Author's note:
So, by far the shortest chapter, but I think I managed to cut out a lot of filler and leave the essential bits which I struggle with and tends to bloat the word count.
Writing has been really slow with a mixture of writing block, new games (SMT V), new shows (Arcane (the struggle to resist writing a Vi x Cait fic was real)), and work. Also, I probably shouldn't write when I'm depressed because this chapter is sadder than it was supposed to be... Oh well. I think it works kind of well and I get to investigate a new angle that the game(s) never did.
As long as the drama isn't so bad I think it's decent. Catch you all next time.
Edit (Nov 30, 2021): Fixed Kasumi hearing Morgana. My bad.
Chapter 24: The Afterparty(math) Part 2
Saturday June 25th, 20XX Afternoon
"Dude… Am I in heaven?" Ryuji's voice was filled with awe as the girls entered the establishment.
Ren understood completely where Ryuji was coming from. The ladies had gone on a shopping trip and each one looked spectacular. Haru in her hot pink tank top and skirt. The outfit was completed with a pair of dainty hanging earrings shimmering gold with a set of diamonds at the end. Her feet likewise were decorated with a pair of expensive looking flipflops.
Makoto was wearing a brand-new look that gave off similar vibes to her metaverse outfit. The tight black shirt and pants emphasized her curves while giving her a dangerous aura that was accented by a silver chain hanging lightly around her neck.
Then there was Sumire. Glasses gone with a ponytail, a white crop top, and jean shorts. Ren's heart underwent an abnormal contraction as he struggled not to stare at her toned middle section that was temptingly revealed by the fluttering fabric. She was crushing the summer look. It was almost a hybrid look between Ann and… "Kasumi!?"
"Sup, senpai?" Kasumi winked.
"Ah… Yo…" Eyes flitting back and forth, Ren got no answer as to why Kasumi was there as the other girls refused to meet his eyes.
"You must be a pretty popular guy to get all these girls dressing up for you. I guess its true about bad boys being more attractive."
Oh shit… Smiling awkwardly, Ren scratched his head as Kasumi made herself at home. Taking a brief glance at the other girls revealed a variety of expressions. Sumire refused to meet his eyes whereas Ann gave him a not so subtle wink and shoved Sumire with her elbow.
"H-Hey, I'm a bad boy too!" Ryuji said.
"Are you?" Yusuke asked, his voice colored with surprise. "I always assumed you were more of a momma's boy with a hatred for people in power…"
"That's Ryuji!" Morgana laughed.
"Ah… It hurts more because you weren't trying to insult me." Ryuji folded over.
"Oh, don't be sad," Ann patted him on the back. "Loving your mom is nothing to be ashamed about."
"Why me?" Ryuji sighed dejectedly.
"Ah, cheer up, you did say that you were in heaven," Ren reminded him.
"No, don't say that—"
"Hmm? Why is that Ryuji, huh?" Ann prodded loudly. "Does seeing us make you that happy?"
"Grr…" As Ryuji hid his red face, the girls giggled.
"Well, do any of the other boys have compliments for us?" Kasumi asked with her typical teasing grin.
Uh oh… Trapped, Ren glanced over at Yusuke and Morgana. The cat of course ruined any chance of escape by bounding forward. "Lady Ann, you look exquisite as always!"
"That was creepy. It was like your cat tried to answer…" Kasumi blinked, staring at Morgana in confusion.
"Haha, it's well-trained," Ann laughed it off. "Ignore it."
"Urgh!" Morgana recoiled.
Sweating, Ren knew that his turn on the chopping was rapidly approaching. Until then, he hid behind Yusuke.
"Is it me? Let us see…" Stroking his chin, Yusuke donned a pensive expression. His brow furrowed as he examined the girls in turn. The room shifted awkwardly enough that Ren thought they would call the whole thing off.
Before any such salvation could occur however, Yusuke raised a dramatic hand. "Yes, that is it! That is the emotion in me right now! Yes, my compliment is thus: Were I to paint you, I would allow you to keep your clothes on."
"…Huh?"
Eyes bulging, Ren shared a panicked look with Ryuji and Morgana.
What the hell did Yusuke just say!?
"Oh, so now I'm not good enough to be your nude model!?" Ann roared.
