Chapter 32: The Dragon's Territory (Yakuza POV)

The Bokumuchi-kai compound is silent. It is not the silence of peace, but the silence of control. It is the silence of a raked-gravel garden where no stone is out of place, of polished wood floors that reflect the moonlight, of men in black suits who move like shadows and speak only when spoken to.

In the central room, the one with the golden dragon fusuma, Ryouji Katsumi sits. He is not in his simple kimono; he is in a formal, dark montsuki, the one bearing his family's crest. He is not alone. Kenichi is kneeling, as always, by the door. Across from the Kaichou, three other men are kneeling. They are older, the 'Region Leaders' of the Bokumuchi-kai, the heads of 'Finance', 'Logistics', and 'Entertainment'.

"The Oasis," Ryouji says, his voice a low, calm rumble, "is leaking."

The "Oasis" is their flagship, a high-end, secret casino hidden in the penthouse of a building they own. It is supposed to be invincible.

The 'Entertainment' boss, a man with a scarred face named Jiro, bows. "Kaichou. It is not a leak. It is a test."

"Explain," Ryouji commands.

"They are not stealing," Jiro says, his voice rough. "They are disrupting. They are professionals. They come in, they play, and they win just enough to test our security. They are mapping our operations."

Ryouji is still. "And our clients?"

The 'Finance' boss, a thin, spectacled man, speaks. "They are nervous, Kaichou. Two CEOs have been approached."

The air in the room drops ten degrees. "Approached?" Ryouji repeats.

"They were offered an alternative arrangement," the finance boss says, his voice a strained whisper. "An insurance... against us."

This is a declaration of war. This is not a test; this is an invasion.

"Who," Ryouji Katsumi says. It is not a question.

"We do not know," Jiro says, his head now touching the tatami mat. "They are ghosts. They look yakuza. They act yakuza. But they are not ours. They are not any of the known families."

Ryouji is silent for a long, long time. He is analyzing. "A new player," he finally says. "Or an old ghost."

He looks at Kenichi. "Kenichi."

"Kaichou," Kenichi says, his voice firm.

"This is inefficient," Ryouji says. "This is messy. Send her."

Kenichi flinches. "Kaichou," Kenichi says, his voice tight. "The Ojou-sama? She is sixteen. This is dangerous."

"She," Ryouji says, his voice turning to steel, "is the Successor. She is seventeen next year. She is ready."

"This is her territory," Ryouji continues. "She will inherit this mess. She needs to understand every rat in her foundation. She will inspect the Oasis. Her eyes are sharper than ours."

The scene shifts. A high school classroom, 1-B. The final bell rings. Ayako Katsumi is packing her bag, polite, distant, the goddess. Her phone, in her pocket, vibrates. She excuses herself and goes to the Student Council Room.

She answers. "Kenichi." Her voice is cold.

"Ojou-sama," Kenichi's voice crackles formally. "The Kaichou has a special project for you."

Ayako listens. Her face changes. The goddess melts. The predator emerges.

"The Oasis," she says. "Understood."

She hangs up. She is silent. She looks at her school uniform, then at a locked cabinet in her office. She opens it. Inside is a black dress, simple, elegant, deadly. Her other uniform.

Her phone buzzes. A text. From him. The Anomaly.

Shoujo: You still owe me a procedural update. My wardrobe is still problematic.

Ayako stares at the text. Her face, which was ice, softens. A tiny, tiny smirk appears. She texts back.

Ayako: My schedule has become complicated. Be patient, anomaly.

She puts the phone away. The smirk is gone. The ice is back. Time for work.