A/N: Answers to reviews...
Response to Hiei's Curry Review: Thank you for your review. Yeah, I agree with your ranking of the girls. Actually, I remember on the Toji No Miko official wiki, it had each of their sword duelling styles which I usually consult for references.
Response to Guest Review: Thank you for your review. Well, for obvious reasons, Ritsuko wouldn't show her bad side to Kanami since she likes her. She wants Kanami to choose her over Hiyori, so how could she possibly do that by showing Kanami that she's a bitch? And also, another thing, Kanami hadn't met Hiyori in their childhood, so Ritsuko didn't have those jealous feelings toward Hiyori at the time—because they weren't even in each other's lives back then. Kanami doesn't know about Ritsuko's bad side because Ritsuko is always nice to her, so that's why Kanami is friends with her. Ritsuko literally manipulates everyone into thinking she's a nice girl. To put it simply, Ritsuko is a "wolf in sheep's clothing". After all, some bad people in real life don't always manipulate others by forcibly being mean. Some manipulators get people to trust them by pretending to be nice or playing the victim. That's the kind of person Ritsuko is. Actually, she's based on a former classmate of mine in high school. Nobody knew she was manipulative until three years later, because she tricked us all into thinking she was the "innocent class clown who couldn't possibly hurt a fly". And as for how Ritsuko knows all this information about Hiyori, remember that Ritsuko's father is the secretary for the Origami sisters. So, there are a lot of things he would know that obviously, Ritsuko would learn from him. That's how she knows all this stuff about Hiyori's situation. I even mentioned in Chapter 2 that Ritsuko learned about it from her dad. And since Hiyori and the other five girls are the "six heroines", there'd have been more than enough gossip about them going around the past couple of years for Ritsuko to listen to. Hope that answers everything for you.
Chapter 4: Arising Conflicts
Looking up from the little notepad she always kept in her uniform pocket, Kaoru observed the bedridden girl in front of her with scrutiny. Although Ellen was a naturally chipper girl, there seemed to be more of a merry twinkle in her eyes than usual—certainly enough to attract Kaoru's notice. Over the moon would have been the exact description to label that expression upon her face. Kaoru couldn't remember the last time she had seen her friend so happy. It made her heart skip a beat. The faint blush on Ellen's cheeks made a blush of her own start heating her face. Even with the rather ugly hospital setting, Ellen looked almost like a girl in a portrait with the sunshine reflecting off of her golden blonde hair. She would be the inspiration for all artists with a sexy body like hers and that whimsical smile. Kaoru could feel drawn to that painting as if in a dream, her gaze riveted on Ellen's face. A giant fist seemed to squeeze all the air from her lungs.
'Hell. What am I even thinking?' Kaoru thought in exasperation.
But she knew; she always knew.
Glaring at the lines she had written, the pink-haired loli scored them out harshly with her little pen. Damn it with poetry! How did Shakespeare and all those other acclaimed writers do it? Kaoru was seriously starting to second-guess herself in consideration of her secret hobby. And after all, who'd ever have thought Mashiko Kaoru, infamous sloth amongst all Tojis, would be into writing verse? She internally cringed thinking of how everyone would react, particularly Hiyori and that bossy director woman. Yet, even so, Kaoru knew she could never give up writing. She had spent too many hours perfecting her work, getting sudden inspiration from dreams during her many naps...
Poetry was perhaps the only part of her education that she tolerated. Everything else, from science to mathematics, anything that involved using her brain to memorize—Kaoru absolutely loathed with a passion. Poetry itself was creativity and imagination...or in the words of the acclaimed William Wordsworth himself, "the first and last of all knowledge—as immortal as the heart of man". Flipping through her notepad, nearly full of all the poems she wrote, Kaoru tried not to think too hard about how most of them subtly described Ellen.
Kaoru supposed that was to be expected. After all, it was Ellen who had gotten her into poetry in the first place. She glared at Nene, who was looking up at her with knowing eyes.
