Chapter 3 - The Night Walk

Finally, Miyuki reached into her purse and pulled out the pepper spray, holding it tightly in her hand, ready to use it to defend herself at any moment. Eventually, the stranger following Miyuki was walking very close, right behind her, so she turned swiftly towards him and held out the hand with pepper spray can in front of her, ready to use it, however she felt the stranger grab her hand and pull it aside.

When Miyuki felt the hooded man's touch, she shivered so hard from hand to the shoulder, that she let the gas can out of her hand and it fell onto the pavement with a clatter. It was then that Miyuki and the man's eyes met, and she was paralyzed with fear when looked into his deep black eyes.

- Please do not use it on me.- said the stranger in a pleasant, warm, low and slightly hoarse voice.- Sorry to scare you, miss, but I'm not a creep, and I didn't really follow you, I just happened to be going the same way.- he assured fervently, releasing her wrist, then with the other hand slipped the mask off his face.

- Sorry for the attack.- Miyuki said hesitantly, and when finally saw his whole face, she recognized him immediately, even though he was wearing heavy makeup in the music video, and now his eyes were only slightly underlined with eyeliner.- I'm sorry, but are you perhaps... Aoi Takashima?- she asked, looking at him closely.

- Don't tell me that you are my fan...- he sighed with a slightly weary face.

- No, no, nothing like that.- Miyuki quickly denied.- But my best friend is, that's how I got to know your face. I don't have TV at home, so I mainly heard your voice before that.- she explained.

- Ah, that's good, actually. In the end, I sneaked out at this time, to a poorly frequented street to take a break from female fans.- Aoi admitted with a slight smile.- Seriously? You don't have a TV at home?- he asked, looking at her slightly surprised.

- Before, I couldn't afford it, and now I don't see the need to buy it. Besides, I still have to save money.- Miyuki replied calmly, though she felt a bit embarrassed.

In the meantime, Aoi crouched down, which looked a bit comical with his sizeable stature and very slim figure, he then reached with his long hand to the pavement and picked up a can of her pepper spray, and when he got up, handed it to Miyuki.

- Well, that's nothing really wrong. TV is not that special after all.- Aoi concluded with a smile.- And please, it's yours, hide that gas. It's good that you are carrying something to defend yourself, the world can be dangerous, especially for young women.- he continued.- But listen... If you are afraid to go alone at this time, why not... will you let me escort you home?- Aoi suddenly suggested, looking at her a bit uncertainly.- All in all, it would be good for the two of us...- he added after a moment.

- What do you mean?- Miyuki asked surprised, not sure if she could trust him even though he was theoretically a public figure, and for a moment she looked away from her purse in which she was hiding a can of pepper spray and just fastened the zipper.

- You will be less afraid walking at night, and I... And I, for a change, will be able to walk with someone else instead of walking completely alone, and additionally with a person who treats me normally, because is not one of my fans.- he explained Aoi with a smile.- What do you say?- he asked finally, looking at her pleadingly.

- Well...- Miyuki bit her lower lip lightly, thinking for a moment.- Actually... Why not?- she finally decided, smiling slightly. Miyuki felt a sympathy for him and didn't want Aoi to walk around the night alone, besides, she would also certainly feel more confident going home with someone else.

- That's great, I'm so glad.- Aoi's face lit up, now resembling a full moon.

Then they both walked slowly down the sidewalk, keeping a short distance from each other, as befits two people who had just met.

- So now that you know my name, can I know yours?- Aoi broke the silence quickly, looking at her curiously.

- My name is Miyuki Sakurai.- she replied, glancing at him from time to time.- I'm 23 years old, studying social pedagogy at university and I'm already in my last year.- then Miyuki introduced herself, just like she did to others.

- So you want to be a social worker?- Aoi asked, the curiosity on his face deepening even more.

- Yes, I would like to. I come from a poor family so I would like to help people, like my parents, lift themselves up from poverty.- Miyuki confirmed, looking ahead.

- You have a very good heart.- said Aoi.- And where are you coming from so late? Because you don't look like a party-like person.- he added after a moment.

- There is a bar near the university where I work after class. And actually, I work there with a friend from college, my best friend, Yumiko. We usually come back together because she has my building on the way, but today Yumiko dropped out of work an hour early because she was going on a date.- Miyuki explained.

