The FuBu

Chapter 39: The Struggle

As Yanna continued her recovery, the truth about the accident lingered like a dark cloud over her and Fox. While she was healing physically, the emotional scars were deeper and harder to mend.

Fox couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to the accident than just a careless driver. The way Rikka had been acting before the incident nagged at him. He decided to dig a little deeper.

One afternoon, while Yanna rested in the hospital, Fox decided to take matters into his own hands. He contacted a friend who worked for a security company and requested access to the CCTV footage of the area where the accident had happened. His friend obliged, and Fox reviewed the footage with a mix of dread and determination.

As the footage played on the screen, Fox's heart pounded. The grainy video showed Yanna parking her car, stepping out, and heading toward the restaurant. A few seconds later, a car sped into view, swerving recklessly—and then came the moment that made his blood run cold. The car that hit Yanna came into clear view, and it was unmistakable: Rikka's car.

Fox's eyes widened as he watched the collision unfold in real-time. He rewound the footage, watching it again and again, his stomach twisting into knots. There was no doubt about it. Rikka had been the one behind the wheel.

At first, Fox tried to convince himself that it could have been a mistake, that maybe Rikka hadn't meant to hit Yanna. But the footage showed something chilling—Rikka's car had slowed down, almost as if she were watching Yanna, before suddenly accelerating at the last moment. This wasn't just reckless driving; it seemed intentional.

His mind raced with questions and disbelief. Why would Rikka do this? Had she been that jealous? Angry? And how far had she been willing to go?

Everything started to fall into place for Fox, but the weight of the truth was almost too much to bear. The woman he had once called a friend—a classmate—had put Yanna's life at risk. It wasn't just an accident; it was a deliberate act.

With this revelation, Fox knew he had to confront Rikka, but more importantly, he had to protect Yanna from the truth until she was strong enough to handle it. The emotional toll of the accident had already been heavy on her. Learning that someone close to them had been responsible could devastate her.

But Fox couldn't let this go. He had to seek justice for Yanna.

He sat beside Yanna that evening, holding her hand, trying to mask the storm of emotions inside him. She smiled weakly at him, unaware of the dark secret he was now carrying.

Fox leaned down and kissed her forehead, his heart heavy with the decision he had to make. "You're going to be okay, Yanna," he whispered. "No matter what, I'm going to make sure of that."

But in his mind, he was already planning his next steps. He needed to confront Rikka, and he needed to do it soon—before Yanna found out the truth in the worst possible way.

Determined to get to the bottom of it, Fox confronted Rikka later that week when he heard she was visiting Yanna in the hospital.

Fox: "Rikka, can we talk?"

Rikka looked up, her expression a mix of surprise and apprehension.

Rikka: "What's wrong?"

Fox stepped closer, keeping his voice low.

Fox: "Did you have something to do with Yanna's accident?"

Rikka's eyes widened, and for a moment, she seemed taken aback.

Rikka: "How could you think that? I would never—"

Fox cut her off, his anger boiling.

Fox: "I've seen the CCTV footage. What really happened?"