"Whatcha writing there, Kaoru?"
"Huh? Oh, um...notes," the Elite Guard lied.
The entire time they'd been together, the only time Kaoru ever took notes was when she'd copy Ellen's on the night before an exam. And so, after hearing her friend's answer, Ellen immediately became suspicious. "Notes? For what?"
"Stuff that insufferable director wants me to keep in mind for my next mission."
The lie sounded convincing enough, so Ellen didn't say anything else about the matter. She did add, however, "You've been acting very strange lately, Kaoru."
That made the Elite Guard raise her eyes. "I could say the same for you. Just what was keeping that goofy smile plastered to your face earlier? It was seriously creeping me out."
As was typical of her behaviour, Kaoru only said this to hide her true feelings. In truth, she always loved seeing Ellen smile. But she couldn't stand the idea that Ellen's smile was not because of her. Her words, however, did nothing but insult the blonde-haired girl. Shaking his little furry head at Kaoru, even Nene could tell his mistress had messed up.
"Well, even if you were creeped out about my smile, you didn't have to be so rude about it," Ellen said with a glare.
"Wait, Ellen, come on. I didn't mean it that way," Kaoru said.
"Yes, you did."
"Ne..." Nene whimpered, hoping the tension would diffuse.
Kaoru sighed. Why was she never good with words? God, how she hated herself sometimes!
"Ellen, I'm sorry. Please, I don't want to fight..."
Her friend's frown softened a little as she looked away. Kaoru let out another sigh. Ever since their graduation started steadily approaching, the distance between the two of them became wider and wider. Was it because both of them knew sooner or later their paths would diverge and they'd go their separate ways? Kaoru didn't want that.
"Kaoru."
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry too. I know you must be stressed," Ellen said. "I know you'd never purposefully hurt my feelings."
The pink-haired loli nodded, sighing for the third time and putting her notepad and pen back in her pocket. "Moving on, you didn't answer my previous question. What were you thinking about?"
A blush as pink as Kaoru's hair returned to Ellen's cheeks. "About John, the soldier who saved me earlier."
'Oh great...' Kaoru resisted the urge to roll her eyes, trying to ignore the pain in her chest. Nene, sensing his mistress's growing unhappiness, hopped onto her lap to nuzzle against her. But his attempts at comforting Kaoru went unnoticed.
Though she knew it'd be suicide for her heart to pry further into the subject, Kaoru coughed, "John, you say? Mind telling me why?"
"Didn't you see the way he looked at me?" Ellen sighed dreamily.
'Yeah, like a five-course meal,' Kaoru thought before grunting, "Can't say I did."
"I wish we could meet again. I'd like to get to know him better."
"Shall I use my Elite Guard position to inquire further details about him? Won't blame you if you seek his company over mine. He's unforgivably handsome after all," Kaoru said, an almost scathing tone to her voice.
"Are you mocking me?" Ellen demanded.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Kaoru said, giving Nene a scratch between the ears.
A knock at the door drew both of their attention and a nurse came bustling in with an enormous bouquet of red roses in her hands. "Kohagura-san? These just arrived from a Special Ritual Riot Squad soldier, who told me to give these to you. Unfortunately, he said he had to quickly depart and so dropped them off. Where should you like me to put them?"
Her eyes brightening like the sun outside, Ellen said, "I'll just take them myself, thank you."
After the nurse departed, she examined the little note tied to the bouquet, her grin spreading from ear to ear. "He has sent me wishes about my good health, along with his number so I can add him on LINE as a friend. Kaoru, isn't that wonderful?"
"Yeah, sure..." was the unenthusiastic reply.
But so ecstatic was Ellen that she didn't even notice the expression on Kaoru's face, who appeared as though she wanted to barf. His number?! There was usually only one big reason why a guy would give a girl his number, and Kaoru did not want to consider it.
'He probably just wants to be friends with her. He probably just wants to be friends with her. He probably just wants to be friends with her!'
