Chapter 23: The price for freedom
Heyyy, everybody! How's it going?
We've reached chapter 23 already, huh? Man, time sure flies!
I honestly have no idea what to say about this one other than, it's about damn time our baby boy comes to Erina's rescue! Let's see how that goes!
Thank you all soooo, so very much for your lovable reviews! They really made me laugh a lot! Hahahahahah, I just love how everyone predicted that Masamune would be involved in all this chaos, you guys are so awesome! Please tell me this time again what you think, or if you have more predictions, I'd love to hear them!
I'm really, unimaginably grateful for everything you guys are telling me, and you can't believe how happy I am to have started this little journey here! Thank you all so very much!
I especially have to thank my amazing friend, lamperouge rolo, for always helping make these chapters more enjoyable! You're the best, my girl, thank you so much! I love everything you add, you're so awesome!
Well, with that said, let's jump right in, shall we?
Stay safe, and as always,
Take care!
A light breeze tenderly brushed her skin like petals of a rose, soft waves danced around her exposed ankles every time they crashed on the sandy beach before her.
It is an unbelievably relaxing place. The peaceful feeling of solitude is washing away all her worries, the hypnotic rhythm of the calm sea makes her forget every single memory in her past, placing her into a momentary trance.
Suddenly, warm fingers curled around her own- a gentle but firm touch. Her gaze remained on the wide ocean as she instinctively squeezed the hand next to her, not feeling the need to look up. She knew exactly who it belonged to.
After all, it was the same scenario every day, the same person.
"Now that I think about it, it really is a shame I never found the opportunity to visit the beach in Kamakura, huh…?"
"Say what? Why do you sound like you're never gonna go there again?"
"Well, maybe it is… After all, only time can tell what will happen next, right? Take us for example. Did you ever think we would end up together?"
"Nope."
He snickered, the sound echoing gently in her ears.
"Not even if Gramps told me there's a 100% chance. Life's weird like that, I guess."
"Sure is. Though I wish it is a bit more merciful every now and then. Especially for us…"
"Why do ya think so?"
"Because our moments together feel so short..."
She left the rest of her thoughts unsaid, locked away in the deepest corner of her mind as a single tear rolled down her left cheek. One sole tear that was hidden from the world yet so evident to the citrine orbs watching her ever so carefully.
Erina knew it all too well. She had felt that gentle gaze wander all over her features for a while now, and just for a split second, she was tempted to let herself go, to allow the rest of those pesky tears to flow freely.
But she didn't. There was no point in getting emotional now. This wasn't the first time she was here with him after all, and it wouldn't be the last.
At least that was what she hoped for as their eyes finally met.
"You know, I really hated your guts back when we first met. You always did whatever you wanted and that unruly behavior made me mad every time I saw you."
"Wha… Hold on a sec, where'd that come from? Why am I even here if ya not even gonna be honest? I thought this was s'posed to be a touching moment."
"Oh no, far from it actually. If I don't point out your flaws, then who will?"
"Ouch. That was harsh."
She smiled knowing that his adorable pout will eventually flip her words to his favor.
As per usual.
"Make no mistake, I didn't say all that just to insult you- well, not entirely. I just wanted to… well… N-no, never mind. It's not important."
A deep sigh escaped her throat as she released the hand in her grasp and took a step towards the blue depths laid out before them. Even though she never expected to make it far, it was worth trying to put some distance between them.
And just like she had anticipated, the warm hand reached out once again, stopping her dead in her tracks.
"Nope, ya can't get away from me that easily this time. At least not here. Tell me what's on your mind, and let me decide if it's important or not."
"I-I… there's really no need for that."
"Seriously? Not this again, Erina."
"Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean?"
The answer didn't come, wasn't necessarily required as a single pull on her arm threw both of them completely off balance- and right onto the warm sand surrounding the empty beach.
This wasn't good.
Her heart was burning enough as it is. He was just making it worse with that smile and his close proximity.
But Erina holds her ground, caged between strong forearms, slightly shivering from the cold water slowly soaking her dress.
It was ironic how those mesmerizing citrine orbs changed from annoyingly obnoxious to playfully energetic. His warm gaze literally saved her from the cold and dark corners of her mind.
"What it means is I want cha to come up and say whatever ya wanna say. You're not doing that often enough, ya know?"
"Seriously? Look who is talking. Did you already forget what we went through just because you, yourself, weren't honest?"
"Back at cha, princess. Ya didn't exactly make things easy for me back then. Now spill."
"I-it's nothing special, really. I-I was only…"
She bit her lip, cheeks warming up in a heartbeat.
"I just think that… I might have… missed you… a lot actually…"
"…That's it?"
"O-of course!"
A stutter cursed through her body as she narrowed her eyes at him. His devilish smirk only made things harder for her, if nothing else.
Why was it that, here, she found herself unable to resist his charm despite all the effort she put into it? His eyes literally drove her crazy.
"What were you expecting?!"
"I dunno, you tell me."
W-well… I'm just… really grateful to have you. If we hadn't met at the entrance exam… I don't know how…"
"Hey", his voice dropped to a tender whisper, "don't start thinking that way. I'm here right now, aren't I?"
"Yes but for how long? From the looks of it, I don't seem to have much time left. And meeting you like this… It's just hard…"
"We'll be okay."
Closing his eyes, Soma leaned in, whispering against her forehead, "Nakiri Erina, you are one of the strongest women that I know. You got this."
A soft chuckle escaped her lips. Just like that, he blew the fears away. As he always did.
"Yeah, I suppose. I will find a way to get out. I need to go back home and keep you out of trouble."
"Damn straight ya do."
She felt his fingers gently brush a few wet strands of hair out of her face as her own continued to cherish his cheek, thumb tracing his soft lips over and over again until a tender kiss was pressed against it.
"Somehow… This whole thing reminds me of a scene from that Shoujo manga Alice wouldn't shut up about."
His lips lifted into a smirk.
"Were you taking notes?"
"I haven't even seen the whole thing yet!"
"Well, aren't they all just the same anyway?"
"Don't be ridiculous, of course not.", her tone lacked the usual bite as her fingers toyed with the tips of his hair, "Though, in a Shoujo manga, the couple keeps on getting interrupted in moments like these and I don't want that."
"Is that so? Be careful of what you wish for, Erina."
His brows lifted up naughtily as he came even closer.
"That means nothing will hold me back."
"I-I didn't mean it like that, you fool! I-I was talking about staying at the beach, a-and… W-whatever! Don't you have any decency?!"
"Not at the moment, no."
"You- d-don't give me that look! I'm not going to-"
"Erina…"
His handsome face was merely inches away from hers, his breath blowing hotly against her skin. His voice was smooth silk sliding off her skin with her reservations in tow, leaving nothing but pure desire behind.
"Yes…?"
"…don't wake up."
And she promised herself not to.
Not this time.
Because right now, Nakiri Erina surrendered. To her wishes, her fears, her longing for this boy, her love.
The sand underneath her fingers and the saltwater crashing against her body were instantly forgotten as Soma leaned in to kiss her- a kiss she had been craving ever since they were brutally separated that night.
How many days passed after that, she couldn't remember. All she knows is that she's constantly waiting to feel his body pressed so vigorously against her own again, to feel his gentle touch on her heated flesh.
She wouldn't wake up.
If that's what he wants, she wouldn't.
