Yui blinking countless times as she opened her eyes. The light made her eyes dazzled for a moment and she had to get used to it. Her head no longer ached, she also no longer wore a white uniform with blood stains. Someone has changed her clothes.

She lowered her head, looking at her palms. Trying to clench her  bandaged right hand, but the stinging sensation that was so piercing to the flesh made her groan. She then spread her gaze around the room. She could not remember since when she had been at her house. The last thing she remembered, she was in the music room. When Risa found her curled up in pain.

Wait a minute. Risa?

Once again her eyes swept around the room. She had just realized, there was a human figure in white sitting at her study table. The girl folds her arms on the table and uses them as a pillow. A small snoring sound is heard every time the person breathes.

Why is she here?  

The girl slowly got down from her bed, stepping slowly toward Risa. She try not to make unnecessary sounds at every steps. Risa is still wearing her school uniform, the fabric is a bit shabby and there is a blood stain on the sleeve of the blazer.

Yui frowned. A feeling of worry rose in her mind. Is she hurt? Did I accidentally attack her? She almost grabbed Risa's arm and checked it herself, but she held back her action. Seeing Risa's peaceful sleeping face made Yui stop doing that.

That face looks soft. There is no stern and unfriendly expression that Risa usually shows. Her face while sleeping is almost like the old Risa. When they first met at the age of 8. Almost nothing has changed from Risa except her physique which is getting taller, stronger and her face is getting more and more beautiful. Especially when she decided to cut her hair to shoulder length.

Maybe because she felt stared at, Risa muttered. Her eyelids moved and she finally opens her eyes. Those sleepy brown eyes stared at Yui, and it made her chuckle.

"Why are you still here? It's 5 o'clock. You have to go home." Yui said.

Risa stretched her body. Her neck ached as she tried to turn her head. She shouldn’t sleep on the table and Risa knew very well if that is a stupid decision. She is now fully awake, although she had to be careful not to turn her head too hard.

"Sorry, what did you say earlier?" Risa asked.

"Why are you here?"

Risa smiled a little. She didn't answer Yui's question about the reason she was in her room. but instead she said, "Are you okay now?" Her hand then touched Yui's jaw, she turned her head, checking every inch of her face.

Yui growled lightly at Risa's treatment so she stepped back. Her face was annoyed because Risa ignored her question. Moreover, the tall girl is currently laughing because Yui's expression too funny for her.

"Your uniform.." Yui looked at the lower sleeve of Risa's uniform. Where there is a blood stain that starts to turn brown.

"You hurt me earlier. Biting my wrist like a mad dog. It was so painful, I don't even feel the pain anymore.” Risa explained. Of course that was a lie, she just did it because she wanted to tease Yui. She then touched her wrist, pretending to be in pain. “Even so, I can carry you up to the clinic. And this wound received 12 stitches. "

Hearing Risa's explanation, Yui immediately shuffled backwards towards the wall. Yui's sudden movements made Risa a little surprised. The combination of expressions of fear, sadness and disbelief was evident on Yui’s face.

“R-Risa .. I'm sorry! Really, I don't know. It's not me, I'm sorry." Yui said in a cracked voice. She really did not expect that she had attacked her own friend.

She looked at Risa, the girl was still touching her wrist and it made Yui feel even more guilty. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. Yui was about to cry. Whatever Risa does, her acting in pretending to hurt should be given thumbs up. She should consider joining the theatre club.

"You better stay away from me."

Inside her heart Risa shouted triumphantly. She then stepped forward and completely ignored Yui's words. Her steps were firm and sure, the way of a military. Yui glared at Risa who was ignorant, so she kept trying to get away from Her. As Risa stepped forward, Yui stepped back.

Yui's back hit the wall and that meant there was nowhere else for her to get away from Risa. While the girl was standing in front of her, looking down at her with a flat gaze.

Unexpectedly, Risa then smiled broadly. She raised her arm, rolled her sleeve up to her elbow. Yui realized there were no wounds, her hands looked smooth as usual without any stitch marks or anything like what Risa said.

"I lied. Don't cry, I'm fine."

"WATANABE RISA!"

