ATTENTION: This is an AU, as in Alternate Universe for those who don't know, and this means that it will stray from the canon setting. The personality of some characters have been adapted to the setting of this world. Also, changes have been made to the body height to following characters: Umi - 1,80m; Eli - 1,78m; Maki - 1,70m

OTONOKIZAKA PRIVATE ACADEMY

"Hey, you. Your name's Tojo, right?"

Keeping her gaze on her lunch, she continued to eat in silence. If she didn't give them any attention, they would lose interest soon and leave her alone. It always worked like this.

"Hey, I'm talking to you," the nasal voice got impatient, "or did your folks never teach you how to be polite?"

While her left hand curled into a fist on her lap, her right hand kept handling her chopsticks, bringing food to her mouth that chewed slowly. She couldn't taste anything.

"See, this is why it's a bad idea to let commoners enter Otonoki, they don't even try to integrate-"

The shrill scraping of a stool against marble floors echoed in the room, followed by two hands slamming on the table. "Enough, Ishikii."

"Who d- Yazawa?"

Green eyes looked up in surprise at the mention of a familiar last name, and they widened when she recognized a distinctive face that she had seen in television before.

"You know, you can't really blame others for not integrating themselves into a community when you're the one who doesn't even give them a chance to."

Nozomi gave up pretending to eat, instead staring up at the short and black-haired girl in masked awe. Her voice wasn't as high-pitched as she remembered and her face didn't have the child-like glow that she was known for in the media.

"What? I was just trying to talk to her, but she didn't react at all, how am I the one at fault here?"

"Geez, your ignorance would give me a headache if I didn't already have one from your voice."

Talking about her voice seemed to hit a sore spot and the girl dropped her innocent facade, looking down on Yazawa with disdain. "Don't get cocky, Yazawa. You're just one phone call away from expulsion."

"Go ahead, make that call," the shorter girl shrugged, "I fucking hate it here and can't wait to get out. You'd help me a lot actually."

Gritting her teeth, but lacking the wit to retort, the other girl turned on her heels and stomped away.

Nozomi let out an inaudible sigh of relief, feeling herself relaxing.

"Sorry you had to see that."

Nozomi swallowed when she realized that Yazawa had sat down opposite of her, scrutinizing her in mild curiosity. "And with 'that', I meant that demon brat."

Nozomi lowered her head and stared at her half-eaten lunch plate. "Thank you."

"Hm," her opposite acknowledged with a hum. "I haven't seen you around before, are you new here? Wait...You're the new scholarship student, aren't you? Todo Nagami wasn't it? I'm Yazawa Nico, but you already know that, judging the way you won't meet my eyes."

"Tojo Nozomi," came the quiet reply.

"Sorry?"

Clearing her throat, Nozomi raised her voice a little bit, "My name is Tojo Nozomi."

"Oh, my bad," her opposite named Nico apologized, "you were kind of mumbling when you introduced yourself this morning in class, and I was sitting in the last row."

Nozomi bit the insides of her cheeks.

"Why..." she trailed off, leaving her question unfinished as she refused to meet Nico's eyes. Why was Nico still here?

"Hah? Why what?"

But Nozomi didn't elaborate. Her mind automatically went through all the information she had on Yazawa Nico.

Third year, in the same class as her, daughter of an A-List super idol who was also famous overseas. Short, cute child-like appearance, but also easily angered and temperamental when things didn't go her way. Striving to become a super idol as well.

What could someone like her possibly gain from sitting with Nozomi during lunch? Did she feel so much pity for her after saving her from being bullied that she decided to stick around longer?

"How can I help you?" Nozomi asked quietly as she nervously rolled the chopsticks between her fingers before she forced herself to stop, remembering she was in an environment where this kind of behavior was frowned upon.

"Help me?" Nico asked in confusion before she let out a quiet 'ah' in realization. "I get it. You don't trust me. You think I have an ulterior motive for talking to you."

Nozomi gave her a wary glance as if to ask her if that wasn't the case.

"No, no, relax, I'm not out for your throat like the others," Nico said with a lop-sided grin, putting her elbows on the table and propping her chin on her hands. "Do I look like I was born into a golden crib?"

Unsure if her honest opinion was wanted, Nozomi refrained from shaking her head. Indeed, Yazawa Nico differed from most of the students here in one aspect. She didn't come from an old, noble family; her last name had no meaning in the political and economic landscape of Japan, only to the commoners. She would never be able to attend the same circles as the noble and traditional families that had sent their beloved daughters to the most prestigious school for girls there was.

Otonokizaka Private Academy, or in short Otonoki Academy, was nothing more than a playground for the daughters of the elite. A place for them to socialize and tighten bonds with other future elites of the political and business world before they took over their family's businesses and political positions.