"That was a mixture of creepy and insulting…" Kasumi muttered, robbed of her standard energetic comeback.
"…I always thought you were better than Ryuji," Makoto glared.
"Hehe, I just want to apologize in advance Yusuke, my axe has been feeling a little shifty in my hands recently…"
"E-Everyone, calm down!" Sumire pleaded. "I think what Yusuke meant is that his ideal of true beauty has shifted and that he would paint us in these clothes… Maybe?"
"Hmm… Yes." Yusuke nodded to Sumire's description. "You would all make passable subjects. Nothing that could rival the Sayuri of course, but decent enough."
"Ahh, oh well, I suppose that leaves only the last compliment."
Ren scratched his head as the gazes rotated to him. It wasn't that he was inexperienced talking to women… it was that he had never been in a position where five beautiful women were waiting for his compliment. The difference between the two was larger than he had originally thought. Made even harder with the peanut gallery smirking and waiting for him to fail.
"Hmm… Well…" Eyes tracking up and down, Ren had no idea how to approach this. Compliment the three that had been forced outside their comfort zone? Compliment them all on a shared feature? Give everyone a unique compliment?
Time ticking by the tension only rose as the empty café stayed perfectly silent.
"I…" Failing to generate an idea, Ren closed his mouth and reconsidered again. Coming upon an answer, he hoped that like Yusuke they would think about it before deciding to kill him. "I think that you all look happy."
"Happy?"
"Laaaame!" Ann proclaimed. "I thought you'd be the one boy who may actually be able to piece together a proper compliment."
As everyone looked disappointed, Ren held out his hands. "H-Hold on. I really mean it! After everything that we have gone through – all of us – I think it is awesome to see us all smiling…"
The girls blushed as Ren's heartfelt words drew a reaction from everyone as the thieves fought through the embarrassment that Ren had induced.
"…"
Ren caught a pointed look from Kasumi who stayed silent for once. Her eyes pensive as she examined Ren's face.
"True!" Ryuji practically yelled, never one to stay silent for long. "Been kind of a shit start to the year. With summer break right around the corner… Oh boy! It is going to be one to remember, that's for sure!"
"I'll make sure it's fun, you don't worry about that," Ann winked. "But while we were successful it seems you failed both of your jobs."
"No," Ren denied, "only one of them."
"Oh? So where is the food?"
Ren gestured with his head. "Cooking."
"We are duplicating the master's curry, as Futaba asked."
"Where is Sojiro?" Makoto frowned, glancing around.
"Why are you looking around like we mugged him!?" Ryuji whined. "He left to talk to Futaba after we told him what happened."
"I-I didn't think that!" Makoto protested. Somewhat weakly, Ren thought.
Shaking his head, Ren went back around the counter. Wearing one of LeBlanc's signature green aprons, Ren always felt like it made the cooking simpler. Stirring the curry a bit, Ren nodded in satisfaction as the shimmering dish neared completion. The girls had been gone long enough for it to be almost done.
"Sit down," Ren commanded the group. "I just need one person to help distribute plates."
"Sumi will do that," Kasumi decided.
"I was going to offer…"
"Yeah, sure you were. Go, make yourself useful."
"Urgh…" Rolling her eyes, Sumire grumbled her way over to the counter and slumped into a stool.
Ren sent her a compassionate smile. Of everyone, Sumire was the only one that still had that haunted look in her eye. The one that hadn't let go of her problems.
Leaning over the counter, Ren looked into her eyes.
"W-What are you…"
Placing his hand on hers, Ren whispered so the others wouldn't be able to hear. "Are you doing alright?"
"I… I'm fine." Sumire replied, avoiding him.
"You don't need to act tough here. We will support you no matter what."
Sumire's shoulders hunched over, her downcast face falling further. "I'm just having a bad day. I'll get over it tomorrow."
"Nothing like curry and laughter to help with that," Ren smiled, trying to inject some positivity. But don't feel forced to participate, if you need to leave…"
"N-No!" Sumire denied. "…Thank you for saying that. I don't know, its just that with Kasumi here…"
"You feel replaceable?" Ren guessed.
Sumire's fallen face confirmed his guess.
"The two of you do have a lot in common," Ren agreed, keeping his voice pitched low.
