今居る場所を 逃げ出すことはそう すごく簡単だけれど
Running away from this place we're in would be so easy...
Although Aika was still fuming from her encounter with Oya Koukou, she couldn't suppress a spark of excitement that had been ignited deep inside. It was the first time in over a year—since her fight with Jesse—that someone had faced her without her usual disguise. Murayama Yoshiki's face lingered in her thoughts, his cocky smirk fueling her frustration.
"That jerk! Ugh, how does he not remember me?" she muttered aloud, her fists clenched. "It was his stupid promise that led me there in the first place."
She scowled as she replayed the events in her head, her anger bubbling to the surface. As she approached Sannoh's familiar streets from the train station, her mood began to shift. The familiar sights and sounds brought with them a wave of emotions—some nostalgic, others more complex. Aika's feet finally led her to the door of Itokan Diner, its misspelled sign evoking a tight knot in her stomach.
She stood outside for a moment, staring at the place that had once been her refuge. Fear and anxiety swirled within her. She wasn't sure how they would react to seeing her again, especially after so long. Would her brother be furious with her for leaving without a word? She had wandered for a year—though, in Cobra's mind, she had been aimless—and their last conversation had been anything but amicable.
Aika took a deep breath, trying to shake off the cold dread creeping up her spine. The winter air was sharp, sending icy chills through her thin jacket. There was no turning back now. She had things to accomplish, and she knew the only way to get there was through S.W.O.R.D.
Pushing open the door, she heard the familiar jingle of the bell. The once-lively chatter in the diner immediately hushed, and all eyes fell on her.
"Tadaima," Aika called softly, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her monochromatic eyes.
The silence broke as Cobra moved first, pulling her into a tight hug. "Okaeri, Ai-chan," he whispered, his voice full of relief.
Chiharu, seated across the room, raised an eyebrow. "Yamato-san? Who's that girl hugging Cobra-san? They seem close—are they... involved?"
Yamato choked on his drink, bursting into laughter. "Those two? No way in hell!" he guffawed, leaving Chiharu more confused than ever, but enjoying the spectacle.
Naomi was the next to rush forward, enveloping Aika in a hug that almost knocked the wind out of her. "Okaeri, Aika-chan! I'm so glad you're safe." But the tenderness was short-lived as Naomi pulled back and gave Aika a sharp smack on her sore shoulder, the one still aching from her fight with Murayama.
"Ow! What the hell, Naomi? That hurt!" Aika winced, rubbing her arm.
"Baka!" Naomi scolded. "How dare you drop out of school right before graduation and then disappear for almost two years! We were all worried sick about you, especially Cobra. He was a mess. Now, explain yourself and apologize properly!"
Aika couldn't argue with Naomi's anger—she was right. With a deep sigh, Aika walked back over to Cobra and bowed her head deeply.
"I'm so sorry, Nii-chan," Aika began, her voice shaking as tears fell freely now. "After Tatsuya-san died, and Haku-niisan vanished, I couldn't focus anymore. I was angry—angry at Haku-niisan for sending me away, angry at you for not supporting my dreams. I couldn't stand it, so I left."
Her body trembled as she spoke, the pain of the past weighing heavily on her. "But I hated that fight... and at school, doubt crept in..." She couldn't finish the sentence, her fear too raw.
YOU ARE READING
Fuyu Monogatari
Fanfiction. Abandoned as a child Aika was taken in by Cobra's family but basically raised by Kohaku of Mugen since he was the one who found her. She has a passion for martial arts and even though she could have graduated top of her class she didn't want to gi...
