An irredemable woman

"I'LL NEVER COMMIT SUCH ATROCITIES AGAIN!" Rika seethed with fury.

Ookuma clicked her tongue and pulled out a syringe. She quickly jabbed it into Rika's neck as Rika grimaced in pain.

"This stuff takes effect almost instantly unlike what the rank and file equivalent," Ookuma sneered as the guards immediately got off Rika and attended to their wounded colleague.

Rika's body immediately went limp causing her face to get a little paler with fear.

"Now, you can't fight back. Now listen closely Korosekai, in one week's time, you're to join my supporters for a rally and aid them in "convincing" the good people of these districts to elect my chosen candidates," Ookuma sneered as she flashed her phone before Rika.

"And if I don't!?" Rika glared.

"Then Masaru Ryono will be arrested for sexually assaulting my colleague Segawa-san."

"BULLSHIT! Masaru didn't-"

"Of course he didn't, but I control the room. 20 women aside from myself and Segawa-san, that are aligned with my cause are present in this room. In a court of law, will the jury believe the account of 2 or 20? I strongly believe 20," Ookuma sneered as Segawa happily ripped up her clothing to make it look as though she had been assaulted.

The guards then ripped the tape of Masaru's mouth and positioned him to make it look as though they were restraining him after he assaulted Segawa, while another one of Ookuma's colleagues took a photograph.

"And now, I have my evidence. Be thankful that the bill was pre-paid, for if not I would have raised a commotion. You will be at the designated place in a week," Ookuma sneered as she grabbed all the to-go boxes of the food she ordered and left with her guards and colleagues.

The restaurant had closed so no customers were present when Ookuma and her entourage walked out. Most of the staff had also left, however, Mimi was still there cleaning tables. Upon seeing her, Ookuma froze and ordered her guards to restrain her and check her stomach.

"Wah!? What are you doing!?" Mimi cried as a guard lifted up her shirt.

Ookuma gazed intently at Mimi's stomach.

"No scar, perhaps I was just paranoid," Ookuma mumbled as she signaled her guards to release Mimi.

Ookuma and her entourage then left. Mimi immediately ran into the luxury area and found a trembling Masaru and a shell shocked Rika.

"Ri- Rika, wh- what was all that?" Masaru trembled.

Tears began to well up in Rika's eyes as she struggled to form a coherent sentence. Waki, Itsuki, and Matcha then came in and froze when they saw all the damage.

"I thought there was just something going on outside, but was all that noise we heard coming from here!?" Itsuki gasped.

"I'm sorry, I'M SORRY!" Rika cried as Masaru nervously hovered over her.

Thanks to the immobilization serum, Rika couldn't even wipe her tears away.

"Ri- Rika," Masaru mumbled.

"Just listen to what she has to say," Waki argued.

"I concur, Rika has likely been carrying a heavy burden," Itsuki stated.

"Please, she needs you," Mimi pleaded.

"Hear her out or I'll never forgive you," Matcha glared.

Masaru trembled and sat down as he gazed at a sobbing Rika. Rika realized she had no choice and took a deep breath before telling her secret.

"I'm an assassin," Rika tearfully smiled.

Masaru's eyes went wide with shock as he began to tremble even more.

"PLEASE! Just stay and listen. I'll tell you everything. Even the sin I committed back in 2005," Rika pleaded as she closed her eyes and told her tale.

                                                                               ...

Summer 2005...

A young 8-year old Rika twiddled her knife as she stood along with her older sisters before Ookuma.

"Your job is to help kill the targets my minions will be targeting. Try not to make the murders look like they were committed by ordinary folk instead of assassins. Blend in with the mobs and aid them in their killings, though don't get caught or I'll execute you myself," Ookuma smiled.

Rika sighed and joined her group.

"Wonder what's with all the signs and logoed casual clothes. I don't see how this army is going to be able to take down any target. Guess I'll be the one doing all the killing to make these guys look strong," Rika grumbled.

                                                                                  ...

"Ookuma said the targets are in these specific houses," a guy stated as he displayed a map.

"So they're hiding in residential homes?" Rika asked.

"Uh, yeah. They're viscous yakuza and killers. If we let them live, Japan will be in danger," the group leader nervously stated.

"So I'm gonna be doing most if not all the work?" Rika glared.

"Heh, heh, heh, sorry bout that, though try n save some kills for us. Don't attack before we get to the buildings."

                                                                               ...

The group began chanting things Rika didn't understand as she hid within the middle. Once she saw the front of the group bust into one of the homes, Rika charged in faster than the eye could see and brutally murdered the woman and young child inside. To her confusion, members of the group began trashing the interior of the house and even set it ablaze even though the targets were dead. Rika hopped outside and noticed that multiple homes were burning. Then, she saw a woman screaming as she fled her burning house clutching a small child in her arms. The group then surrounded the woman and began beating her and the child to death. Rika dropped her knife as her face went pale with horror as she realized what the mission truly was.

"Th- that was a normal person. They're killing normal people. B- but they said- _! AHHHHHHHHHH!" Rika cried in despair. 

She had unknowingly aided Ookuma's supporters in slaughtering civilians that either supported her or were considered politically neutral. Supporters of her opposition were left untouched as Rika suddenly realized why the mob was dressed the way they were.

"The logos, th- they're the same as some of those posters I've seen around town. One of those houses that isn't being attacked has a sign with the same logo on it. A- Are they allies? B- but why would she do this!? I thought these were yakuza and assassins!" Rika cried.

When the mob had finished, the leader scooped up Rika and made his escape as police arrived.

                                                                               ...

