Survival Game, Book 1: The Fool

Act Three: Chapter Seventeen

"Kristine! Kristine!" Her mother called from beyond the bedroom door. "There was a woman who called today. She said something about an appointment tomorrow morning at 9:00." She explained, though only mild curiosity filled her tone. "Did you know about it?"
Kris had known about it, but she didn't reply any more than, "Yes." and that was satisfactory enough for her mother. It was July 21st, a week after her assignment to the Survival Game, and she'd been expecting a call to see what time it'd be. At first, she spent time looking at the post she'd made, questioning how it came close to a serious threat against Satsuki's life. The only conclusion she'd came up with was her blog, where she'd once made a post about a model who was killed sometime last year. Kimura-san must've saw the they were from source and felt concerned. Not to mention the nature of the case. Looking at it now, she felt more ridiculous that she had been so wreckless. It only tenfolded when she skimmed through the blog post.
"The victim had been a 23 year old model named Akiko Gouda-san. After an accident where the victim had injured her shoulder, 2 months prior to her death, she'd began taking medication for pain. According to her manager, Gouda-san had stopped taking the medication a week before her death, stating she'd been cured by a "genius," but most suggest it was a sign of illness or fever. She'd died of a strange sickness days later. Rumors have spread since then, claiming that someone had caused her illness from the suddenness of her death. However, there was no evidence to prove the theory." The first paragraph had read. Does she think I'd do something like that to Satsuki? Kris wondered, narrowing her eyes as she looked through the post. If it was poison like I'd guessed, where would I get it? And I haven't saw Satsuki since she became a model, how could I find her? A part of her even wondered if she had it in her to kill her older sister. Satsuki was undoubtedly more preferred to Kris, but to kill her would be a whole different thing. Besides, that's what jealous people do, and I'm not one of them. She added smugly. Though she resented Satsuki's popularity, it was more on the basis of unfairness. All my life, I've had to shadow her. I was forced to follow her every step. Thanks to her, I can never become my own person. I'll forever be known as Satsuki Aramaki's delinquent sister. If that's considered jealousy, then what isn't?
She sighed and closed her laptop, focusing on the Survival Game. It's not a bad thing, I guess. If I use this for my blog, it can warn the public about the AX drug. It could give facts the press would never have the courage to talk about. I won't be betraying them. And if she was, why would it matter? They couldn't arrest her nor could they ban her from the program if she was an asset to them. Though the other members were most likely classmates, she didn't know any of them well. Besides, it's not like any of them matter to me. If they get upset, it'd be their own fault.

