This wasn't the first time it had happened. A week ago, Emi had run into Shinji at a karaoke bar, surrounded by a group of females. What her senior did in his free time was none of her business, she told herself, but still, seeing it with her own eyes stirred something deep inside her. Her heart ached, a tightness settling in her chest. Her face flushed with pain, her mind struggling to process the raw feelings flooding her. Her knees trembled as if they might give way at any moment, threatening to collapse under the weight of her emotions.
"I know I'm not good enough to be with you." She muttered softly, feeling tears were about to spill over. The girl tried her hardest to change herself. To be better, thinner, and prettier in the hope that her crush would take a proper look at her as a woman.
Initially, Emi thought that her senpai was interested in her as she was simmered down. But it appeared what was just in her head.
Knowing full well, that her senior was always flirty to anyone.
"Should I go back now…" She told herself to just give up and stay far away.
"Would you rather hurt or feel nothing at all?" Emi asked herself while placing her hands on her chest, feeling the aching heart.
Shinji eventually noticed her, he greeted her loudly, wearing a charismatic smile, "Emi-chan! Hey!" She quickly hid her tears. Under no circumstance, he would learn about her true feelings.
"You are Ito Emi-san, right?" A cute maid asked, amicable in her tone as she appeared behind Shinji.
"Y~yes. I'm Ito Emi, nice to meet you." Emi politely bowed her head with grace.
"I'm your senior, Tomako Momo from class 2-1. Nice to meet you too." The maid bowed back to her and smiled gently. "I don't think there's a blondy in class 2-1…" Emi examined her and pondered.
"Well, I don't usually appear like this, haha," Momo responded with a chuckle. It seemed Momo realised Emi was trying to match her description with students of class 2-1.
"Emi-chan, I'd like to tell you something," Shinji said, his face turning serious.
"Ah... I think I know where this is going. Senpai's going to tell me that she's his girlfriend, and I should stop dreaming..." Emi braced herself.
"You see, Momo-chan here is my business partner and a friend from middle school. My old man rents out the place to her so she can sell beverages," Shinji explained. Emi was taken aback but still didn't quite follow.
"Oh, right… " Emi responded, staring blankly at them in pure bewilderment.
"I just wanted to show you that Momo and I are just good friends." Shinji carried on. While Momo meticulously took off her blonde wig and showed her real bop-style hair with the brown hue.
"Ah! You're the petite girl I saw at the mall, with Shinji-senpai!" Emi exclaimed in shocking realisation. Momo was in the group that went to Karaoke with Shinji on the last day of their midterm exam.
"You saw us?" Shinji asked, raising his brows.
"Y~yes… I ran into your group when the mid-term ended," Emi confessed, looking away briefly, avoiding Shinji's purple eyes.
"It's nice seeing you two." Momo told them with a gentle smile before turning to Shinji, "I hope my advice will be somewhat helpful." She told him with a playful wink.
"Thanks!" Shinji nodded in appreciation.
"Well then, I gotta go now," Momo the maid swiftly left the scene with her short legs.
"See you, Tomako-senpai." Emi said her farewell and bowed her head gracefully.
"Emi, now that we've cleared up the misunderstanding, would you like to join me for lunch?" Shinji invited his junior, his expression serious.
"Yes, senpai," Emi replied without hesitation as she felt relieved for the first time.
***
In the heart of the Morimura manor, a grand traditional Japanese mansion stood with its intricate wooden beams and sliding shoji doors. The expansive garden at its centre was a tranquil oasis, with meticulously pruned bonsai trees, a koi pond glistening under the sun, and delicate pathways lined with smooth stones. Two women walked gracefully along the polished wooden corridor, their footsteps echoing softly against the tatami mats. The warm light filtered through the rice paper windows, casting serene shadows on the floor, while the faint scent of incense lingered in the air, adding to the peaceful atmosphere. The elegance of the surroundings seemed to reflect the quiet determination in their movements, as they passed under the high wooden beams and into the next room.
"Ayane-san should be in the guest room waiting for you now."
"Thanks, Namie-san," Suzuki replied while strutting forward, grace in every motion.
Knock! Knock!
Namie softly knocked on the Shoji screen door. "Ayane-san, Officer Akiyama Suzuki is here to meet you."
"Please come in," Ayane replied as she was sitting on her calves calmly. Her postures were relaxing yet elegant. She was wearing a traditional Kendogi, a white loose-sleeve jacket with indigo wide & pleated-fold trousers. Suzuki took a seat on the cushion across from her. Meanwhile, Namie took a quick bow and shut the door tight.
"Would you like some jasmine tea or black coffee, Akiyama-san?" Ayane offered.
"Tea would be good. Thanks," Suzuki replied. Ayane gracefully poured a cup of tea and handed it to the officer with both hands, a slow and deliberate gesture.
"President Sakurai Hiroshi," Ayane began, her voice steady and unwavering, "He used his position as the president of the student council to manipulate and exploit vulnerable juniors for his own personal gain."
Suzuki, sitting across from her, nodded solemnly, her fingers delicately wrapped around the warm porcelain cup of jasmine tea. She took a slow sip before responding, her expression serious. "I've received your information, Ayane-chan. However, after a thorough investigation, we uncovered something far more sinister. Sakurai was merely a pawn in a much larger operation — specifically, a human trafficking syndicate."
Her words hung in the air, as the weight of the revelation settled between them.
"Hmm? Would you be able to take them down?" Ayane asked, remaining well-composed.
"The cyber police had been chasing them down and cut off their online channels," Suzuki told the girl and shook her head in frustration, "But they just kept making new channels. These people were disgustingly elusive."
"Based on what you've told me and the president's involvement," Ayane said, her brows furrowing with concentration, "There's a high probability that the kingpin is operating in this town, possibly connected to the broadcasting studio as well."
Suzuki's lips parted slightly in amazement, "Your intuition is indeed correct, Ayane-chan." She admired the girl's sharp wits.
"Then please, do something, Officer Suzuki-san!" Ayane's voice trembled slightly as she bowed her head, a gesture filled with both desperation and hope. "So many girls at my school have fallen victim to these scums," She added, her voice shaking but her resolve for justice unshaken.
"We are doing everything we can, Ayane-chan," Suzuki replied with a deep, empathetic sigh. Her heart ached for the victims, and if she could single-handedly take down the syndicate, she would do so without hesitation. "But we need to be patient and wise. In time, we will bring them down, I promise."
Suzuki watched as Ayane's eyes subtly twisted at her words, the crushing weight of the wait sinking in. "But the reality is often disappointing," Suzuki continued gently, her tone full of understanding yet laced with the harshness of the situation. "We need more information to make a move."
"I know," Ayane said and nodded in agreement.
"So that's why the police hadn't made any move to catch Sakurai, despite all the facts and evidence," Suzuki explained, making sure Ayane understood their underlying constraint. "They want to catch the bigger fish."
"But the longer you wait, the worse it becomes. How many more lives that we need to sacrifice?!" Ayane argued, unintentionally raising her voice. Her anger and frustration gradually became palpable.
"I got it, really," Suzuki said firmly. "I promise to do everything in my power." She stole a glance at the girl with a mix of determination and concern.
Suzuki's face softened, "Please, refrain from interfering with the case. The police will take it from here." She expressed her reassurance and care toward Morimura Ayane.