Casting a glance over Sumire at the rest of them, Ren knew there was no chance of getting overheard. Ryuji and Makoto had somehow gotten caught up in an arm-wrestling contest with the others placing bets on the outcome.
"Yeah, I'm the cheap imitation."
"This again?" Ren raised an eyebrow. "Sumire, there is no one I would exchange you for."
"S-Senpai!?"
Winking at her, Ren stood up straight and tossed three plates onto the counter. Dumping rice onto one half, Ren filled the other with the curry which had just finished. "Well?"
"R-Right!" Standing up, Sumire brought the plates over to the people who were still laughing. Ren wanted to know how the match ended but he needed to finish serving the rest of them.
As food arrived, the games broke up and the meal began. A tense stand-off existed as they stood around drooling at the food. It was half-way to supper time and none of them had eaten lunch.
Quickly divvying up more plates, Sumire came back and grabbed another pair. As more food showed, the show-down ended peacefully.
Serving up the final few plates, Ren dug into his own from behind the counter. Catching Ryuji's eyes, Ren gestured at the table. "Who won?"
"I did! …Kind of."
"It was a tie!" Makoto insisted.
"She's right! Ryuji won with right hands, but Makoto won lefts!" Haru clarified.
"Non-dominate hand doesn't count," Ryuji sulked.
"The real question," Ann leaned in, her mouth twisting with a playful smile. "Is why your right arm is so much stronger than your left."
"H-Hey, it's natural thing!"
"R-Ryuji!?" Ann yelled back shocked to get such a frank answer.
"I'm trying to eat," Ren reminded him.
"W-What are they talking back?" Sumire asked.
Oh, the innocence…
"I would like to know as well," Haru put a questioning finger on her chin.
"Maybe Ryuji only does curls with his right arm?" Makoto suggested.
…Are you kidding me?
"For me," Yusuke put a hand to his chest, "My right arm is the only one that can adequately create the strokes I envision. Perhaps Ryuji is similar?"
"You guys are high schoolers, right?" Kasumi asked, sounding as baffled as Ren felt.
"They're idiots," Morgana groaned, his words obviously not understood by Kasumi.
"W-What are you thinking about!? It is normal for a person's dominate arm to be stronger, Makoto is the weird one."
"It is important to train both equally," the president sniffed. "That imbalance will lose you a fight."
"Oh, you fight?" Kasumi asked happily, scarfing down the rest of her plate.
Wait, how!? Glancing to the counter, Ren confirmed that Sumire was finishing hers as well. What the hell!?
"Nah… Used to do some Aikido."
"You quit. Why?" It was the blunt question that nobody but Kasumi would have asked.
"Ahaha, guess I just got tired of realizing there was one person I would never beat."
"Cough!" Hacking, Sumire, interrupted everything as the last of her food came back out of her mouth and unto her plate.
"I can't believe there is someone like that!" Ryuji laughed it off. "I mean, you are super strong… for a girl."
"Do you want to die?"
"S-Sorry!"
Leaving Ryuji alone, Makoto lowered her fist. "If you meet my sister, you will understand."
"Ah," Kasumi nodded in apparent understanding.
Ren didn't have time to figure out Kasumi's strange knowledge. Looking instead at Sumire, Ren waited as her stunned face refused to return to normal. "Makoto… as well?"
"I wouldn't compare the two of you," Ren whispered. "Makoto's sister is a lot older than she is."
Sumire gave Ren a look that told him to mind is own business. Before she could speak though, Kasumi was already pressing Makoto.
"Did you really quit Aikido because of your sister?"
"Yeah… No, not really." Makoto's face fell somewhat. "It was part of it, but after our father died, my sister quit and… I just, I couldn't find the motivation to do it anymore."
"T-That's completely different!" Sumire exploded standing up from her chair. "You just lost your reason for fighting… that's… that's not the same."
"I just lost?" Makoto replied quietly.
"Ahh… No, I didn't mean…"
Makoto's hard gaze was unrelenting as Sumire floundered. The atmosphere had transformed from warm and friendly to immensely awkward extremely quickly. "My father died! I don't care about your inferiority complex!"
"W-Well, I… sorry." Ducking her head, Sumire rushed from the room. The door chimes ringing softly as everyone remained frozen.
