Cobra arrived at Oya Koukou in record time, the car's tense and silent atmosphere. Yamato sat beside him in the passenger seat, his face set in a grim expression, while Noboru insisted on coming along despite still recovering from his own injuries. Noboru sat in the back, his worry clear, though the pain of his recent ordeal showed in the tightness of his jaw. But none of them said a word—the weight of Aika's situation hung over them like a storm cloud.
As soon as they pulled up to the school, Cobra was out of the car, his steps quick and determined. His little sister had been through enough, and seeing her in the condition Murayama had described on the phone... He didn't know how he was going to handle it, but he knew one thing for sure—he wasn't going to let anyone else hurt her ever again.
Yamato and Noboru followed close behind, their faces etched with concern. Noboru winced slightly, holding his side where his stitches still pulled, but he pushed through the discomfort. Aika was his friend, and there was no way he was staying behind while she needed help.
When they entered the gym, the sight before them stopped all three in their tracks.
Aika lay unconscious on the gym mat, wrapped in a blanket that did little to hide the bruises and cuts covering her small frame. Her face was pale, feverish, her breathing shallow. Even from where he stood, Cobra could see the dark bruises on her arms, the grip marks that marred her skin where they'd grabbed her. His heart clenched painfully in his chest at the sight of his little sister looking so fragile, so broken. It was a stark contrast to the fiery, strong girl he'd always known.
Cobra's fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles turning white as anger surged through him. He wanted to hit something, to find whoever had done this to her and make them pay. His protective instincts were screaming at him to do something—anything—to fix this. But at that moment, there was nothing he could do but stand there, staring at the girl he'd sworn to protect.
Noboru, seeing Aika in such a state, felt a wave of nausea hit him. He'd known she was in danger, but seeing the reality of it—the bruises, the injuries—it was too much. His hand gripped the back of a nearby chair for support, his own recovery forgotten in the face of his friend's suffering. Yamato stood beside him, his face tight with worry, but he kept quiet, knowing Cobra needed a moment.
Murayama was kneeling beside Aika, his hand resting gently on her shoulder as he leaned over her. The Oya leader's face was a mix of guilt and sorrow, his usual tough demeanor nowhere in sight. He looked up when Cobra and the others entered, meeting Cobra's eyes for a brief second before his gaze dropped back to Aika. There was a vulnerability in his expression that Cobra had never seen before, and it took him by surprise.
Murayama swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. "She fought hard to get back here. She's... she's stronger than anyone I know." His hand brushed a strand of hair away from Aika's fevered face, his touch so gentle it almost broke Cobra's resolve.
Cobra took a step forward, his anger boiling just beneath the surface. "You were supposed to protect her. How did this happen?" His voice was low, dangerous, but there was an undercurrent of desperation there too. This was his sister—his responsibility—and seeing her like this made him feel powerless.
Murayama didn't flinch. He understood Cobra's anger, felt it echoing within himself. He had failed to protect Aika, and he couldn't forgive himself for that. "I wasn't there when she needed me," he admitted, his voice raw. "But she got away, Cobra. She fought her way out. She's alive because of her strength."
Cobra's fists tightened, but the anger was giving way to something else—something deeper. He looked down at Murayama, seeing the guilt and pain etched into his features, and for the first time, he realized that Murayama cared about Aika more than he had let on. It wasn't just loyalty or friendship. It was something stronger.
Murayama leaned down, his voice dropping to a murmur as he spoke to Aika's unconscious form. "I'm sorry, Aika. I should have been there sooner. I won't let anyone hurt you like this again. I swear it." His hand lingered on her cheek for a moment longer before he pulled away, the raw emotion in his voice unmistakable.
Cobra saw it clearly now—the way Murayama looked at Aika, the way his hands trembled slightly as he touched her, as if afraid she would slip away. It wasn't just guilt. Murayama was devastated because he cared for her. Deeply.
Yamato and Noboru exchanged a look but stayed silent, sensing the tension between Cobra and Murayama. It was a moment that could go either way—either Cobra would lash out, or he'd recognize what was truly happening here.
Cobra took a deep breath, his anger slowly ebbing away. He could see the truth in Murayama's eyes, in the way he hovered protectively over Aika even now. As much as Cobra wanted to blame someone for his sister's condition, he couldn't bring himself to lash out at Murayama. Not when he could see how much Murayama was already blaming himself.
"I'm taking her home," Cobra said finally, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "She needs to recover, and she can't do that here." He looked at Murayama, his gaze softening just slightly. "But I trust you to help me get her back on her feet. You owe her that much."
Murayama nodded, his throat tight with emotion. "I know. And I will. Just... take care of her."
Cobra knelt down beside Aika, his hand resting on her arm for a moment as he looked at her, his heart breaking at the sight of her so vulnerable. He turned to Yamato and Noboru, his voice firm. "We're taking her to the hospital in Sannoh. She needs more care than we can give her right now."
Yamato and Noboru both nodded, moving forward to help Cobra lift Aika gently. As they carried her out, Cobra glanced back at Murayama, their eyes meeting one last time.
"Don't worry," Cobra said, his voice low but filled with a grudging respect. "She'll be back. And when she is, make sure this never happens again."
Murayama, still kneeling on the gym floor, watched them go, his chest tight with a mix of emotions. He didn't respond, but deep down, he knew one thing for certain.
He would never let anyone hurt Aika again. No matter the cost.
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...
