counter, glad that there was something between them this time. "Please, leave."

"Shion-chan…"

"It's Nishimura!" she corrected him, her voice wobbling. "How…? How… did you find out where I work?"

He smiled at her and she felt her stomach slither. "It's one of the many perks of having my own business. I came here to apologise for my actions last night… It was most ungentlemanlike, and I pride myself on being a gentleman."
"Please… leave!" she begged. "I don't want your apology… I don't want to remember yesterday at all…!"

He nodded and leaned forward on the counter. "I understand but… you see Shion-chan., it's not easy for me to forget about you. You're in my head - I'm addicted to you. But my wife is getting suspicious because I'm coming home late every night after seeing you at the club, and I need to break this off."

"Break… it off?" Shion repeated, not believing what she was hearing. She burned with anger, and it felt like Nana was still there next to her in spirit. Adrenaline gave her a newfound courage. "You stalked me and then assaulted me! There's nothing to break off."

The man ignored her. "I have an arrangement that could work out for us both."

Shion crossed her arms. "The only arrangement I want is the one where you leave me alone."

"I know." he said. "But I also know you're only working at that club because you need money. So about this…" he pressed his lips together before continuing. "I'll pay you for a goodbye kiss. Just a kiss, on my honour."

Disgust seeped through her. "What honour? I don't need your money. Leave."

"500,000 yen." he said. "500,000 yen for you to meet me out the back of this place and kiss me. You get the money andyou'll never see me again." And I'd be able to leave my job at the club. Wait, she wasn't actually considering this offer, was she? This man had violated her and left her feeling disgusted with herself.

So why not get revenge? A voice inside her whispered.

You're a nice girl, Shion. Another voice told her firmly. You're shy and you fumble with your words and you love your friends. This isn't you.

It's not like you're sleeping with him. The other voice argued. Take advantage of his obsession with you. Take control, get the money, and then never see him again. It's a win-win.

"Shion!" Nobu had returned from the back. "Sorry about that - Yoshida-san needed help."

The man bowed to them both, winking at Shion before he left. Nobu apparently hadn't noticed. "The display looks great." he said, referring to the posters she had put up. "I seriously can't wait for the concert next week - Ren said we might be able to go to the tour wrap-up party as well. I might get to meet Reira!"

She smiled at him. "That would be awesome. Hey, uh - I'm just gonna go to the bathroom." she headed towards the back. "I'll be just a sec." He nodded.

Rather than going to the bathroom, she slipped out the backdoor that led into the alley behind the shop. Sure enough, the man was there.

"I knew you'd come." He smirked.

She held her hand out. "I want the money first."

He regarded her curiously. "You're not such the timid thing you were before. I'd be insulted if it wasn't so cute to watch." She tried not to convulse at the way he still continued to flirt with her, even now. She recounted the money after he handed it to her and put it in her wallet immediately.

"You must be pretty desperate to spend so much money for a kiss." she said. The man sidled closer towards her, snaking his arm around her waist. It took everything in her not to pull away. His face was uncomfortably close. It's just a kiss all the time. And I'm getting paid for this. I'll just do a peck and leave - he never specified what the kiss had to be like, after all.

She leaned forward against her better instincts and pecked his lips. She was about to pull away but the man had other ideas. "I want my money's worth." he whispered, sliding his tongue into her mouth. His hands drifted up into her hair, securing her lips against his and he continued to kiss her with a mixture of urgency and desire. Her body was screaming at her to pull away, but her mind had shut down. This isn't like me, she thought as she kissed him back. This isn't like me at all. But to hell with what she was like. It hadn't done her any good. She'd gotten in debt and worked herself to death because of what she was like. It wasn't kissing someone who had violated her that made her turn a blind eye to her better judgment. It was the fact that it was her - Nishimura Shion, the shy violin nerd - who had made a decision so bold and stupid and completely unlike her usual self, that made her feel powerful.

"Shion?" She broke the kiss off in surprise and turned to see Nobu staring at her, wide-eyed in shock. "What're you…? Who…?"

The man behind her leered at him. "Jealous, pal? She was sensational." It happened in a blur. Nobu lunged forward, grabbing the man by the collar before shoving him away. It was an all too familiar scene after last night and Shion wasn't the only one thinking that. Rather than tumbling to the ground like he had last night, the man stayed upright and threw his weight into his punch. There was a sickening thud as his fist came into contact with Nobu's jaw and the young man grunted in pain.

"Nobu! Are you okay?" she rushed to his side. "Can you stand? Let's get you inside."

She glared at the man who had hit her best friend. "I never want to see you again."

•─────⋅雨⋅─────•

Yoshida-san dismissed them an hour early so Nobu could go home and put ice on his jaw.

"Take him home for me will you?" he said to Shion. She didn't need to be asked. Nobu was silent as they walked to his flat, and it wasn't until she'd sat him down at his table and gently pressed a makeshift ice pack against his jaw that he spoke.

"Shion." he said quietly. "Who was that?"

All her previous courage had disappeared and she avoided looking at him as she spoke. "He was… the guy."

"The guy?"

"From last night… the guy who forced a kiss on me."

"What?" he said, shocked. "Why was he at the record store?"

"He… found out where I worked."

"He was the guy at the counter!" Nobu realised. "Did he blackmail you to meet him outside?! I should have killed him!"

"No!" she said quickly. "It was… it was my choice." The words felt dirty in her mouth. "He offered me… He gave me…" The hand holding the icepack trembled and he placed his hand over hers to help steady it. "He paid me 500,000 yen… for a kiss. He'd said if I did it he'd leave me alone, and I'd get to quit the job at the club." The reality of what she'd done hit her like a ton of bricks and sobs began to wrack her body. "It was so disgusting… I'm so disgusting… I can't... believe… I did that."