"Not again, Sumi…" Kasumi pursed her lips, her face disappointed.
"Makoto," Haru poked her, "that wasn't very nice."
"Accurate though, wasn't it?" Ryuji drawled. "I mean… does she have any real issues?"
"Ryuji!" Ann reprimanded.
"What?" He replied. "All I'm saying is that Makoto's reply was fair."
"…" Staying silent, Ren removed his apron. Leaving his half-eaten plate, Ren slid back around the counter. Placing a hand on Kasumi's shoulder as she started to rise, Ren shook his head at her.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I got this."
"…Good luck."
Leaving the now depressed, arguing group, Ren exited onto the street. "Ah, I'm such a bad leader…" Beating himself up, Ren knew that a different person could have resolved that situation easily.
Tsking his tongue, Ren let emotion flow over his face. Usually hidden behind a mask, anger and discomfort coloured his expression. They weren't just a group of friends. Ren couldn't let them fight and fracture.
Glancing both directions, Ren set off toward the market and the second-hand store. He didn't think Sumire would have gone to the bathhouse.
Turning the corner, Ren found her immediately. The curtain of red hair was impossible to miss. Stopping and staring, Ren watched as Sumire fiddled with the hairtie that had been suspending her hair on the stairs of the batting cage. She looked like a mix of two people. With her hair tumbled down and the glasses restored, her clothes no longer fit her. There was no confidence left in her curled back.
Walking over, Ren coughed to get her attention. Sumire's head didn't lift.
"Yes?"
"…Can I join you?"
"…I guess." Sitting on the other side of the stairs, Ren's ingrained public awareness made him worry about inconveniencing anyone who wanted to use the stairs which the two of them now blocked. Ignoring it for the moment, Ren plopped himself on the hard metal.
On the narrow stairs, they filled the entire thing. Their shoulders and sides brushed together lightly even though they didn't move.
"…"
"Do you remember the last time we came here?" Ren asked.
"Of course. It was only earlier this month."
"Hmm… Did you want to hit a few balls?"
Sumire finally blinked in surprise. "What?"
"If you don't practice what you learnt, you'll soon forget it."
"But, I… What?"
"Come on." Nudging her, Ren stood up and offered her a hand. After a moment of confusion, Sumire took it.
Paying for both of them, Ren led them to the same batting cage as last time. Not hitting any himself, he offered the bat to Sumire.
"…" Staying silent, the confused girl accepted and put on her helmet. Walking into the arena, she assumed her stance.
One after another, the balls came and went. Not a single one made contact with the bat. It was a half-hearted attempt at best.
"My bad, I'm just not feeling it today."
"You've said that." Ren agreed. "Is this how it ends for you then? Returning home after insulting your friend and continuing to mope?"
"You said I could leave if I wanted to!" Sumire yelled angrily. "Why is it different now!? I know I screwed up, okay? I know I was an asshole. I know it was all my fault… again."
Sumire's broken voice tore at Ren's heartstrings. "I said you could leave if you need to. But I don't think that's what you need right now."
"You don't know that!" Sumire continued to yell. "I just… I don't want to keep feeling like this."
"So hit a ball." Ren gestured. "There is nothing stopping you."
"That won't help," Sumire threw the bat to the ground in disgust. "I don't care about hitting baseballs."
"I think you do." Picking up the bat, Ren fiddled with it as self-consciousness riddled him with unease. This wasn't the first time he was preaching at someone, Sumire particularly.
"Really?" Sumire asked.
"Fine. The truth is… I don't know." Ren admitted. "Does that make you feel better? Knowing I don't have all the answers? Knowing I have no idea how to actually help you?"
"S-Senpai?"
"I'm sorry…" Ren muttered, grabbing at his hair with his right hand. He felt his mask breaking. "I can't be your councillor. I don't… I don't know what I'm doing."
Sumire's eyes filled with wonder and guilt. "I… I guess I keep relying on you… Sorry."
"We keep apologizing to each other." Ren pointed out, forcing a laugh. "I'm sure you're disappointed."
"No, I could never be disappointed with you, Senpai. Actually, I umm…"
"What?" Ren asked as Sumire blushed and looked away.
"N-Nothing!"
