Reiko yawned as the harsh chirp of her smartphone alarm buzzed beside her ear. The screen glowed 7:35 AM. She sat up slowly, the sheets slipping off her bare skin. The bald man next to her was still snoring, face pressed into the pillow, a faint smell of stale beer clinging to him.
She reached for the glass on the nightstand, filled it from the jug, and drank deeply. Her eyes scanned the cramped love hotel room. The television still flickered silently, muted JAV looping in the background, paired with cheap city pop on low volume. She turned it all off with a few taps, the sudden quiet unsettling.
Crossing the room, she opened the tiny fridge and pulled out a can of beer. With a practiced flick, she popped it open and drank, her body waking up one swig at a time. Then she walked around the bed to the man's side, crouching.
"Sir," she said, nudging his shoulder. "It's past seven-thirty."
He groaned and squinted at her. "What time is it?"
"Seven forty-two. We've got to be out by eight-thirty—unless you still want to shower together."
"Mmm… yeah," he muttered, yawning.
Without waiting, she took his hand and led him to the shower. They stepped in together, bodies naked under the spray. Forty minutes later, they emerged, dressed, silence thick between them.
He opened his wallet, thumbed through the notes, and handed her three crisp 10,000 yen bills. She took them with a neutral nod but didn't move.
"You know…" she said, a practiced smile curling at her lips, "you could give me a bonus—for those other services."
He leaned in, his breath sour with last night's drinks, and pressed a kiss against her mouth.
"A bonus?" he chuckled. "I should be filing a complaint with your agency. You picked up a call during sex. Killed the mood."
Reiko's eyes narrowed slightly, but he went on.
"But then… You lied so smoothly. Said it was your kid or something. That gave me a thrill. Kinda my thing, I guess. I'll call for you again."
He shoved her lightly onto the bed and walked out, the door clicking behind him.
Reiko sat there, motionless. Then she spat on the floor.
"Fucking limp dick," she muttered. "All talk. Loser in bed."
Midorigaoka Meitoku High School buzzed with the usual early morning chatter as students shuffled into the hallways. Heena Naruse stood awkwardly near the front entrance, clutching her school bag with both hands. Her heart raced, and her eyes kept darting around—new building, new faces, and now… a new start.
A sudden hush swept the corridor as a woman approached.
Her walk wasn't like a teacher's. It was like a model's. Confident. Poised. Eyes followed her as she passed—male and female alike. She wore a crisp white blouse tucked into a tight, short black skirt. The hem was so high it hinted at the top of her stockings and the lace of a garter belt. Her hair was dyed a warm brown and styled into a loose bun. Blue contact lenses gave her an otherworldly look—sharp, magnetic, and just a little dangerous.
She stopped in front of Heena with a small smile.
"You must be Heena Naruse?"
"Y-yes," Heena replied, trying not to stare.
"I thought so. You looked too lost to be anyone else," the woman said lightly. "I'm Emiko Takahashi—your homeroom teacher. You're in Class C2."
Heena nodded, still speechless, starstruck by Emiko's appearance. She barely noticed when the teacher gestured for them to walk together.
"Let's head to class."
They walked barely thirty meters when Emiko's phone buzzed. She glanced at it, then sighed.
"The staff room's calling. I need to check in. Just head straight down this corridor—Class C2 is on the left. Don't be late; class starts soon."
Heena bowed slightly, "Yes, ma'am."
As she turned to go, her path was suddenly blocked. A hand grabbed her shoulder and yanked her back, slamming her lightly against the wall.
Two girls stood in front of her—one with icy eyes and a razor-sharp bob, the other with longer hair and a cruel smirk. Heena recognized them instantly: Rina and Rika—her stepsisters.
Rina leaned in close, her voice low and venomous.
"Just because your mother sleeps in the same bed as my dad doesn't mean you're our sister."
Rika chimed in, her tone colder. "And that woman? She's not our mother. Don't even think we're equals."
Their eyes bored into her like knives.
"And don't you dare mention to anyone that we're related," Rina hissed. "Or else…"
Without finishing, the two turned and walked off, their heels clicking against the tile like punctuation marks on a warning.
Heena stood frozen, her back against the wall, her breath caught in her throat.
So much for a fresh start.
