"It's ... This is all my fault..."
Thinking back to the past, Akemi knew everything had started with her expectations of Moroboshi Dai.
Because of that man, her sister had been dragged to the edge of a hopeless situation.
If she had never recomnded him, perhaps she and her sister would never have faced this kind of danger.
Life might still have been unsatisfying, but it would not have pushed them into complete despair.
"Yes, it's all your fault."
"It is because you expected sothing from him. You thought he could bring you a change. That's why you recomnded him to your sister, even knowing he approached you with the intention of using you to be recomnded."
"You are responsible for all of this. You need to understand that."
"I see..."
Her expression was filled with misery, but she knew she deserved it. She had trusted soone she should never have believed in.
But Shiho was innocent. She should not have to die alongside her.
"But Shiho is innocent!"
"In this regard, no one is truly innocent. Identity and the environnt one lives in are beyond personal control. Since you and your sister's identities were given by your parents, in a sense, your parents are not innocent either."
"But unfortunately, your parents are missing, so the consequences they should bear must now be borne by you two sisters."
The voice was still gentle, but the words were sharp enough to cut.
"As for whether your sister is innocent... I believe she understood your intentions the mont she accepted your recomndation. So, can you still say she is innocent?"
"This is your two sisters' respective way of taking revenge on the organization, isn't it?"
"..."
Having her thoughts laid bare, Akemi could not refute for a mont.
Forced into a corner, she revealed her true intentions.
"I hoped that man could bring change to and Shiho."
"I learned his identity, and it seed he approached deliberately to infiltrate the organization. After learning this, I hoped to use his status to help and Shiho leave."
"Well, that's the correct answer."
She gave a bitter smile. She had never wanted to say it aloud.
"Emotions are the best ans of exploitation. Just as the CIA agent used them on you, you used the sa thod on him."
"But you knew ordinary ans would be useless against a CIA undercover. So you used your sister to give him a recomnded identity. Then, bit by bit, you told him about the hardships and threats you and your sister faced, so that guilt would grow in him after receiving the recomndation."
"You wanted to use his guilt to help you both escape the organization, even if it ant joining the witness protection program."
"But your plan still failed."
Akemi's face darkened. She had intended to make him feel guilty, but at the crucial mont, she failed to play her role. Worse, she had made things even more dangerous for herself and Shiho.
"It is exactly because of your current situation that you need to be prepared. You were even willing to dirty your hands to get that one billion yen."
"It's a pity you still miscalculated. Do you know the most important quality a killer must have?"
"Quality of a killer?"
She clearly didn't understand.
"The most important quality is, naturally, not having to keep promises."
Akemi was no fool. Hearing that, she instantly realized Gin would never keep his word.
"Why? He clearly said so."
Her voice cracked.
"He did. But did he ever say he would keep that promise? You think too highly of yourself, Ms. Miyano. You have little value, especially with your limited abilities. On top of that, you're connected to a CIA undercover, so to him, you're worthless."
"One billion yen was never really part of a transaction. It was more like a gesture to brush you off."
"He expects nothing from you. Your fate was sealed the mont that CIA agent's identity was exposed."
"And you know very well what they hate most is a traitor."
Yes, she knew this better than anyone.
That organization never tolerated traitors. Once exposed, death was inevitable.
The mont his cover was blown, the safety of both her and Shiho vanished.
She had always known this.
It was because she knew so well that she now felt true despair.
She realized she had been abandoned, discarded like trash.
And once she beca an abandoned pawn, her sister would follow, crushed for resisting.
They were both already standing at the cliff's edge, only one step away from shattering completely.
Yet even with her heart steeped in despair, Akemi searched for a single safe path.
She looked at the shadowed figure before her.
"Please, can you help and my sister?"
It was her only choice.
She was certain no one else would help them. The only possible savior was the one who had appeared quietly before her.
"So, what can you give?"
"I think you, having seen the ways of this world, understand this best. You must pay for what you want. That is the rule."
She understood that rule perfectly.
"But... I have nothing..."
"No, you do. I want your loyalty and faith for the rest of your life. If you accept, I will guide you in facing the troubles before you and in rescuing your sister."
"Loyalty and faith..."
She hesitated. She didn't think she was worth much, but this was the best bargain she could get.
She had nothing left, so her loyalty and beliefs for the rest of her life no longer mattered.
She would give anything to save her sister.
"Yes. I can give you anything I have."
"Very good. From today, you are my believer. And I grant my believers the right to choose their own destiny, and the power to change it."
(To be continued.)
***
For every 200 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support on P/treon to read 30 advanced chapters: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
Reviews
All reviews (0)