Yui didn't know what else to do. She was trapped, and it made Risa laugh even more proudly at her victory. There was something in her heart, a feeling of relief. Knowing that Risa is fine. Risa then raised her hand, rubbed Yui's head. Risa's face, which was originally nosy, now becomes more serious.

Yui said, “You know that can't be a joke. I don't know what will happen if she takes over my body."

"You said you can control it?" Risa stepped back, giving Yui space to sit back down on her bed.

Yui humming. A few seconds of silence with Risa who was patiently waiting for an answer. "Yes... and no," She finally answered. "I've been practicing. Trying various things so she can make peace with me. It may sound funny, but I wish the two of us could swap whenever I want. "

"Then what happened to make you bleed?"

"I heard something. Continuous, loud whispering sound, they were numerous. That whisper broke the blood vessels in both my ears. They said about the incident, Risa. They say it over and over again."

Yui sighed heavily. She rubbing her forehead with her unbandaged hand. Her index finger pressed against her temples. Risa walked slowly and sat beside Yui.

"Maybe she was angry or something, she said if it was my fault. It's all my fault that's why they haunted me. My head felt like it was about to burst, just at that time she tried to take over my body. But I fought with all my might until my nose bleeding. But she didn't give up, so I had no other choice." Yui raised her bandaged hand. There was a blood red color seeping out from the bandage, "I have to bring my consciousness back even with the pain."

Yui gave an example of how she had cut her hand that deep. Using her unharmed hand, she made a movement like she is gripping something.

“Damn, Yui! You broke the thick glass just by gripping it! How do you do that?"

"I don't know how, really. Just grip it, that's all."

They were silent, no one issued their voice to answer or ask again. All deep in thought. Yui with her thoughts about her other personality, and Risa about whatever she thinks right now.

Risa knew Yui had tremendous potential as a member of The Elites. She was never too prominent in the group. Yui also chose not to be troubled and still maintain her dignity. She remains the Yui she used to know.

"Where's Yuuka?"

Should you ask about her when we're together like this? Risa is disappointed. And Yui clearly knew that from Risa who didn't answer anything when she asked where Yuuka was. Actually she didn't want to make Risa hurt, but she really needed to know, considering what had happened today.

Yui gently shook Risa's shoulder, hoping that Risa would answer her question. Her attempt was successful, Risa finally wanted to answer. Even in a flat tone. “I borrowed Yuuka's car and brought you here. Your father asked me to. I don't know about her, maybe she’s with Karin or Moriya back at school. They should have gone home right now."

Yui nodded slowly. At least she had a reference if she wanted to ask about Yuuka. She looked at Risa closely. It had been a long time since they had spent time together like this and Yui really missed having Risa beside her. Besides Yuuka, Risa is a person who always understands her.

Risa got up from the bed, straightened her uniform. "I think it's time for me to go home." looking out of the window, the sunlight was no longer coming in through the curtains. The lamp outside Yui's house were starting to light up as well.

She didn't want to be left alone — no, She couldn't let Risa just leave Her. Yui wanted to ask Risa to stay a little longer. But when she tried to get her voice out, her throat caught. She could only watch Risa tidy up her belongings.

"Wait,"

"Hm?"

“Can't you stay with me, please? At least, until my dad comes home."

Risa is disappointed. Very disappointed. She couldn't help but get angry when Yui asked Her about Yuuka. But she couldn't say no to Yui. Especially if she spoke in a soft voice — which is Risa's main weakness.

Putting her  ego aside, she finally nodded slowly. She put her bag back on the floor and opened the bedroom door. She also took off her blazer and hung the cloth behind the door. "I'll get you something to eat." She said coldly.

After Risa closed her bedroom door, Yui still didn't move from her place. She just stretched her hand to take the smartphone that was above the nightstand. She opens the chat app, looks for a contact and starts typing. Just to be sure, she sent a message to Yuuka.

Message sent, but only shows one check mark. That means Yuuka isn't turning on her smartphone or maybe her cellular data is turned off. Or it could be that the cellphone battery runs out and she forgets to recharge it again. Yui sighed, she walked out of Yuuka's chatroom. Switch to The Elites groupchat.

