If this was what having feelings was like really, Ayano wished to remove these new emotions from her very being. Sleeping wasn't easy when all she kept dreaming of was Asu stabbing her, though it sometimes changed to Taro being stabbed while she was completely helpless on the ground. That screeching had not left her mind either.

Not wanting to dwell on it, she curled up in the pink fluffy blanket with strawberries on that Taro had gifted her. He had even turned on the television to one of his favourite programs while he went to grab some shopping. Ayano revelled in learning the new information about her darling that would not have found out otherwise, she realised that while his favourite colour was blue, he liked red, pink or purple on girls for instance.

She had completely redone her wardrobe that day with the money that she had earned from working part time as a maid. Now it looked pretty girly but she was happy for it to be that way.

Ryoba threw the door open so hard that Ayano thought it would come off its hinges. She grabbed her daughter and pulled her in close. "Ayano! My darling! Thank god, I thought you were in worse shape" Ryoba held Ayano's head as she planted kisses on her forehead, Jokichi entered the house not far behind his wife and hastily walked over to his daughter.

He had to admit that he was very torn about the recent events of the past few days. While he was ecstatic to know Ayano was showing genuine emotion, he was horrified when Ryoba explained what had happened to his daughter. It took Ryoba at least ten minutes to talk him out of harming the person responsible of hurting Ayano. His thoughts had wandered to a very dark place, a place he did not wish to visit again…

When it had been made apparent to him that it was a girl from Ayano's own year group who had attacked her, he was rendered completely speechless.

He got down onto his knees, gently analysing the injury to her left hand. She flinched slightly "What happened, sweetheart?" He asked softly. Ayano tried to start but couldn't bring herself to speak. Ryoba held her tightly and rockjed her like she was a small child again. Though Ayano looked much like her mother, Jokichi swore that her eye shape and cheekbones looked more Yudasei than Aishi.

For the first time in a long time, what Ryoba had done no longer affected him. She had once divulged a story about the first girl in the family needing to kill someone to protect herself but she had shrugged it off as something akin to a fairytale.

Ayano had been seriously harmed and he partly blamed himself for telling Ryoba not to talk about the family and the condition in front of her. He should have at least told Ryoba to teach their daughter how to defend herself properly and he kicked himself for it.

The doorbell suddenly rang.

Jokichi opened the door to see a young man before him with black hair and dark eyes. Judging by the uniform, he was attending the same school as Ayano. The boy bowed upon realising who the man before him was.

"Oh! I didn't know when you would be returning Mr Aishi. I apologise for this being so sudden but I did some shopping for Ayano" The boy held up two bags, full of food and other bits.

"Its much appreciated. Excuse me but Ayano hasn't told us your name, we've just returned from America." Jokichi opened up though the boy didn't seem phased. "My name is Taro Yamada" He replied in a friendly manner. It had started to rain and the boy was clearly wet.

"Why don't you come in?" Jokichi offered kindly "My wife will insist on making some tea for you for being so considerate for our daughter."

Taro sighed thankfully "I'd love some tea, thank you sir" Taro removed his shoes and sanitised his hands before entering the house. Ryoba hopped off the sofa to greet him. "Hello dear, Ayano was just telling me all about you. You've been such a good friend to her in these past weeks. How could we ever thank you!"

He was placed down close to Ayano who looked adorable wrapped in the blanket he bought her. She had cocooned herself in it. It made him feel appreciated, Osana would go out of her way to not use something he got her when he was around and Hanako, though he did love his sister, was stupidly clingy and took him for granted.

Ryoba brought in a red and gold teapot created in the kitsugi style with two little cups. "I thought some green tea would be a nice refreshment, I was going to offer some matcha cakes but I noticed some little treats in the bags" She pointed to some pink coloured wrapping with white flowers on it. Taro picked up the Dorayaki. "Dorayaki is my favourite sweet treat. Ayano was asking if she could try some the other week and I bought her these" He showed off the Sakura Dorayaki and a chocolate one.