A school as exclusive as Otonoki prided itself on choosing only the best of the best, which was why each year, they only offered one spot for a scholarship student. Everyone else who wished to attend this school had to get a recommendation first by current students or alumna just to get a consideration. The deciding factors were of course the family background and their political ties. Each applicant was carefully selected after a thorough research on their background.

And it made Nozomi wonder, what had been the winning factors for Nico's admission? Her mother wasn't successful until her late twenties and despite her wide recognition in the music industry, she was not a powerful figure in terms of politics or economics. Her wealth was temporary; it wouldn't last a second generation unless Nico managed to surpass her mother. Her fame was just a fraction of time; the Yazawa name would be forgotten in thirty years or less. Incomparable to some of the Otonoki students' families that had existed for multiple generations.

"I know what you're thinking," Nico said when Nozomi hadn't replied, lost in her thoughts. "I'm a joke compared to most of the girls here. And trust me, I don't even want to be here, but my mom wanted to give me the good education she never had. So I let her sign me up for here, I didn't think I'd get in. But the chairwoman of this school happened to be a fan of hers."

That explained a lot, Nozomi thought to herself. She was less hesitant about meeting Nico's eyes now, finding herself liking them. They were honest in expressing their feelings.

"So you really don't talk much, huh?" Nico asked her, tilting her head. "Or are you just overwhelmed by meeting all these snobs on your first day of school?"

Nozomi let out a quiet laugh before she quickly covered her open mouth with her hands, already feeling judging eyes on her.

"Don't care about them," Nico said without looking behind, knowing why Nozomi had suddenly become self-conscious about her laugh. "They wouldn't survive a minute in the real world. Besides, you're actually quite cute when you smile."

And Nozomi ducked her head with a blush. "Thank y-"

"We're – we're through!" A high pitched scream disrupted the calm air, and Nozomi only managed to catch a glimpse of the back of a girl that was running out of the school restaurant.

"What happened?" Nozomi asked in shock, trying to look over Nico's shoulder to see from what the girl had run away from.

A hand on her shoulder pressed her down in her seat. It was Nico. "Don't look if you're not searching for trouble."

"Eh?"

Nico scowled, and Nozomi flinched, not knowing that her face could form such a frightening expression.

"They will get up in exactly one minute and walk past here. Don't make eye contact."

Intimidated by whatever that was causing Nico to look this dark, Nozomi didn't dare to question her and focused her gaze on her lunch.

Soon enough, the background noises in the school restaurant faded away until it was completely silent, and the sound of multiple heels pacing on marble floor echoed in the spacious room. Only few whispers here and there could be heard.

Whether the situation really called for this much tension or if Nico was projecting her own nervousness onto her, Nozomi didn't know, but she kept her head down like she had been instructed to. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could make out three tall figures walking past her, and a light breeze tickled her neck.

When the door to the school restaurant fell shut, the sound level of the room was back up again, louder than before. Everyone seemed to be whispering about the figures that had just left.

"Who are they?" Nozomi asked, too curious to hold back.

Nico seemed reluctant on giving her an answer. "All you need to know about them is that you need to stay away from them as far as possible. Their world is something you can't even begin to understand."

"But how can I stay away from them if I don't know who they are?"

The black-haired girl gestured to her to lean in closer, and Nozomi complied.

"Ayase Eli. Sonoda Umi. And worst of all, Nishikino Maki," Nico mumbled before leaning back, continuing in her normal voice again. "Their families have been around for over two hundred years. Their share of influence in our country is frightening to say the least. Why, you surely ask, you've never heard of their names before, they can't be that bad."

Nozomi forced a smile when she had been caught thinking exactly that. Nico sighed.

"Respected families like them don't play the publicity game. They pull the strings from the background, they don't stamp their names on every brand or company of theirs. They're nowhere yet everywhere."

Fascinated, Nozomi kept eyeing Nico with a hopeful look so she would explain further.

"Oh, you're good," Nico faltered under Nozomi's intense gaze, "you could be an idol, you know. You've got that sultry look down."

"Eh?" Nozomi's cheeks flushed. "I- I didn't mean to -"

"I know," Nico interrupted before the flustered girl could stutter more in embarrassment, "I was joking. Not really. But for the sake of our conversation, let's pretend I did. Or don't you want to know more about the royal court of Otonoki?"

Nozomi folded her hands on the table. "Please tell me more."

"Alright, but that comes with a price." Nico smirked.

Nozomi blinked in uncertainty. "Price?"

"Yes, and that's the first rule you need to learn if you want to survive here among the rich." Nico stretched out her pointer finger. "Nothing comes without a price. If someone does you a favor, then you will be in their debt until you can repay them with a favor of equal worth. The most dangerous thing to do is to believe that they help you out of courtesy. These people here would charge you for allowing you to breathe the same air as them if they could."

