A/N: I just received the results back from my testing to see if I'm now clear of COVID-19. And...I am! I am now negative and have fully recovered! I can't explain the relief and gratitude I'm feeling right now. Absolutely so blessed... Thank you all once again for your support—I am truly grateful to all of you, along with the healthcare workers and other people who've helped me. Stay positive and stay strong everyone! :)

Chapter 14: A Shocking Announcement

Kanami's feelings could scarcely be defined into one single emotion. Even if she hadn't believed in the goodwill of her school president, her reaction to Ema's conversation with Yuzuki would've still been difficult to control. Such horror was upon Kanami to discover that the rumours against the Minoseki president were indeed true. From Ema's professional impression to her compassionate personality, she had been long established as the figure of every virtue at Minoseki Academy. And now, all the trusted opinions Kanami had towards the president were broken, which bore so alarming a difference to the woman she thought she knew. The young Toji wished she could prove false what she just heard, but it just struck her too forcibly for denial. Kanami's fears were well-founded.

'President Hashima had indeed wronged Yukari-sama,' she thought, ashamed. 'She was stealing money that's for sure...but maybe not out of selfish intentions.'

This subject was succeeded by the other information she had discreetly heard. In some way, Yuzuki was involved with the complication, along with an unknown man. Judging by what she learned, Kanami determined this anonymous individual to be a blackmailer, threatening Ema. And whoever this new adversary was, he certainly had no qualms in sinking Ema's character and good name.

How differently did everything now fit together! The fact of Ema being on her toes was the consequence of the secret she was withholding. Her aggressive behaviour towards Inspector Etou when he questioned her now had an understandable motive. And so...?

'Mother, what do I do now?' Kanami internally sighed.

She looked up at the blue sky above the courtyard, hoping for a sign she knew wouldn't come. In her disturbed state of mind, with questions she had no answers to, Kanami continued forward, doing her rounds. She was so distraught she failed to notice that the ebony-haired girl beside her had an identical expression of anxiety.

Hiyori's face was paler than normal. She never got to relax in that warm bath she wanted. Although she had quickly showered to tidy herself up, the Heijou Toji's mind couldn't stop being haunted by the threatening message she received. Someone was suspicious of her. Someone was watching her. Maybe...whoever it was...was watching her right now! Her heart pounding against her chest, Hiyori's burgundy eyes looked around frantically. The courtyard was empty, but that didn't mean someone might be possibly spying her from a distance.

The thoughts plaguing the two girls were interrupted at the sound of a vehicle approaching. Within moments, a sleek limo parked in the middle of the courtyard. The driver opened the back door, bowing in respect towards the gentleman who stepped out. He had a handsome face, but it was a proud and cruel one. From his neatly-combed hair to his expensive black suit, everything about the man screamed "all business".

Without a side-glance at Kanami and Hiyori, the man asked impatiently, "Where's Akane-sama?"

"I-Inside," Kanami replied, before quickly adding, "sir."

"And my wife?"

"Your...wife?" Kanami couldn't help first thinking about Yukina; the resemblance between her and the mysterious man was unmistakable. However, the Minoseki Toji was in for a surprise when she discovered she guessed incorrectly.

"Yuzuki," the man said, with a frown.

Hiyori's face set itself into a similar scowl, guarded against this stranger. "She's inside as well."

The man didn't express gratitude or show acknowledgement of any sort but instead moved towards the mansion in a very matter-of-fact manner. Hurriedly, Kanami and Hiyori followed him. Walking as though he owned the place and had the right to do so, the man marched through the doors with purpose. It was as if he'd done so before in the past and also expected to many times in the future. This was when Hiyori could not keep from bursting out loud.

"Excuse me, Souraku-san? What business do you have here?" she demanded. "You're trespassing on private—"

One swift look from the man shut her up in an instant. There was something in his cold stare that overpowered her. It was then that Hiyori suspected herself to be the first person who had ever dared to speak to him in such a tone.

They bumped into Akane, who upon greeting Yuzuki's husband, said they'd all been expecting him and were waiting in the library. It was ready and set up for use, she added. A suggestion for tea or coffee to be brought in was made, which was immediately declined with cold civility.

"Don't be surprised upon entering, Souraku-san, to find Inspector Etou and Sergeant Tanaka quite at home," Akane cautioned. "They've taken up the case as I'm sure you've heard on the news."

"For God's sake, those two nosy bastards have done enough poking around my business for me to know them well!" was the irritated reply. Kanami clenched her fists upon hearing how he spoke about her father and Sergeant Tanaka.

Upon entering the library, they found everyone either seated or standing—the five presidents, the Elite Guards, and even Inspector Etou and Sergeant Tanaka. There was a variety of facial expressions around the room from confusion to apprehension. Kanami noted how Yuzuki and her husband glared at each other, the former quickly looking in a different direction, pretending she hadn't seen him.

"What's going on?" she whispered to her father.

"Some sort of announcement we heard," Inspector Etou replied, in an equally hushed voice. "Thought we might as well listen."

