A SUBSTITUTE

The sudden statement was like a bomb. 

Ayumi lifted a hand to cover her mouth as if she had revealed an unspeakable secret. However, the gesture looked intentional and phoney. She was aware that she was doing something petty and wrong, but her feelings of anger clouded her judgement. 

She did not even try to conceal her animosity towards Akira. 

And she did not feel that she should. 

For more than fifteen years, she had loved Kaito. 

She noticed him when he was about thirteen years. Even though he was just a teenager, he honed his craft as a ninja with a focus that rivalled all the other children adopted and raised by the teacher. 

He would wake up early to do his drills before anyone else. From running to climbing and lifting weights, he was relentless in his pursuit of perfection.