And the day of the prefectural had arrived. What a nice weather! For some reason, I felt rejuvenated today. I wonder what will happen later.

I'll win for sure though. That's what I feel.

~

I went to the kitchen with Go-chan to prepare my breakfast, but mom was already there

"Good morning" she greeted me with a smile "breakfast is ready, your lunch later as well. Eat first before you prepare."

"Good morning mom. You sure are early"

"Yes~ Your dad needs to go to the shop today- ah, I'll drive you and your dad, so you don't need to rush. Go-chan will go for a ride this morning." She chuckled looking at Go-chan, who seemed know what would happen

"Thanks mom. Where's dad though?" I asked

"In the living room, watching the news. Can you call him? I know he got too excited from the news, but he needs to calm down and eat breakfast"

I went to call dad and he was standing in the middle of the living room, his hands crossed, with a creepy smile.

"Dad, mom said breakfast is ready and she said you need to calm down. Another good news?" I curiously asked as I stood next to him, turning my gaze towards the TV, "a news about a politician?"

"Yeah, while I was in Tokyo helping my friend with the case from before, I received a call that a certain politician, Kitagawa Sano, was pressuring the establishments around the shop, including our shop. He wanted to build more restaurants and hotels in the area to boost the tourism here"

"And what happened to that politician?" I again asked, and dad was still having this creepy smile "dad, you are creeping me out"

"Well, he was caught last night. Police released search warrant to his restaurants and hotels. In the basement of those places, there are illegal gamblings, sex trafficking, and more illegal trades. At the same time, an article came out showing that he is having an affair, with the wife of his secretary"

...

"Wow... he is surely a one heck of a politician. The evidence against him just came out all at the same time?"

"No, there were lots before already. But always remember this (f/n), in this world, some people with money, some people in power, they are being backed up by laws even though they do wrong things that is why they can freely do whatever they want to. But I am glad, the police couldn't hide him anymore because it was all over the news. Well, I am thankful that we are avoiding the worst scenarios"

"Not so fast my dears, I said breakfast is ready" we flinched as mom's voice came from behind "I said no rush since I'll be sending you, but if you don't hurry, you two will be late"

"Let's go, the boss is calling us, and her getting mad will be out worst scenario" dad put his arm around my shoulder then patted it "we'll wait for the news that you win the prefectural. We'll watch the regional instead, okay?"

"Please don't preasure me." I laughed and we head to eat breakfast

~

Mom sent me first before dad, and to my surprise,

"Basketball team surely have lots of time" I chuckled dryly looking at Akashi, Reo-nee, and I think the guy who was with Reo-nee before near our shop "you are again here"

"We don't have anything today. We don't even have practice today" Reo-nee responded with a smile

"Ah, right. Only Archery has a tournament right after the exam." I complained with a smile "anyways, have fun watching. Though there's really nothing to watch."

"(F/n)-chan's posture is beautiful to watch"

"Thank you, Reo-nee. I should watch yours too." I gasped then glared at Akashi "you have never told me your games"

"Sei-chan hasn't played, or more like, it's unnecessary"

...

Unnecessary?

"Ah... yeah, you are winning without him. If they lose one game, you are all dead" I smiled then turned on the side since the twins are here already "of course, Jiro is here as well. You guys have lots of time"

"Tournament is next week for soccer team. We don't have practice since it's after exam" Jiro made a peace sign

"Annoying, get out of here" Rio was so irritated, and it's still early

"Don't mind her. Someone just greeted her a while ago. Seemed from another school" Jiro laughed then patted her head "don't mind her, just show it through games"

Ahh, probably that girl from the different school. I remembered that Rio and Sayaka didn't like that girl. I totally forgot her name though, but she's beautiful

"Wow, you guys do have lots of time" Sayaka arrived then yawned "morning is really hard" she then hugged Rio and chuckled "were you harassed by Amemiya Ryoko-chan's minions? I just entered and they already called me a loser."

Rio sighed and hugged her back "I want to win against those bitches"

"Don't focus too much on someone we aren't going to face today. No unofficial matches as well, it's prohibited" we turned around and it was Kuwabe-sensei, with Himeko-senpai and Mitsuki-senpai "understand?" He asked and looked at me

"Why are you looking at me? I don't even know her" I retorted

"She has her eyes on you" Himeko-senpai chuckled "anyways, let's go and we need to register our names again."

Jiro told us that they would go to the bench already, and he and the others would wait and support us from there.

"Senpai, who was the other guy with Akashi? Do you know him?" I curiously asked Mitsuki-senpai

"Hmmm? Hayama-kun, Hayama Koutaro-kun. Why?" She asked me back

"Nothing, I saw him before with Reo-nee, I just remembered."

