"Our school festival is coming up," Soyo said. "The teacher asked me to check with Sakiko about that sheet music from before. It's kind of urgent, and it's really noisy here, so could we… borrow Sakiko for a few minutes? We'll talk in the lounge over there and come right back."
It was an awful excuse.
Anyone with half a brain would know how ridiculous it sounded to talk about "school festival sheet music" at a business banquet.
Besides, Sakiko wasn't even a Tsukinomori student anymore.
Soyo knew that too.
So she was gambling.
Gambling on Seiji Fujiwara's arrogance. On the idea that he wouldn't even take the little tricks of two high school girls seriously. That he'd watch it all with the same detached amusement as someone watching pets squabble.
The air fell silent for two seconds.
Sakiko looked at Seiji, a hint of pleading in her eyes. Don't agree. That was what she meant. She didn't know exactly what Soyo was planning, but her instincts were screaming that Soyo was playing with fire.
Then Seiji smiled.
"If it's school business, of course we shouldn't delay it."
He released his arm from Sakiko's, even gently straightening her shawl for her. His movements were soft, attentive, like the perfect lover.
"Go on. It's a bit stuffy here anyway. I was thinking of heading upstairs for a smoke, get some air." His gaze flicked toward the second floor, a trace of amusement flashing through it. "I hear the view's nice and it's quiet up there. You don't mind if I join you, do you?"
Soyo froze.
She'd planned to take Sakiko over first, then figure out a way to lure Seiji along afterward. She hadn't expected him to offer to come along on his own.
This was… perfect.
The sudden rush of excitement went straight to her head, blinding her to how strange it was that things were going so smoothly.
"Of course not! That would be great!"
She forced down her elation, putting on a grateful smile. "Then sorry to trouble you, President Fujiwara. We'll be in the VIP lounge on the second floor. It won't take long."
"After you."
Seiji gestured like a gentleman.
The three of them crossed the noisy hall and headed for the spiral staircase leading upstairs.
Onstage, Rie Nagasaki happened to catch sight of them. Seeing her daughter walking together with the president and Miss Toyokawa, chatting happily, she smiled with relief.
She waved at Soyo, as if to say, Do your best, my daughter.
Soyo saw her mother wave.
She stopped and looked back at her, glowing under the stage lights.
I'm sorry, Mom.
This might be the last time you ever smile like that.
She forced a stiff smile in return, then turned away and didn't look back again. Lifting her skirt, she marched upstairs like a soldier heading to the battlefield, bringing her greatest enemy with her.
…
The second floor.
VIP lounge.
The hallway upstairs was lined with thick carpet that swallowed every footstep.
Compared to the chaos downstairs, the quiet here felt eerie. The security guards who should have been stationed at the corridor entrance were nowhere to be seen.
Soyo felt a surge of secret delight.
Looks like her luck really was incredible. Security must all be busy downstairs.
She led them to the largest lounge at the end of the hall and pushed open the door.
The room was lavish beyond belief. European décor, a massive crystal chandelier, leather sofas, and… a huge gold-leaf folding screen standing in one corner.
Soyo's heart was pounding out of her chest.
She knew Sato and his cameraman were hiding behind that screen. The camera lens was pointed straight at the door.
"Please, come in."
She stood aside, letting them enter.
Sakiko went in with her head lowered, her steps heavy. Every one felt like she was walking toward an execution ground. The atmosphere in the room was wrong, and she could feel it.
Seiji followed her in.
He looked completely unguarded. Once inside, he even loosened his tie, as if getting ready to relax.
When both of them reached the center of the room—
Click.
The sharp sound of a lock echoed.
Soyo closed the door behind her and twisted the lock, bolting it shut.
The air in the room instantly froze.
Sakiko spun around, terror flashing across her face. "Soyo? What are you doing? Why did you lock the door?"
Soyo ignored her.
She turned around and leaned back against the door. The meek, gentle mask on her face vanished in an instant, replaced by reckless madness and resolve.
She lifted her head, her gaze passing over Sakiko and stabbing straight at the man standing in the middle of the room.
"Fujiwara-sensei."
Her voice was no longer sweet. It was cold, sharp with the thrill of finally tearing away all pretenses.
"This door is locked. The soundproofing here is excellent. No one downstairs can hear a thing."
Seiji turned to look at her.
