With
Soji suspecting something going on between myself and Sawatari… I headed for my
old apartment, feeling sad.
Yuri:
“What I do bounces back to Soji… Meaning he doesn’t’ want me messing up his
race to be successor. In other words, I have to keep myself out of sight.”
We’d
gone out together… and I thought the distance between us was subsiding,
gradually. Even though our marriage started from a threat, it was very
different from what I first expected, when he told me slave.
Yuri:
“That’s where my thinking was amiss…”
From
the beginning, I was just a slave, a contract, and a tool for Soji.
Walking
along with heavy feet, I eventually felt something cold strike my cheek.
Yuri:
“It’s raining… the sky had been clear until a while ago.”
The
rain came down harder and faster, as if my feelings had brought it on. I took
off running for my apartment, which I could see in the distance.
Even
though most of my things had been moved out, I hadn’t given up the room yet. I
took out the key from a small bag I kept with me, and slid it into the lock.
Yuri:
(Huh? I can’t move it… does this mean the door was unlocked?)
The
last time I was here was when I moved out most of my things. I thought I’d
locked the door when I left...
With
a sinking feeling in my stomach, I turned the knob and entered.
Yuri:
“How long had it been since I was last here…?”
Many
things were scattered around the room. It was obvious that I moved out in a
hurry. It was all so sudden...
I
remember putting whatever I needed into boxes and leaving the apartment without
cleaning up. When I sat own on the familiar sofa, I calmed down a little.
Yuri:
“Why am I so down in the dumps over this…?”
I
knew from the beginning that our marriage was just a contract. I was aware of
that there wasn’t any love about it... and that no love would arise, when I
signed the marriage registration form.
Yuri:
“Why am I so depressed about this?”
Letting
out a big sigh, I heard the floor creak. I turn to see what or who had made
that sound, and then…
??? :
“Don’t move!”
Something
cold pressed against my neck.
Yuri:
“?!”
??? :
“Do you live here?”
Yuri:
“W-Who are you?”
??? :
“Answer my question!”
Yuri:
“Y-Yes...”
It
was an emotionless and cold voice. He grabbed my arm and forced me to stand up,
then I saw his head. Wearing sunglasses and a mask… it was very obvious that he
was a robber.
Robber:
“There isn’t anything of value here. Why?”
Yuri:
“I-I moved out...”
Robber:
“Tsk.”
The
man took off his mask and sunglasses, and pushed me down on the sofa violently.
Even though I tried to resist, he held my hands together.
Robber:
“If you don’t have money, maybe I’ll have some fun with you.”
Yuri:
“S-Stop...!”
Robber:
“If you moved out already, I don’t think anybody will be coming, will they? If
you call out for help, I’ll kill you!”
I
was scared speechless. He was right. Nobody would come. Soji only thought of me
as a tool, thee was no reason he would come.
Yuri:
(Soji… Soji!)
Even
so, I found myself calling his name desperately in my mind. Even though I knew
he wouldn’t come, I couldn’t stop.
Yuri:
“Soji…!”
SLAM!
The door flew open.
Yuri:
“Soji…?!”
Soji:
“You... ”
Seeing
me held down on the sofa by some strange man… Soji approached the thug with
unbelievable speed and slugged him in the face. Soji didn’t give him an
opportunity to fight back.
Soji:
“Who are you?! What are you doing here?!”
Yuri:
“I… think he’s… a robber...”
Soji:
“Damn it!”
After
Soji confirmed the guy had been knocked out... he let go of his collar as if
dropping a sack of garbage. And then he came over to me...
Yuri:
(He’s going to lose it on me!)
At
the moment I recoiled, expecting the worst, he hugged me.
Soji:
“Thank goodness...”
Yuri:
“...Soji?”
Soji:
“Honestly... thank goodness…”
Soji
squeezed me into his hug. The suddenness of it all left me unable to react—I
merely received his embrace.
Soji:
“Did he do anything to you?”
Yuri:
“N-No... as soon as he pushed me down, you came into the room.”
Soji:
“That’s good...”
Soji,
who was looking at me while talking, heaved a sigh as if he felt relieved with
all his heart. Then, he took out is phone and made a call.
Soji:
“Kosaka? Come to Yuri’s apartment now. It’s a robber. No, I hit him and knocked
him out cold.”
Yuri:
“We don’t need to call the police?”
Soji:
“If we call the police, they’ll give us some real headaches.”
Hanging
up the phone, Soji turned his gaze back to the guy. If the police get involved
in this...it might put Soji disadvantage in the race for successorship.
Yuri:
“I’m sorry... I thought it was strange that the door was unlocked. I came in
without thinking about it too deeply.”
Soji:
“You’re plenty thoughtless.”
Yuri:
“Yes...”
Now
that we are married, whatever I do bounces back to Soji. I remembered what Soji
said to me a while ago. Soon after, Mr. Kosaka rushed in with a few others.
They tried to rouse the intruder, still unconscious, before taking him away.
After Mr. Kosaka left with the intruder, it was just the two of us.
Yuri:
“Um... I’m very sorry. Sorry for causing you trouble... I can’t even hold up my
side of the contract.”
Soji:
“What are you talking about?”
Yuri:
“As your wife… I’ll try to be helpful to you. If I cause trouble, it affects
your chances of becoming the successor...”
Soji:
“You...”
As
Soji tried to respond, the apartment intercom rang out. We looked at each other
for a moment, and then I headed for the front door.
Yuri:
“Hello? Who is it?”
Sawatari:
“Ms. Higashikuni, it’s me.”
Yuri:
“Sawatari?!”
Hearing
my voice, Soji came to me. When I opened the door, I saw Sawatari standing
there.
Yuri:
“What are you doing here, Sawatari?”
Sawatari:
“Well... I thought you might like to go out for a drink with me so I called
you. But you didn’t answer...”
Yuri:
“Oh... I left my phone.”
Sawatari:
“Where did you leave it? More like...”
Sawatari
looked behind me suspiciously. When I turned around, I found Soji standing just
behind me.
Sawatari:
“...Who is he?”
Yuri:
“Ah... Well...” (I have a feeling this is not going to end well...)
Soji:
“You’re Sawatari, right?”
Sawatari:
“Who are you?”
Soji:
“I’m Shirogane from Platinum... Do you know who I am?”
Sawatari:
“What?”
Sawatari’s
eyes widened, surprised beyond belief. Soji remained cool and calm, as usual.
Yuri:
“S-Soji...”
Sawatari:
“Why is the president of Platinum here at your apartment”
Soji:
“What’s there to be confused about?”
Sawatari:
“Higashikuni, what is this? What’s your relationship to Mr. Shirogane?”
Yuri:
“Well… um... I-I don’t have anything to do with Soji...”
Sawatari:
“Did you call him Soji?”
Yuri:
“Oh...” (I just said it out of habit...)
Soji:
“I’m sorry, but please don’t invite my wife out, ever again.”
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