The closer the figure, the clearer the light hit her face. The figure smiled a little, staring at Karin who was still trying to process who she had just seen. But then, Karin realized. Her jaw was hard, her neck veins protruded. She might yell at the figure in front of her with curses if a cutter knife was not held in front of her eyes. Making her stifled and could only stare with explosive emotions.

"You raise your voice, I will make sure this knife will pulls out your eyeballs," she threatened. The girl walked over, her hands now resting on the side of the bed.

Karin's breathing slowly getting faster, even her chest felt tight. Her courage was lost as soon as the girl stood very close to her. Swallowing hard, she struggled to say in a broken voice, "What do you want? Is Yuuka not protecting you enough? "

The girl chuckled. Her hands, wearing black rubber gloves, caressed Karin's head which was wet with sweat. "You don't want to ask why I'm doing this Fujiyoshi?" she replied. Karin didn't answer, just glared at her. "that's okay. Besides, you will find out by yourself later."

"If Risa finds out about this, she will kill you." Karin growled. It was hard for her to say more even though she wanted to. Her jaw really hurt her.

"Risa?" the other girl laughed again. "Risa won't know. When she realizes, all she knows is you. You're the traitor, not me. "

"FUCK!" Karin shouted. This time the sound was quite loud, maybe loud enough to sound outside the room. It made the smile of the girl in front of her suddenly disappear. Karin shouldn't have continued whatever she wanted to say right away, but it was too late. "After what we've done, after all we've been through? We believe in you, we protect you, we support you. And what are you doing? What a devil! "

The rubber gloved hands clenched tightly as Karin finished her words, with the word devil at the end of her sentence. With both of the chasing breaths, she placed the cutter knife on the table. Then she tightly shut Karin's mouth, and her other hand pressed firmly on the stab wound that had just been sewn.

Without saying anything, without replying to anything. Just her eyes burning, the pressure she put on the stitches was enough to make Karin growl even though her voice was muffled. Karin gripped the hand, trying to get the silence out of her mouth. The unbearable pain intensified when the stitches were pulled by force. She screamed, tears in the corners of her eyes.

But looks like it's not over yet.

"If only Ozono didn't forbid me to kill you directly, I would do it here. I'll hang your head on that window, so that everyone knows.."

Karin could no longer say anything. All of her energy was drained away. All she can do just focus on the pain in her side. She could only shake her head in panic when the cutter was taken back by the owner. The rubber gloves were now covered in blood, sticky to the handle of the knife.

"Don't say anything about what happened tonight." The voice seemed like a very serious threat to Karin who could only move her head. "Don't you dare to let out a single word. I can do whatever you don't expect, you still love your family, right? You know what will happen if you dare to open your mouth."

"Or, if you want mercy..." she took something from her pocket. A block-shaped object, wrapped in black plastic.

"Put this inside Kobayashi's car. Three days from now. Its explosive power is small, so its won't kill her immediately." The traitor smiled. Waiting for an answer from Karin. "If you do this, maybe I'll spare you."

The tears that had pooled in the corners of her eyes began to fall. The traitor gave her the golden option. She could have accepted the choice given to her. Saving herself from whatever will come to her, from the torments that slowly kill her.

But her loyalty to her friends, to The Elites. Killed Kobayashi? She couldn't possibly kill the person who saved her back then.

"Swallow your bomb. I will never cooperate with a traitor like you!" Karin answered without hesitation.

She then forcefully touched and lifted Karin's left hand. Once again she silenced Karin's mouth. Then with a cutter knife, she sliced Karin's palm into a straight line resembling a number one. It was done very neatly and slowly so that it made Karin tormented even more. Karin struggled, every time she took a breath, her body trembled. She couldn't stand it anymore.

"Even though I intend to forgive you. But apparently you are loyal enough, huh. Your lifespan will run out soon. There's no need to panic. You just have to wait for us to pick you up when the time is come."

Those words sounded faint in Karin's ears. Likewise, when the girl in dark clothes pressed the emergency button and walked out of the room, her blurry eyes could only catch a faint image. Slowly she raised her trembling hand. She closed her eyes tightly when she saw the cut on her palm. That night, is the first time in her life that Karin wanted death.

----

Yui came to school in a bad mood. The clear weather that morning was inversely proportional to her emotions. Tends to be gloomy and dark. If human emotions can be visualized, there may be a small thunderstorm around, complete with lightning and black clouds. Unusually, this time she came by using her own vehicle.