The classroom buzzed with idle chatter as Heena stepped inside. The moment she crossed the threshold, the noise faded. Every pair of eyes turned toward her, scanning the unfamiliar face.
Daiki leaned over to Ren, whispering under his breath, "Hey… isn't that the girl who was with your tomboy cousin's family the other day?"
"Yeah," Ren muttered, his gaze narrowing. "Must be a relative or something."
Kaito, seated near the back, tilted his head slightly. "I don't think so," he said quietly, watching the cold, stiff posture of Rika and Rina across the room. "Look at them—they're not even acknowledging her."
Ren shrugged. "Hmm… maybe it's complicated."
Before anyone could respond, the door slid open. Emiko Takahashi entered, and the class stood up in unison, bowing with practiced precision.
"Good morning, class," she said. "Sit."
Everyone dropped back into their seats.
Emiko turned toward Heena. "Heena-san, come forward."
Heena froze for half a second before nodding. Her footsteps were timid as she walked up to the front of the room, aware of every gaze piercing through her.
Standing beside her, Emiko placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Today, we have a new student joining Class C2."
Heena swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she introduced herself.
"I… I am Naruse Heena. I'm from Sendai City. I hope we can become good friends…"
A polite round of claps followed, half-hearted but acceptable.
Then Emiko added casually, "Heena is also the stepsister of your classmates, Rika and Rina Naruse."
The air shifted.
All eyes turned toward the back, where Rika and Rina sat frozen. Their faces went pale for the briefest second before both forced identical, plastic smiles. It was the kind of smile that tried to say, We're fine, while screaming, How dare you?"
The class looked between them, then back at Heena. A new silence spread—curious, tense, and unspoken.
Heena looked down at her shoes, wishing the floor would open and swallow her whole.
"Go sit there, Heena," Emiko gestured toward an empty seat by the window.
Heena nodded and walked to her desk quietly, head low. As she sat down, Daiki leaned forward and whispered into Kaito's ear.
"She's not as hot as those two," he said, nodding toward Rika and Rina, "but honestly, she's… kinda pretty. Like, above average, you know?"
Kaito didn't respond. His eyes stayed on Heena, who was quietly organizing her books. There was something distant in her posture—like she was trying to disappear.
Meanwhile, Shibuya Station
Reiko stood at the edge of the crowded platform, sunglasses masking her tired eyes. Her head throbbed. She muttered under her breath, "Ugh… shouldn't have drunk that damn beer."
She pulled out her phone and dialed.
"Hey. Are they gone?"
A pause.
"Okay. I'm coming now."
After a thirty-minute train ride and a short walk through narrow alleys, Reiko arrived in front of an aging apartment complex. The nameplate beside the entrance read: Kisaragi.
She rang the bell.
A woman in her late 30s opened the door, dressed in casual house clothes and holding a cup of tea.
"You look like hell," she said.
Reiko stepped in and dropped onto the couch.
"Sakura, I'm in trouble."
Sakura sat across from her, sighing. "What now?"
"Last night… I was with a client. In the middle of it, my phone rang. I picked up—didn't even look at the name. It was Kaito."
Sakura sat up straighter. "And?"
"I think he heard a man's voice. Maybe even what was happening."
"Are you serious?" Sakura looked horrified. "Who was the guy?"
"Some limp-dicked freak I'd never seen before. Watched himself in the mirror the whole time. First-time client."
Sakura shook her head, her voice sharper now. "I've told you over and over—this isn't just about money anymore. You're gambling with your health, your freedom, and your family. If Kaito figures it out…"
"I know. He'll cut me off."
"Exactly. And you haven't been home for what, four days now?"
"I can't go home. Not yet."
"How long are you going to run?" Sakura asked. "Listen to me. Go home. Take a shower. Sleep a little. Then act like nothing happened. If Kaito asks where you were, tell him you were with me. If he checks, I'll back you up."
Reiko's eyes softened. "Thanks, Sakura."
Sakura's tone turned quiet. "Reiko… You need to stop. Quit this."
"I can't. It's not just the money anymore. I think…" Reiko's voice cracked, "I think I'm addicted. To the sex. The feeling. The control. Everything."
Sakura stared at her in disbelief. "I can't believe how shameless you've become."
Reiko stood, brushing off her coat and flicking Sakura lightly on the shoulder. "See you later."
And just like that, she walked out.