However, those red roses told her otherwise. Red roses—another warning sign. A symbol of romance and passion. And the fact that the ones Ellen received were thornless—representing love at first sight—had Kaoru's stomach feel like liquid lead was churning in it.
Rereading his short note for what was already the tenth time, Ellen said, "Even through writing, I can sense his feelings."
Kaoru could not tear her eyes from Ellen's face. She had been right. That beautiful smile she loved was not because of her, nor was it for her. It was the cruellest blow to the cheek.
'When will you begin to sense mine?'
For Ritsuko, going to her father's office at the Special Sword Administration Bureau was always like creeping into the den of a fire-breathing dragon. It didn't feel like that now though after her mind was so preoccupied with her conversation with Hiyori. How she hated that bitch! Kanami had known Hiyori for only three years and already it was like they were inseparable.
'But I've known Kanami since childhood. What makes Hiyori better than me?' Ritsuko internally growled. 'Why should Kanami love her?'
She was still begrudging over this as she knocked upon the door at the end of the hall. A curt voice she'd know anywhere answered, "Enter."
Being the secretary of the Origami sisters, Fujita Akifumi was a calculating character and ruthless opportunist. Like his daughter, he was very capable of putting on a seemingly friendly face. But behind his smiles and forced mild manners, he was shrewd and deceitful, willing to casually dispose of people who trusted him, like a man replacing a coat he no longer needed. But always carefully...never would he show his hand and make people suspect he was the reason for their downfall. So successful was he with his deviousness, not even his own employers, Origami Yukari and Akane, questioned his "allegiance" to them.
"Remember, Ritsuko, people are more willing to trust you and do what you say with a friendly smile, rather than a tyrannical glare," he sometimes would say to his daughter in private. "You've learned from the best, sweetheart. Clearly, you win at maneuvering people with that kind façade of yours. Use it to your advantage—for our sake!"
'That's how it's always been...' Ritsuko thought more than once. 'Neither of us have any real loyalty or genuine affection for anyone.'
No, that wasn't true. Kanami was perhaps the only one she truly cared for. Kanami was her one and only friend and always had been.
Taking a deep breath, Ritsuko finally entered the dragon's lair. Like his personality, Akifumi's office gave the impression of a bright and cheery room. Only Ritsuko could sense the sinister air lurking underneath it.
"Lock the door behind you."
"I know, I know..." Ritsuko grumbled.
Akifumi stood with his back to her, looking out of the window. As his office afforded a good view of the bureau's entrance, he could see those who'd come and go.
"I saw you enter with Juujou Hiyori," Akifumi said. When receiving no response, he demanded, "Well? How is she taking it all in with Origami Yukari's plans for her?"
"She's hardly thrilled about them," was the sarcastic response. "What else did you think?"
"Your jokes are not appreciated. This is a serious matter. Juujou Hiyori's marriage is essential to our plans."
"Our plans? I seem to recall that it is Yukari-sama orchestrating all this, not you," Ritsuko said, her voice laced with even more irony.
"Stop interrupting," Akifumi said. "Sugiyama Toru says that Juujou Hiyori's wedding to Origami Genshi will be the final nail in the Origami Family's coffin. And I am not going to let such an opportunity slip from our grasp when we are so close to revenge against Origami Yukari."
Sugiyama Toru...leader of the most notorious criminal organization in Japan and Akifumi's true boss. So clever was Toru in his crimes that nobody even knew his true identity except for those closest to him. For years, Akifumi worked undercover for him as the Origami Family's secretary, secretly trading secrets and cash as Toru's fence. And Ritsuko just went along with it all. After all, as a criminal's daughter, she knew it would be expected of her to become a con artist herself one day.
"And how may I ask will this be 'the final act'?" Ritsuko asked, twirling the globe on her father's desk.
"It is customary for every new Origami bride to wear the Origami Family Jewels on her wedding day. It has been years since an Origami got married, and Sugiyama Toru has had his eye on those glittering diamonds for a long time."