Perhaps other students feel something is missing if Sugai Yuuka is not present with Kobayashi Yui. Because these two people become an iconic couple in Sakurazaka — even though they don't know the truth behind them. So it was natural that they occasionally noticed Yui walking alone towards her class. And indeed that was one of the triggers for Yui's bad mood. Before going to school, she had stopped at Yuuka's house to pick up the girl. But the maid at Yuuka's house says that she hasn't been at home all night, and no one knows her whereabouts.

In fact, Yui had sent several messages to her lover and of course it ended without explanation. Apart from Yuuka, another trigger was the final outcome of the school meeting which intended to be announced today. Then her father, who was furious because of such a big problem at the school she led, the old man brought work problems home.

Maybe he would blame Yuuka again. But isn't that a little weird? Yuuka wasn't even involved in the fight.

A few minutes before the main bell rang, Yuuka jogged from the corridor and entered the classroom, gasping for breath. She immediately sat in place, next to Yui. The girl smiled at her, apologizing for being late. Unfortunately Yui is not focused on Yuuka, but on other students who were passing their class just as Yuuka entered the door.

Clearly, that is Moriya Akane.

The lesson went on as usual. As if nothing had happened there. Other students may feel normal, but for Yui it's a very lonely day. There is no Risa who is always being reprimanded by the teacher for not paying attention, and Karin who is secretly sleeping using books as camouflage. Turning to the side, Yuuka apparently not facing the board but at an empty bench not far from where she sat.

Yui sighed heavily. Maybe the six of them had gotten too close to each other to the point that even one person who wasn't present would make a big difference. She used a pen to touch Yuuka's hand. The girl looked at her with an eyebrow raised.

"We have to go to the hospital this afternoon." Yui whispered. Yuuka smiled. Nod enthusiastically. Even when the focus was already on the explanation the teacher had given her, Yuuka still smiled happily.

Ah, Yui can watch that face all day long. She then turned to her other two friends. Seki, as usual, gave all attention to the ongoing physics lessons. And Hono.. she surprised because it's the first time she was enthusiastic about that one lesson. Maybe Risa's punch hit the damaged side of her brain.

Several hours passed. The lunch bell rang simultaneously, its loud voice made some students surprised but immediately rushed out of the classroom with their respective friends. Some headed for the canteen, there were stops to buy snacks at the vending machines. There are also those who bring their own food and eat in class.

Even with Akane. Whe is one of the few students who chose to buy snacks from a vending machine Her stomach still full from the omelette that Yuuka cooked for their breakfast this morning. That's why they came to school a little late. Besides Yuuka also accidentally burned the napkin. They spent five whole minutes laughing at the student council president's stupidity.

When Akane took out a digital card from her wallet and about to stick it on a scanner, she gasped when she realized the presence of another person beside her. The girl pasted her card first and Akane was surprised because suddenly a hand was sticking out in front of her.

Yui touched the big screen. In the beverage section, she chooses mineral water and in the food section she chooses bento. "Choose whatever you want," she said. The huge machine tinkled, doing its job processing orders.

Akane looked at the girl beside her. Watching her face with some hesitation. She had never met or spoken to Kobayashi Yui personally before so when the girl offered her something it felt a little strange to Akane. As if she understood Akane's mind, Yui finally smiled.

"Okay then.." she touched the same option again. The machine worked twice. No need to wait long because the machines in their school are modern and faster than normal machines. Yui bowed, picking up her belongings from the space provided.

One box of food and a bottle of water she gave to Akane. Despite her doubts, Akane still accepted the gift. It felt rude to refuse gifts from others, nor did she want Yui to feel disrespected if Akane refused. "Thank you..? Oh, wait a minute."

Akane awkwardly moved her bento and held it with her left hand. She wanted to get some money out of her wallet to pay Yui. But with both hands used, it seems difficult to do. Yui shook her head lightly, her hand touching Akane's shoulder. Suggests that she doesn't have to pay it back.

"Didn't I tell you that I wanted to meet? Yuuka took my place in the board meeting, Hono and Seki.. You understand, why. You happen to be alone so now is the perfect time." Yui said. "follow me." She continued.

The two of them headed for the student council room. When Yui opened the door, the smell of a lavender air freshener burst into her nose. Akane forgot the last time she came into the room. If she remembers correctly, maybe in the first week she went to school at Sakurazaka?

