The gates of Royal Crest Academy were forged from black iron and gold, designed to keep the world out and the "legacy" in. As the Johnson family’s black sedan pulled up to the curb, a hush fell over the gathered students.
Aqua Johnson stepped out, and the atmosphere shifted. He didn't look like a nervous freshman; he moved with the calculated grace of a king visiting a vassal state. His blazer was crisp, his golden-blonde hair perfectly styled, and his smile—the one he had spent years perfecting in Joe Johnson’s mirrors—was dazzling.
"Look at him," a girl whispered. "That’s Joe Johnson’s adopted son. They say he’s a genius."
Aqua ignored the whispers, his eyes scanning the crowd. He wasn't looking for friends. He was looking for targets.
The Princess and the Pariah
He found the first one near the fountain. Ruby Williams was surrounded by a phalanx of girls, all dressed in the same expensive silk. She was laughing, but it was a sharp, jagged sound. At her feet lay a scattered pile of books and a shattered pair of glasses.
Standing in front of her was a girl with deep purple hair, her head bowed, her shoulders shaking. This was Akane Oshino Smith.
"I told you, Akane," Ruby said, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. "Scholarship students shouldn't walk on the same path as us. You’re tracking 'poverty' into the courtyard."
"I... I was just going to the library," Akane whispered, her voice cracking.
Ruby stepped forward, her expensive heel grinding one of Akane’s notebooks into the dirt. "Then go. But do it the long way. Around the back, where the trash is kept. That’s where you belong, right?"
The crowd laughed. It was a practiced, cruel harmony.
Aqua watched from the shadows of a stone pillar. He saw the way Akane’s hands trembled as she reached for her ruined books. He also saw something else—the way her eyes darted, analyzing the crowd even through her tears. She wasn't just crying; she was observing.
The Intervention
Aqua stepped into the light. The laughter died down instantly. Ruby turned, her eyes widening as she took in the boy who was rumored to be her father’s greatest threat.
"Is there a problem here?" Aqua asked, his voice smooth and pleasant.
Ruby’s expression shifted in a heartbeat. She flipped her hair and smiled, a perfect imitation of her father’s "public face." "Oh! You must be Aqua. I’m Ruby Williams. We were just... helping Akane learn the school's 'traditions.' It's a bit of a shock for someone from her background."
Aqua walked past Ruby as if she were made of glass. He knelt down in the dirt next to Akane.
"These are good books," Aqua said, picking up a copy of Advanced Behavioral Psychology. He handed it to Akane. "A bit too advanced for some people here, I imagine."
Akane looked up. For a second, their eyes locked. Aqua felt a jolt of recognition. In her eyes, he didn't see a victim; he saw a mirror. She saw the "mask" he was wearing. She saw the coldness beneath the handsome smile.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice steadying as she realized he was shielding her from Ruby's gaze.
The First Move
Aqua stood up and finally looked at Ruby. He didn't look angry; he looked bored.
"Tradition is just a word people use when they aren't smart enough to create something new," Aqua said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a clean handkerchief, handing it to Akane. "Keep it. You have more important things to do than entertain the locals."
The insult was subtle, but it hit Ruby like a slap. Her face flushed a deep, angry red. "Do you know who my father is?"
Aqua leaned in, his voice dropping so only she could hear. "I know exactly who your father is, Ruby. That’s why I’m here. And trust me... you’re the least interesting thing about him."
He turned and walked away, not waiting for a response. Akane followed him with her eyes, clutching the handkerchief. She felt the weight of the silk—and the weight of the secret he was carrying.
The Trigger
As Aqua entered the main hall, his heart suddenly spiked. On a large digital monitor in the lobby, a news loop was playing.
"...Stallone Williams announces a new partnership with the city's housing project. The billionaire philanthropist says..."
The image of Stallone’s face—older, more arrogant—filled the screen.
Suddenly, the hallway seemed to turn red. The smell of lilies and copper flooded Aqua’s senses. His breath hitched. The walls felt like they were closing in. The room. The blood. The letter.
He stumbled toward a side exit, his vision blurring. He collapsed against the cold brick of an alleyway, gasping for air, his hands clawing at his throat.
"Breathe."
A soft hand touched his shoulder. It was Akane. She had followed him. She didn't look confused or scared; she looked at him with a terrifyingly sharp intensity.
"It’s a panic attack," she said, her voice calm and analytical. "You’re reacting to a past trauma triggered by that man on the screen. Close your eyes. Count the beats of my heart. One... two... three..."
She grabbed his hand and pressed it against her chest. Slowly, the red faded. The air returned to his lungs.
Aqua looked at the girl he had just "saved" ten minutes ago. She was the only person in fifteen years who had seen through the Golden Boy.
"Who are you?" Aqua rasped.
Akane didn't flinch. "I'm the person who’s going to help you kill him."
ns216.73.216.141da2
and then Add to home screen.