There was no panic on his face. He didn't even glance at the door. Instead, he walked to the minibar, picked up a crystal glass, and poured himself a drink.
"And?"
He swirled the glass, amber liquid spinning inside. "Is this what Miss Nagasaki meant by school festival sheet music?"
"Don't play dumb!"
Soyo pulled a set of documents from her bag—a fabricated termination agreement she'd downloaded and edited, along with a declaration forgiving the Toyokawa Family's debts.
She slammed them down on the table.
"I know everything."
She stared at him, every word squeezed out through clenched teeth. "I know how you forced Sakiko. I know you used debt, used her father's safety, to turn her into your… slave!"
At the word "slave," Sakiko's face drained of color, her body going rigid.
"Stop it, Soyo!" Sakiko rushed over and grabbed her arm. "Have you lost your mind? Open the door! This isn't a place for you to mess around!"
"I'm not messing around!"
Soyo flung her hand away and pointed at Sakiko, tears finally spilling over.
"Look at yourself! You can't even look me in the eye! Is this what you call being willing? You're the young lady of the Toyokawa Family! How can you stand this kind of humiliation?"
"I know you were forced. I know you're scared."
She took a deep breath and suddenly pointed at the gold-leaf screen in the corner.
"But don't be afraid. I didn't come alone today."
Turning back to Seiji, she gave him a victor's cold smile.
"Fujiwara-sensei, you care about your reputation, don't you? Genesis Medical Group was just established. If news breaks that its president illegally detained and coerced a minor, what do you think will happen to the stock price?"
"Behind that screen are reporters from Weekly Bushun. Their cameras are pointed at you right now."
Her voice rose, filled with the exhilaration of delivering a verdict.
"Now you have two choices."
"First, sign this agreement, let Sakiko go, and forgive all the debts."
"Second, tomorrow's headline will be photos of you controlling and threatening a minor!"
The blade was finally drawn.
This was her carefully planned killing blow.
Panting, Soyo stared at Seiji, waiting to see panic spread across his face.
Instead, reality lay still, like stagnant water, without so much as a ripple.
Seiji stood there, calmly swirling his drink. He looked at her the way one might look at a clown putting on a strenuous performance in a circus.
"Impressive."
He even took a sip, his throat bobbing as he chuckled softly.
"Since Miss Nagasaki is being so enthusiastic, Sato, you might as well stop hiding. Come out and let our little champion of justice see her reinforcements."
At his command, footsteps sounded from behind the screen.
Several figures emerged.
Leading them was the scruffy middle-aged reporter in a worn jacket—Kenji Sato.
He really was holding a professional camera. The red recording light on the lens blinked steadily.
Soyo's eyes lit up.
"Did you get it? Mr. Sato!" she shouted excitedly. "Film Sakiko! Ask her if she was forced!"
But Sato ignored her screams.
He didn't even point the camera at Seiji.
"Mr. Sato?"
As Soyo's smile slowly froze, Sato walked straight up to Seiji, stopped, adjusted his ill-fitting jacket, and—
Bowed deeply, a full ninety degrees.
"Good evening, President."
There was no trace left of the casual, streetwise air he'd had in the café. In its place was the obsequious respect of a subordinate facing his superior.
"As you instructed, all four hidden cameras in the room have been set up. The footage is crystal clear, and the audio is perfect. Everything Miss Nagasaki said and did just now has been completely recorded."
"Good work," Seiji said calmly. "You were satisfied with the exclusive material I gave you earlier, I trust?"
"Thanks to you, it's easily the biggest corporate scandal of the year." Sato looked up, his face split by a grin.
That exchange hit Soyo like a sledgehammer.
"Pre… sident?"
She repeated the word numbly, her mind going blank.
Her gaze darted between Sato and Seiji, struggling to make sense of the absurd scene before her.
"Wait… Mr. Sato? What are you doing?"
Her voice trembled, panic creeping in. "Didn't we agree? You were going to expose this devil. You were going to help me save Sakiko. How can you bow to him?"
Sato turned to look at her.
Those sharp little eyes were filled with pity and mockery.
"Miss Nagasaki, I think you've misunderstood something."
He pulled a black voice recorder from his pocket and pressed play.
