In a bathroom filled with steam, a silhouette was visible through the frosted glass. Akane Nanao sank into the bathtub, letting the water rise until it almost touched her nose. Bubbles rose to the surface as she exhaled. Whether it was the heat of the water or the thoughts in her head, her cheeks were flushed a deep pink.
She sat up, exposing her long, elegant neck. She squeezed a dollop of white body wash into her hand and began to lather her long, pale legs. She spent a long time on them, making sure the skin was as smooth as silk. One couldn't help but feel jealous of the man who would eventually get to drape those perfect legs over his shoulders.
She moved the soap to her breasts, her fingers sliding over the curves until they reached the sensitive tips. A look of longing crossed her face. Hesitantly, her other hand slipped beneath the water. Soon, the bathroom was filled with the sound of her heavy breathing and soft moans.
She was whispering one word: "Junior..."
When she finally finished, she was trembling. She stood up, nearly slipping in the tub from the sudden weakness in her legs. It was her first time doing something like that. She had seen movies, but they always seemed boring. But tonight, imagining him... it was different.
"Akane Nanao... what are you doing?" she whispered, condemning her own actions as she stood under the shower spray. "If the Junior knew... he might be disgusted. But... I couldn't help it."
She didn't even know the boy's name, yet he had saved her twice. He was the definition of a hero in her heart. She dried herself off, wrapping a white towel tightly around her slender waist. Her reddish-brown hair was damp, reflecting the light. Even her ankles were flushed pink, a sight that would turn any foot-fetishist into a willing slave.
She walked into her silent living room, a wave of loneliness hitting her. She went to her bedroom and looked at her phone. There were nearly a hundred messages. All but a few were from Shoya Katase.
Akane's gaze hardened. She didn't hesitate. She opened the chat and blocked him. Then, she deleted his contact.
She collapsed onto the bed, feeling drained. It hurt, of course. They had been together for a long time. But his cowardice had been the final straw. Twice, he had failed her. The second time, he had chosen a few minutes of baseball coaching over her safety.
"If it wasn't for the Junior... what would have happened to me?" she whispered. Remembering Coach Azuma's depravity made her stomach turn. "Junior..."
"Damn it! Why isn't Akane replying?!" Shoya Katase stared at his phone, his thumbs white from gripping it too hard. "She must be busy. She always replies eventually."
He was delusional. It had been two and a half hours.
"The guy she was with today... he must be the one Coach Azuma warned me about. The one tricking her! He's a monster! He turned the coach into... that thing." Shoya shuddered, remembering the blood and the horror. "Akane, I'll save you! We have a promise!"
He typed out one last message: "Akane, do you remember our promise under the sunset last summer? (^_^) "
He hit send. A red exclamation mark appeared. He had been blocked.