Strolling over to his desk, Akifumi sat down on his chair and continued, "The Origami Family Jewels are as well-protected as the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. They never see the light of day except for important occasions. Finding out the numerous passcodes and how to unlock all the security doors would be impossible—a chance of a million to one. No, Sugiyama Toru says the best choice would be to snatch them off Juujou Hiyori herself on her big day."
"Considering how she's only sixteen, her big day would still be many years off," Ritsuko grumbled.
"Patience..." her father growled. "Patience is a key virtue for any criminal that's successful."
"One other problem I should mention," Ritsuko said, unwilling to end it there, "Juujou Hiyori is a carpet muncher, albeit she seems to be unaware of the fact. It will be difficult to have Origami Yukari waltz her down the aisle when she has her eye on someone else."
"And that's why I've entrusted you to deal with that," Akifumi said, absolutely unbothered. Taking a sip from his coffee cup, he added, "You'll ingratiate yourself with her. You'll make her fall head over heels for Origami Genshi. You'll do whatever it takes to separate her and that other dyke, Etou Kanami. I know all those rumours about the two of them and I won't have them spoiling everything!"
Disgusted at the thought of cozying up with a girl she despised, Ritsuko reassured herself that it was for the best. Kanami would be all hers as a result. Even so, part of Ritsuko hated being two-faced to Kanami. When they were children, she had been blind to her father's criminal activities. She could be herself around Kanami. But then, she and her parents had to move to Kamakura and it was then that she discovered the truth. That dark grim truth. Never again could she show her true self.
From that moment onward, nobody would ever know the real Fujita Ritsuko. That whimsical girl who dreamed of staying friends forever with Kanami was gone. Kanami was friends with a girl who no longer existed.
'Now, all I can do is live a lie. But this is for Kanami. This has always been for Kanami,' Ritsuko reminded herself.
"I don't care about those feelings I know you have for that Minoseki Toji," Akifumi said, seeing the look in his daughter's eyes. "Your loyalty first and foremost is to Sugiyama Toru and our organization. Don't you forget that!"
After visiting Ellen at the hospital, Kanami decided to return to Gifu to see her father. One trip later on the JR Central Line from Shin-Yokohama Station and she stood standing in front of the house she called home for many years of her childhood. Her visits here were scarce ever since she became a Toji. The place just held too many memories of the mother she had lost. Ever since Minato died, their family had never been the same. Kanami had been all too eager to leave and live at the Minoseki dormitory when she had turned thirteen. Now that she was standing in front of the house, all hesitation started creeping back in as her finger hovered over the doorbell.
The Etou residence was a modern two-storey house—far larger than the average studio apartment most Japanese people could afford. An abnormal sight on the street of smaller cookie-cutter-like houses, it certainly was an eye-catcher. Unbeknownst to her friends save for Mai, Kanami and her family were rather well-off, due to her father's large company—but mostly thanks to her mother's Fujiwara blood. For centuries, the Fujiwara Clan dominated the Imperial Court until their influence slowly declined over time. But though they lost their power, some of them certainly had not lost their wealth. And as the sole heiress of her ancestors' fortune, Minato was thus able to provide her own family with a comfortable existence.
Though they were not even half as immensely rich as the Yanases, Kanami and her older brother, Tamaki, were guaranteed secure futures of their own—ones which their father was determined to strictly guide them through. Already, Tamaki had been sent to study abroad at Harvard for a business degree, in the hopes of taking over their father's company. Whereas Kanami...
The Minoseki Toji shook her head, not even wanting to think about what was planned for her. Still standing at her house's front door, she wondered how she could fight aradama without fear, yet shake in her shoes at pressing the doorbell. Summoning her courage, she finally pushed the round button which was answered almost promptly by the tall figure of Etou Shigeru, whose shadow loomed over her.
"Father, I'm home."
"Kanami, welcome back."
