Author Announcement: Hey everyone! Thank you all for reading my story. I wanted to let you know that I've recently started my own original web novel called Y.O.W.

Below is the synopsis and link if you're interested in checking it out, I would greatly appreciate it. If not, all's well and enjoy the new chapter! 😊

Ren is a middle-aged Japanese man whose game-obsessed and has no friends or family. He lives life just to play one game and to romance Mary, an NPC, who he's fallen head over heels for. His obsession with her is just as legendary as his stats.

His only goal is to play Your Own World and see Mary every day. But what if Mary is more than just a blank-faced NPC?

/series/YOW

Chapter 27:

Counseling and Phone Call

"How are you feeling today? Have you had any more attacks?" A woman and a therapist, named Nanami Aoi, asked Ana as she wrote some notes on her clipboard. Nanami was plump with a motherly face and a gentle smile.

"Better, I haven't had any massive attacks." Ana sat on her living room couch and twiddled her thumbs. It had been about a week since Seto's surprise visit. She'd finally been released from the hospital, but she was still resting at home since fractured ribs took about six weeks to heal. Plus, her parents didn't seem ready to let her go back to school just yet. Ana wasn't pushing to go back right away either. Nanami had been visiting her every few days to check on her mental state. Ana had thought she was fine at first. A couple days after her abduction the first panic attack hit her out of nowhere. Her parents immediately sought her treatment.

"That's good. Have you been sleeping better?" Nanami asked her gently.

"I have, actually. I haven't woken up because of nightmares lately." Ana was happy she could report that, but the panic attacks were still present and she couldn't go outside without someone with her.

They spoke at length about Ana's diet, her sleep, and how she was handling being at home again. They didn't talk about the abduction. She knew that Nanami was being patient with her and would not push her to speak about it. That put her at ease. Thinking about the event induced the panic attacks and anger. She didn't want to talk about it, yet. She didn't want to think about it. When their visit concluded Nanami left and Hikari came into the room.

"How… did it go?" He asked cautiously.

"Fine." Ana responded, but she had little else to say. She didn't like that her family was treating her like glass. Especially Hikari, who seemed to keep her the most at arm's length even though he was the one monitoring her. It had almost been refreshing to have Seto visit her last week and be his usual Amin-chan self. Even if it had made her angry, it had still been nice not to be treated like she would break at any moment.

Ana stood up. "I'm going to go read in my room."

"Ana…" Hikari frowned and then sighed. "You're still under watch."

"I haven't attempted to take my life even once." She glared at him and he bowed his head.

I wish my family trusted me a little more. I would never let that prick win by taking my own life. She turned and headed upstairs to her room. Carefully, she sat down on her bed and picked up her phone. Sanae had sent her pictures of her classmates holding signs saying they wished she'd recover soon. Ana quickly set the phone down, feeling the tears well up in her eyes. She knew that they were trying to be nice, but right now she didn't enjoy their sympathy at all. Picking her phone back up, she wondered if she should give Sanae a call. Sanae had tried to come visit her in the hospital a few times, but Ana had Hikari send her away. Sanae messaged her every day, but Ana didn't respond to any of her text. She didn't know why. She just couldn't bring herself to talk to her friend.

She opened her contacts and saw Amin-chan at the top of the list. It would be nice to talk to someone who didn't tiptoe around me or pity me. She took a deep breath and dialed. Holding her breath, she sat still, listening to the phone ringing. Someone picked up.

"Listen Hikari, if she's been taken again, I'm going to beat the living shit out of you."

Ana laughed at Seto's threat. She sniffed and wiped away the tears, already feeling better. "I'm at home resting, Amin-chan."

"… Oh, why are you calling?" He sounded confused, and she figured he would be.

"I don't know." She admitted.

"Uh, I guess I should ask how you're doing?"

Ana sighed. "Fine."

"So, shitty."

His bluntness made her pause, but she smiled at it. "You really don't know how to speak nicely, do you?"

"I… I wasn't trying to be mean. I was just stating a fact." The unsureness in his voice threw her off.

"I didn't say you were being mean. I meant you don't know how to soften your wording. You're very blunt." Ana picked up her pillow and leaned against the wall next to her bed while holding it.

Seto cleared his throat and when he spoke his voice sounded strained. "My apologies. How are you feeling on this fine day?"

Ana actually shivered at how odd it sounded to hear Seto trying to be polite. "Oh, no. Please don't do that ever again."

