"Hello?" What else could Hiro say in front of someone looking at her with cold eyes. Not only that, but droplets of blood were splattered across his face and clothes and his neck appeared to have bite marks on it.

And yet, he didn't appear to be someone that was desperate for help. That much was clear when brushing past her as he walked in nearly cost Hiro her balance.

There was a very unsettling air and al Hiro could do was watch the stranger look around her house.

"…Where is she?" the man asked.

"Who?"

"My daughter."

That was when it clicked in her mind. While confused, something about this man seemed familiar. She had only heard about him, but this was the first time she had seen him. This is Natsuki's father.

"She's upstairs with the boy, isn't she?" Kaen's voice was seething with anger and his eyes were devoid of any empathy.

"No. She's at school." Hiro answered, trying to stifle her anxiety.

Somehow, she had to end this conversation and lead Kaen out of her home with as little fuss as possible.

Though the injuries Kaen sported made that task seem even harder than anticipated.

Was the blood even his or was it someone else? For all she knew, it could be the last person she recalled being in his presence.

It was a possibility that made her worries grow.

"…You're his mom?" Kaen asked.

Hiro nodded her head. "I'm Shujinkou's mother."

"And you're okay with him getting my daughter to sneak around behind my back?"

"Sneak around?" The way he worded that made it clear how Natsuki could have referred to him as a "helicopter parent".

"Yeah, and you're allowing it to happen," Kaen approached Hiro with what could only be described as murderous intent. She hasn't seen such anger since her mother displayed something similar after Jomei left.

"I don't think they're sneaking around. They just seem like they're friends that hang out."

"Don't give me that. What friend stays over at a boy's house who knows how many times?"

Sadly, Hiro couldn't truly refute that point. Most people would be uncomfortable with the idea of teenage boys and girls being alone under one roof, especially when one is quite smitten with the other.

"It could happen if there was an emergency," Without thinking any further, Hiro was able to belt out a counterpoint. She was surprised she was able to do that.

"And what about the other ties they've been alone in this house together!?"

"Friends hanging out…?" Hiro's eyes darted across the room, desperately looking for something much less hostile to focus on. "It's not really strange for friends to spend time together, right?"

"Really, did that excuse work for your husband before he left?"

Kaen waited for a response with expecting eyes, but Hiro was too hurt to give one. Calling his retort a low blow would have been an understatement.

But then…

Hiro sensed something new from Kaen. It was easy to overlook behind the frustration, but it was there.

"…I don't think it's fair to compare their friendship to o- my personal issues," Hiro said somberly. "And Shujinkou isn't like his father."

"The kid who surrounds himself with girls isn't bad? Is that what you're seriously trying to tell me?"

"That's just a series of coincidences that were beyond his control. And it's not a crime to be the only guy in a group of girls."

"Right, there's nothing wrong with stringing along a bunch of girls just to smash their hopes," Kaen retorted sardonically.

"That's the farthest thing from Shujinkous's mind and you can't really be certain that any of them have those kinds of feelings for-"

"Bullshit! I've seen the things she wrote about your kid. All the bare minimum efforts he gives excite her so much that she won't stop writing it down, the poems, the fact that she was hiding a drawing of his under her pillow so it will always be close by. She's in love with your kid and you need to stop enabling the two of them!"

What could Hiro say? She was horrified over the Kaen's blunt admittance to invading his daughter's privacy and his booming voice made it seem like he was close to being set off. Not only that, but he wants her to aid in his attempt at keeping their children separated.

Regardless of romantic implications, Shujinkou and Natsuki were close friends.

"…I'm not enabling anything and, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I don't really think you should be trying to keep them apart. Your daughter is one of the reasons my son is able to smile again and Shujinkou's friendship seems to mean a lot to her too. I don't think that's something you can truly stop."

After saying that, Hiro was surprised that Kaen stepped away from her. He seemed hurt and annoyed.

"…We'll see about that."

…

Sayori rushed out of Natsuki's home only to fall flat on her face after a few steps.

"Sayori, where are you going?!" Natsuki sputtered.

"I—!" Sayori pushed herself up on her knees and looked back at Natsuki. She had never seen the usually upbeat girl so livid before. "Shiko's in danger again! We have to get to him!"

She was taken aback by the intensity behind Sayori's words.

"Ah, so VP-San can make that kind of scary face too." Mali's eyes were glued to her phone as she belted out another sarcastic sounding comment. For someone who enjoyed people's reactions, it was a shock for her to forgo experiencing that pleasure again.

Her calm, neutral expression proved to still to be uncanny.

"So, Natsuki-chan, have any idea what we should do?" Mali questioned, her stare still exclusive to her phone.

"Why are you asking me? Aren't you the one with plans within plans?"

"We don't have time for you to be deflecting, Natsuki-chan. At least, not unless you want Senpai to go through another vicious beatdown."

Once again, Natsuki had to concede to Mali's point. She had to—

"Oh no… I just realized that Auntie Hiro may get caught in the middle too!" Recognizing this, Sayori stumbled on to her feet just as Mali rode up to her on a bike.