Yuzuki's husband placed the briefcase he'd been holding onto one of the writing desks. Taking out a file, he then positioned himself at the back of the library so that everyone could see him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as I'm sure most of you know, I am Souraku Haruto, the lawyer of the Origami Family," he began. "I've come here to discuss the release of a statement Yukari-sama recently had changed before her death. She had requested I tell all of you first to ensure every single one of you is aware of the 'drastic modifications', before its public release to the entire country of Japan. If you have any questions, please wait until I finish."

Flabbergasted, Yukina chose to ignore this instruction straight away. "Drastic modifications? What drastic modifications? And just when did she change this so-called statement?"

Haruto rolled his eyes. "That is what I'm here to explain to you, President Takatsu. And as for your other question, Yukari-sama wrote to me a week ago. Now if you please, may I get started?"

When answered with silence, Haruto pulled out a piece of paper from his file and began to read out loud:

I, Origami Yukari, former Head of the Origami Family and former chief commander of the Special Sword Administration Bureau; being of sound mind; not acting under pressure or undue influence; and fully understanding the nature and extent of this statement, declare this document to be my official nomination of the heiress apparent of the Origami Family.

Heads turned to look at each other in bewilderment. There must've been some mistake! Protests immediately broke forth.

"That can't be true," Sana said. "Yukari-sama didn't state that she chose an heiress at the meeting we had last night."

"She only told us that she would designate someone of her choosing," Iroha added.

Haruto, quite annoyed at the interruption, said sharply, "Which she did. Whom I shall call out now since she is here in this room with us."

Everyone's astonishment surpassed any measurable level. Yukina, of course, automatically began praying that it was her. It had to be! Waiting in anticipation, they listened carefully as Haruto continued:

I hereby declare and appoint as my heiress to the entirety of my holdings to be...Juujou Hiyori.

Eyes shot towards the Heijou Toji, who stumbled back against the wall. Looks of rage and disbelief attacked her, as she tried to figure out what just happened. Haruto's words bounced and jumbled around in Hiyori's head. What?! What was going on?! Did he just say—?! Haruto, who didn't seem to have noticed the change in the atmosphere, continued in a bored tone:

My entire ownership of the family estate, property, and finances I bequeath to Juujou Hiyori. Likewise, I entrust Juujou Hiyori to the proprietorship of the Special Sword Administration Bureau and the schools of the Five Traditions. And last but not least, I proclaim Juujou Hiyori as the next Head of the Origami Family.

Any and all other wills and codicils heretofore made by me or any other individual, I hereby revoke.

This was too much! Whipping out her reading glasses, Yukina strode up to Haruto and yanked the document from his hand to read it herself. Such a thing was a slap in the face and couldn't be possible! Juujou Hiyori, a former terrorist and individual who stained the Hiiragi Family name—her as heiress?!

Iroha, likewise, was enraged. She pointed a finger at Haruto, as if he was responsible and equally to blame.

"Is this why Yukari-chan wanted to take my daughter from me?!" she demanded.

"She's not your damn daughter!" Yukina roared.

The Elite Guards and Sana were trying to calm the two women down. Not yet, however, in spite of what Yukari's document said, did Yukina and Iroha give up the point. Haruto was forced to have to deal with the threatening of one president and the hasty pleading and coaxing of another in several turns. Ema, sitting hunched in her chair, declined to interfere in any way and Yuzuki simply lit a cigarette, completely unmoved by the astounding declaration. Inspector Etou and Sergent Tanaka, who were just as shocked as most of the people in the room, stared at Hiyori in utter shock.

"Alright, that's enough!" Akane yelled in anger over the racket.

Her loud tone had the desired effect. Nobody had ever heard the younger Origami sister speak above her normally calm tone, and so were surprised enough to shut up.

"It's only natural for Hiyori-san to take the position," Akane said, firmly. "She's the only sole person who can perform the Fifth-Layer Jin'i. Not to mention, she's the daughter of Kagari-san, Nee-sama's trusted ally."

Yukina whined, "I was Yukari-sama's trusted ally! She should've chosen me! And don't you realize what this would mean for you, Origami Akane? That Juujou Hiyori bitch will inherit everything and you will be turned out of your own ancestral home by her—a girl who lives on a muddy farm!"

Now once again a target for attack, Hiyori's expression was a mingled one of mortification and incredulity. In an instant, almost all of the occupants in the library moved towards her, their exclamations rising above one another at the same time that all one could hear was a jumble of yelling. Hiyori would've been jostled and maybe even crushed by them if Kanami hadn't gripped her arm tightly.

"Come on, Hiyori-chan!"

Not waiting a second longer, the two raced out of the library into the mansion's maze of hallways with Inspector Etou watching them, his eyes narrowed with perplexity.

A/N: So, Hiyori has been chosen by Yukari to be the next Head of the Origami Family! What waits for her in the future and what will this mean for her connections with Akane and the five presidents?