"Good. Because I don't think I could ever do that again. Just trying makes me nauseated." Seto sounded relieved, and Ana chuckled at him. She flinched when she felt her chest hurt a little.

"Please don't make me laugh. It still hurts some." She took a deep breath and readjusted her position.

"Ah, ribs take about six weeks to heal, right?" Seto paused. "Maybe I should go break all of that prick's other limbs too."

Ana paused at his comment, which didn't sound like he was joking. She remembered how Ren's arm had been twisted in a weird way. Unfortunately, thinking about Ren made her remember what she'd been trying not to. The attack hit. Her breathing sped up, and she bit her lip as tears poured out. She cried silently. If Hikari heard her now, then he'd tell the family she'd had another attack.

Seto listened to her silently on the other end until she got her breathing under control.

"It's very disconcerting to hear you crying into my ear." He didn't sound mad or angry when he spoke. He just sounded extremely uncomfortable.

"Sorr—"

"Don't ever apologize to me for something like this." This time he sounded angry. "If it would make you feel better, I can have all the men who took you sent to a faraway country where they use the Judas Cradle torture method."

Ana rubbed her eyes and sniffled. "What's that?"

"You make the person sit on a wood pyramid until the spike slowly works its way up their ass and—"

"I get it!" She laughed. "That's morbid. You have a very dark thought process."

"Why, thank you." He actually sounded proud of himself.

"… I feel you could make that happen, but why would you do that? What's in it for you?" Ana wondered.

Seto let out a loud, irritated sigh. "Because I feel like it."

"I may be wrong, but it sounds like you'd do that for me. Is the thing you need my help with important enough to cater to me this much?"

There was a long paused before he sighed. It was so quiet she almost didn't catch it. "It has nothing to do with that. I… just want to."

"What? Help me?"

"Yes."

Ana looked at her feet and frowned. "Why? Are we friends?"

"I really don't have an answer for that since I don't have any friends to make that comparison."

"Pff, ha ha!" She laughed loudly at his blunt statement and heard him growl on the other end. "Do you want to be friends?"

"I… Uh…" He made a growling noise on the other end. She wondered what kind of face he was making. "We can discuss it later."

Ana's eyebrows shot up. "You actually want to discuss that? I was just teasing you, Amin-chan. Besides, you rarely discuss with people whether you want to be friends like you do a business deal. It normally occurs naturally."

"Does it?"

"Yes."

"… So, when are you going back to school?" Seto changed the subject.

"How do you know I haven't gone back to school yet?" Ana asked. "What, are you spying on me?"

"Yeah, a little bit."

Her face grew warm, and she turned to look out her window, wondering if there was someone watching her right now.

"I didn't set up a camera or a person to spy on you outside your window."

Ana frowned. "How did you know I was looking out my window?"

"I'm smart." He bragged.

"You're a smartass is what you are." Ana rolled her eyes and put her pillow down so she could lay on it.

"Why thank you."

She could almost see him smirking on the other end with his legs crossed and his other arm tucked over his chest. "How are you spying on me?"

"I would rather not incriminate myself." He put on his business tone.

Ana rolled her eyes. "I feel that you already have by telling me you're spying on me."

"Can you prove it?"

She wasn't getting anywhere with this line of questioning. "You know Amin-chan, you are rather annoying."

"That's funny coming from you since before I learned your name, I referred to you as the obnoxious girl in my head."

Her eye twitched, and she smiled evilly. "Oh? Did you?"

He said nothing on the other end.

"Amin-chan?"

"I don't anymore…" His response was soft.

Ana snapped at him. "I would hope not since you know my name now."

They lapsed into silence. Finally, Seto spoke up, "So, when are you going back to school?"

"Isn't that hypocritical of you to ask? I bet you stopped going the moment our contract ended." Ana didn't want to talk about school. "By the way, what is it you need help with? Can you tell me yet?"

"Don't change the subject. I don't go to school because the school here is lax and doesn't care if I do my work from home. Your school would have been fine with it too, but you were the one who was insistent on it. What's your excuse for not going?"

Ana froze. She didn't want to see anyone. What if I have a panic attack in class? They'll pity me or freak out. I can't take that. I don't want to.

"Are you afraid?" Seto asked. His tone wasn't mocking or snarky. He was asking in a very neutral voice.

