The Yakuza's flower

Safe feeling

Ume's POV

After watching Baki fight the man who had tried to hurt Kozue and me, I found myself unable to process everything that had just happened.

So...

I just stood there.

A safe distance away from the fight.

Kozue was clinging tightly to Baki, crying into his chest while he quietly comforted her.

I was glad she was safe.

I really was.

But...

My eyes wouldn't leave my ankle.

The same ankle he'd grabbed.

I could almost still feel his hand wrapped around it.

Tight.

Unyielding.

My stomach twisted.

It had been so easy.

He'd dragged me across the ground like I weighed nothing.

No matter how hard I kicked...

No matter how hard Kozue pulled...

I couldn't get free.

I wrapped my arms around myself.

It's over.

I kept repeating those words in my head.

You're safe now.

It's over.

...

But my body didn't believe me.

Every time I looked at my ankle...

Fragments of a memory I had buried years ago began clawing their way back to the surface.

A memory...

I had promised myself I would never think about again.

Anyway, after convincing Baki and Kozue that I was completely fine and not affected by what had happened, I headed home.

At least...

That was the lie I told them.

I'm pretty sure neither of them believed me.

They both looked at me with the same worried expression as I smiled, waved goodbye, and hurried away from the alley.

The moment they were out of sight...

I started running.

I didn't know why.

I just wanted to get home.

As I ran through the quiet streets, my vision slowly became blurry.

I blinked several times.

Then I realized...

My eyes were filling with tears.

My chest felt tight.

Heavy.

Like every breath took just a little more effort than the last.

I let out a shaky laugh.

"...Guess my PTSD finally decided to catch up with me."

Even then...

I still tried to convince myself I was okay.

By the time I reached home, the house was quiet.