~

We registered our names again, even though there were only few schools left in Prefectural.

After registering, we just waited inside while preparing our equipment and self.

~

I was stretching while waiting for our turn. Since there were few schools left, morning would include the team competition, then in the afternoon, the individual competition.

And after two hours of waiting, our turn finally arrived. We were all focused that surprisingly, we didn't even notice that the game had already ended.

~lunch~

"Wow, (f/n)'s lunch looks so delicious. Your mom made it?" Mitsuki-senpai got her phone out then took picture of my lunch

"You can also have some, senpai. My mom is a good cook. I learned from her a lot."

"It's really okay?!" She excitedly asked me then handed her lunch "then, you can have some mine too."

In the end though, we all shared our lunch, in which they complimented mine a lot.

~

For the afternoon, I was part of the first group for individual competition. Well, I am well prepared and my focus was still in top notch.

I again finished my turn fast. Well, five consecutive shots right at the center of the target.

"And that's how it should be"

"Good job. You can take a rest now. The others are with Akashi-san. They said that you should join them there" Kuwabe-sensei patted my head then patted Sayaka's and Rio's back next "your turn next. Good luck"

Instead of joining Akashi and the others, I stood on the side and watched Rio and Sayaka's match.

I didn't know what happened but the two looked so stiff so sudden. They both missed the center target, and even scored one 8 point. Though good thing, not just them, but others on their group as well.

As the match continued, couple of girls stood next to me and surely directly mocking me

"See, Rakuzan isn't that special. They are below average"

Seeing their uniform, they are from that same school with Amemiya Ryoko. Ahh, her minions, probably.

They kept on commenting on the side, and their voices were getting loud.

"If you don't shut up, you'll be thrown out" I commented as I turned around "also, keep looking down to Rakuzan and you'll be bitten in the end" I left them and just went to the bathroom first before joining the others

~

But to my surprise, these minions really had lots of time on their hands. They were waiting for me outside the bathroom, with their bow and arrows

"You guys again? You sure have lots of time" I told them and was about to leave again when they blocked the way "what?"

"We'll show you how weak your school is!"

I looked at them pitifully and sighed "are you guys part of your school's team? Or individual?"

"We are part of our school of course! We are going to the Regional tournament, and that's natural!"

"Then you know that unofficial matches will lead to disqualification, right? Or you are just baiting your school's rival teams?" I chuckled and looked at them again "if you have lots of time, go ahead and use it to practice instead"

Though I wanted to leave already, these minions were firmly blocking the way

"Guys, stop that. She looks pitiful" a familiar voice, well, not very familiar, but I knew that voice. It's Amemiya Ryoko, she's... yeah, beautiful. What description should I say again?

"Amemiya-sama, this low-class human is cowering in fear. We wanted to show her how powerful our school is, but she is declining our offer"

"Oh my, she's unexpectedly coward"

...

I blinked fast and laughed at them "oh gosh, how dirty players you are. You know perfectly that you can be disqualified by playing unofficial matches, but here you are trying to agitate me. Which between us is coward? All I could see is bunch of people trying to loose in an unofficial  match because you can't win in an official match"

"You-"

"(F/n)" the voice of the person I didn't expect just came out from behind them "you supposed to meet up with us"

"Well yeah, but these bunch of losers are blocking my way. They are asking for unofficial match" I responded as this red-hair guy approached me

"Unofficial matches are prohibited. If you want to be disqualified then go ahead" he immediately answered then glared at me

"Don't look at me like that. I was doing my best to go back already. They were so persistent blocking the way"

"Let's go" he said and we passed Amemiya and her minions, but...

I think they were blushing. Did they fall into Akashi's pit with just that?!

~

I walked next to Akashi and we were on our way to meet up with others. The game was still on going, seems the boys category at the moment.

"By the way Akashi, how did you know I was there?"

"..."

"..."

"I didn't know you were there. I just came out of the bathroom" he responded. What was that pause though?

"Ah is that so?" Well, as if I could press question more to that. If he said so, then I would just comply to that "anyways, I wanted to ask again, you sure have lots of time. Is it really okay for you to be here?"

"It's fine. We don't have any practice today. I also need to make sure of something" he stopped then turned to me "you should have joined us immediately after your game"

"Well, I got worried with Sayaka and Rio, so I wanted to watch it closely. I felt that something happened to them before their match. I think something did happen"

"Ah there he is. Seijurou!" The two of us looked over that voice and it was Jiro, with... Kari-san?

"Thank you, Jiro-sama!" Kari-san bowed down and I could see the anxious expression from him.