She had several unread conversations between Hono, and Seki and Karin. Judging from the timing it seemed like this afternoon. They only asked about Yui's condition, and Karin asked how the school was doing when The Elites were busy.

Kobayashi Yui
I am fine.
I can’t move my left palm.
But I'm alive, thank you.

Tamura Hono
Thank God.
I thought you were in a coma or something..
There's a lot of blood in the music room!
How can you survive after losing that much blood

Seki Yumiko
Can you type?

Kobayashi Yui
Of course I can. See?

Seki Yumiko
Congratulations
I thought they would cut your hand off.
Joke aside. When you were away, there was a scene at school. Looks like from a third grade building.
Someone said it about fights

Fujiyoshi Karin
I've taken care of that, don't worry

Kobayashi Yui
Is that so?
Thanks.

"Yuuka and Moriya look close, right?"

Risa's voice made Yui lift her head. The girl closed the door with an elbow thrust as both hands held the tray, on top of which was a plate of curry, with half-boiled eggs. She also brought two cup of warm coffe.

When Risa put the tray on the table, the hot curry smell immediately swept Yui's sense. Indeed, Her stomach growl as soon as she smelled the delicious smell of curry. She also put down her cellphone.

"Seems so." Yui chuckled. But her laugh did not seem sincere. Rather, it describes disappointment.

She could hear Risa snort. "Are you sad?"

Yui shrugged and chose not to answer. She looking at plate of delicious curry on the nightstand, She carefully used her hand to take the plate. "Ah, shit." Yui cursed. The pain from her wound immediately made her cancel the action. The pain was like electrocuting the tiny nerves in her hand so that she could feel the pain up to her elbow.

Without saying much, Risa took the plate. She took a spoonful of rice with thick curry then looked at Yui, "Open your mouth."

"What the hell? No. Come on, let me do it myself,"

"With that hand? No, no... come on, open your mouth. Or I will be the one who eat this delicious food."

She looked closely at Risa. The girl, again, handed her a spoonful of rice waiting for Yui. Finally she opened her mouth and received a bribe from Risa. At that instant, Yui felt like she was going to melt. She is really embarrassed now, the heat in her ears is getting worse. Therefore, after accepting Risa's bribe, she immediately shook her head softly while muttering.

It was to disguise the embarrassment that ran across her face.

"I'm afraid there really are traitors among The Elites." Risa started.

"You want to accuse Karin in front of me again?"

"I'm just worried, okay? Please understand. No one knows the truth of the case apart from us and Hirate who is somewhere. Isn't it strange if someone scratched my car with that writing?"

Risa then continued, “There were no active surveillance cameras at school that early so there was no physical evidence. Too bad." She exhaled slightly harshly. “But Karin was standing there, right beside my car. Isn't it natural that I was suspicious of her."

“Just because she’s never been cooperative doesn't mean she is a traitor. I understand that kid better than you." Yui replied.

Putting the plate on the nightstand, Risa replied again. "I'm not kidding. We all can go to jail if that case gets exposed!” Risa replied in a high voice. Her hands squeezed the cloth of her uniform skirt until her fingers turned white. "We have to start moving. If you don't want, I will."

Yui raised her head. Risa is right. The crimes they have committed cannot be hidden forever. Carrion that are buried will not always be buried in the ground. There will be a time its dug up and just appears on the ground.

“We can start by looking for who sent the mysterious message. Seki might help a lot." Finally She said. “and you better not accusing her either.”

When she turned her head to see the expression on Risa's face, the tall girl was staring back at her. The dim light from the table lamp near her bed allowed Yui to clearly see Risa's brown iris. It made Yui sink into her beautiful dark color. Risa shifted her seat closer to Yui.

Like hypnosis, Yui didn't move an inch. Even though she knew Risa was getting closer beside her and didn't take her face away from Yui at all. As a good girl, Yui should have moved away as soon as Risa approached her. But Risa's deep gaze made Yui almost forget everything — even about Yuuka.

"Why do you have to be with her, Yui?"

"Huh..?"

