28 What Lies Beneath

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In a large western style mansion, a girl locked herself up in her room. This spoiled girl was upset after being ignored and forgotten by a boy in her class. She looking forward to meeting him in school after he got better but he transferred out without even saying goodbye instead.

"I failed…" she sadly murmured while holding a letter of rejection from the Sacred Forest Academy.

This girl was none other than Stockton Kurumi. She looked at the picture on the table with teary eyes. It was a picture of her, Kazuya and her cousin taken at Kazuya's former school. He was in the middle wearing a basketball uniform while holding a basketball.

"Kazuya-kun… do you really hate me now?" she gripped the letter in her hands.

She remembered the cold look he gave her and the words he said about fearing her instinctively. This was unlike the Kazuya she knew and it felt as if he was like a whole different person. His memory may have been lost but shouldn't he be at least feel she was familiar?

She learned recently from one of the directors of the hospital he stayed at that Kazuya had transferred to Sacred Forest Academy. This was hard to imagine since the school had been very well known to have strict and difficult procedures for accepting transfer students.

Kurumi thought that if he could do it then so can she but despite her marks being above his during their time in school, she had failed the exams while he passed on his first try. The boy she helped with his studies actually surpassed her imaginations and went to a school that even her standing couldn't shake.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"Kurumi-sama, the master would like you to come to his study" one of the maids said through the door.

"I don't want to" She went back to her bed in case the key was used.

"The master says that he has news about Kouzuki Kazuya-sama"

"I'll get ready right away!" Kurumi wasted no time and went to her father's study.

Inside the study was Stockton James, the head of Stockton International. An American that decided to head the Asian division because of Kurumi's intention to stay in the country. His wife and Kurumi's mother, headed the corporation in the west in order to instill the good qualities the eastern companies have to western culture.

*KKOCK KNOCK*

"Come in Kurumi" The man smiled in front of his daughter.

"Dad… I heard you have news about Kazuya-kun" she asked nervously. She knew she would be asked to go back to school especially after she failed to pass the transfer exams.

"I have to apologize to you Kurumi. It looks like I still can't let you transfer to Sacred Forest Academy without passing your exams…" he sighed. He treated his daughter like she was his world and always gave her everything she wanted as long as she remained a good girl.

"Dad… I should be the one sorry for being selfish and not passing the exam"

"It's not like I have no other means but you might have a hard time entering the academy in your current state. Sacred Forest Academy 's reputation is not without reason" he wanted her to understand why he can't make her go there without her making up for it.

"Even if I use my influence to get you admitted, you may not be able to keep up with their current curriculum. It will be extremely hard for you to keep up with them"

"What do you think I should do dad?" she didn't want to give up.

"Is it really worth it for you to go follow that Kouzuki Kazuya? I know that you and Maron are fond of him but you said that he doesn't even remember you" he was concerned. He really did not have much opinion about Kazuya because they have never met.

Everything he knew about him was obtained through reports. He initially didn't really interfere with his daughter's personal life since she was still young and would always tell him everything. James once only knew that this boy was a friend that his daughter grew fond of after a few incidents that showed how quick witted he was.

As a person that has survived the rough and harsh world of business, he didn't like leaving things unchecked. He had this kid investigated and found out that he was the only successor to the famous Kouzuki family. This was the reason why he did not have any complaints about his daughter hanging out with him.

Like Kyouko, James also placed Kurumi in a normal school so that she wont be pressured by the harsh environment he experienced in famous schools. All he wanted was for his daughter's smile to remain as he watched her slowly grow up.

"Yes. I want to help Kazuya-kun regain his memories. I can finally help him after everything he's done for me" she looked determined. She wanted to convince her father that she wasn't willing to give up even after failing.

"I already know what he's done since it's your favorite story to tell me and your mother" his statement made the little girl blush.

"What news about Kouzuki-kun did you get dad?" she tried to change the topic quickly back to what she was called for.

"Right… I already finished touring the facilities of the Academy and have made some connections with the people working there. They were quite helpful after I expressed my interest in investing towards the school" The school needed reliable investors for them to be able to expand their facilities since major construction towards the mountains was very hard and costly.

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"I found out that not only did Kouzuki Kazuya pass the transfer exam, he passed it with perfect marks. It looks like the diagnosis about him being able to attain such knowledge was not in any way temporary" to be honest, James at first, didn't believe it.

Because of Kurumi's persistence, James tried to inquire about Kazuya's condition at the hospital but due to doctor and patient confidentiality, there was not much help. Kurumi insisted that he needed some kind of medicine because he wasn't getting any better so he decided to try sending many specialists to get the gist of what really was wrong with the boy.

To avoid the doctors James invited to breach confidentiality, he asked people to bring them to the hospital and interpreters to monitor and help with the situation. He was shocked at what he learned. The boy could speak various languages and from what he heard, Kazuya was nothing like Kurumi had described.

A genius that was able to stump and impress such specialist from overseas was a feat none of them ever expected. From what he gathered from the people that he sent to accompany the specialists, they had various speculations about his current situation but not the cause for him to go through such an incident without any results from the various tests he went through.