- Yumiko is that friend who is my fan? And she also attends social pedagogy?- Aoi asked, and when Miyuki nodded her head, he continued.- You know what, I'll confess you to something.- Aoi said suddenly with a mysterious expression on his face.- A few days ago, when I also managed to get out for a walk, I saw two of you. But your friend doesn't look like someone who would like to be a social worker.- he admitted.

- That's a fact, at first glance, Yumiko does not fit this field of study.- Miyuki confirmed.- But she really has a very good heart.- she assured.- Surely you've only seen us once?- Miyuki added, eyeing him suspiciously.

- Yes, for sure.- Aoi nodded.- You know, I'm not always able to sneak out. Sometimes I either have a busy evening or I just don't have the strength for anything, so I fall asleep instantly.- he explained in more detail.

- Ah, I understand.- Miyuki replied.

- So, you're saying your friend went on a date? So she's not single...- Aoi spoke again.- And you? How is it with you?- he asked, and once more curiosity showed on his face.- Although I admit that you look like a girl who never had a boyfriend because she spends all days studying.- he added with a slight smile.

- Wow, you are very perceptive.- Miyuki admitted appreciatively.- Well, I've always focused on my studies, so I don't have much experience with that. But I guess you're the more expert, hmm?- she asked slightly bitterly.

- Honestly? I've only been in a relationship once even though I'm already 26 years old.- Aoi confessed quite seriously.- Being a musician with a lot of fans, it's hard to be in a relationship. The fans would be jealous, so I would have to hide with my girlfriend in the corners, so that some paparazzi would not take a picture of us.- he admitted bitterly.

- Oh yeah, I forgot that you are a famous person.- Miyuki admitted with a little guilt.- It's definitely hard for you, sacrificing yourself so much for female fans.- she added after a moment, looking at him a bit longer than before.

- Well, that's the charm of this job. Something for something.- Aoi replied with a faint smile.- I can make music, I do what I love... But at the same time I have to renounce many other matters. But in the end, I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to sign the contract.- he admitted.

- Yeah.- Miyuki sighed, staring at the sidewalk.

- You know, about the bar where you work, the one near the university...- Aoi said after a while.- Before my debut, as a teenager, I performed there few times.- he informed her with a slight smile.

- Really? I heard that once young artists, who dreamed of fame, performed there, but I didn't meet any of them on my way.- Miyuki admitted.

- Yes, I was performing in this bar, playing rock music just like now. And it was in this bar that I met a representative of the music agency that offered me a contract. I was 17 back then.- Aoi informed her.- And I signed it even though it didn't quite suit me, because I ended up in a pop boyband with five other boys, but I really wanted to appear in show business, besides, our boyband had a rather dark concept, so somehow I got through these 5 years before we disbanded.- at that moment he sighed slightly.- For the next two years I tried my hand at acting, and later, as a 24-year-old and quite famous idol and actor, I was given more freedom and a contract that allows me to create the music I love. And during these two years, despite the risky image, I reached the peak of fame, while being myself.- he concluded.

- What was that boyband's name?- Miyuki suddenly asked.

- V-Prince, from Vampire Prince.- Aoi answered.- Why are you asking?- he added after a moment.

- I heard you on the radio many times as a teenager, and I liked your songs a lot.- Miyuki admitted with a smile.- I just realized that among the members of the V-Prince, I heard someone with a voice similar to yours, which is quite unique. And turns out that it was really you.- she said surprised.

- I'm glad you liked our songs. Although at that time I didn't have such a sophisticated voice yet.- Aoi admitted with a little embarrassment.

- Yes, that's true, you certainly sound better now, but that's normal, after all, V-Prince era is when you just started singing professionally. Besides, for pop music it was more than enough.- Miyuki replied calmly.- And you have a really amazing voice timbre. I like to listen to you sing and, as I said, the music is fine, the lyrics are beautiful, only the music videos are a bit too controversial for me.- she admitted.

- Fair enough. And I must admit that I realize that sometimes I express myself visually in a bit too controversial way, but since my fans like it, the agency approves it and even persuades me to continue.- Aoi replied, slightly amused.

- Well, despite the relative freedom, you still have to consider the opinion of your agency, and most of all, the fans liking.- Miyuki admitted, nodding slightly.- And honestly, I am not so much afraid that someone will attack me...- she suddenly confessed, probably encouraged by his confessions.- I am generally afraid of the dark since I was a child, and so far this phase have not passed.- she added, a bit embarrassed.

