Part 10 : THE SILENT STRUGGLES OF AIKO

**Part 10: The Silent Struggles of Aiko**

The school day was winding down, but Kyoshi’s mind was racing. After his emotional encounter with Mayumi, he was now faced with another challenge—one that promised to be even more complicated. Mr. Sato had called him aside just before dismissal.

“Kyoshi,” the teacher said, his voice low and serious. “I’ve paired you with Aiko for the next project.”

Kyoshi’s heart raced. *Aiko.* The last of the six women who would play significant roles in his life. She had been a distant figure in his memories, often absent from school and shrouded in mystery. He remembered how kind and gentle she had been in the future—a light that had dimmed under circumstances he had yet to fully grasp.

“I know you’re familiar with some of the other girls’ situations,” Mr. Sato continued, handing him a piece of paper. “Aiko needs someone who can support her. Here’s her address. I’m hoping you can help her out, just like you did with the others.”

Kyoshi took the paper, excitement and concern swirling within him. “I’ll do my best, Mr. Sato.”

As he made his way to Aiko’s house, he couldn’t help but feel a mixture of anticipation and dread. What would he find? Would she be as gentle and caring as he remembered, or had her experiences changed her into someone more guarded?

When he arrived at her house, he was surprised to find the door slightly ajar. Frowning, he pushed it open and stepped inside. The space felt eerily quiet, and a sense of foreboding crept over him. As he walked in, his eyes caught sight of a rope lying on the floor, and his heart dropped.

“Aiko?” he called out softly, his voice echoing in the silence.

He moved further into the house and soon spotted her in the living room, attempting to set up a chair in a way that made Kyoshi’s blood run cold. He rushed forward, instinctively reaching out to stop her.

“Aiko, wait!” he shouted, his voice filled with urgency.

She turned around, startled, and their eyes locked. Aiko’s expression shifted from surprise to anger as she took a step back, her eyes narrowing.

“What do you want?” she snapped, the fire in her voice surprising him.

Kyoshi opened his mouth to explain, but before he could say anything, Aiko raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face. The sting was sharp, both physical and emotional, and he staggered back, shocked.

“Aiko, I—”

“Don’t you dare interfere!” she shouted, her voice breaking with emotion. “You have no idea what I’m going through!”

Kyoshi felt the weight of her words settle heavily in the air. She was right—he didn’t know. He took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts. “I may not know everything, but I care. Please, just let me help you.”

Aiko’s anger simmered down a notch, and she looked away, her expression softening but still filled with pain. “You think you can just waltz in here and save me? It doesn’t work like that.”

Kyoshi felt his heart ache for her, the tenderness of the moment contrasting with her fierce demeanor. “I know it doesn’t. But I want to understand. Can you tell me what’s going on?”

She hesitated, the fight in her eyes flickering. He could see the battle raging within her—a desire to share her burden, but also a fear of vulnerability. After a moment, Aiko sank into a chair, burying her face in her hands.

“I... I don’t want to be a burden,” she mumbled, her voice muffled. “Everyone in my life has already had enough to deal with. My parents... they don’t care about me. I just feel so... alone.”

Kyoshi sat down across from her, his heart breaking as she spoke. “Aiko, you’re not a burden. You deserve to be heard, to be cared for. Please, let me in.”

Through her fingers, she glanced at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You don’t know what it’s like to feel this way. To feel like no one wants you. My parents... they never wanted a daughter. They wanted a trophy, a perfect child. And I just... I’m not enough.”

As she spoke, flashbacks filled Kyoshi’s mind, images of Aiko’s future self—how she had become withdrawn, how she had always seemed to carry an invisible weight on her shoulders. He had thought Mayumi’s struggles were the worst, but Aiko was carrying a deeper pain, a loneliness that was suffocating.

“Please, Aiko,” he said softly, trying to connect with her. “You’re so much more than what they think. You have a kind heart, and I see that. You deserve love and support.”

Aiko looked at him, her eyes shimmering with vulnerability. “What if I can’t be fixed? What if I just... stay broken?”

Kyoshi leaned forward, searching her gaze. “You don’t have to be fixed. You just have to take it one day at a time. It’s okay to feel lost. It’s okay to ask for help. Everyone struggles. But you don’t have to do it alone.”

Aiko’s resolve faltered, and the tears she had been holding back spilled over, streaming down her cheeks. “I don’t want to feel like this anymore.”

Kyoshi felt a surge of emotion at her words. He reached across the small space between them, wrapping his arms around her in a gentle embrace. “Then let’s face it together. You don’t have to go through this alone, Aiko. I’m here for you, I promise.”

At first, she stiffened, surprised by the warmth of his embrace. But slowly, she melted into him, her body trembling as she cried softly into his shoulder. The sound was heart-wrenching, a mix of relief and sorrow, and Kyoshi could feel her pain washing over him.

“I’m so scared,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I just want to feel happy again.”

Kyoshi held her tighter, feeling the weight of her words settle in his heart. “You will. I believe in you. There’s so much light within you, Aiko. We’ll find it together. Just take that first step.”

As they held each other, Kyoshi felt tears streaming down his own face, a mix of grief for Aiko’s pain and hope for her future. This wasn’t just about saving her—it was about healing, about finding a way through the darkness together.

Eventually, Aiko pulled back, her cheeks stained with tears but her eyes brighter, as if a flicker of hope had begun to take root. “You really mean that?”

“Absolutely,” Kyoshi said, wiping away her tears with his thumb. “You’re not alone anymore.”

She took a deep breath, a small smile breaking through her sadness. “Thank you, Kyoshi. I... I never thought I’d find someone who would care enough to help me.”

Kyoshi smiled back, feeling a warmth bloom in his chest. “I’m just getting started. Together, we can face anything.”

In that moment, the atmosphere shifted. The weight of despair began to lift, and for the first time, Aiko felt a glimmer of hope. They had taken the first step together—a step toward healing, toward understanding, toward a brighter future.

As they sat together in the quiet room, surrounded by shadows, Aiko realized that maybe, just maybe, she didn’t have to face her struggles alone. With Kyoshi by her side, she could find the strength to embrace the light again.

Chapter end