It had been a week since Kurosawa Riku laid out the plan, and Kenta's life had taken on a strange new rhythm. Every day was now consumed by waiting, watching as Riku's machinations unfolded from the shadows. It felt like being at the edge of a storm, knowing the destruction was coming, but unsure when it would hit.
He hadn't seen or heard from Mayu or Takeshi since the day he had asked for Riku's help. And for the first time, that was exactly how he wanted it. It wasn't time for confrontation yet. No, this was the calm before the chaos, and Kenta had never realized how much he craved it.
Then, it happened.
Kenta sat at his kitchen table, staring at his phone. A news alert popped up, and his heart skipped a beat. It was an article about Takeshi's firm.
"Rumors of Mismanagement and Fraud Shake Major Tokyo Investment Firm."
Kenta's hands trembled as he clicked the link. The article detailed how Takeshi's investment firm had come under fire for alleged unethical practices—practices that, if proven, would ruin not just the firm but the careers of those associated with it.
Takeshi's name was mentioned several times as one of the key figures involved in the investigation.
Kenta's breath hitched. This wasn't an accident. This was Riku.
The plan was in motion.
Riku sat in his apartment, gazing out the window as the city buzzed below. The article was the first shot fired, a calculated strike designed to hit Takeshi where it hurt the most—his professional pride.
It hadn't been difficult to set the wheels in motion. All it took was a few carefully crafted emails, some falsified documents, and whispers in the right ears. The Tokyo financial world thrived on competition, and once doubt was cast on a rising star like Takeshi, the vultures circled fast.
But this was just the beginning.
A soft knock on the door interrupted Riku's thoughts. He stood and opened it, finding Kenta on the other side, looking both anxious and excited.
"You saw the article," Riku said, not asking, but stating it as fact.
Kenta nodded, stepping inside. "How did you do it? This is huge. If they investigate, Takeshi could—"
"He'll be fine," Riku interrupted calmly, closing the door. "For now, it's just rumors. He won't lose his job overnight, but this will plant the seed of doubt. His bosses will start watching him more closely, his colleagues will begin to distance themselves. Slowly, his position will become more and more fragile."
Kenta's face twisted in a mixture of confusion and frustration. "But I thought the goal was to destroy him. Why not just leak something worse? Something that'll ruin him for good?"
Riku sat down, gesturing for Kenta to sit across from him. "Because that would be too obvious. Takeshi is a man who prides himself on control. He needs to feel like he's still in charge, like he can fix this. We let him think he can fight back. That way, when he finally falls, it will hurt more."
Kenta stared at Riku, realizing just how deep this man's methods ran. He wasn't just seeking revenge—he was crafting a psychological game, one that would dismantle Takeshi piece by piece.
"Now," Riku continued, his voice cold and methodical, "let's move on to Mayu."
Kenta tensed at the mention of her name. He hadn't allowed himself to think about her too much, not since that day in the park. But now, hearing her name again brought back a flood of emotions—rage, hurt, and a lingering sense of betrayal.
"She still thinks she's on top of the world," Riku said, his eyes narrowing. "She's with Takeshi, believing she's traded up. But she's shallow. She cares about her image more than anything else. We're going to destroy that image."
"How?" Kenta asked, leaning forward.
Riku pulled out his phone, tapping a few buttons before turning the screen to face Kenta. It was Mayu's social media profile. Her latest post was a photo of her and Takeshi at a luxurious restaurant, smiling like they were the happiest couple in the world. The caption read:
"Dinner with my love ❤️ #PerfectLife #Grateful #TrueHappiness."
Kenta felt sick looking at it. How could she smile like that? After everything she had done?
Riku's voice cut through his thoughts. "People like Mayu live for this kind of attention. Her whole sense of self-worth comes from how others perceive her. That's her weakness."
Riku swiped to another photo, an older one from a few months ago, before Kenta had discovered her betrayal. In it, Mayu was smiling, her hand resting on her cheek as she posed in a café. In the background, there was a faint reflection in the window—Takeshi, sitting just out of focus.
It was subtle, barely noticeable, but it was enough.
"We're going to let the world know that she's a cheater," Riku said. "Not through confrontation, but by letting her expose herself."
Kenta frowned. "What do you mean?"
Riku tapped on the photo. "This image. We'll spread it, suggesting that Mayu was seeing Takeshi long before you found out. Her followers don't know the whole story, but they will if we nudge them in the right direction. A few rumors here, a few fake accounts posting accusations... and soon her perfect image will start to crumble."
Kenta's heart raced. "And then?"
Riku's expression darkened. "And then she'll panic. She'll try to deny it, to defend herself, but the more she fights, the more desperate she'll look. She'll lose her followers, her friends will turn on her, and Takeshi... well, once his career is on the line, he won't have time to support her."
Kenta was silent, processing everything. The plan was brutal, calculated to hit them both where they were most vulnerable. He had to admit, a part of him felt satisfaction at the thought of Mayu suffering as she watched her perfect world crumble.
But another part of him felt something else—something unsettling. Would this really give him closure? Would it make him feel whole again?
"Is this really the only way?" Kenta asked quietly.
Riku glanced at him, his gaze unreadable. "You came to me for revenge, not redemption. This is the path you chose."
Kenta looked down at his hands, clenching them into fists. He had chosen this. He had wanted this. He couldn't turn back now.
"When do we start with Mayu?" Kenta asked, forcing himself to focus.
Riku smiled, cold and calculated. "Tonight. I'll handle the posts. You just watch."
Kenta nodded, feeling a mixture of excitement and dread. As Riku stood to leave, Kenta called out to him.
"Riku... why do you do this? Why help people like me?"
Riku paused, his back to Kenta. For a moment, there was silence, and Kenta wondered if he had overstepped. But then, Riku spoke, his voice quiet and filled with something Kenta couldn't quite place.
"Because I know what it feels like to be betrayed. And sometimes, revenge is the only thing that makes the pain bearable."
With that, Riku walked out, leaving Kenta alone with his thoughts.
End of Chapter 3