Kairon swiped his key card.
Beep.
The door slid open. He stepped inside, dropping his umbrella in the corner without a second thought. Without looking back, he headed straight to the restroom.
Changing out of his coat, he brewed himself some tea. Sitting down in his chair, he took a slow sip, eyes fixed on the letter and pictures of Akira spread out on the table before him.
He murmured, "So... this is what she hides behind those glasses." His fingers traced the paper, lingering on the words. Then, his eyes caught the signature at the bottom. He stared at it for a moment, then dropped the letter with a sigh.
---
Outside the Mall
Aria, Lizzy, Akira, and Kairon stood together, the city's bustle humming around them. Aria folded her arms and asked bluntly, "Why are we really here?"
Akira lowered her head, cheeks reddening. "Well... I..."
Before she could finish, Kairon cut in, voice calm but firm. "Akira wanted to get to know her friends better. So, we set up this little event."
Aria scoffed. "Waste of time." She turned and started walking away.
Akira's voice faltered, "Um..."
"Can you please stay?" Aria called back, pausing and turning her gaze back to them.
Kairon stepped closer to Aria. "The least you can do is thank her for being a witness."
Aria rolled her eyes. "I know."
She glanced back at Akira, who bowed politely. "Thank you."
Aria blinked in surprise. "You don't have to bow."
Akira smiled shyly. "Sorry, I'm just so used to being formal."
"It's fine," Aria said with a shrug.
Lizzy bounced on her toes. "So, what are we waiting for? Let's go have some fun!"
The group headed inside.
---
Inside the Mall
As they passed the repair store, a man glanced sharply at Akira. She immediately looked down, avoiding his gaze. Kairon noticed and asked quietly, "What's wrong?"
Akira forced a smile. "Oh, it's nothing."
They moved on, entering a spacious boutique filled with colorful clothes stretching as far as the eye could see.
Aria grinned. "I'm gonna check out some things." Lizzy immediately followed.
Kairon looked at Akira. "Want some space? You'll need to change to try things on."
Akira nodded. "Sure."
Kairon walked away, leaving her alone.
---
Akira browsed quietly. Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. She spun around—no one there. She hurried back the way she came, but the aisles seemed to stretch endlessly, filled with clothes everywhere.
"What's going on? I was just here!" she whispered, panic rising.
She spotted an open door and bolted outside.
---
Back Outside the Mall
Akira ran, heart pounding, footsteps chasing her. She pressed herself against the wall, closing her eyes. Not again...
---
Inside the Mall
Kairon approached Lizzy and Aria. "Where's Akira?"
Lizzy frowned. "I don't know."
Kairon said, "I left her to try on some clothes."
Aria nodded. "Right."
Suddenly, Kairon's phone buzzed. He pulled it out and saw it was Akira.
"Akira? Are you done?" he asked.
Her voice was ragged, breaths heavy. "I think... someone's following me... I—"
The call went silent, though it wasn't disconnected.
---
Back of the Mall
A man pressed Akira hard against the wall, one hand covering her mouth.
She struggled, eyes wide with fear.
"Shhh..." the man whispered, a twisted smile crawling across his face. His voice shook and stammered, "D-D-Did you read the l-l-letter? D-Do you know how I f-feel about you?"
Akira turned her face away, trembling, tears filling her eyes.
"Do you?" he hissed.
She cried softly, frozen.
The man's grin widened, his breath uneven, "W-w-why are you avoiding me? I care about y-y-you. Y-You know that, right?"
Akira dropped to the ground, sobbing, whispering, "Help me..."
She remembered Kairon's words: If you ever need help, just call.
Summoning every ounce of strength, she shoved him hard. He staggered. She crawled for her phone.
The man lunged, grabbing her and slapping the phone out of her hand. "Damn it!"
Akira clutched her cheek, tears streaming.
The man pinned her down, spreading her legs roughly.