She looked around the room. Nothing has changed. Except for a photo on the wall. Maybe Akane didn't really care what was inside the student council room because she came and left in a hurry. There are six people in the photo, members of The Elites. Yuuka and Yui sat in the front and the other four stood behind them

"That's a photo of us when we first officially became members here. One year passed quickly, a lot has changed." Yui explained. She invited Akane to sit across from her.

"Have your palms recovered?" Akane asked when she saw Yui unscrew the plastic lunch box. There were no more thick bandages wrapped around her hands.

Yui raised her palm. Shows the stitch marks that are still clearly visible on Akane. Suddenly it made Akane a little worried. "It healed faster than I thought. I have to thank you for helping out at that time. Just think of this one as our return of favors and introductions. Because you seem close to Karin and Yuuka, so I thought it would be fine if I greeted you too."

"Why.. can you get hurt that badly?" Akane asked.

Yui was silent for a moment. Put the chopsticks on the tissue paper which she placed beside the food box. She did not immediately answer and chose to take a sip of water from the bottle. "You know why," she replied. Gazing at Akane tapping the plastic bentos cover. Yui then continued, "Yuuka already told you. That is if I heard correctly."

Yuuka did tell her that Yui had a special condition, DID or something. And Yuuka reiterated it last night when they ate together.

"I don't like to admit it. Oh God, it looks like Yuuka believed in you so much that she told you this without my permission."

Oh, this might not be good.

"How should I put it? That.. to me is a disgrace. And saying it to a stranger—" Yui interrupted her words, as if her tongue had slipped out the wrong sentence. "Hey, don't you eat yours? It will cry because it feels ignored."

Akane gave a faint smile in response. She looked down at her bento box. She opened the plastic cover and placed it under the box. Once again she was surprised because the bento menu she was going to eat was the most expensive variant. Shouting to herself, she was grateful that the student council vice president volunteered to buy this delicious meal for her — she wasn't lying, it was really delicious.

They finished their lunch in silence. For politeness reasons, of course, because it was their first meeting. Well, not really. Because Yui and Akane had met at a fast food restaurant at that time. The difference is, at that time Yuuka was with Yui.

After all, from the way Yui blatantly twisted the topic of conversation, Akane already understood that she shouldn't press any further. Even though she wanted to find further information from this one Elites. Wait, why did she suddenly become an antagonist who likes to analyze other people?

"Looks like you are good friends with Yuuka."

The question asked by Yui had swallowed the lump of rice into her breathing cavity. Akane gasped, struggling to stop herself from coughing as she opened the water bottle.

"She looks happy, you know? The last time she was like that was probably when her mother was alive." Yui smiled slightly. Sadness was evident from the look on her face. Suddenly she was no longer interested in the remaining quarter of her food. "In front of me she was happy, maybe more precisely she pretended to be happy."

Yuuka's mother ... has died? How come I never found this out directly from her?

"Last night Yuuka wasn't at her house. This morning I came there on purpose and the servant said she wasn't there. Why did I call you here? Since you're the only person I can ask about her whereabouts.

Akane finished her last bite. She closed her bento box again and shifted it aside. Somehow she was afraid. Even though Yui spoke with a calm and friendly intonation, underneath it all, Akane could sense something that might be dangerous.

Did Yui already know about the wounds on Yuuka's body? Should I tell that?

"Moriya Akane?"

I've gotten too deep into all of this. Damn, I had a hard time with the Hirate now I have a new problem.

"She came to my apartment last night." Yui raised an eyebrow. She leaned over so she could hear better. Even though it was clear there were only the two of them there and the room was soundproof. "She asked permission to stay overnight. When I asked the reason, Yuuka just answered that she was just taking a night out. I don't know what happened to her but she came in injured, she was wearing a backpack with her left shoulder strung. "

Akane gasped as she looked at the faces of the people in front of her. She was very sure Yui's expression had changed, her face really showed a hidden emotion. The girl's two eyebrows were fully united with sharp eyes. But strangely within a fraction of a second, that face disappeared and turned into a normal facial expression.

Honestly, Akane started to getting scared.

"Kobayashi.. you said her mother died. So she lives with her father, right? Was... Was she tortured by her father?" she didn't even notice that her voice was shaking when she asked Yui about it. It's strange, curiosity had penetrated deep into her soul.

But instead of answering the question, Yui chuckled as she shook her head. As she spoke, Akane realized that Yui's tone had completely changed. "For that one, you have no right to know."

Don't have the right to know? There was clear evidence that Yuuka would likely need help, and she was indirectly asking her for help. And this person in front of her who was her fiancé spoke like that?

