My relief was short-lived; my expression hardened again.
"I have one more suggestion. Will you hear me out?"
"What is it?"
"It’s about how obsessive abusers can be."
To put it simply, Hayashi’s boyfriend had already shown how possessive he was. If she suddenly vanished, it was obvious what he’d think.
"I’m worried he’ll hold a grudge and try to retaliate."
I didn't think he'd just say "okay" if she asked for a breakup. It wasn't hard to imagine him turning violent the moment she tried to leave. I didn't want her to spend the rest of her life looking over her shoulder.
"...I see."
"So, here’s my idea. We need to make him realize that he never wants anything to do with you again."
"How? Are you suggesting we lynch him? I wouldn't be against it."
Perhaps fueled by her own resentment, Hayashi tossed out that outrageous suggestion without a second thought. A glimpse of the reckless girl from high school had returned. I decided to ignore it for now.
"There are two places I want to go."
"Where?"
"The hospital and the police station."
"The police?"
Hayashi’s eyes went wide. So she was fine with a lynching, but the law was where she drew the line? I didn't quite follow her logic.
"We’re going to file a criminal complaint. Even a guy like that won’t be able to get close to you once the police are watching him and he has a criminal record."
"W-wait a minute. Do we really need to go that far?"
She’d been ready to entertain a lynching, but apparently, she hadn't intended to make it a legal matter. She looked conflicted.
"He covered you in bruises, cut off your contact with your friends, and he’s the reason your parents disowned you. He isolated you just to strip away any chance of escape. After all that, you’re saying this isn't a matter for the police?"
As I listed his offenses point by point, her face visibly darkened. She was convinced.
"...Fine. Let’s go."
"Better to strike while the iron is hot. We’ll go to the hospital first. They say the chances of the police taking a report seriously are much higher if you have a medical certificate."
"Okay."
"By the way, where do you live? I want to make sure we don't cross paths with him."
"It’s fine. It’s about three stations away from here."
"Three stations?"
That was a fair distance from the convenience store where we'd met this morning. Why had she stopped there of all places?
"...To be honest, I just didn't want to go back. To that house."
She’d been beaten and kicked until her body was a map of bruises. She’d been mentally dominated. Looking back, she must have been at her breaking point.
"But I’m weird, aren't I? Even after you were so blunt and told me the truth, I still almost got stubborn about it."
"...The process doesn't matter as much as the result. If we get the outcome you want, it doesn't matter how we got there, right?"
"...Yeah."
"Well then, let’s go."
With that, we left the apartment.
We mainly used the train to get around, and fortunately, we didn't run into her boyfriend. It had been about half a day since Hayashi had failed to return to the apartment they shared. I didn't say it out loud, but the guy was probably searching for her frantically by now. If he caught her out in the open, there was no telling what he might do.
Being as cautious as possible, we visited the hospital and successfully obtained a medical certificate. It turned out she didn't just have bruises; her discolored wrist was actually a hairline fracture.
She laughed. I think she didn't know what else to do. Since our connection was fairly thin, I didn't feel a burning rage, but I couldn't help but wonder why she had to go through this.
Next, we headed to the police station.
Again, we managed to avoid that monster on the way. Hayashi went inside alone to handle the paperwork for the report.
"Good work. How did it go?"
Since she didn't have a phone, I’d been waiting on a chair in the lobby the entire time. She returned after about thirty minutes, her hand now wrapped in bandages from the hospital.
"They accepted it. I can finally breathe."
"I see. That’s good."
"Yeah. ...Seriously, for everything... thank you."
Hayashi bowed deeply to me.
"It’s fine. I told you, I didn't do this for you. I did it for myself. So don't worry about it."
"...Yeah. Thank you."
"Did the police say anything else?"
"...Ah, yeah."
"What was it?"
"...There’s one thing I need to consult you about."
"Consult?"
"Yeah. ...Well, I told the police everything. About the violence, being cut off from my friends, and the fact that I was living with him."
I felt like she was being a bit cryptic when she mentioned the cohabitation part. Then it finally clicked. As long as that guy was in her apartment, she couldn't go back. How long would it take for the police to contact the perpetrator? Damn it, I should have looked that up.
"So, I don't have anywhere to stay."
"That makes sense."
"The police gave me two options."
Two, huh?
"One was to talk to the police or the Spousal Violence Counseling and Support Center. They said if I talk to them, they can provide me with protection."
"And the other?"
"To rely on friends or family."
Friends, huh?
"Hey, Yamamoto."
"Yeah?"
"I have a favor to ask."
"...No, that’s probably not a good idea."
I knew what she wanted to say before she even said it. She wanted me to hide her for a while. Her parents had disowned her and she had no way to contact her friends. Realistically, I was the only person she had left.
"...Wait a second, don't look at me like that. It’s creepy."
Hayashi used Leer. My defense dropped. Now was not the time for jokes.
"Wouldn't you hate it too?"
"Hate what?"
"...Being put through all that by your boyfriend. I’d think you’d be wary of men by now."
"I’m fine."
"No, you shouldn't be."
"...Actually, I want to be with you right now."
My heart skipped a beat for a second.
"You were the most reliable one through this whole thing. Not the police, not my family, and not my friends... it was you."
"...That’s why I said—"
"I don't care if it was for your own sake."
She’d used my own logic against me, leaving me speechless. I was always bad at thinking on my feet.
"...Whether it was for yourself or not, the fact is that you protected me. When you told me to come to your place back at the convenience store... I was actually really happy. I thought that maybe I was finally being saved from hell."
If that was the case, why couldn't she have just listened from the start? Why the attitude? I’ll never understand women.
"But still..."
"I’ll do anything, okay?"
"Anything." What a dangerous word.
"You don't have to do anything. I just want you to be okay."
"Then it’s settled. It’s safest if you’re the one protecting me."
"I guess so."
Wait, no. I'd accidentally agreed.
...What do I do? At this rate, Hayashi is going to end up living with me. I’d invited her over to help her out, but that was supposed to be a one-time thing. I hadn't wanted anything permanent, which is why I’d let her stay. Even if I did take her in, it would only be temporary—until the guy was caught or she made up with her parents.
Why was I so against the idea anyway? Because she was supposed to be afraid of men? But she said she was fine with me.
God, I was so flustered I couldn't even think straight. To hell with it!
...This was becoming such a hassle.
"Fine. I get it..."
"Really?"
"...Yeah. Just for a little while. I’ll look after you for a bit."
"Thank you, Yamamoto!"
It had been barely a day since we’d reunited.
As Hayashi gave me her brightest smile yet, I didn't smile back. I just let out an exasperated sigh.
And so, after a frantic series of events, I found myself with a very unusual roommate.