Tilting his head to the other side, he eagerly parted her lips with his tongue before inviting hers to a fiery dance that made the heiress see stars behind closed eyes. Her legs began to tremble as she felt his knee part them ever so slowly, both hands drawing lazy patterns on her sides while she pulled on his damp hair. It wasn't easy since they're shorter than they used to be. Still, she could tell the boy enjoyed it nonetheless.
The battle in their mouths continued without mercy, their already bruised lips clashed together over and over again, and as Erina finally managed to capture his lower one between her teeth, she was sure… this time, she'd go as far as he wants her to. No holds barred.
It's just them and the illusion they decided to cling to.
Her pulling and scratching grew stronger, probably hurting him even a little as he moved his lips towards her jawline next, tracing it all the way up to her left ear before going lower and lower along her neck.
It was impossible to resist his open-mouthed kisses on her skin, impossible to prevent her back from arching when he left one bruise after another wherever his tongue brushed over sensitive flesh. Her mind was completely lost as she felt one hand on her exposed thigh and the other reaching behind her to open the zipper of her white summer dress.
He pushed one sleeve halfway down her arm to get better access to her collarbone and shoulder, lifted the dress even higher just to reveal more thigh underneath his fingers.
And then, their eyes met, erratic breathing hindering them from saying anything.
To her, there was no need for word though. He let his gaze do all the talking for him.
'Is it okay?'
A hesitant nod was all the boy asked for as he pulled the floaty piece of silk over her head and relished the sight of her lacy lingerie under the bright sunlight.
It's okay. She wouldn't wake up.
"I already said you're beautiful, right?"
"No, you skipped that part."
"Really? Huh… Well, so much for replicating your manga then."
"I don't mind. Our journey is way more exciting than any of those."
He playfully bit on her earlobe.
"Attagirl."
A tender kiss on the crook of her neck, another on her collarbone, and the third one right at the beginning of her décolleté as she bit her lower lip to prevent any sounds from escaping.
"Hey… what's wrong? You're shaking all over. Ya okay?"
"I'm fine, don't worry."
"…You scared?"
"I-I won't wake up… I promise."
"C'mon, that's not what I meant. Do ya really wanna-"
"Please… I'm not scared. You're here, and that's enough. I don't want to go back now, I'm alright. Really…"
"…I'll find you. I swear it."
"Yeah… I know."
He brushed his lips against hers for the umpteenth time. His fingers explored her soft skin on their own while Erina freed him from that white shirt he was wearing, hands wandering all over those tight muscles she had seen so openly once before.
It wasn't just a touch, it was magic. She practically felt him shudder above her, felt the power she had over this carefree troublemaker.
"Stop that, Erina."
"What? You… you stop…"
His answer was a clear, silent 'no' as he began to kiss his way down her chest again, unclasping that annoying bra behind her back in the process. Once again, their eyes locked together- one pair asking for permission while the other just stared back in pure bliss, not afraid in the slightest.
It was her choice. She wouldn't wake up no matter what happens next.
And so, she let him slide it off without a single word of protest, turning her face away when she realized how embarrassed she actually was about having his astonished gaze hover over her bare flesh for the very first time. She knew he'd be the only person to ever see her bare chest, but still…
Her arms instinctively flew up to cover herself as she felt her self-consciousness take over, eyes still refusing to face him.
"What's wrong?"
"D-don't look…"
"Say wha…? Why?"
"…I-I… Just don't!"
"Well, kinda late to tell me that now. I already saw what I wanted."
"S-stop laughing, this isn't funny! I-I'm not- I mean I might be a little, ehm…"
Ceasing his obnoxious laughter, he gently turned her face towards him as he leaned in again, a faint blush on his cheeks.
"Ya really need me to spell it out for ya, huh? Fine…"
His hands reached for her own, held on to them with conviction before he slowly guided them back to his shoulders, exposing her curves once more.
"You're beautiful, hell even beyond that. And trust me, I'm just as nervous as you are, I really am. I promise, I'm not gonna hurt cha. But ya gotta keep looking at me, alright? Don't turn away."
A simple nod was her answer, one single movement that allowed him to proceed without holding any more doubt in his heart.
She couldn't help but savor the tingling sensation his mouth left on her flesh, love how his hand and tongue gently explored her chest. It was pure bliss, and Erina felt lucky to be a part of something she had never experienced before.
She was… overwhelmed.
Deciding to show a little boldness of her own, she traced down his toned stomach with her fingertips until the metal buckle of his belt stopped her.
It annoyed her that she hadn't thought about getting rid of his black pants sooner, but now that she was in such close contact with them, there wasn't much that could hinder her. Only his hands, which seemed too occupied to even notice at the moment.
She released a shaky breath, partly out of sheer nervousness, and partly because she felt like she was going to lose her mind due to the sensation his tongue left behind on her chest. It was hard to focus on anything other than what he was doing to her- she barely had the strength to keep herself from whimpering in delight. But nevertheless, she was determined to end this one-sided exploration right this second. And all it took was a single pull on his pants, one swift tug that allowed her to take advantage of their position the same way he was.
"C'mon, Erina, I told ya to stop…"
"S-so did I… remember…?"
"Alright then… if ya really wanna play it like that, I'm game. Just don't say I didn't warn ya…"
"W-what else… can you do that doesn't already-"
Her murmur was cut short as he moved up to give her yet another passionate kiss, one that instantly made her forget what it was she wanted to say.
It was odd how one single touch of his hands could affect her so much, how a tender kiss left her begging for more.
She wanted him.
More than anything else in this world.
Softly freeing his legs from the black piece of clothing that had been in her way before, she wasted no time in letting her fingers wander all over the rest of his firm body. And despite the deep blush on her face, the nervousness in her eyes, even his surprised expression, Erina was sure… she did the right thing here.
She wouldn't wake up.
Because there was nothing scary to wake up from.
Her smile grew all the more as she watched his astonishment turn into sheer pleasure the second she reached her real target, fingers disappearing behind his loose boxers.
The heiress didn't dare to look down, didn't dare think about what she was doing. It was indecent, it was lewd, it was improper, and yet… she continued to please him the way her heart told her to. Slow, ardent.
"What… are ya doing…?"
"I don't know… am I doing it wrong…?"
"…No. But ya should really stop. I'm kinda at my limit here…"
She didn't, only getting bolder by ridding him of his boxers too. Still, the blonde didn't look down even once. It was something she wanted to do once they were together again- when they were really together.
Suddenly, she felt his hands curl around her own, halting her innocent strokes. Their eyes met, and all she could see was burning desire written in his- the same yearning he must be reading in her own.
Whatever she had been doing just now seemed to affect him greater than anticipated, that much she could tell.
He shook his head in child-like amusement, smirking at her raised eyebrows before directing his attention to her stomach next, all too eager to kiss his way down to the brim of her white lingerie.
She wouldn't mind if he did, wouldn't interfere even if his wish was to take it off with his teeth, which was precisely what he did the moment he reached his destination.
Knowing Yukihira Soma and the unexpected twists he put into his dishes, this shouldn't be all that surprising.
On the contrary; Erina felt her heart jumping from left to right in anticipation as she lifted herself up just enough to allow him to pull the small piece of clothing down the rest of the way with his teeth.
This was everything she could have asked for, possibly even beyond of what she could have hoped for.
She never wanted to wake up again.
