A Liar's Truth [UNDER FINAL REVISION]

Ch 15: Playing the game

Third person point of view

"Good evening, neighbor! It seems that you're already home! I came by to—" Ginka stopped mid-sentence, nearly dropping the stacked Tupperware in her hands.

Standing in the doorway, rubbing sleep out of his eyes, was Akabane Karma.

"...Akabane-kun?"

The redhead squinted at her, still half-asleep. The hell? He barely processed the fact that someone was at his doorstep—let alone her.

"...What are you doing here?" He yawned.

"I live next door?" She pointed to the house beside his.

Karma blinked. "Bullshit." He turned to look at the house in question. Neoclassical architecture, a vibe too traditionally different for Kunugigaoka students. "An old married couple owns that place. They've had it for years."

"Zelinski, was it?" Despite the polite smile, there was something tight in her voice. "They're my grandparents. Father arranged for me to temporarily reside there."

Karma raised a brow. Oh, so she really did get kicked out. Now that answers all the gossip in Class E.

Somehow, that made perfect sense. Board Chairman Asano doesn't tolerate rebellion—family or not.

 He gave her a lazy smirk, "It's quite the neighborhood. I can see why your family owns a house here."

A private village that only resides those of the upper class, commonly those zaibatsu and famed artists. It is a gated community with security cameras in every corner, high-end facilities, and a four-step verification system before you could enter. 

Ginka, however, continued like nothing was wrong. "Likewise. Your family must be in business then?"

She tilted her head. "I haven't heard of the Akabane name in entertainment, so I assume our parents crossed paths elsewhere?"

Karma held back a chuckle. Oh, if only she knew. His father—Nishimura Keitaro—was once Japan's golden boy before he vanished from the industry. 

But since he never used the Akabane name, Ginka probably wouldn't recognize him.

"Something like that," he said, dodging the question. "But what brings you here?"