Risa brought her head closer, bringing her face closer to Yui's. Then she stopped and looked at Yui at such a close distance. Only five centimeters, just five centimeters distance between them. Yui could feel Risa's warm breath on her face and it gave her chills.

Yui held her breath. The atmosphere in her room turned heavy, tense. The sound of someone's footsteps pacing outside the room door was unable to make Risa move from her position. Her eyes shifted, turning their attention to the bookshelf beside the study table. She did not expect that Risa started acting bold now. And she also cursed herself why her body wouldn't move away according to her brain's command.

Risa herself is not that different either. She wavered between wanting and not wanting. But seeing Yui's lips that look tempting, Risa's desire to kiss her intensifies. Even without an order, Risa's hand was already presumptuous to slip the strands of hair covering Yui's beautiful face behind her ears then touched Yui's cheek and stroke it gently.

Once again Risa stole a glance on the lips of the girl in front of her. Her eyes then went up and looked at Yui as if asking permission. Yui didn't give any response but squeezed the gray shirt Risa was wearing. Risa muttered, she tilted her head,

"Stop."

A gentle push on her chest made Risa then open her eyes. Why did Yui refusing at the bad time? Seriously?

"Why?"

Yui was silent and didn't answer. Her chest felt so tight She took a deep breath and let it go slowly. She rose to her feet. Walked away to her desk, pulled out the chair and sat down.

"Go home. Before the night gets late. You're using Yuuka's car, right? She's waiting for the car, hurry up."

A painful blow hit her chest. She left her mouth open for a few moments. Risa's face showed deep disappointment and unbearable pain. She lowered her head, looked at her hands that were clenched above her thighs.

Then she stood up, walking past Yui's back without saying a word. Take the bag, put it on the shoulder and white blazer behind the door. She paused for a moment as her hand grabbed the doorknob. She shook her head, struggled to shake off her frustration and stepped out from the room.

----

“You don't know the consequences of the trouble you do! Kobayashi withdrew almost half of its investment from my company! And you know what's worst, Yuuka? Do you know? She refused to sign the unification agreement. Is there anything worse?"

Mr. Sugai knocked the table very hard. Several items such as tissue boxes and empty glasses were thrown and fell apart. Yuuka frowned in surprise, but she couldn't do anything.

"Why are you always being a barrier for me to get money? Where do you think you could get all these perks if it weren't for me?” her father stood up and started walking towards Yuuka. His heavy steps made Yuuka slowly back away.

SLAP

Yuuka almost lost her balance. Her cheeks immediately felt burning. She felt her arm being gripped so hard that it was very painful. Her father dragged her into the kitchen, she struggling but the grip on her arm felt even stronger. Her bones could fracture if her father continued to do that.

The servants at home couldn't help her — Yuuka knew that. No one dared to go against her father, all were afraid of him. No one will help her now.

She notice her father took a broom from the cupboard. Yuuka frowned, she didn't know who to ask for help. She know what her father would do to her.

"Why must your mother die? Why not you!"

One hit to her body, her shoulder to be precise. Her collarbone throbbed with pain, especially when her father lifted the broom handle and hit her again. Yuuka could only curl up without saying anything because if she cry out or complaining, her father would torment her even more.

"Aren't you ashamed of yourself? I'm even embarrassed! Why do you have to bear the name Sugai! Fights at school, even endanger the life of Kobayashi's daughter. You're really incompetent! Useless!"

Yuuka could only let out a muffled groan. She couldn't even cry, her tears had been drained for this. This is not the first time her father has hit her, but this is the first time her father has hit her with something like a broom.

Her father continued to beat her while screaming, yelling at Yuuka with harsh words. The girl could only protect her head, hoping that her father would not hit that vital part of her body. But that means she has to sacrifice other parts of her body.

Her feet and hands left red marks from the beating. Some even bleed. Seeing her condition like that, her father should stop torturing her. But no, her father was even more violent. He poured out all of his outrageous anger on his own daughter. It doesn't matter that Yuuka has started groaning because she is no longer able to endure the pain.