"…As long as you hand Sakiko the microphone in that situation, she'll definitely accuse the man to escape his control…"
"…Please make it as big as possible. The bigger the better. I have a way to get you in…"
"…The girl in the photo is being controlled by that man…"
It was Soyo's voice.
Clear, urgent, and laced with a chilling tone of instigation.
In the deathly quiet room, the recording sounded unbearably loud.
Sato held the recorder up to his camera and spoke in a solemn newsreader's voice.
"Young people these days are terrifying. For some unspeakable purpose, or to satisfy their own hero fantasies, they don't hesitate to fabricate facts or even try to bribe the media to create fake news, using it to blackmail a respected president of a publicly listed company."
"Miss Soyo Nagasaki, your actions just now—including locking the door, issuing threats, and attempting to incite commercial defamation—constitute serious criminal offenses."
"All of it has been recorded by my camera."
"No…"
Soyo stumbled back, her spine slamming into the door.
How could this be?
Why was the camera pointed at her instead of Seiji?
"Why…" Her eyes burned red as tears poured out. "Mr. Sato, you promised me! You took my invitation ticket!"
"Miss Nagasaki, I'm a reporter, but first and foremost, I'm an adult who wants to stay alive."
Sato coldly put the recorder away. "In Tokyo, no one is going to offend Genesis Group for the delusions of a high school student. That would be suicide."
Fear swallowed her whole.
She knew she was finished. If this footage got out, not only would she fail to save Sakiko, she'd destroy herself and likely end up in prison.
No—there was still a chance.
As long as the victim spoke.
As long as Sakiko told the truth, as long as she accused that man, all of this "defamation" would turn into "exposing the truth."
Soyo whirled around and looked at Sakiko, who was cowering in the corner.
Her last lifeline.
"Sakiko! Sakiko, say something!"
She grabbed Sakiko's shoulders, her fingers digging painfully into her flesh, her eyes wild with desperation.
"Tell them! Tell these bastards you were forced!"
"Tell them he controlled you because you were paying off family debts! Tell them how miserable you are! As long as you speak up, we can turn this around! Sakiko, please, say something!"
Sakiko felt dizzy as she was shaken.
She looked at the twisted, tear-streaked face in front of her.
This was Soyo. Her best friend. The girl who always smiled gently and brewed tea for everyone.
It was unbearable to look at.
Soyo had no idea what she was facing. With her childish, self-indulgent sense of justice, she'd wrecked everything—and dragged herself down with it.
If Sakiko went along with her now, what would happen?
She'd only invite even more brutal retaliation from Seiji.
And…
Sakiko glanced instinctively at the man standing nearby. He was watching her with an amused expression, as if eagerly awaiting her performance.
She knew it clearly.
She couldn't leave him anymore. Not physically, and not in terms of reality.
"Enough, Soyo."
Sakiko closed her eyes. When she opened them again, all that remained was cold indifference.
She raised her hand and pried Soyo's fingers off her shoulders one by one.
"Let go. You're hurting me."
"S-Sakiko?" Soyo froze and released her hand as if burned.
Sakiko straightened the slightly disheveled collar of her dress, then lifted her head and looked at Soyo with a distant, pitying gaze.
"No one forced me."
Her voice was soft, but in the quiet room it carried clearly.
"I stayed by his side willingly. Fujiwara-sensei paid off my debts and gave me a comfortable life. In exchange, I gave myself. It's a fair trade."
"No… you're lying!" Soyo shook her head frantically. "You're lying to me! If you're willing, why are you in so much pain? Why that day in the office—"
"Because I was ashamed!"
Sakiko suddenly raised her voice, cutting her off.
"I was ashamed that you saw me like that! But that doesn't mean I was unwilling!"
She took a deep breath, deciding to say the cruelest words, to sever Soyo's last bit of hope.
"Soyo, stop doing this self-righteous nonsense. Who do you think you are? A savior?"
"You don't understand anything. You don't know the despair of carrying massive debt, and you don't know how this world works. You came here waving the banner of 'saving' me just to satisfy your own desire to keep us together."
She pointed at Sato and the camera.
"Look at the situation now. You didn't save me. You turned your so-called cleverness into a joke. It's embarrassing, Soyo."
"Please… stop interfering in my life."
With that, Sakiko turned around and walked to Seiji's side. Lowering her head, she resumed her obedient posture.
[Read 50+ chapters ahead on Patreon: patreon.com/NiaXD]