She felt warm arms envelope her and she buried her face in his t-shirt as he patted her head to comfort her. "You're not disgusting." he told her firmly. "That guy took advantage of you."

"You… don't get it…" she sobbed. "I thought… I was… taking advantage… of him." Her babbling soon became incoherent and all she could do was cling to her best friend as though her life depended on it, using his t-shirt as a towel for her tears. He held her through it all, murmuring reassurances under his breath. Eventually, the tears stopped and she was left with a blocked nose. He offered her a box of tissues that was on the table. She cleared her nose, too embarrassed about what she had done to be worried about being self-conscious in front of him. When she had finished she sat in front of him, feeling disgraced.

"All I can think about is the way he touched me." she whispered, mortified. "It was horrible the first time, but at least I know it wasn't my fault. The second time - I don't even have the right to feel upset because it was consensual. Why did I do that? Why did I agree to it? What if there was a small part of me that actually did want to do it? But… I don't… I never..." She whimpered when Nobu took her hand in his.

"Look, Shion." Nobu said seriously. "You don't need to feel ashamed. You didn't do anything wrong." She bit her lip, avoiding his gaze. She just wanted this dirty feeling to disappear. Her heart ached with something she hadn't felt in months - loneliness. Nobu was doing his best, but she couldn't ask him to take on this burden with her. Hachi had told her he was a romantic. Regardless of her own view on romance, she didn't want to ruin Nobu's dreams of sweeping a girl off her feet.

She pushed the ice pack back into his hands, which he had discarded when he'd hugged her. "Keep this on your face until the swelling goes down." she told him. "I need to get home."

"Shion…"

She took a deep breath and smiled at him. "I'll be okay. I promise."

•─────⋅雨⋅─────•

Due to band practice being cancelled, the members of BLAST met at apartment 707 for a social gathering instead, a day before the TRAPNEST concert. Nobu was the last to arrive.

"Holy hell, what happened to you?" Nana said, eyeing his bruised jaw.

He smiled brightly. "Got in a fight! It makes me look pretty tough, right?"

Hachi fawned over him, gently tracing the bruise. Nobu blushed. "H-Hachi?"

"Does it hurt a lot?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Not really." He sat down at the table and Hachi slid in next to him. Shion had decided to sit in the corner next to Shin instead.

"How did you get into a fight, anyway?" Shin asked him, leaning forward on his elbows.

Nobu grinned. "I was defending a girl!"

"Sounds about right." Nana sighed, rolling her eyes. Nobu poked his tongue out at her.

"Oh yeah, Nobu!" Shin said. "About tomorrow - Yasu-san thinks we should meet there immediately."

"Sounds good." Nobu said.

"I'd heard you guys were going to TRAPNEST's last concert tomorrow." Hachi said. "Are the VIP seats in a special place?"

"Not really." Nobu said. "We'll be in the middle of the balcony. I heard you can see really clearly from there, but we'll be with staff members and journalists so the atmosphere will be moderate."

"Thank goodness." Shion murmured. "The noise last time was too much."

"That's too bad." Hachi said sympathetically.

"Yeah, but we aren't fans." Nobu said. "It's probably better there than stuck in the middle of some crazy fans. You should have asked Ren to get you a seat too, Hachi. There may still be time - do you want me to ask for you?"

Hachi shook her head. "It's okay. I've already gone to their concert, and tomorrow I have lots to do."

Beside her, Shin had gotten into an argument with Nana.

"No!" Nana told him. "You have to write your wish and hang paper on a bamboo branch."

"A wish…" Shin murmured.

"Are you serious?" Nana said. "You didn't know?"
"Huh?" Nobu said. "What's going on?"

"It's Shin." Nana said. "He said he's never seen Tanabata decorations. He asked me 'what's Tanzaku?'"

"Maybe you didn't celebrate it at home, but in kindergarten." Yasu suggested to Shin. "You would have forgotten, right?"

"I want to write a wish on Tanzaku too~!" Shin whined.

"We have leftover Tanzaku here." Shion told him. Hachi nodded and rushed to her room, returning with small slips of coloured paper and enough pens for everybody. Nobu grabbed one and scribbled something across it passionately.

"Nobu." Nana said. "'Screw TRAPNEST' isn't a wish, it's a resolution."

"True." he said. Shion couldn't stop the laugh that erupted from her, and she met Nobu's eyes for the first time since she'd gone to his flat. He grinned and then pointed at her slip of paper, where she'd written a wish.

"Since mine's so stupid - what did you write?"

She covered her paper, flustered. "It's a secret."

"Hey, I'll write a wish for you Nobu." Shin said. "'Make me taller' signed, Nobu." The rest of them laughed.

"What did I ever do to you?!" Nobu said, enraged. "Anyway, you're shorter than me!"

"But I'm still growing." Shin said. "Soon I'll be taller than you."

They spent a few more minutes writing out wishes.

"There, I've made my choice." Nana said. "Give us air conditioning soon."

"I'd like to get the car I had to sell back." Nobu read.

"I'd like a veranda so I can grow flowers." Hachi said.

"I want money." Shin said.

Yasu looked at the five of them. "Can't you write something more poetic?"

"But it's so hot in this apartment!" Nana complained, switching the fan on that was nearby. The air gathered up their Tanzaku and sent it drifting out the open window.

"Ahhhh Nana!" Hachi shrieked. "The Tanzaku are flying away!"

The entire group climbed over the table and benches to see their wishes in every colour floating through the air outside. Nana was the first to laugh, and soon they all joined in; lost in laughter. Somewhere out there were their wishes, and maybe God would make them come true. Shion thought of the wish she had written down and prayed that was the case.

I want to be with my new family forever.

•─────⋅雨⋅─────•