There was a formality in their words as father and daughter stared at each other. They were standing so close, but Kanami couldn't help feeling as though they were miles apart. She was dismayed to discover that the icy frigidness that lay between them since Minato passed away was still there.
When she stepped inside, she found the place relatively unchanged, still orderly and clear of clutter as normal. Shigeru was not one that could stand disorganization. A pot of hot tea and two cups were waiting on the low table in the living room. Punctuality was another key characteristic of Kanami's father. If he expected a visit, he'd have tea ready and would expect his guests to be on time before it got cold.
Pouring for the two of them, Shigeru stated, "You have not come back in a long time."
His daughter did not raise her eyes from her steaming cup, out of guilt. It had been more than a year since she last visited. Part of her wondered if her father had been lonely with both children out of the nest.
"I'm sorry for not returning home more regularly," Kanami said.
She could not tell if her apology was accepted or if her father even cared. After his beloved wife died, the warm and loving father Kanami remembered turned into one of strict discipline, harsh words, and high expectations. Deep down inside, Kanami knew it was only grief—but a small part of her still couldn't help blaming her father for causing so much unhappiness for her and Tamaki.
There was a danger of a long silence falling between them, something which awkward Kanami could never feel at ease in when with her father. Clearing her throat, she said, "I bumped into Ricchan, my old childhood friend, yesterday. Do you remember her?"
"I do. How is she doing?"
"She seems to be doing well. She told me how her father is working as Yukari-sama and Akane-sama's secretary. We had a spar yesterday as well and she's also going to be put into my team for missions," Kanami said. Her tone then sounding slightly more despondent, she added, "Director Maniwa said that Hiyori-chan won't be able to be with me and the others as much."
Shigeru, who had been about to raise his cup to his lips, halted midway at the mention of Hiyori's name, his eyes narrowing. There had been more than enough rumours amongst the Toji community about Kanami and Hiyori. And after both of them vanquished Tagitsuhime into the netherworld, there wasn't a citizen of Japan who did not know them. A possible secret relationship between the two of them had been whispered by a few Tojis—so naturally, the whole country knew.
And Shigeru did not like one bit of it.
He had never forgiven Hiyori for entangling Kanami to meet the same fate as her departed mother, cutting half of her life short. Now with all the gossip going around that seemed to have reached the ears of everyone but Kanami and Hiyori themselves, Shigeru was more suspicious of the Heijou Toji than ever.
"Ah, yes...Juujou Hiyori. How is your...friend?" By the way he lingered on the word "friend", Kanami could tell he knew that she saw Hiyori as more than that.
Kanami thought her tongue was frozen, so she surprised herself by answering in a steady voice, "She's going to be very busy from the looks of it. Director Maniwa told us that Hiyori-chan is now the Chief Executive of Defence, and she will also be having dinner with the Origami Family, according to Ricchan."
"Hm," was all Shigeru said, before finally taking that sip of his tea. Placing his cup down, he then folded his hands in front of him on top of the table, as he would do at his office desk when interrogating an employee he believed to have any fault or failing. "I think it would be good for both of us to keep things simple by being honest with each other, Kanami. What do you think?"
"I-I don't understand..."
"Very well, I shall go first. I do not approve of your friendship with that Juujou girl."
Springing to her feet, Kanami accidentally knocked over her tea in her anger. "What? Why? What has she ever done to you?"
"More like it is what she has done to you," Shigeru said. "Because of her, you ended up as a criminal with a price over your head, alongside her. Because of her, your life has been cut half short like your mother's. Because of her, there are whispered allegations that you both are having an illicit affair as lovers. Do you deny any of that?"
"Except for the last one, everything else is all true," Kanami vehemently said. "But they were all my choice! I chose to go on the run with Hiyori-chan; I chose to sacrifice half of my life so that she wouldn't lose hers! Hiyori-chan is an important friend to me."
"But she is too close to you for my taste," Shigeru said, still keeping his usual calm and cold voice. "I don't want to think of my own daughter being like...like...that!"
