Chapter 6:

Ayano woke up early the next morning, eager to get on with her plan. She relished every bit of progress she made, however small. Every little thing she accomplished brought her closer to her love, her life's purpose. She would not fail. She couldn't if she tried.

She stepped out onto the pier, choosing to take the town route into school, she had enough time to wander around a little. The ocean was a welcome change of scenery, the salty smell of the water was one of her favourite things in the world. She would definitely buy a beach house for Senpai and her to live in one day. Just the thought of it made a blush creep up her cheeks. Senpai, her and eventually their children, swimming, having fun, loving eachother… It was a future Ayano would die for.

Kill for, of course, went unsaid.

As she scanned the ocean, watching the fishermen with their nets and the occasional yacht, something struck her eye. In the distance, on one of the most luxurious yachts she had ever seen, was a boy with binoculars. Looking straight at her.

Ayano looked to her left and sure enough, the coin operated binoculars were still there. She deposited a coin into the ancient machine and heard the telltale click that announced the machine was ready to go. She found the yacht, and the boy, who has adjusted his angle to see her. His face was extremely familiar, yet she could not place a name to the face. She hadn't seen him around the town, and he certainly did not attend her school.

Then who was this? Why was his face so familiar?

Ayano's eyes widened as she realized.

He looked exactly like a male version of Megami Saikou, the student council president and heiress to the Saikou Empire, in fact, Ayano suddenly knew who he was.

This was Kencho Saikou, Megami's younger brother. According to gossip columnists that her mother seemed to adore endlessly, he was supposed to be pursuing his high school diploma overseas. Her mother had even spoken to her about it, asking if she would like to go to France or England on an exchange program. As if she could ever leave Japan without her Senpai.

Then why was he here? And why was he looking at her? The boy still hadn't taken his eyes off of her. He took a small notepad out of his pocket and appeared to write on it for a second before giving her a thumbs up and retreating into the quarters of the enormous yacht.

Ayano had a nagging feeling her mother would know about this, but now wasn't the time to dwell on this strange boy or his intentions. They did not matter. She walked to school briskly, filled with purpose and determination.

Once in the locker room, she spotted Amai's locker and left her a note, informing her that she wanted to talk to her about "family problems" and to meet her on the rooftop, near the potted plant on the eastern side during lunch time. She watched from a distance as Amai opened the locker, read the note and then promptly dropped it as her single healthy had started shaking intensely. She hastily picked it back up, tore it into tiny pieces and tossed it into the trash, casting nervous glances around her as she walked away.

Oh she would be there alright, Ayano thought.

Ayano sat through her lectures impatiently, and when the time came for lunch, immediately headed onto the roof. She took her place next to the pot and waited. Amai was quick to arrive.

"Was it you who left the note in my locker, Ayano?" she asked in a feeble voice. Her hands gripped the rails, her knuckles turning white due to the sheer force in her hold. Ayano nodded in the affirmative, taking care to place a kind, worried expression on her face.

"Listen Amai, I know about you and your father…" A choked sob escaped Amai before Ayano could continue further.

"My f-father? That's ridiculous! He never touched me, he never did anything to m-me!" she said in a frenzied whisper, tears trailing down her cheeks. She was trying hard to remain inconspicuous so as not to attract attention, but Musume Ronshaku, who had been eating on a bench in the distance, saw the exchange out of the corner of her eye and started watching the duo.

Ayano looked at her with feigned pity in her eyes and played the recording on her phone, holding it close to Amai's ear on the lowest volume setting. Before she could protest, Ayano started talking again.

"Listen, I only want to help you. He is a sick man and he deserves to be punished. You have no fault in this situation. You are a victim who deserves justice. Don't ask me how I got this recording, it doesn't matter. What I want is to make sure you're never hurt again. Ever."

Amai looked at her with gratitude, fear and bewilderment in her eyes. "How?" she asked.

"I will tell your father to quit harassing you or I will take this recording to every single news outlet in the country and the Japanese police."

Amai looked at her in surprise, her mouth hanging open. "Can you really do this?"

"Yes." Ayano looked into the girl's eyes with resolve, although her intentions were vastly different from just wanting to help a poor girl out. Amai threw her arms around her, whispering her thanks and then scurrying away.

After the school day ended, she headed to the bakery with Amai, her head held high and proud while Amai seemed to shrink with every step they took. The bakery was connected to the flat upstairs from the inside, so they walked straight into her house after nodding hello to the workers, who had never seen Amai bring anyone home before.

Once they were inside, Mr. Odayaka, who heard their footsteps on the parquet flooring and noticed Amai wasn't alone, walked out of his bureau to see his daughter holding onto a girl who was staring straight into his eyes.

"Amai, go to your room, Mr. Odayaka, please follow me into your office." Ayano commanded with authority in her voice. Amai mechanically stepped away as Ayano stalked into the room through the open door.

Mr Odayaka followed suit.

"What is the meaning of this, who are you?" the man barked.

Ayano looked over this slimy old man, disgust evident in all her features. "I know everything."

She watched as a trickle of sweat fell from his greasy face onto his shirt and took out her phone, playing the recording.

She watched as his features reflected fear for a split second and then disappeared behind a mask of incredulity.

"I will give this recording to every news station, every tabloid and the Japanese intelligence agency if you continue this behaviour." Ayano continued.

"What if I took your phone away?" the man said as he suddenly lunged towards her. Ayano was too quick for an obese old man and sidestepped out of his way.

"I have set up timed emails from multiple email addresses, all registered in different domains, that you will not be able to locate. Some of the addresses are from well known domains, but others have been set up in the dark web, where you have no way of interfering with them." She watched the man deflate visibly.

"Is it money that you want? I have plenty. You will never have to worry about money ever again." The man offered

"All I want is for you to stay away from Amai. I will hear it if you don't. You will face the consequences if I do."

With that, she swooped out of the room and left the building. The bug reported nothing that night. She was sure it never would pick up anything ever again.

The next day, she invited Amai over to her house for tea and they went home together after school.

"Ayano… What you've done for me is something huge… I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you."

Ayano feigned embarrassment as she sat down next to Amai, taking her hands into her own.

"Listen, there is one thing that I'm really embarrassed to say, but I really like Taro Yamada. I know you guys have been hanging out recently, but he's really special to me. Please, just… Don't stand in our way…"

Amai looked at her in surprise. "Oh… I kind of liked him, but it's nothing next to how I feel towards you. You are my only friend in the school. You've done so much for me… I will stop talking to him."

Ayano hugged Amai close and smiled to herself. One more threat was eliminated.

.

.

.

"Your transfer into Akademi High is complete. I have ensured that you were placed into the same class as her."

"This girl, Ayano, you said she was Ryoba Aishi's daughter. You're absolutely sure?" The boy asked the man in front of him. The man nodded, his hands clasped tightly in front of him in deference to this boy, so young yet in possession of so much power thanks to his name.

"Good."