-PROLOGUE-
June 12, 2029…
It was a beautiful day.
Cherry blossom petals were falling, dancing along the path to Kagutsuchi High. And along the path, students walked. They greeted each other and chatted on the way to their school.
Spring has arrived, along with the start of a new school year. So many students aren't looking forward to returning to school. Then again, what student does?
Kagutsuchi is a friendly place. A place where you're welcomed with open arms. A place where people treat you as equal individuals with respect.
Or at least…it was supposed to be.
Only the rich and intelligent are able to make it into this school. This is a high class place, and students here are expected to excel in their studies. If not, then they can say goodbye to Kagutsuchi.
The teachers here have always been strict. They would do their best to give their students a hard time. And they almost always succeed.
But majority of Kagutsuchi's students are quite diligent. So it is likely that not many would lose their place here.
But nonetheless, it is a hard school. You have to be extremely determined and strong-willed to do well here. You cannot let yourself falter.
Tsubaki Yayoi knows that all too well.
She looks upon the school with a small smile. The wind blows on her beautiful, long, straight, red hair. She takes a breath.
"It's been a while, Kagutsuchi," she whispered to no one.
Tsubaki Yayoi. An alumnus of Kagutsuchi High. Back in the day she was at the top ten of her class, ranking in third place. She excelled in all her subjects, but it was not without difficulty. All her teachers were horrible. They actually made effort to fail her.
It was illegal to fail her without reason, so they made sure to give her as many obstacles as possible. There was a point where she was bedridden for a whole week because of that.
Nevertheless, she studied hard for her tests and did beautifully. Though not ranking first, she was content with being third. What mattered was making it to the top ten, and she did just that.
But why were the teachers so harsh on her? What had she done to earn their dislike towards her?
Nothing. She did nothing. But her father did.
Her father was also an alumnus of this school. He was ranked first at the top ten in all four years of his high school. And those teachers of hers happened to be his former classmates.
Call it jealousy or bitterness. They had a grudge towards her father for taking away their chances of being first. Since he was not there, they decided to take it out on his daughter instead.
Needless to say their plan backfired.
After graduating she was to be the successor of her father in Yayoi Enterprises. Her father wanted her to take over the company if ever something were to happen to him. But she had other things she wanted to do.
"Bearing so much responsibility just won't do for me," she said. "Besides, I am more needed here."
As mentioned earlier, Kagutsuchi never really was a friendly place. It was a dog-eat-dog environment. And not many do a damn thing about it.
And that's why she's here.
"Just you wait, Kagutsuchi," she muttered. "I'm going to change you for the better."