One of the more plausible theories came from psychiatrists, one of them stated that Kazuya had repressed his old memories to forget about the fears and abuse he went through as a self-defense mechanism. Another one stated that he developed another personality that hated his old self and this might have caused the repulsion he felt towards his old friends or acquaintances.

That was not all, from what they've learned, the Kurogane Conglomerate and the Kouzuki Corporation who should have been on good terms because of Kazuya's existence was not at all as peaceful as they seemed.

One thing was certain though, Kouzuki Kazuya has already changed and there have been no signs of him reverting back to his old self. He was continuing with his new life as if nothing happened and was now placed in a new environment that was currently unsuitable for Kurumi.

"I won't give up! I'll reunite with Kazuya-kun and help him recover his memories!" Kurumi remined determined.

"Kurumi…" James felt conflicted. His daughter's attachment to the boy wanted him not to let her succeed but as a doting father, he couldn't stand to see his daughter gloomy like she already had been for the past few weeks. "Fine… I can help you but you must prepare yourself. Not only will you have to study hard but you will have to maintain it in order to keep staying in that school. The requirements are even higher if I request that you be placed in their special class because of your identity"

"Thank you dad! I will work hard I promise" she hugged her father and kissed her cheek.

James was excited to see his daughter wanting to study hard. He felt conflicted about her reasons for it but since it was good motivation for her, he didn't say anything. He had his own calculations, he already considered having good relations with the Kouzuki Corporation since it would be beneficial for Kurumi if their company had good relations.

Although James was a doting father, he was still a very successful businessman so he saw the advantages of cooperating with them. Even if Kurumi would change her mind in the future, it would still help their company if they had good relations with the Kouzuki Corporation. Who wouldn't want a boy acknowledged by famous doctors around the world to have good relations with their daughters.

"Alright, I'll try and get the best tutors I can find to let you be able to retake Sacred Forest Academy's transfer student exam and pass it. If you quit halfway then I don't want to hear about this again and you will attend school regularly alright?" this was his bottom line. He trusted his daughter's determination but also wanted to let him know that this was her last chance.

"I understand! I won't fail again!"

"Good. You told me that the boy plays basketball with Maron right?" he decided to change the topic.

"Yup! Maron-chan and Kazuya-kun play in the same club" she wondered why her father brought up such a topic.

"Well… there was also another piece of news that I haven't told you. Maron's a bit too unbridled so since she gets along with the boy too, I refrained from informing the both of you but the boy joined a local kendo dojo and is part of Sacred Forest Academy's kendo team"

"Huh? Kazuya-kun and martial arts?" she couldn't believe what he heard. Kurumi couldn't imagine the boy from her memories doing well and was worried he was going to get hurt.

"Not only did he join but he is also one of the people participating in the regional tournament today"

"Eeeehh!? K-kazuya-kun is!? B-but he…" she still couldn't believe it and thought her father's informants must have mistaken him for another person.

"I've confirmed it with one of the directors I've met when I visited the school. He said that the boy was confident in his chances"

"C-can we go see it?" this was the first time there was definite information about Kazuya's location aside from his home. She wanted to see him but didn't want to go to his house because she had never been invited before.

"Maron is here and I'm afraid she might make a scene if we go" both of them knew of the cousin's peculiar personality so this burst Kurumi's hopes. "But don't worry, I've sent people to get coverage for you. Just don't let Maron know or I'm afraid she would cause another incident"

"O-okay…" she was both excited and worried. Kurumi would finally be able to see him again and this was what she looked forward to the most. "(Wait for me Kazuya-kun… I'll be by your side again very soon)"

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In the middle school department of Saint Forest Academy, Hashiyama Lee stealthily made a call behind one of the buildings. He dialed the number of one of the managers of one of the many subsidiaries of the Kurogane conglomerate.

"What can I do for you, Young Master Lee?" the manager answered the call respectfully.

"You've taken care of it right?" he wanted to confirm his plans. Kuuga had still not made a move so he had no choice since he didn't want to pay him more to accomplish another task.

"I have young master. Please rest assured, the elementary school kendo team of your school will not have luck on their side during the team matches"

"Good. I trust you have made the necessary arrangements. I can't let Kazuya ride the train to glory by relying on the Shiroyuki house" he grinned.

Lee didn't believe that Kazuya had what it took to join the regular team for the Kendo club. He believed that he used Shiroyuki Jirou to put in a good word for him just because he joined their dojo. He knew what Kazuya was capable of and trusted the knowledge he accumulated while spending time to brainwash that useless little brother of his.

"Please don't forget what you promised young master"

"I won't. I'll put in a good word for you with the other managers to get you transferred to the main company" he promised.

"Thank you, young master"

"(I'll make you regret ever going against me Kazuya)" he grinned as he put down his phone. Unfortunately, the girl who was secretly watching him couldn't hear the conversation.

"Look's like this snake is up to something" all it took was to see the grin on Lee's annoying face. He had been in a bad mood ever since he lost his position in his own club so this sudden change along with how suspiciously he's been acting indicated something was going to happen.

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