Ryoba marvelled at the revelation, so did Jokichi. "I never knew that! I guess Ayano got a bit fed up of the watermelon I always bought home from work" Ryoba feigned disappointment.

The signs were there, this Taro boy was cleanly Ayano's destined one and she was already well on her way to winning his heart. This was her Senpai.

All was right in the world now.

A red haired girl with red glasses stepped onto the boat docked by the coastal marina just outside of Buraza town. It was extravagant beyond belief but the family who own it were exactly the same judging by the information she had on them.

The boat sped out as she made her was into the cabin, a girl her age with long silver hair and dressed resplendently in a purple gown sat there in a chair inlaid with mother of pearl and diamonds.

"I have received no updates since the third week. Tell me what is going on!" The girl before her commanded.

"Miss Saikou... To put it simply, I lost contact with her." The red haired girl admitted bitterly.

"Lost her? How? Explain everything!" And so she did. The match matching of Osana and Amai had not been an issue but Kizana having her identity crisis was perfect fodder to attack with. Except, Ayano did not attack her or harm her. Kizana instead swooped in with her new appearance and had told the drama club that Ayano had helped her realise who she really was.

Oka had been very problematic because she had been snooping around and found one of her cameras in the girl's toilets which almost led to her exposure if Info-chan herself had not destroyed it. Asu, on the other hand, she could not explain. At first, she had thought that Ayano had perhaps attacked her and gotten Asu arrested for defending herself but…

The word and evidence said that it was actually Asu who attacked a genuinely innocent Ayano.

"Tell me Shion, why have things gone this way? I thought you had tried to encourage the Aishi bloodlust. Not to dampen it down."

Shion Keneko was the daughter of Jin Keneko, the disgraced journalist that had tried to show the world have vicious Ryoba Aishi really was during the year of 1989. Her father had attempted to show the world he was innocent from the slander that plagued him but the evil woman caught on and chased him out the country.

Shion wanted vengeance for what had been lost.

"I did! I did on several times but she never listened to me!"

Megami scoffed. "You've disappointed me. I have absolutely nothing to work with in regards to finally ridding these lands of the Aishi Scourge. The pestilence of imperfection. You could have done more."

"Hold on a minute, you said that would help my father! I don't even know where he is or if he is safe. You said that you would get the truth brought to li-"

"Your father is dead, Shion" Megami coldly remarked. Pitiless.

Shion stopped in her tracks, a cold flush washed down her body like ice water. "w-what? B-but he is in the United States!"

"Ryoba caught up to him" Megami scoffed "She made quite the statement too. Judging by the pictures…" She remarked cruelly, hold one up. Shion could feel her whole world tumbling as she looked up the photograph, everything she had created was falling away. Her blackmail empire, everything she had worked to build.

It was all pointless without her father.

Megami nodded at two of her staff. Two men grabbed Shion and dragged her up to the front deck of the boat. Megami followed, her hair flowing in the night like liquid mercury. "I wonder what I can do with you now..." she posed the question, tutting as the men leaned Shion over the rail "You know too much to be simply let go after all…"

Shion struggled, rage at the betrayal flowing through her veins like a terrible fire. "I don't need you" Megami plainly spoke "I have my plan B. Maybe I should let the guards have you first before you go...". She grinned as one of the tore off her trousers, her bright red knickers almost glowing against her pale skin. She was genuinely scared now. Was this her fate after everything she had done to help?

Megami laughed as she tapped her hand fan against Shion's leg "We've scared her enough." Shion fell and felt the shock of cold sea water. Thankfully, she could swim well. She tore through the water to get to the shore..

Megami watched the red head girl intently. After a minute, she issued a final command. "Take us back to shore"

The last thing Shion remembered before she died being pulled under the water as the yacht approached and the pain of her body getting caught and torn apart in the propellers.