Together

After discovering the Aria being kept in the energy division’s lab, Stella’s emotions torpedoed her toward a confrontation with her mother with vicious momentum. Her phone was already ringing for her mother’s driver to take her back to their mansion when Yui stopped her.

“Wait,” she said. “I know you’re angry, but we should retreat for now.”

“This isn’t the time to back down!” Stella snarled.

Yui raised her hands in a placating manner. “Look,” she tried again, “we just learned a secret that could ruin the company. You should take the time to sort out how you want to deal with the fallout.”

It was sound advice. Stella hated it. “She could be unleashing new Aria on the city every day. How can I worry about the future of the company at a time like this?”

“That’s a risk you’re just going to have to take,” Yui said grimly. “There’s a lot of people working for Sakai Kousan, Stella. The city also relies on the company for all of its energy. You can’t ignore what it would mean for your mother to be implicated in a scheme like this.”

Yui squeezed Stella’s shoulder gently. ”But more than anything, you should give yourself some time to think about what you really want to say to your mom—and how you want her to make amends for what she’s done.”

Stella had to admit Yui was persuasive, because her argument was starting to give her some pause. All she’d really been thinking about was forcing her mom to fess up. But even if she did, then what? What did she want her to do about it? Did she want her to shutter the doors of the company? Kill the Aria slumbering in the lab? Let them go free?

Stella bit her lip. “You…have a point,” she admitted.

Yui let out the smallest sigh of relief. “I promise I’ll help, okay? You’re not alone in this, partner.”

Stella swallowed around the lump in her throat and nodded. “Thanks,” she croaked.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Stella was ready.

She’d done her soul-searching. She’d drafted countless strategic papers on how to carry the company through the inevitable scandal, too. And although she was still terrified of the repercussions confronting her mother would have for their relationship, she tried not to think about it.

She was completely, 100% prepared. And yet, since the break-in, her mother had become an actual specter.

Stella heard whispers of her activities, and was even told offhandedly by her mother’s secretary that she wanted to see her, but Stella had been completely unable to capture her mother in the flesh, even at their mansion.

The scared, paranoid part of her teenage existence worried that her mother already knew she was behind the break in. And the more time that passed where she was unable to properly confirm that fact, the more untameable her anxiety felt.

Yui pointed out that the reason her mother was so busy was likely because she was reevaluating and testing out new security protocols. She also reasoned that if Sakura knew it was them, she would have just revoked their access instead of issuing a department-wide overhaul.

Yui’s speculations calmed her nerves for a bit, but only a bit. By the time a week had passed since their mission, Stella was dragging Yui along with her as they barged through every door in the building searching for her mother.

This method, though crude, allowed them to shake down some employees in the middle of a clandestine closet excursion for information. The pair told Stella and Yui that her mother had taken up residence in one of the offices in the energy division, and Stella could only think, of course.

Her mother knew that her secret had been spoiled, and so she decided the matter of the Aria was something that could no longer be left in the hands of others—she needed to oversee it herself.

The entire area had been off-limits since the break-in, but just the sharp sing of her sword leaving its sheath was enough to force the guards to give her a wide berth. She was the CEO’s daughter, anyways. Surely she wasn’t behind the breach?

If only they knew.

“Where is my mother?” Stella asked.

The guards pointed her to a nondescript door to the left of the maze of cubicles which made up the bulk of the division floor, and she nodded her thanks.

Despite aggressively pushing herself to reach this point, Stella’s hand still shook as she placed her hand on the door handle.

Yui placed a hand over hers. “Together?”

Stella let out a shaky breath. “Together.”

Even though the door only made the smallest click when it opened, Stella still noticed the way that her mother startled from her prim posture as soon as she heard it.

The two of them stepped into the office and closed the door behind them. “Mom,” Stella said. “We need to talk.”

When Sakura recognized it was her daughter visiting, she visibly relaxed. She glanced between Stella and Yui curiously. “Yui’s with you? That’s unusual.”

Yui shrugged, and that was the only answer they offered for her presence. Her mother stared at their dreary expressions for a moment before pinching the bridge of her nose with a sigh. “I’m guessing this can’t wait until dinner this evening?”

“We know the truth about the Aria,” Stella said bluntly.

Her mother froze for a moment. Ever experienced under pressure, she recovered quickly. “The truth? Well, you and everyone else, dear.”

“I’m not talking about what you told the press.”

“Stella, I really don’t have time for this. I’m sure you heard about the break-in in the lab?”

“Of course,” Stella said.

“We’re the ones who broke in, after all,” Yui interjected.

“You…I’m sorry?”

Stella pressed her hands against the sides of her mother’s desk. “I told you, we know the truth. So stop lying, because I want to hear it from you.” Stella leaned forward until their twin button noses were almost touching. “How did it feel to see the faces of our comrades and the Aria before you sent them off to die?”

Her mom said nothing as she leaned away from her by pushing back in her chair. “Honestly? Well…” She crossed her legs and kicked her heel back and forth, as if she was really considering the question. Eventually, she looked her unflinchingly in the eye and answered, “It felt like sweet relief.”