Aichi hadn't been to Card Capitol in three days and each day Kai worried more and more.
"Kai?" His blonde best friend looked at him in concern. He knew he was worried about the blue haired boy and he felt terrible for not being able to help.
"Yeah sorry," Kai mumbled. They were about to start a game when they heard the door open. Kai's head flung up in hopes to see Aichi but was soon disappointed by seeing it was Emi. Her face wasn't shining in the bright smile like usual. Shit, Kai thought.
"Where is he?" Kai blurted out without thinking. Emi was taken back for a second but soon returned to her neutral expression.
"Home," she said. She sounded so tired. It was then that he realized the dark bags under her eyes. He knew he had similar ones under his.
Kai didn't bother packing up his cards, he just ran. He got to the Sendou's house in mere seconds. To his surprise Emi had carelessly left the door unlocked. When he found Aichi he was still in bed. He had bruises all over and bandages covering cuts. Kai felt his blood boil and fists clench at realization of why he's been gone: he's hiding.
"Kai-kun?" Aichi's voice was raspy as he attempted to sit up. His eyes were red from crying. The younger boy looked so broken, so unlike what Kai knew. "Why are you here?"
"I was worried," the brunette said as relaxed as possible but containing his feelings was hard right now. He didn't want Aichi to see him upset out of fear he'd no longer be his idol. Kai slowly walked towards Aichi's bed.
"Kai-kun was worried about me?" Kai ignored the question and inspected the injuries now that he was closer. They weren't too bad but to Kai it was horrible. It was clear that he got a good beating.
"Who did this to you?" Kai tried to keep his voice calm while speaking in hopes to not frighten the blue haired boy.
"Just some classmates… It's okay Kai-kun." Aichi forced a smile while looking at Kai.
"No it's not!" Kai yelled while standing up. He looked murderous for a second and Aichi could now obviously see his clenched fists he tried so hard to hide. Aichi flinched at the sound of the brunettes raised voice. Shit. He let his feelings show and in the process scared his love.
"I'm sorry Aichi," Kai mumbled. The brunette turned around to leave. He didn't want to leave Aichi's side, but he figured he did enough damage as it was.
"Wait Kai-kun. Please don't leave yet. I'm scared." Aichi tried saying the last part in a whisper but Kai heard. Kai walked back to the younger boy.
"I'll protect you now Aichi," he mumbled. He couldn't let anyone touch Aichi in a harmful way anymore.