Kenji stepped out of the staff room, his heart still pounding from the earlier encounter. He had told himself he could do this—that the past wouldn't have power over him anymore.
But as soon as he entered the hallway behind the kitchen, he felt it. A hand grabbing his wrist. Tight.
"Souta," Kenji breathed.
Souta leaned in, voice a whisper laced with venom. "Where do you think you're going?"
Kenji froze, trying to pull away, but Souta's other hand clamped over his mouth.
"No one's going to hear you back here."
Panic surged. Kenji tried to twist free, but Souta dragged him down the back corridor, out the service door and into the alley. The cold air hit his skin just as hard as the fear.
"Souta, don't—" Kenji managed, but the words were cut off by a shove that knocked the breath from him.
The next few moments were a blur of pain and fear. Kenji's cries were muffled by the narrow alley, hidden behind the loud rhythm of restaurant life and closed doors.
When Yuu arrived—rushing from his car after Kenji's message—he didn't expect to find the alley door ajar.
He didn't expect the silence.
And he didn't expect to see Kenji crumpled on the ground, shaking, his uniform torn, his face streaked with tears and blood.
"Kenji!" Yuu dropped to his knees, heart cracking open. "Kenji, I'm here. I'm here."
Kenji didn't answer at first, just curled tighter around himself.
Yuu reached out, gently touching his arm. "You're safe now. I promise, he's not going to hurt you again."
Kenji looked up at him then—eyes wide, unfocused, scared. And the moment he registered who it was, he broke. His body shook with quiet sobs, breath shallow and fast.
Yuu pulled off his jacket and wrapped it gently around Kenji, careful not to press too hard. "It's okay. I've got you. You're safe."
Sirens would come soon. Someone inside must've seen something, or maybe the kitchen door alarm triggered. Yuu didn't care how. He just kept whispering that Kenji was safe.
Because this time—Kenji wasn't alone.