The Undead Path: Journeys Beyond Worlds

Chapter 6: Kyoko's Scheme

The morning sun streamed through the windows of the Yamamoto Enterprise, illuminating the elegant office of Toru's uncle. Toru, seated on the chairman's guest bench, sighed, his face etched with fatigue. He hadn't slept a wink, consumed by the task of formulating a plan to minimize the sabotage that had plagued their enterprise. The plan he'd presented yesterday felt inadequate, a mere Band-Aid on a gaping wound. He needed a more comprehensive solution, a special division dedicated to investigating the problem, but that would take time, time he didn't have.

He stood up, his gaze sweeping across the office. The room exuded wealth and power, from the polished marble floors to the mahogany cabinets and the meticulously arranged files. Everything spoke of the Yamamoto clan's influence. Toru opened his uncle's laptop, determined to delve deeper into the enterprise's data files and security camera recordings. He meticulously analyzed the information, his brow furrowed in concentration.  His body, though weary, moved with practiced efficiency.

"Another day of work," he muttered, a hint of weariness in his voice.

Meanwhile, at Kyoto University, the morning air was filled with the sounds of laughter and chatter. The sun bathed the campus in a warm glow, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Students, their faces bright with youthful energy, walked towards their classes, their steps filled with determination. But amidst this idyllic scene, Kyoko, her beauty a mask for a dangerous mind, walked with a calculated grace, her smile a carefully crafted facade. She reached her desk, placed her bag down, and opened her red laptop. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, her smile widening with malicious intent. Her thoughts, like a venomous serpent, coiled around her plans for destruction. She typed false accusations, her fingers pausing only when their professor entered the classroom. She quickly closed her laptop and tucked it into her bag, her work almost complete.

The class proceeded as usual, the atmosphere as sterile as ever. Kyoko's gaze drifted to Toru's empty desk. "He's still absent?" she murmured, her voice laced with a hint of satisfaction. As the class ended, she headed towards the library, her destination a place where she knew Toru often spent his time. She navigated the halls with a practiced smile, her mind focused on her mission. Arriving at the library, she found herself alone. She settled into a chair, opened her laptop, and continued her work of destruction. Her thoughts were consumed by the need to destroy Toru, her dedication to this task as relentless as a wildfire. As she finished writing, a sense of gleeful satisfaction washed over her. She picked up her phone and called her boyfriend.

"Good afternoon, Honey," she said, her voice dripping with feigned affection.

"Good afternoon, honey," he replied, his voice warm.

Hearing his voice, Kyoko's smile widened, her expression devoid of malice, a perfect imitation of a woman deeply in love.

"Had you finished the thing that I asked you?" he demanded. She smiled warmly, her mind a swirling vortex of deceit.

"Yeah, I already finished it, and I'll post it this evening." She stood up and gazed out the library windows, her eyes fixed on the track and field bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. Her smile mirrored the beauty of the scene, a stark contrast to the darkness within her heart.

"I see. I'll send you some of the files later that can be used as proof of your post. I'm proud of you, honey." His boyfriend complimented her, his words laced with admiration. She blushed, her grip tightening on her phone.

"Send it to me, honey. I'll use it later on and create such a post that will make him squirm," she replied, her voice filled with determination. Toru needed to pay for what he had done to his boyfriend's family. He had destroyed their small business, leaving them penniless. They were forced to buy outdated phones and rent a cheap computer, their lives turned upside down by Toru's actions.

"Thank you; now we can destroy Toru Yamamoto, all thanks to you, my honey." He thanked her and ended the call. Kyoko smiled, her face radiating warmth, as she basked in her boyfriend's praise.  She looked out the window, imagining his happiness, her heart swelling with pride. But as she remembered the task at hand, her smile vanished, replaced by a look of disdain for the man she despised.

The bell rang, and the campus announcer informed everyone to leave the grounds within ten minutes. Kyoko, maintaining her facade of warmth and innocence, packed her belongings and joined the throng of students exiting the university.

Later that evening, Kyoko sat in her room, waiting for her boyfriend's message. She listened to music, her room a haven of femininity, adorned with pastel pink walls, framed photographs, and a rose-colored rug. The air was filled with the scent of perfume and the gentle hum of her music.

As she listened to the music, a knock came at her door. "Kyoko-nee," a little girl's voice called from the other side. Kyoko, engrossed in her music, didn't notice. The little girl knocked again, calling out to her sister. Finally, Kyoko opened the door, her face breaking into a smile. "Hiromi," she said, opening her arms wide. Her sister rushed into her embrace.

"Kyoko-nee, mother's calling you for dinner," Hiromi said, her voice soft and sweet. Kyoko smiled and told her sister that she'd be there soon. Hiromi, with her adorable face and twin yellow buns adorned with ribbons, replied, "Let's go to the table, Kyoko-nee, I'm hungry." She jumped back and forth, her pleas for dinner growing louder.

Kyoko tried to persuade her younger sister, but Hiromi's persistence was unwavering. With no choice, Kyoko joined her sister downstairs for dinner.

As they arrived at the table, they were greeted by their mother, her face radiating warmth and beauty. She was a vision of elegance, her traditional kimono and apron accentuating her well-toned figure. Her raven hair was pulled back in a traditional bun, adorned with a crimson red hairpin featuring an intricate design of a chrysanthemum flower and crimson vines.

Hiromi, her yellow dress a splash of color, excitedly showed her mother the twin buns she had made herself. Her confidence earned her praise from her mother.

Her mother turned to Kyoko, who stood behind her younger sister. "You should be here, helping me in the kitchen, Kyoko," she said, her voice soft yet firm.

"I'm quite busy, mother," Kyoko replied, her tone dismissive. Her mother sighed and changed the subject. "Let's eat dinner for now, Kyoko."

Dinner was a peaceful affair, filled with quiet conversation. Kyoko and her family ate silently, but their mother, a master of small talk, kept the conversation flowing. The sisters responded to their mother's questions, their voices filling the dining room with warmth.

After dinner, Kyoko returned to her room and put on her headphones, once again waiting for her boyfriend's message. Two hours passed, and she was starting to grow sleepy. She texted him again, asking what he was doing, but received no reply. She was growing increasingly weary, but she had to wait. She opened her laptop and started typing another article for her blog, this time about social experiences in Japan. She typed happily, but she lost track of time, and it was well past midnight.

She smiled as she finished her blog. Finally, the reply she'd been waiting for arrived. Her lips curled into a wicked grin. She immediately saved her blog as a draft and, with a malicious smile, attached the files and sent them out into the world, revealing the true face of Toru Yamamoto. She then settled into her bed and drifted off to sleep.