Even if that kind of accident had happened, the kind that might lead to ten months of pregnancy, she still couldn't demand that he take responsibility.
So whatever Hikari chose to do was his own freedom. It had nothing to do with her.
At the time, she'd also said that they should just pretend that incident had never happened.
Sigh!
In her heart, Tsukishima Kyoko suddenly let out a quiet sigh of regret.
There wasn't much shame or anger left in that sigh anymore, only a trace of melancholy and loneliness. Her faint, wistful gaze locked straight onto Hikari, who at that moment was passionately entangled with Takamine Ayako.
Though she didn't know exactly how Takamine Ayako and Hikari had gotten involved, Tsukishima Kyoko remembered that this homeroom teacher from the neighboring class had a personality somewhat similar to her own.
Both were strict, serious, and very responsible toward their students.
But maybe because Ayako was a few years older, Kyoko's personality was still a bit more stubborn.
So when it came to certain things, Ayako could see more clearly, when she wanted something badly enough, she couldn't help but seek Hikari out and deepen their relationship.
But Kyoko couldn't do that.
Even though she wanted it too, wanted it so badly it hurt, even more than Ayako, who had been single all this time, she still couldn't accept asking that kind of thing from a male high school student when not under hypnosis.
What's more, she was a married woman, even if that title had long been meaningless. But still, there was a ring on her finger.
At some point, Tsukishima Kyoko had drifted away in a daze, and by the time she came to her senses, she was already back in the office, sitting at her desk.
"Kyoko-chan, are you okay?", asked her colleague and close friend Miwa Shirakawa, noticing that Kyoko seemed a bit off.
"N-no… I'm fine…", Kyoko replied reflexively to her friend's concern.
"Really fine?", Miwa looked at her with worry.
Then she suddenly smiled and said, "Kyoko, we've known each other for so many years. You're definitely hiding something from me. You won't tell me what it is, but… isn't there something you want, but you're too afraid to reach for? Some desire that hasn't been fulfilled?"
Kyoko lifted her head in surprise, staring at Miwa. Maybe it was because they'd known each other so long, but Kyoko hadn't expected her friend to be so perceptive, she'd nearly guessed her true feelings.
Still, she forced herself to deny it, "No, you're overthink—"
But before she could finish, Miwa interrupted, "Kyoko-chan, listen to me first."
"Hikari-kun once said something to me that I thought made a lot of sense."
"He said that in the golden years of his youth, he had many desires, to love, to eat, even to become a cloud in the half-lit sky for just a moment."
"But later, he realized that life is a slow process of being hammered down. People age day by day, and their desires fade away little by little."
"So if, right now, you have some wish or desire… why not try to fulfill it? Why keep suppressing yourself in a life that's already so short?"
Hearing Miwa's words, Kyoko froze.
Clearly, there were so many holes in what she'd just said, wasn't Hikari only sixteen? How could he have so many 'life realizations'?
But the usually logical, math-teacher Kyoko completely forgot to complain about that.
She only reflexively tried to argue, "How can one just do whatever they want in life? No matter what, people have to restrain their desires, don't they?"
Hearing Kyoko's voice, smaller than usual, Miwa just smiled, "The bell rang. I'm off to class~"
And with that, Miwa left.
Kyoko, who'd been ready to debate fiercely and refute every word, could only stare blankly at her friend's departing back, a mix of emotions swirling inside her.
She stared vacantly at the crows flying past the window as the bell continued to ring in her ears. Miwa's words kept echoing in her mind, like the deep toll of a temple bell, rippling through her heart like pebbles falling into water.
———
On the other side, Hikari had no idea that a certain teacher was troubled because of him.
On the contrary, his day had gone quite well.
After spending an intimate morning with Takamine Ayako, he went through a normal school day.
His "Pure Love Radar" stayed quiet, nothing unexpected happened.
But after school, he took the initiative to find his neighbor, Katsuragi Sayaka, and invited her to walk home with him.
When they got back to the Asou Apartments, Katsuragi Shouko and her daughter Yuki were already waiting downstairs.
Today was the day they had arranged to meet Kareki Ichiro, to formally annul Katsuragi Shouko's engagement to him.
Hikari was accompanying them.
"Sigh, sorry to trouble you, Hikari-kun. Really, my daughters and I could have gone to meet Ichiro ourselves."
Downstairs, Katsuragi Shouko said with some embarrassment, she felt like she'd been relying on Hikari too often lately.
But Hikari smiled, "It's fine, Mrs. Shouko. The whole business with Kareki Tsunetaka, and even today's divorce, are kind of connected to me too. So I should go with you."
"Mm! We really need Hikari-kun's help!", both Yuki and Sayaka nodded earnestly.
The sisters were already starting to rely on him quite a bit.
Their father had died young, they'd never felt warmth from a man before.
Hikari had helped Sayaka deal with her swimming coach problem, and he'd helped Yuki handle Kareki Tsunetaka's death.
Even though they were about the same age, the way they depended on him… calling him a foster father wouldn't even seem strange.
Shouko herself was deeply moved by his words.