He hadn't even been very specific with his words, but the way he glared at Kanami as though she was the filth of the world, told her everything. And she should have expected it. Like many other people in Japan who were as traditional and strict-minded, Shigeru disapproved of the idea of same-sex relationships. Kanami looked into her father's eyes again, seeing nothing but disappointment and disgust.
"Well, that's got nothing to do with Hiyori-chan. And you don't even have to fear about that—she doesn't even like me that way!" Kanami cried, each word harder to get out than the last.
Her father's eyes drilled into her. In a low voice, he said a sentence Kanami knew all too well, having heard it multiple times.
"You disappoint me."
Continuing on, he said, "Not just because of your affections for that Juujou girl. You constantly slack off with your schoolwork, either spending ridiculous amounts of time sparring or hanging out with your friends. You have no control nor restraint like Tamaki. At least, he knows how to behave when required to! Why can't you be like your older brother?"
"Shut up! You know nothing about me!" Kanami said, her voice now raised to a yell. "You probably don't even know half as much as you think you do about Onii-chan either. Ever since Mother died, you—you've become so controlling!"
"Kanami, can't you see that it's because I want to protect you both? I've already lost your mother!"
'And in a few more years, I'll lose you too...' he internally added. 'Fathers shouldn't have to bury their children. Don't you understand that? Juujou Hiyori stole your life from you and me.'
Shigeru stared into Kanami's brown eyes—eyes that looked so much like the woman he once deeply loved. Kanami and Minato—they were too alike. Not just their eyes, but also how they acted. In their determination, cheerfulness, and optimism. Not to mention their shared love for kenjutsu. The thought almost made Shigeru smile in spite of his anger. It hurt. He wished he could love Kanami as a father should. But he could never see her as Etou Kanami. Always, every time, he could only see Minato.
Tired from arguing, Kanami could feel her entire body slump as she sank back down by the table. "Father, I...I just can't right now, okay? I didn't come here to argue."
Seeing Minato—Kanami so unhappy made Shigeru's stony expression go away. "Alright."
After a brief pause, he said, "You know I just want what's best for you, right?"
"Yeah."
Cleaning up the spilled tea mess caused by Kanami, Shigeru said, "I have something to say that might spark your interest. A business friend of mine recently called me. He is the president of one of the Toji schools in the United States, and has made an offer for you."
"For me?"
"Yes, he has heard of your excellent swordsmanship and is giving you the opportunity to do a co-op at his school, training American Tojis. You'll even be allowed to graduate and continue on with university there, should you accept. What do you say, Kanami? You'll be given the best education and work experience."
"But America...that's so far away."
"Your brother is studying at Harvard and he is totally fine," Shigeru said with a frown.
'No, he's not. That's just what you think,' Kanami said in her mind, remembering the numerous text messages she and Tamaki would send each other. Her brother was as gloomy as a stormy raincloud.
"I-I can't," Kanami said. "I don't want to leave my friends."
It was here that Shigeru's stoic face finally broke as he gave a heavy sigh, beyond fed up. "Kanami, friends split up over time. It's your future you need to be considering."
"I'm sorry, Fa—"
Shigeru banged his fist against the table. "End of discussion! I don't want to hear any more excuses. I shall give you time to think over it. But if the real reason why you are hesitating is what I think it is, it had better not be."
"M-Mai, I think this is too much..." Sayaka stammered, struggling under the weight of the innumerable shopping bags she was holding.
Inside were the various clothes and accessories Mai paid for her to wear tonight, along with many others for everyday wear. When the Yanase heiress saw Sayaka's wardrobe, she shook her head and declared they'd have a shopping day. After all, everyone's outer appearance could be improved with the right clothes. Mai proved to have excellent taste, choosing outfits that complimented Sayaka herself rather than picking ones just because they were in vogue. Of course, it was important to keep up with the latest fashions, but other factors were important too, such as wearing clothing with the perfect colour scheme and that also fit one's body shape.