"L-l-listen to me," he growled, voice manic. "If you d-d-don't do what I say, I'll expose your true i-i-identity online."
He rubbed himself against her.
"You want it too, don't you?" His words dripped with sick obsession.
Akira's tears flowed freely.
"W-what's wrong? W-why are you crying? W-why do you l-look at me like that?" he hissed, eyes wild.
"Don't loooook at me like that..." he snarled, grabbing her hands tightly.
Akira screamed, kicking.
He slowly began unbuttoning her shirt.
"I'll shhhhow you what true love is... Then you... you sh-should understand," he breathed heavily, madness in his eyes.
---
Click.
A sudden flash of light blinded the man.
He froze.
Kairon's calm voice cut through the chaos.
"A home appliance shop worker assaults a high school girl."
The man's face paled. "You'll be known by everyone in the country by tomorrow."
The man scrambled up, backing away as Aria shifted into a defensive stance, crossing her legs.
The man stammered, "N-no, this is…"
Kairon pointed behind him. "The security cameras caught it all."
The man spun around—and froze.
The camera's red light blinked.
Kairon stepped closer. "Even though you failed, you tried to assault an underage girl. You sent her threatening letters too."
The man stuttered, "Th-that's not t-true."
Kairon held up the letter. "Look closely."
The man scoffed. "So what?"
Kairon smiled coldly. "The signature matches the one you gave us when fixing the cameras."
The man's face twisted. "Wh-why would I sign a letter threatening someone?"
Kairon shrugged. "It's just who you are. Like a bad habit. Even in school, you signed your name on tests."
Kairon pulled out a paper. "And here's something else... you're divorced. Your wife filed for divorce because of domestic abuse. Now you're trying to assault a girl."
The man's eyes flicked to the camera again, disbelief spreading across his face.
Kairon tapped his shoulder. The man spun in panic.
"Your life is doomed."
The man tried to run.
Suddenly, a leg shot out from the side and tripped him.
He fell hard.
Aria and Lizzy appeared, arms folded and fierce.
"You think you can get away with this?" Aria growled. "In your dreams."
Security guards rushed forward, grabbing the man.
"Don't move!" one barked.
The man screamed, "Let me go! You have no right to stop me!"
---
"We were m-meant to be t-together! I'm Akira's biggest fan!" he spat, stammering madly. "We text e-e-every day! She updates her blog just for me! Don't you get it? She came here because I work here!"
Akira snapped, "Stop talking!"
He gasped, "Akira!"
She looked down. "I don't see you as my fan. Stop bothering me."
The man's face twisted with rage. "Liar!"
Aria smirked. "Look at him talking properly now. Guess he's mad."
The man snarled, "Talk to me, ugly girl! What don't you like about me? Tell me!"
Akira looked away.
Kairon watched quietly.
The man spat, "I never liked you anyway. Did you know that? Stupid…"
Lizzy stepped forward. "Enough."
The man hung his head. "Damn it."
Security dragged him away. Lizzy and Aria followed.
Lizzy waved to Kairon and Akira as she walked away.
---
Kairon sighed. "Lizzy will handle the rest."
He showed Akira a map on his phone, a red dot blinking. "Good thing I got your number. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known where you were."
Akira closed her eyes, tears slipping down.
"I'm so useless. I can't do anything myself."
Kairon gave a small smile. "It's probably hard being an idol."
Akira shook her head. "No. Maybe... this is a good thing."
She took off her glasses.
"It's so hard living in disguise."
She looked up at him, voice soft. "I'm sorry I never told you."
Kairon shook his head. "No need to apologize. It's your choice if you want to share or not. But if you ever have worries or troubles..." He reached out his hand. "You can talk to me anytime."
Akira placed her hand in his. They shook gently.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He helped her to her feet.
Their eyes met.
She smiled softly. "Kairon... do you look at me... in a strange way?"
He blinked. "Strange way?"
She laughed. "Never mind. It's nothing."