But then, without any warning, a sharp pain cursed through her abdomen, a burning sting that forced her to suck in all the air she could through gritted teeth. Her eyes opened wide, her skin lost all its healthy color. And just as she was about to voice her anguish out loud, the heiress suddenly found herself staring at the reddening water beside her, not fully understanding where it came from or whose it was.
She turned to face Soma in hopes that he could tell her what's going on. But the second their gazes intertwined, she immediately knew… there was nothing he could tell her that would ease her mind in any way. His irritated glare was answer enough.
"Be strong, okay? I swear I'll get ya back."
"I-I don't… want to leave yet…"
"…I'm sorry, Erina… Guess it's time to wake up now. Try to hang in there for me, would ya?"
"No… I-I want to stay…"
"Hey… You have to wake up now. Or else, you might never be able to later, ya get me? Go."
"No, I… don't-"
Another painful sting made her body almost completely numb, the blood that colored the soft waves underneath her a disturbing red was close to sending her into unconsciousness as she tried to get her breathing under control.
Her time was up and facing reality is inevitable at this point.
So, even though Erina didn't want to…
…she woke up.
…
Her eyes barely had enough time to adjust to the extreme darkness that was surrounding her before the door on the other end of the room was pushed open, causing her entire body to jolt in surprise and the burning of her wounds to resurface once again.
Usually, they didn't bother checking in on her all that often, merely three or four times a day, give or take. But for some reason, it seemed those psychos have decided to barge in here every other minute now without doing anything in particular.
No… She knew exactly why they did it.
This started yesterday after she so foolishly tried to escape, and it hadn't stopped ever since. It forced the heiress to constantly keep her guard up and thus reduce her chances of finding any decent sleep, let alone time to close her eyes just to breathe.
Not that she could actually doze off in this hellhole anyway. It was more like falling unconscious due to the massive pain than anything else really.
"Ah, I see our little guest is still among us today… You're stubborn, you know that? I must say, I'm impressed at how persistent you can be on not dying."
The sudden brightness of a flashlight made her squint her amethysts in aggravation as she quickly averted her gaze from the door.
This happened all the time. Instead of turning on the lights, they just used the flashlight to check on how she was holding up. Erina suspected it was merely a precaution to make sure she doesn't see where exactly they were keeping her or what was surrounding her.
"Do not… underestimate me, I am not that easy to get rid of. Why do you… insist on going here so often when you know very well what awaits you…?"
"Hm… indeed you aren't. Let's say I just want to enjoy that beautiful face of yours twisted in agony while I think about what to do with that fine scratch on your leg. I actually quite like it."
"Fine scratch… How modest of you. I should feel… honored, right? For you to… show so much concern for me… It's a rare trait."
"…I see your tongue is as sharp as ever. Doesn't change the fact that I can still cut it off. I hope you're aware of that."
"Do whatever you want… I'm not scared. I will… get out of this place eventually…"
Heavy footsteps echoed in her ears, his disgusting breath literally rotting the air around him as he kneeled down and pressed the end of a sharp object against her stomach. What it was, she couldn't identify, but it certainly ended up bringing tears to her eyes as she bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.
He wouldn't get the satisfaction of hearing her scream.
Not again.
"Say… are you comfortable right now, Erina-sama? Should I get a cushion for your little tushy or something? Those handcuffs must be hurting a lot too, huh. Care for a glass of water?"
"…You sick son of a bitch… You will pay for this… I swear… I'm going to sent you behind bars with my own two hands… You are going to wish you had never crossed paths with me. Mark my words, you are done for…"
"Oh no! What do I do?! The great Erina-sama is threatening little ol' me…"
"It's not so much a threat as a promise actually… You will see soon enough what I mean…"
Grabbing her face between his dirty fingers, the man began to laugh in sheer amusement as he shook her head from left to right.
She didn't know how much blood she had lost already, but these sudden movements, surely harmless under normal circumstances, made her want to throw up now- right on his clothes, preferably.
"Now listen closely, you little brat. I don't give a shit if it's a promise or a threat. Making either of those in my company is something I don't exactly appreciate, you know. Keep in mind I could end your pathetic life any time I see fit, so you'd better think twice before starting to insult me. You may have tricked my son into helping you hold out for this long, but I'm not going to let something like that slide forever, you got that? I can tear that piece of cloth apart with a single pull, so know your place, and shut the fuck up."
It was hard to avoid the awful stench of alcohol and tobacco in his breath as he snarled intentionally close to her face, nails digging painfully into her skin. Erina didn't find the strength to tear her head away from him, mainly because of the heavy object he was still pressing against her wound, but also due to the fact that she simply refused to let him see how much this whole situation really affected her.
She had to ensure she wouldn't scream. It was what he aimed for, and the heiress had no intention of giving him what he wanted.
So she settled on distracting herself by spitting right in his face, which forced him to withdraw his hand and stand back up while the blonde tried to recover from the intense burning in her abdomen.
He had it coming, so he shouldn't act like she had committed a crime.
She just needed a moment to breathe. Breathe… that proved to be a lot more challenging than it was supposed to actually.
And it didn't last long either as the bearded man slapped her hard across the cheek before pulling on her hair to make her look up at him again.
He was mad, very mad. And for a split second, the blonde feared she had made the wrong move by irritating him so much.
"You damn bitch, how dare you?! I'll teach you to respect your elders! Nobody mocks me! Nobody!"
She tossed around, writhed, pulled on the metal handcuffs restraining both her hands and feet as the ex-employee ripped the makeshift bandages off her stomach, resulting in the gunshot wound to start bleeding once again.
This wasn't good. If she lost any more blood, she wouldn't make it out of here for sure.
Masamune had been right; she should never have provoked this man to begin with. He was already as unstable as a person could get, and now, she lost her only means of medical attention thanks to her hot temper.
Just stopping the bleeding had been sufficient enough for her, but as it stands…
"You haven't learned your lesson from last time, have you?! Too bad!"
Before she could react, the same thing happened to the filthy shirt that had been wrapped around her left thigh, making her hiss in pain as his fingers grazed the injury hidden underneath.
"Huh, he must've done that sometime after he came back yesterday… Damn it, Masamune, why would you…?"
He gritted his teeth in anger as he threw the torn piece of clothing somewhere behind him.
"No matter, it looks ugly all the same to me… Not to mention, it wouldn't have done shit to help your case to begin with. What a shame, am I right? Oh well… I'm sure there's already an infection spreading somewhere inside you. To leave injuries like those open for so long, how irresponsible can you be, Erina-sama?"
"Man… D-don't you have… anything better to do than to get on my nerves…? I am sick of your nonsense…"
"Didn't I tell you… to shut the fuck up?!"
Another powerful slap across the cheek. And this time, she had no choice but to spit the small amount of blood on the cold floor next to her instead of his face, not wanting to risk receiving the death-blow that was sure to come if she really were to do that.
No matter what, she has to get out of here before her limit was reached.
There is a way, but… this bastard just wouldn't leave her alone long enough to think of her plan, let alone start it.
'Masamune-san… what are you doing? Hurry up and get back here already.'
…
It was dark when Erina opened her eyes in what felt like forever.
The first thing she noticed was the sound of something dripping on the floor quite close to her, then the stinging pain in her stomach, and lastly, the full restriction in her movements thanks to the handcuffs chaining her to an iron pipe above her head. At least that's what she guessed it must be.
