Rei exhaled heavily. Then tried to speak as calmly as possible. "Saki-nii, I don't feel comfortable staying too long with you. So I want to go back to my home. Maybe I've been living with you for too long. Father may already feel worried about me. Maybe, you're not as angry as before. I hope Saki-nii doesn't mind my decision," Rei said in a low voice. She looked hesitant when saying this to me.
Hearing Rei speak like that, made me feel sad. It seems like I unconsciously started to feel comfortable when living together with Rei. I know that she will definitely return to her home, but still I feel unprepared if she leaves just like that.
"Don't you want to stay a little longer with me?" I asked hoping Rei would stay a little longer with me.
"Thank you but I think this is more than enough for me. Saki-nii, I don't want to trouble you any more than this," Rei said with a face that looked earnest.
Although I tried to persuade and ask Rei to stay longer, Rei stuck to her decision to go home. And of course, I couldn't force her beyond this. Grudgingly, I finally agreed to take Rei back to her home.
"Alright. I'll take you home. Thank you also for helping me out so much while you were staying here with me. Rei-kun if you have free time come visit here, I will always open the door for you." I looked at Rei for a long time.
"Of course." Rei nodded her head.
After that, I drove Rei back to her house. But for some reason, there was always a feeling of uneasiness as soon as I wanted to take Rei home. It felt like there would be something that would make me feel uneasy. But I tried to push my thoughts away.
Rei just wants to go back to her parents' house, isn't that normal?
***
After that the two of us went walking together, while cracking jokes, and laughing along the way.
"Rei-kun I have a guess for you. Guess what beer makes people happy?" I threw out a funny guess for Rei.
Rei seemed to think for a moment until, finally, she seemed to get an answer. "Beer that costs a lot and tastes good?" Rei replied.
"No... no. That's not the answer," I said, wagging my index finger. "Beer that makes people happy, give me a lot of money," I said. It seems my sense of humor is now on par with the typical crisp jokes of gentlemen. Evidently just because of a joke like this, I was already laughing out loud. While Rei herself looks, confused.
"Hahaha... that's pretty funny Saki-nii," said Rei who seemed to be just trying to appreciate my dry jokes.
It doesn't seem funny, but is she okay? I thought anxiously. I didn't want to think negatively but when, I secretly glanced at Rei I could clearly see how, her face looked troubled. Although it was clear that the uneasy look was not shown openly.
I actually wanted to invite her to go back home. Rei, however, suddenly stopped walking.
"What's wrong?" I asked her as soon as I saw that Rei had suddenly stopped and was now frozen in place.
"Ah... that, we've arrived," she said in a stuttering voice.
My forehead furrowed as I heard her stuttering reply. From her voice alone, Rei didn't sound very comfortable. But she still tried to cover it up.
"Rei, are you okay?" I'm afraid she's afraid to go back to her house. At this rate, there's no way I'm just going to let her go.
Rei exhaled heavily. She then looked at me for a while before finally, returning her gaze to the door of the house. Which, it seemed, was her house.
"I'm fine. Saki-nii looks like we'll be parting ways here. Thank you for all your kindness." She smiled before finally, walking towards her house.
Seeing Rei walking away towards her house. My feelings are getting more and more uneasy. It seemed like I really didn't feel at ease. I felt so uneasy that I kept standing where I was. I decided not to go anywhere. And waited for Rei to enter her house.
But it seemed like my hunch was true. When Rei touched the door of the house. And the door was even open before. Suddenly a man stood in front of the door and as soon as the man, found Rei's figure. The man immediately pulled Rei's body roughly and threw her down.
I could see clearly with my own eyes. It looked like the man, who was Rei's father, was drunk. Even though I was far away, the smell of alcohol was strong.
BUAK
The man beat Rei to a pulp. It didn't matter that the person he was torturing was his own son. Especially in a drunken state like this, it was clear that the man must have been even less aware of himself. He could have killed Rei. Meanwhile Rei, who couldn't fight back. Tried to protect herself.
"Where the devil have you been!" the man raged endlessly. The man didn't realize that his actions could kill his son at any time.
Seeing that man continue to abuse Rei. I really couldn't stand his behavior. Without hesitation, I ran towards Rei then, pulled Rei's hand.
Without thinking, I immediately took Rei away with me. I even took the time to carry her on my back.
"Saki-nii ...."
"Just shut up."
I ran as fast as I could. It didn't even matter that I bumped into anything that got in my way. Even so, who would have thought that the man behind me was chasing me so fast. Even in his drunken state, it seemed like that man really had a crazy amount of energy.
"GET BACK YOU DEVIL!"
Huh? How dare he call me a devil, when he himself is more than everything in this world, I thought.
I continued to run very fast. Trying to find a place filled with crowds. Even though I was almost out of breath, I kept pushing myself.
"YOU'RE BACK!" The man accelerated his running, then pulled Rei's shirt tight. As a result of his actions, I even fell over.
I hurriedly protected Rei, even as the man was about to commit another violent act. Until finally, I heard screams from the people around me.
"Call the police!"
"Kyaaa... anyone please, help those two kids from that evil man!"
"Hurry up, don't be silent!"
Luckily in the crowd. People were being sensitive, there were some who tried to help and approached us. The aggressive behavior shown by Rei's father would naturally provoke reactions from many people. There was no way people in the crowd would stay silent when they saw a child being bullied.
Finally, thanks to these sensitive people. One of them called the police so that the police arrived immediately. As soon as the police arrived, Rei's father was immediately arrested.
***
A few days after the incident, Rei was moved to an orphanage. Her father, meanwhile, was arrested for child abuse. Everything just happened so quickly. And I didn't expect it to turn out like this.
For the past few days, I've been living alone at home again. I felt lonely again. Like there's something empty. Living together with Rei, apparently gave me a little happiness.
But what can I do? Everything that happens, will happen. So I can only let things go as they should.