CrossRoad – The Past Arc
First Road: The Night of Beginning

Shizu: The University of Tokyo.

It is a very prestigious University known for a reason. Education is advanced and one of a kind. After graduation, 100% job admittance is ensured.

In this University, two women battled for dominance… or not.

It was actually one-sided. The princess didn't care for fame in the University, but she did everything to achieve high grades for her family. She was the princess. And she was the Queen. She was of higher status than her.

However, Yoshitaka Maki couldn't accept that there was someone famous aside from her in the walls of the University.

It also didn't help that her first love, the man who saved her from danger when she was still in high school, was dating the said princess.

She was furious.

Not only had she, Koizumi Mari, destroyed her chances of being the University's one and only famous Queen but also, the chance of being with her one true love.

She knew he loved the princess. But she couldn't forgive that fact.

She decided to do everything to get Toma back. Even if he hates her.

…

The woman returned to her family's mansion and greeted her family members. Her father, who was an owner of one of the country's famous talent agency, sat on the head of the table, with her younger sister at his right. She was also studying in the University like her as a freshman. She was a year behind her. "Good evening, nee-san." The younger sister greeted her with a smile. She returned with the same gesture. "Aa, good evening, Yuriko…" she turned to the man. "…Father."

The man nodded and gestured for her to sit down. She sat opposite to Yuriko who started eating a while ago.

"How's the business, Father?"

He glanced at her for a while, and went back to his food. "Fine."

She nodded.

They had another silent dinner that night.

…

Maki had just finished her report for the next day. She stretched her arms and stood up from her chair. She thought of getting a glass of water before going to sleep so she went out of her room to the kitchen.

Upon her journey, she overheard some talking in her father's study room. Probably work. She thought to herself.

However, when she heard the name Koizumi, she stopped.

That's the princess' family name right? She thought and got curious, leaned on the door to listen in.

"Curse that Koizumi! Always meddling with our affairs!" his father's voice rang in her head. He sounded angry.

"If he manages to get any evidence, the agency is done and you know it!" The agency? Koizumi's father is investigating his father's agency? But why?

"I'll give you half of the embezzled money so kill the Koizumis."

She stiffened and bit her lip. Kill them?

"His children will surely investigate his death and I don't want any more issues in the future so take his children with him."

Maki slowly walked away from her father's room and to her own room, slowly shutting the door behind her. She sat on the edge of her bed and breathed out.

"What a coincidence, father." A sinister smile slowly appeared in her lips, a plan formulating in her mind.

She talked to her father the next day, asking him about what she heard the night before. Her father had been surprised but she told him her reasons and he had only patted her head.

"When will be the execution of the plan, father?"

"Tonight. Why?"

Maki shook her head. "Nothing. Just curious." Her father raised an eyebrow at her. "I have a very small favor though."

"Let's hear it then."

…

She reached his apartment that night and rang the doorbell of his room. He belonged to the middle class, but only a step further and he will belong to the high class.

The door opened and she could tell he was surprised to find her there. He was wearing a plain black shirt and knee-length shorts. "Maki-chan? What are you doing here?"

"I have something to tell you. May I come in?" she said with a smile.

He scratched the back of his head. "Can it wait for tomorrow? You know I have a girlfriend and I don't really like having a girl other than her in my apartment."

She clenched her fists in control of her emotions.

"It can't wait. It's about your family and your relationship with… her."

The man hesitated for a moment but sighed. "I understand. Come in."

She smiled brightly and made herself at home, sitting on the sofa in front of his TV. He was watching a soccer game. As expected of the soccer prince. "Would you like something to drink?" he asked standing next to the sofa.

She shook her head and took his remote on the table, and turned it off.

"Hey! I'm watching that!" he exclaimed, trying to get the remote out of her grasp.

She kissed his cheeks, making him stop. He stood up, staring at her dumbly. She smirked.

"You know I love you, right, Toma-kun?"

He seemed to get out of his trance of being kissed. He stared at her seriously. "And you know I have a girlfriend whom I love so much, Maki-chan."

Silence.

Toma sighed. "You're one of my friends, Maki-chan. I mean, we've been classmates since high school, and you're precious to me so…"

She stood up and faced him, determined. It's now or never. He's going to hate me for this but… this is the only way.

"Toma-kun, break up with Koizumi Mari."

"What?"

"…or else, your family will suffer."

He shook his head and laugh at her. "Stop joking around, Maki-chan. It's not funny."

"And I'm serious. I already talk to my father." She reached for her phone and opened it. She was using it for something and Toma couldn't help but feel nervous. After a while, she held it up for him to see.

His eyes widened.

It was the security camera of his parents' sweets shop. They were in the suburbs of Tokyo.

"H-How did you—"

"I told you I already talk to my father." She said. "If you break up with her, and be with me, your family will be safe. We'll leave them alone, that I can promise."

