Beyond the Darkness

Part 5

Yuki sat by Hana's side, the steady rhythm of the machines filling the otherwise quiet hospital room. Hana's face was pale, her body still recovering from the toll of the past few days. He hadn't slept, hadn't eaten, barely even moved from his spot beside her. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her lying on the kitchen floor, unconscious and cold.

Now, she was awake—barely—but awake. Her eyes fluttered open, weak but aware, and she immediately noticed him sitting there. The sight of him made her heart ache, the guilt, the shame of what she had almost done weighed down on her chest.

Yuki's hand tightened around hers, as though reassuring himself that she was real, that she was still here.

"Hana," he said, his voice low and full of emotion, "why didn't you tell me? Why did you keep all of this to yourself?"

Hana looked away, unable to meet his gaze. Her throat felt tight, and the words were hard to find. She had kept so much locked inside, the pain, the fear, the memories she wished she could erase. She hadn't wanted to burden anyone—especially Yuki.

"I didn't know how to tell you," she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur. She squeezed his hand, finding some comfort in his warmth, though the memories made her feel cold inside. "I didn't want to worry you. You were always so busy, and volleyball was everything to you."

Yuki's heart sank. He had heard those words before, how people often said he was too focused on volleyball, too consumed by his career to notice anything else. But he never thought those words would come from Hana, the one person he believed he was always there for.

"Hana, you're more important to me than volleyball," Yuki said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "You've always been more important."

Tears welled up in Hana's eyes as she shook her head. She knew he meant those words, but there had been a time when it didn't feel that way. She took a shaky breath, knowing she couldn't keep the truth from him any longer.

"Do you remember that time last year?" she started, her voice trembling. "I asked you to come with me to meet a client for one of my art commissions. It was supposed to be a big opportunity, and I needed someone to be there with me. But you were training for the championship. You couldn't come."

Yuki frowned, trying to remember. He vaguely recalled Hana calling him, sounding excited but nervous. He had promised he would make it up to her, that they'd celebrate after the championship. But he didn't think much of it at the time—he had no idea that day would become a turning point for her.

"You went alone?" Yuki asked, his voice barely above a whisper. The way Hana's face darkened, the way her hands trembled, made his stomach twist. He already knew the answer, but he dreaded hearing the rest.

Hana nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks. She wiped at her face, trying to keep her voice steady, but the weight of the memory was too much.

"I went alone," she said, her voice cracking. "I thought I could handle it. But when I got there, it wasn't just a regular meeting. The man I was supposed to meet—he wasn't interested in my art at all. He tried to... he tried to force himself on me."

Yuki's heart stopped. He felt like the ground had disappeared beneath him, like the air had been sucked from the room. Rage and sorrow boiled inside him, a storm of emotions that he couldn't control. He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, struggling to keep his composure.

"Hana," he breathed, his voice breaking, "why didn't you tell me?"

Hana sobbed quietly, curling into herself as the memories came rushing back. "I was ashamed, Yuki. I couldn't tell anyone. I couldn't even process what had happened. I just wanted to forget it. And you... you were so happy about the championship. I didn't want to ruin it for you. So, I buried it."

Yuki's heart shattered. He had been completely oblivious to her pain, too wrapped up in his own world, his own ambitions. He reached out and gently cupped her face, wiping away her tears with his thumb.

"I should've been there," he whispered, his voice raw with guilt. "I'm so sorry, Hana. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me the most."

Hana closed her eyes, leaning into his touch. She had held this secret for so long, the weight of it crushing her day by day, until there was nothing left but darkness. The relief of finally telling him was overwhelming, but the pain still lingered.

"It's not your fault, Yuki," she whispered. "It's mine. I should've asked for help. I should've told someone."

"No," Yuki said firmly, shaking his head. "It's not your fault. It's never been your fault. You didn't deserve any of that, and you don't have to carry it alone anymore."

He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as she cried. For the first time in what felt like forever, Hana let herself break, knowing that Yuki was there to catch her. The silence between them was filled with unspoken apologies, with a love that had been buried beneath layers of pain and misunderstanding.

"I'm not going to let you go through this alone," Yuki whispered into her hair, his voice full of conviction. "I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere, no matter what."

They stayed like that for a long time, wrapped in each other's embrace, the darkness of the past slowly giving way to the warmth of their connection. Yuki didn't have all the answers, but he knew one thing for certain—he was never going to let Hana face her demons by herself again.