"What do you mean—"

"Thank you for accompanying me, Moriya," Yui smiled again. She rose from her seat, walked towards the door. Akane got up too, she wanted to grab Yui's arm and hold her back from getting out. Their conversation is not over.

But it seemed that she didn't have to do that because Yui suddenly turned around, now they were standing face to face. The two of them looked like they were about to slap each other —which is funny because they both looked like they were fighting over Yuuka— Akane watched Kobayashi's brown eyes, noticing that the pupils were moving unnaturally.

"I have one wish. Can you stay away from Yuuka?"

Her heart instantly touched when Yui said that. The sentences were short but able to stun Akane for a moment. She shouldn't have felt the pain in her chest when Yui asked her to stay away from Yuuka. After all, she was nothing to Yuuka. Getting away from her shouldn't be a big deal, right?

Isn't?

But when Yui left her alone in the student council room, Akane couldn't help but tear up. Why am I being like this? Don't blame others, the person to blame is herself. At least that's what Akane thought. It was her fault for allowing herself to be lulled by something she shouldn't.

"Damn, why is everything so messed up like this."

----

"We have to talk,"

Ozono, who was already getting ready, was about to start the engine when Akane ran over to her. She smiled behind her helmet. Turning off the motorbike engine, she opened the helmet glass so she could see the girl in front of her better.

"Of course," she replied. "Shall we speak elsewhere?"

Akane shook her head briefly. Looks like she doesn't intend to linger there. "About your offer the other day. I thought I really needed your help." Akane said.

Hearing that, Ozono was happy. She chuckled, her plan was going her way. "Fine.. so when can we exchange information?"

"Sunday. We'll meet at the parking lot of Miyahama Mental Hospital."

Ozono nodded. She then started her motor engine again, "See you there." She said before spurting her motorbike out of the parking lot. A rustling sound can be heard from the earphones that she deliberately put on every time she using helmet. But now it's not for listening to music, but communicating with someone.

"Miyahama Mental Hospital, on Sunday. Don't be late."

----

Yui couldn't resist anymore when she saw Risa leaning back on the bed. The short haired girl looked healthy even though her body was injured here and there. She immediately hugged Risa and made the girl very surprised. During this time her attention was consumed by the books she was reading so that she did not notice the presence of other people in her room.

Hono closed the door. In her hand is a large box with chocolate brownies which they planned to eat together. She put the box on the table and walked over to Risa.

"You can open your eyes, huh. Not dying, huh? " She said. A big smile appeared on her lips, it made the dimples appear clear. Seki kicked her leg when she heard her say something harsh.

"I thought I was going to die. But apparently I woke up here." Risa answered. She rubbed Yui's head, which was still hugging her. Don't know the reason why the girl suddenly embraced her without saying anything. But Risa won't protest, she likes it anyway.

"Shit. You have a terrible wound on your neck!"

Risa raised an eyebrow. Slowly she felt her neck. Apparently, was not surprised when her fingers felt the long marks there. When she used the front camera of her phone and noticed that there was a red line curled around her neck, she didn't even comment.

The important thing is that the rope doesn't break her neck. That's enough for Risa.

"Is she still alive?" Risa asked in a cold tone.

"Karin?" Yui replied, just for making sure.

Risa didn't answer anything and continued reading her book. Her silence made the three guests there stare at each other. Assuming her passive response as yes.

"For that, let us take care of it. You need to focus on recovering and getting back to school. There will be many things that we do," Seki replied. "She already realized. The stab wound wasn't that bad. "

Risa clicked her tongue. "She's real psycho. I will never forget that smile when she hung me."

"Risa. I told you don't let anything divide us. But it turns out that your head are hotter than lava. It can't be helped.. " Yui replied. "I forgot to say this. But this is a good news, Yuuka told me if you two will not be expelled. The principal wants you to solve the problem peacefully."

But instead of feeling happy, Risa rolled her eyes in annoyance. She even turned the pages of her book with a rough gesture. "As if he knows what happened in his school. As if everything could be resolved with peace."

"You should be grateful. You don't know the bad news yet. Well, what I mean is; students started to have a lot of wild assumptions to us because the photos you saw were also posted on the school blog. And we can't do anything to keep that from happening."

As soon as Seki delivered the bad news, the door to the room opened. Yuuka with a frustrated face entered the room. She even closed the door a loud bam, the sound made the room window splutter. The girl with long hair dragged her feet and landed on the sofa.

Hono was probably about to open her mouth, saying something if only Yuuka didn't interrupt.