Toma gulped. "And if not…"

Maki giggled and moved the screen of her phone. Toma could see two… no, three snipers targeting his oblivious parents.

"Also, after graduation, we can give you your dream job. Your family will move up to high class status if that happens."

The man bowed his head. He didn't know what to do. He love Mari so much but his parents were in danger and if he made the wrong decision, they were going to get killed.

He thought of the consequences his decision might had.

If he accepted, his family will be safe. He will get his dream job, to be a pro-soccer player. He will reach the upper class in the society. His family will be respected by people. They wouldn't have to face the prejudice anymore.

If he didn't, he will be with Mari forever. But his family will…

Maki could see him battling within himself. She decided to finally deal the final blow.

"Toma-kun," she softly called out, hands on his cheeks, staring at his eyes. "What is more important to you, your family's life or Koizumi Mari?"

Koizumi Mari, the princess. She belonged to a high class family. She will be fine without him. Yes… she would be.

And so, he decided to be with the queen. He stared at her eyes and closed the gap between them.

Maki was so happy to feel his lips on hers. Oh, how long did she dream of having him kissing her like this, embracing her tightly like this?

She couldn't believe it. But it was true. It was happening.

They pulled away and Toma pushed her on the sofa harshly and Maki winced. Her love was on her, glaring at her menacingly she didn't know what to feel.

"I hate you." He told her and she felt her heart broke a little. But this was what she had decided. She had prepared herself and so she hardened her heart.

"I know, Toma-kun. I know."

They kissed again, fiercely, hungrily.

Maki, even though it was Toma's way of releasing his anger to the situation, to her, felt so happy. She was finally doing it with him… and only him.

Toma removed his shirt, leaving him topless and he fondled her breast tightly, making her bit her lip. She didn't want to make noise because if she did, he will surely stop. And she didn't want him to.

Their night continued on that specific sofa, and even as they had sex, she knew that she would have his body but never his heart.

Never.

After the first round, they both stilled and Toma went to the bathroom to have a shower. He couldn't believe himself. He just had… sex with one of his best friends.

He punched the wall of his bathroom angrily as tears streamed down his cheeks. Thanks to the shower, it wasn't visible but he could feel it.

He felt so sorry for Mari; the woman, who was always there for him; the woman, who always smiled and laughed with him; the woman, who he loved dearly with all his heart and soul.

Mari, I'm so sorry…

After his shower, he opened the door to find the woman who caused his pain in front of him. He glared at her and walked past her. He heard the door of his bathroom closed. She was probably going on a shower as well.

He clicked his tongue angrily and stayed seated on his sofa with only his towel wrapping the lower part of his body. The woman went out of the bathroom with a long towel wrapped around her, hair glistening at her back.

She was beautiful. If only it didn't turn out like this…

"You've changed, Yoshitaka Maki. You changed so much, I didn't even notice." he remarked, staring on his floor.

The woman walked towards him and sat next to him. "Yes, because all you see is your princess."

He glared at her and she held his gaze.

The doorbell suddenly rang, and he wondered who it could be at such a time. He opened his door only to be surprised of the figure who he didn't want to see right now.

"Hey…"

She was still in her pajamas. Her hair was in disarray. What happened to her?

"Mari! What are you doing here?" he asked panicky. Maki was still inside and he didn't know what to do if she caught her.

"Something happened and I…"

She was interrupted by that annoying voice.

"Toma! Who is it?"

His eyes widened. Oh no. Busted.

The woman appeared in front of them with only her towel on. He glanced back at Mari who had her eyes wide. He knew it would risk his family but he just couldn't help himself with her face like that.

"Mari, let me explain please!"

She stared at him calmly. "What's there to explain?"Her voice was something he had never heard before coming from her. He was actually afraid at her tone."You are going out with Yoshitaka-san? So, you're not satisfied with the princess and went out of your way to date the queen?"

"No it's not that!" He shook his head. "No, please just…"

Mari shook her head. "We're through. I'm sorry to disturb you." She turned and ran to the elevator. Toma moved to follow her but Maki caught his arm. She stared at him seriously.

"Run after her and your family won't see the sunrise."

He gasped and clenched his fists. His whole body trembled in anger. He closed his eyes and pulled away harshly from Maki's hold on him, closed his door and went inside his room.

He threw whatever his hands could reach and all Maki could do was listen to all his frustrated cries.

…

The drunken woman shouted at the top of her lungs and danced until her energy left her body. His brother shook his head with a sigh. He was used to his sister's actions whenever she drinks and he really thanked her agency for taking care of her despite this.

Good thing, the bar they were in was famous for celebrities. It was difficult to book for a reservation, and only high class people were allowed to do so. The customers, employees and the owner were also used to the woman's tendencies so they just laughed at him as he dragged her out of the bar. He tapped his credit card on the master's counter and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry for another trouble my sister had brought tonight."

