The following morning, Kenta met Riku in a quiet park, far from the bustling streets of the city. Riku had asked for a private space, somewhere they wouldn't be overheard. The sun was shining, but Kenta felt no warmth. All he could think about was the betrayal that had shattered his world.
Riku leaned against a tree, his dark eyes scanning the park as if he were assessing every person, every potential threat. He pulled out a small notebook, flipping to a blank page, and gestured for Kenta to sit.
"Let's go over what you've told me," Riku began, voice calm but authoritative. "Your ex-fiancée Mayu and your ex-best friend Takeshi. How long have they been seeing each other?"
Kenta hesitated, then sighed. "I think... maybe six months? I don't know exactly. They were sneaky about it."
"And you've already confronted them both. Mayu chose him without hesitation, correct?"
Kenta nodded, his jaw clenched tight. "Yeah... she didn't even apologize. Just said it was 'better this way.'"
Riku wrote something down in the notebook, his expression thoughtful. "This means they feel safe. They believe there's nothing you can do to stop them. That's their first mistake."
Kenta looked at Riku with uncertainty. "But what can we do? I've tried talking to her, but it's like she's a completely different person. She doesn't care about me anymore."
Riku didn't respond right away. Instead, he closed the notebook and pocketed it. "The key to revenge isn't acting out of emotion. It's about control. I need to understand both of them—how they think, what drives them, and most importantly, their weaknesses."
Kenta frowned. "Their weaknesses? Like...?"
Riku nodded. "Everyone has a vulnerability. It might be something simple, like pride, or something more complex, like a hidden secret. Takeshi is a traitor, which means he values personal gain over loyalty. Mayu, on the other hand, is someone who easily discarded her relationship with you for something she believed was better. That tells me she's fickle and emotionally shallow. We can use that."
Kenta clenched his fists. "I want them to feel as worthless as I did."
Riku raised a hand. "Patience. They will. But rushing in with anger will only make things worse. I need you to tell me more about them. What do they care about? What do they fear?"
Kenta thought for a moment. "Mayu... she always cared about appearances. She loved being admired, especially on social media. Every post was about how perfect her life was. She couldn't stand any criticism."
"Interesting," Riku said, his eyes narrowing. "What about Takeshi?"
"He's always been competitive. He hated losing at anything—whether it was sports or work. He's an investment banker, and he's obsessed with being on top. I guess... he's got a bit of an ego."
Riku smiled slightly, the first sign of emotion Kenta had seen from him. "Perfect. Their pride will be their undoing."
Riku's mind was already working, piecing together the information and formulating a plan. He had dealt with people like this before—people who thought they were invincible. In truth, they were often the most fragile.
"We're going to start with Takeshi," Riku said. "If we break him first, Mayu will follow. He's the glue holding her new life together."
Kenta blinked. "How?"
Riku's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "By destroying his reputation. You said he works in investment banking. That means he thrives on his connections, his image of success. We're going to make sure he loses everything."
Kenta's heart pounded in his chest. "But... how?"
Riku leaned in, his voice lowering. "We're going to plant seeds of doubt, make people believe he's a failure. We'll find his competitors and feed them just enough information to ruin his credibility. A few well-placed rumors, some fabricated evidence, and his career will start crumbling. Once his colleagues lose faith in him, they'll turn on him like vultures."
Kenta felt a strange sense of satisfaction at the thought. Takeshi had always been so proud of his career, constantly bragging about his success. To see that taken away from him...
"And Mayu?" Kenta asked.
Riku leaned back, his expression darkening. "Mayu thrives on admiration, right? Once Takeshi's reputation is destroyed, she'll start to feel insecure. That's when we'll attack her. We'll leak rumors about her relationship with him, make people question her loyalty, her integrity. Social media will eat her alive."
Kenta's mind spun. It was an intricate plan, more calculated than anything he had ever considered. He looked at Riku, realizing just how dangerous this man was. But at the same time, he felt a strange comfort in knowing that Riku was on his side.
"When do we start?" Kenta asked, his voice filled with determination.
Riku stood, brushing off his jacket. "I've already started."
Kenta's eyes widened in surprise. "Already?"
Riku nodded. "I've been gathering information since the moment you contacted me. Takeshi and Mayu have no idea what's coming. By the time they realize, it'll be too late."
Kenta stood as well, feeling a surge of energy coursing through him. For the first time since the betrayal, he felt like he had power. He wasn't just a victim anymore. He was part of something bigger—a plan for revenge that would change everything.
Riku turned to leave, but before he walked away, he looked back at Kenta. "Remember, this isn't just about hurting them. It's about reclaiming your life. You're not doing this for them—you're doing this for yourself."
Kenta nodded, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and excitement. "I understand."
As Riku disappeared into the shadows of the park, Kenta felt the weight of his decision settling on him. There was no turning back now. He had chosen the path of revenge, and with Riku's help, he was going to see it through.
But deep down, he couldn't help but wonder—what would be left of him once it was all over?
End of Chapter 2