Nico paused when she saw the incredulous look on Nozomi's face. "Shocking, eh?" Nico chuckled, propping her elbows on the table. "But all these kids here, they've been trained since birth to smile as bright as the sun so you'll be too blinded to see their razor sharp teeth. My advice for you? Stay clear of them."

Even without telling that bit, Nozomi would have chosen the same action.

"Now, since we're already talking about advice and rules," Nico continued, holding up two fingers. "Rule number two: In a world where we can literally bathe in money, offering us more money for favors is worthless. But there's one form of currency that we would always kill for." Nico wiggled with her fingers. "Secrets."

Not realizing how engrossed in Nico's explanations she was until she swallowed nervously, Nozomi cleared her throat and repeated questioningly, "Secrets?"

Nico nodded once. "In the world of the rich, secrets directly translate to scandals. If something is a secret, it usually is bad stuff that needs to stay a secret. If it were good news, then everyone would already know."

Intrigued, Nozomi carefully asked, "Then, what is the price for letting me know more about Otonokizaka?"

Nico's smirk grew broader. "That's the catch. You never know when I might call you on that favor. It can be right now. It can be in half a year. But time won't make us even."

Gradually becoming unsure whether she was ready to pay a price she couldn't foresee, Nozomi didn't reply, torn about what to answer. She wanted to know more. But she didn't want to be in anyone's debt.

"Besides, it's too late for you anyway," Nico said with a grin. "You've become indebted to me the second I told you about all these rules."

Nozomi let out a feeble sound of protest, but she couldn't find a way to talk herself out of this situation.

"See how fast this happens?" Nico said. "You're lucky it's just me. I'm not planning to let you repay with a dirty favor. But you need to be more careful from now on because others won't be that generous."

Nozomi faced down, her voice quiet and meek as she stared at her lap. "I can't offer you anything of value."

An unexpected chuckle made her look up in surprise again.

With her chin propped on her fist, Nico tilted her head and said with a smirk, "Don't you think that this is something up to me to decide?" Her smile widened. "Besides, I already know of one way for you to fix this."

"Where are the other students?" Nozomi wondered as she looked around in the empty gym. "Where is the teacher?"

"Teacher?" Nico laughed as she stretched her arms. "This isn't public school. Imagine the outrage if you let a refined lady sweat. Officially, we have P.E right now but we can actually do whatever we want. Most girls just skip it."

Nozomi gave Nico an insecure look as if to ask her why they were here then if it wasn't a mandatory lesson.

"Ah, you see, if I want to become a super idol, I need to keep training my stamina and dance techniques. Usually I'm alone here but since you owe me a favor, I figured I'd give you the chance to get even right away," Nico cheekily stretched out her tongue. "Hope you don't mind giving me company?"

And Nozomi smiled. She truly didn't mind, actually glad that she had somewhere to stay without being alone.

"If you want, you can practice with me," Nico offered, but Nozomi declined with a polite shake of her head. "Well, if you're getting bored, there's a shack outside full of fancy sports equipment. Take whatever you like."

Nozomi's expression brightened, glad that there was something to do that didn't involve physical exertion. "I will take a look."

"Yeah, you do that," Nico said absently, scrolling through her phone to choose a song she wanted to practice with.

The storage shack for sports equipment resembled a small warehouse, Nozomi thought, as she approached the shack that was located in the middle of what was called the sports area, consisting of one gymnasium, one soccer field, two basketball courts, two swimming pools and four tennis courts. Despite occupying an astounding amount of square meters in absolute numbers, the sports section didn't make up more than one fourth of Otonokizaka's entire area.

Nozomi noticed that the door to the shack was open and she lightly knocked against it.

"Hello?" she called tentatively. She stepped inside. "Anyone there?"

A second of silence, then -

"Who wants to know?"

Startled, Nozomi stuttered, "T-Tojo Nozomi."

"Class?"

"Um, 3-A."

"Huh." A tall figure stepped out from behind a vaulting horse. "You are the new transfer student in my class."

So gorgeous, was the first thing Nozomi thought upon seeing the other person approaching her. Golden hair, blue eyes, high cheekbones and a pointy chin; the definition of an aesthetic face by western standards. She had to have foreigner's blood in her.

"What do you want?"

Nozomi noticed a gold band around her left arm with the words 'student council' printed on them in bold characters and a clipboard in her hand.

"I – I have P.E -"

"So you want to find some equipment to train." Her tone was curt, her eyes barely showed any interest. "If you don't mind, I'm doing inventory here right now, so if there's anything you would like to take, tell me now."

Suddenly having to make a choice put Nozomi under too much pressure, and she stumbled a few steps backwards. "E-excuse me for intruding, I won't bother you anymore."