"Ready to go?" Mali gestured to Sayori to hop on, something she agreed to without hesitation. Once Sayori was on, Mali looked up, surprised to find Natsuki standing beside her.

"Let me on," she softly, but sternly demanded.

It was clear to Mali that Natsuki didn't want any of her comments. Despite that, it was still a great surprise to Natsuki when she didn't give one and simply motioned her to get on the handlebars.

Once Natsuki was settled, Mali took off at a speed that didn't seem possible for someone with her injuries. Recognizing that along with the constant wobbling of the handlebar allowed Natsuki to realize something. "Why are we letting the person with a broken arm to drive!?"

"You'll understand soon," Mali answered, keeping her sights beyond Natsuki.

Mali's continued uncharacteristic behavior earned her looks of confusion from both of her passengers. Even in a life and death situation, they've only seen her smile.

…

"We'll be coming up soon. Get ready to depart you two," Mali instructed.

"Eh? What are you talking about, Mali?" Sayori couldn't quite understand why Mali would tell them to get off when she showed no intention of stopping.

"Mali… You couldn't be thinking…? Natsuki was horrified when Mali smiled back at her, confirming her worries. "Are you crazy?"

"It seems like you're the crazy one if you thought that it's better I try to brake normally right now," Mali said with a slight giggle. "In case you forgot, I do have a broken arm. I try to stop now, and we all go down in a blaze of regret and shame instead of just one of us."

"But that doesn't mean that we want you to get hurt at all!" Sayori objected.

"Then I guess no one can help Senpai and his mother then," Mali pointed out.

"But…"

"I thought I mentioned it before… Better let someone that can handle the pain handle it, right?"

"But…"

"Seriously, what's with you being all noble all of a sudden?" Natsuki asked, astounded by Mali's conduct.

Mali met Natsuki's confused gaze with one of her own. "How many times do I have to tell you, Natsuki-chan; I'll do whatever it takes for my precious Senpai to wake up with no worries. Isn't that something we can all agree on? Now then… Keep your skirts down and you're sleeves up."

In the midst of confusion, Mali used her long hair and good hand to knock her passengers off the bike. They tumbled along the ground, groaning from the less than pleasant landing.

"Ugh… Even her good moments have be like that…" Natsuki moaned as checked on Sayori.

Sayori was dazed but soon regained her faculties. "What happened to Mali?"

"Maybe she went looking for the cushiest place to crash. She always has to do things her way even when the consequences are just too much." Contrary to her harsh criticism, Natsuki was clearly worried about Mali.

"Natsuki," Sayori eyes were glued to what lied in front of them: Shujinkou's home.

Landed us right in front of his place. Natsuki gulped. The sight of the front door hanging open was very concerning. You really wouldn't come here, would you? Papa…

Recalling what she found the last time she walked through a suspiciously open door sent chills down her spine. Something inside her was begging her not to go in.

Naturally, that was no longer an option the moment Sayori ran into the house.

"Sayori…!"

She instinctively gave chase. It didn't take long for her to catch up; Inside, Sayori was looking around desperately.

All of a sudden, Sayori's attention snapped towards the stairs, her eyes widening with horror. She slowly began to make her way up them.

It wasn't clear what rattled Sayori until she followed after her. Very familiar sounds rattled in her ears as they climbed the stairs one by one and once at the top, they found the source of it.

Hiro was standing in front of Shujinkou's room, her nails digging into the frame of his door. Each blow to her person felt like a ton of bricks striking her all at once, but she had to hold on. It was all she knew she could do.

But determination alone was not enough. One mighty blow from Kaen sent Hiro flying back, landing just before the bed where her son lied.

"Auntie Hiro!" Sayori frantically rushed past Kaen and hurried to Hiro's side. "Auntie Hiro, are you okay?!"

No matter how much she cried out, Sayori couldn't get a response from her Hiro.

From the hallway, Natsuki could only stand silent, frozen in shock. Her worst nightmare continued to unfold and there was nothing that could be done to stop it.

For a moment, Sayori appeared to have the same affliction, until she gently laid Hiro down. Though she was trembling, she had no issues standing up up and approaching Kaen.

"Why…?" Sayori eyes were sharp and filled with anger. "Why'd you do this Auntie Hiro?!"

"Because she wouldn't listen to reason," Kaen answered promptly. There wasn't a hint of regret in his words, something that Sayori found reprehensible.

"For that reason…?"

"You should use this as an opportunity to wake up. You're being strung along by that kid behind you, probably so-"

"Stop it!" Sayori yelled this right to Kaen's face. "I don't care what you think about Shiko because you're wrong and you just hurt Auntie Hiro for trying to protect him!"

"She was enabling him! Letting him work his magic trying to take what belongs to others!" Kaen yelled back.

"Shiko's not doing that! People come to him not the other way around!"

"…You're so wrapped around his finger that talking to you is pointless. Out of the way."

