Ai no Kusabi (2012)

Riki, after having a forbidden affair with Raoul's pet, Mimea, undergoes punishment from a furious and jealous Iason. Using a holoscreen, Iason called Mimea to make Riki tell her that he was only using her to ruin his reputation and doesn't care for her, although Mimea insisted that was not true. Claiming that everyone trying interfered with their "relationship", Mimea told Riki that she loves him and about the pairing partner Raoul has chosen for her (which disgusts her), and said that she want to be with him. Mimea begged Riki to say something, but due to the activation of his pet ring, Riki couldn't answer her and was called a coward by her before Iason turned off the holoscreen. Reprimanding Riki while sexually simulating him, Iason asserted that Riki is his pet and he will pound that fact into his bones. Two years later, Riki goes to the front the gates of Eos Tower and reflected how living in the free slums is better than a gilded cage, wishing to escape if he had the chance. Daryl, Iason's Furniture and Riki's caretaker, observed Riki from his terminal and lamented how loved Riki is by Iason (but the only person that failed to see it is Riki himself) and wondered if Riki still has his pride to free himself. Hacking the security system and unlocking the gates, Daryl allowed Riki to escape Tanagura, but Riki was eventually captured by the guards and taken back to Eos Tower. Iason and his fellow Blondies agreed that Daryl must be executed for the crime he committed and that Riki must be punished. During Iason's interrogation with Daryl, Daryl told him that he released Riki on his own will and out his admiration for Riki, and how upset Riki is in Tanagura. After some prodding from the other Blondies and confronting Riki, Iason decided to let Riki return to Ceres for a year of freedom. Watching Riki as he ran back to the slums, Iason stated that Riki will be stranger to his home and that he will wait until Riki comes back to him.

Arriving to his home in Ceres, Riki goes to sleep on his first night of freedom. Meanwhile, Iason continued his duties as a Blondie and confirmed to Katze that Riki is no longer with him, although the latter assumed that Riki was killed. Traveling through Midas, Katze compared the greedy and lustful citizens to the slums mongrels, whom are looked down by others and must steal to survive. Nights later, Kirie is chased down by the gang members of Jeeks, but managed to hide in the same location Riki was smoking at. While Kirie was hiding, the Jeeks confronted Riki, only to have Riki badmouthed them, which provoked a fight. After Riki easily defeated the Jeeks as Kirie watched on in amazement, he is reunited with his former gang, Bison, when they came to find Kirie. Overjoyed to see him, Bison warmly welcomed Riki back, especially Guy, whom embraced his former pairing partner. With news of Riki's comeback spread through the slums, mixed feelings from other slums residents noticed how different Riki is from after his three years of absent. Keeping his time with Iason a secret, Riki enjoys his freedom and spent most of his time with Guy, who also wondered what happen to Riki. One night, Kirie mentioned how he was willing to become a pet to the elites to get out of the slums, which angered Riki. Seeing Riki's current state, Guy recalled one night before Riki's "disappearance" when he that came home with expensive wine. Guy asked Riki if gotten into any trouble for earn money, but Riki ignored his question and voiced how he will get out of the slums one day. Back to the present, Guy tried to hold Riki's hand, only to have Riki moved away, and thought about how Riki no longer opens up to him.