The blonde raised an eyebrow. "So you're not going to take anything?"

"No, no thank you," Nozomi stuttered. She bit her lip. What was she thanking for?

"Tojo."

"Yes!" Nozomi replied quickly in a high-pitched voice.

Taking a step closer towards her, the blonde scrutinized her face with a blank expression. "You shouldn't be here."

"Oh..." Nozomi averted her eyes nervously. "Yes, I should head back to the gy-"

"No," the blonde interrupted her. Her eyes narrowed. "You shouldn't be here in Otonokizaka. You don't belong here."

Nozomi clenched her teeth when she didn't know what to reply. She could feel the bridge of her nose heating up, could feel her eyes watering. She had been bracing herself for rejection ever since she had set foot on the new school ground, but to be confronted with it now when she least expected it knocked the air out of her body.

"I don't know how you managed to get in," the student council member said tonelessly. "Maybe it was luck, maybe it was a miscalculation. But under normal circumstances, you wouldn't be here. Thousands of people apply for the scholarship every year, and I don't believe that there's no one else who wouldn't fit better in our school than you."

Nozomi couldn't hold back a sob, and a tear rolled over her red cheeks, but it didn't move the other girl. Her blue eyes watched on with an indifferent, empty look. "I don't know what the chairwoman sees in you. But I won't question her because she is never wrong. Maybe it's you who managed to fool her by pretending to be someone you're not. Whatever the case is, I won't tolerate it if you cheated your way in."

"No," Nozomi said between sobs, "I didn't cheat -"

"Then explain why you are crying right now." The blonde paced towards Nozomi in big strides until she towered over Nozomi. "Explain why you are so weak."

Nozomi faced down, watching her own tear drops fall to the ground, unable to bring a sound over her trembling lips. She didn't know why she couldn't run away. Her feet wouldn't move, they stood rooted to the ground and kept her frozen in place.

"You don't know this," the cold voice above her head whispered, "but our world works differently than the one you come from. Our world doesn't forgive mistakes. It doesn't recognize weakness as a trait that makes us human but rather as a parasite that we need to get rid off. And the sooner you realize that you don't belong here, the better. I'm just doing you a favor, Tojo."

"That is enough," a calm voice interjected from afar.

Through teary eyes, Nozomi could make out a figure even taller than the blonde approaching them. It was a second year student from Otonokizaka judging by her red tie, and dark hair billowed behind the girl as her long legs took powerful strides towards them. Her graceful features showed no expression when her blank amber eyes peered down on the two people in front of her.

The blonde gave Nozomi a scoffing look before she turned to the other girl. "I merely gave her an introduction to this school. What brings you here?"

The second year held up a pink letter sealed with a heart stamp, which was enough of an explanation for the blonde, who sighed. "You do know that you are reaching your limit."

The dark-haired girl hardly moved her lips when she replied calmly, "I am aware."

"But you wouldn't raise the stake without a reason, I believe," the blonde said, nodding to the letter with an expectant look.

If Nozomi wasn't watching the second year's mouth moving, she wouldn't believe it was her talking because her unblinking eyes and hard expression gave the illusion of her face being chiseled in stone. "The Ishikii's."

The blonde frowned in thought. "Nikkei Index listed multi-media company, currently on a transnational expansion. Stock portfolio is diverse and solid, they've managed to secure a good share of some of the leading industries. Didn't Ishikii Hiroaki become one of the vice chairs of the Keidanren a year ago?"

Her opposite only nodded once in conformation.

Nozomi gazed between them wide-eyed. Did the rich have their own jargon to converse in?

Letting out a sigh again, the blonde shook her head and muttered, "I don't envy you."

"Only the foolish do," the taller girl replied in her low voice. "I'll be on my way then."

She turned to Nozomi, who flinched and stumbled a step back, thinking she was going to receive the same harsh treatment from her as from the blonde. Closing her eyes, she braced herself for any insult on her social background, but nothing came. After seconds of silence, she carefully opened one eye just to see a handkerchief offered to her.

"Welcome to Otonokizaka Private Academy," the tall girl muttered. Her expression hadn't changed, her mouth was barely moving without the hint of a friendly smile. But as Nozomi slowly tilted her head back to be able to meet her gaze, a blush covered her cheeks when she found herself looking into soft amber eyes.

"I apologize for my friend's behavior. You must have great potential to be chosen for the scholarship."

Quickly gazing down again, Nozomi accepted the handkerchief with both hands and a quiet 'Thank you'.

Smoothing over her red tie, the second year nodded to Nozomi before she walked off without another word.

