Part 3: My Resolution

Leaving the diner, it was as if I could now see everything so much more clearly. Heading to Inokashira Park which was a stone's throw away from Shibuya, I took a walk for a bit and spotted a couple who were using a paddle swan - they seemed happy and suited each other. Doing what I need to do wouldn't have sat very well with me if Ren was there to watch so I wanted to go somewhere with fresh air. Once I got there, I opened up my contacts and rang the most recent contact. HE answered immediately.

"OOH! Baby, you called me! You've not done that in such a long time, darling. Isn't your fine self supposed to be working that catwalk?"

"Work cancelled on me today. I'm doing my next shoot Friday."

"So I get to see you today! Come on, come on, you gotta tell me what you're wearing right now."

"I'm not ringing for idle chat, Kamoshida." How I wish you could just fuck off and die, you creep.

"Hrmmm…What's the occasion?"

"We're through."

"...Hahahahaha! Ann, you seriously had me there. Since when did you become funny?"

"I'm serious. It's over Kamoshida."

"...HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA! You're still playing hard to get today? Tell you what, if you come over and see me right now, I'll treat you to something special. How's that sound?"

"Kamoshida. I'm going to put this as blunt as possible: you and me? Forget it! We're not seeing each other anymore - I'm not spending another second outside of school with you!"

"Darling, you know you're taking this joke too far now. Stop it."

"Get it through your head: I'm not your baby, not your darling and I'm certainly not just some trophy you can hoist around to everyone! You've been nothing more than a rotten coward who preys on young boys and girls expecting everyone to just bow to you. It's taken me far too long to realise just how corrosive your presence is - many of the people that I've cared about are no longer in my lives and many times, I've been the most uncomfortable being within the same vicinity as you."

"How about you shut up and come to see me right now?"

"You don't own me! I'm not going to ever step foot into that sty you call your home again!"

"Shut the fuck up!If you don't get over here, I'll-"For the first time in ages, speaking to this man on my phone didn't scare me…I'd broken into a grin and a half at how desperate and pathetic Kamoshida was being.

"You'll what? I can end you, you know."

"Don't try and threaten me, you naughty little bitch!"

"Who says it's a threat? I've kept every last filthy message you've sent to my phone and also held onto the vulgar pictures you've sent me too. Not to mention, the phone call just now was recorded." It wasn't recorded but how could I expect him to take my words seriously?

"..."

"So now you've got it through your head just how serious I am."

"I'll blab that in an attempt to give your friend an unfair advantage, you tried to seduce a teacher. You'd be in as much trouble as I would be - bye bye Shujin and all your little brats you call friends! You'll lose that job of yours and waste your looks as a result."

"I've got the proof to say otherwise. All of those times you hit me like I was a punching bag on your worst days - I've got the pictures of each of those scars and I'm not afraid to use them. I also have the doctor's reports which I submitted on your insistence which paired with the photos…well, you can put two and two together."

"GRRRRR…Of all the fucking times you could choose to pull some slimy shit, you choose NOW?! When the team is trying to recruit new talent and remake national history?!"

"...And?"

"What about that Suzui? You do this, she'll never stand a chance of making the team!"

"Hmph. You were never going to let her on anyway so that's empty coming from you. Shiho can do it on her own - even if your team isn't an option, who says she can't still do what she enjoys externally?" I'm not afraid of you anymore. I feel nothing towards you - hating you only brings me down and loving you…well, those days were long gone anyway and thank goodness.

"Grrr…"

"So here's what's going to happen. One - you stop calling me from now on and leave me alone for good. Two - You stop whatever you're doing to Shiho and any of the other students. Three - Don't talk to me inside school unless there's a mandatory reason for you to do so. If you don't, I'm taking this to Niijima and her team."

"...You'll regret this, you skank!" Kamoshida angrily hung the phone up and as he did, I blocked his cell number and deleted him from my contacts. S**nal allowed for me to export logs of our conversations which I did immediately. I felt relieved knowing the malignant tumour named Kamoshida was out of my life. As for getting the evidence needed, I know my doctor would respect my right to access my records. Thanks to the doctor-patient privilege, I would be able to explain exactly why I need them and ensure it doesn't end up leaked.

