(Everyone has someone they love, right? They all have someone they cherish, right? They’ll do anything to keep them close, right? Even if it means killing, right? That doesn’t make me insane... right?)

...

Chapter 1: The Transfer, The Founder

After five years of friendship, Mei Miyono had just finished her final exams and was about to enter college with her best friend, Muraku Yomi. With her heart racing, she finally gathered the courage to confess her feelings to Yomi.

When Yomi called and asked her to meet at the café nearby, Miyono knew this was her chance.

At the café,

"Oh, Yono-chan! You’re early today!" Yomi exclaimed, her face lighting up.

"Well, I couldn’t keep you waiting, could I?" Miyono replied, trying to sound casual.

"Great choice! You really do care about me, Yono-chan."

(Well, you are the love of my life after all.)

As they chatted, Miyono’s excitement began to wane. (Yomi-chan’s taking a little too long to get to the point…)

"Umm, Yono-chan, I need to tell you something," she said, hesitantly.

...

...

...

"Oh, I see. That’s unfortunate," Yomi responded, her smile faltering.

(...Why?)

"I’m glad you understand, Yono-chan," Yomi continued, oblivious to Miyono’s inner turmoil.

(Why?)

"That’s all I had to say. I’ll get going now."

(Why?)

"Don’t worry, Yono-chan. I’ll visit whenever I can."

(Why?)

"I hope you can make some good friends at your new school."

(That’s not it.)

"It’s getting late; I’d better head home soon."

(Why do you have to…)

"See you later, Yono-chan."

(Why do you have to leave me alone like this?)

(Why?)

(Even for your family reasons…)

(You didn’t have to move to a faraway town where I can’t see you every day…)

"I’ll find you; I promise I’ll find you," she whispered, her determination ignited as she frantically searched for the school Yomi would attend on her computer.

"Kaisei Acadamy, huh?"

...

As winter passed, Miyono moved out of her tiny apartment and settled in the town where Yomi had moved, managing to enroll in the same college.

Finally, the day arrived for Miyono to start her new life at her new school, leaving her previous one behind like it was nothing.

"I’ve found you, Yomi-chan!" she declared as she walked toward the gate of her new school.

It was a large campus, making it hard to spot Yomi, but Miyono didn’t give up.

"Wait, Yono-chan?! Did you transfer here too?!" she exclaimed when she spotted her.

"I had to move out of my previous apartment. The town felt lonely without you anyway."

"Good for you! We need to hurry; we can’t be late."

Yomi took Miyono’s hand, and together they sprinted toward the school hall.

While running, Miyono noticed a guy staring at Yomi, his gaze lingering a bit too long.

(I can’t let him steal her.)

(I’ll have to do something.)

Once home, she did some digging and found out his name was Shiyo, the son of the Yousuke Family, who owned a popular restaurant called Y Dines. They were rivals with the Zureku family, who ran Zure Foods. Recently, Y Dines had been accused of adding illegal drugs to their food to enhance the flavor.

(This should be fun.)

^^^~TO BE CONTINUED^^^

Once home, she did some digging and found out his name was Shiyo, the son of the Yousuke Family, who owned a popular restaurant called Y Dines. They were rivals with the Zureku family, who ran Zure Foods. Recently, Y Dines had been accused of adding illegal drugs to their food to enhance the flavor.

(This should be fun.)

...

Chapter 2: The Favor, The Helper

After some research, Miyono came up with a plan: she’d chip away at the Yousuke family, leading them to ruin. But to pull it off, she needed the help of Zureku Kusaki, the heir of the Zureku family—and lucky for her, he went to the same school.

The next day, Miyono spent the morning searching the school, determined to find Kusaki. Rushing up the stairs, she bumped into someone hard.

"Ow! Sorry about that," Miyono muttered, brushing herself off. She glanced at the guy she ran into. (Might as well ask.)

"Hey, do you know where I can find a guy called Zureku Kusaki?"

The guy tilted his head, eyeing her curiously. "Why do you need him?"

"I just need a favor."

"What's your name?"

(Why is this guy so persistent?) "It’s Miyono. What’s yours?"

The guy gave her a smug grin. "You mean you don’t know? I’m Zureku Kusaki."

(Seriously? Well, at least I don’t have to keep looking.)

"So, what favor did you want?" he asked.

"I’ll tell you once we get to the roof."

At the roof,

"Alright, spill. What’s this about?" Kusaki leaned lazily against the railing, looking half-bored already.

"Your family is rivals with the Yousuke family, right?"

"Yeah, so what?"

"If the Yousuke family goes down, your family benefits, right?"

Kusaki sighed. "Get to the point. I’m getting bored."

(Who does this guy think he is?)

"I want you to help me take them down," Miyono said bluntly.

He raised a brow, amused. "Sure, why not? I’m bored anyway."

"Great, I appreciate it."

"But you gotta tell me—why are you so interested in ruining the Yousuke family? Got some kind of beef with them?"

Miyono crossed her arms. "I’m doing this for my future."

"Uh-huh. Sure you are," Kusaki said, grinning like it was a joke.

(He's not taking me seriously.)

"So, what’s the plan?"

"Alright, here’s the deal," Miyono explained. "We sneak into Y Dines, catch them putting drugs in the food, and snap a picture. Simple."

