Kokona feels anxious as she walks up the path to her school, the wind blows through her hair and her twin drills seem to momentarily float before hitting each side of her head. The world seemed to move slowly and for once she could hear her own thoughts over the waves crashing in her mind.

During times like this, she felt like a child.

Doing drama plays with her parents, playing the princess while her father played the king and her mother the queen. She had always dreamed of this school, she had been told she was always overly ambitious but her father always told her that, "It's good that my princess wants to reach for the stars, challenging yourself and striving for the best is the way to live."

Those were her favorite memories, her father would have sold his leg or anything in the world just to see her happy. They weren't the richest in the world but that didn't stop her father doing everything he could to get her into this school.

He puts himself in crippling debt to keep her at school, and it has always left a deep hole in her heart, knowing he's drowning in debt and they need the money. He lost his wife and he didn't want to lose her so he did everything for her, and she wants to return the favor.

Turns out dates with older men gets her cash and she receives a phone calls for dates in exchange for money. She was forced to push her childish dreams aside and instead she gets roped into something she's deeply ashamed of.

Shackles are chained to her, yet they are invisible to others but are as clear as day to her.

She hasn't told Y/n, Y/n was born on more of the luckier side of the spectrum and she knows she'd work her butt off just to help her. So, she decides not to tell her but Y/n is still so giving despite her being so oblivious to her struggles, she often buys her food and goes to arcades with her.

After all, being with Y/n makes her feel like a child again, since they met in middle school, maybe not under the best circumstances but it showed her that people can change.

Kokona cares that much about Y/n that she decided to tell Saki her biggest secret, purely because she was worried and scared for her best friend.

She had watched Ayato from afar and he always gave off such a suspicious vibe, so in order to protect her friends she made sure he didn't harm them.

Ayato has this colourful personality though, he had hobbies he, he helped people with tasks and when Y/n and him were friends he always made sure she was safe and asked if she was okay.

Maybe she ruined a friendship, that could have grown to be something deeper if she had simply let it bloom. It could off been jealousy, being too overprotective or maybe she felt threatened.

She felt overwhelmed with emotions but she continued heading to the roof, to the exact spot she received through text.

She felt like dropping dead right that second when she saw him.

Ayato.

She felt small in his presence, maybe this was a mistake, "Are you the person who told me to meet... You here?" She mumbled, but he somehow understood, his face had a soft expression but it also held a mysterious one, she couldn't pinpoint.

"Yes, I am." He confirms, nodding.

"I shouldn't really be near you...Sorry." She apologizes, turning to walk away till he said something that stops her dead in her tracks, "Ronshaku Loans." He says, Kokona turns to face him, her eyes are widened with a daunting look of horror spreading across her face, she had never mentioned that.

"H-how do you know that's the exact company my father's being extorted from? You also told me you wanted to talk further about my dad's debt, why? What do you have to gain?" She rambles, confused and shocked, her brain only produced more questions.

"I learned some information that may be useful to you. I had to tell you this, that's why you saw me in that alleyway, at least I think you saw me. From what I heard you would have been on a 'date' around that time. Then, I ran into Amao and we drank soda together, I decided to confront you another time but you seemed to be avoiding me." He replied, Kokona found herself nodding to his words, they did find the soda can in the alleyway and he didn't try lying.

Was she wrong this whole time?

"I'm sorry that I was avoiding you, I just felt a bit paranoid at the time...I just worry about my friends a lot. Especially, Y/n." She responds, feeling bad for her influencing Y/n and making her ignore him, she had lots of things to apologies to Ayato about.

"That's understandable."

"What did you find out?" Kokona asks, maybe this could help her father and in repayment for all that she's done to Ayato she could get Y/n and him to talk.

"Are you familiar with a girl named, Musume?" He questions, the real question is who doesn't know her.

"I've spoken to her a couple of times, but I don't know her very well, I know she's Y/n's sister, I'm sure Y/n told you, right?" Kokona quieres.

"No, she hasn't, she's been ignoring me a lot... And when she isn't she doesn't tell me things anymore. Things have changed between us, since these killings..." Ayato sighs, and Kokona feels terrible, she whispers an apology under her breath.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think things changed that much between you two, I-"

"Well, you're not the one who made Y/n grow so cold towards me so suddenly, right?" Ayato spoke, ending that conversation quickly, she doesn't blame him it must be awkward saying that her best friend is ignoring him.

"Her father runs a loan agency...Ronshaku Loans." Ayato continues, Kokona's knees felt like they were about to buckle, and everything was crashing down on her.

"What?" Kokona said, in pure disbelief, surely he couldn't be right, right?

"Musume's Father is the one extorting your dad." Ayato decides to create a picture in her mind, separating Y/n from it all and making her completely blame Musume.

"I... never- I can't believe it, I'm- I just don't know what to say... Or do, Y/n's dad owns the company my father is in debt to." She speaks, saying her thoughts aloud which Ayato responds to.

"Yes, Musume's dad has left your dad barely being able to get by while she brags and whines. You can make her father stop extorting your father." Ayato says, logical questions exit Kokona's mind, she would of asked how he got this information but she's too wrapped up and focused on how this could potentially help her dad.

