Where's My Hero? Chapter 8

Chapter 8(Tanaka)

       Tanaka stifled tears as he left Misaki's room. He locked it quickly and turned away trying to regain himself. Hearing the sobs from the other side of the door, he had to retreat to the bathroom to avoid anymore guilt.

       The whole situation made him feel sick.

       Haruhiko had told him not to mention Akihiko's visit to the boy, and to not let him out of his room; both he had followed. Tanaka hated himself for following the directions, but he could do nothing else.

       Tanaka had noticed Haruhiko's chase after the boy, but paid it very little mind. Haruhiko must have know he had to give up at some point, at least, thats what Tanaka had hoped. He had thought it was over after Akihiko had told Haruhiko to back off, but lately he had been more obsessed than ever. Tanaka had also noticed a greater despise for Akihiko in Haruhiko's voice as well, but had again hoped it would wear off. He had started worrying after a while, but he had never thought Haruhiko would do this.

When he had tried to intervene, Haruhiko had told him:

       “It's for Misaki's safety, Tanaka. You don't understand what Akihiko does to him; he needs to be here.”

       He glanced at the mirror in front of him.

       'But this is wrong. Misaki doesn't want to be here...' Tanaka let out a shaky breath, 'What should I do?'

       He went to Haruhiko's room and found him finishing up a call.

       "Sir, Takahashi-sama is-," Tanaka started.

       "Did you bring him the food?" Haruhiko interrupted.

       "Uh, yes sir. But I wanted to talk to you about him." Tanaka tried again.

       "What is it?"

       "He wants to go home, sir. I don't think we should keep him here..."

       "Misaki isn't leaving. He will do much better here, I've told you that." Haruhiko looked up at him dully, still fiddling with papers.

       "But if he wants to go home, you can't keep him here. It's kidnapping," Tanaka burst out.

       Haruhiko's eyes shot up in an angry glare, "I am saving him. He just wants to go back because of the abusive power Akihiko has over him. I'm not going to let it happen anymore."

       Tanaka was startled by the sudden actuation.

       "Abuse? I can't imagine Akihiko-" Tanaka fidgeted.

       "You're overstepping your boundaries, Tanaka. Leave." He waved him away.

       Tanaka fidgeted, "Y-yes. I'm sorry, Sir."

       He scurried out of the room and began his usual duties with a still painful weight on his conscience. He suddenly wished that he had told Akihiko the truth, but with all the phones in Haruhiko's room for business, and Akihiko already gone, there was no way to call him back.

       Tanaka shook his head. There was nothing he could do.