"I…" Ana didn't want to say it out loud, but forced it out anyway. "Yes. I don't want them all watching me and waiting to see when I'll lose my mind."

"Well, I could fix that if you want."

"How?"

Seto chuckled. "By distracting them. I could come to your classroom, stand at the front, and declare… How did you phrase it the first day we met? Oh, right. I will rule this classroom! Bow down to me maggots!"

She burst into laughter at how ridiculous and pompous he sounded. Her chest hurt and she had to calm herself by taking deep breaths. "I… can't believe…. You remembered I said that. It sounds way more ridiculous coming out of your mouth."

"I know." She could hear the regret in his voice. "I think it would be very effective. No one would watch you then."

"I appreciate the thought."

"I'm serious. I'll do that if it helps."

She paused. Her mouth slightly open. He really means it. Why? Sanae's comments from months about Seto liking her popped into her head. She pushed those thoughts away. Right now, she barely had the capacity to function. She didn't want to add complicated thoughts like those into the mix right now.

"Thank you, but I don't think that will be necessary."

"Why… Why did you call me?" He asked, sounding hesitant.

"I just wanted someone to talk to that wouldn't treat me like glass," she admitted.

He sighed on the other end. "I certainly don't have the capacity to pity you."

"That's not what I meant. I meant that you still treated me like you always do. The familiarity is comforting…. And despite how ridiculous your boasting at the hospital was, it helped. I felt better…. safer…."

"Ah…."

"That's why I wanted to talk with you." Ana looked at her toes and wiggled them. It was awkward to admit it. There was a long pause and for a minute all she could hear was his breathing. "Amin-chan? If I'm bothering you—"

"You're not."

Her face grew strangely warm. I didn't think he'd actually listen this much. "Am I interrupting your work?"

"Now you care about that?" Seto laughed. "I needed a break, anyway."

"Now that's funny coming from you." Ana returned his snide remark with her own.

They lapsed into silence again.

Seto broke it first. "So, you're getting therapy right, how's that going?"

"You really aren't very tactful for someone who owns a billion-dollar company, you know that, right? How did you know I was getting therapy? I didn't tell you." Ana huffed at him.

"I told you, I'm spying on you. Also, you didn't call me because you wanted tact, you called be because I'm straightforward." She could hear the amusement in his voice and couldn't help but smile herself.

"Still, it makes me wonder how you can do your job if your so blunt. Don't meetings require more tact?" Ana questioned his ability to run his company.

"I earned my company by being tactful and tricking a shit ton of people. I know when to be political, but I don't feel the need to do that to people I have no desire to trick or when I want nothing from them." Seto sounded annoyed at her accusation that he couldn't do his job.

"Hmm, now that I think about it, you tried to trick me into an annoying contract. Maybe if you'd not sleep deprived yourself at the time, you would have been able to. Oh, speaking of sleep deprivation, you didn't look like you were getting any when you came to see me in the hospital. I know you're a workaholic, but falling back on bad habits will just impede you."

"Eh, I got sleep…. after."

She'd hit the nail on the head. Sometimes he's predictably cute… Wait. Her face grew warm at the thought. She tried to squash the thought, but she was finding it rather hard to think about anything else.

There was a loud sigh on the other end and some voices in the background. "I have to go."

"Oh, right. Thanks for talking with me." She felt a little disappointed that the conversation was over.

"…Sure."

"Can… I call you later?"

"Of course."

She blushed at his adamant response. "Alright then, I'll talk to you later, Amin-chan."

"Ok, Chi-san." He hung up.

She slowly sat up and stared at her phone. She leaned back against the wall and sighed. A ping came through on her phone, drawing her attention. It was a text from Seto. Surprised, she opened it and found a picture of a playing card. When she looked closer, she realized it was another cookie like the ones he'd brought before. It was a small furry monster with enormous eyes named Kuriboh. Another ping came through. This time the picture was of the cookie, but it was half eaten. One more ping. This time he messaged her: It always cheers me up when this fur ball dies.

Ana rolled her eyes and messaged him back: Thanks for the sentiment, but aren't you supposed to be working right now?"

Seto: I'm in a very boring meeting. At least let me entertain myself passively.

Ana: No. Pay attention.

Seto sent her back an annoyed emoji face, and she snorted. He uses emoji's? That's surprising.

Another ping came through on her phone and she saw that it was Sanae again. Ana paused and frowned. She closed her eyes and debated on what she should do. After talking with Seto, she felt the calmest she had in weeks. Slowly, she opened the message.