Kokona was still silent, she didn't know what to say.

"Kokona, she is a brat, she treats you like an animal, she treats everyone like they are lesser than her but now you can make a change to your father's life, your life and people like Hodura." Ayato stares into her eyes and Kokona feels like she melting under the pressure, now she's got so many people's lives on her shoulder, not just her dad.

"Today, Musume-Chan was bragging about the expensive gifts her father buys for her... Clothing. Shoes. Jewelry. Watches. Handbags. She bragged about how she can make her father buy ANYTHING she wants, if she pretends to cry,until he buys it. Everything she owns was bought with the money, that was

EXTORTED out of your father.And she's not even grateful for ANY of it." Ayato whispers in her ear, he pulls away from her and kokona is left sharply inhaling and exhaling and the countless days they have been left in debt and all the faces of men she's had to date for money, flash before her eyes.

Now, all kokona can see are the expensive pieces of jewelry Musume flaunts at school and then her father's tired expression, she can hear her laugh, taunting her.

"You think I care about your stupid broke dad? When mine can afford anything I want, please your both PATHETIC." Musume laughs, and it replays like a broken record in her mind.

Ayato steps back, "That... is what my dad suffers for? So that bimbo can wear jewelry, she doesn't deserve?" Kokona is fuming, she's so pissed off right now.

"I have a plan but you need to trust me, or this whole thing won't work and you won't be able to help your father and her other victim's." Ayato spoke, and Kokona listens intently, "You both can have a discussion in a warehouse, I'll send you the address and we'll tie her and blindfold her and make her father think she's been kidnapped."

"What! What would that solve?" Kokona responds shocked by his calm tone.

"It would send a message to her father. He'll realize he can't keep getting away with what he's doing. He'll put an end to his loan business, your dad will be free from debt."

"Would that... really work?" She asks, desperate at this point.

"Of course."

"Alright...Let's do it."

"I'll call you when it's time." Ayato spoke as he began to walk off.

"Please hurry. I don't want my dad to suffer any longer." Kokona says and Ayato stops to look at her and he nods, there is a sinking feeling in her stomach but instead of following her gut she decides to follow her heart, it beats for her friends and her dad and he's the best dad anyone could ask for.

The sky is an ombre of blue, changing to a warm orange and Ayato pulls open the warehouse door for her.

"After you." Ayato steps back making way for Kokona to enter first, she reluctant goes in but thanks him and then her eyes land on Musume.

"Hm? Oh my god!" Kokona shouts, her breathing quickened and she steps back, bumping into Ayato standing at the doorway.

"What's wrong?" He tilts his head as he spoke and Kokona looks up at him and then back to Musume.

"This isn't what I expected..." Kokona utters truthfully, she began to slowly walk forward.

"Don't forget why we're here. THIS, is for your father's sake. Remember? Here." Ayato hands her a baseball bat and it feels heavy in her hands, she feels lightheaded.

"You'll need this."

"Why do I need this? I thought I was just supposed to scare her a bit... I'm not sure about this anymore.." Kokona trails off, looking down at the wooden weapon, that could potentially end a life.

"I've heard that voice before..." Musume starts, and her acting all confused sends shivers down Kokona's spine, making her grip the baseball bat tighter.

"Kokona...Is that you!? Ugh.. did I really get 'kidnapped' by a skank like her?"

That's right, Ayato had spoken to Musume earlier and said this was all some prank ,which he was 'recording' to expose her for sleeping with men and all Musume had to do was rile her up till she admitted it. Musume agreed almost instantly and he told her about some fake kidnapping he discussed with Kokona surrounding her.

He needs Musume to really get under her skin and then kokona will finish the job.

"Wh-What? Who are you calling a skank!?" Kokona questions, sweat races like ran droplets down the side of her face her words replay in her mind, is this how people see her? Just some skank that goes to their school?

"Don't play dumb! The whole school knows you sleep with men for money!" Musume retorts and Kokona is almost speechless, she even forgets Ayato is still at the entrance in his teal shirt, with black trousers.

"N-no! I don't! I just go to dinner with them. It doesn't go any further than that!" Kokona says, and all Musume does is scoff at her words.

"Ha! That's a laugh! Any girl with a rack like yours, knows how to take advantage of it. Just admit what everyone already knows: You're a total slut." Musume spat, with a clear intention to dig deep and brutally into her 'secret'.

"I-I never asked for my body to look like this!" Kokona replied clutching the back and taking a step closer to Musume.

"But I bet you enjoy all the money that your huge boobs are making for you."

"But I don't get to keep any of the money I make! I give it all to my dad!"

"HOW STUPID! You're supposed to be milking money out of your dad. Not the other way around!" Musume shouts, and Kokona snaps.

"I GIVE MY MONEY TO MY DAD, SO HE CAN PAY OFF HIS DEBT TO YOUR DAD!"

"PFFT AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Is THAT what this is all about?! Your dad can't pay back a loan, so you're taking it out on me?" Musume laughs, as tears spill down Kokona's face and her grasps on the bat tightens, all those countless days with letters going through the letter box about debt kept her up at night.

