Chapter 8: Collapse (Part Two).

“Aina… slow down. You’re… you’re hurting me.”

Hoshiya Kaoru stumbled behind her, sharp pain shooting from his wrist. His delicate brows knitted; his voice carried grievance and a plea.

Night breeze tousled the strands on his forehead. Streetlights stretched his dragged shadow long and short—helpless, pitiful.

But Ayata Aina ahead seemed deaf to his begging, unchanging.

In tense, silent tugging, they returned home in jarring discord.

A thunderous bang—the apartment door slammed open by her shoulder, then crashed shut.

As she locked it, she finally released his iron-bound wrist.

Hoshiya Kaoru yanked his hand back with a wince, glancing down. Clear, glaring red marks ringed his once-flawless wrist, burning waves of pain.

“Aina, what happened?”

He realized something must have triggered this.

Enduring the ache and growing unease, he lifted misty eyes, voice as soft as possible, probing gently:

“If something bad happened, tell me. We’ll face it together, okay…”

Before he finished, Ayata Aina—door bolted—lunged.

Her eyes blazed with flames he’d never seen: pain, rage, fear, fierce possession.

The impact slammed his slight body against the cold, hard entryway wall. Back thudded dully; he grunted in pain.

Before he could react, she buried her face in his neck, teeth gnawing the pale, elegant swan-like curve—leaving wet heat and tiny stings.

“W-wait… Aina, not here… too rough…”

Hoshiya Kaoru had never been handled so brutally. Seeing her ignore his words, tearing at his clothes, overwhelming grievance and helplessness surged.

He stopped resisting, like a marionette with cut strings, slumped against the wall, letting her. But those beautiful eyes dimmed, filled with confusion and hurt.

Not that Ayata Aina could be blamed for losing reason—any woman seeing her beloved ravaged on video would snap.

Driven by primal panic, she wanted to devour him whole, fuse flesh and blood.

Only then might she feel safe, certain no one could steal him, overwriting the flashing images in her mind.

She ripped away fabric carrying his warmth and faint soap scent, tossing it haphazardly on the chilly floor, movements frantic.

Her gaze swept like a spotlight to his trembling pale thighs—especially the tender inner skin.

Still flawless, only natural texture and goosebumps from sudden air exposure. No extra marks.

No mocking Japanese tattoo from the video.

The discovery—like ice water—didn’t douse her inferno but eased her fraying nerves a fraction.

A trembling, weak exhale escaped her throat.

In endless darkness and chaos, she clutched a thin straw.

Deep in her crumbling heart, it briefly “proved” her Kaoru’s body was still “clean”—unmarked by that vile woman.

But she couldn’t confirm if he’d lost his purity.

What now?

Ask the treasure she adored: “Have you been taken by another woman?”

The words alone crushed her chest like a blunt blow, stealing breath.

She couldn’t. Feared the answer. Feared asking would shatter everything irreparably.

Instinct drove her now—primitive, desperate to reclaim ownership, erase any trace of another woman.

“Kaoru, you’re mine, mine… I love you so much, so so much…”

She kissed greedily—skin smooth as boiled egg white—from neck to collarbone.

Mumbled love words repeatedly, voice slurred.

Kisses messy, biting, leaving faint red marks.

She craved instant soul-and-flesh union, proof of full possession.

Urgency skipped gentle foreplay; she wanted closeness now to affirm.

She missed his body tensing, those soft eyes widening in shock then squeezing shut.

Delicate brows furrowed in discomfort; he bit his lip to stifle an awkward gasp.

Already poor at nuance, panic made her rougher, chaotic.

Focused on confirming her place in his heart, she ignored his unease.

Forget him feeling warmth—in three minutes, her own panic drained her; limbs weakened, posture faltering.

“Kaoru… you like this closeness too, right? Let’s get even closer…”

She panted, voice shaky, masking helplessness, pulling him into her desired intimacy.

But it was her wishful thinking. When she collapsed sideways, sprawled on the cold floor gasping, Hoshiya Kaoru just sat quietly… silent.