I.

It was a day of blue skies and cherry blossoms danced together with the wind. I can't even believe that it was already spring.

My name is Sendo Yuri. I was born in January 14. My height is 160 cm and I refuse to reveal my weight, thank you. I am 16 years old and I'm just one of those ordinary teenage girls that everyone sees everyday.

What kind of ordinary girl, you ask me?

The kind of girl that'll strive hard for victory and success. The kind of girl who will do everything for the happiness of the people she love. The kind of girl who loves deeply and true. The kind of girl who has perfectionist parents. Yes, I'm one of those kinds of girls.

I graduated middle school at the top of my class due to my parents' high expectations. And I didn't let them down. And I also aim to be at the top this school year.

But I guess it's easier said than done.

I decided to walk on the way to school that day, just to admire the sight of dancing cherry blossoms all over me.

Just as I finally arrive at the school's front gate, a black limousine stopped by in front, making my feet come to a halt as if I had stepped on glue. A man came out of the car and marched to open the backseat door. A boy stepped out, his hair as the color of blood that complemented his eyes, which were heterochromatic.

He noticed my stare and he looked at me. His eyes were like knives, seeping through me and piercing my soul. He was the type of boy that I should avoid.

His lips twitched up to a smirk and I looked away, feeling embarrassed and my feet struggled to get away from the imaginary glue on the cemented road. I bet I looked like a mad woman at the moment. I start to walk inside the school, passing by him. I can still feel holes through my back, he was still gazing at me. I just feel it. Is it even possible?

Akashi Seijuro. The student council president and team captain of the basketball club. And the one I'm competing with through academics and extracurricular activities. Although it was clear that I was no match for him. He was the perfect epitome of perfect. He was a genius in every way. No more, no less.

While 99% of the female population of Rakuzan High was head over heels on him, I was the only one who find him mysterious. I didn't like his presence at all due to his overwhelming aura. I was that other 1%.

And only today, just today that he and I interacted using our eyes.

I arrived at the classroom and I saw my friends, Yukari and Eri.

I waved at them with a smile to which they returned. "Good morning," I greeted.

"Good morning, Yuri," Eri greeted back then looked through me. "Oh, my God." She breathed then blushed.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"A-Akashi-kun is looking at our direction!" Eri whisper shouted then the two girls held hands and squealed in unison.

I raised an eyebrow in disbelief then sighed. "It can't be helped then." I mumbled to myself then chuckled.

I put my bag aside then sat on my seat, pulling out my novel to continue reading that was halfway finished.

But then I felt strange. I feel as if someone was watching me. I looked at my friends who was chatting and laughing amiably then to the crowd who was minding their own business.

Then I met, once again, those heterochromatic cold eyes that was piercing my hazel ones. With his hands rested on the side of his chin, his eyes narrowed and lips twitched up again into a tightlipped smirk just the same as earlier. It was suddenly haunting me.

I looked away and bookmarked my book. I didn't even progressed. I let out a sigh as I stared at the window, which had a clear view of the blue sky. It somehow relaxes my nerves from the intimidating and creepy intense stare of Akashi.

What have I done to deserve this?

After what seemed like hours, Kurosawa-sensei finally walked in, our homeroom teacher. After discussing a few things about a certain story genre and symbolism, he asked us to get a sheet of paper and we will have our ten item quiz.

After the quiz, we exchanged papers with our seat mate then Kurosawa-sensei proceeded to collect our papers just to double check who had the highest scores.

"With the perfect scores, Sendo and Akashi. As expected."

I tucked a loose strand of strawberry hair behind my ear, wanting to let out a sigh. We were always put together in one sentence right after the quizzes and tests. Will I ever get the top score alone? Will I ever get to the top alone?

"As heiress of the Sendo family, you need to graduate at the top of your class. Strive hard to be at the top of everything you do." My father said to me, his nonchalant eyes that held no bond between mine. "Yuri, you are not allowed to seek help from anyone, you must develop all by yourself. That way, when the time comes when I pass on to your hands our company, the efforts that I've made and our predecessors shall not go to waste."

With my head bowed down, I answered the words that he always expected and wanted to hear. "Yes, father."

I must not disappoint my parents, especially my father who had much expectations from their sole daughter. I, Sendo Yuri, shall aim to be on the top.