Sanae: Hey, Ana. I made omelets today. They were extra good. Let me know when you're coming back to school and I'll make them.

Ana blinked, confused. She'd expected pity or sympathy or even an angry message from her friend asking her why she'd been ignoring her. Reluctantly, she opened the older messages one by one: Ana math class sucked today. I got called on and bombed the problem…. Today a girl confessed to Akari, I didn't mean to, but I overheard. His face was the same color as his hair… You never would have guessed what happened in gym class… There's this new movie out we should go see it… Coach made me swim extra laps for being two minutes late. He's a jerk sometimes…. I miss you. I know I can't do much for you, but whenever you're ready to come back, I'll still be here for you, just like always.

Ana burst into tears. She glanced at the clock. School had let out and Sanae should be done with swim practice. Hands shaking, she tried to type her a message but couldn't. Finally, she gave up and pressed the call button. Sanae picked up on the second ring.

"Ana?" She sounded confused.

"I'm… so… sorry…" She sobbed.

"… Can I come see you?"

"OK…."

Sanae hung up and about thirty minutes later Hikari opened the door to let her in. He left the two of them alone. Ana stood up and fidgeted.

"Sanae—"

Her friend dropped her bag and threw her arms around Ana's neck. They both stood there crying.

Ana sobbed into her shoulder. "I'm sorry for ignoring your messages and for sending you away… I just…"

Sanae stepped back and rubbed her eyes. "I've known you since preschool Ana. You didn't want anyone to see you weak. You acted similarly the last time that man tried to come onto you."

Ana bit her lip and looked at the ground.

"I am mad that you ignored me, but I'm angrier that you're hurting and at myself for not being able to do anything. I'm angry that I wasn't with you and that I hadn't been able to do anything when you were taken. Hikari was telling me you were having trouble adjusting back. If you need me to act like normal, I can. If you need me to listen, I can. If you need me…" Sanae cried so hard she couldn't speak, and it was Ana's turn to hug her.

After they cried for a good while, Ana took a step back and rubbed her eyes. "I… want to go back to school, but… I don't want people being awkward around me. I didn't want them treating me like I was going to break at any moment. I thought you might also…."

Sanae shook her head. "I know your strong. I've always known that."

"I don't feel very strong," Ana admitted.

"You don't need to be strong all the time. This time let me protect you, at least until you're ready to standalone again. I'd really like it if you came back to school. I can't say it won't be awkward or there won't be weird moments, but I'll help the best I can." Sanae rubbed her hands together as if she was trying to get the feeling back into them.

"I'll… think about it."

"And please don't push me away, again. I can give you space if you need it, but don't push me fully away." Sanae's tears spilled down her cheeks.

Ana nodded slowly. "Alright."

Finally, her best friend smiled. Ana smiled weakly in return. Sanae said, "Thank you. I'm glad you called me. Hikari hadn't said it was getting better, so I was expecting it to be a while longer before you called."

"I… talked with Amin-chan and felt ok after that to do it. I can't say I'm better though."

Sanae's eyes widened. "Wait, you talked to Kaiba-san? How?"

"On the phone."

Her friend pursed her lips. "And talking to him made you feel calm?"

"Yeah…"

"Ana, have you fallen for him now that he saved you?" Sanae smirked at her.

Ana was taken aback. She put her hands on her hips. "What? No, I haven't fallen for him."

"Hmm…"

"I haven't!" She insisted. "Besides, I thought you disliked him after he left."

Sanae sighed and shrugged. "I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say that he didn't know how to express his feelings for you, so he just left. He did save your life. I have to give him some brownie points for that."

"Think what you want, but I haven't fallen for him," Ana insisted.

"Fine, we'll shelve that for now until he confesses." Sanae sat down on Ana's bed. She rolled her eyes, but also sat down.

"How has everything been going?" Ana asked. It had been a while since they'd hung out in her room.

Sanae smiled and took the lead. She talked about school and their friends. How the swim team was going. She caught her up on the latest gossip, trends, and interests. Finally, Hikari came to the room and asked if she was staying for dinner. Sanae decline saying it was her turn to cook tonight and Ana saw her off. As Ana was standing at the door, watching her friend go, she looked around wondering if anyone was watching her. Amin-chan said he was spying on me, but how? She took one last look around before closing the door.