The dark bags under her dad's bloodshot eyes, made the hate in her heart grow, she has been suffering while Musume skipped merrily with the money she worked for to help her father.

"You're pathetic! And your dad is pathetic! If someone can't pay debts, they shouldn't borrow money in the first place!" Musume continues, Kokona's blood is boiling at this point and all she sees is Musume and the bat in her hand.

If your dad, can't pay back my dad, he deserves whatever happens to him. Keep selling your body though. Maybe one day, you'll save up enough money to buy some SELF RESPECT." Musume laughs.

She hates Musume.

She hates her voice.

Her face.

Everything she stands for.

A fire burns inside her heart, when she sees Musume, she's truly the most selfish, unsympathetic, spoiled brat and ungrateful person she's ever met.

People like her shouldn't exist.

When she looks at Musume, she just wants to bash her face in.

Watch as the blood tickles down, onto that expensive necklace she bought and to stain those new trainers she's got on.

She wants to see her suffer and have the ability to laugh the same way she laughed at hers.

She can never forgive or forget the way she spoke about her dad. Her dad, the most hardworking, loving, thoughtful and caring man anyone could ever meet and he's been reduced to nothing because of her father ; she couldn't careless too.

She wants her gone, dead.

She would never want a person dead before, she believes everyone deserves a chance.

But she isn't human, she can't be, no human is so cold and vile.

Her father will be free.

She has to be the one to release him from it all.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Kokona screams, at the top of her lungs swinging her bat into Musume's face, the side of her head and neck. Weeping and cries of pain fell dead eared as Kokona swung, each swung more brutal than the last and a gut-twisting gargle left Musume's throat. Drowning on the blood that rushed into her mouth as she felt a burning wet sensation bleed down her face, she never cared when she made Kokona sob and when kokona's father couldn't afford to feed himself and used the last of his savings for Kokona to eat. When he was so hungry his stomach turned and growled for a simple meal, ridden with fatigue while he was forced to give her father money. Crack.

She was too lost in the moment to realize when Musume had fell quiet.

Splatters of blood coated Kokona yet she was oblivious, her vision blurred with tears as the crack echoed throughout the warehouse.

Adrenaline left as quickly as it came, and Kokona was left a panting mess, the realization of the horrors she just committed flooded her mind.

She steps back with a fresh coat of blood covering her favorite outfit and her face, the price of taking another life stained her face.

She tried rubbing the blood away with her sleeve but it just smudged.

Her breathing quickened and she began to step back at a rapid pace, not wanting to be near the unrecognizable mess Musume had become. She had visibly out of place limbs, with bones protruding from broken skin and she had immense swelling around those bruised joints. Her face had caved in, as her best had made a home where her upper jaw used to be. Musume's nose was mushed into bits and pieces and her face was an incomplete puzzle. No longer could she be the gossiping snake she had made herself to be

Blood covered the entirety of her baseball bat and smell of iron filled the air, it was absolutely sickening. Her stomach was so twisted she was convinced it had twisted itself into a knot.

"I... Did I...? Wait.. she's not dead is she...? Oh my god... Oh my god!" Kokona rants, she drops the bat with a thud and grabs two clumps of her purple hair, staining it with blood.

"She-she's dead! She's actually dead! I-I killed her! Ayato...What are we going to? Ayato...? Where are you..?"

"FREEZE! PUT YOUR HANDS UP!"

The sound of sirens and red and blue flashing lights shine into her face, as she turns around she's stood in front of Musume and she looks right to left, seeing cops with guns out.

"Step away from the body, and put your hands in the air!"

"HEY-HEY! DON'T MOVE!"

"We have you surrounded."

"STAY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE!"

Ayato is in police custody, staring at the table since the cop has left the room and he's awaiting his release.

"Are you sure it's ok to let him go?" The police officer asked, looking through the glass and analysing him.

"His alibi is air tight. We can't find any evidence whatsoever that he was even remotely involved in the crime." The other officer sighs, sipping his lukewarm beverage, "It doesn't matter how many times the perp tells us that this boy was

involved.We have no right to keep him detained if we can't connect him to the crime."

"I know, but... something about this boy feels... wrong. Y'know what I mean, right? He's.. weird."

"Are you forgetting what happened back in '89? A girl his age was arrested and sent to court based on flimsy evidence, unreliable testimony,

and outlandish theories." The other officer states, he scoffs knowing exactly what his colleague is about to say, "I am aware someone tried making a case against this Aishi boy already but as I said flimsy evidence is a waste. Yet, that Ronshaku girl's sister keeps coming here."

"The trial made national news, the girl was found innocent, and our department was ridiculed for months. I'm not letting that happen again." The other officer glares at his counterpart ,who rolls his eyes at his words.

"Speaking of 1989, you know who his mother is, right?" The officer says, biting into his donut he had been holding throughout this conversation.

"Are you suggesting we should suspect him of a crime just because his MOTHER went to trial 30 YEARS ago?"

"No! Yes? That's not what I'm- forget it. Let's just get him out of here." The officer gives up and walks out the room.

"Sir, sorry to take up so much of your time. You're free to go." The other officer says, shaking his hand.

"Thank you." Ayato smiled.