[English] ~𝒟𝒶𝓇ℯ 𝓉ℴ 𝒟𝓇ℯ𝒶𝓂~ Kenma x OC

Chapter 30: Trapped between Light and Darkness

A/N: The trigger warning from the previous chapter still applies to this chapter. Please be aware of this before you decide to continue reading.

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It only took Osamu about 20 minutes to get to my house. I waited in front of the front door, shaking violently with my backpack over my shoulder. I held my cell phone tightly in my hand. When the car pulled into the driveway, I breathed a sigh of relief. Osamu jumped out of the car and ran towards me. My lower lip began to tremble, then I sobbed again. 

"I-I can't do this anymore." 

He pulled me into a somewhat awkward hug. "Everything will be fine." 

I heard the front door open behind us. 

"Hey Tetsuro." I quickly wiped my cheeks. 

"Are you okay, Izumi?" He stepped out into the cool autumn night. 

"I don't know..." 

His gaze turned cold. "Such a perverted asshole." 

Osamu agreed.

Kuroo looked into the distance. "This family is so messed up. Nothing against you, Izumi, you are innocent and suffer the most." His words surprised me. 

Curious, I tried to interpret his expression, but I saw nothing but coldness and secrecy. I wondered what Kuroo must have experienced to think that way about my family. 

"You suffer too, right?" I immediately regretted asking him that question, because his face hardened. 

"You should go now. The sooner Izumi is taken away from here, the better she will recover from all this crap." 

Osamu had also noticed the sudden change, but unlike me, he did not question it further. I promised myself that I would help him. I would find out why he thought that way about my family, because what he said was true. It was messed up...

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We drove to Osamu's onigiri shop. His apartment, which he shared with Atsumu, was right above the small restaurant. We quietly climbed the stairs to the first floor before he unlocked the door and let me into the cozy apartment. 

"Atsumu isn't here tonight. He's sleeping with his teammates in the clubhouse." Osamu took my jacket from me and turned on the light. 

I dared to look around. The wallpaper was painted in a clay-colored coffee brown and there were colorful pictures of flowers on the walls. Potted plants hung from the ceiling in macrame plant hangers and gave off a pleasant earthy smell. From the entrance you could see into the open kitchen and living room, which were decorated in matching shades of gray. It was just really cozy. 

"Make yourself at home." My cousin walked past me, smiling.

I followed Osamu to a door that was located right next to the big window, where he stopped and gestured for me to open it. 

"There's a guest room here. You'll find duvet covers in the closet." He looked at the wall clock in the living room. "It's only a little after two. You should try to get some more sleep. I'll go down to the restaurant at around six to get everything ready for sale. If you're hungry, you're welcome to rummage through the fridge or just come down." 

He smiled slightly. "My room is over there. If there's anything troubling you, you're welcome to come to me." 

I thanked my cousin, who assured me that it was nothing. Then he wished me good night and disappeared into his own room. I gazed at the closed door for a long time, then I entered the guest room. First I made the bed, then I reached for my backpack and opened it. Slowly and carefully I pulled out the cracked picture frame and put it on the nightstand. The picture of my father smiled at me. I lovingly stroked the broken pane of glass. Nobody could replace my  father. Nobody. Never.

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I hardly slept. The incident sat there in my mind, deeply embedded in my bones and would not let go of me. Every time I closed my eyes, I had the image of the pervert leaning over me right in front me. I imagined his breathing right next to my ears, making it hard to fall asleep. 

Several times when I actually managed to fall asleep, I woke up with a startle because I had had a nightmare. At seven o'clock, I couldn't stand it anymore and dragged myself out of bed. My phone showed several missed calls, including three from my mother. I ignored them and instead grabbed a towel and my shower things. A warm shower would certainly help me. 

However, since I didn't know exactly where the bathroom was, it took me two attempts to open the right door. I took my sweet time to wash myself thoroughly. Little by little, I scrubbed the disgusting feeling off my skin. After an hour and a half, I left the bathroom again. It was now light outside. I picked up my phone again.

Kenma had called me aswell. I dialed his number without hesitating. He answered on the first ring. 

"Where are you?" He sounded rushed. 

I felt uneasy. "At Osamu's. Did something happen?" My heart beat faster. 

"Something happened!?" He laughed sarcastically. "If I get my hands on this dirty pig, then..." 

He knew. Kuroo must have told him. 

"I'm on my way. Don't you dare to leave." With these words he hung up. 

I looked at the screen of my cell phone. Then I put it aside again and went to the fridge. Osamu had attached a small, colorful note to the door with a magnet.

There's still rice in the rice cooker and there's miso soup in the fridge. Help yourself. Osamu 

I smiled slightly. It felt good when someone left something for you and thought of you.

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Fifteen minutes passed before the doorbell rang. I looked through the small camera and saw Kenma leaning against the doorframe. I quickly opened the door. He immediately pulled me into a hug. His scent of vanilla filled my nose. I simply loved his smell. It made me melt into him even more every time. 

"How are you, kitten?" 

I looked up at him. "So-so." I slowly pulled myself out of his arms. "Can we please not talk about it?" 

Kenma nodded, but he seemed quite unhappy. I chose to ignore it. There were other things I wanted to discuss with him. I quickly dragged him to the sofa. 

"I'd like to talk to you about Kuroo-san..." 

He looked curiously into my eyes. "About Tetsuro?" 

I nodded thoughtfully before I told him what Kuroo had said tonight.

"That confirms my suspicion." Kenma grabbed my hand and ran his thumb over the back of my hand. 

"What suspicion?" 

He sighed and then looked out the window. "It must have something to do with his relationship with Hikaru. Before they got together, he spoke highly of your family. But when he finally started dating Hikaru, he changed completely. Every time we mention her name, he changes the subject or gives vague answers." 

I had noticed that too. When he was with us, he rarely spoke to me about my family. He acted completely different compared to other situations in which I had interacted with him, especially when we were far from home.

"Now that you mention it, I noticed it too." I fell backwards onto the sofa. 

Kenma's expression darkened. "There's something else you should know." 

I looked at him questioningly. 

"Recently, every time he's been with Hikaru, he's had several new bruises and scratches on his arms and legs. I'm not sure if  the rest of his body is also affected, but you can't get injured that often, not this badly. It's just a guess, but..." 

A startled sound escaped me. I looked at him in disbelief. I knew what he was trying to say. Was my sister abusing her boyfriend?!