70 They threw bait to her

"u_413?" chisa looks at the profile of the gamer who was discovered in the competition at h island. there is no picture or name. she stares at her secretary. "is that all you have?"

"there is no enough information about her. our biggest opponent is interested in recruiting her for their team. they weren't able to find out her identity. she appeared out of nowhere and went away like a storm." secretary morikawa places another file in front of her. "they threw bait to her. they sent an invitation to her to take part in the 6-monthly tournament. it's a one-day tournament. if she wins, they will try to recruit her. i have looked into the names of the registered gamers. she is going to take part tomorrow."

she skims through the list of the participants until she finds u_413. "if she makes it to the final round, approach her. do anything it takes to lure her to our side. we need people if we want to participate in the world championship. by the way, have you been keeping eye on kiyohira? it's been quiet recently."

morikawa begins his report. "he is still looking for the person behind takeuchi miwako. he met with her ex-husband and family members. they didn't know anything either. he got hold on to the list of classmates of takeuchi rie. your stepfather has already removed your name from the school records. currently, he is looking for each classmate and talking to them personally. but, they have never seen anyone other than takeuchi miwako with takeuchi rie. i am sure that he can't find anything."

there is no flaw in her past except for takeuchi rie. takeuchi rie is already dead. she is sure that kamiyama kiyohira will get tired of the search and give up soon. she wants to see how long he will take.

morikawa watches his boss smiling with satisfaction. her mood is good today. "your father called. he wanted to discuss something with you."

she sneers at him. "what does he want now?"

"he didn't tell me."

he probably wants to discuss her engagement. she has visited kamiyama mansion regularly. kamiyama kiyohira doesn't live there anymore. his grandmother has assured her that kiyohira will marry her for sure. her father is pressuring her to do anything to hook kiyohira to her. but, that man treats her like air. in the last two years, he didn't answer a single call or text.

he's chasing her tail though. he keeps looking for the person behind miwako. he might ignore her as his fiancee, but he has been chasing her invisible tail around. keep doing that, kiyohira. in one way or another, he's going for her.

when he gives up, she will be there to pick him up.

***

the picture of a teenage girl kneeling in front of a pair of shoes is lying on the table. her face is visible, but the bully's face is not taken.

"miwako didn't know that i had it." the woman is rie's middle school classmate. "i was absent when the picture was circulated in the classroom. she took away the pictures from all the classmates who were present that day. when i came back, it was lying inside my desk. i took it home and forgot about it. i didn't know that i had it until you asked me about the picture."

takeuchi miwako couldn't erase everything. kiyohira stares at the girl. rie. she suffered a lot.

"who took this picture?" he asks the woman.

"back then, there was a student who liked taking secret photos. nobody knows who that person was." she has a look of disgust. "i am sure that it was a pervert. he liked taking pictures of girls. he stopped when we were in year two. i think he was a senior who graduated. that explains why it stopped after year 2."

a pervert who liked taking secret photos. if it stopped in the second year of middle school, that boy should be two years older.

"in this picture, the girl with those shoes... do you suspect anyone?" he points at the shoes in the picture.

"it's been a long time." she frowns. "i can't remember. it was always miwako who seek rie. i can't think of anyone else who could make her do this. she rarely came to school. when she did come, miwako would seek her out."

it's not miwako though. he knows that for sure. rie wasn't afraid of miwako when she met her at the hospital. it's someone else. that person behind miwako is extremely smart. when he investigated miwako deeply, he found her involvement in a secret female club where powerful women went to play. miwako's villa was used as a secret playhouse. she acted as a host who provided different services to these women.

"back then, there was a rumor that the photographer was ueki akahito." she says with an unsure voice. "he was a photographer for the school magazine. he was two years older than us. there was one more boy. ichikawa toru. he was one year older than us. he was caught peeking at girl's changing room when we were in year 2. they found some perverted pictures in his bag. he was restricted from school. the photographer could be someone else. i hope it helps."

kiyohira takes the photo and leaves. if he finds that photographer, he can find out who that person was. ueki akahito. ichikawa toru. he is close.

***

"are you sure?" umezaki yushiro asks her daughter again. "i don't think that this is the right way. i can help you remember if you come with me."

he has been trying to convince his daughter to quit the tournament and leave the city with him. she didn't change her mind even after hearing about her past. now, she seems more adamant about taking part.

she wears a cat mask to hide her face and wears a green wig. she is dressed in a rainbow dress and high purple boots. umezaki yushiro feels dizzy by all the bright colors on his daughter. she looks an eccentric cosplayer.

"i won't reveal my face easily." she tells her father, "i am not an idiot. i will use this time to find out that person on my own. when i meet that person, i am going to beat her until she asks for forgiveness."

"but..." at times like this, he has a hard time understanding his daughter. "why do you not want ren and kiyohira to know that you know about your past?"

she lowers her cat mask. "it's better if nobody knows that u_413 is umezaki rie. i have a feeling that my enemy knows them both. that person might be keeping an eye on them. i also want to take this chance to observe them."

observe them for what? umezaki yushiro wants to ask. there is a knock. yuhara kozue enters the room. "who is this person dressed like a cartoon character?"

"you don't recognize your older sister?" rie reveals her face. "even you can't recognize me. my disguise is good."

yuhara kozue looks at her from the top to bottom. "professor, has she gone mad?"

"i don't know about her, but i am going mad." umezaki yushiro sits on the couch with frustration. "yuhara, wear a disguise and stay beside her. you can't let kiyohira recognize you."

yuhara kozue figures out the meaning of professor's words. it means that they aren't leaving t city. this girl is going to take part in the tournament. why hide from kiyohira though?

"come, i will help you with your disguise." rie grins at him.

"professor, please send me away. i would rather write my thesis than become a cartoon character."

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umezaki yushiro rolls his eyes. "too late."