The master shook his head with a smile. "No, it's okay. It's good to loosen up after a long day of work."

The master returned his card and nodded his thanks before going out of the bar towards his best friend's car.

"Again?" his best friend asked from inside the car, raising one eyebrow. The man nodded. "Yeah."

He carefully laid her at the back seat and he took his seat on the passenger's side.

He sighed. "I don't know what I am going to do with her the next time this happens again."

His friend laughed. "Risa-chan just wants to be with her brother so badly. You cannot blame him, Nino."

Nino glared at him. "What kind of technique is this then?" he told him as his friend started up the car's engine. "It's so embarrassing. Fortunately, the people in the bar knew the word, confidentiality."

His friend rolled his eyes as he drive towards Risa's home. "Ah, Sho-chan, take us to my place, please."

"Oh, I thought we're going to Risa-chan's house."

"No, even if she makes it home, no one's going to take care of her."

"Aww… how sweet of a brother you are." Sho remarked with a chuckle.

Nino glared at him and Sho laughed. "You know I'm just kidding Nino."

The said man sighed. "I'm sorry about this Sho-chan. You just finished your shoot for News Zero and instead of resting, you're still out here and driving us home."

Sho turned to the next street as he asked, "If you're feeling guilty then why didn't you ask Aiba-kun or MatsuJun or even your manager to give you a ride?"

Nino rolled his eyes. "You know how they are. Aiba-kun is too enthusiastic and maybe he'd even go inside the bar and get drunk himself. My manager is taking care of his sick mother. He told me he could come tomorrow for work though. J is in another concert meeting."

Sho furrowed his eyebrows. "Again? Isn't Jun overdoing it? We still have two months for it." Nino shrugged. "You know he won't stop until he gets what he thinks is a perfect concert."

"Well… that's true but…"

"If you're so worried about him, why don't you give him a call later?"

The driver nodded in agreement. "I'll do that after I get home."

"Aa anyway Nino, have you heard something from Satoshi-kun?" Nino turned to him. "What do you mean?"

"He emailed me earlier this evening." He turned to the main street. He noticed that the street was deserted so he sped up a little bit. "He said he wanted to go fishing with us."

Nino nodded. "Aa, I also received one from him… but I told him to—" he looked in front of him and saw a figure running so fast towards the next street and he tried to warn his friend.

"Sho-chan, stop!"

Sho also saw the figure and tried to stop the car but the figure still bumped with the car they were in. Her body rolled in front of them and lay on the ground.

They stayed still, breathing hard.

"S-Sho-chan… you didn't bump into a woman just now right?" Nino asked, voice shaking.

Sho tried to answer him, but only opened his mouth and closed it.

"Is… she dead?" he asked Nino next to him.

"I don't know. L-Let's take… a look."

Sho turned to his best friend so fast he could feel his neck scream in pain.

Nino stared at him and nodded. Sho nodded in return. They both walked out of the car and walked slowly towards the body.

It was indeed a woman in her pajamas. There was blood coming out of her legs and shoulders and they guessed it was where the sound of impact came from.

Nino sat near her and touched her nape, searching for a pulse. He gasped and Sho looked at him in surprise.

"She's alive, Sho-chan! Quick, let's drive her to the hospital!"

"Eh?!"

Nino shook his head and shouted at his friend, "I'll drive! You get her to the back of the car, hurry!" he ordered and he didn't wait for his friend's affirmation and quickly walked to where his sister was. He woke her up harshly. "Risa wake up! We have emergency!"

His sister thankfully woke up and sat. "What? Nii-chan? What's happening?"

The door to her right opened and she saw Sho carrying a woman's bloody body and taking her inside with her. She totally woke up.

"Waa! Sakurai-san, what—"

"We'll explain later!" Nino cut off. "Let's just go!"

Sho sat down on the passengers' seat as Nino drove them to the nearest hospital.

…

"So how is it?"

"It is successful sir. We burned their house. The two sisters managed to escape the fire, but I chased them and killed the oldest. I followed the youngest but in her desperation to escape me, she is hit by a car."

The man seated on the chair opposite the sniper nodded. "Hmm…"

"Are you sure all of them are dead?"

"Yes sir. No doubt."

"Alright. You're dismissed."

The man bowed and went out of the room. The one seated on the chair dialled a number from his phone and waited until the man from the other side answer.

"Oh, hello. Wait for the latest news tomorrow, Yoshitaka-san. It might make you happy."

"Oh? So you've done it?"

"Yes, my sniper made sure all of them are dead."

A laugh was heard. "Nice, nice." He said. "I'll send the money in your account."

"Yes, thank you as always."

"No problem."

"See you then."

"Aa, see you."

He turned his seat towards the glass window where the lights were a sight to behold. "I apologize for this, Koizumi-sensei."

First Road: The Night of Beginning ends here.