Her feet, strangely numb to the touch, were also rendered useless due to those annoying shackles linking them to a different object in front of her. What that was, she couldn't see, but that didn't matter anyway.
It was pretty clear what happened to her at this point.
They got to her…
Suddenly, a door was thrown wide open, two pairs of footsteps came closer and closer, their owners not saying a single word. Then, she was staring directly into the lens of a flashlight, its brightness forcing her to squeeze her eyes shut before she even had the chance to see who entered this room.
"See? I told you I didn't kill her yet. You're way too paranoid."
"I-I never wanted you to shoot her in the first place! W-where did you even get that gun and those handcuffs?! That's illegal!"
"Oh, don't worry about it. I have a friend at the local police station. He organized everything for me."
"Y-you… you have an ally within the police? H-how…"
"Hm? I didn't tell you?"
"No, you didn't! What's wrong with you, Dad?! We wanted revenge, b-but not like this! T-this is getting out of control!"
"Oh shut up already. This is what I was striving for from the start. You agreed to help, so I expect you to go through with the plan until the bitter end, alright? Don't leave me hanging now, Son."
"B-but… she'll die at this rate… Without going to the hospital… E-Erina-san could-"
"Let her. I can get as much entertainment out of this as I want 'till she does."
What was going on?
That voice sounded so familiar…
"M-Masamune-san… I-is that you…?"
Adjusting her amethysts to the light, Erina turned to face the man she had proclaimed innocent on so many occasions, the one she and Soma had trusted all this time.
It really was him standing before her. That brown hair, those blue eyes…
"W-what are you doing here, Masamune-san…? Where-where is Soma…?"
"I-I… he's-"
"Rotting somewhere else if we're lucky. That punk got in my way far too often now."
"Wha… w-what did you do to him…?"
"None of your business, Missy. If I were you, I wouldn't even worry about trivial things like that. Trust me, you're gonna have enough on your own plate to keep you busy. Nakiri Erina… I still can't believe I finally caught you. This must be a true blessing… You're finished."
"What… business do you have with me…?"
"All in due time, little girl. All in due time. For now, let's just see for how long you can keep up the attitude without dying. There're a few ways I could see myself inflicting pain on you, and I can't wait to get started."
"You seriously need help… Where the hell am I anyway…?"
"Doesn't matter. All you need to know is that I will make you pay for all the suffering you caused my family with that selfishness of yours. It's your fault!"
"Suffering… What are you talking about…?"
"Shut your filthy mouth! I won't allow you to play the innocent one anymore! You know exactly what I'm referring to!"
"Dad… calm-"
Faster than his age would suggest, the bearded man wrapped a single enormous hand around her throat and squeezed- squeezed like his life depended on it. All she could do was cough, choke, gasp for air as she desperately tried to squirm out of his hold.
Then, to her surprise, the hand vanished as quickly as it had appeared, the heavy body above her own lifted with little to no effort.
The flashlight fell to the ground as Masamune restrained him, using all the strength he could muster. She saw it in his eyes, the fear, the terror, the guilt…
Had he just called him…, 'Dad'…?
"What's wrong with you?! Calm down already! Have ya forgotten to take your pills again?!"
"Let me go, Son! I'll finish things right here, we don't need to wait!"
"Stop it, Dad! Should I call Minori to bring your stuff here?! Is that what you want?! You know she'll get pissed at you again if you neglect your medicine!"
'Medicine…?'
She couldn't identify their features properly, but the abrupt silence around her suggested that Masamune's words must have done something to persuade his father in one way or another. Regardless, she didn't trust this at all, her skin crawling the longer she had to listen to her capturer's heavy breathing.
"…No, don't call her. I'm… I'm okay."
"Are you sure…?"
"Yes, let me go."
Hesitant at first, he eventually released the older man from his strong grip, not letting his eyes off him for a second.
Erina stared at the two men in confusion. What pills? Who is Minori?
There is just one thing she's certain of right now. Masamune is the son of the maniac who wants to kill mainly out of spite- a traitor…
"How dare you…? How dare you, Masamune-san?! You explored the town with us! You laughed with us! How could you?! Soma was right, I never… should have trusted a backstabbing freak like you…"
"N-no, I-I… Erina-san-"
"Masamune! Why would you want to explain yourself to this brat?! Just make her shut up or I'll do it my way!"
It was hard to see with that measly light source of theirs, never mind her slowly blurring vision. Though from where she sat, it almost looked like the old man was… crying? She had hardly made out his hardening gaze when he tried to suffocate her to death just now, but that glistening path along his left cheek was more than evident once she squinted her eyes enough to have a better view of him. The light reflected it perfectly for her to identify it as tears.
But why?
'What is this man accusing me of…?'
"Just make her shut up… I'll go home to check on your mother. She's been alone all this time… I might need to change the bedsheets again…"
"Y-yeah, okay… I'll be waiting here…"
"Masamune… Under no circumstances are you to do anything that could reveal our position, you got that? Don't let her escape, and stay in this room until I come back. I'm counting on you…"
"O-of course. Don't worry, Dad, I can handle it."
Nodding towards his son in confirmation, Kenji Toru disappeared behind the door once more as he wiped his eyes furiously.
Her attention shifted to said son next the moment Kenji was out of sight. She observed with growing irritation as he picked up the flashlight that was lying close to her feet, not looking at her even once. Instead, he just sniffed a few times while she watched him move, her fury quickly reaching its peak and making her snarl in detestation.
If it weren't for the unbearable pain in her stomach, she would have said a lot more than that. He could count himself lucky that she didn't lash out as harshly as she usually would. The blood loss did her in.
"So you're… really not going to let me leave, huh? That's pathetic…"
"E-Erina-san, please… y-you don't understand."
"Oh I understood plenty alright… First, you sneak into the scene without rising any suspicion, then you… assist your sick father by hurting my first seat and bringing me to… a dumpster like this… Mark my words, Kenji Masamune… this isn't over… for both of you…"
"P-please… I-I didn't do anything!"
"Didn't you? If you seriously believe that then… you are a bigger idiot than I thought you were…"
It felt even harder to breathe now that she was this worked up. She would have commented on his lack of brain cells until he left the room as well, but her eyes just refused to stay open for much longer, the nausea catching up to her way too quickly.
Was this seriously happening right now? Was she really supposed to lose blood, fall unconscious, lose even more blood, and eventually just die without seeing the people she loved ever again?
Suddenly, her grandfather's face flashed before her eyes, his rare words of encouragement, his fatherly support…
She missed him. She missed him a lot.
She was done hiding. All she wanted was to go back home and embrace him just like she did as a child.
Then there was Soma too… Was he alright? What did they do to him that made him turn limp so abruptly in front of her eyes?
Did he make it out okay?
For how long…
"W-when was I brought here? How… how many hours has it been?"
"Not hours, Erina-san… Two days passed since the incident. I-I… I'm really sorry, I messed everything up."
"T-two days… W-what happened to Soma…? Tell me already! Where is he?!"
"Please don't worry. I carried him to the hospital nearby, he should be just fine. In fact, I'm going back to see how he's holding up as soon as Dad comes back…"
"H-hospital… Wha… w-what did you do to him?!"
"Erina-san, please… stop shouting. I'm going to see him later. If you want, I can stay there until he wakes up too. Just please, stop this."
"Stop what?! Do you honestly believe I would… listen to you after what you did?! Not a chance! Now tell me what… you did to him!"
