"Father, you can't be serious.." Megami stood on the other side of the room, staring at her father's back while he stirred his crystal-clear wine glass and peered out of his large bedroom window. This man was the reason for Megami's significant success in everything she's ever put effort in. She was molded and shaped into a strong thick-skinned perfect leader. She owed it all to her father. He was a harsh mentor. He was perfect for teaching her everything she needed to know for when she took over his company, but what he DIDN'T excel in was being an actual "father". Even the word "father" would make him clench his fists in a bad cringe. He only accepted that word from Megami so many times a day until she was forced to go back to her other names for him. Technically just one. One word that he greatly encouraged her to use and didn't accept any alternative from anyone else.

"Sir".

Unless they were addressing him by his last name, or if he gave special but rare permission for one to use his first name, "Sir" was what one had to use if they wished for Kyoryoku Saikou's attention. Because of this, Megami didn't know what a real father was, however, she didn't have much care. It was what it was. She wasn't one to be coddled or shown sympathy. She didn't hold anyone in her life sacred, even if they were family. So this meant that she wouldn't form any "issues" over this in the near future.

When she was young, she had moments where she would wonder about the special father-daughter bond, but the feeling would dissolve the moment her attention returned to her strict studies that she was required to do every day with no long breaks.

There was maybe one day where the feeling came back and was at the strongest it would ever get. She was visiting the park with one of her caretakers, who loved Megami like she was their real daughter. Megami usually got bored of the park rather quick and that particular day was no exception. She was getting ready to head back home when she saw a young girl her age playing ball with whom she figured out was her father. The girl had used extra strength to throw the ball when it was her turn, catching her father by surprise. The man laughed in absolute enjoyment and picked up his small daughter, carefully tossing her in the air playfully.

Megami heard her use the word, "Daddy" which made the man even happier. Megami came up with a small idea of what she could do when she got home. The moment she saw her father later that day, she repeated the warm word, however the reaction wasn't quite the same as the man that she saw in the park. Her grandfather had been standing next to him. He stared at his son and then his granddaughter, looking almost disturbed. Her father didn't move any of his muscles for a few seconds. He eventually narrowed his eyes at her and told her to go back in her room and not come out for the rest of the day. After this, Megami learned to never say anything like that again. It was a wonder that she was allowed to use the word, "father", but again, it's welcome was quick to wear out, making her cease and resort to the alternative.

So due to this, Megami never saw Mr. Saikou as a "dad". Only a man that she was the product of and had to carry on the business.

"Surly you're not mistaking her for someone else-"

"Megami, I do not make mistakes. Our family name and business wouldn't have come this far if I was so careless. The fact that you're even implying this is an insult no greater than a spit in the face. How DARE you.." Megami's desperate fantasy of the possibility that her father mixed up names maybe was interrupted and torn to shreds in seconds by him.

"No! That..That's not what I meant. Just please listen to me for a second.. What you're planning..with this girl..it's a bad idea.. you don't want-" Megami struggled to keep her nerve together. Anywhere else she dominated, especially at her school, but here at home, she may as well be a doormat when it came to Mr. Saikou.

"First you accuse me of pathetic clumsiness, now you're telling me that my plans, which have ALWAYS been perfect and significant, are a 'bad idea'?! Megami, you have three seconds to redeem yourself worthy of my presence before you are dismissed for the entire week." Her father threatened. It sounded harmless to anyone else, but being "dismissed" consisted of several things happening that destroyed Megami's dignity for a period of time.

Wrists close to shaking, Megami straightened up and pretended that the original information never bothered her.

"I am sorry, sir. I will carry out these actions according to your directions precisely. There will be no need to worry about failure." She abandoned any more ideas about keeping all of this from happening.

"Yes you will. And to make sure they happen, I will send someone to keep an eye on you and report back to me." Mr. Saikou calmed when he was finally told what he wanted to hear, though a good amount of irritation still existed in his tone.

"What? I..I'm perfectly capable of performing this on my own. There's no need for a watch, you can trust me-"

"Wrong yet again, Megami. What you have done today was unacceptable. I CANNOT trust you if you've shown yourself having doubt on plans that I carefully craft. Trust is EARNED and until this happens, I will be forced to treat you like a helpless child again. But you can start your way back by accepting this." Mr. Saikou was close to crushing the glass in his hands, but his grip lightened when he thought about the task being fulfilled with no issues or any more arguments. Megami was speechless for nearly a minute. The mere thought of having someone SPY on her just to make sure this simple task was taken care of humiliated her. However, she had no other choice. If she kept protesting, things would only get worse for her. She lowered her head to where her vision was fixed on the expensive floor carpet.

"Yes sir.." Was the last thing she said before taking another look at the small envelope she possessed that was to be hand-delivered in the school she attended to right away. Her eyes shook and she bit down on her lip until there was a very faint metallic taste on the tip of her tongue as she read the envelope's name signifying who it was meant for one last time.

To Ayano Aishi