Feeling some of his control returning, Ren took a chance as his curiosity and interest in the dynamic girl before him overrode his better judgement. "If you tell me, I'll tell you what I'm thinking."
"E-Even if you say that…"
Walking toward her, Ren brushed some of her loose hair with hand. "I like you better with your hair down. It's more you."
"Huh?"
Winking, Ren walked past Sumire so she couldn't stare at his face which was on the verge of breaking into a blush. "Let's get back to LeBlanc, I'm sure they'll be waiting for us."
Saturday June 25th, 20XX Afternoon
Sumire's mind was frozen as she mechanically followed Ren.
I like you better with your hair down.
I like you better.
I like you.
I like you.
I like you.
The three words replaying in her mind. The shadows of the day clogging her mind had been blown away so easily. Sumire could barely remember what she had been worried about.
Her arms were no longer crossed across her stomach as she walked dazed behind Ren. It wasn't until the door of LeBlanc was held open for her, that Sumire remembered the mess she had left behind.
"Where's Kasumi?" Ren asked.
Registering the words, Sumire scanned and came to the same conclusion. Her daring sister was no longer here, nor was Makoto.
"Ah…" Uttering a soft sound, some guilt returned for Sumire. Playing with her hair she slowly entered. "Umm, I apologize for my earlier words…"
"Don't," Yusuke waved a dismissive hand. "I did far worse to these three when they tried to help me."
"Yeah, we are all friends!" Ann assured her, and Haru smiled supportively.
"Umm, so why did Makoto leave?"
Ryuji shrugged. His cheek was bright red for some reason. "Kasumi dragged her off somewhere, I'm sure that they'll be back."
"Yeah, they'll get over it," Morgana assured them all. "For now, though, we should order in some sushi!"
"My curry not good enough for you?"
"Curry isn't cat food!"
"He admitted it!"
"Wait, I'm not a cat! I just have the digestive system of one!"
Blinking against the torrent of conversation, Sumire didn't understand. "Umm, aren't you all upset with me?"
"Are you kidding?" Ann laughed. "Ryuji creates more problems every day than you ever have."
"Mako-chan isn't angry with you," Haru smiled gently. "Come join us. We are celebrating."
"…Okay," Sumire smiled. "I'll take another plate then!"
"You got it." Reattaching his apron, Ren refilled Sumire's plate with a small smile.
Eating with half of her focus, Sumire failed to savour the delicious dish in front of her in favour of examining Ren. His mannerisms, his expressions, his words… they had all changed.
Sumire remembered clearly that look in his eyes as he grabbed at his hair, admitting his shortcomings. Was that the real person beneath the mask? Sumire glanced around the room and wondered if any of the others realized. If they knew that their infallible leader that led the phantom thieves was insecure and uncertain?
She knew the answer. They didn't. It was a secret she alone knew. Burying her smile in her plate, Sumire caught a look from Senpai as she looked up.
His eyes flicked away instantly.
Heart fluttering, Sumire finished eating, her emotions riding high. She hadn't realized how liberating opening up could be. Having her feelings validated.
While in her high, Sumire vaguely acknowledged Senpai's phone ringing.
"'Ello?"
"Uhn, she's here."
"Hmm? Okay. Here, Sumire, it's your sister."
Tilting her head, Sumire grabbed the outstretched mobile. "Kas?"
"Hi, Sumire…" Makoto's voice came through the other end.
"M-Makoto?"
"Ah, Kasumi called because I wasn't sure if you take my call…"
"Of course I would!" Sumire yelled frantically. Feeling blindsided by the bait and switch, Sumire tried to hastily compose the apology she had only started to think about. "I-I didn't mean what I said earlier, I only—"
"T-That's fine." Makoto cut her off. "Kasumi recommended I show you a place… Do you mind coming to meet me somewhere?'
Taking a glance at Senpai, Sumire wasn't sure how much of this he understood, but he nodded anyway.
"Yeah, I'll be there right away."
Saturday June 25th, 20XX Evening
"Makoto?" Finding her senpai and student president, Sumire stopped an awkward distance away. The party would probably be wrapping up soon. Makoto's destination was a not insignificant distance away even by train.
"Sorry about this…" Makoto replied without looking at Sumire. Clenched tightly in both hands was a small bouquet of flowers. Sumire didn't know enough to identify the violet-petaled plant that grew in a bulbous configuration.
Having just typed the location into a GPS, Sumire hadn't realized where she had ended up. With the setting sun illuminating the fading sun archway, the scenery clicked. "T-This is…"
"A cemetery." Makoto confirmed with a nod of her head. "Your sister recommended that we come here together."
"Kasumi did?"
"Yeah."
Conversation petered off as Sumire walked up to Makoto's side. Stunned, Sumire felt more nervous than ever as she waited for Makoto's guidance.
For the first time, the student council president looked young. A fellow child overwhelmed by the world. "It has been a long time since I found the time to visit…"
Sumire had no response as Makoto entered. Following after, Sumire walked past the stone monuments to the deceased. Some were layered with flowers and recently cleaned, most were dirty and abandoned. The place was filled with sorrow.
There were no remnants or reminders to what they had achieved in life. Only the fading stone served as a reminder that they had once lived.
Makoto suddenly stopped in front of one that was nearly indistinguishable from the others. No flowers adorned it, nor had been it been maintained. Despite that though, it looked nicer than many of the others. The quality of the stone higher.
"Is this…?"
"My father." Makoto spoke softly. "Look at how negligent we've been. He would be so disappointed in the two of us."
"Makoto… I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to suggest that your father isn't important to you." Sumire rushed to clarify.
The president just turned and gave Sumire a slight chuckle as a tear threatened to leak from her eye. Wiping it away, Makoto sniffed. "This isn't related to what you said… Kasumi said I should come here and bring you…"
"She… did?" Why?
"Kasumi is amazing." Makoto spoke as she brushed over the stone tablet. Placing the flowers at the bottom, she bowed before the marker. "Thank you, Dad. I swear to come visit you sooner next time."
"I-Is that marble?" Sumire asked without meaning to. Now that Makoto had brushed away the dirt, it sparkled brightly.
"Synthetic, I think. The police station pays for memorials for officers killed on duty."
"He was targeted by organized criminals, yes?"
"Yeah," Makoto confirmed, wiping her eyes again.
"…He would be proud of what you did putting Kaneshiro away."
"…You're right." Makoto nodded, some happiness entering her eyes. "I think he would be on our side."
"I know he would be." Sumire confirmed, wiping her own eyes. "Thank you for this, Makoto."
Makoto shook her head, "No, thank you for joining me. This was the opportunity I needed to do this."
"Kasumi knew this would help." Sumire sighed, shaking her head. "She's scary sometimes."
"Sae is the same way," Makoto frowned. "Both of us are struggling to live in our sisters' shadows."
"You can say that again… it would be a little easier if they made a mistake every now and then."
This got a genuine laugh from Makoto. "Now that's the truth… another one is… I want you to keep doing gymnastics."
"What? Where did that come from?"
Makoto turned and grabbed Sumire's hands. Her eyes were filled with remorse. "I-I can't do aikido anymore. My father was the one who taught me. I will never be able to get back what I love. So please… don't throw away the thing you love doing."
Blinking past the tears, Sumire couldn't get rid of them as they were mirrored in Makoto's eyes. "Makoto… I-I swear I won't. I'll win for both of us. The shadowed sisters."
Getting embraced in a back-breaking hug, Sumire hugged back just as hard.
The recently cleaned stone monolith sparkled briefly in the faint light, as if Makoto's father was smiling upon her.
Saturday June 25th, 20XX Evening
"What the hell am I doing…" Laying her head on her study desk, Kasumi pushed a pencil around on the table. "Playing matchmaker for the two of them… Wasn't Makoto supposed to be my friend? We were going to save Ren's reputation at school together?"
Muttering to herself, Kasumi's roiling emotions never made it to her face. Hand occupied with dextrously flicking the pencil up again and again, she enjoyed the Sisyphean task while she could.
Kasumi couldn't understand why she had felt like an outsider at the party. The chance to help Makoto was almost a blessing. An excuse to leave the group of friends.
They had welcomed her warmly but… it wasn't the same. It was like their gazes got slightly warmer, slightly happier, when they looked at each other rather than her.
"Is this what it means to be the least desired of a group? Hah! What a joke…" Glancing at her phone, Kasumi scrolled through nearly a hundred messages from fans and school members. Her popularity was slowly dying from getting Kobayakawa arrested but was far from gone.
Letting them all remain that way, Kasumi let her phone fall to the desk. "Ugh, I'm helpless… I bet they're together right now, having a tender little sister moment that I can't understand."
Sighing, Kasumi forced herself up and off the desk. Her incredible determination showing as she shook away the monotony that casually eats so many others. "Ah well, as long as Sumire is happy in the end… to ensure that I'll give her the world."
Completely refocused, any misgivings, jealousy, or doubt generated from the day washed away. Opening her textbooks, Kasumi dug in, forcing herself to ingrain the material. She was going to the best in both gymnastics and academics.
"Sorry Sumi… you'll have to be happy with second best." Smirking, she continued to master the challenges ahead of her with ruthless precision.
Saturday June 25th, 20XX Night
"Ahh…" Sighing contentedly, Haru let the door close behind her and locked it. The party had lasted longer than she had expected. Her dad had said they were going to talk today…
Shrugging it off, Haru was sure it was no big deal. Probably just wanted to see what clothes she had bought with the money. He was so out of touch with prices that he wouldn't notice the amount she had spent on her friends.
Ascending the curling wooden staircase, Haru's fuzzy pink slippers made light clicking noises. Arriving at the main living room where her father sat when entertaining guests, Haru was surprised to see a lamp on. With only the small light source for the entire cavernous room gave it an ominous feel.
Approaching, Haru saw her father was still awake. Printed reports in his hands, which he continued to read through despite the late hour.
"Haru, come."
"Father… Sorry I am home so late, I didn't expect—" Cutting off at a raised hand, Haru stood nervously.
Setting down the reports, he leaned forward and glared at her. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"…What?"
"Going into a club owned by Kaneshiro and getting incriminated photos taken? He went to Sugimoto! Now your fiancé is demanding to know whether you're a criminal and is threatening to cut ties!"
"I-I…" Haru stuttered eyes wide. She knew her father wasn't happy… but his level of knowledge exceeded what she expected.
"May as well get it over with. Show me what you bought. I saw some purchases went through."
"U-Umm, the outfit I'm wearing?"
Her father's eyes glowed with anger. "This? Did Kaneshiro's prostitutes rub off on you? Are you trying to look like a whore?"
Eyes filling with tears, Haru shook her head wildly. "N-No, it's just a summer outfit."
"You were supposed to buy appropriate dresses for your new status as a housewife. Where the hell are they!?"
"I-I just thought…"
Frowning, Kunikazu's face twisted with rage. "You disrespect me with your antics, and now you waste my money. Are you trying to be a thorn in my side? I am in the process of beginning my glorious ascent into the realm of politics!"
"I'm sorry!" Haru pled. Trembling before the man in front of her, Haru was helpless to fight back. "Father please!"
"Enough!" Kunikazu raged. His face mottled as he struggled to contain himself before his daughter. "As your mother is no longer around, I've contacted an old… business associate. She will be here tomorrow. Learn from her the necessary skills. You have two weeks."
"W-What? Who? Necessary skills? Father… please don't make me… I can't…"
"Didn't I say enough!? You have pushed me too far. It is time for you to play your part in aiding the family business."
"I hate him though!" Haru cried. "My skin crawls when I'm next to him."
"…" For a brief moment Haru thought she had gotten through as Kunikazu's eyes misted over. As if it was a mirage, the stern politician had returned. "You will learn quickly what it means to be an adult. To put your future before the present. The inconveniences of today will forge a brighter tomorrow."
"W-What?"
"Goodnight… my daughter." Turning off the lamp, Kunikazu left Haru in the pitch dark room.
Alone on the floor, Haru crumpled in on herself. "At least… I got to make a difference… once." Whispering platitudes to herself, Haru let the tears flow where no one could see them.
Post note:
Excusing my poor description, the flowers Makoto lays down on her father's grave were supposed to be Hyacinths for devotion and forgiveness.
Devotion being her Father's devotion to protecting people, and Makoto inheriting it. Forgiveness for Makoto finally forgiving her father for dying with future tie-ins surrounding her sister.
Peace.