"I-I… Like I said, he's fine. What I injected him with wasn't that life-threatening. I-I had to do it or else Dad would have shot him too. Please, Erina-san, you have to calm down. Your wound is gonna get worse if you keep fidgeting around like that."
"You think I give a damn?! You're a sick, twisted monster! Let me out of here! I have to see him! Let me out!"
She continued to pull on each of the handcuffs, not caring in the slightest about the hard metal cutting deeper and deeper into her wrists and ankles. Her brain finally started working again. Now it was impossible to discern any of that when her mind swirled with all kinds of emotions.
Anger, shock, confusion, grief, fear… she could barely contain her agony at this point, her thoughts only occupied with one person alone.
Then, she noticed a faint movement beside her, heard how the young vendor tried to muffle another sniff as he rose to his feet.
"…Why? W-what are you gaining from this…? If you feel that guilty about it, why are you helping him? Is he… paying you to do his bidding?"
"No… You wouldn't understand, Erina-san… Just don't listen to what Dad says, it's nothing you need to worry about… A-anyway, let's just concentrate on stopping the bleeding for now. You lost so much blood already, we shouldn't risk you fainting again. I-I think there are some older clothes hanging around here that we could use. Just hang on, alright? I'll find you something."
"Do whatever you want… Although, this might be too obvious to even ask, but… why don't you just… turn on the lights in here?"
"…I can't. Sorry… I-I'll get you something in time, don't worry."
His footsteps echoed through the room as he waved the flashlight from one spot to another, taking whatever he could use from each shelve he came across.
There seemed to be quite a lot of space in here as far as she could tell. The sound of his shoes hitting the floor became lower and lower at some point, which the heiress had mistaken for a sign that he might have left the room entirely.
But then he came back, just in time to prevent her from fainting again.
With careful fingers, he wrapped one piece of clothing after the other around her waist before tying them tightly together. She wasn't sure how that would help, but she appreciated the gesture nonetheless- even if she didn't say anything to thank him.
"There. That should work… I just hope it doesn't get infected now. There's no telling for how long these have been here… How are you feeling?"
"I… will manage somehow."
"…Listen, I-I'm sorry I can't help you escape, really, I am. But at the very least, I can take care of you for a bit, right? I-I can take you to the bathroom whenever you need me to, a-and bring you water too. Only when we're alone though, Dad will definitely get pissed if he finds out… H-here, I even brought some with me in case you come to today. You need to drink something."
With his flashlight in hand, he rushed over to a small shelf a few feet away, his movements quick and impressively coordinated. He must have been in here quite a few times if he knew his surroundings so well.
It wasn't hard to guess what he planned to do with that dark-colored flask he picked up over there, yet she had no intention of allowing him to make her drink whatever was inside. Even though her dry throat literally begged her to take a small sip when he landed on his knees in front of her again, opening the lid and directing the drink towards her lips, she would not falter. That much she promised herself.
"Get that out of my face. I don't… want your dirty water…, or whatever it is that's in there."
"It's just water, Erina-san… Please, you have to drink at least a little."
"I said I don't want it."
"Don't be so stubborn. No one can survive for long without water. Either you die from blood loss or dehydration, it's your choice."
"How… dare you…? Since when did you care what happens to… me?"
"…I admit, I didn't at first. But now things are different… I-I don't want you to die."
"Then let me out! We both know I won't make it if I don't leave."
"I-I… I'm sorry you're even here… I'm fully aware that it's my fault, a-and-"
"Stop saying that, you traitor… W-we trusted you… We thought you were… our friend. If you really felt any shame or remorse for the things you did, you would have… helped me escape instead of spouting all that nonsense…"
"…Y-you-you're right. I deserve everything you say. I know I can't undo what happened, but… I-I promise you, I… oh damn it, fine! I will get you out of here soon! You just gotta trust me for right now, okay? Please…"
"W-wha…? How?"
A desperate sigh escaped his lips.
"Leave that to me. Dad carries the keys for those handcuffs with him wherever he goes. I just need to get a hold of 'em long enough to let you out. I assume bathroom breaks won't do the trick since you still have to wear them, otherwise it'll only cause suspicion."
"Are you… serious?"
"Yeah… don't worry, we can pull it off. I made a mistake once, and I'm not planning to repeat that. My opinion of you has already changed. For quite some time now actually, so… I'll help you. You just have to hang in there, alright? Think you can do that?"
"You are… kidding, right? Looks like you never… got to know me all that well, huh? Just watch me…"
An apologetic smile appeared on his features, a sad yet somewhat determined glint hidden behind his blue depths that gave her the confirmation she needed.
It would all be okay, she would be reunited with her family soon…
Granted he doesn't trick her again.
"Oh, and one more thing. I won't be able to be here all that often since I'm still taking care of the shop and everything. That means you need to deal with my father on your own while I'm gone. If you stay silent, he shouldn't have a motive to reach for your throat again. I'll get those keys for you no matter what, but it might take a bit, so try not to provoke him in the meantime, please. We can't afford any slip ups."
"…Don't take this the wrong way, but I still… have trouble believing you… Are you really telling the truth?"
"I understand your doubt, and you have all the right to be wary of me, Erina-san… But I made my decision a long time ago. You and Yukihira-kun never realized what I did for you when he introduced himself to me, you never noticed… But please, once you do, think better of me, alright? That's all I want."
She didn't answer, needing time to repeat this entire scenario in her head and digest what he said. It was absurd, but he sounded so… repentant. Like he would do anything to wash the guilt he felt off his hands.
Could she really trust someone like him?
…
"P-p-please, Senzaemon-dono, I-I need an answer! H-he won't stop, otherwise! Please, I'm begging you, Sir!"
"Come on, Masamune, this is pathetic! I don't need a son who keeps pleading like that, you understand?! He'll answer if he knows what's good for his little grandchild!"
He pressed harder, pierced her skin deeper, and eventually forced another loud shriek out of her as he twisted and turned the sharp kitchen knife in her left thigh.
"After all, she refuses to accept our humble hospitality. It seems this place just isn't enough for our spoiled brat. And we simply can't leave that unpunished, now can we? Ask him, Masamune! Tongue or fingers?!"
"S-Senzaemon-dono, p-please give us an answer! I-I know how you feel, but please…"
"G-Grandfather…"
"You shut your trap, you fucking bitch! How dare you try to escape, huh?! I'll teach you proper manners, since it seems like Azami-dono made a great mistake when he raised you! But don't worry, I can fix it!"
A slap in the face, then another, and another…
The knife in her leg stung to the highest degree, the heavy weight on her stomach making her want to vomit right on the spot.
Pass out. She was so close to passing out.
And there was nothing she could do to avoid it, just like there was nothing that guaranteed her she'd wake up once the darkness catches up to her.
Would Soma even come back in her dream this time?
"D-Dad, stop this already! That's enough for today. H-he doesn't reply, don't you see?! Just let it go!"
"Pathetic! Just pathetic- all of 'em!"
His attention was drawn back to her when Erina released a shaky breath, unable to move any longer.
"Y-you… you will pay… Just wait…"
"Oh yeah?! And who's gonna make me, huh?! You're the one who tried to run away after my son so graciously took you to the toilette! You're the one messing everything up! My wife is suffering because of you! My children are working themselves to death! You deserve to die, not them! And I won't rest until you- goddamn it, Masamune, cut it out with the waterworks already! Whose side are you on?!"