This is... Kari-san, right? Somehow, a different person from last time.

"Why are you here?"

"My apologies, your father wants you to immediately go to Osaka. I'm here to pick you up. Ken is waiting for us" it was then I flinched when his gazed suddenly changed towards me. He might feel that I was staring at him "Hello again, young lady!"

"H-hello..." why do I feel like this is the first time I meet him?

"S-sorry! Young lady, did I offend you?! You've been staring at me indifferently!"

Ah.. this exaggerating reaction...

"No, sorry for staring. Somehow, I felt like this is the first time we met, though it's not. You seemed different from last time. My apologies"

"D-different...?"

"Ah, just you look taller, then your voice is manlier and deeper. The way you talk as well, last time you talked like a lady" I reasoned out but immediately apologize "but I'm sorry. It's just me. Don't mind me. Your exaggerating reaction though is still the same"

"..."

"So you met Kari-san already. That's a surprise. But anyways, Seijurou, go now. The tournament is done anyways, at least (f/n)-chan's" Jiro chuckled then seriously told Akashi

"Yeah" Akashi looked at me first then leave, in which Kari-san also bowed down toward us then followed Akashi

What's with that look though? It was as if I said something wrong... well, I actually did. I was so rude to Kari-san. I shouldn't have told him.

"Ah, Akashi-sama left already?!" This time it was Himeko-senpai

"Seijurou just left senpai. Is something wrong?"

"Well nothing. Just want to clarify some stuffs, and I think, if he is, then I need to thank him"

"Thank him?" I curiously asked

"Yeah, do you know the politician, Kitagawa Sano?"

Kitagawa Sano?

"I know him. I saw the news this morning" I told her and Jiro just remained silence

"Yeah, well, I was shocked about his shaddy business, but what we were really surprised was his cheating"

"Are you related to him? Or to the woman?"

"I am related to his secretary. His secretary is my uncle"

What a small world...!

"My family was already telling him that his wife was cheating. We didn't know who though. It was just a hunch because he didn't look like their 2nd daughter. My uncle was complete shocked last night that he was sent to the hospital. Who wouldn't? The man you worked for all of your life, betrayed you by cheating with his wife. My uncle though didn't know about his shaddy business, that's one thing I can testify"

"It will be hard for him from now on. Is it okay to ask though why are you going to thank Akashi? Also, why is Akashi involved into this?"

"I also don't know. That's why I am going to ask him. It's just my cousin was  going hysterical last night and saying that it was all that Akashi Seijurou's fault. I don't know, but she was saying that since the news broke out"

"Akashi's fault? I wonder why is Akashi is involved into this" I curiously asked in which Himeko-senpai also shook her head

"Well... In my perspective, I could say that it's because of you, (f/n)-chan"

...

I looked at Jiro and pointed at myself  dumbfounded to what I just heard

"Me?! I don't even know that news until I heard from my dad this- Ah!" I gasped and felt cold sweat ran through my body "because our shop was one of the affected establishment?!"

"Eh? Your shop? I don't know that your shop is one of the affected establishments. Well, his shaddy businesses were bound to be out. The cheating though... supposedly, it would be given to him privately"

"Then why I am involved?!" I anxiously asked

"Calm down. Let's go somewhere quieter"

~

We were able to find a place where there was not much of people, and thankfully there was a bench.

Himeko-senpai sent a message to sensei that we would be seeing them later.

"Ishikawa-kun, why are you just standing?" Himeko-senpai asked Jiro, who was just standing in front of us

"Don't mind me. I am fine just standing. I also prefer talking to someone facing them"

"Then?" I looked at him and I could see him flinched "why is the reason of Akashi's involvement is me?"

"You heard of Mashima Karen-san?"

"Mashima Karen-san?" I shook my head then looked at Himeko-senpai "senpai, you have the same last name, do you know her?"

"She's my cousin. My father and her father are brothers"

"Eh?"

"Yeah. Karen-san is Himeko-senpai's cousin, and the daughter of the Kitagawa Sano's secretary"

...

"Sorry, please continue. Because at this moment, I have zero idea to why I am involved in this"

Jiro seriously looked at me as he crossed his arms then sighed

"That Karen-san is Kise Ryouta's fan, and also the person who secretly wrote and published that gossip article about you last Tuesday"

...

"Eh? That was Karen?! It was anonymous though"

"Seijurou easily found her. The article was erased that day as well, but lots had read it already. Seijurou talked to her last Tuesday and told her what she wrote was a slander to his friends. He warned her that if she write something like that again, Seijurou would show her what a real gossip article is"

"She wrote again...?"

