Will You Always Be by My Side?

The warmth of his palm seeped through her skin, and she suddenly felt that all the humiliation, fear, and despair of that night had been worth it.

"Anu."

She murmured his name and threw herself into Naoki's arms, holding him tightly.

Naoki's body stiffened for a moment.

Her soft, warm body collided with his, trembling slightly as she breathed in quick, shallow gasps. Her hands clamped around his waist so tightly that he could feel the pressure of her fingertips.

Looking down, Naoki saw Aikawa Yumi gazing up at him from his arms.

The next moment, Aikawa Yumi rose onto her toes, looped her arms around Naoki's neck, closed her eyes, and pressed her red lips to his.

Naoki froze.

The instant her soft lips touched his, all sorts of things flashed through his mind... the alley on that rainy night, the dim yellow light, Hideko's flushed cheeks when he'd held her by the arm, and that charm.

He wanted to push her away.

But his hand rose only halfway before stopping.

Aikawa Yumi's kiss wasn't passionate. It was cautious, almost tentative, as if she were trying to confirm something—or afraid of something. Her lashes trembled lightly, like a wounded little animal that had finally found shelter.

Naoki lowered his eyes.

Moonlight streamed through the window, bathing them in a cool silver glow.

After an unknowable stretch of time, Aikawa Yumi finally released him.

She took half a step back, clasped her hands behind her, and looked up at Naoki, both alluring and innocent.

"Anu... You really do care about your big sister, don't you?"

Naoki didn't answer. Seeing the woman in his arms, her clothes torn nearly to shreds and revealing great swathes of fair skin, he couldn't help thinking that the Creator had played favorites.

In his previous life, he'd met plenty of beautiful women with striking faces but such flat figures they looked like men. He'd also met the opposite. But he'd never come across a woman who had both and possessed such an exceptional air...

Naoki took off his outer garment and draped it over Aikawa Yumi's shoulders.

It still held his body heat, wrapping her bare skin in warmth.

"Let's go." At last, he spoke, his voice as calm as ever. "It's not safe here."

Aikawa Yumi pulled his warm outer garment tightly around herself and lowered her head to sniff the lingering scent on the collar. Her smile deepened.

"Anu's clothes smell so nice."

Naoki didn't respond. He picked her up, leapt onto the windowsill, and sprang away.

Moonlight spilled over the desolate wilderness like a ribbon of silk.

Carrying Aikawa Yumi, Naoki moved through the shadows of the trees, his steps light and almost soundless.

Wrapped in his outer garment, the woman in his arms held his neck and stayed quiet, nothing like her usual teasing, flirtatious self.

The wind brushed past their ears, carrying a hint of chill.

Aikawa Yumi lifted her head. Moonlight fell across Naoki's profile, outlining his cool features. His expression remained distant, as though a thin mist separated him from the world. But his crimson eyes vigilantly swept over their surroundings, taking in every possible threat.

"Anu," she called softly.

Naoki didn't look down. He simply murmured, "Mm," in reply.

Aikawa Yumi's fingers gently stroked the back of his neck, feeling the cool skin beneath her palm and the beat of his pulse.

Suddenly, she thought how wonderful it would be if nights like this, under moonlight like this, could last forever...

"I thought you wouldn't come." Her voice was so quiet it was almost lost in the night breeze.

Naoki finally glanced down at her.

In the moonlight, her eyes shone brilliantly, as if they held two stars.

Naoki said nothing. He continued running forward without breaking stride.

Aikawa Yumi waited for a moment. When he still didn't respond, she didn't get upset. Instead, she buried her face against his chest and listened to his steady, powerful heartbeat, greedily savoring this brief moment.

"Anu," she called again.

"Mm."

"Anu."

"...Mm."

"Anu, Anu, Anu..."

Naoki finally stopped and looked down at the woman in his arms, who had suddenly become so childish.

Aikawa Yumi tilted her head back. Moonlight fell on her face, illuminating her bright eyes and the smile she couldn't hide.

"Have you called enough?"

"No." She was entirely unapologetic. "I'm calling my own Anu. What's it to you?"

Naoki fell silent for a moment, then continued running.

Nestled in his arms, Aikawa Yumi laughed in triumph.

The night breeze was cool, but Aikawa Yumi felt warm all over, as if she'd been soaked in moonlight or warmed by this silent embrace...

Ahead lay a dense forest, the trees casting deep shadows. Moonlight filtered through gaps in the branches and scattered across the ground in tiny patches.

Naoki slowed down and finally stopped beneath a large tree.

He set Aikawa Yumi down with her back against the trunk, then crouched and carefully examined her injuries.

Bruises on her collarbone, marks around her wrists... His gaze lingered on each for a moment, his brows drawing together slightly.

"Does it hurt?"

Aikawa Yumi shook her head, then suddenly nodded and gazed at him with wide, pleading eyes. "It hurts."

Naoki fell silent for a moment, then took out the medicine he carried and began treating her wounds.

His touch was so gentle she could barely feel it. With ointment on his fingers, he slowly applied it to her bruised skin, carefully tending to each injury.

Aikawa Yumi looked down at the crown of his head and watched his hands as they carefully treated her wounds. Then she reached out and gently touched his cheek.

Naoki paused, but didn't pull away.

"Anu." Her voice was soft as melted sugar. "You know, back in that bastard's room, I thought I was going to die."

Naoki didn't look up. He continued applying the ointment.

"But I wasn't afraid at all," Aikawa Yumi continued, softly stroking his cheek with her fingers. "Because I guessed you'd come."

"Why?"

"Because you're my Anu."

Naoki finally looked up and met her eyes.

Moonlight filtered through the branches and broke into tiny points of starlight in her eyes. Her gaze, usually so languid and teasing, was now utterly serious.

He lowered his eyes and continued tending to her wounds.

When he'd finished applying the ointment, he tore several strips from his own clothing and carefully bandaged the marks around her wrists. His movements remained gentle, but he was even more attentive than before.

Aikawa Yumi watched him quietly as he did all this, then suddenly spoke.

"Anu, will you always be by my side?"

Naoki's hands paused as he bandaged her.

He didn't answer, only tied the final knot.

"Your silence means yes." Aikawa Yumi laughed and reached out to ruffle his hair. "My Anu is such a good boy."

Naoki finally looked up.

"What are you, exactly?" he asked.

Aikawa Yumi's hand paused, then resumed its movement.

"I'm a woman who runs a bar. What else would I be?"