Cote: Elite in Action

Between Secrets and Ties

I was still in Honami's room, but the atmosphere was much calmer now. We were sitting across from each other, and although the silence between us wasn't uncomfortable, there was something I needed to say. I wanted to ask her about the rumor; our previous conversation hadn't left room for it.

Kayden: "Honami, what are you going to do about the rumor that's circulating about you?" – I asked, watching how her face changed for a moment, a shadow of doubt passing through her eyes.

Honami: "The truth... I don't know. My mind has been so occupied with other things that I haven't been able to think of a solution for this." – She said, looking down at the floor, her voice soft and filled with weariness.

Kayden: "Really? But your mood has changed since the rumor started." – I replied, somewhat skeptically. I had noticed her erratic behavior since that rumor spread.

Honami: "I know... It has affected me more than I thought. The looks from people, as if they were judging everything I did, the uncomfortable questions... It's been exhausting." – Her voice cracked a bit, and I saw her struggle to maintain her composure.

Kayden: "It must be frustrating dealing with false rumors again." – I said, emphasizing the word "false," trying to see if there was something more behind all this. Her behavior gave me signals that she was hiding something.

Honami: "Well... they're actually not false." – She whispered, diverting her gaze towards the window, her tone barely audible.

Kayden: "Huh? What do you mean?" – I asked, feeling an unease beginning to form inside me. I didn't understand where this was going, but her sudden seriousness alarmed me.

Honami: "I... made a mistake in the past." – Her voice trembled, and after a moment of doubt, she finally exhaled and looked me in the eyes, as if she had made a decision. – "Kayden, I committed a crime before entering this school."

I fell silent, waiting for her to continue. I noticed the fear in her eyes, as if every word she spoke brought her closer to a truth she had hidden for too long.

Honami: "I was a thief. I stole something when I was in my third year of middle school." – She confessed, and immediately began to tell the story.

Honami came from a family with economic difficulties. At that time, they were going through a particularly tough period, and her younger sister's birthday was approaching. Her sister had seen a beautiful necklace in a magazine and desired it with all her heart. However, when she asked her mother for it, the painful answer was a "no," as the necklace was too expensive for their family.

Although her sister understood, being just a teenager, she had a little tantrum. For Honami, seeing her sister sad was heartbreaking. She was a good girl who never asked for anything, but this time it was different. Honami felt responsible, as if, being the older sister, she should do something for her. But she didn't know what. She couldn't work because she was too young, and her mother wouldn't let her, plus none of her belongings would be enough to pay for that necklace.

Days went by, and with them, her sister's birthday was getting closer. Honami used to pass by the store where the necklace was displayed, and every time she saw it, the desperation inside her grew. It was that desperation that, in a moment of impulse, led her to steal it.

At first, everything went well. She gifted the necklace to her sister, and the joy on her little face made everything seem worth it. But things began to crumble after that. Her mother, upon seeing her daughter with that expensive gift, started asking questions. She knew something was off, because if she couldn't afford it, how had Honami gotten it?

That same night, her mother confronted her. Honami tried to deny what had happened, but the pressure was too much. Finally, she confessed what she had done.