Chapter 30: CHAPTER 29 - Time To Be Free (2)
A few hours later, Akihiko and Ichiro heard a knock on the door. Akihiko got up from his seat to answer it, greeting the visitor with a casual "Yo."
Emi Sato stood outside his door, seemingly unfazed by his greeting. She held out a box of desserts she had brought with her, not uttering a single word.
Akihiko accepted the offering with a pleased nod. "Nice," he acknowledged. "He's inside."
Without speaking, Emi entered the apartment and immediately noticed Ichiro, who looked battered and bruised. Concern welled up within her as she took in his condition. "You—what happened?" she inquired, her mind racing to consider the possible causes.
Emi's thoughts soon turned to a disturbing realization. Ichiro was the illegitimate child of his family, and she couldn't help but wonder if they were somehow responsible for his injuries. "Did they do it?" she questioned, her voice heavy with worry and suspicion.
Ichiro looked puzzled when Emi asked her question. "Who?" he queried, unsure of who she was referring to.
Emi's response was direct and to the point. "Who else, your family," she stated, her suspicion clear in her tone. She assumed that Akihiko was already privy to the full story.
Akihiko, seemingly trying to break the tension in the room, interrupted and offered Ichiro some dessert. "Hey, want some?" he interjected.
Ichiro hesitated, feeling the awkwardness of the situation. He hadn't expected Emi to notice the situation so quickly. "Ah, well..." he began, not knowing quite how to respond.
Emi, however, cut to the chase. "What do you need of me?" she asked, her no-nonsense attitude evident.
Ichiro hesitated once more, then replied hesitantly, "Well, Akihiko-kun said you can help me contact someone for me."
Without further ado, Emi agreed to his request. "Fine, I'll call her," she replied, leaving the room to make the call outside.
Ichiro was left dumbfounded by her swift response. He hadn't expected Emi to take action so decisively without fully understanding the situation. Meanwhile, Akihiko, enjoying his dessert, reassured Ichiro with a casual, "See, I told you everything will be fine."
As Ichiro waited for Emi to return, he decided to take Akihiko up on his offer to try the dessert. With the first bite, his face lit up with delight as he savored the delicious flavor. The taste was so incredible that he was momentarily lost for words.
Akihiko couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Ichiro's childlike expression. Despite Ichiro ignoring his amusement, he continued to chuckle, finding the reaction rather endearing.
Emi, having completed her call, returned to the room and suggested, "Hey, can we go out to a cafe instead of staying here?"
Ichiro nodded in agreement. "Ah, that's fine. But you know he's still badly wounded. My brother only did a minimal treatment, like he does on humans. He isn't a healer, you know."
Realization dawned on Ichiro as to why he was still experiencing some pain. It meant that his ribs were likely still broken.
Emi, however, couldn't hide her frustration. "Why didn't you call a doctor then?" she demanded, her anger evident.
Akihiko, equally annoyed, retorted, "Hey, my brother was the only person I could contact who wouldn't spill the beans. Do you think I trust anyone in my family to keep this a secret?" He had done his best given the circumstances, but there were limits to what he could accomplish.
"Fine, then what should we do?" Emi realized that they couldn't contact their family doctor either, which meant she couldn't rely on her usual sources of help. She was apprehensive about reporting the situation to her parents and the potential consequences for Ichiro.
Akihiko suggested, "Why don't you ask for her help?"
Emi sighed, explaining, "She's not here right now."
Akihiko nodded, understanding that she was likely on a battlefield again. It was remarkable how, despite being the same age, she was frequently called to fight in battles.
Ichiro interjected, reassuring them, "Ah, you don't have to worry. I'm fine," as he had a plan to heal himself once he had the chance to acquire the necessary ingredients.
Akihiko observed Ichiro curiously, wondering if he would do something out of the ordinary again. "If you say so."
Emi, eager to get going, asked, "Then, can we go?"
Akihiko agreed, "Yeah, I'll get changed."
Emi gave him an exasperated look and retorted, "Take a shower, you idiot." She clearly expected him to be presentable before they left.
Akihiko handed Ichiro a hood and a hat to wear, intending to help him conceal his identity. They were cautious, suspecting that Ichiro's family might be searching for him.
