Love or Kill
Chapter 23
Mila POV
Every time I see Clarissa, something inside me awakens.
Like dark blood flooding my veins whenever she gets close to Rika.
Every touch.
Every word they exchange.
Each one stabs straight into my chest.
Every encounter on the rooftop makes me want to scream.
After Clarissa started this game, I pushed myself harder than ever.
I buried my hands deep into my responsibilities within Crow.
My brother, Luis, helped me with my physical training.
And now here I am—practicing my aim at a distant target, imagining it's Clarissa's head.
I never miss.
Luis claps when the last shot lands perfectly. He walks beside me as I lower my sniper, pulling off my gloves—my eyes still locked on the targets.
"You're in good shape, sis. What's gotten into you, huh?"
He takes the rifle and fires calmly.
I sigh and toss my gloves onto the table.
"I'm just preparing for Rika's eighteenth."
Luis stops shooting and looks at me.
"The Ashikawa girl again?"
I cross my arms and meet his gaze.
"What's that tone supposed to mean?"
He shakes his head and sets the rifle down.
"So you're trying to get on Dad's good side for that Ashikawa girl's sake? You really like her, huh?"
His voice is filled with mockery—and disbelief.
"I'm serious, Luis."
He studies my eyes, then turns back to the target and aims again.
"Can you really do it? You know there's a big chance Father will reject it if you say something stupid."
His voice is calm as he fires.
I look up at the sky.
The moon is almost full.
"The moon will be our witness, Luis. Rika will be mine."
He glances at me and smirks.
"And I'll support you. Be prepared for anything—I'll handle the committee, so don't worry."
I smile and nod, feeling a surge of motivation.
---
Days and nights pass as I deliver black envelopes to the Ashikawa family.
Of course, they still don't know who I am.
And Rika has no idea I'm part of Crow.
Watching her mission reports… she's become ruthless.
More ruthless than before.
I review the footage of her actions again and again.
She never fails to amaze me.
---
One day at school, I see Rika and Clarissa on the rooftop.
I watch them secretly—doing what they always do.
When their lips touch, a sharp pain pierces my chest.
I close my eyes and bite my lip, hiding behind the door.
"When will you stop enduring that pain, huh?"
A soft voice whispers from downstairs.
I open my eyes.
Brian.
He's leaning against the wall, arms crossed.
"Brian…"
I walk down and pull him away.
Once we're far enough, I stop and face him.
"How did you know I was there?"
"I'm not blind, Mila. I may act goofy, but it still hurts seeing you like this."
I stare at him—at the genuine worry in his eyes.
I look down, take a breath, then meet his gaze again.
"Brian… it's not Rika hurting me. She doesn't even know that—"
"Rika doesn't know you love her."
He finishes my sentence.
I nod.
"She's my friend too," he continues softly. "I know how clueless she is when it comes to romance. But I also know that if she realized she was hurting you, she'd be devastated."
I stay silent.
He sighs and pats my head.
"You two are my precious treasures. I don't want things to become complicated between us."
He smiles gently.
"Please confess to her. We don't know… maybe—just maybe—she feels the same."
I nod.
He ruffles my hair.
"Good. Now let's go to the cafeteria and wait for Rika, okay?"
Brian smiles and drags me into the hallway.
Yet even as we walk away, all I can think of is hope—
Hope that Rika might truly love me back.