The first dominoe

Mao awoke in a room she didn’t recognize. She had passed out in the woods and could not remember anything that happened afterwards. She frantically sat up and looked around. She was in a small bedroom and was bandaged up and wearing a bathrobe.

“Ara, you’re awake. Don’t worry, I’m not here to hurt you,” Reika smiled.

“Who are you!” Mao nervously glared.

“I’m Reika Yuzume, a detective with the Tokyo Metropolitan police.” Mao began to panic as Reika stood up. “I am also here to save you."

“...!?”

“You’re a victim of abuse and most likely grew up sheltered and indoctrinated by a parental figure which I assume to be your mother.”

“...!”

“The look in your eyes tells me I’m right. I assume you hated and feared her to the point where you’d recklessly flee without even clothes or cash. The fact that you sloppily shaved yourself completely devoid of hair proves you were not as pressed for time. Though you fear for your life and fear you would be recognized if you had kept your hair. The fact that you ran for the woods instead of the town, shows you don't trust people. I understand you are frightened, but please trust me. I want to save you. If you are who I think you are then that’s all the more reason for me to help you start a new life.”

“What the hell do you know about me!?” Mao trembled.

“You’re Mao Ookuma, the daughter of Ruchi Ookuma.”

“...!”

Mao’s heart began to beat faster and faster as she collapsed to the ground in terror.

“I’m not going to hurt you! I’m here to help you," Reika stated.

“LIKE HELL I’D BELIEVE THAT! YOU’RE AN I.L.U. GOON THAT’S GOING TO TORTURE ME TO DEATH BECAUSE I KILLED- “

“So, she’s dead.”

Mao began to cry as Reika walked over to her.

“NO! PLEASE DON’T! I DON’T WANT TO BE HURT! DON’T KILL ME! I HAVEN’T EVEN EATEN ANY GOOD FOOD- “

Reika embraced Mao in a hug. “It’s OK, you’re safe. I’m not with Illumous. I’m trying to stop them," Reika calmly smiled.

“Like- "

“Do you know who Fubuki Dakota is?”

“Yes... I... watch her videos,” Mao trembled.

“She’s a wonderful journalist and a hero is she not?”

Mao began to calm down abit as she heard those words. “Yes, she’s a hero. She saved me, she showed me that monster could be hurt," she mumbled.

“It’s OK, I’m here for you. We can take this as slowly as need be. Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone else find out about you. I even brought some things for you."

Mao glanced over at the table and immediately noticed some manga and cans of matcha soda. She immediately rushed over and began drinking. Tears poured out of her eyes as she downed the cans in seconds.

"It's so good! F*** that piece of shit for never letting me drink this!" Mao cried.

"Is there anything else you want? I can go out and bring it to you," Reika said as she showed Mao a catalogue on her phone.

"Order whatever you want. I have no qualms about the cost," Reika smiled.

Mao's eyes lit up as she scrolled through and clicked on everything that grabbed her interest.

...

After comforting Mao, Reika went into the other room.

"Don't worry, I'm just going into the other room to make a call and pick up the things you ordered. I'll stay with you as long as you need. Don't worry, this is a safe place," Reika smiled as she left the room.

Mao decided to read the manga and lounged on the bed as Reika made her way through the hidden passage and went to collect all the things Mao had ordered. A mountain of boxes encased the door as Reika opened it.

"Well, most of this is food, but I'm glad she ordered a lot. She'll be thrilled to finally experience all these things," Reika thought as she moved the boxes inside. Once they were all in, she headed back inside and down another secret passage. There, she met up with Rika in a lab.

"I was able to fish this out of the drain. So you got something to compare it to?" Rika asked.

"Yes, now let's do a test," Reika nodded as she grabbed the bag from Rika.

...

"This confirms it. She truly is gone. However, this puts us in a whole new scenario. First, I want you to deliver these remains to my house. Just leave them in the spot I tell you to and wait for Bianka to come out and retrieve it," Reika ordered.

"Why can't you do it?" Rika glared.

"Because I need to stay here and keep an eye on the little one."

"How long will that be? Matcha and Helga are in prison while Mimi's forced into hiding."

"By plots orchestrated by that woman, but now she's gone. Plus, we also got THIS," Reika nodded as she pulled the SD card case out of her pocket. "This could dramatically turn the tide if we use it right. I promise you, when the little one is on her feet, I'll save your friends."

"You damn well better. Though I could easily watch over-"

"Your agitated state would frighten her."

"Fine."

...

"I put it exactly where you told me to," Rika stated.

"Great, is Bianka nearby?" Reika asked.

"I believe she's in the house."

"Standby while I call her."

"Yeah?" Bianka asked as she answered the phone.

"Bianka, could you make sure that package I dropped off is stored in "the store"?"

"Oh? You have a big case? Er- I see it, lemme put on a hoodie n mask n grab it."

Bianka exited the house and retrieved the package Rika had left. She then ran into the house, locked the door and hid it in the secret basement before talking with Reika again.

"All stored, Onee-sama."

"Good. Now don't leave the house until I return however long that may be. If anyone calls, just say we're both sick."

"Got it."

"And don't tell a soul you're not really sick. Not even Mochi."

"Alright. You sound real serious so I won't argue."

"Thank you. Now be on high alert."

As the call was ended, Bianka walked over and armed herself with a handgun hidden in one of the cupboards.

"Guess I'm on guard duty. Wonder what big fish Onee-sama's bustin?" Bianka thought.

...

Reika sat and mulled what her next move would be. "Mao seems to be recovering well, but if I announce that Ookuma's dead, that will throw things into chaos and overwhelm poor Mao. It would also open further investigations from Illumous. I can't let them find out Mao's alive, but that might prove difficult. Rika was able to find Ookuma's remains, or what little was left of them so that's good. The problem is that if I.L.U. finds out Ookuma's dead, I'd have to fake Mao's death, which they would probably see through. I could let Fubuki know, but she'd likely want to see proof of Ookuma's death. Though the bigger problem is this case Mao took with her," Reika thought as she pulled out one of the SD cards from it. "All these cards have material that could incriminate a good chunk of Ookuma's supporters. I imagine Rebelle and possibly Fujiko were the main culprits that catalogued all this. Hmm. I guess I'd better take some precautions while I let the soup simmer," she thought.