The Only One

Chapter 2 : The yours Regret

Kujou Takamasa had remained calm, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and resignation. "I understand your attachment, Tenn, but you're missing your chance at something legendary. The fans, your career—leaving that behind won't just affect you."

Tenn's voice had cracked as he responded, desperation seeping through his words. "I don't want to be an idol if it means losing Riku again. He's already been through so much, and I won't keep putting him second. I can't."

Kujou Takamasa's expression had softened, but he still looked unconvinced. "Tenn, I don't want you to make a choice you'll regret. But if this is truly what you want... "

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Back in the present, Tenn gently brushed his hand over Riku's as his brother drifted off to sleep. Kou quietly entered the room, carrying a tray she'd forgotten earlier, her gaze lingering on the brothers. She'd overheard Tenn's conversation with Kujou Takamasa that night, and though she didn't say anything, she now felt the weight of Tenn's decision more than ever.

When Tenn looked up, he met Kou's sympathetic gaze. She nodded, understanding his unspoken resolve to protect Riku at any cost. For now, they'd all keep this secret close, hoping that Riku would be able to find the peace he needed to heal.

-=-=-==-=-

Later that evening, Tenn sat across from Kichiro in a dimly lit room, shadows casting over his tense expression. Kichiro cleared his throat, hesitating as he organized the files in front of him. The air felt heavy, and Tenn's heart pounded, already sensing the depth of what he was about to hear.

"Tenn," Kichiro began, his voice uncharacteristically soft but laced with a dark undertone, "Riku's condition is... more complicated than I anticipated."

Tenn's hands clenched into fists as he listened. "Tell me everything. I need to know."

Kichiro sighed deeply and opened the file, pulling out X-rays, medical notes, and images that Tenn could barely bring himself to look at. "Riku's body has suffered greatly. His back shows evidence of fractures—he's had a broken spine at one point, which didn't heal properly. His left hand... Kichiro's voice faltered, his hand hovering over the scarred image of Riku's arm. "It's severely damaged. It appears he was hurt repeatedly, the bones showing signs of improperly healed fractures."

The words seemed to echo endlessly in Tenn's mind, each revelation like a knife cutting deeper into his chest. He struggled to comprehend it all, his breathing growing shallow as Kichiro continued.

"And the scars, Tenn." Kichiro swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the image of Riku's thin, fragile form covered in scars. "These aren't accidents. They're the marks of something harsh... something deliberate. I'd guess he was struck with a blunt object repeatedly. Riku's body is fragile now, damaged almost beyond repair. His immune system, his nerves... everything is under strain."

Tenn's heart twisted painfully. Every memory of his younger brother, every smile, every laugh, felt tainted with a darkness he couldn't shake. He imagined Riku alone and suffering, and the thought tore him apart. "Why didn't he... why didn't he tell anyone?" Tenn whispered, his voice thick with a mixture of anguish and rage. The very idea of Riku enduring such torment in silence felt like an unforgivable betrayal by the world that should have protected him.

Kichiro placed a hand on Tenn's shoulder. "The trauma he's endured... it goes beyond the physical, Tenn. His mind is fragile. He's buried in so much pain that any reminder could push him over the edge. That's why he can't be around others yet. It's not just his body that needs healing—it's his heart, his mind."

Tenn sat in silence, his entire being enveloped in a darkness he hadn't known he could feel. He realized now just how deeply Riku had been hurt and how far his own pain paled in comparison to the suffering his brother had borne alone. Every scar, every broken bone, was a testament to the cruelty Riku had endured.