Emi reassured Ichiro, saying, "Don't worry, the cafe we're going to is owned by my friend."
Ichiro nodded in response but still felt uneasy about the situation. He didn't want to involve Emi and Akihiko any further. Even though he knew they were more than capable of handling any threats from his family, he felt guilty for bringing trouble to their doorstep.
As they walked through the district, Ichiro couldn't help but notice the upscale surroundings. It was a place frequented by the elite, and he felt somewhat out of place.
When they finally arrived at the cafe, Ichiro was taken aback when the staff greeted both Emi and Akihiko with familiarity. It was evident that they were regular patrons here, and Ichiro couldn't help but feel like an outsider in this elegant establishment.
'They must go here all the time.'
"Don't think nonsense, I don't go here. They just know me," Akihiko replied to Ichiro's unspoken concerns, noticing the perplexed look on Ichiro's face.
Ichiro attempted to clarify, "I didn't..." but his words were cut off as Akihiko appeared visibly annoyed.
Upon reaching the second floor of the cafe, they encountered a girl arranging a dessert tray. She greeted Emi with a cheerful smile, directing the waitstaff to prepare more desserts.
"Hey, Sona-chan," Emi called out, getting the girl's attention.
The girl turned around, revealing her smiling face and dressed in a stylish yet casual outfit.
Ichiro was puzzled as he looked at the girl. It was as if he had seen her before, but he couldn't place where or when.
Akihiko, noticing Ichiro's strange expression, inquired, "Hey, are you okay?" He then glanced between Ichiro and the girl, realizing that something about her had caught Ichiro's attention.
"Thanks for your help, Sona," Emi replied as she let go of the girl.
Sona seemed a bit annoyed, "What are you talking about? We're friends. Besides, I'm soon to be family with that guy," she added with a hint of irritation, referencing Akihiko.
Akihiko greeted her casually, "Yo, Sona, how are you?"
Sona's annoyance with him was evident as she responded, "I'll be in a good mood if I see you visit your sister."
Akihiko brushed off the comment, replying, "Yeah, whatever... Anyways, we're not here for that."
Sona changed her tone and asked, "I know. Where is he?"
Ichiro slowly lowered his hood, revealing his beaten and battered face. Sona was shocked by his condition and asked with concern, "You—are you alright? Should I call..."
She paused, realizing that Emi and Akihiko hadn't already called for help. The situation must have been so dire that they couldn't trust anyone else to contact authorities or medical personnel.
Ichiro managed a weak smile despite his battered state. "It's not as bad as it looks. Thanks for your concern, Miss Sona."
Sona sighed in relief, glad to hear that it wasn't a life-threatening situation. "Alright, but you still look awful. Sit down."
She led Ichiro to a nearby table and gestured for him to take a seat. Akihiko and Emi joined them, and the atmosphere was a mix of concern and tension. They knew that discussing Ichiro's situation here was risky, but it was a risk they had to take.
Sona ordered some drinks for the group, and when they arrived, they began discussing their next steps.
"Ichiro," Emi began, her voice serious, "are you sure you still wish to return home?"
"It's not as bad as you think. I'm sure they won't do anything so drastic as to kill me. I'm sure Akihiko-kun will report to the authorities if something does happen to me. With his connections, they'll surely pay the price," Ichiro reassured, his resolve apparent in his words. He had faced death before and was not afraid to confront it again.
Sona looked at Emi with a dumbfounded expression and whispered into her ear, "When did they become so close?"
Akihiko, who overheard her comment, frowned in annoyance. He didn't appreciate being underestimated in his ability to make friends despite his cold demeanor. "Hey, I can hear you…"
Sona interrupted Akihiko before he could continue, saying, "Then, I'll contact my family to set us up with the best legal team. But you must remember..."
Before Sona could finish her sentence, Emi and Akihiko simultaneously declared their intentions.
"That won't be a problem," Emi stated.
"I'm paying," Akihiko added.
Both of them spoke at the same time, leaving Ichiro dumbfounded by the unexpected turn of events. He had not anticipated Emi's involvement in the matter.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone