Thank you to all who are reading and who commenting and shared their feelings and reactions to the cliffhanger ending! I hope you'll enjoy what we have in store next...
Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.
Chapter 3. The Contract
After Claudine had left for her flight, Maya had spent the remainder of the morning tossing and turning in her bed, battling with all of her conflicting emotions.
Normally, she would have made sure to get plenty of rest so she could use her one day at Seishou before heading back home wisely.
But as things are, Maya stays in bed until nearly noon that day, then doesn't have half the energy she'd hoped for.
She doesn't end up using the day to train in the empty studio as she would've preferred. Instead, she merely handles the basic chores around her dorm room, and eventually packs up a few changes of clothes with her for when she returns home.
Futaba and Kaoruko head back to visit their families in the afternoon, so Maya is there with the rest of their friends to see the pair off. All the rest of them will be departing at different times tomorrow.
It's only six of them at dinner tonight, and even though it's still plenty lively, Maya can't help but feel it really hits home for what the future will hold.
Perhaps some of them may be able to meet up from time to time. But with some of them studying overseas, it was going to be impossibly difficult to align schedules with everyone at once.
It's exciting, and yet so bittersweet to think of.
Maya stays up a little to hang out with the group, whose antics and conversations help keep her mind off of her spat with Claudine.
Ultimately she retires a little before midnight, mentally preparing herself to make the trip back home tomorrow.
It makes her agonizingly anxious. Not so much the thought of having to return home to see her parents for several days, but mainly thinking of how she and Claudine had left off. She just wants this break to be over, so that Claudine can be back with her again and they can talk things over.
That night, Maya even entertains the idea of explaining to her parents that she and Claudine are romantically involved - even if they aren't yet - in hopes that this might sway them to allow her to visit Claudine from time to time.
In the morning, Maya wakes alone once again, hoping it's not something she'll have to get used to. The sooner this vacation was over, the sooner Claudine returned, and the sooner they could figure something out and go back to the warm, cozy nights they used to share.
But for now, Maya gets dressed and gathers her single bag, ensuring her room is neat and tidy before heading out.
Her remaining friends are at the lobby to see her off from campus.
"Bye-bye, Maya-chan!" Nana beams with a wave. "Have a safe trip!"
"Enjoy your time with your parents," Junna adds.
"Good luck." Hikari says this with a little thumbs-up.
Mahiru giggles. "Hikari-chan, she isn't taking an exam!"
In spite of the troubles weighing at the back of her mind at the moment, Maya cracks a smile.
"Actually, I do think I might be needing a bit of luck. Thank you, Kagura-san."
"We'll see you again soon, Tendo-san!" Karen, of course, sends her off with a bear hug, and after the lack of companionship Maya had suffered the past few nights, she welcomes it.
She wishes them all well on their own endeavors in returning home, then after handing in her paperwork, she's on her way to the bus stop.
It's about an hour ride from there. She listens to some music and reads for half an hour before needing to transfer off at a stop to another bus. She'll have to walk a ways when she exits from this bus, but with clear warm weather today, she doesn't mind.
When she's only a few stops away from her exit, Maya takes out her phone to message her father to inform him that she's on her way. She's about to pocket her phone directly afterward, but pauses when something… odd happens.
The second she sends her message, Maya is met with an automatic response, something generated far too quickly to have been sent by a human being.
The message reads:
'The number you are trying to contact is no longer in service.'
Puzzled, Maya re-reads the message again, double-checking that it's her father's correct contact number. She hadn't heard anything about him changing his number or getting a new phone.
But like most of the older generation, her parents weren't exactly the most efficient with new technology, so if he had gotten a new phone, she isn't surprised if he hadn't set it up properly or transferred over his old number.
So Maya messages her mother instead.
And then the same message responds to her.
'The number you are trying to contact is no longer in service.'
That's when the first root of unease begins wriggling through her stomach.
The most likely option was that both of her parents had gotten new phones together and been uncertain of how to set them up. Maya could understand that.
But what she couldn't understand was if neither of her parents had reached out to her about such a change previously to inform her; especially the day she was to return home.
No matter, she tells herself. I suppose I'll have to help them with it myself.
In just a few more moments, she reaches her stop.
And that's when the root in her gut begins branching out into multiple vines.
Before she even exits the bus, she notices a woman standing outside. She's got short, light brown hair, and is wearing a sun hat and sunglasses, along with a casual blouse and long skirt.
Maya instantly recognizes her as one of her parents' close friends and associates, a woman who had been with the family for as long as Maya could remember. Her name was Takanashi, and Maya knew and respected her. The Tendos had a few chefs and housekeepers, yes, but Takanashi was more of a family friend than anything.
The instant Maya recognizes her, coupled with the oddity of her parents' cell phones not seeming to be functioning at the moment, her heart begins to pound.
Cautiously, she stands from her seat and exits the bus. Immediately, Takanashi approaches her through the crowd of passer-by. Maya heads toward her as well.
"Takanashi-san-"
"Good morning," Takanashi says quickly, cutting her off. "Please, come with me."
Maya finds it extremely strange that she hadn't addressed Maya by name like she normally would. And her voice and demeanor, which are typically so pleasant, are now curt and low.
Maya quickly understands that something must be going on, so she doesn't ask anymore questions. Thankfully, Takanashi provides a bit of information.
"I was told to come pick you up and escort you home. That is all."
Maya's mind begins to race as she follows Takanashi to her parked car and gets into the passenger's side. Once they're in the privacy of the vehicle, Maya tries to speak.
"Takanashi-san, did my parents-"
"I was asked to escort you home."
That's all she says.
And Maya now understands she isn't just giving Maya the bare minimum to keep her quiet; it's really all Takanashi knows.
Maya hasn't the slightest clue as to what's going on.
As they begin driving, Takanashi doesn't put on the radio or any sort of music, nor does she say another word to Maya. Maya takes the hint and remains silent as well.
It's stifling to be in that car, even though the ride is only about ten more minutes.
At least, it should have been.
But Takanashi takes several unnecessary detours, even looping around in circles a few times before taking the longest route possible back to the Tendo estate.
All the while, Maya's anxiety mounts to the point where she feels like she's going to be ill.
When at last the estate is in sight, she almost remembers to breathe again. But she's unable to shake the sense that something isn't right.
Takanashi stops the car as close to the house as possible. Maya waits for her to give some sort of cue before moving. She glances at Takanashi and speaks slowly.
"Thank you for escorting me home."
Takanashi glances at her from beneath the sunglasses. From there, her true, warmer tone slips out.
"I truly don't know anything beyond the fact that I was asked to pick you up, drive you home, and not use your name. I hope everything works out. Good luck."
Maya's stomach is almost so twisted at this point that she's gone numb from the nausea. But at the very least, she spares a moment to dip her head in deep appreciation.
Then, she exits the car and briskly makes her way to the front door.
Before she can even reach it, the door opens for her, which is highly unusual. Maya hurries inside, and the door is promptly shut and locked behind her.
"Thank goodness you made it back."
Maya hardly has the time to be confused about why her parents had been there to greet her instead of the staff, because she's so shocked by her mother's voice.
Her mother, Tendo Akina, was a tall woman with medium-length brown hair which she typically kept tied back in a neat bun. She had a stern face by nature, and always dressed and spoke professionally, but she did have a nurturing side when it came to her daughter. Maya hadn't been expecting to hear such tender relief in her mother's voice, let alone feel herself being pulled in protectively by the arm.
"Mother…"
At the very least, Maya can take comfort in the fact that her parents are alive, as the worst-case scenario had indeed run through her head.
Her father, Tendo Yuiichi, was a head taller than his wife. He had short black hair, and a serious demeanor at all times, though he wasn't quite the authoritarian most outsiders might assume him to be. He did have affection for his family, which he demonstrates now.
"Come away from the door, Akina."
He ushers both Maya and her mother further into the house. As Maya walks with them, she notes the few staff members who are tidying up the place as per usual, and she can hear movement in the kitchen as well.
The three Tendos pass by with the usual stern air of mystery, clearly just trying to appear as two parents who had just received their daughter home from school on spring break.
Maya follows her parents wordlessly to her room, where she puts down her bag. But rather than letting her stay in her childhood bedroom to decompress, her parents quickly bring her away.
They retreat to her father's private office - a room not even Maya has ever been inside before. Once again, the door is closed and locked behind her, further adding to her nervousness.
Inside her father's dimly-lit office, several other people are waiting for them.
One man is another associate of her father's, a business partner who had become so close to the family they may as well have been friends. Next to him are a man and a woman who seem to be some kind of authorities, dressed in black suits.
Maya and her mother take a seat on the couch, while her father remains standing to face the others. The male officer clears his throat and speaks in a low tone.
"Is this everyone?"
Maya's father dips his head.
"Yes."
"Then let's make this quick." He steps back, and the female detective speaks up.
"I apologize in advance that this will likely be coming as a complete shock to you. But after some extensive investigating, we've uncovered the truth behind the people who are after you."
Maya's heart stalls. She can't help but blurt out.
"What-?"
"Hush," her mother says firmly, but it isn't unkind. Evidently, Maya's parents had already been briefed about the situation, but Maya is coming in entirely blind.
The detective continues.
"As you know, our private investigation team has been working on this case for months now. And the group you've spoken about are indeed on the move, Tendo-san."
Maya looks up at her father. His expression is stoic and hard.
"I see. Then I suppose we really don't have much of a choice…"
Maya can't fathom a single word of this. They're all speaking in riddles around her.
"Father, what is going on…?"
The sheer desperation in her voice must be enough to remind him that she knows nothing at all about what they're discussing. Keeping his arms folded behind his back in that proper manner of his, he turns back to look down at his daughter and lets out a sigh.
"I suppose it's unavoidable now. You'll have to know the truth, Maya."
Maya's stomach twists harder. It feels like some great beast had sunk its claws into her body and started ripping her apart slowly from the inside.
At the very least, Maya's mother keeps her hand on hers. Maya looks from her father to her mother, then back at the authorities before refocusing on her father again.
"To keep this as brief as possible," he begins. "The Tendo family owes a debt. When your great-grandparents were just starting out building a name for themselves in the theatre industry, they entered into a deal with a certain group. Yakuza, for lack of a better term...
"The Yakuza had connections all across Japan, and my father's father wanted publicity for his natural-born talents. He approached the group for assistance to make himself and his fiancee famous in the entertainment industry. Once they found enough success, they were to split their riches with the Yakuza. Both parties signed a contract. The deal worked out perfectly for the most part. My grandfather and grandmother became well-known throughout Japan, courtesy of the strings the influential Yakuza pulled behind the scenes.
"However, the generation of Yakuza at the time were killed in a gang war before they could collect their share of the profit. So the Tendos kept everything, unaware that the people they'd made their initial deal with had children…"
He pauses, heaving a long sigh with a shake of his head.
"The details of this arrangement stayed quiet for nearly two generations. Until the current descendants of the Yakuza found out about the deal. They came to your mother and I demanding their share of money which was indebted to them from their great-grandparents.
"But since none of this was ever mentioned through word of mouth, and no written contract was ever discovered, your mother and I had no proof of this deal's credibility, and so we denied them the money. It was only a few months later, when we hired detectives to look into the situation, when we discovered it was all true…"
He pauses again, as if saying it all out loud is really driving it home.
Maya listens in terrified silence until this point.
"Then… Our family's wealth and success is partially due to involvement with the Yakuza…?"
Her mother nods.
"It would seem so… Indeed, the Tendos have always been innately talented people with exceptional skills. But back then, talent alone di not get you anywhere. Only your great-grandparents' connections with the widespread and powerful Yakuza allowed them to gain such overwhelming success, and the riches have passed down ever since."
"But," Maya's father continues. "We didn't know the contract was real. And so we denied the Yakuza the money they were owed. When the detectives did eventually find the contract and confirm it was legitimate, it was already too late…"
Maya swallows.
"Too late…?"
Now, the look in her father's eyes begins to change. He always presented himself with such forwardness, such confidence.
But now… the look in his eyes is that of the hunter becoming the hunted.
"We contacted them again. Told them we'd been ignorant of the deal until that point, but that we'd give them their money. They accepted what they were owed… but they demanded interest. Interest that wasn't agreed-upon in the contract. They became irate, accusing us of purposefully soiling the contract between our ancestors, demanding everything we have... So being that we didn't surrender all of our possessions to them, now they want blood."
Maya feels woozy. This couldn't be real.
Where was all of this coming from? Her ancestors' deal with the mafia? Her entire family's wealth was only because of a secret partnership? Hidden contracts no one ever knew about until now…?
Beside her, her mother brings a hand to her mouth, as if also suffering from the same nausea. Her father runs a hand back through his hair to clear the sweat from his brow.
Maya can't comprehend any of this. Least of all the last part he'd mentioned.
"Blood…" she murmurs. "So… they want…?" She tapers off, but neither of her parents can look her in the eye.
"If only we'd known about the contract sooner…" her father growls. "If I'd known, I would have paid them off years ago and it never would have gotten to this point."
Maya tries to keep the bile from rising up her throat.
"So then… what are we going to do…?" T
here's a tense moment of pause, where no one says anything. Then, her father clears his throat, straightens back up, and refolds his hands behind his back.
"We're going to disappear."
Another beat of silence.
Maya counts the slamming pulses of her own heart.
The word falls limply from her mouth.
"Disappear…?"
From there, the two officers take over the conversation again.
"Essentially, yes," the man says. "A very select few government officials will be aware of the truth of the matter. In order to protect you from the threats on your lives that the Yakuza have presented, we will be placing the three of you in a special program, effective immediately. From here on out, only the people in this room and a few of our superiors will know the truth of the matter."
"We'll be forging a cover story," the woman explains. "After their daughter Tendo Maya returned home from school during her spring recess, the Tendos took a drive to have dinner together, where they were tragically involved in a fatal car accident. The vehicle combusted, and all three of them perished. Investigators will suspect foul play, and therefore seize the entirety of the Tendo property for investigation.
"This story will allow three things. Firstly, a way for the three of you to disappear without a trace. Secondly, a notion for the Yakuza to assume that some other group you were indebted to got to you first, and therefore they no longer have a reason to pursue you, or your relatives. And thirdly, for the government to seize control of your property and assets. This will allow the few members who know the real story to collect your belongings and gradually send them to you at your new location."
"In order for this to work," her partner picks up. "The Tendo family name must be eradicated. You will be moved to a safe, government-monitored location, and given new identities to live by. You will be given new names to use, and new lives entirely. This will ensure your enemies will never suspect you made it out alive."
They all keep talking. Spouting incredulous things straight out of some dramatic movie.
Maya stops listening after a while as the words stop making sense.
This couldn't be happening. It just couldn't be…
From what she gathered, she and her parents would be put in disguises and escorted to an airport immediately with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They would be relocated to a different continent, far away from their tormentors, given new names and identities, and start new lives.
The "Tendos" as the world knew them now would then perish in a terrible car accident.
But in reality, Maya would be safe and sound somewhere far overseas, with only a few government officials knowing the truth.
There would be no funeral, which was a strategic decision made by the officials, so there would be no bodies to be prepared. Their house would be gradually cleared of their worldly possessions, which the select officers would ship over to a predetermined warehouse close to the Tendo's new location. They would be permitted to access this warehouse and collect their things little by little, under the protection of strict security.
Once everything had been sent to them, their old house would be demolished, so there could be no hopes of their enemies ever finding any evidence of what had truly happened to them. Once the property was cleared off, memorials in their honor would be erected there.
All within the course of an hour, Maya is briefed about the new life she will be forced to live against her will.
All because of some sour deal that had been made before she or her parents had even been born. All because of something that had nothing to do with her whatsoever.
She was going to be flown off with her parents to live out new lives in secrecy, under new identities. Their cell phones would be destroyed, as well as any other digital accounts linked to their names. The Tendos' entire existence would be completely wiped off the map.
Tomorrow, the fake news story would be published and aired.
Tomorrow, it would be revealed to the rest of the world that Tendo Maya was dead.
Her teachers.
Her classmates.
Her friends…
She wouldn't even get to say goodbye.
She wouldn't even be allowed to leave any sort of note or hint or message behind for any of them.
No one was allowed to know the truth, lest the information somehow get out to the wrong people, and Maya and her parents be tracked down.
What was supposed to be a few days back at home to wind down and think through her feelings had turned into the end of 'Tendo Maya's' life entirely.
As the adults continue talking in hushed, tense voices around her, Maya sits there despondent as it all sinks in.
She'd never get to see them again.
Never get to act or sing or perform with them again.
Never get to laugh or cry or have fun with them again.
Their faces flash through her mind one by one.
But she tries not to think of her partner most of all.
She can't think of her. Lest she lose whatever shred of resolve she had left.
"Europe," she hears the male officer saying to her parents. "We have several locations where we'd be able to house you where our branches have jurisdiction over a certain portion of the continent. At the very least, we can let you choose where you'd like to end up."
For this, Maya's father turns back to her. Her mother is sobbing softly beside her on the couch, and Maya had been unmoving at her side. But when her father calls out to her softly, she lifts her head.
"Maya."
Maya blinks, feeling like she should be crying too. But her eyes are painfully dry instead. She meets her father's gaze. Never once in her life had she seen him look so forlorn and defeated.
"You choose," he says to her. "It's the least I can let you do..."
Maya blinks again, her vision blurring a bit as she looks at the officer. He reads out the options for her.
"We've got protected properties available in Italy, Spain, and France."
She doesn't even need to think it through. If it's the only small mercy she's going to be shown in this horrible, nightmarish situation, she's going to take it.
"France…" Maya chokes. "Please… take us to France."
A/N: The twist! Maya isn't really dead, but she must disappear to the rest of the world - even her dearly-beloved friends. But the tiniest glimmer in all of this terrible, confusing, unfair sea of dread she has been thrust into without warning, is that she can choose where to go... though, given the current situation, it may not amount to much...
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