Fifteen minutes passed. But to Yuuka that fifteen minutes seemed like an eternity. Just now her father left her alone in the kitchen. He slammed the broom on the floor and walked away with fiery steps. Yuuka could hear her father going back and forth in the living room — there was a jingling sound, so Yuuka assumed her father took his key.

And sure enough, a few seconds after that there was the sound of a car from the yard of the house as well as the sound of a heavy iron fence being opened. Knowing Mr. Sugai had left, several maid rushed over to Yuuka and helped her up. Others took a First Aid Kit box.

"Oh, God. I can't believe Mr. Sugai is do this again.” Said the old man, he is about 54 years old, the head chef at home. The man opened the medicine box and took a cotton ball as well as a bottle of alcohol.

"Oh no. I'm fine, really — ow! "

Yuuka grimaced. The alcohol made the wound feel like it was torn apart so she couldn't continue her sentence. He carefully cleaned the wound before finally applying the bandages, as well as some band aid for small wounds.

The other waiter handed me a bag filled with ice and she gladly accepted it.

“He really gone too far this time. Should we just report this to the police, Miss Sugai? Since Mrs. Sugai died, she's been acting arbitrarily here."

Reporting her father to the police is not the right idea. Nobody will believe the report they will give because outside, Mr. Sugai is a respectable person and is always polite when dealing with others. She acts like a good father when outside the house, but then turns into a demon while in her own house.

"Better not." Yuuka smiled weakly. Her hands were still busy compressing her swollen shoulders. She stood up slowly, “that will only get all of you in trouble. I'm fine, I can handle this. Dont worry." She gave them one last smile before walking towards her room.

In the room, Yuuka immediately sat down. She left the window wide open. The night breeze can easily get into the room, it makes the temperature feel colder. Whenever her father finished torturing Yuuka, she always went somewhere. And will be home in two days, or so. It depends.

In those two days, at least, Yuuka could breathe calmly.

Lifting her hand, she looked at the ring wrapped around her left finger. The platinum ring gleamed beautifully when the light hit its surface.

Yui has another pair of the ring. Ah, just because you everything got messed up. She talked to herself, more precisely to the ring that was wrapped around her finger. For her, her life is shackled only because of her father's selfishness.

Then her memory flashes back when she invited Yui to stay at her house. She didn't really remember the moment of the day and thought it was a wind from the past. But now she is alone in her room, every fragment of memories playing back in her head.

When she trapped Yui under her body. When her hands presumptuously taking off the pieces of fabrics she was wearing. When they kiss passionately, releasing all of their burdens with full of lust. When Yui muttered her name..

Suddenly it made her want to bang her head against the wall. “DAMN, SUGAI YUUKA! YOU JERK! WHATS GOTTEN INTO YOU!"

She ruffled her hair with a rough hiss. Yuuka started to question her sanity. Staring at the cellphone screen, there are several notifications.

Kobayashi Yui
Are you all right? Where are you?

Message from Yui. From the timing, Yuuka knew right away that it was a message from two hours ago.

Sugai Yuuka
I'm home, Pon.
I'm fine. Why do you ask that? I should have be the one who ask

The sound of the car roared again. This time followed by a loud honk. Yuuka put her smartphone on the bed and walked to the window to look outside. Her car is parked in the garage. Once in perfect position, the driver got out.

Risa looked up when she realized Yuuka was watching her from the second floor of her room, the short-haired girl smiled briefly. “Stop looking at me like you see a thief. Look, I got your car back and filled the gas tank." She said half screaming so that Yuuka could hear her voice.

She narrowed her eyes, noticing something strange about Yuuka. "Is it okay if I stop by for a moment?"

----

“In a few days there will be huge commotion at school. This will be an interesting spectacle,"

"It is true. But aren't we overreacting, huh? Besides, why do we have to do it secretly?"

“It's not worth what they have done. No, I won't let them go after killing those five people. They must pay for everything, if possible, they must pay with their lives. And just so you know, they are really strong. If they find out who did this to them, they will not hesitate to erase your existence from here — dead, if you ask."

"Well, when do we submit an inquiry request to police. So they can reopen the case?"

"No. I don't want to involve those useless people. I want to destroy them with my own hands. You think like that too, don't you? Inoue?"