"D-Dad… I-I think you… y-you went too far this time… S-she's not gonna-"
"C'mon, I didn't cut anything off yet! She needs to be disciplined a little longer! You know she deserves it!"
He reached out again, now aiming for the heavy object that had been hindering her breathing pattern the entire time. She still hadn't figured out what it was, maybe a pot of some sort? It was hard to tell when the light never stayed directed at her for long enough.
Did he want to press it against her stomach even further, cut off her breath once and for all? It sure looked like he would.
However, before he could, Masamune stepped in once more, pulling his father away from her just like he had done all those days ago. How many, she didn't know.
"That's enough! You're gonna kill her!"
"Let me do it! Your mother will be safe then!"
"Y-you know that's got nothing to do with it! Please, Dad, take your medicine and calm down!"
"Damn it, Boy, let go! I don't have any left!"
"Wha…? Y-you mean… Seriously?!"
She wanted to ask, wanted an explanation for the worry that was steadily growing inside the brunette's eyes. But she held back.
This might not be the right time to say anything…
"D-Dad, I'm bringing you home right now. We'll buy your sedative pill on the way, alright?! You need it!"
'Sedative…'
"Let go, I'm not going anyw-"
"You want mom to find out?! Or Minori?! I'll tell them you neglected your medicine again, you know?!"
"…No, don't do that. They're already mad at me, at least your sister is, I think. We… we can go."
He sighed in relief before his gaze met Erina's, an apology that she wasn't sure how to interpret written on his features. The tears were still glistening on his skin, and if it weren't for his father clinging to his arm in sudden desperation, he probably would have sniffed again too.
Though she didn't have time to worry about that now. The kitchen knife was still stuck in her thigh, the object still on her abdomen. If she shook from left to right a few times, it might be possible to get rid of it, but…
The shackles binding her hindered the heiress from pulling the knife out, and since Masamune was leaving the room with his father, she couldn't do anything but endure it.
Is this it? Having received fatal wounds on two areas now… Is she supposed to die like that?
The vendor had promised to get her the keys tomorrow, which means it was her mistake to have tried to escape on her own so early… She should have trusted him, believed him. Because now… it might be too late to engage in another attempt. It was pointless since she could barely move a muscle, let alone stay conscious at this point.
'Soma… I'm sorry I couldn't get out fast enough… Please be okay, please…'
It was one last desperate look, one final tear that descended to the ground. And with that bitter drop, Erina finally passed out.
…
She was pulled out of her memories thanks to another slap. The difference? He used the back of his hand this time, which was much more painful than all the other strikes combined.
It really irked her that she couldn't do anything about them. But spitting in his face again wasn't an option anymore either.
She doubted he would let her live if she did that a second time. It was a sheer miracle that she held on this long.
"How about you listen when I'm talking to you? Looking into open space like that isn't gonna help you."
"You don't say… Are you… expecting me to submit at this point? Not happening…"
"I'm not asking for submission. How could I expect the great Erina-sama to do as I say? You're a joke."
"…What do you want from me?"
"For you to repent. That's all. And I'd prefer it if you could stop acting so cocky around me, brat. Like I said before, I can make you regret it in an instant. You'd be wise to keep it in mind."
"Repent for what…? Making you leave the academy? You… you can thank my father for that, not me…"
"If you still insist on pretending not to know, you might as well die right here. I have nothing more to say to you."
'Huh… Looks like he took his medicine before coming at least. It would explain why he's so calm now… Lovely.'
"Where is… Masamune-san…?"
"What, you seriously think I would tell you that? You played around with my boy long enough. I won't let you brainwash him anymore."
"…Are you done now? If so, leave me alone. There is no… reason for you to keep watch. I obviously can't… get out like this…"
"Shut up, Missy, or your throat will be my next target."
"Jeez, dramatic much? Why not just… aim for my other leg instead…? I'm half-dead already… right? Your words…"
"…I can't deal with you or else I'll turn insane."
Confused, she watched him stand back up before he pulled out his phone, turning away from her as he dialed a number and held the device close to his ear.
"Hello? Masamune? Have you arrived already? …Good… Make sure you don't draw too much attention to yourself. No one followed you, right? …Excellent. Hurry up and get down here then. I might end up killing her if you don't come!"
The harsh undertone in his voice made her shudder, cold sweat dripping from her forehead like waterfalls. And the worst part is… she actually believed him to go through with his indirect threat, the tension in his back muscles said it all.
"Oh and, did you see your mother? Was she alright? …Okay, I understand. That's good to hear. …Hurry back down here already, the shop can wait a bit, right? …Good. …See you."
As he turned towards her again, the bearded man closed his eyes for a few seconds, visibly trying to calm himself down.
She failed to tell whether this was a good thing or not, but if what the blonde witnessed here so far had taught her anything, it was that staying cautious would always be of use to her in moments like these. She could avoid getting stabbed again…
"…Seems like we have a guest. He was a lot more secretive with his answers than usual… Damn it."
A murmur, not louder than the heavy breaths she took. Yet Erina still understood every single word.
It was his mistake this time. The pills also seemed to make him… talkative. That must have been the reason why he never showed up here after taking them. He couldn't afford to let anything slip…
But now he did without even realizing it.
Does this mean she is held somewhere with people around? Not in some random shack deep in the woods?
At least that's where people are always held captive in those action movies she saw as a child.
But who would have…?
Her eyes shot wide open as she grasped the given opportunity, her only chance of survival…
She began screaming louder than ever before in her life. She screamed with all her might, hoping someone would actually hear her. She even tried screaming when that bastard pressed his palms against her mouth and attempted to muffle each sound.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing, you lowlife?! I'll kill you for real if you don't shut up! I don't give a shit if Masamune hates me!"
Tears gathered in her eyes as she left her lips parted against his hand.
There was no other choice, she had to risk it.
If there really was someone close to them, she had to try.
So with all the strength she could muster, the heiress bit down hard enough to make the man cry out in pain as he tried to free his fingers from her grip.
Hopefully, this one had the right volume to actually draw the attention of that stranger to them.
"What the hell?! You little bitch! Let go!"
His fist collided with her injured thigh faster than she could count, her own screams increasing once more as she released his now bleeding hand.
Suddenly, the door on the other side flew wide open, revealing the silhouettes of two people standing on the far end of the room.
Was this the help she had been hoping for?
'Finally…'
It was over at last…
Or so she thought before the one taking a step forward started laughing maniacally, his brown hair barely recognizable in the darkness.
"Wha… M-Masamune?! What's the meaning of this, Son?! Who is that?!"
"Calm down, Dad. I had no choice! He was sneaking around upstairs, and when he heard the noises you guys caused, I was forced to bring him down here as well! If I hadn't he might've called the cops on us! But don't worry; he's totally harmless now thanks to my little friend I always carry with me. You know, the one you called useless once…"
"What?! But how could…?"
Redirecting the flashlight towards the door, Kenji's eyes widened with surprise as he saw who exactly it was that entered the room behind his son, hands bound together in front of him and a somewhat dark look on his handsome features.
'No…'
It couldn't possibly be…
"S-Soma!"
Her entire body began to tremble when he finally faced her, the shock, a quiet spark at first, became unbearable as she noted the calm rage behind those amber orbs. It was like he had lost himself the second he spotted her, a sight she never intended for him to witness.
