It doesn't need to be mentioned how long it took Daichi to get home. Like a small rodent that had just climbed out of a puddle of water, his entire body was drenched. He shivered, his teeth chattering.
"Jeez, Daichi. You should use an umbrella since it is pouring so heavily. What if you get sick later?" His mother had a worried expression.
Daichi gazed at his mother with sorrowful eyes hidden behind a veil of damp hair. "Mom..."
"Quickly change into new clothes. Mom is going to make you a warm beverage." Daichi's mother turned to go, not waiting for her son to answer.
Daichi dutifully entered his room.
The cell phone Daichi had left on the bed rang just as he was finishing up his clothes change. Without delay, Daichi read the incoming message.
But the first thing he saw gave him a shaky feeling.
The anonim message sender included a photo of Shuhei pressing him on the bed, so how could it not be? It was evident from the photo's viewpoint that Shuhei's room contained a hidden camera.
Another message arrived before Daichi could recover from his shock.
[Are you home yet, Daicchan? It is pouring so much tonight that I hope you are not too cold. Oh, I see. Did you enjoy the picture I sent?]
When Daichi realized who had sent the message, he was unable to contain his anger and yelled, "Damn Yoshimoto."I will call the police and report this bastard!"
A second message chime sounded.
[Daicchan, I would like to remind you of something. You had better not bring up what happened tonight to anyone. If not, then..]
Daichi typed a reply message, his rage skyrocketing in his mind: [you damn! It seems that you are still afraid that I will call the police, huh?]
Shuhei's reply came quickly.
[I am not afraid. Simply put, perhaps your parents are unable to handle it. I seem to recall that your mother had heart disease, am I right? How would it go if I sent the picture to her right now?]
Daichi had a bad feeling that an invisible hand was punching him in the corner of his heart. Shuhei mentions his mother, making it obvious that he has unpleasant plans.
[I'm the victim here! Im sure my mother definitely won't blame me.] Daichi put himself forward for defense.
[You really are so certain, huh? What about this one...] Shuhei attached another file. A video.
Daichi was curious about what was inside the video and clicked on it without hesitation.
The amateur video, shot from above a person's body, quickly rotates, revealing a restless naked young man.
Daichi was enraged because the young man's face in the video looked exactly like him!
Daichi is extremely frustrated. His calm, which had been shaky from the start, had now been shattered.
"Damn it! Yoshimoto, you are insane! This is clearly an edit! I would never do something so heinous!" Daichi yelled as he typed a message.
[It's true that it's only an edit. But, Daicchan, I am sure your mother will believe that video, right? It's possible that her heart disease will recur after that, and I don't think I need to say anything else.]
Daichi's body was trembling with rage. "This jerk!"
Shuhei stopped sending messages. Daichi was left alone to deal with his feelings of rage.
Daichi finally calmed down after a long time. He sat on the edge of the bed, thinking.
"Proof of this chat should be used as evidence that he threatened me. That's right! I'm still going to report it to the police!"
From the outside, someone knocked on Daichi's door.
"Daichi, are you sleeping?" His mother's voice was heard.
Daichi quickly removed his frown and replaced it with a smile. He opened the door for his mother. The middle-aged woman had apparently brought him a glass of milk.
"Not yet, mom."
"That's good. Then drink this quickly to warm your body." Daichi's mother gave him a glass of milk.
Daichi drank the milk as instructed.
"Oh, your schoolmate just called; he said he saw you at the convenience store earlier and noticed you were not feeling well. Daichi, is that true?"
Daichi's right leg, which was covered in hot noodles, began to throb as soon as his mother said the word sick, announcing his presence.
Daichi paused for a moment before saying nothing about his injury to his mother.
"Don't worry, Mom. I'm fine." He set the empty glass on the tray his mother had brought with her. "I am going to bed now. Good night, Mom."
"Okay. Good night."
Daichi shut the door after his mother had left. She sat on the bed, took ointment from her study desk drawer, and smeared it on her red feet while holding back tears.
He was depressed not because of his injury, but because of his bad luck tonight.
"Yoshimoto wouldn't have done these things to me if I had ignored him at the convenience store!"
He had simply forgotten what Shuhei had said previously, that Shuhei had loved him for a long time. Even if tonight's incident could have been avoided, there is no guarantee that Daichi will be safe in the future.
Daichi laid down after applying the ointment to his feet. Tonight, his thoughts were consumed by Shuhei's insane actions.
Daichi then realized Shuhei had'reached out his hand' and bravely contacted Daichi's mother.
Daichi is afraid yet again. Shuhei's threats kept Daichi up all night, making him feel uneasy and restless. He didn't get any sleep until early in the morning.