When Kris awoke the next morning, the sky was filled in pale darkness as early dawn light began to replace it. My parents shouldn't be awake right now... She thought with relief as she unfolded a pair of black framed glasses and slipped them onto her face. They were ill-fitting, grown loose for their age and outdated, but she'd never been able to replace them. She had much rather preferred contacts, yet it seemed impossible to get any prescribed at the moment. Her parents wouldn't let her until her glasses broke, claiming they were still in good shape. I'll try to leave before one of them wakes. She decided, pushing away her trivial complaints and focusing onto her future task. The program didn't begin for a few hours, but she wanted to at least get out of the house before she was asked questions. Azumi had never told her or any of them to keep the program a secret, but Kris assumed it'd be easier not to say anything until the timing was better.
Slipping out of bed, Kris approached the bedroom window and closed the thick gray curtains, covering the room in a dim light. She preferred staying in the dark until at least an hour after waking, thinking it was better than letting the sunlight glare in and cause her head to ache. That, and she'd always felt a sense of privacy in the darkness, so much that it'd became a strange comfort to her. Once she was in the privacy of her room, she quickly dressed into a white shirt and baggy denim blue jacket with blue shorts to match before glancing at herself in the mirror. She still had yet to put in the studs that filled in most of her piercings, and the two holes in her lower lip stood out in her reflection. Her hair hadn't been combed either, a few sandy brown strands sticking out abnormally. Both took the most of her time, though mainly the piercings. Sometimes she wondered why she bothered to put them in every morning, but she had to do it.
It took her about 30 minutes before she finally left her room and the sun had began to rise. Her headquarters is about 30 minutes away, I think I'll be fine... She thought, mentally calculating her arrival time. Then I can finally write on my draft. She'd wanted to write before then, but it'd grew difficult when she had nothing to go by other than how she got there. And even then, it's not much. She just asked me to join after seeing my post and I did. My only personal reason for being there is the blog. There was still the threat of arrest, but as she thought more on it, she soon realized Azumi had no real grounds to do such a thing. Now Kris suspected she had an ulterior motive, but she decided not to question it yet.
A glimpse of movement caught her eye as she passed the living room. "Dad?" She addressed Kentarou in surprise. "What're you doing up so early? I thought you were off work today..." A pang of disappointment stabbed into her heart. She was hoping to have avoided something like this. Her conversations with her parents were always tense ones, especially whenever Kris would go somewhere without much detail of where. When her father looked up at her, his expression looked distracted, as if he was equally surprised to see Kris.
"Oh, Kristine! Yes, I'm off work today. Your mother had got caught up with the translating and editing work she had online, so we thought it'd be good to get out together while you were at your appointment. It was today, wasn't it?" Kentarou replied, an edge to his voice that suggested he was holding back something. The confirmation he wanted at the end wasn't much help either. When Kris nodded in response, he continued. "Well, I hope it goes well. Make sure to call us when you get back if we're not home already. I'm not sure how long we'll be..." His eyes kept shifting towards the hallway where their rooms were located, like he was urging Cierra to hurry so they can leave.
No. Kris wasn't going to let him act like she was some child that needed to be lied to so her feelings wouldn't get hurt. This time, she was going to ask the questions. What was so secretive that they didn't want her part of? Get out together, my ass. They'd went places before while she stayed home, sometimes without telling her. They'd never sneak around if that was the case. "And where are you going, exactly?" She questioned with the same sharpness. "You're dressed like you're going on some trip and you talk like you'll be gone for weeks." She added, glancing at Kentarou's neatly combed hair and navy blue suit. Most noticeably, he was wearing a red and white striped necktie. The same necktie Satsuki had gifted him last time she'd remembered she had a family long enough to come and visit. When Cierra joined them, Kris noticed she was wearing the necklace Satsuki had given her on the same visit, a silver chain with jewels attached.
"Kristine." She addressed her, her olive green eyes wide with shock and she briefly exchanged a glance with her husband. "Your appointment isn't until 9, isn't it? How come you're leaving so early?" She asked, fumbling with a strand of hair to make sure every one was perfectly placed. Her casualness only infuriated Kris more.
"I could say the same." Kris retorted, her voice faltering from a calm tone to an irritated one. "From what I see, it looks like you were trying to leave before I did. Whatever you two are doing is none of my business, but I'm not a child anymore. You don't have to sneak around me." She gave both of them a glare as she waited for an answer.
Kentarou hung his head and gave a sigh. "Look, Kristine," He began, pushing up his glasses and giving a quick glance to Cierra once more. And there it was. Every time they gave bad news, Kentarou would begin with the usual line and glance at Cierra for approval before continuing. Last time, it was when she was 6 years old and her grandmother passed away, even though she was never close to her. "Satsuki called last night and told us she would be in the area doing some photo shoots. She invited us to come by and watch this morning. We knew you'd get upset by it, so..." His voice trailed off after that, like he could find out what to say.
"Upset?" Kris repeated, her anger coming out this time. "You think I care if you go see Satsuki? Why should I? You'd do it anyway! What upsets me is the fact that you want to hide things from me! Aren't I your daughter too?! Don't I deserve to know when you decide to have some family gathering?!" She knew she'd never want to go even if she had known, but it still angered her. Cierra had opened her mouth to respond, but Kris instantly cut her off, ignoring the fact that she was speaking to her mother. "No! I'm sick of you always treating me like I'm nothing! Did you even bother asking me what my 'appointment' was?! You didn't! So, I'll have you know that while you're spending time with your perfect child, I'm going to be risking my life in the Survival Game! And while I'm actually helping the public, you two can keep fawning over Satsuki! Maybe you'll all see a Grandmaster and I won't be there to save you! See if your precious Satsuki does something about it! Maybe she'll give them an autograph while they stab a needle in her neck!" She didn't wait for them to say anything, only giving a glance of satisfaction at their dumbfounded expressions, and headed out, slamming the door behind her.