After lunch, as they stepped out of the hotpot restaurant, Emi looked at Ren and gently asked if she could spend a bit more time with Sora. Ren nodded without hesitation and reached into his jacket pocket. He handed Emi a black card and told her to use it, and to keep it with her from now on.
Emi stared at it, then shook her head. "My money is enough, Ren. You've already bought me too many things today."
Ren looked at her with seriousness in his eyes and spoke quietly. "You belong to Kazama now. Just keep it with you in case anything happens. It would help ease my worries."
Emi hesitated, then finally accepted it and slipped the card into her bag.
She and Sora walked to a nearby café and ordered drinks. As they sat by the window and chatted over iced coffees, Emi turned to her friend and asked with a small smile, "So, what's going on with you and Daiki?"
Sora nearly choked on her drink and waved her hand in defense. "It's nothing. We just message each other every few days. Just casual stuff."
Emi leaned in slightly. "Would you ever consider someone like him?"
Sora went quiet, her face gradually turning red. "I don't know. I mean, just now when he patted my head at the restaurant, I kind of lost my mind. It's been a long time since a guy touched me like that in a way that felt natural."
She paused for a moment and added softly, "Ever since my last relationship ended, I haven't had the courage to like anyone again. That breakup took more out of me than I expected."
Emi nodded slowly, then reached for Sora's hand across the table. "From what I know about Daiki, he's responsible and steady. If anything does happen between you two, I think you'll be in good hands."
Sora gave her a small smile, then quickly shifted the topic. "Enough about me. What about you and Ren? What stage are you guys at now?"
Emi looked down, blushing slightly. "We only got together a few days ago. We kissed, that's all."
Sora squealed under her breath. "You've finally grown up, Emi. I'm so happy for you."
They laughed together, and for a while, the conversation remained light. But slowly, the topic turned more serious.
Sora lowered her voice. "What about your father? What's your plan there?"
Emi took a long sip before responding. "I still think about him sometimes. Even though he did horrible things, I remember what my mother told me before she passed. She said not to hate him. And sometimes, living peacefully now makes me feel guilty, knowing he might be out there struggling alone."
Sora listened patiently before replying. "Your father is an adult. He made his choices, and he has to be responsible for them. You can't keep carrying him on your back forever."
The sky outside gradually darkened. The girls finished their drinks and stood up. Emi messaged Ren to let him know they were wrapping up, following what he had instructed earlier. Sora teased that ever since Ren entered Emi's life, she worried a lot less for her.
While standing by the roadside, waiting for Ren to pick them up, a van suddenly screeched to a stop in front of them. Before either of them could react, the van doors opened and two men jumped out, grabbing them and dragging them inside.
"Who are you?" Emi shouted as they were shoved into the vehicle.
"Shut up," one of the men barked while tying their hands.
They struggled, but when one of the men pulled out a gun and pointed it toward them, the girls froze, obeying the silent threat in his eyes.
"What do you want from us?" Sora asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
One of the men laughed. "Just a little fun tonight."
Emi's heart pounded as they were driven for what felt like twenty minutes. When the van stopped, they were pulled out and dragged into a dark warehouse. A single mattress sat in the center of the floor. The men pushed them toward it.
As one of them started to shove Sora down onto the mattress, Emi cried out, "Stop. Take me instead. Just let her go."
"Emi, are you crazy?" Sora cried out, tears welling in her eyes.
"It's better than both of us getting hurt," Emi said, her voice trembling but determined.
Turning to the men, Emi asked, "Who sent you?"
One of them laughed. "Riku Hoshino. He said you'd be worth the trouble."
Emi immediately understood. This wasn't random. This was another attempt to hurt Ren by going through her. She looked the man in the eye. "Then I'm the one you want. Let her go. I'm the target."
After some argument, and with enough pleading from Emi, they finally agreed. One of the men untied Sora's hands and shoved her toward the exit. The door slammed shut behind her, locking Emi inside.
"You bastards!" Sora shouted from the other side. "She's Kazama Ren's woman. If you touch her, you're already dead!"
Sora ran into the night, desperately hoping to find help. After what felt like forever, headlights appeared in the distance. A familiar car pulled up, followed by several others. It was Ren. Daiki was driving, and several of Kazama's men were with them.
Sora ran toward them, crying as she shouted, "Emi's inside! They locked her in the warehouse. They were going to rape her. I'm sorry. She made them let me go. They said it was Riku. He's behind this."
Ren's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his expression cold and sharp. Daiki jumped out of the car and wrapped Sora in a tight hug, whispering to her that everything would be alright and that they were going to save Emi now.
Back in the warehouse, Emi looked at the men. "Untie me. I'll do whatever you want. Just untie me first."
They exchanged amused looks, excited at the thought, and one of them immediately reached to untie her hands.
As soon as her wrists were free, Emi lunged toward the gun hanging from one of their belts, but she was too slow. The man shoved her back violently and slapped her across the face. She fell hard, and they tied her down again, this time rougher than before.
"Stupid girl," one of them spat. "You think you can fool us?"
The other started pulling out a phone to record while the second began removing his pants. Emi shut her eyes tightly and prayed for Ren. Her body trembled as one of them began removing her shirt, groping her as she cried silently.
Just before the situation escalated further, a loud gunshot echoed from outside.
The men froze in place, panic flooding their expressions. Another gunshot rang out before the warehouse door burst open.
Ren's men charged in and took down the hooligans in seconds. Ren himself rushed in behind them and went straight to Emi. He knelt beside her, quickly pulling his jacket around her half exposed body.
"You came," Emi sobbed as she clung to him.
"You're safe now, Emi," Ren whispered as he gently carried her out in his arms.
Outside, Sora stood waiting. When she saw Ren carrying Emi out, she broke down in tears. "Emi!"
Ren nodded once at Daiki, who quickly took Sora aside and led her toward another car.
Ren took Emi in his own car, holding her tightly the entire ride home, his jaw clenched, heart heavy with fury and relief.