Nozomi wished she wouldn't have showed that side of hers towards an underclassman. But even without knowing that person's background, she could tell that the dark haired girl was no ordinary student as she had conversed with the blonde casually despite their hierarchical difference. Was it her height that made her so intimidating? Her calm and cold nature? Or the blank look in her eyes when she had held up something that was obviously a love letter, completely unimpressed by the weight of emotions the letter carried?

"It is because of actions like these that people misunderstand," the blonde mumbled before she glared at Nozomi and walked back into the gym storage room.

Nozomi held her breath, only allowing herself to exhale in relief once she couldn't see the other girl anymore. But the moment she calmed down enough to let herself think over what happened, she wanted the ground beneath her to open up and swallow her whole.

Why had she cried? It wasn't the first time she had to deal with bullying, but why did she give in to tears so easily this time?

She thought she had become tougher ever since she had entered high school, but moments ago she had reverted back to her elementary school self who cried the moment she felt intimidated or overwhelmed.

"Why..." Nozomi whispered to herself, wiping at the dried tears on her cheeks when she remembered the handkerchief in her hands. Upon unfolding it, she realized that it was made of silk and there was a name stitched on it at the bottom.

Sonoda

Letting out a quiet gasp, Nozomi brought the piece of cloth closer to her eyes to make sure she hadn't misread. But the name didn't change. Stitched with golden threads, the letters were embroidered on the white cloth in cursive.

Was it the same person Nico had meant when she had listed the names she should stay away from? Was it the same Sonoda who had to be feared for her family background?

Lost in thoughts, Nozomi slowly walked back to the gym while staring at Sonoda's handkerchief, wondering what to do with it now.

"What took you so long?" Nico called out, and she stopped her dancing to run over to Nozomi, her face flushed and forehead dripping with sweat from the exercise. "What's that in your hands? I thought you were going to take something to – no way..."

Nico snatched the handkerchief from Nozomi's hands and turned away from the protesting girl.

"That's..." Nico slowly looked up at Nozomi with a frightened look. "Where did you get it?"

Trying to take the handkerchief back, Nozomi grabbed after it, but Nico jumped a step back and held it away from her.

"I said, where did you-"

"She gave it to me!"

"Sonoda gave it to you herself?" Nico asked in disbelief. "Why would she do that? When did you meet her? How?"

"Please give it back!" Nozomi attempted to snatch it back a second time, but Nico was swift in dodging her hands. "Nico!"

"No, you don't understand," Nico hissed, holding the piece of cloth between two fingertips like it was dirty. "If anyone finds out that this is in your possession, you're as good as dead."

Nozomi let out an exasperated sound. "Just give it back, please."

"No, it's better if we burn this..."

"Eh? No!" Nozomi finally managed to catch the handkerchief and pulled it out of Nico's grasp. "I'm going to give it back to her. Now."

"No!" Nico exclaimed and grabbed Nozomi's arm to stop her from walking away. "Trust me, you can't. This won't end well."

Not understanding Nico at all, Nozomi shrugged off her hand. "Why?"

Nico let out a tired sigh. "I'm just looking out for you. But I see that I can't change your mind, so I just want you to at least listen to this one advice."

Nozomi gave her a wary look but didn't say anything, waiting for Nico to continue.

"Don't let anybody see you giving Sonoda her handkerchief back, you hear me? Nobody can know that she has lent it to you. Don't even try to talk to her when she's not alone."

Nico's grave tone about something so minor somehow amused Nozomi. "We are talking about a high school student and not a member of a mafia, are we?"

"We might as well be," Nico said without a hint of humor. It unsettled Nozomi.

"But she was the one who gave it to me in front of someone else, why do I need to be discreet about returning it?"

"Someone saw you?" Nico almost yelled in disbelief before she lowered her voice again. "Who? Who saw you and why are you still alive?"

Understanding things less and less, Nozomi decided she had enough of Nico's dramatic antics if she wasn't going to get an explanation soon. "I'm going now."

"Wait, Nozomi!"

But with the handkerchief tightly grasped in her hands, Nozomi marched out of the gym, determined to find Sonoda before her next class. Nico didn't follow her.

It wasn't until Nozomi was standing in the middle of the large schoolyard that she realized she had no idea where to begin looking. A third of Otonokizaka's school ground was simply green area. Trees, bushes, flowerbeds and benches everywhere gave the illusion of a walk in the park when Nozomi wandered on various paths leading to an alpaca stable, an archery shooting range, a dojo, a pond with Koi swimming in it and a water fountain.

Sonoda could be anywhere on these large school grounds. Searching for her without a clue was only a waste of time, which Nozomi admitted to herself after arriving in front of the water fountain a third time.