After class, I was one of the assigned students for cleaning duty. I tied my shoulder-length red hair into a high ponytail and proceeded to get a mop to sweep the chalk dusted floor.

"Hey, Sendo-san," One of the assigned students for cleaning duty called for me. I looked back at them and they were already at the doorway, ready to leave. "We're going. Thanks for the hard work."

I gave them a half-smile as return of gratitude. "Yeah, thanks for the hard work."

You see, I never really clean at home so I was a slowpoke.

Akashi sat on the corner, playing shogi. He was always like that. Staying late at school either playing shogi, basketball training or just busy running errands because he was the student council president even though we are merely first years.

Just as I finished my cleaning duty, I walked towards to where Akashi sat and he seem too preoccupied to notice.

"Strive hard to be at the top of everything you do."

I took a shogi piece and made a move to which caught Akashi in slight surprise and earned me a gaze from him.

"Oh?" Akashi leaned on his seat and smirked at me. "I'm surprised that you made such a wise move." He commented.

My dead grandfather was a professional shogi player.

"Take a seat," He ordered. His aura abruptly changed. There was something in the way his voice sounded whenever he orders anyone around. And I followed him, instinctively. I took a seat from the chair across from him and he made his move.

Whenever he makes his move, my eyes would narrow. He was just like my grandfather whenever we play shogi. He was moving very observantly, testing the flow and my abilities. When there is an opening, that's when he will attack. This guy...

He was just like my grandfather... Possibly better. And I never once won against him.

"Why did you suddenly went against me?" He suddenly asked after a long period of silence and concentration.

I stared into his eyes, those cold eyes that held no emotion. "It's because I wanted to win. We were always equal to both in academics and extracurricular activities--"

"You are wrong," He said that made my eyes wide in shock. "I am equal to no one. Because I had never once lost in my whole life. And I never will be. In order to seek victory, you must be more merciless, Yuri."

The way he said my name, it left a bittersweet drip to my ears, his confidence and dark aura was much like of a man who rules an empire.

I don't know what to say...

"Yuri," He said sharply that made me snap back. "Your turn."

I looked back to the shogi board then thought of the results of my moves. Then my eyes widened and I looked back at Akashi who was smirking at me.

The damn guy had me around his finger right from the start...

Even if I made move to anything, it will always end up as a checkmate.

"Checkmate." He declared then stood up with his bag.

"I lost." I mumbled, almost to myself with my head down. I'd expected that I will lose. I'm not a professional shogi player, after all.

"But I thank you for the game, it had a bit of a thrill. Even though I already saw the result."

A bit of a thrill, huh?

I just stared at the redheaded boy in front of me. I couldn't believe him.

"And you think I would not notice but I know that you are competing with me through everything." He gave me a smirk once again. "And I wish to stay a foe in front of your eyes."

And that was his cue to take his leave, probably heading to the gym. And he left me alone, along with the shogi board and pieces that was close to a finish.

"Akashi Seijuro," I whispered his name to myself. The name that was crept into my mind for I don't know what seemed like hours.

--

"Yuri," My father called me once we were having dinner. I turned my gaze at my parents who was looking at me like I was nothing but an employee who had done something wrong. "I see that you've been elected as president of the music club."

And it was true, I have mastered five musical instruments and the intelligence that earned me the position of president. The piano, violin, cello, flute and the harp. But that was not enough to impress my parents. That was not enough to win against Akashi.

"Yes, father." I just answered without any emotion whatsoever.

"How about your school work?" My mother asked me.

I can't tell them that I was below the top.

"Yuri, your mother is asking you a question." Father said sharply, his piercing eyes narrowed at me.

"I'm in a middle of a conflict," I said coolly as I took a sip of my tea. "But I can fix it."

"And this person who is above you," My father wondered aloud. "What is the name?"

I pursed my lips as I try to voice out the name of the boy whom I completely don't want to lose to. "Akashi Seijuro."

My father and mother shared knowing looks then started murmuring to each other and I became curious.

"That Akashi?" My father snickered. "Don't you know that their company is our long time rival?"

This is bad. This is utterly and absolutely bad.

"That's the more reason to keep striving to be at the top, Yuri..."

That's the more reason they're going to push me to be at the top.

How am I supposed to win against an emperor...?