<< CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR                                                  CHAPTER THIRTY SIX >>

Akio walked out of his apartment before he decided to go to Jimusho to inform Johnny about his absent for next month since he’ll go back to Singapore.

As he was entering, he heard a familiar voice. That voice that he have last heard since three years ago.

“Akio-nii?” Akio have hurriedly turned back, and saw that petite figure standing beside one of the JUMP members that he doesn’t remember the name.

“Aiko!” he shouted, before the girl came running towards him, and hugging him by the shoulders. “Thank god I found you,” Akio said as he patted the Aiko’s head and hugged her tightly.

“How did you know I’ll be here?” Akio asked, as he released the hug and looked down to Aiko. “Yamada told me about it, I was shocked!”

“My… brother?” Aiko stammered as she looked at Yamada. “How did you…”


“His name is Akio right?”


Aiko nodded her head. “He’s really in Japan?!” she shouted, before standing up and walking towards Yamada. He nodded his head again. “Ask Chinen to bring you there tomorrow,” Yamada said.

***

“So… one of the JUMP members is your boyfriend. That’s… cool,” Akio said, before looking at Chinen, before looking at Aiko. Aiko blushed slightly, before she lowered her head. “Let’s go back,” Akio suddenly said. “Together,”

“But… is he willing to welcome me back?” Aiko asked again before looking at Akio. Akio lowered his head, and Aiko just smiled bitterly. “Akio-nii, it’s okay. It’s not the first time already,”

“I’m there, I’ll persuade him. Please, go back with me,” Akio begged Aiko. Aiko shake her head and look at him. “Akio-nii, I’m glad you came to find me, but I have important things right here and I don’t wish to leave at all,”

Akio looked at Aiko, before he turned to look at Chinen. “Him?” Akio’s face changed. He didn’t want to force Aiko. In the first place, he came here thinking that Aiko would definitely follow him back.

Chinen lowered his head, before he backed off slightly. Akio continued staring at Aiko, and Aiko have seen it. “Akio-nii, don’t. It’s not him. I have my friends here too. And… I remembered he said clearly that I don’t belong to that house anymore, that I’m not allowed to go back to that house anymore,”

“I’m sure he didn’t mean it!” Akio said, grabbing onto Aiko’s shoulders.

“AIKO!” a voice was heard, and she turned. It was Riko, with Kento beside her. “Riko?” she replied, before looking at Kento, and then down to the hands that was interlaced together.

“Sorry Akio-nii, I really can’t go back with you,” Aiko said, before she rushed up towards Riko, hocked her hands around her arm, and went into Jimusho with Riko and Kento.

Chinen have gripped his fist, before going up to Akio. “Sorry, Akio-san. Aiko been through a lot till now, and I guess she just didn’t want to…” before he could finish, Akio have went up near to Chinen, and hissed at him. “I’m taking back Aiko with me. Young man, don’t mess with me,”

Akio glared at Chinen, before turning and leaving Jimusho.

***
The phone ringed. “Hello?”

“Doctor, it seemed that you’re right. They’re back together.”
“…..”
“Doctor?”
“I’ll see to it, remember to get prepared,”
“..Sure,”

***
Akio opened the door, and took his shoes off. Just then, the phone ringed, and he went to pick the phone.

“Sugihara Akio. I’ve send over the tickets for you to come back. Make sure you pack your stu--”

“Shut up! I’m not coming back. I’m only coming back if Aiko is coming back!” Akio shouted back into the phone.

“She’ve not contacted us for three years! You can never find her anymore!” the man shouted.

“I’ve found her. Would you let her be back in the house?”

“….”

“Father. She’s your daughter!” Akio stressed back.

“She’s no daughter of mine. It’s final, you’re coming back,” the man said, before the line got cut off.

“Ugh,” Akio slammed the phone down, and groaned. “What the hell is wrong with that old man!?” he shouted.

“Aiko, I’m sorry. I’m definitely forcing you back home with me,” he said, as he took his phone out from his pocket.

***
“Aiko, who was that guy outside the building?” Riko asked as she pressed onto her. “My brother,”

“Come to say, you’ve hardly talked about your family right?” Riko pressed on, while she settled beside Kento, and passed him a cup of water.

Aiko bitterly smiled. “They’re fine as it is, I don’t need to mention anything about them,”

“Didn’t they agree to send you here?” Riko asked, intertwining her hand around Kento’s arm. “Yea..” Aiko muttered, before the memories came back to her.

“Send her off,” the father said, before he looked at his wife. “Get her away from this house.” Before he walked out of the house.


Didn’t he know that, his daughter was at the corner, hearing every single word he said.

Aiko just shake her head. “It’s nothing. They know I wanted to come here, so they just let me come! Let’s go!” she said, pushing the thought away and walking off.

***
The phone started ringing, and Riko have immediately picked it up.

“Hello?” Riko answered, as she used her cheeks and shoulder to grab onto the phone while she grab her bread and started to spread jam on it. “Riko?” the voice was familiar. Familiar enough to make Riko stopped what she was doing and concentrate on the phone call.

