Chapter 78: Fuji's War Plan

Fuji is standing in his perfect, cold, prison-room.

He is watching the news on his "secure" (monitored) television.

He is watching a replay. Of Toujo doing the worm. Of Aoi yelling about a penguin apron.

He is watching his father, the Crown Prince, turn a shade of purple he has never seen before.

Kenichi, his assistant, is standing by the door.

"The public approval rating for His Highness, the Crown Prince, has dropped thirty-four points overnight," Kenichi reports, his voice monotone. "Conversely, your public approval... has risen sixty points. You are... trending."

A tiny, almost invisible smirk plays on Fujis lips.

"They are brilliant, are they not?" Fuji murmurs.

"They are... chaotic, Your Highness."

The door to the room slams open.

The Crown Prince. He is furious.

"TURN IT OFF!" he roars.

Kenichi immediately turns the TV off.

"FATHER," Fuji says, bowing.

"Do not Father me. You did this. You planned this!"

"I did nothing," Fuji says, his voice the perfect Ice Prince. "I stood where I was told. I smiled when I was told. I did not control the actions of... enthusiastic members of the public."

"Enthusiastic! They humiliated this family! They humiliated me! And YOU! You LAUGHED!" Takahito shouts.

"I was... surprised," Fuji says.

"You will fix this. Immediately."

"How, Father?"

"You will give a public address. This evening. You will state that the girl, Isuzu Aoi, is a deranged stalker. That the incident was a planned publicity stunt by the actor, Hiroto Suzume. You will disavow them. All of them. And... you will announce your formal engagement to Lady Mariko."

Fuji is silent.

This is the move. This is the checkmate his father is playing.

If Fuji refuses... his father will destroy her. He will use the power of the Palace to paint Aoi as a criminal.

If Fuji agrees... he loses her. Forever.

Fuji looks at his father. The man who slapped him. The man who trapped him.

"No," Fuji says.

"What... did you say?" Takahito hisses.

"I said... no. I will not."

"You dare... I will have her arrested! I will have her familys businesses destroyed! I will-"

"You will do nothing, Father," Fuji says, his voice quiet, but harder than steel.

"Because if you touch her... if you ever mention her name again... I will abdicate."

Takahito freezes. "Abdicate? You... you are the spare. It means nothing."

"Does it?" Fuji asks. "I am the spare, yes. But I am the beloved one. The one who ran away. The one who is trending. The one who is trapped. The public loves me. They hate you. If I abdicate now... if I hold a press conference and tell the world why... that I am abdicating because my tyrant father is threatening the innocent commoner girl I love... what do you think that will do to your approval rating? What will that do to the stability you care so much about?"

The Crown Prince is speechless. His rage is so profound, he is shaking.

"You... would destroy this family... for a gutter rat?"

"I would," Fuji says, without blinking. "So. We have a stalemate. You cannot touch her. And I... am still trapped here."

Fuji walks to his desk. He picks up a proposal.

"So... lets make a deal."

"A... deal?"

"You want stability. You want good PR. The Cherry Blossom Festival was a disaster. The public thinks you are out of touch. Lets fix it."

Fuji hands the proposal to his father.

Takahito reads it. His eyes go wide.

"You... you are insane."

"I am modern," Fuji says. "You want to bridge the gap with the younger generation? This is how. A Goodwill Event. Something new. Something exciting."

"A... National E-Sports Charity Tournament? Hosted by the Imperial Household?" his father reads, disgusted.

"Exactly," Fuji says. "The biggest streamers. The biggest companies. All for charity. The press will love it. It will show you are listening to the youth. It will show Imperial benevolence."

"This is a joke."

"Is it? My scandal... was caused by a gamer and an actor. This event... will show that you forgive them. That you are magnanimous. You will invite Hiroto Suzume as a celebrity host. You will invite Deception... as the star player. You will invite Isuzu-sans father... to honor his companys contribution to the industry."

Takahito is staring at Fuji. He is seeing the politician behind the prince. He is seeing the war plan.

"You... you are bringing them here," Takahito whispers. "Into the Palace. Where I can watch them."

"Of course," Fuji says, his face a perfect mask. "Bring your enemies closer. Is that not what you always taught me, Father?"

His father looks at the proposal. He looks at Fuji.

He hates it.

But... it is the only move he has.

"This... will be under my strict supervision, Kenji."

"I would expect nothing less."

"And the girl. Isuzu Aoi. She is not invited. Only her father."

Fuji pauses.

"As you wish, Father. She is... just a student. She has no place at a formal event."

His father nods. Satisfied.

He leaves the room.

Fuji stands alone.

He has just invited every single one of his friends... his entire army... inside the castle walls.

And he has just... publicly... banned Aoi.

He looks at the penguin on his desk.

"You had better understand this, Aoi," he whispers. "This is the only way. I am bringing them to me. But you... you have to find your own way in."