"Good job Korosekai. With this, I'm guaranteed to win big in the election," Ookuma snickered as Rika and her older sisters stood before her once more.

It was then that Rika connected the pieces. Ookuma had her supporters pose as her opponent's supporters and had them inhumanely slaughter innocents that were politically neutral or somewhat supported Ookuma in a bout to garner public sympathy for Ookuma's party and animosity for the opposition.

"Y- YOU! I'LL KILL YOU YOU FUCKING BITCH! HOW DARE YOU TRICK ME INTO KILLING INNOCENTS!" Rika tearfully roared as she lunged at Ookuma.

Ookuma sighed and countered by slapping Rika on the right side of her body. The impact immediately shattered her right rib cage causing Rika to cough up blood as she fell to to ground in pain. Ookuma then proceeded to break all her bones as her sisters watched nervously. When she was done, Ookuma allowed Rika's sisters to leave with her. Once she was alone, Ookuma let the demonically malicious smile she had been sealing appear on her face.

                                                                              ...

Back in the present...

Everyone went pale as Rika finished telling everyone about what she did in 2005.

"So that's why you were so filled with rage. Now I understand," Mimi calmly stated.

"Y- You never even told ME about that," Waki trembled.

"Sorry, that sin was the one thing I never wanted to leave my lips," Rika tearfully smiled.

"T- that conspiracy about Ookuma, i- it was true!?" Matcha trembled.

"Yeah, that girl she slashed in the woods and almost killed was me," Mimi stated.

Matcha sunk to the floor in shock as she struggled to contemplate what she had heard. Masaru meanwhile was shell shocked. He couldn't believe all that he had heard. As he began to rise, Itsuki immediately pushed him pack down into his seat.

"She isn't done yet. She's only gotten as far as mid 2005. Don't you dare leave until she gets to the present," Itsuki glared.

Masaru nervously nodded as Rika continued her tale.

                                                                              ...

In a secluded house near the outskirts of town, Ookuma arrived and placed her to go boxes on her dining room table as she gazed at her 14 year-old daughter Mao seated across from her. Mao wore the same type of business suit and bore the same dark green sludge-cut style as her mother. Her mannerisms and speech also mimicked her mother to the blink.

"Why hello dear mother. How was your excursion?" Mao smiled.

"Excellent. Now Mao, if you please," Ookuma smiled as she placed to food before Mao.

Mao took a single bite of each meal and waited 5 minutes before smiling.

"The food is safe for you to consume, dear mother," Mao smiled.

Ookuma then devilishly grinned and began rudely snarfing down all the food as Mao smiled and watched, just as she had been taught to do.

"Mao, did you watch the nightly news?" Ookuma asked as she finished.

"Yes dear mother, they posted another meaningless poll that claims you'll fail to win the contested seats in a landslide. A pundit even predicts you'll lose seats. Preposterous," Mao scoffed.

"Indeed. Mao, do you know WHY I never lose seats?"

"Once a seat is won, you take measures to ensure future elections of said seat are always won."

"Correct. It matters not if everyone but my selected candidate votes for someone else, so long as I control the volunteers counting the votes, their efforts are futile."

"Indeed, though the greater the authentic turnout, the greater the illusion that your movement is the dominant ideology."

"Indeed, and can you guess how many times a candidate has authentically won a previously hostile district as an incumbent?"

"I would assume at least 2 or maybe 4."

"Zero. Not a single incumbent from my party in a politically neutral or slightly hostile district has truly been reelected by the people, but I sure make it look like they are."

"That is why you are worthy of being Prime minister, dear mother.

"Indeed."

"Dear mother, I also spied upon another slanderous accusation from Kabuki Dakota."

"So what is it this time?"

"She claims to have wind of your plan for the election in 2 weeks."

"Well, I bet she does. I told her myself anonymously."

"But why dear mother? _! You must have a far more secure plan."

"Indeed, I know my enemies well."

"Know thy enemy so that you can outplay them at every turn."

"Correct. You are developing far better than I would have thought 9 years ago."

"The credit is solely yours, dear mother. I am but emulating your vast wisdom and charisma."

"Indeed. Now turn in for the night."

"Yes dear mother."

                                                                              ...

The next morning, Mao bowed as Ookuma left the house for work. Once Mao was truly alone, she went into the bathroom and vomited.

"FUCKING WHORE! I'M GONNA KILL HER!" Mao seethed in her mind.

Once she was done, she left the bathroom and begun her secret training regiment.

"I need to get stronger. That bitch is stronger than she looks. But one of these days, she'll drop her guard and then I can kill her and escape this hell. Fubuki, thank you for giving me the strength to persevere through this hell," Mao thought as she pulled up a video from Fubuki Dakota on her laptop and watched it.

Ever since she was born, Mao Ookuma had never once set foot outside this house. This was all so her mother, Ruchi Ookuma could mold her into the perfect puppet. If she questioned her mother or stepped out of line, Mao's hands would be smacked with a wooden ruler. Had it not been for Fubuki Dakota hijacking a live broadcast and causing her mother to lose her composure, Mao would have lost hope of escaping her fate. But thanks to being shown that her mother was not impervious to attacks, Mao had hope that she could one day kill the irredeemable scum that was her mother and free herself from hell, and was training in preparation for said day.

"Know thy enemy. I know that fucking bitch very well," Mao glared.

                                                                          ...

Zuina arrived at the restaurant to find Madoka standing awkwardly by the entrance.

"Madoka? What's wrong? Why haven't you gone in?" Zuina asked.

"Cause it's locked for some reason," Madoka shrugged.

Sure enough, the door was locked.

"What on earth is going on!?" Zuina pondered.