"You say that like it’s easy," Kusaki scoffed.

"It will be."

"Alright, after school then. Lead the way, boss."

After school,

The two slipped into Y Dines through the back entrance and hid in the kitchen, waiting for the moment the staff added the drug. As soon as they saw it happen, Kusaki snapped a picture.

"Got it! Let’s get out of here," she whispered.

But just as they tried to sneak away—

"Where do you think you’re going?"

A bodyguard appeared, blocking their path.

"Sorry, but I’m going to need you two to come with me."

Before they could react, the bodyguard knocked them out, cold.

When Miyono and Kusaki woke up, they found themselves tied to chairs in a dimly lit room.

"Well, well. Look who’s awake," a voice sneered.

In front of them stood Yousuke Yugochi, the head of the Yousuke family. His greedy eyes glinted with amusement as he sized them up. "I didn’t expect the son of the Zureku family to be here too."

He snapped his fingers at the guards. "Watch them. I’ve got better things to do than babysit intruders."

With that, Yugochi turned and left, leaving Miyono and Kusaki trapped under heavy guard.

^^^~TO BE CONTINUED^^^

He snapped his fingers at the guards. "Watch them. I’ve got better things to do than babysit intruders."

With that, Yugochi turned and left, leaving Miyono and Kusaki trapped under heavy guard.

...

Chapter 3

The Planner, The Discoverer

As soon as Yugochi left the room, Miyono slipped a box cutter from her pocket and deftly sliced through the ropes binding her wrists.

"I’ve been waiting for this."

Before Kusaki could react, she knocked the guards out cold with swift, precise kicks. She grabbed Kusaki by the collar, scanning the room until her eyes landed on the open window.

"Wait... You’re not seriously thinking of jumping, right?" Kusaki’s voice cracked with panic.

"There’s no other way, idiot."

"Noooo! I don’t wanna die!"

Without hesitation, Miyono dragged Kusaki with her and leapt out the window. He let out an ear-piercing scream as they plummeted.

"Phew," Miyono said after they landed, brushing dust off her clothes.

"Thought that was the end." said Kusaki in relief.

"My ears thought they were gonna fall off from all your screaming," she added, glaring at Kusaki.

"At least we’re alive!" Kusaki said, pulling out his phone. A smug grin spread across his face as he posted the incriminating photos.

"Job’s done. You owe me for this!"

The Next Day,

The post went viral, and the fallout was swift. Yousuke Yugochi was arrested, Y Dines shut down, and the Yousuke family lost half their property. Shiyo, humiliated by the scandal, skipped school for days.

A Few Days Later,

Miyono watched from a distance, eyes locked on Yomi.

"She looks a little lonely today..." Miyono mumbled. "Her hair’s really silky today too..."

Kusaki raised a brow. "Oi, Miyono, whatcha staring at?"

Miyono shot him a glare. "How dare you interrupt me?"

"Whoa, calm down."

(Ah, so she’s staring at that purple-haired girl...) Kusaki sighed. (Man, my only cool friend turned out to be a simp. Never thought she’d be into girls though.)

Then he noticed Miyono gritting her teeth, eyes narrowing as she saw Shiyo across the courtyard, blushing as he stared at Yomi.

"I’ll have to get rid of him somehow," Miyono muttered under her breath.

Kusaki rolled his eyes. "Oh, I better go say hi to Yomi then. Can’t let her feel lonely, right?" With that Miyono left and joined a lonely looking Yomi.

(Wait a sec... Did she do all that just because of Blondie? Damn, talk about a hardcore simp.) Kusaki fought the urge to laugh. (Man, poor guy... He had no idea he got tangled in lesbian drama.)

Kusaki sauntered over to Shiyo, smirking. "Oi, Blondie. What do you think you’re doing, staring at people like a creep?"

"Oh, hey Zureku-san. How’s it going?"

"Terrible," Kusaki groaned. "Had to watch two idiots simping over the same person at the same time and place."

"That’s rough, Zureku-san. Especially this early in the morning—"

"YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, DAMMIT!" Kusaki barked, cutting him off.

Shiyo blinked in confusion. "What? Seriously?"

"Like, can’t you find someone else? Did it have to be Ms. Purple Head?"

Shiyo tilted his head. "Wait... Do you like her too, Zureku-san?"

"Not even in your wildest dreams."

"But why not? Yomi-san is so cute! She’s kind, and everything she does is beautiful—the way she eats, the way she walks, the way she—"

"Enough." Kusaki pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated. "Do your simping somewhere else. I’ve had enough of this crap."

With that, he walked off, leaving Shiyo scratching his head.

Later, on the Roof,

The sun hung low in the sky as Miyono and Kusaki sat in silence, the tension between them thick.

(Something feels... off.)

"Kusaki," Miyono said softly.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for your help."

Kusaki shrugged. "Sure...?"

"I can handle the rest on my own now."

Kusaki sat up straight. "What do you mean by that?"

Miyono’s eyes darkened. "I can kill Shiyo easily now. The Yousuke family isn’t powerful enough to protect him anymore."

Kusaki stared at her, stunned. "Wait... You’re kidding, right?"

Miyono’s expression didn’t waver.

^^^~TO BE CONTINUED^^^