She sat down on a nearby bench and pulled up her feet on it, hugging her legs. She didn't feel like going back to Nico. But Nico was her only classmate she could talk to. None of the other girls had made an attempt to approach her since she had introduced herself. Maybe they already disliked her for the same reason the blonde student council member couldn't stand to see her sight.

Just thinking of her made Nozomi feel uneasy. It wasn't like Nozomi could change anything about her background, she was born and raised in a middle-class family. Changing her personality to fit in Otonokizaka was an impossible feat. One couldn't simply acquire the attitude of a wealthy, socially eminent person without actually living that kind of life.

So maybe Nozomi wasn't strong according to the standards of a girl who had been born into this kind of life. But she knew she wasn't weak either or she wouldn't have been chosen for the scholarship.

"You're in my seat."

Nozomi startled and her head jerked up. "Excuse me?"

A scowling girl towered over her and sneered. "You're in my seat."

"I – I didn't know that the benches here were assigned to-"

"Well, now you know," the girl interrupted her, running a hand through her red hair. "Get up."

Nozomi noticed she wasn't wearing a tie, which violated the school's dress code that required them to wear their ties as a means of grade identification.

Why should Nozomi obey someone who didn't obey the rules herself? She was tired of being treated like she was inferior, like she didn't belong here. Her admittance wasn't an accident, she had been sitting in the chairwoman's office for two hours, trying to explain why she thought she deserved to be here. And even though she herself hadn't believed in getting in after failing to answer some of the simplest questions, there had to be some winning factors for her or the chairwoman wouldn't have chosen her. The whole time she had been interviewed, she had felt the older woman's wise eyes on her, gauging every reaction and expression of hers. Whatever the chairwoman had seen in her, it was no mistake.

"No," Nozomi felt herself saying before she could stop it. Her heart instantly sunk in her stomach.

"No?"

Purple eyes narrowed as they scrutinized Nozomi's face. "I haven't seen you before." She stepped onto the bench with one foot and leaned forward, preventing Nozomi from leaving. "You must be new here, so let me explain a few things to you."

Apprehensive, Nozomi leaned back, but couldn't increase the distance to the scary girl by much.

"First, I do own the bench you're sitting on. Half of the school is owned by my family."

"I – I didn't know -"

"I figured. Otonokizaka might still be operating under the Minami name, but they no longer have any say in how to manage this school." The red-haired girl smirked. "When I said that you're in my seat, I wasn't joking."

"Could you get anymore cliche, Nishikino."

Nozomi's eyes widened when she recognized Nico's voice.

Nishikino turned away from Nozomi and scowled at the black-haired girl approaching them. "Yazawa."

Nico crossed her arms and glared back, seemingly unafraid. Her defiant stance baffled Nozomi as she clearly remembered Nico telling her that a certain Nishikino was the worst between the three people she had to avoid the most.

"What's the point of being so rich if you still dress like a homeless person," Nico scoffed.

A lop-sided smirk formed on Nishikino's face. "What I wear is something I can choose. But being pathetic is a state you'll never get out of."

Holding her breath, Nozomi wondered if she should get a teacher. But if Nishikino really was as untouchable as she had implied, then no one would want to interfere.

"You are calling me pathetic?" Nico let out an empty laugh. "I'm not the one who hates my own family but still uses their name to feel powerful. Can you be more of a contradiction?"

"Shut up," Nishikino growled, dragging one foot forward as her shoulders stiffened in an aggressive stance.

"Oh, did I touch a sore spot?" Nico asked mockingly. "Little Maki hates bearing the pressure of being a Nishikino and yet won't give up being one because of the privileges. You are the pathetic one and you know it."

And Nishikino lunged at Nico, grabbed a fistful of her collar and pulled her up. "Shut up!"

Nozomi jumped to her feet to intervene, but someone had beat her to it.

"Enough."

A figure one head taller than Nishikino split the two apart with an effortless pull at the back of their collars.

Nozomi's right hand automatically reached for the handkerchief inside her pocket upon recognizing the person.

"Physical altercation is not how we do things," Sonoda calmly said in her low voice. "Don't forget the image you're portraying to outsiders."

"Like hell I care," Nishikino spat, shrugging out of Sonoda's grasp. "You're not my mother."

"If she were your mother, you wouldn't have dared to talk back like that," Nico threw in tauntingly, and stepped back when Nishikino aggressively stomped forward but couldn't get far as Sonoda held her away with an arm.

"We don't get into petty fights," Sonoda said, her voice neutral.

Nico glared up at the second year at the implication of being 'petty', but didn't talk back as the enormous height difference served enough to instill respect.

"Whatever," Nishikino hissed, and she pushed Sonoda's arm away from her, walking off with both hands tucked inside her trouser pockets.

Sonoda let out a low sigh and set out to walk in the same direction when she noticed Nozomi standing in front of her, holding out her handkerchief with two hands.

