By the way, Mr. Jason, have you seen my panties? I can't find them..."
While Ed was getting dressed, Yukino searched the entire room but couldn't find her panties. Even her bra, which she had just placed on the bed, was missing.
"Oh, they're under that pillow," Ed said casually, pointing at the pillow on the table as he combed his hair.
Confused, Yukino walked to the table and lifted the pillow, only to find an unfamiliar blue bra and panties lying there.
"These aren't mine..."
"They are now, dear. It's a new set I bought for my girlfriend, but you can have it. As for your own, I've put them away safely, they're part of my previous collection, something to remember you by. So you might as well forget about them," Ed said with a smile, giving Yukino a knowing wink.
"But they're—"
"Dirty? I know, but don't forget what I did last night. Compared to all that, it's nothing. Now stop wasting time and obediently put them on," With that, Ed picked up the bra, put it on her, and tied the laces. As he reached for the panties, Yukino snatched them first, her face flushed, clearly still unaccustomed to such shameless behaviour.
"I can do it myself, thanks...pervert..." She complained under her breath.
"Hehehe, if you spent more time with me, you wouldn't be so shy. My girlfriend was like you at first, reserved about everything. But now, before I even step through the door, she jumps on me, buries my face in her breasts, and guides me inside her. She's even more of a pervert than I am," Ed remarked with a laugh, gently ruffling Yukino's soft hair.
"You know I'm much older than you, right? Why are you treating me like a child?" Yukino, who had felt throughout their time together that he was the more mature one, finally couldn't help but ask.
"...How old are you?" Ed paused for a moment before asking casually.
"Twenty-nine."
"Then you deserve this kind of treatment. You're still two years away from being what I'd call a woman; you are just a big girl," Ed, who was only a few months away from his thirty-first birthday in his previous life, replied with a chuckle, pinching her soft cheek.
"Alright, that's it. I have to go now," Ed said hesitantly. After patting her head, he walked toward the door, causing Yukino's smile to instantly fade as she realised he was merely a customer who'd hired her to satisfy his need, not a lover who would stay by her side forever. Out of sadness, she stared blankly at the panties in her hand, her expression lost and distant.
Ed, his hand already on the doorknob, paused. A hesitant look crossed his face, soon turning into helplessness. He turned back and saw Yukino dazedly staring at her panties, on the verge of tears.
As if he had expected this, he shook his head, walked over to her, pulled her toward the bed, and sat her down beside him. Under her confused gaze, he spoke:
"Originally, this was supposed to be a simple, happy one-night stand. I thought I could walk out the next day without any psychological burden. But you, damn girl, made me feel so good being with you that now we're having this conversation, one I'd hoped to avoid."
"So listen, my dear big girl. Since I've started to like you, and you gave me a night filled with pleasure and laughter, making me feel like I was with family, as a bonus reward, let me help you sort out your messy life."
"A few streets south of here, there's a pharmacy called 'The Charming Words.' It's run by my future sister-in-law, and she's looking for an assistant. If you want a fixed, easy, comfortable job with dignity, go there. Tell her, Edward, that's my real name, sent you and that you're interested in the assistant position. The pay isn't high, but it's more than enough to fill your and your children's stomachs."
"Now, what I'm about to say might sound a bit dark, but listen carefully. I'm not trying to scare you, just to warn you. After today, we might never meet again, so there's no point in me deceiving you, especially since there's a possibility you're carrying my child."
As Ed said this, the smile that had just returned to Yukino's face vanished, replaced by gloom. With great difficulty, she nodded, placing a hand on her flat stomach.
"Believe me, working in a brothel might bring you quick money, but it's no place for a weak and emotional woman like you. The world is full of all kinds of people; you never know who's a monster in human skin. The 'security' those brothels promise is just a game of words. Even if some big shot kills you, no one will care. And if you quit, you're on your own. Things can get messy very quickly."
"Let's say you serve ten men and then quit. That doesn't mean no one will bother you again. If some hooligan spot you on the street, to save money, they might drag you into an alley, and rape you before tossing a few pennies your way."
"They don't care about the law. Even if you report it, they'll claim they thought you were still working at the brothel. Who would believe you? The real nightmare begins if they find out where you live. Every night, those bastards could show up, rape you in front of your children, and there'd be nothing you could do but endure it or hope for a miracle."
"You might deal with one, but another will pop up like a mushroom. It'll continue until, in desperation, you make a bad choice or flee to another island."
"Maybe I'm overthinking it. Maybe such things don't happen on this island, and the people here are truly kind, though I doubt it. Still, I just want to say: tread carefully in life, especially when you have no one to rely on. Once you're caught in a whirlpool, escaping will be like visiting the gates of hell. One wrong step, and you're stuck forever."
"Alright, that's it. I hope that if I ever come back here, I'll see you just as beautiful, kind, carefree, and happy as you are now. I have to go, or I might not be able to leave you. Damn it, why is parting so hard? You are just a stranger."
"Take care of yourself and your children," With that, Ed gave Yukino a light kiss on the forehead, then stole a deep, passionate kiss on her lips. He held her tightly in an embrace, as if trying to transfer all his luck to her. He placed all his remaining silver coins, exactly five, enough to support her for a full year, into her hands.
With a playful wink, he walked out of the room with heavy, hurried steps. Yukino could only watch his retreating figure, tears in her eyes.
"Take care of yourself, too..."
Those were the last words Ed heard from her before he closed the door, his heart heavy.
"You too, dear!"