“Ku..Kusaka?” she murmured, as she used her free hand to hold onto the phone. “It’s been long since you’ve contacted me, are you all right?” the voice asked.

Riko clenched her fist tightly, before she stared blankly at her bread of jam.

“Kusaka-kun, we need to meet. I’ve something to tell you,” Riko said, as she walked towards the window. “Me too, see you tonight at the park then,” without saying goodbye, he hanged up the phone.

***
“Aiko, I’m going to meet Kusaka tonight at the park,” Riko called and Aiko looked at the picture that was framed up. “Mmm. Sure, I don’t mind at all,”

“Aiko? What are you talking about? I’m saying I’m meeting Kusaka at the park tonight!” Riko shouted out, which jerked Aiko out of her thoughts, and went back to reality. “Oh! I’m sorry Riko. Do you need me to accompany you?”

“Sure, I’ll see you at the bus stop near the park tonight at 8?” Riko replied.

Aiko agreed before they hanged up the phone. ‘Dad, I’m sorry,’ she whispered.

***

Riko looked around impatiently, before she decided to go ahead towards the park to meet Kusaka first. It’s already 5 minutes after 8 and she can’t be late. Looking out for the traffic, Riko passed the street and went into the park. Slight crickets sounds could be heard, as she went deeper into the destination.

“Riko, I’ve been waiting for you,” the voice sounded and Riko turned to look at him.

“Kusaka?”

Suddenly a pair of hands has grabbed her from the back, covering her mouth. She struggled, but was pulled along by a strong force. There was a moment when Riko was able to free her mouth and she started to shout. “Riko-chan?!” a familiar voice was heard. The next moment was running steps towards her. However, before she could see what happen, blackness falls into her and she collapsed.

***
“Doc.. Kusaka-kun, are you sure..?” the person beside him asked, and Kusaka just nodded his head.

“Saito-kun, you’re too kind. You can’t be unsure when you’re already in this situation, with me that’s it,” Kusaku sniggered, as he continued sharpening his knife on the stone near him.

“But….” Saito stopped in his tracks, before he thought back on his actions. Sometimes he’s hot towards Aiko, sometimes he’s cold towards her. Why? It’s because that she have made him feel so upside down from inside out, and he doesn’t know what to do at all. Sometimes he just wants to protect her, but sometimes he just wants her to disappear from his thoughts.

“No backing down now, Saito-kun. You have no other choice but to obey me,”

Saito’s hand starts to shiver. ‘Is this the correct thing to do?’ he thought to himself.

Just then, a knock on the door was heard, and Kusaka have glared over to the door, before he signaled Saito to open it. “Doctor, this guy here wishes to see you,”

“Oh, what a rare visitor we have. So… you’ve decided to cooperate with me?” Kusaka smiled. This person is such a simple-minded person- who would do anything to get his goal.

“I’ll help, but promise me not to hurt Aiko, and my motive is only to get her back, not to do anything to harm Aiko in anyway,”

“Absolutely, anything at your service,” Kusaka said, as he lowered his head down, before he raised it up and continued his sentence. “… Akio-san,”

***
“Wh..WHAT!?” Kento shouted, before he rushed over and tried to ask Aiko. “Is it true?! That Riko got kidnapped!?”

“I’m… sorry,” Aiko mumbled.

“You were supposed to meet her at 8 at the park right?! Why didn’t you appear on time?! What the hell were you doing?!” Kento started scolding Aiko, who by then, had tears welled up in her eyes. “Kento-kun, stop scolding Aiko! It’s not her fault things end up like this,” Chinen started to help Aiko by defending her.

“Oh, then who’s fault it is?” Kento glared at Aiko, which have made her lowered her head in guilt.

“Kento-kun, now stop it!” Chinen flared, before hugging Aiko into his embrace. The words have floated inside Aiko’s head as she peeped through to see the rage, the fear, and the sadness in Kento’s eyes.

One, two, three.

Snapped. The nerve of Aiko’s snapped when all the past incidents have flood inside her head. “Ri… RIKOOOOOO!” she screamed. A few seconds later, Aiko collapsed on the floor.

“Chinen, bring Aiko back to rest. Kento, you need to chill down. You can’t think rationally like this,” Yuto ordered, before Yamada, who was standing by the side have went over to help Chinen with Aiko. “First…. We need to think who can it be,”

Silence was in the air, before Yuto’s phone ringed. “Hello?”

“Hello, Nakajima Yuto,” that voice was so familiar, and suddenly that person’s face appeared in his head. “Saito Hiroyuki!” he hissed.

“I just want to inform you that your dear Riko is in our hands,” the person said, his other hand was actually gripping tightly onto his pants. “If you want to save her, you got to do what we say,”

“What the hell do you want from us, Saito Hiroyuki?” Yuto shouted, catching the attention of Yamada, Kento and Chinen.