The sterile hum of lights filled the hospital room, mixing with the faint beep of monitors in the hallway.
Lena sat propped up on the edge of the examination bed, her legs dangling slightly as she forked through a bland hospital bento—rice, grilled fish, and pickled vegetables.
The knife cut on her upper arm throbbed under fresh bandages, and her ribs ached with every breath, a deep bruise blooming from the punch against the railing.
Scrapes on her knuckles and thigh stung, but the doctor had confirmed nothing was broken.
Adrenaline from the alley fight had long since crashed, leaving her body heavy and her mind foggy.
Her mother sat in the corner chair, silver-streaked blonde hair tucked behind her ears, eyes glued to her phone.
She scrolled through news articles and judo forums, the blue light casting shadows under her worried eyes.
She hadn't said much since arriving at the scene, just held Lena tightly while the police took statements and paramedics worked.
Lena took another bite of rice, chewing mechanically while scrolling her own phone with her good hand.
Social media blurred past—training clips, Tokyo tourist spots, messages from distant friends back in Canada asking how prep for the Worlds was going.
She avoided the alley photos the police had shown her. The date on her screen caught her eye: July 30th.
"Whoa," she muttered. "It's almost my birthday."
Elena looked up, a tired but warm smile breaking through. "Yeah. August 4th. Twenty already. Time flies, doesn't it? We should do something small. That sakura café I mentioned?"
Lena nodded, pushing the bento aside. The door opened, and the doctor entered—a middle-aged Japanese woman in a white coat, clipboard in hand.
"Schneider-san," she said with a polite bow. "Your scans look good. No fractures, the laceration is clean. Rest, keep the bandages dry, and come back if the pain worsens. You're free to go."
"Thank you," Lena replied, standing slowly. Her leg twinged from a kick she'd taken during the fight, but she masked it.
Elena signed the discharge papers at the front desk while Lena changed back into loose clothes—a soft gray hoodie and black shorts that hid most of the bandages.
The summer evening air outside the hospital felt thick after the hospital chill, carrying the scent of rain on pavement and distant street food.
As they stepped through the automatic doors, Lena spotted Kaito waiting near the entrance. He leaned against a lamppost, hands in his pockets, wearing a simple black t-shirt and shorts. His expression tightened when he saw her bandaged arm and careful gait.
"Kaito," Lena said, surprised but relieved.
"I came as soon as I could after your call," he replied, stepping forward. His eyes scanned her injuries with quiet intensity. "You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah. Just banged up."
They started the walk back to the Airbnb together, the three of them moving slowly down the streets.
Neon signs reflected off wet pavement from an earlier shower.
Kaito stayed close to Lena's side, noticing her slight limp. Without a word, she slipped her hand around his arm for support, gripping the firm muscle beneath his sleeve. He didn't comment, just adjusted his pace to match hers.
The conversation flowed lightly at first—Elena asking Kaito about the gym, him sharing a funny story about a clumsy new student earlier that day.
Lena stayed mostly quiet, leaning on him more than she wanted to admit. The city lights painted everything in soft oranges and blues, cicadas singing from the bushes and trees.
As they turned onto the familiar street, Lena's stomach dropped. A shiny rental car sat parked in front of the Airbnb, unfamiliar and out of place.
The front door opened, and a man stepped out, followed by a woman and two small children.
Her father.
Thomas Schneider looked much the same—tall, broad-shouldered like his daughter, with neatly combed light brown hair graying at the temples.
He wore a casual button-down and slacks.
Beside him stood his new wife, Mia, the woman he had cheated with while still married to Elena.
She was petite, with dark hair and a polished smile.
The two children—a boy around six named Lukas and a girl about four named Sophie—clung to her legs, staring curiously at the newcomers.
Thomas's face lit up with a careful smile as he approached.
"Lena! I heard what happened. I'm so glad you're okay. We came as soon as we could rearrange flights."
Lena's grip on Kaito's arm tightened like a vice. Her body went rigid, old rage and something much more terrifying surging hot in the pit of her stomach.
She squeezed harder—a clear signal.
Kaito read it instantly. His posture shifted protectively, and he placed a steadying hand over hers on his arm.
Without a word, Lena walked straight past her father, eyes fixed forward, pulling Kaito along with her.
Thomas's smile faltered.
Elena lingered behind, her expression tight as she exchanged stiff greetings with her ex-husband.
Inside the Airbnb, the air felt suddenly smaller.
Mia offered a polite but awkward nod as they passed. The children stared wide-eyed. Lena ignored them completely, guiding Kaito straight through the living room and up the short stairs to her bedroom.
She closed the door behind them with a soft click. The room was modest—tatami-style flooring, a low bed, a small desk, and a window overlooking the quiet street.
Lena released Kaito's arm and sank down onto the floor, leaning back against the bed frame.
Kaito joined her without hesitation, sitting cross-legged beside her on the cool mats. Their shoulders nearly touched in the quiet space.
For a few minutes, they just sat.
Lena showed him around briefly earlier—pointing out the tiny bathroom, the view from the window, the stack of training notebooks on the desk—but now the silence stretched comfortably.
Kaito finally spoke, voice low. "Why are you so nervous about your dad being here? You went stiff the second you saw him."
Lena picked at the hem of her hoodie, nipping at a loose thread.
She glanced at him, then looked away.
"He cheated on my mom. With her—Mia. He got her pregnant while they were still married. Left us and started a whole new family like we were nothing. Just… walked away."
She kept it vague, the details too raw to spill fully.
The divorce papers.
The new half-siblings who existed in a life that should have been theirs.
Kaito's jaw tightened. "I don't like being disrespectful, but… your dad's a dick."
Lena let out a short, surprised laugh that eased some of the tension in her chest.
"Yeah. He is."
They talked more after that—easy, quiet conversation on the floor.
Kaito shared small stories about growing up in the gym, the pressure of his father's expectations. Lena opened up a little about Canada and her home county Germany, the cold winters, and how judo had become her anchor.
"How are you enjoying Japan so far?" he asked eventually, turning to look at her fully.
Lena met his gaze.
"I like it. Very much. Minus the disgusting perverts on the street."
Kaito's eyes softened, a gentle smile curving his lips.
There was no teasing this time—just quiet understanding and something warmer lingering beneath.
Lena returned a small, soft smile of her own, the first genuine one since the hospital.
There was no lust in his eyes, no hidden goal for talking with her like this.
His eyes fell softly over her features as if trying to remember every single line on her face.