Akemi relaxed in the comfortable VIP area of a fancy boutique, surrounded by her friends. The air was filled with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the rustling of shopping bags as the salespeople catered to their every whim. Akemi had already spent an obscene amount of money on designer clothes, jewellery, and anything else that caught her eye. It was all about appearances—showing off her wealth and status.
Her friends, a small group of admirers, were gathered around, each eager to catch her attention or earn her approval. The piles of designer clothes, shimmering jewellery, and exclusive accessories scattered around Akemi only added to the atmosphere of luxury that she was seeking.
"Akemi, you truly have an eye for the finest things," one of her friends, Yumi, exclaimed, holding up a sleek black dress Akemi had just chosen. "This will look absolutely stunning on you."
"Naturally," Akemi replied, her voice dripping with confidence. She took another sip of champagne, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction. "When you have my kind of taste, it's impossible to go wrong."
Another friend, Saki, leaned in closer, her voice almost a purr. "You make it look so effortless, Akemi. I don't know how you do it. I mean, I can never decide what to buy without second-guessing myself."
Akemi let out a light, dismissive laugh. "It's simple, really. When you know what you want and aren't afraid to spend what it takes to get it, everything falls into place."
"But don't you ever feel guilty spending so much?" asked Miho, the newest addition to the group who was the wife of a construction company president, her voice hesitant. "I mean, some of these prices are just—"
"Guilty?" Akemi interrupted, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. "Miho, darling, guilt is for people who have limits. When you have money, you're supposed to enjoy it. Life is too short to worry about price tags."
Her friends exchanged looks, each of them nodding in agreement, though Miho looked slightly uncomfortable. Saki quickly jumped in to smooth over the moment.
"You're absolutely right, Akemi," she said, holding up a pair of diamond-encrusted earrings. "These would go perfectly with that new dress, don't you think? I think diamonds always looks better on black."
Akemi smiled approvingly. "You're learning, Saki. Always think about the whole look. It's not just about buying a single piece—it's about creating an whole piece that screams luxury."
Yumi clasped her hands together, her voice filled with admiration and hoping to change the topic. she brought a new topic. "Akemi, tell us about your new boyfriend. I can't believe you are now the fiancée of the president of Harada Corporation."
Akemi's smile broadened as Yumi mentioned her new fiancé. She leaned back in her seat, her eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and infatuation.
"Oh, Ryo," Akemi sighed, her voice dripping with adoration. "Where do I even begin? He's not just the president of Harada Corporation; he's everything a woman could ever dream of. Handsome, powerful, and let me tell you, ladies, he's absolutely incredible in bed."
Her friends leaned in closer, hanging onto her every word. The atmosphere in the boutique shifted, the luxury of their surroundings now mingling with the envy and curiosity that filled the air.
"Tell us more, Akemi!" Saki urged, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Akemi's smile turned almost wicked as she continued. "He's got this confidence, this presence that makes you feel like you're the only woman in the world when you're with him. And his body—" she paused, savoring the effect her words were having, "—it's like he was carved by the gods themselves. Every muscle, every movement... it's perfection. He knows exactly how to touch a woman, how to make her feel like she's in heaven."
Yumi let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "You're so lucky, Akemi. I mean, to have a man like that... it's like a fantasy."
"Jealous, Yumi?" Akemi teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Who wouldn't be?" Miho admitted, her earlier discomfort forgotten as she became caught up in the allure of Akemi's story. "A man who's handsome, rich, and knows how to please a woman? It's like something out of a drama."
Akemi basked in their admiration, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger. "It's more than just luck, girls. It's about knowing your worth and never settling for anything less. Ryo and I—we're a power couple, and together, we're unstoppable."
Saki sighed dreamily. "I wish I could find someone like Ryo. You're living the dream, Akemi."
"Well," Akemi said, lifting her glass of champagne, "here's to living the dream—and to the perfect man. Cheers, ladies."
"Cheers!" they echoed, clinking their glasses together, each one secretly wishing they could trade places with Akemi, even if just for a moment.
As they left the boutique, Akemi's entourage of friends continued to chatter about their extravagant purchases. But Akemi's mind was already elsewhere, thinking about which restaurant to hit next, which party to attend that night. The idea of returning home to her daughter didn't even cross her mind.
