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Chapter 3…

Two years prior…

For the first time in years, she felt confused. There she was staring out the window in her small one bedroom apartment. It was raining quite hard, even so the rain was allowing her to think more clearly. The envelope in her hands felt heavy. She was unsure of what to do with it. She had a team now, and as far as she was concerned, they just needed the resources.

But now, as if it was an act sent from god she had the resources to fund everything. Actually… everything was an understatement. This donation was huge, more money she had ever seen in her lifetime. She was unsure what do to at this point. It felt godly sent, yet also she felt uneasy with this predicament. Four years ago she would have had cried, this money would have had solved a lot of her past problems. The past was the past though. Everything she had gone through, everything she had achieved, everything she had suffered all culminated to this moment. So here she was, staring at the rain making the decision that could potentially change the rest of her life.

With the envelope clutched in her hands, she stared at the picture frame that adorned her small dresser. This was it, she had to move on. She was impeding her own self growth. As she stared into the eyes of the young men in the photograph in front of her, she made a decision. With one last look, she put the envelope on her bed and moved to throw away the frame.

Present time…

July, Day 1 10:27AM

"You know, I don't understand why you complain so much. This is going to be so much fun." Yasuhara's statement was barely audible as he decided to crank up the volume on the radio.

"You know what I mean by this! And of course you're not complaining, you didn't move a finger." Ren's glare only intensified at this point. "Yuta and I were the only ones who loaded the trucks." Raising his voice didn't seem to have much effect on Yasuhara, who just pretended to ignore the glare he was currently receiving from him.

"I wonder what will be for dinner later."

'What an ass' Ren thought. He crossed his arms and tried to relax for the next hour.

Hours earlier…

Everyone was putting the last few things together. Packing up was the last thing to do, and sadly this was extremely tiresome for the young men in the courtyard. After everything was set, then they would be on their way to Shizuoka.

"You know, it's really out of place for Mai not to be here already." Yuta pondered for a small second. "Now that I think of it… she's always here. In the last three years that I've wasted my time with all of you idiots, I don't think I've ever seen her be late."

"I wouldn't get too worried, she's a big girl." Yasuhara chimed in while checking out the items in the inventory. "Besides, she's decided to leave me in charge."

The statement alone was enough for Ren to almost drop thousands worth of electronics to the ground. "What do you mean Yasu?! She left you in charge?!"

"Yes, something about research…that she needed to approve the list for the incoming students this fall... and something really important that I'm currently blanking on…"

"FIRST TIME SHE EVER MISSES SET UP DAY AND YOU DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT SHE TOLD YOU!?"

"Now, now, technically I'm your boss for now Ren. Be a darling and use those cute legs to go get me some coffee."

"You're not my boss!"

Oh yes. Times like these Yuta truly wondered what made him want to be part of something he didn't even believe in. A double major in Astro Physics and Mechanical engineering should be using their degree from such a prestigious university in better ways. Even so, here he was. As a working mule for a dysfunctional freak show.

"Good morning guys. Sorry I'm late. My allergies are particularly bad this morning" A soft melodic voice broke the tense air.

Ah yes there it was, the only reason for why Yuta stayed around.

The attention from the group shifted towards the petit woman in white. Her features resembled a doll, and her pale skin stood out in contrast of her deep midnight hair and hazel eyes.

"Oh Koharu-chan, I hope you've been having a wonderful morning." Yasu smiled widely at the small woman in front of him. "After we finish packing, you'll be riding with Yuta to the Takashima residence. This shouldn't take much longer."

While Yuta truly sometimes wondered why he was hanging around two buffoons, at this moment he truly believed Yasuhara wasn't always that bad.

Takashima Residence

11:38 AM

Almost a year ago, Taichi Takashima invested almost two million dollars in the gardens that lead a path for his multimillion dollar property. He had ordered evergreens to be brought from Alaska, tulips bulbs were hauled from Holland, and the most exquisite fountain was carved from the most expensive marble a man could potentially buy. The new additions only added more beauty to the already beautiful mansion.

But now, the beautiful property no longer shined with its restored glow. This could be attributed to the malignant spirits that apparently plagued this home, but to Satoshi Ren he truly attributed all of this to the fact that half of the tulips were now ruined by tire marks. Not to mention that there were currently dozens of vans parked all over the place.

"Um, Yasu… Why are there so many vans already here?"

"Oh yes, I think that's what I was forgetting to mention."