Her mature, alluring eyes sparkled, even glistening with moisture.
A woman who'd been lonely for years… what she needed most was a dependable man she could rely on.
Hikari's responsible words hit her right in the heart.
If her two daughters hadn't been there, she might have thrown herself into his arms already.
Noticing the strange look in the eyes of all three women, Hikari quickly hailed a taxi to avoid any unnecessary situation and urged them along to the meeting place with Kareki Ichiro.
In the car, they chatted about what to say when meeting him.
Shouko and her daughters discussed it seriously. How to act, what to say, how to explain.
Hikari mostly stayed quiet.
Even when Shouko or Yuki asked his opinion, he only nodded or shook his head lightly, giving brief, simple responses.
———
Before long, the car stopped in front of a café.
The four of them went inside and chose a window seat. Each ordered a cup of coffee.
According to plan, they would wait here for Kareki Ichiro to arrive.
"Ugh… what if he asks about Kareki Tsunetaka?", Yuki couldn't help but whisper once they sat down.
"He shouldn't… right?", Sayaka said nervously.
"Relax, both of you," Shouko tried to comfort her daughters. She knew they were tense. After all, it had been Yuki herself who'd killed Kareki Tsunetaka with her own hands.
To meet his father now. Of course, they were nervous.
Shouko was nervous too, but not because of Tsunetaka. Because of the divorce.
First, she wasn't sure if the divorce could go smoothly as discussed over the phone.
After being single for years, the only reason she'd considered remarrying was for her daughters' sake, to give them a father. But now, she only wanted to be free again as soon as possible.
The second reason was… that she wanted to be free for someone.
She wasn't sure what would happen after that. If she got her freedom, could she get closer to that person? And how would her daughters react then? It was all such a headache.
Her eyes turned complicated as she looked across the table at Hikari's handsome face.
Suddenly, Hikari stood up.
"Um, I'll just go to the restroom," He saw the three women look at him and explained casually.
"Excuse me, where's the restroom?", he asked the waitress who happened to be bringing coffee.
"I'm sorry, sir, we don't have a restroom in our café. If you need one, there's a public bathroom across the street," she said apologetically, bowing.
"It's fine," Hikari waved his hand and left the booth.
"I'll be right back," he said to the Katsuragi trio, and walked toward the door.
Just as he pushed the door open to leave, someone else entered—
BANG!
Their shoulders collided hard.
Hikari looked down. It was a bald, burly man with a mustache and a short beard, he looked rough and dangerous.
But though the man was muscular, Hikari was far beyond ordinary human strength. In the instant of collision, the bald man staggered backward, nearly falling.
Hikari quickly reached out to steady him, "Sorry, sir, almost knocked you over."
The man patted his shoulder, which still ached a bit, and looked Hikari up and down before smiling, "No problem, kid. You're pretty solid, huh?"
"Haha! I guess so," Hikari chuckled.
"Well, I still feel a little off from that hit, don't get me wrong, I'm not asking for money. I just want you to walk with me over to that alley there, okay?", The bald man pointed across the street.
"Uh…", Hikari hesitated.
"Come on, just a moment. Old legs, bad knees," the man said again, still smiling.
"Alright then," Hikari nodded, taking the man's arm and helping him toward the alley.
Once Hikari agreed, the bald man's smile deepened. The two quickly stepped into the narrow passage.
Inside, Hikari saw a luxury black sedan and a van parked close together.
Around them stood a dozen men holding bats, some even had long, sharp blades.
They looked anything but friendly, smoking, shirtless, covered in tattoos and chains, the very image of Yakuza thugs.
But the bald man showed no fear.
He brushed off Hikari's hand and walked steadily toward the group.
They all bowed slightly in respect as he approached.
Then, in a calm, casual tone, the man said, "Teach this kid a lesson, nothing major. Just break both his arms. Oh, and since he walks too steady, cut his tendons too."
Just like that, his words were enough to ruin a person's life.
But the men only replied flatly, "Yes, Ichiro-sama."
Kareki Ichiro added, "Be careful, this kid seems tough. Don't underestimate him, finish it fast. I don't want my fiancée and her daughters waiting too long. I'll be turning those three slu*s into slav*s soon anyway."
"Yes, Ichiro-sama!", his men shouted again.
"Are you… Kareki Ichiro of the Kareki family?", Hikari suddenly asked.
"Hm? You've heard of me, kid?", Ichiro grinned.
"Mrs. Shouko mentioned you,", Hikari said softly, smiling back.
"Mrs. Shouko?", Ichiro frowned, confused.
By then, his men were already rushing Hikari with their blades and clubs.
"Mrs. Shouko? Don't tell me you mean that bitch Katsuragi Shouko—"
But before he could finish, Ichiro froze.
Because when he looked up, he saw a sight that made his blood run cold.
All his men, every last one, were lying sprawled on the ground.
Blood covered the alley floor.
And in the middle of the carnage, one tall, slender figure stood calmly, empty-handed, unscathed.
That lone figure… was the young man himself.
"You… you bastard… what the hell are you?", Ichiro stammered, trembling.
The scene before him was simply beyond belief.