「 ⩩ 𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 Vienna, amidst the bullying at school, crosses paths with a charmingly mysterious thug who swiftly becomes her protector. They both become each other's comfort despite being polar opposites, discovering in each other the hope a...
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⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ˳༄꠶ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
↳ currently playing ;; [Skipping stones] - [TXT]
Vienna had hoped that the tranquility of the previous night would usher in a period of calm and resolution. The sense of peace she felt, nestled close to Ni-ki, had seemed like a promise of better days ahead.
However, that fleeting comfort was abruptly shattered when she found herself sitting in Shotaro's office, reality slapping her awake with its harshness.
The office was stark, its walls lined with shelves of files and case notes. Shotaro, seated behind his desk, looked at her with a mix of concern and professional detachment. Vienna's heart raced as she tried to shake off the remnants of her dreamlike state.
The calm she had felt was a distant memory, replaced by the pressing reality of the situation before her.
As Shotaro grappled with the disjointed thoughts swirling in his mind, he mechanically went to pour a cup of water for both Vienna and himself.
The sound of the water cascading into the cup was a stark contrast to the troubling witness testimony echoing in his head: "There were several people walking past who saw them beat that girl up. They stripped her of her clothes and dragged her around, parading her for all to see. There were innumerable people who stood by, watching the debacle unfold..."
The water overflowed from the cup, splashing onto the counter and pulling Shotaro back to the present. The cold splash against his hand served as a stark reminder of the gravity of the situation.
His colleagues were waiting outside the interrogation room, but he alone had taken on the responsibility of questioning Vienna.
Shotaro slid the cup of water across the table toward Vienna, breaking the silence with her name. "Vienna?"
She lifted her head, her gaze calm and unwavering. There was no fear in her eyes, no confusion—just a steady, quiet resolve that unsettled Shotaro even more. He hesitated, searching for the right words, unsure where to begin.
"What's going through your mind right now?" he finally asked, his voice tight with tension.
Vienna tilted her head slightly, her response deliberate, each word measured. "Right now? It's about time I got home."
"Home?" Shotaro repeated, taken aback by her nonchalant answer.
She nodded, her expression unchanged. "Yes. If I wasn't here... I would have been home by now."