"Thank you," Nozomi said quietly, unable to meet Sonoda's eyes. "I didn't use it, so I hope it's okay if I return it like this."

Accepting her own handkerchief with a nod, Sonoda tucked it inside her blazer and walked off without another word.

"Nozomi," Nico breathed out in relief. The tough and challenging expression she had put up in front of Nishikino was gone.

"I," Nozomi managed a small smile. "Thank you. For standing up for me. Again."

Nico waved her off with a hand. "You're one of the few decent people around here, I didn't want you to transfer school after one day."

An incredibly warm feeling enveloped Nozomi's heart, and she pulled Nico in for a hug, which was the only way she knew how to express her gratefulness without choking on her words.

"Eh?" Surprised, but not displeased, Nico pretended to put up a fight against the show of affection, but smiled against Nozomi's shoulder.

"Thank you," Nozomi whispered again, squeezing Nico once before she let go. "I was scared of coming to this school...I didn't know what to expect. So thank you for being there for me."

Nico gave her a lopsided smile. "You know I can't always be around."

"I know," Nozomi mumbled, already dreading the moment she had to face a new situation within this school without a familiar face by her side.

"I really want to tell you that things will get better, that you will get used to here," Nico muttered, swallowing. "But I can't. Things are only just beginning for you."

Unsure if the other girl was being dramatic again, Nozomi wanted to laugh it off, but Nico looked up with a sad smile, and her laugh died in her throat.

"Otonokizaka is not the great place you think it is. Don't let your guard down, we're not dealing with normal high school students here."

"I know," Nozomi muttered. She had already encountered three of those scary students today, two of them had not held back with questioning her existence on these school grounds.

But at the end of the day, Otonokizaka Private Academy was still just a school. What else was there for Nozomi to fear besides low grades and unfriendly classmates?

"Maki."

"Tsh," Maki pressed out between gritted teeth, not looking behind her as she paced towards the only room where she could bear to stay around for long. "Would you stop following me, Umi?"

"I'm not following you."

Casually strolling behind her, Umi's long legs easily kept up with Maki's fast pace without much exertion. "You happen to go my way."

Maki glanced to the side. "Since when do you hang out in the music room? Don't you have some girls to entertain right now?"

Umi's jaw tensed. "I'm afraid I don't like what you are implying."

"Well, I don't give a shit," Maki muttered, scratching her throat. The itchy feeling she had since morning hadn't disappeared even after shedding her tie and opening her collar. "It's not like you don't know my opinion on that."

Umi's expression didn't stir. "I suppose not."

They arrived at a large double door with golden knobs. Maki fumbled inside her pockets for a key. "Even you have your limits, you know." She unlocked the door and pushed it open. "You can't play this game forever. It's going to blow up in your face."

Umi followed Maki into the room and closed the door behind them. "I am aware."

"I seriously don't know what you're thinking. But I guess that's none of my business." Maki shrugged off her blazer and threw it carelessly on one of the cushioned armchairs positioned around a white grand piano. "Especially if it's dirty business."

"You make it sound dubious." Umi sat down in the armchair closest to the piano and crossed her legs.

"Is it not?" Maki asked with a raised eyebrow at Umi, stretching her fingers before she sat down on the piano stool and opened the lid. "You're basically three-timing – no wait, didn't Ishikii confess to you today? You can't reject the Ishikiis. That's political suicide. So you're a four-timing asshole right now, and believe me, no matter how you look at it, I don't think there's a clean way out."

Closing her eyes, Umi pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and pointer finger. "I am not upholding four relationships simultaneously."

"Yeah, yeah," Maki muttered dismissively, wiping at the ivory keys with a silk cloth that she had pulled out of her pockets. "You're still going to regularly meet up with them though, so what's the difference. Even if you keep saying it's not a date, it is one. At least to them."

"I believe I made my emotional unavailability clear," Umi replied tonelessly. "Unlike you."

Maki shot a side glance at her. "You know damn well that I don't bother to play the two-sided game like you do. It's not my fault when they interpret too much into something I never said."

Gazing at the piano keys again, she placed her fingers on them. "Besides, they are more interested in the heir of the Nishikinos than in me. Don't you think that they are the cruel ones?"

And her fingers slammed down on the keys and struck a powerful chord, lingering for a few seconds before they began to play a bold and fast melody without one note jumping out of the harmonic range. Umi noticed she was improvising, reflecting the agitated emotions in her heart through a sequence of fast changing chords and the repetitive striking of high notes.

Respecting the unspoken rule of not speaking up during a performance, Umi stayed silent, knowing that Maki had cut off their conversation purposely. Instead she closed her eyes and crossed her arms, focusing on enjoying the performance.

Halfway through the improvised melody, the pace slowed down and the tones became quieter and softer.