As I lived in Suginami City, getting there from Shibuya was no big deal. Getting the train back to Minami-asagaya Station, I walked along the road passing by the M**istop convenience store to get a few treats to munch before reaching home. Unlocking the door, I entered the house which was, to be expected, empty. Mom and Dad must be having a good time travelling the world and doing shoots. I'm sure they're okay. Taking my shoes off, I placed my slippers on and went into the living room to watch some TV idly. This day's been eye opening for me. No matter how many times I say it, I can't help but feel glad that Ren's in my life. I've gotten closer to Ryuji compared to before - we never really spoke once high school started and we've never had the chance to hang out like how we did in middle school. Pipipipi….oh, who's calling me? Checking to see who was on the line, it was Shiho. Thanks to the transfer, I could answer the call without feeling guilty - answering the call straight away, I placed the TV on mute.

"Hey Shiho!"

"Hi Ann. How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good. I've gone and made a change for the better today."

"Really? That's wonderful news to hear."

"I came back home not too long ago."

"You were at work today, right? How'd it go?"

"Work cancelled today at the last minute…it was pretty peeving."

"How so?"

"It wasn't so much the cancellation itself as I was paid anyway. It's the way that it came about…some upshot talked her way into doing my shoot and the photographer apparently agreed just like that! No resistance whatsoever!"

"She could have seduced him into letting her do it."

"Hmph. I don't even want to think what that harpy could have done. Don't you think it's just the most aggravating thing to free yourself up and get that?"

"It's aggravating but it's not so awful. Besides, you received your pay for the day and got to rest, right? It's a win getting paid to do nothing!"

"I guess…"

"Ann, you've been doing so many shoots since the start of the year - I'm sure you need to rest for a bit. It's not healthy to not take a break."

"My manager said something on those lines: I could tell she was far more furious on my behalf though when finding out the situation today. In exchange, she secured a shoot for me this Friday."

"That's reassuring. Anyway, if you didn't go to work today, why did you only get back just now?" AAH! What do I say? I'm too embarrassed to talk about my discussion with the transfer…he grilled me back there.

"Err…I'd ran into someone today."

"Someone?"

"Yeah…someone. We found a place to eat and took the time to chat for a bit."

"Is this someone a friend?"

"...I wouldn't exactly say we're on friendly terms but yeah, you could say that."

"Hmm…I see. You were with Ren, right?"

"WHA-"

"I thought so. He's the only friend which you butt heads with."

"*sigh* You really do know me."

"That I do." We chuckled for a little bit. How lucky I am to have you Shiho.

"Did you cherish your date today?"

"Shiho! That's not funny! You know I'd never be interested in that transfer! Ever!"

"Hehe, your voice says otherwise - you two don't just suit each other but you get along quite well."

"Urgh…look, me and him won't happen. End of."

"If you say so."

"Listen for a moment. You're still trying out for the team?"

"Yeah. What's on your mind?"

"After speaking with the transfer today, he pretty much gave me the reality check I needed. I came to a big realisation - I've not been a very good friend to you." ….Sorry Ren. I'm still too scared to tell Shiho the full truth but I know what I can do. I need to properly apologise for not believing in her and tell her everything - only then I can help Shiho join a volleyball club.

"Don't say that. You've never done anything to hurt me."

"But I've not been supporting you the way I should have from the beginning. I can't make up for that and I'm extremely sorry for not realising it sooner."

"Ann, seeing you continue to work whilst studying inspires me not to quit trying out. There's nothing to apologise for, really and truly."

"That changes from now. What other teams have you had your eye on outside of Shujin? Have you had a look at any other clubs that offer volleyball at a high school student level? Sorry if I'm messing up the terms."

"Erm…no. I was going to start my search soon."

"Then we'll do it together."

"Huh?"

