Death Game

What Akari said gave no reprieve to Naomi at all about the situation. “Indeed.”

Naomi bristled at that. “But don’t I get a say in any—”

“I kept it from you because I knew you’d say no. I thought you wanted to be a star “at any cost?” This is the cost!”

“But… but…”

Useless. It's useless.

Because Mother was always right.

More than likely, Mother calculated the probabilities of her success already. Having a star like Yuuji by her side is sure to boost her metrics to sky-high levels. She shouldn’t have expected anything less of her mother’s work ethic.

Despite this, a rebellious part of her brain cried out in protest. I'll just ignore Yuuji, it said to her. I'll go to Riku in secret. I'll tell him what's happening.

But how? Her life wasn't private.

She was Miss Kagayaki!

That kid who streamed her today proved it. Every second at that school would be under a microscope. And worse... what if she was caught trying to relay this information to Riku?

She couldn’t trust Riku to withhold information like that; he always acted with his heart more than his head.

And once that death flag triggered…

At every turn, Riku would be sabotaged, defaced, humiliated...

Naomi was suddenly, sickeningly confident that Akari was already arranging for school “accidents” that would make him appear undesirable as they speak.

Her only path forward was the public one. She had to engage with Yuuji. She had to pretend she was falling for him…

And leave Riku behind.

She could see the scene frame-perfectly. Her, standing on that stage, choosing Yuuji. And then, Riku's face. That look of confusion. Of betrayal. 

A wave of nausea washed over her.

But why? she thought, her nails digging into her palms. Why am I panicking? I'm better than him in every way. Logically, this scenario... it was for his own good.

If she played the game and publicly cut him loose, maybe Akari would leave him alone.

Then why did it feel so wrong?

Suddenly, her mother’s eyes softened. “Do you know why I am being so harsh with you?”

“I…” No, Naomi never ever did.

“Damian,” Mother said, “pull out that Wish-Upon-a-Star video dated back to a year ago.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Damian dutifully replied.

Naomi’s stomach tightened. She could hardly remember the day; it was a blur in a 20-city North American tour.

The video soon unfolded in front of the room-spanning screen.

The subject of the video: Zoey, late-stage leukemia, thirteen years old.

‘Getting to meet the always wonderful Miss Kagayaki!!’

"Miss Kagayaki, your grace," the girl's voice was frail. "I am… sorry for presenting to you like this… but… Do you… deem me worthy?"

“Not many are worthy of such an accolade,” Kagayaki, her past self, had said. “Though I suppose this one time… Your devotion to me, as well as your strength, shines through brighter than any star. I suppose… I can make an exception.”

“Y-Yes, Miss Kagayaki, but of course!” Zoey practically squealed. On screen, the frail girl fought against her own body, pushing herself out of her wheelchair and onto the floor—

The video paused on that image.

“When that girl got off her wheelchair to kneel before you,” Akari said, her voice quiet, “it wasn't Naomi she was kneeling to. It was Miss Kagayaki. The fantasy let her believe, for just a moment, that she was worthy. That everything was going to be OK. The fans love you because you are uncompromisingly cold and haughty toward them.”

Akari got off her chair. She walked toward Naomi now, as if to accentuate how small Naomi really is by towering over her like she usually did.

“This Riku... if you let him shatter that fantasy, how many countless other fans would you let down?”

She cupped Naomi’s cheek, her thumb brushing just under her eye.

“Miss Kagayaki means too much to too many people,” she whispered. “What Naomi wants... it doesn't matter anymore.”

It was a sacrifice. The "Ice Princess" would have to kill "Naomi" to save the boy she…

She couldn't finish the thought.

“So, please,” Akari said gravely. “Can you guarantee me your full commitment?”

Naomi did the only thing she could. She let the cold persona her mother had built wash over her.

She met her mother's gaze. Her own eyes turned to ice. Naomi would rather Riku hate her and be safe, than have him like her and be destroyed.

“Of course, Mother.”

Kagayaki, finally, took over.

Creeeaaaaak…

Mother and daughter turned towards the office entrance.

Yuuji had one hand on the doorknob.

“I, uhh… couldn’t find the right time to leave. Didn’t want to intrude on your, uh, spat.”

Akari slammed her desk.

“OkayokayokayI’mleaving.”