Ayaka slipped quietly into the house, the storeroom key still warm in her palm. Her robe hung loosely from her shoulders, never tied shut, the fabric swaying with each step.
She switched on her phone's flashlight again, the narrow beam cutting through the dark hallway as she headed toward the kitchen.
Her bare feet padded across the cold floor. She opened the drawer near the sink and pulled a handful of tissues from the box.
Without a word, she lifted the robe slightly, wiping Riku's semen from her leg, her inner thigh, and finally the slick heat between her legs. Her breathing was uneven, sharp with anger and shame. She wiped away the sweat from her chest and neck as well, each motion quick, almost frantic.
One by one, she balled up the tissues and threw them into the bin.
She opened the fridge and pulled out a can of beer. Popped it open. Drank it down in long gulps.
Then another. And another. And another.
By the time she set the fourth empty can on the counter, her head felt warm and heavy, her chest faintly buzzing from the alcohol.
She wandered into the altar room and collapsed in front of it, the tatami creaking under her weight. She stared at the family altar, her mind empty—until suddenly, a thought hit her.
The same room… Her stomach tightened. She remembered what had happened earlier that night in the storeroom and how easily it could have been in here instead. The image made her shiver.
She pushed herself up, but the world tilted. The beers had made her dizzy.
Step by step, she moved to the bedroom. She slid the door open quietly.
Minato was still sleeping, his soft snoring filling the room.
She went to the cupboard, pulled out the medicine box, and took out two small blister packs. With shaky fingers, she popped out two emergency contraceptive pills and swallowed them with a glass of water from beside her futon.
"Ayaka… Are you okay?" Minato's voice came low and drowsy from the futon.
She froze for a second. "Y… y-yes, dear. I just have a headache, so I took some tablets," she replied quickly, without looking at him.
"Okay…" he murmured, rolling over and drifting back toward sleep.
Ayaka slipped into her own futon, pulling the blanket over her. But before she could turn away, Minato's arm slid around her from behind, pulling her close. His lips brushed her neck, then her cheek.
"Ayaka… Did you drink? I can smell it."
"Yes… headache," she whispered.
"That'll make it worse," he muttered, but he didn't let go. Instead, his hand pressed gently against her breast, holding her there for a moment before his breathing slowed again.
She stared into the darkness, wide awake. Her chest ached—not from his touch, but from everything she was holding in.
She didn't sleep at all.
When the alarm went off at 5:30 a.m., her eyes were still open.
Ayaka pushed herself up from the futon, her head heavy from lack of sleep and the bitter aftertaste of beer still lingering in her mouth. She forced herself to the sink, brushed her teeth until the stale taste was gone, and splashed her face with cold water.
The familiar routine carried her through the morning. She tied her hair back, stepped into the kitchen, and began preparing breakfast. The smell of miso soup and grilled fish slowly filled the house.
Sakura and Hana shuffled sleepily into the dining room, uniforms crisp and hair still damp from quick showers. Minato joined a moment later, adjusting his tie as he sat down.
They ate together, talking lightly about the girls' school projects and Minato's meetings for the day. Ayaka said little, focusing on the food in front of her.
When breakfast was over, the girls slipped on their shoes, calling out, "We're off!" before heading to school. Minato left soon after, a quick kiss on her cheek before stepping out the door.
The house was quiet again.
Ayaka went to her room, changed into a fitted full-black T-shirt and blue jeans, and slung her purse over her shoulder. She sat on the futon for a moment, phone in hand, before typing a short message.
German bakery in Kamakura.
She sent it to Riku.
Outside, the summer air was already warm. She locked the door and walked to Kawagoe Station. The platform bustled with commuters, office workers in dark suits, and students chatting in groups. She kept her gaze down, the noise around her blurring into a background hum.
The train ride was long—over an hour and a half, with a transfer in Yokohama. She stared out the window as the urban sprawl of Saitama gave way to glimpses of open sky, then the coastal light of Kanagawa. Her reflection in the glass looked tired, but her eyes stayed sharp.
By the time she arrived in Kamakura, the air smelled faintly of the sea. She walked the short distance from the station to the German bakery—an old, wooden-front café with a warm, yeasty scent spilling onto the street.
Inside, she ordered a small plate of sausages, sauerkraut, and rye bread, along with a cappuccino. She took a table in the corner, the sunlight streaming across her lap, and began eating slowly.
Half an hour passed. She stirred the last of the foam in her cup, glancing toward the door every so often.
Then Riku walked in.
"Aaayyaaakaa-chan~"
Riku's voice rang out the moment he spotted her in the corner.
Ayaka didn't answer. She kept her eyes on the last swirl of coffee in her cup, fingers steady on the handle.
"Aww, you seem angry," he teased, sliding into the seat across from her. His hand reached across the table, settling lightly on hers.
She didn't flinch, didn't react.
"Oww… I expected you to throw my hand away in disgust," he smirked. "So why did my lovely Ayaka-chan call me all the way here to Kamakura?"
She took the last sip of her coffee, setting the cup down with a quiet click. Her voice was low but firm."Look, Riku. I'm being serious. I want to stop."
"But I don't." He chuckled, leaning back casually.
"I don't want my family destroyed."
"Hmm… is that so?"
Ayaka reached into her bag, pulling out a thick stack of cash—500,000 yen. She placed it between them."Please. Stop."
Riku picked up the money, holding it to his nose with a mocking sniff, then set it back on the table. With a small push, he slid it toward her again."I don't want to stop."
"Riku, understand. Please. I can't do this anymore. I'm not enjoying sex with you—" her voice trembled, "—instead of joy, it's giving me depression and anxiety. I can't sleep at night."
He smiled faintly. "Then… should I come to you every night?"
Ayaka's hands curled into fists on her lap."What do you want to make me stop this?"
"Aww, Ayaka-chan…" He reached forward again, pulling the stack of cash back toward himself. With a slow, deliberate motion, he tucked it into her backpack."Two and a half million more."
"Huh? Excuse me?"
"That's the price."
Her jaw tightened. "How could I? I'm a housewife, you know that. I don't have that kind of money."
"That's not my problem. Should I… look for customers? Rich ones, perhaps?"
Her palm cracked against his cheek before she even realized she'd moved."I can't believe I slept with a gutter rat like you."
He laughed. "Not once, Ayaka-chan. More than fifty times. In thirteen different love hotels. Twice in your home. We used more than 150 condoms… and last night, bareback."
Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. She wiped the corner of her cheek roughly."…Fine. Give me some time. I'll… make arrangements for the two and a half million. But what's the guarantee you'll stop?"
"Don't give cash. Transfer it to my bank. That way… you'll have evidence against me, Ayaka-chan."
Her shoulders stiffened. She signaled for the bill, dropped the cash for her coffee, and stood.
"One week," Riku said, his voice smooth, "or I'll have sex with you in front of your family."
Her nails dug into her palms."Son of a bitch…"
She walked out without looking back.