"I'll look for some places that are suitable for you to join and worth your talent. I'll help you to convince your parents of your plans in case payment is required as a means of admission into the club."

"But Ann…your schedule. Aren't you extremely busy with work and study?" Whilst Shiho was panicking a little, out of concern for me, I continued.

"Now it's my turn to be selfish. I want the best for you and I can't expect that to happen if I don't help you. I'll make sure to help only when I can and I'll reduce the number of shoots I do. You said it yourself, Shiho - I've been doing loads since the beginning of the year and I honestly do feel like relaxing my schedule for a while."

"Thank you. That really means a huge amount to me - I'll gladly accept your help."

"I can't take all the credit. Ren happened to make me realise just what I have with you."

"That's lovely to hear. He's pretty reliable, isn't he?"

"Only when he's not cracking a joke or being blindly confident."

"Ann, can I tell you something?"

"Of course - don't hold back." What Shiho was about to say was going to rock me to the core forever.

"The day I ran into Ren, I felt like I couldn't take being here anymore. Like everything I'd ever done was pointless. That it wouldn't make a difference whether I was around or not."

"..." He noticed her suicidal thoughts immediately and put an end to it that day. How can I sit here and call her my best friend knowing about what she went through and doing nothing? I'm an awful person.

"It was more than Kamoshida who led me to feel this way: all of those whispers about me and horrid rumours of you as well. Everything that Kamoshida did to me…I truly believed that I had no one in my corner any more yet Ren reached out to me in that state."

"But didn't you go of your own will? It's not like he forced the thoughts from you."

"Yeah…I think the only reason why I chose to do it was because he was an outsider."

"Just because he was the transfer?"

"Mmhm. You know the first thing he did was offer to get me a drink as an apology for inviting me."

"You never told me that!" I didn't mean to snap but it was rather unexpected that all it took for him to speak to my best friend was a refrigerated drink.

"Thinking about it now, it was from that point on that any fears I had of him disappeared and I could trust him. His persistence saved me from my worst self." As she said that, her voice seemed full of hope.

"He can be a LOT more than just persistent if need be."

"Maybe that's just how he gets through things with his background being what it is."

"He told you all about it didn't he?" That record of his…he's had to deal with it and everything it's brought as a result…without the resilience that he has- no, had to have, he would surely despair. That's far sadder than it looks.

"There's just something that slightly bothers me about his eyes…it's like there's something he wishes to resolve but he doesn't know how. I never told you why I made the promise with him, did I?"

"Erm…no."

"I want to support him towards his goal, whatever that may be, and I want for him to be able to rely on others. He's not really aware of it but his influence is second to none. Thinking about what he did for us and Ryuji, anyone else he meets will surely want him on their side."

"I guess. I really don't get him though."

"Maybe there isn't any logic that can explain it - it's more of a natural wish to trust in him than making us trust him. If we both support him, then I'm sure it will help ease his heart a little." You're so kind…you hold him dearly don't you Shiho?

"True. He'll definitely need someone to rely on in class so I can at least do that." She's laughing in the same way she used to before volleyball. I definitely have a lot to learn from Ren.

"We've found someone good in our lives and we'd better keep a good relationship with him."

"Couldn't have said it any better!"

"Anyway, I'm going to start planning my next steps for my volleyball career. It was nice getting this off of my chest finally."

"Shiho. No matter what may come next, I will always be in your corner through thick and thin."

"I know. See you tomorrow, Ann!"

"See you tomorrow, Shiho!" Hanging up the phone, I switched off the appliances downstairs and made my way upstairs to my room. Taking a look at myself in the mirror, I saw all of the bruises and scars that Kamoshida gave me; the same scars that I continuously hid away because of my fears. I used to look at them with shame and look at myself with shame but now I'm not bothered by them in the slightest - not to say I'm going to show them off but instead, they'll be the reminder of who I used to be and what I will need to do to move forward. As I changed off into my nightclothes, I began to let my thoughts run wild as my consciousness drifted away. Thank you for saving Shiho and saving me as well, Ren.