"She didn't say anything at all. When I asked about the photo, Karin just glanced and looked out the window again. I tried my best to get her to talk to me but still, its meaningless." After speaking like she had not been given a red light, Yuuka stared at her friends in turn. "What do you think?"

Hono muttered. She then took the brownie box that she had put on the table and placed it on Yuuka's thigh. "You know what you have to do with this chocolate buddy. Seki and I will try to talk to her." Not forgetting, Hono took a little of the bread and put it in her mouth. "Gosh, this is so delicious."

Hono walked out of the room with Seki following her. Somehow when these two left, a choking silence immediately enveloped the three remaining girls in the room. Looking at Risa and Yui alternately, Yuuka let out a resigned sigh. She opened the brownie box. It is true that from the looks of it, that one looks delicious.

Yuuka walked across the room. Approaching Risa and Yui. "Try this," she said as she handed the two people each a piece. Although it was a little awkward, but at least they both accepted Yuuka's gift.

"Are you still close with, Moriya?" asked Risa suddenly. Yui blinked in confusion, quickly examining Yuuka who was apparently putting a piece of brownie into her mouth.

"Shit. Can we not discuss it at a time like this? There are other important things that must be done." Yuuka answered. With a mouth full of chocolate brownies.

Risa watched Yuuka with a probing gaze. Occasionally glanced at Yui, who pretended she didn't hear anything. Then she sighed, using her book, she pointed at Yuuka's face. "Yes, we can."

The door suddenly opened, showing Hono who entered while scratching her itchless neck. She said aloud. "She kicked us out."

Hearing that, Yui snorted. "Aren't you going any further?"

"It's useless. Somehow when she saw us, she frightened out. She yelled at us to get out from her room, even the nurse who happened to walk by immediately asked us to leave too." Seki answered. Yuuka handed her a piece of brownie and she accepted it enthusiastically. "what on earth really happened to her."

"I'm still not sure if she's a traitor. Really." Yui said again.

Somehow her remarks made Hono respond, "Why are you so denial? Isn't there already clear evidence in front of you? She even almost killed Risa."

"And WHY are you so stiff-necked? You can easily believe that Karin is the traitor? What if someone is trapping her and forced her to shut her mouth? There are too many possibilities, we can't judge it right away!"

Risa closed her book. Looking at her two friends who are now facing each other, arguing.

Hono growled. The second bomb appears and is just waiting for the time to explode. She raised her voice as she replied, "And what about you and your other abusive personality? How do we know if it wasn't you who subconsciously did all this for revenge!"

Yuuka was furious. She got up and stood between her two friends. But because Hono already angry, she pushed Yuuka aside. Suddenly made Yuuka groan loudly, feeling a throbbing pain in her collarbone. "Please, we're not just to fight!"

"See, she's not even defending herself either. Is what I said true, Kobayashi? Am I right?"

Yui watched Hono with a sharp gaze. This is all going really, really wrong. Why are they accusing each other now? But somehow Yui fell silent. She don't want to reply to Hono's words. Because she didn't know either, she wasn't sure. Maybe what she said was true?

Is it true that her other personality is causing huge trouble like this?

"Hono, enough. That won't help. Yui has obviously been with us and she's not doing anything suspicious." Seki tried to calm her girlfriend who was still grumbling. "You know that the contents of the paper are not Yui's number."

"It could be that they are working together, right? Damn it, whoever the traitor is she's really sneaky. Argh, I'm done with this!" Hono walked with heavy steps, she even pushed Seki who had been holding her arm.

Meanwhile Yui was deep in thought. Something else was shadowing her. Hono's words seemed to contain the truth. It could be that they have been looking for something that doesn't really exist, because everything comes from her.

"Please, don't mind what she says." Seki said briefly. Touching Yui's shoulder which was rising and falling because her breathing was already in a fast tempo.

The situation was completely unexpected. Yuuka couldn't defend anyone now. She also thinking about something else, something unexpected that she found in Akane's apartment when she was cooking breakfast. A board, containing photos of The Elites, Hirate and her friends, as well as the missing students. For now, she probably won't tell her friends. She didn't know what the children with this incredible panic would do to Akane if she did.

But then, while in that tense atmosphere a voice made them startled. "What little brownie? You got rejected? Nobody cares about you, huh? Don't worry, I will be with you from now." Risa lifted the brownie box, hugged it as if it was a cat. "Pspsps."

Now, they wondering. Had her brain circuits been damaged by being beaten by Karin?