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Yumi's confident smile cooled into a disdainful sort of aloofness. Subconsciously, she sat straighter in the chair. "Because in my family's eyes, I am a mere tool. Perhaps that's common, but I don't have to accept it."[break][break]

Though she wouldn't dare air her family's dirty laundry, she had no trouble speaking about the injustice they enacted against her.[break][break]

Her voice grew firm, resolute. "I have a right to my own agency, Mr. Bee. My own power. And anyone who won't recognize that will learn to stay out of my way."[break][break]

The people she left behind in Johto thought she would wither and die without the Hasegawa's resources. They thought she would crawl back to them on hands and knees, begging for aid, willing to bend to their wishes so long as they did not leave her in the dust.[break][break]

She'd show them just how wrong they were.

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The joy in Hitoshi's voice is both alarming and endearing. Yumi had not expected the switch to turn off so suddenly. She tempered her grin into a smile of affection, even as she took out her phone to make the call.[break][break]

"You're only doing your job. I'm not mad," she reassured him. A person on the other end of the line picked up, and her tone changed at once. The arrogance returned in full force. "Hey, it's Hasegawa. You need to keep your boys on a tighter leash. Five of them had the fucking gall to jump me in the middle of downtown. Me!"[break][break]

She listened to the scrambling on the other end of the line, then rolled her eyes.[break][break]

"I'm only fine thanks to my bodyguard, but if you kept your men in line, he wouldn't have been forced to make an example of them." A pause as she listened to apologies. "Just send someone down here to clean up before the cops or a civilian finds them."[break][break]

Hanging up on the leader of the Greengate Boys never felt so good. Pocketing her phone again, she tossed the bloody handkerchief onto the nearest corpse and stepped over puddles of blood to reach Hitoshi's side.[break][break]

And then, with an uncharacteristic quietness, she said to him, "Thank you."

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Yumi understood Bee's warning as advice from a senior to a junior; she was old enough, too, to know better than to scoff at the gesture. Admin Bee did not look that much older than her, but to achieve such a high-ranking position within Team Rocket meant he was smarter and more wily than he looked.[break][break]

And though she guessed he'd already read her file, hearing the events from the perspective of one who'd lived it told a different story altogether.[break][break]

"I'm the only daughter of Goldenrod City's Hasegawa family," Yumi explained, matching the breezy tone of the admin across from her. "From a young age, my parents trained me to become the heir, to take over our business one day after both my grandfather and father pass."[break][break]

She recalled her earliest lessons: how to dress, how to sit, how to charm with good manners. Her mother had scolded her every time she had even a hair out of place.[break][break]

"My childhood was full of difficult lessons and high expectations. Be self-assured but demure, seductive but untouchable. Manipulate others while projecting the image of whatever they want."[break][break]

Pausing for effect, Yumi took another sip of tea.[break][break]

"I continued that education in university. I have a Bachelor's in Communications, with a specialty in marketing. And I'm currently running the social media pages for the Nimbus, a hotel in Mossdeep."

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Laughter transformed horrifically into agonized screams. Yumi flinched as droplets of blood splattered against her cheeks, but she did not look away. Hitoshi's terrible blade cut through bone and flesh for her. To avert her gaze was to do him a disservice.[break][break]

In what felt like the span of a breath, the alley went from noisy to silent. Yumi stood frozen, her heart a tumult of emotions. The initial shock and awe, a growing disgust at the sight of entrails spilling onto the asphalt, and an unexpected delight.[break][break]

A man had interfered to save her, but not just any man. Her loyal dog.[break][break]

Loyal. Hers.[break][break]

A beaming smile spread across her face, even as she wiped the blood from her porcelain skin with a handkerchief. "The Greengate Boys aren't going to like this," she said with a sigh. "I'll have to make a phone call to sort this out before they realize their men are missing."

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Yumi had anticipated this question. After all, everyone could make an account on social media, post whatever they wanted, and claim to be an influencer. But people did not want sameness. They wanted to view beautiful things, elevated to a quality beyond the norm.[break][break]

They wanted something radical, as long as they could observe it from the comfort of their homes.[break][break]

"I provide a level of candor that my audience wishes they had," Yumi said with full confidence in her answer. "I find that my attitude turns a lot of people away, but it attracts a lot of people, too."[break][break]

The Mr. Rime brought over her snacks and tea, which she accepted with a gracious tilt of her head. Sipping the tea, she allowed herself a moment to enjoy the rich flavor before holding it low in her lap.[break][break]

"People feel comfortable when they think you're being honest. They feel familiar with you, like they can relate. And in that state, they are easily swayed. It helps to have a pretty face, beautiful clothing, and an eye for an artistic photo."

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The voice that came out of Hitoshi's mouth was not his own. At least, it was not the voice Yumi had grown to know even if it came to her in a dream. She barely glanced at him when she felt the slightest of twitches from the hand on her shoulder.[break][break]

Then the hand fell to the ground, spraying blood everywhere, including her boots.[break][break]

"Holy shit," she blurted out, even as Hitoshi moved impossibly fast. He was upon her harasser in the blink of an eye, sword drawn, the blade gleaming darkly.[break][break]

A normal woman might have screamed, but Yumi only stared, wide-eyed, as her shadow took on a life of its own. Her wonder left no room for terror, her awe no room for disgust.