Not her blood-stained dress, not the stab wound on her thigh, the handcuffs chaining her to the ground and wall… none of it. In fact, she suspected it was anything but relief that filled his heart right now.
Biting his lip in fake composure, the boy turned his attention towards the man still standing to his left. The look of surprise and confusion hadn't left his face yet, which probably meant it was easier to ask her questions without risking to get shot or stabbed a second time.
But should she really make a huge gamble like that now? With Soma being here, things might get completely out of hand…
What did he think he was doing anyway?
'Damn it, Masamune-san! What are you trying to do?! Do you seriously intend on betraying us again?!'
"Yo, we finally meet, huh?"
"The world is small, Yukihira Soma. Too small apparently…"
"Sure is. Gotta admit though… ya look a lot older than I expected. Wouldn't wanna punch a geezer in the face, honestly. That could end up making me look like the bad guy."
"Well… thank you for your concern, but I'm still in perfect shape as you can very well see."
"Hard to tell when ya guys keep the lights out in here. And frankly, I don't give a shit."
"Is that right? Well then, let me be 'frank' about something as well, since we're at it. I'm impressed you survived the little gift my son gave you. Did you crawl your way to the hospital or something?"
"Wouldn't you like to know…"
"Cocky brat. You're just as irritating as your little friend over there. She's paying the price for what she did to my family, and so will you. Are you ready for that?"
"Oh you'll find out. I didn't come here to hear your shit. I'mma bust our future headmistress outta here the moment ya turn your back. Count on it."
"Oh will you now? You know, Boy… I really do loathe the both of you. You won't make it out of this alive. Not again, I guarantee you that much."
"We'll see 'bout that."
His voice lowered, his eyes darkened, and from where she sat on the floor, it seemed as if he had a completely different aura around him. So aggravated and… distant, even to her.
"I suppose we will. The times you kept on interfering with everything are over. I won't rest until my wife is revenged."
"Ya seriously think it'll change anything once we're outta the way? There still won't be any work for you, ya know. Instead of holding others responsible for your family issues, ya should've just continued looking for a job like a normal person. Both your son and daughter have pulled it off, and they look fine to me. What you're doing is basically hiding behind your grudge like a coward."
"Why you little…"
"That's enough, Yukihira Soma! I don't wanna hear another word from you! Dad, do we have another pair of handcuffs lying around? This cord isn't gonna be enough to restrain him, even if he's pretty weak now. Plus, he deserves it for sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. Rotting here next to his girlfriend is exactly what he needs, right?"
'What the hell are you doing, Masamune-san?! Stop this at once!'
"Indeed. That would make my day actually… But disappointing as it is, I don't have any other equipment to spare. The chief only provided me with three for the girl. We'll have to make do with that cord you got there."
"The chief… You bastard have friends over at the police station or something?!"
"And what are you going to do about it, Boy? Doesn't everyone have 'friends'?"
"So that's why they didn't find anything 'till now… It was because of your connections… You're a sick son of a bitch, ya know that?"
"Am I now? Strange, I think I've heard that somewhere before… Well, no matter. Masamune, do as I tell you. Find some more cord if you have to. Don't let him escape."
"…Why don't we just use those cuffs on her injured leg? I doubt she'll be able to move it around now that it's bleeding again. We can chain this moron up right beside her."
'Masamune-san… Just what are you up to? Let him go…'
"Soma… w-why are you… here? Are you really that stupid…?"
She was on the verge of tears when their eyes met, the pain in both her leg and stomach preventing her from lecturing him the way she had originally intended to.
He didn't say anything, just smiled. Smiled with all his bundled up emotions at full display, smiled like they were the only ones in this dark room. And thanks to that incredibly soft expression he sported now, the tears were no longer avoidable. They streamed down her face like there was no tomorrow, dampened her already blood-soaked dress even more, landed on the ground beside her without further notice. All while she continued to stare at the embodiment of the very angel her mother sent her one year ago.
Her personal savior.
"Hey… Ya hanging in there okay?"
"I-I'm fine. Not in… my best outfit, but still fine…"
A faint grin spread across her features as she sniffed multiple times, trying desperately to control her shallow breath.
She could feel it.
Her time was almost up.
"Dad! What're ya waiting for?! Give me the keys already! I can't stand this lovey-dovey bullshit!"
"A-alright, suit yourself. Why are you even so angry, Son? Did something happen?"
"I have things I wanna talk to you about outside! It's about Minori and her workplace. You know which one I mean."
"Minori's… what about it?"
"Not now, Dad! We'll talk somewhere else once I'm done with this jerk! Give me the keys, I'll do it myself!"
"Jerk, huh? Lame insult, pal."
"Shut up! You will regret snooping around here, and I'm going to make sure you don't forget what it means to hit me in the face like that!"
He smacked Soma on the head, which only seemed to amuse his father all the more while the redhead himself looked like he would burst with anger any second.
But then, just as she was about to open her mouth again to get more answers out of them, something completely unexpected happened.
Both their gazes landed on her at the exact same time, one calming her fury while the other simply requested her to stay silent a little while longer.
'What the…?'
She didn't comprehend anything, her brain close to shutting down completely.
All the heiress saw was Soma standing merely a few feet away from her with his hands tied together in front of him, ready to hit the ground as well, and probably just as exhausted as she felt.
There was so much she wanted to say to him, so many things she had to get out of her chest, but this didn't seem like the best opportunity for that. Especially when the jingling sound of keys suddenly echoed in her ears as she turned her head away from him.
'Keys… The keys!'
Quicker than what was good for her in this state, the blonde refocused her attention to the bearded man before her, watched with growing astonishment as he pulled out the set of keys she had been waiting to get her hands on for so long.
Finally.
He handed them over to his son with an approving look on his face before pressing his gun against Soma's forehead, forcing the boy to directly look him in the eye while they waited.
"Soma!"
"Don't worry. It's not gonna end here, I swear."
"Well, well, you sound very sure of yourself there. We can test your theory right now if you want, Boy. I'm all for it."
"Fine by me…"
"What was that?!"
"You can't pull the trigger. A coward doesn't have the guts to aim for the head."
"Is that so? Are you trying to provoke me on purpose, you little punk? It's like you're gunning to get your brain torn into pieces."
"Nope, quite the opposite actually… Masamune, now!"
His shout was unexpectedly loud, his eyes remarkably sharp. Swiftly tearing the white cord on his wrists apart, the redhead jumped forward just in time to rip the small pistol out of Kenji's hand before the fired bullet could hit him.
He did his best to tackle the man to the ground, but it looked like his lack of sleep did little to help him in this situation. Something was wrong with him, she could see it clear as day.
"Hey, might giving me a hand over here?!"
"Don't worry, I'm almost- damn it!"
Erina barely noted how Masamune ran right past them to secure the very weapon that had also landed somewhere close by while Soma tried to hold the bearded man in place on the cold floor.
It all happened so fast she had trouble keeping up with everything, let alone stay sane enough to realize their changed circumstances.
Who was preventing who from moving again?
What happened to the gun again?
Which of the three just ran to the other one's aid again?
She couldn't see straight anymore. Her vision was too blurry to identify things properly.
But no matter what, she had to stay awake this time. Passing out would mean giving up, and she refused to do that.
Not while he's here, fighting for their survival.