- Miyuki...- Aoi turned to her with a rather serious face.- You know, you shouldn't be afraid of the dark so much. I know that darkness is thought to be scary and that it is in the dark that there are monsters hidden, but this is not always the case. Sometimes there are people in the dark who cannot fully appear in the daylight.- he said quite mysteriously.- In any case, darkness is not always scary. It can also be exciting and beautiful. You know what? One day I will take you for a longer walk to places that will make you fall in love with the darkness, because they look much more wonderful in the dark than during the day.- he added promisingly, sending her a broad smile.

- Well, it would be... nice.- Miyuki admitted, smiling a little herself before looking around.- Looks like we are already there, here is the building in which I live.- she pointed to a slightly dilapidated, but otherwise generally well-kept, though modest gray apartment building.

- Already?- Aoi's eyes looked sad at the news. He pulled down his hood, fixing his semi-long black hair slightly, which now fell slightly over his right eye.

- Well, it's already half past 12.- Miyuki replied, standing at the entrance to the building and looking at the screen of her phone.- I finish work at midnight, and it usually takes me no more than 20 minutes to get home, so I've extended my walk by 10 minutes anyway.- she admitted and put the phone in her jeans pocket.

- But in good company you would like to walk longer, right?- Aoi said, looking at her.

- Well, I admit it's true.- Miyuki replied with a slight smile.

- In that case, if you will be coming back alone again, and I manage to sneak out...- Aoi began quite shyly, which took Miyuki a little off-guard.- And if I see you, will I be able to join you again and escort you home?- he asked finally, smiling a little.

Miyuki looked at him surprised at the proposition, but also slightly embarrassed.

- Well...- she bit her lower lip lightly.- Sure, why not. I would be very happy if you could escort me home and I could accompany you on your walk as well.- Miyuki finally decided.

- I am very happy then.- Aoi's face brightened immediately.- Good night and sleep well. And when you come in, I will also slowly walk back home.- he admitted after a moment.

- Good night to you, too.- Miyuki replied with a slightly wider than usual smile, then walked into the building and up the stairs to the 3rd floor where her apartment was located.

Aoi, as he said, when saw Miyuki disappear inside the building, he turned and started walking in the opposite direction, towards his apartment building in downtown Tokyo where he was living.

~~~~~~~~~

Immediately after closing the apartment door behind her, Miyuki took off her shoes, left keys and bag on the dresser in the hall, and went straight to the kitchen to reheat on the stove the soup she had in the fridge and had been eating for the 4th day. In addition, she cooked a modest portion of rice and sat down in the kitchen, turning on the radio. As luck would have it, the announcer had just finished speaking and soon Aoi Takashima's newest song was streaming from the speakers.

"Seems like for ages, I wander alone in this darkness

On and on and on, searching for my own bright light

Will I ever find you, my sun?

To warm my icy heart in your hot flames..."

Miyuki listened to the lyrics, which, as before, made her feel a little sad. But now that she had spoken to Aoi in person and found out about his actually rather lonely life, those lines had hit her even harder. So hard that a lonely tear appeared in her eye, but Miyuki quickly wiped it with the back of her hand and focused on eating, after all she had to go to sleep soon, because 1 a.m. was approaching, and she had to get up at 6 o'clock tomorrow to make it on time for classes starting at 8 a.m. She ate, washed the dishes and turned off the little lamp that illuminated the kitchen, took the radio with her to the living room, and plugged it to the socket there. Sometimes Miyuki let the radio play all night long, of course properly muted, because she liked to fall asleep to music. Along with the candlelight, it was something that helped her sleep.

Miyuki prepared a candle and when she lit it, immediately turned off the light in the living room, then went to the bathroom to freshen up before going to bed and change into her pajamas consisting of sweatpants and a loose t-shirt. When Miyuki took off her jeans, a business card of Kai Ichatashiko, a psychologist she had met earlier in the bar, and a friend of her professor, fell out of the pocket. Miyuki looked at it again, wondering if she should call tomorrow and schedule a consultation. Ultimately, however, she left the bathroom with a business card in her hand and slipped it between the phone and it's rubber case. Then Miyuki took a mat from the closet, spread it on the floor, and then placed a pillow and quilt over it, also taken from the same closet.

Soon after, Miyuki lied down on the sheets and gazed for a moment at the candle flame, listening to the music on the radio, and after a few minutes drifted off to dreamland.