"Nonsense, Sayaka-chan. I'm only happy to help," Mai said. "Oh! Let's grab a bite to eat in that cute teahouse over there, shall we?"
Seeing how posh the teahouse's exterior looked, embarrassment flooded Sayaka's cheeks in a blush, knowing Mai already spent thousands just on clothing for her. Mai wouldn't hear of Sayaka paying for herself—not that Sayaka had the pocket money to begin with, especially not for all these big brands. The perks of being a young heiress, she guessed. Yes, she knew Mai was loaded, but part of Sayaka couldn't help feeling as though she was taking advantage of Mai's wealth, even though she'd never want to do so.
When they were seated down to a pot of earl grey tea (with plenty of milk and sugar for Mai) and a decadent three-tiered tower of sandwiches, scones, and desserts, Mai said, "Help yourself. Don't be shy."
Sayaka tentatively reached for the cookies first, taking a bite, and—just as she thought—Mai's tasted better. In her opinion, there was nothing that beat homemade food.
"So, are you excited for tonight?" Mai asked.
No response came from her albino-haired friend, who could only stare back at her. Seeing how delicately Mai sipped her tea, her excellent poise and manners, only reminded Sayaka that a girl like herself would not fit in at some fancy high-class party. Mai was the epitome of a perfect girl; it was she who belonged in such a crowd, not someone as socially-clueless and thickheaded as herself.
"I'm scared. What if I mess up?" Sayaka asked. "I don't want to humiliate you, Mai, nor do I want to look bad in front of your family."
"Sayaka-chan, you'll do fine. The most important thing is to have fun and be yourself, right?" Mai said. "Have some confidence in yourself. You are a unique and beautiful girl."
Touched though she was by Mai's compliments, Sayaka could not fully believe them. Unique? Beautiful? Did she deserve such attention and praise, especially from someone as unique and beautiful as Mai? She was so confused. She couldn't understand any of this. From what she knew, society had a hierarchy—and she could never be equivalent to Mai's standards. It was so unfair. The world favoured people who were pleasing to look at, intelligent, rich, and successful. Everything that she was not. People like her were left in the shadows, either unnoticed or bullied. And even if they tried to aim for the top, they were mocked for it.
'It's as President Takatsu would always say: I can only be a tool,' Sayaka thought. 'All I can prove useful at is killing with my okatana.'
It was dangerous to dream about having more. She must not lose sight of what she was and where her place stood. Long ago, Sayaka learned to be prepared for disappointment. Wishing would be pointless; it did not do anything to soften the pain of reality. She was not born for greatness like Mai.
'But I have to do this. If Mai believes in me and stands by my side, I can't disappoint her by giving up. I can do this...for Mai.'
A/N: So, a few things to take important note of:
First off, Kaoru only got into poetry because Ellen introduced her to it. Had Ellen not done so, Kaoru probably wouldn't have had any interest in it, to begin with. I wanted Kaoru to have a secret hobby outside of her usual personality, to add a bit more interesting flair to her character.
Ritsuko's dad, Akifumi, is a con artist. He works under the guise of Yukari and Akane's secretary, while secretly he is trading their secrets and money for his real boss, Sugiyama Toru. Basically, he is a fence for a criminal organization. He taught Ritsuko to be as she is—friendly and to smile a lot so that nobody would know their true nature. I didn't mention it, but Ritsuko's mother passed away almost right after they moved to Kamakura.
Kanami's family is actually rich—not as rich as Mai's, just maybe upper-middle class. Kanami's dad, Shigeru, owns a company which he expects Tamaki, Kanami's older brother, to take over. Hence why he sent Tamaki abroad to study at Harvard. Because Minato was born a Fujiwara, her family was very rich also. Since Kanami lives in a house that's considered big in Japan, and she can afford so many wooden kenjutsu swords (seen in her dormitory in the anime series), I guessed she and her family must have quite a bit of moola.