"Wednesday morning, an article was uploaded again in Rakuzan's website, but we were able to delete it right away. Seijurou again talked to her and that time he already told her that a real gossip article related to her would be released, and she needs to look forward to it."

"Just because of the article?" I asked but Jiro sighed

"Indeed at first, but the 2nd article... it was all lies about you. Slandering you, and even exaggerated what happened during middle school. We know it was because of jealousy, but she went overboard."

"I didn't know that Karen wrote that. So wait, then the cheating was originally should be done in private?" Himeko-senpai questioned and received a nod from Jiro

"Yes, but Seijurou decided to release it in public. He felt bad to her father, but..." Jiro looked at me and smiled a little "Seijurou was really pissed when he read the article. To be honest, I didn't know the connection of Karen-san to the politician until last night. I just heard everything from father. That's why the shaddy businesses were bound to be released, but in my perspective the cheating article was because Seijurou got pissed from what Karen-san did to you."

"I am thankful but he should have ignored the issue"

"He couldn't. She also sent the article outside Rakuzan telling them that if they want some news later on about you if your name get famous, they could use that. Well, we were able to track them down, and yeah, we exchanged other information instead for them to ignore the gossip article"

"I think it's understandable if I am in Akashi-sama's place. Not all could do what he could do, and that's an advantage of him and his friends; to correct things that must be corrected. It was in a way directly affected Karen, a punishment for what she did" Himeko-senpai commented then chuckled "in the end, I really need to thank Akashi"

"The cheating is one, but I am surprised as well that your shop is one of the affected establishments of Kitagawa's renovation project. Masaomi-sama asked my father about the project plan because Kitagawa requested my father first to take the project as the architect. Masaomi-san is actually partnered with one of the shops, and he knows some owners in the area as well. Furthermore, There's a small store affected that Masaomi-sama personally knows for a long time now. I think that was the biggest mistake of Kitagawa, for relaying his plan to my father"

"You father declined the offer?" I curiously asked and Jiro made this one big smile

"Yeah, because father didn't want the idea at all. He also questioned about the basements and undeground areas, but received vague answers. Father said from there on, the investigation of his shaddy businesses started"

"To think that someone like him has a gut to run for a prime minister on the next national election, I'm glad we found out his shenanigans" Himeko-senpai stood up then stretched her hands, surprisingly she patted my head "Akashi-sama didn't say anything to you is probably because it's not just because it's you. You might be the trigger for it to be announced in public, but nothing would change if it was in private. Kitagawa cheated, and his mistress was his secretary's wife. That one couldn't be changed no matter what. I feel like even we found out about it privately, everyone would know since it's connected to Kitagawa"

"You are right. It just it happened that it was me. I am sure if it's someone of Akashi's friends then he would do the same thing." I stood up and chuckled "but I also need to thank him"

"Now it reminded me, Seijurou mentioned about rewards or something. I think he said you wouldn't ask him about it. Seems like he thinks that you know about the shop, but didn't ask about it"

"I only found out about it this morning. First of all, when it comes to our shop, I mostly have no knowledge about conflicts unless my parents tell me"

"Classic (f/n)"

"Ah, sensei is looking for us now (f/n)." Himeko-senpai got her phone then showed me the message "he needs to talk to all of us. Let's go" Himeko-senpai walked back first

"Yes, let's go" I also stood up then turned to Jiro first "by the way Jiro, congrats, you are having a progress with Sayaka"

He made a big wide smile and a peace sign "yeah, as I said, this is the first time for me. I can't just back out"

"Good luck. There's a change in Sayaka's perspective as well. So good luck"

But I was surprised when suddenly he whispered "I'll also support you with Seijurou" he winked then followed Himeko-senpai

Knowing what happened, I should thank Akashi. It should me that needs to give him rewards.

~Akashi~

"Then, why is Seijurou-sama having this scary face?" Ken curiously asked as he was standing beside the car

"..." Kari looked at Akashi then nervously smiled to his brother

"Huh? What's with that smile?"

"Kari, you are banned to show yourself to (f/n) for the meantime. You understand, right? You and Rika are not allowed to personally show yourself to her"

"What happened?"

"The young lady noticed that it's the first time we meet today. She noticed lots of differences from the Kari she met before and the Kari right now."

"...Now, what a dangerous young lady we have encountered" Ken commented in which his lips were smiling, but his eyes weren't at all

"Yeah, she is. That's why you are not allowed to show yourself to her for the meantime, understand?"

"Yes."

~

However, a week since Akashi warned him...

"My apologies for showing myself here, young lady. However, you are the only one I can think of"

~TBC~