Maki finished her song on a single, low note, letting it fade out by stepping on the right pedal beneath her feet.

Clapping filled the room.

Maki turned her head to Umi, whose arms were still crossed. She nodded to the door.

"It's been a long time since I heard you play." A tall figure with blonde hair tied up in a high ponytail entered the room. "It was very moving."

"Thanks, I guess," Maki said with a shrug. "What are you doing here?"

"I can't check up on my friends?"

"No," Maki said bluntly. "The Ayase Eli I know doesn't just stop by to say hello. What do you want?"

The blonde sighed and walked across the room to sit down in an armchair next to Umi. "Nothing in particular."

"Now you're just bothering me," Maki said. "Spit it out."

Eli raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you care?"

"I don't," Maki replied. "But the only socially acceptable action for me right now is pretending I care. So how about you tell me what's bothering you and I nod in fake empathy. And once you feel reassured that you've got my support, we can go back to minding our own business."

Eli stared at her. "Do I detect a bit of narcissism?"

Maki smirked. "Only a bit?"

Umi cleared her throat. "Maki."

"What," Maki shrugged. "I'm just tired of playing along in games like these. If you have something to say, then say it. If you don't want to tell me, okay, that's fine. But don't try to pull the 'being mysterious' crap because believe me, you're not that interesting."

Eli let out a low growl. "My hands might be bound from giving you a bloody nose, but don't think you are untouchable just because you are a Nishikino."

"So I'm primarily a Nishikino to you," Maki said coldly.

"Just as I am primarily Ayase to you," Eli responded accordingly, crossing her arms. "You didn't think I would voluntarily befriend someone with a character as foul as yours?"

"No, I figured you were like the rest," Maki narrowed her eyes. "And believe me, I wouldn't put up with your bullshit for one second if your last name wasn't spelled Ayase."

"The feeling is mutual," Eli replied calmly. "And since you can't change anything about our arrangement, why don't you start with respecting your seniors?"

"I already am."

"Your respect is false at best."

"Yeah, befitting a fake ass like you."

In a matter of seconds, Maki and Eli were standing nose to nose, grabbing each other by their collars as their eyes met in a furious glare.

Umi merely blinked once at the new development but didn't move to get up from her armchair and interfere.

"What is your problem?" Eli hissed, using her height advantage to threateningly tower over Maki, but Maki was hardly impressed by their physical difference.

"My problem?" Maki spat, shoving Eli away. "You think I only have one?"

"Oh, want to cry about it?" Eli said mockingly. "Does Nishikino have troubles that no one else could ever come close to understand because most people are too shallow and superficial? Oh, do try to enlighten us simple-minded fools with your deep, intellectual problems. Let me guess, it's not death you fear, but meaninglessness in life, isn't it? The universe sure is unfair, singling you out and making you suffer through this existential crisis alone."

With an angry roar, Maki swung her fist at Eli's right eye but hit an open palm instead. Eli blinked in confusion when Umi was suddenly standing next to her, absorbing Maki's punch with her hand.

"You need to control your violent tendencies," Umi said lowly, not letting go of Maki's fist when she struggled against the grip.

"And you need to keep out of my fucking business," Maki said angrily, trying to shake off Umi's grasp on her fist.

"Thank you, Umi, but I saw that coming," Eli said, crossing her arms. "I would have dodged it."

"Your unprepared stance told me otherwise," Umi responded neutrally. "Maki, calm down."

"I'm least likely to calm down when you tell me to," Maki hissed, but she had stopped struggling against Umi's grip. "I'm fine now. Just had a sudden urge to punch Ayase in the face like usual."

After having her right hand released, Maki flexed her fingers to stir the circulation because Umi's grip on her had been mercilessly tight to suppress any chance of breaking free. She hissed when her hand got numb at all the blood rushing back into it. "Was that really necessary?"

Despite looking unapologetic, Umi still offered a short apology.

Eli furrowed her brows. "Umi is right. Your aggressive tendencies are beginning to show more often."

"I said I'm fine," Maki turned away from them, walking to the piano. "I just didn't have many chances to play the piano lately."

Sensing that there was more than that, Eli intended to question further, but Umi put a hand on her shoulder without looking at her. Eli closed her mouth and remained silent.

They listened to more improvisations by Maki, knowing that music was the only way she could openly express herself, the only way she could convey her feelings when words failed her. They were no professional musicians themselves, but they felt the raw emotion in Maki's piano pieces, and they could understand what she was trying to tell through her melancholic melodies.

It was a story that all of them could relate to too well.

It was the story of being trapped but unable to escape.

And Otonokizaka Private Academy was only the first chapter of their life set inside a golden cage, where they ruled like an emperor but felt like a slave.