Chapter 258 - Final Words

A heavy sigh escaped Suzuki Ara's lips as she continued to stare at her phone. She already knew it was useless to feel glum as it would change nothing. Still, a part of her felt like sulking, and she got irritated with herself.

Since when had she become someone so petty? She used to be someone very understanding. Even if the king had allowed her to do many things, she had always been aware of her restrictions as a princess – as Alistair's sister. What she couldn't get from begging her brother, she wouldn't mind. She would accept things easily. But now…

But now, she had shockingly become someone despicable…

"Hey, Ara!"

Rin's voice rang in her consciousness, startling Ara from her thoughts.

Huh?

"What's wrong, Ara?" Miharu asked as Ara blinked several times, wondering how in the world she hadn't heard them earlier.

"We've been trying to call you but you were just staring at your phone. Did something happen?" Midori asked as she sat on the desk next to Ara.

"N-nothing. I was just reading Kou's message then spaced out," she answered sheepishly as she scratched the side of her head.  

"Did something happen to Ryuu?"

Ara shook her head. "It's just that things in Hakone are really busy. He said he probably can't come home this week."

"Oh no…"

The girls looked at her sympathetically, and Rin even gave her a pat on the shoulder.

"Don't worry. Now that the tests are done, we can hang out with you more. We just can't go anywhere random since it's still dangerous with the nutjob and that uncle out there."

Ara grinned. "We actually can as long as all of us are together. My brother and Kou both hired security for us, remember? If we all stay together, it's easier for them to guard us. I already asked my brother and he said we can go as long as we inform them where we're going."

Hearing this, the group was visibly delighted.

"That's good then! We can still go and have fun while waiting for graduation!"

Midori clapped her hands as an idea hit her. "Why don't we go shopping again today?" she asked before turning to Ara. "No buying us things again, okay? We'll just go take a look then have ice cream after."

"That's right. My mom gave me some money as a graduation gift," Rin added, remembering the stash of cash her mother handed her this morning.

"Me too," Miharu added, and Ara knew their activity for the day's settled.

"But is Hiroaki going to be fine?" Miharu asked Midori.

Most boys weren't really good at shopping. If all four of them went shopping, Sonoda might feel he had to tag along. Well, he had to tag along. He's one of the targeted people after all.

"He's going to be fine. He can help us too," Midori said with a wink and Ara giggled imagining Sonoda carrying their bags as they visited shops.

"He doesn't have practice, right?"

Ara wondered why Hiroaki was not there now. Since it's their exam day, all extracurricular activities were canceled until tomorrow.

"Ah… His old captain and the new one called him earlier. They will be having some sort of welcome party for the new members this Friday. I think they will talk about that."

"Oh, yeah," Ara nodded. Most clubs had their new sets of officers now to replace the graduating seniors.

"Are you still going to do something, or should we go to the gym?"Rin asked and Ara shook her head.

"I'm done with my requirements so I'm totally free. Let's go to the gym to wait for Hiroaki."

Soon, all four of them piled up towards the door, then outside the corridor to head for the gym. However, as soon as they went down the stairs, a familiar figure stepped in their path, making them stop.

The happy chitchat halted abruptly, their smiles faded as all eyes zeroed in on the girl standing before them with a smile.

"There you are, guys…"

Okada Koharu, looking sweet and innocent in her school uniform beamed at them as she watched them descend the steps. When they reached the bottom, Ara's group stopped.

"What are you doing here, Koharu?"Rin asked with a frown.

They knew the girl had been suspended, and so they were surprised to see her at school. According to their teacher, Okada was supposed to be given her tests at her home. But it seemed there were changes at the last minute. However, it didn't matter to Ara and her group. Okada Koharu's true self was already exposed to the world.

Ara had already won. She had cleared her name and Koharu's damsel in distress façade would never work again.

"I'm a student at the school. Why can't I be here?" Okada Koharu countered Rin airily, the smile on her face vanishing as she turned to Ara. "We have to talk."

Suzuki Ara snorted at how demanding the other girl sounded.

"Why are you ordering Ara?"

"I'm not talking to you. Shut up, Rin," Koharu shushed her, making the others amazed at how she could still act like that after what she did to Rin.

Ara, of course, had no reason to humor her. "We have nothing to talk about Koharu," she said as she started to advance, but Koharu stopped her.

"You might want to reconsider that Ara, after what I did for you."

Huh?

If only she could whistle, Ara would have done so. The nerve of this girl!

"Excuse me?" she couldn't help but ask the nutcase with an incredulous look. "What did you do for me exactly? Bully others under my name? Run after someone else's man using me?"

Her tone was mocking of course, but Koharu ignored her words and took this chance to remind her nonetheless of her trump card. She was too confident she still had the ability to convince Ara it seemed.

"Have you forgotten that I saved your life? You owe me," she said, her pair of eyes bright with triumph as if the knowledge would change anything.

This time, Ara let out a mirthless laugh and the girls placed their hands on her shoulders, squeezing her as if to give her comfort and courage. Their feelings touched her and she smiled at them this time before looking at Koharu again with cold silver eyes.

"I didn't forget," Ara answered. "But that debt had been paid when you messed with my car and nearly killed me. A life for a life. I owe you nothing now."

Hearing that, there was an audible intake of breath as Koharu was stunned.

"Oh? I'm sure you know I heard you clearly that night Koharu. Only an idiot wouldn't know after hearing that phone call checking if my car's been messed up," Ara smiled at her, malice glittered in her eyes unconsciously that even the deranged Okada stepped back in fear.

"You have no evidence. No one would believe you," Koharu said afterwards, refusing to back down.

"Who cares? I don't," Ara continued with a shrug. "What matters is that no one would believe you either Koharu, and that's enough for me," she said, and it was the truth.

"Do you honestly believe it's over? You already know what I can do. If you don't give me back Ryuu, you will see what else I'm capable of."

Oh?

"What are you capable of? Whoring yourself to your stepfather?"Ara didn't mince her words this time. She even laughed when Koharu flinched. "Did you really believe I didn't know about your dirty little secret with your uncle? Also…"

She let her eyes look at Koharu up and down with the purpose of insulting her. "Do you think after playing house with your stepdad you're still qualified to speak of much less run after my man?"

This time, Okada Koharu's eyes became wild, her body taut as if she would spring at Ara anytime. "He's mine!"

"Shut up!"Ara held her hand up, showing her ringed finger. "In the eyes of God and in the eyes of man, he's mine, and there's nothing you can do about it. Don't speak to me or show your face to me again. This will be the last time," she said as she turned around and left, with the rest of the girls following her.

None of them looked back to see how Koharu followed them with murder in her eyes. None of them cared about her anymore, and so, even when they heard her throw something on the ground and screamed.