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Yumi's confidence knew no limit. As the men catcalled her, she curled her lip at them in a sneer of disdain. In the dim light of a streetlamp, she could see the tattoos on one of them, marking him a member of the Greengate Boys, a local crime syndicate with connections to her own family back in Goldenrod.[break][break]

These men should have recognized her as their guest, and therefore, off-limits.[break][break]

"Go bother someone who gives a fuck," she said, tone full of haughty arrogance. "Maybe you can suck your mothers' tits again like the infants you are."[break][break]

Unfortunately, these hooligans were not to be dissuaded. Laughing at her vulgarity and joking openly about her body with each other, they cut off her advance. One of them stepped forward, all swagger.[break][break]

"I like a girlie with a bit of fire. Is Shorty here your boyfriend?" Snickers from the others filled the alley as the man gave Hitoshi a dismissive glance. "Looks like a little rat. I'll show you what it's like to be with a real man."[break][break]

The man reached out a meaty hand to grab Yumi. She took a quick step backward, the first pinpricks of fear in her gut.

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Though the crisp autumn air reminded Yumi of life back in Goldenrod City, the bustling streets and high skyscrapers of Wyndon were brand new, unfolding before her like an exquisite treasure to experience and savor. She had moved to Galar only a few months ago to prepare for her first year at Wyndon University. For the first time, she was on her own, away from the looming presence and authority of her parents and grandfather.[break][break]

Well, she wasn't truly alone. The heiress of the Hasegawa family had never spent a day alone in her life, not with bodyguards trailing her. The only hours of true solitude she snatched for herself were when she was sequestered safely in her apartment, studying or sleeping or recovering from hangovers. But even then, her loyal dog could show up whenever he wanted.[break][break]

Said dog now accompanied her as they walked downtown. At such a late hour, they passed long lines outside clubs, groups of drunk university students, food trucks, and the neon signs of many bars and pubs.[break][break]

Yumi was on her way to meet with friends — real friends, not like those girls who tried to bully her in high school — at one such establishment. Dressed in heeled boots, a miniskirt, and a puffy jacket, she looked every inch the rich college student on a night out.[break][break]

"Let's take this shortcut," she suggested to her companion, gesturing down an alley with closed storefronts on either side. "It should just be down this way and to the right."[break][break]

Few women of Yumi's age possessed such brazen fearlessness, but in truth, there were no women like her.

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For the first time since they'd met, Yumi saw embarrassment cross into Hitoshi's face. So even someone who's killed before can feel bashful, she thought. Suddenly, with his confession, he seemed more like a lost boy than a hardened criminal.[break][break]

If Yumi were a more sympathetic person, she could have reassured him with gentle words of belonging and family. But she knew what happened to those who displeased her parents and grandfather. She knew that Hitoshi was merely an employee; he wasn't supposed to be her friend.[break][break]

So she said nothing, just nodded at his confirmation, before her lips curled into a smile at the mention of dango.[break][break]

"Don't they?" she said. "Should we get some? I was thinking of grabbing a snack before I study." Starting down the garden path that led back to the manor, she glanced over her shoulder at her new shadow. "Come on. I'll give you a tour on the way."

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Yumi could not help the grin of delight that spread over her face as Callan closed the gap between them, first with his body as he listed the traits he sought in women. Unconcerned with meeting his expectations — because, naturally, she was a gorgeous, intelligent, and charming woman — she placed her glass down before leaning into his touch.[break][break]

The kiss was electrifying, Callan's fervor sending a thrill through Yumi. She almost chuckled at his neediness, but perhaps she was not one to judge; her hands fisted in the front of his shirt, keeping him from moving too far away.[break][break]

"Don't worry," she purred, drawing closer until her arm pressed against the broad expanse of his chest. "I'll make sure you know."[break][break]

She teased him with another kiss, a promise of more to come, then let him go and drew away just enough to look him in the eye.[break][break]

"So, you had plans for drinks, food, and dancing this evening. Is that still the schedule, or have you changed your mind? Because I like the vibes here."[break][break]

Yumi gazed around as she settled comfortably against Callan's side. "We could stay here for a little while, get to know each other, and then…?" Tilting her head, she raised her eyebrow at him, curious.

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Hitoshi's casual offer elicited another laugh from Yumi, the earlier derision giving way to genuine amusement. It wasn't right for a girl her age to laugh at murder, but the earnestness in his voice brought her delight.[break][break]

"You can't kill them," she said. "They're just bratty kids. And besides, I said spending time with friends is fun. They listen to me now and do whatever I say."[break][break]

Her smug smile suggested how pleased she was by the turn of events, but in truth, she did not have many real friends. Being the child of a powerful crime family meant people desired money, fame, respect, employment.[break][break]

But like all teenagers, deep down, all Yumi wanted was to be seen and heard.[break][break]

"Have you had a proper tour of the manor?" she asked suddenly, unwilling to continue the conversation down that path. "Are you going to be staying on the grounds like the rest of security, or do you have a home you go back to at the end of the day?"[break][break]

Most of the family — that was, anyone not directly related to Yumi — had their own homes in Goldenrod City. Even the house staff left after their shifts ended and returned the next day. But her family's personal guards had their own rooms in the manor, just in case.

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