Epilogue
"...Don't mess with me."
Yoko Yumemaki was angry.
It was most unpleasant to be forced to act against her own will in front of everyone.
She had to respond to save face.
However, Yoko Yumemaki possessed enough cunning to maneuver behind the scenes.
In other words, Sanada Yukinori's assessment was too naive.
"It's dangerous, you know."
Behind Yoko Yumemaki, a calm voice spoke.
When Yumemaki turned around vigorously, Saki Arisugawa stood there.
"...Arisugawa-san."
As the leader of one of the three major factions but not belonging to any particular group, she spoke her words as if singing.
"Right now, Yukinori-kun loves me the most. Because I'm the one who acknowledges him the most."
"Huh? What are you talking about...?"
"I could become his number one right now. If this situation continues."
As Arisugawa approached Yoko Yumemaki, she loosened her cheek.
Her long ribbon fluttered in the wind coming in from the window.
"...That's why it's not very desirable for everything to suddenly turn around or for the situation to become even more difficult. If it's the former, I'll think of Yukinori-kun... and reluctantly let it go, you know?"
It was an invisible statement from her heart.
Yoko Yumemaki frowned, sensing that something was being concealed beneath her words.
"But you, Yumemaki-san, are the one who leads to the latter."
"...I have no idea what you're talking about. ...But yeah, I guess I could be framed. I really hate relying on my parents' power like this."
"Yeah. That's why you might be a hindrance."
Click.
On the screen of Saki Arisugawa's smartphone, an astonished Yoko Yumemaki appeared.
Arisugawa showed it to Yumemaki while shaking it and opened her mouth.
"This is a hostage."
"Huh? What...?"
Before she could finish her sentence, Saki Arisugawa played the audio from her smartphone.
The smartphone impersonally replayed Yoko Yumemaki's voice.
"If you let me defeat Hina and make me your model, I won't touch her."
Yoko Yumemaki widened her eyes.
"Why do you have a recording...? Why would you..."
"What do you think would happen if I spread it?"
Perhaps remembering Saki Arisugawa's popularity, Yoko Yumemaki gritted her teeth.
"I hold the reins of your life, Yumemaki-san. If you weren't the daughter of a company president, this data wouldn't have mattered."
Arisugawa said as if singing.
In reality, the outcome of this recording data was unpredictable.
However, the risk of Saki Arisugawa possessing that data did not align with any action Yoko Yumemaki envisioned.
- I can't move anymore.
Yoko Yumemaki laughed as if resigned.
"...Alright, alright. So now I really can't touch her, huh?"
"Hehe. You have to handle a double-edged sword with care."
"...That goes for you too, Arisugawa-san."
"Yeah, I suppose."
Saki Arisugawa turned her back and placed her hand on the door.
"There's something I want to ask."
"What is it?"
"Why did you suddenly become friends with Sanada?"
Yoko Yumemaki was the head of a faction.
She, who valued her reputation, in a sense, knew the interrelationships of people in higher grades better than Asuka Minato.
Yoko Yumemaki, in response to Saki Arisugawa, abruptly states, "Did it seem sudden?"
"Well, at least I hadn't seen you two together until around autumn of our first year," Yoko Yumemaki throws the question at Saki Arisugawa, comparing it to her own memories.
"...Is that related to the reason you want to kick me out?"
Saki Arisugawa smiles.
It is a question from the target whose life she has controlled.
In Saki Arisugawa's mind, Yoko Yumemaki was dead.
That means, to her, Yoko Yumemaki doesn't exist.
So Saki Arisugawa confidently reveals without a hint of hesitation.
"I want to be with Yukinori-kun. And you were just getting in the way of that, Yumemaki-san."
"...So you have feelings strong enough to make an enemy out of me."
Considering the risk of antagonizing the daughter of a company president, Yoko Yumemaki lets out a sigh.
Saki Arisugawa raises her gaze and loosens her lips.
"Because I promised."
"...Promised what?"
"...That I would kill anyone who speaks ill of Yukinori-kun."
Saki Arisugawa smiles even wider.
As the sun's rays intensify, it conceals Saki's expression.
Yoko Yumemaki couldn't see it, but...
It was simply an innocent smile.
VOLUME 1 - COMPLETED
Thanks for everyone already readering this novel. See yooo to Vol 2
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