"Masamune, you traitor! How dare you do this to your father, you worm?! Let me go! I'll kill all of you damn rats!"
"Yukihira-kun, hurry, the handcuffs! I dropped them close to where Erina-san is when I ran off to get the gun! Go get 'em, I'll hold him off!"
Handcuffs?
When did he even free one of her ankles from them?
She hadn't felt a thing, let alone noticed how he came up to her in the first place.
Did he say something she should have paid attention to?
"Gotcha!"
"Damn it, Masamune! Why are you betraying your own father?! Have you lost it?!"
"No, but you have, Dad! I can't watch you hurt an innocent person any longer! Even if you think you're doing this for mom, this ends today!"
"Let me go, you little shit! You'll regret this, Yukihira Soma! I swear on my name I will come after you! All of you!"
"Hey, I found 'em! Damn, why's it gotta be so dark in here?!"
"Hurry up, Yukihira-kun!"
More blood dripped to the floor, the numbness spread even further through her body as Erina desperately tried to remain conscious, fidgeting in place and shaking her head, despite the nausea it caused her.
Her eyes spotted the silver keys so close to her free foot, all thanks to the brightness of the flashlight that made them glisten so saliently in the otherwise dark room.
She had to get those keys.
She had to help Soma.
Even though her left leg felt nothing right now, she tried to move it as best she could, reaching for the small set of keys lying right next to her foot.
This was her only chance. She needed to make it count.
'Come on… please…'
Another angry scream broke her concentration for a second as she turned her gaze towards the redhead again. It seemed they had finally managed to put the handcuffs on that maniac and were now doing all they could to keep his heavy body pressed against the cold marble- or at least one of them was.
The other just came running back to her as soon as the hard part was dealt with, shouting her name loud enough to make her raise her head even higher just to see who it was.
He landed on his knees in front of her, lips parted but not saying a word. And as she observed a certain look in those beautiful citrine orbs Erina knew… he wouldn't be the first to talk even if he wanted to.
The fear behind his gaze was too real, the shock too prominent. It reminded her of a small child just about to lose what mattered most to them, a little boy who was told that his mother would never come back home anymore.
"H-hey… stop staring at me like that…"
"I… I dunno how… Y-you're… Where're the keys?"
"Over there, see…?"
She nodded her head towards her feet, smiling softly as he turned around and grabbed the pieces of metal with trembling fingers.
His eyes never wandered over her body when he began opening the handcuffs one by one, careful not to be too rough in his haste.
At last…
They were off…
As gently as he could, the young chef guided her hands back down to her sides without a single word. He inspected the cuts on her wrists that the handcuffs had left behind, brushed his thumb over them before moving on to touch the red marks he noticed on her neck next. It seemed they were still there- not surprising after that psycho put almost all his strength into choking her to death the other day.
But right now, she couldn't care less about that. Neither her injuries, nor her predicament mattered.
Relief.
That was the only thing she felt. Relief and pure happiness.
"I-it's over…?"
"It's over…"
"Then stop… looking at me like you're the one dying…"
"Don't say that. I promised to get ya outta here, remember? You're not gonna die on my watch."
"You know… I don't really feel… anything at the moment. I can't even move… Is that a bad thing…?"
"I-I don't know… But ya gotta hang in there, okay? No matter what. Hey, Masamune! Where's the ambulance at?! What're they doing?!"
"I-I-I h-have no idea! T-they said they were on their way!"
Was the brunette… crying?
Why?
"Damn it!"
"You'll pay for your betrayal, Masamune! You all will pay! I'll make the rest of your miserable lives a living hell!"
"For fuck's sake, Dad, b-be quiet! It's your fault that Erina-san is going to… t-that she…"
"She's not gonna die! I swear, Erina, if you run off somewhere without me again, I'll never take on those first seat duties you kept talking about! Ya hear me?!"
His voice was trembling, his expression pained.
"Stop shouting… I can hear you just fine…"
"I mean it, Erina! You're not going anywhere!"
She smiled again, weaker than the first time, but just as genuine.
"W-would you… tell my grandfather something for me? Say… that I'm sorry for letting him down so much… Say that I… missed him a lot over the time I was gone… He shouldn't feel sad or hold himself responsible for… anything that happened, alright…? Tell him I love him…"
"C'mon, ya can tell him that yourself when we're back… S-stop spouting bullshit."
"Hey…"
Lifting one hand, she tried to reach for his cheek yet failed miserably due to the numbness that had spread further than she had expected. It was her luck that Soma realized what the heiress had wanted to do, and carefully pressed her palm against his mouth himself instead, kissing it with utmost care.
"Don't you start crying too…"
"I'm not…"
"Are too…"
"Have ya seen yourself? You're the one crying here."
"Really? Odd… I can't tell… You know, this kind of feels like a déjà vu, doesn't it? We had a conversation of this sort before…"
"Stop making it sound like we'll never talk again, damn it. You're gonna live. You're Nakiri Erina, aren't you? The Erina I know doesn't give up."
"True… But right now, I really can't sense anything… And all I want to do is… sleep, you know?"
"Don't you dare! C'mon… please…"
"Thanks for… for coming to bring me home, Soma… You did everything you could, I'm grateful…"
Now, even his lips began to tremble against her skin, those precious tears he shed for her wetting it almost fully.
She didn't want to. She really didn't want to leave him. But her body just wouldn't listen to her- it never did.
Exhaustion and fatigue seemed to overpower the will to stay awake with each passing moment, and there was nothing she could do to distract herself since there was nothing left to feel.
She hated herself for doing this to him, but… she couldn't find another way out of that constricting darkness that is quickly closing in on her.
So she just watched him cry, observed his golden eyes falter in despair, smiled as he pressed her palm harder against his lips.
"Keep in mind to… always finish your paperwork in time, alright? Being first seat won't be… a walk in the park, especially for you…"
"Ya seriously think I'mma go back if you don't come too? Not a chance…"
"Soma… Please, don't act like a little kid… It'll be okay, trust me."
"How…?"
"I-I told you before… remember? You will find… new challenges, new chefs to test your abilities on, a new… relationship… Back then, the meaning behind my words had been different, but regardless… it ends all the same. You are going to be okay…"
"Not happening… Masamune! C'mon, man, where are they?!"
"Don't… don't do this, Yukihira Soma. Look at me…"
"What?! Ya think it's that easy?! Just forget and move on?! No way in hell! You're gonna live- for me, for Gramps, for all our friends who're waiting on us! And 'sides, I still gotta make ya admit that my food's delicious, right?! You're not leaving me!"
"…Y-yeah, fine… I will try…"
She wished it were true, wanted to believe it with all her heart… But fate loved to toy with her emotions too much to let her enjoy her youth in peace- always had.
How was she supposed to keep up with such cruelty?
Her eyes closed on their own, her breathing slowed down dangerously, and without her being able to fight it any longer, the darkness eventually swallowed her whole.
Sirens of multiple vehicles and the sound of her name being shouted from somewhere far away were the last things Nakiri Erina heard before she finally allowed herself to give in.
And opposite to her dream on the beach, she prayed that, for once, she would wake up as quickly as possible, without any pains or this frightening numbness in her muscles.
'It will be fine this time, Soma… You can send me back like you did before… right?'
Annndddd let's cut it right here!
Wow, what a chapter, huh?
Please let me know what you think of this, guys! I hope you liked it!
Stay safe out there, and as always,
Take care, everybody!