When Akemi finally arrived at her mansion, she dropped her bags in the hallway and headed straight to her room, not even bothering to check on Anzu. The house was eerily quiet, save for the muffled sound of a voice coming from upstairs—Anzu's room.
Up in her room, Anzu was in the middle of a live stream. Her face was partially covered by a face mask, hiding her identity from the thousand of viewers watching her. Despite her anonymity, she had built a decent following, enough to be considered a moderate-level streamer. Her setup was professional—dual monitors, a high-quality microphone, and a backdrop that she had carefully curated to reflect her personality without revealing too much.
"Alright, everyone, that's it for today's stream," Anzu said, her voice cheerful but tinged with exhaustion. "Thanks for hanging out with me. Don't forget to stay up to date, and I'll see you in the next stream. Take care!"
She ended the stream, sighed, and leaned back in her chair, pulling off her mask. Streaming was one of the few things that gave her a sense of control, a way to connect with people on her own terms. But today, even that couldn't shake the unease she felt.
Stepping out of her room, Anzu immediately noticed the pile of expensive bags and boxes littering the hallway. Her eyes narrowed in frustration as she took in the sheer excess of it all.
"This is exactly why Father's company never flourished," she muttered angrily to herself. "She wastes money like it grows on trees."
Anzu couldn't stand it anymore. The sight of her mother's carelessness, the constant spending without any thought for the future, infuriated her. She quickly changed into comfortable clothes, laced up her running shoes, and headed for the door. She needed to clear her head, and there was only one place that could help her do that.
As she tried to leave, the guards at the entrance moved to follow her, as they always did. But Anzu waved them off with a dismissive hand. "I'm fine. Stay here."
The guards hesitated but eventually relented because they were told to value the freedom of Anzu more than anything. They were watching as Anzu disappeared down the driveway, headphones already in place. She hit play on her music, letting the sounds of her favorite songs, fill her ears. The upbeat tempo and familiar lyrics helped her drown out the frustration she felt toward her mother.
Anzu jogged through the quiet streets, her mind racing. She wasn't just running to clear her head—she was heading to a park that held special memories for her. It was the place her father, Kamiya, used to take her when she was younger. It was their secret spot, away from the pressures of the world and the chaos of their home.
When she arrived at the park, she slowed her pace, letting the peaceful atmosphere calm her. But then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone familiar. It was Ryo. He was walking through the park with a purposeful stride, but his expression was softer than usual, almost… nostalgic.
Anzu's heart skipped a beat. She ducked behind a tree, watching him carefully. What is he doing here? This was her father's place, their place. Why was Ryo here? And why was he acting so much like her father?
She followed him quietly, her mind a whirl of emotions. Ryo moved to a secluded bench near the edge of the park and sat down, his gaze lost in the distance. It was the exact same spot her father used to sit in when he needed to think, to escape from the world. Ryo's actions were eerily similar to her father's—too similar.
Anzu's hands clenched into fists. This man, this imposter who had taken her father's place, was now invading her most sacred memories. She felt a surge of anger, mixed with a confusion she couldn't quite understand. What was he trying to do? Was he mocking her father's memory, or was there something deeper going on?
She considered confronting him, demanding to know what he was doing. But something held her back. Despite her anger, a small voice in the back of her mind told her to wait, to see what else he might do.
After a few more minutes of watching Ryo sit in contemplative silence, Anzu finally turned away, heading back to the mansion. Her emotions were a tangled mess of anger, confusion, and something else she couldn't quite name. Ryo was up to something, and she didn't trust it one bit. But she would keep her distance for now, watching and waiting.
Back at home, Anzu took one last look at the extravagant purchases littering the hallway. With a deep breath, she resolved to focus on what she could control—her own future. She wouldn't let her mother's recklessness or Ryo's mysterious behavior derail her plans. If anything, she would use this anger, this confusion, as fuel to keep pushing forward.
As she closed the door to her room, she muttered to herself one last thing. "I will leave these idiotic parents, as soon as I turn an adult. i won't stay a single second with these murderes if I had a choice,"