"No! I'm tired of people hurting Shiko just for things out of his control! You're not touching him!"

Kaen responded by shoving Sayori into the nearest wall. She wasted no time in taking advantage of the opportunity given to her, and tightly wrapped her arms around his.

"Let go!"

Sayori vehemently shook her head, her act of defiance earning her another hard slam into the wall she hovered in front of.

"Get off!"

"No way!"

No matter how many times Sayori was slammed into the wall, she refused to let go.

"What's wrong with you!?"

"I told you that I won't let you hurt him! I'm not letting anything else happen to him!"

Sayori continued to hang on, even when she began spitting up blood.

"Sayori…" Natsuki trembled as she watched the horror unfold. Sayori's grunts of pain struck her heart in a steady tempo.

Standing there, unable to act, reminded her of what Mali said to her – how she was unable to be anything more than tough talk.

All the pain and suffering that's happened to them as of late and she was the only one who hadn't done anything to help. All she could do is watch the people around her get hurt.

But now it's my papa doing it.

Returning from her thoughts, Natsuki witnessed Sayori's resistance shatter as she was rammed into the floor, the impact finally causing her to let go.

Kaen was finally free to move in on his target, but something immediately stopped him from getting any closer. Looking down, he was shocked to discover Sayori had now latched onto his right leg.

"What're you doing?!" Kaen yelled.

"I said to stay away from him!" Sayori yelled back.

Sayori's demand was met with a swift quick to the face. In response, she dug her teeth into Kaen's leg, prompting him to stomp down on her head to force her off.

It was like getting hit by an anvil over and over, but no matter the pain, Sayori refused to let go again. Kaen was intent on trying harder until another pair of hands held him back.

"Papa, stop it! You don't have to do this! I promise to stay away from them so please… Please stop…" Natsuki strengthened her grip and begged her father with tears in her eyes.

Hearing this plea made Sayori gasp, unintentionally freeing Kaen from her toothy grip.

"…You already said that and yet you still went behind my back to see him…" he muttered.

"But-"

"I'm not going to let you sneak around too! And I'll make sure of it this time…!"

"No…!"

Kaen forcefully wrenched her daughter off of him and delivered another kick to Sayori, sending her flying away.

"Dad, no!"

Natsuki's desperate cries fell on deaf ears. With just a few steps, Kaen was finally in position to fulfill his objective. Shujinkou was finally in his grasp, but along with that acknowledgement came an eruption of pain from his right leg.

He saw something rising from where Sayori had bitten him and when he turned around, he found Natsuki holding what seemed to be a giant black key.

Natsuki's hands trembled upon realizing what she had done.

"Natsuki…?"

She said nothing as she swung again, knocking her father down on his knees. Before he could process what had just happened, Sayori lunged at him and tackled him to the ground while holding a pillow to his face.

"Natsuki, take Shiko and run!" Sayori instructed, adding more pressure to the pillow.

"What?"

"He's after Shiko and I know you'll be next! You need to take Shiko and get out of here!"

The idea seemed insane to Natsuki; she couldn't just leave Sayori behind, especially after what happened with Mali.

"There's no time to argue, Natsuki! You have to go!"

Following those words, Kaen's hands shot up and tightly latched on to Sayori's arms. She winced from the pain caused by his tight grip.

"Let go!" Sayori cried.

His hands were immediately pried off other her and pushed back onto the floor.

"Auntie Hiro!" a smile briefly crossed Sayori's face upon finding Hiro back on her feet.

Hiro responded with a nod and shifted her sorrowful face towards Natsuki. "I'm sorry for putting this on you, but please listen to Sayori. We'll try our best here."

Natsuki didn't want to do it. She couldn't.

"…Okay."

Despite not wanting to, she also knew that she couldn't waste the opportunity they were working hard to give her. Moving as fast as she could, Natsuki sat Shujinkou's unconscious body up and slung his arm around her shoulder.

There was no time to figure out a gentle way to get him on her back and had no choice but to slowly drag him out of his room.

"If there was any time for you to miraculously wake up Shujinkou, now would be the time," Natsuki said this half-jokingly, but a part of her truly believed that it was a possibility.

She kept inching her way forward, but soon came across another obstacle – the stairs.

Now would be better…

Given her current predicament, dragging Shujinkou down backwards appeared to be the best solution she had.

She quickly, but delicately lowered Shujinkou on the floor then sat him up. Her heart was beating faster and faster with every passing second. She had to get Shujinkou out of the house before-

"Ah-!"

…Time was up.

Fear had once again taken hold of Natsuki, freezing her in place. The chance she was given had slipped through her fingers and was now faced with a thoroughly angry Kaen.

No words were spared and before she knew it, Natsuki had been sent flying into a wall. Part of her wished that the impact had knocked her unconscious as what she had to watch was a cruel punishment.

"Dad… No…!"

Shujinkou was in Kaen's grip, and he hovered the unconscious boy over the stairs.

"NO!"

Tears filled Natsuki's eyes as she was forced to watch the beginning of Shujinkou's descent.