He was sitting alone in the Mashiro's garden, just sitting on one of the benches there, doing nothing. That day's excitement was enough for a lifetime, but still, he kept calm.

He just sat there doing nothing, his brunette hair shifting every once in a while due to the occasional winds. Souma Kukai was indeed in solitude.

When the teenagers stepped out of the living room, they immediately scattered, not caring for each other's existence. 9 of them went their own separate ways. Neither of them knew where each other went. But Souma Kukai ended up in the garden.

The garden itself was very elegant, there was a fountain in the middle, and there were all sorts of plants around, all in order. Of course there were also stone paths there. To put it simply, the garden was not extravagant, it served its main purpose as a source if scenery.

Souma Kukai sat on a bench in front of the water fountain. Being there, in a calm place, with the sound of water running down comforted him.

He was really surprised today, his friends, now enemies somehow, were all related to the world he was living in. He thought that Seiyou academy was full of normal students, from normal backgrounds. He thought that at least at school, he could be normal.

But now, even that, was taken away from him.

"Well, Souma-san being calm and composed is certainly another one, and his hair, I could not imagine the day when I see his hair neatly combed like this."

He chuckled as he remembered the Mashiro heiress statement. And then, the looks in his eyes became distant.

"Different… huh?" He asked no one in particular.

Why had it come to this? He wondered inwardly. He was once just a young innocent soccer loving boy. What had changed exactly?

His duty as a Souma heir, expectations from everyone around him, cold shoulders from everyone, and distant eyes from everyone.

But he could not be weak, that was the very rule of being an heir.

Snowie-Snowie NOMIE Aquamarine

The 9 of them were once again assembled in the Mashiro living room.

"We've discussed together on how we will execute your tests." Midori Hinamori spoke out loud.

"You will all come to school as usual; we will not interfere with any of your school duties." She continued.

"But on weekends, each and every one of you will spend the night at one of our houses in order to execute the tests. On whose house or when will you assemble, will always be informed to you on Friday."

Fujisaki head then clarified, "The test will be held from Saturday morning until Monday evening. And there are 9 totals of tests; each will be given by the current heads. So, if you are spending the night in Fujisaki residence, I will be the one to give the test."

"Now, are there any questions?" Aruto Tsukiyomi asked.

Yuiki Yaya, then raised her hand, Aruto looked at her, indicating for her to speak, and she asked, "How will you judge our qualifications as heirs?"

"Well, from all 9 tests, we will evaluate it together and decide who has the right to continue these companies."

"Remember, all of you may pass, but there may as well be none." Aruto's voice dug deep to the teens' skull.

"That's impossible, if none of us passes, and then who will inherit the companies!" Amu voiced her disapproval quickly.

This earned her some distaste looks from the other teens for her impoliteness, as no one gave her permission to speak, but she shrugged it off anyways.

"Calm down Hinamori-san, as you know, there is a lot of candidates beside you, you just happened to be number one because you are related to us, but we are ready to replace you anytime, so don't be cocky kid." Aruto replied sharply.

"Wha-"

Amu was about to retort back, but he continued, "Souma-san and Hoshina-san, you should know this fact very well considering your situations."

The three of them did not say anything, but everyone could feel the atmosphere around them changed; obviously Aruto's words affected them greatly.

A petite girl with long golden locks raised her hand.

"Yes, Mashiro-san?"

"The test, it will begin on this Saturday correct?" She asked.

"Yes, as today is only Monday, all of you still have time to prepare, and as it was said earlier, further information will be informed on Friday."

Silence engulfed the room.

"Very well then, you may all go home now if you don't have any more questions."

Snowie-Snowie NOMIE Aquamarine

Yuiki Yaya was silent during her way to her house; she sat on the edge of the seat, looking out through the window of her car.

"Calm down Hinamori-san, as you know, there is a lot of candidates beside you, you just happened to be number one because you are related to us, but we are ready to replace you anytime, so don't be cocky kid."

there is a lot of candidates beside you, you just happened to be number one because you are related to us, but we are ready to replace you anytime, so don't be cocky kid.

You just happened to be number one because you are related to us, but we are ready to replace you anytime

But we are ready to replace you anytime

We are ready to replace you anytime

Anytime

Anytime

You just happened to be number one

You just happened to be number one

The words of Aruto Tsukiyomi kept being replayed over and over in her head.

How dare he- they could not be replaced anytime, they were there because they had proven their worth.

Yes, she was there, in the meeting, because she had earned her spot, she did not just happen to be number one candidate, she was there because she had skills.

That… was what the Yuiki heiress thought over and over again, not to convince anyone, but mostly to convince herself.

"Why is she the heiress again?"

"That's the heir?"

"Her brother is a much better candidate."

"It must be because she is firstborn."

"Such cruel fate,"

"Her brother will be a much suitable heir."

"Poor kid, if he had the chance, he would be a much better heir."

Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. …

Like a chant, the words kept being chanted over and over again in the teen's head during the long way to a place where she could not call it "home".

But no matter what, she could not let her weakness show, that was the first rule she must abide, if she wanted to continue walking down this path.


Thank you to ponyopwnsyou143 and CrossAngel-Chan

ponyopwnsyou143: I'm sorry if I made them a little too OOC, Kukai's cool tempered-ness has a reason, and so does Nagihiko's, I just hope they will go as well as they do in my mind.

CrossAngel-Chan:

Then I will try my best to surprise you, since I don't want it to be that predictable, be prepared for some plot twists (if I can manage)

;D