Chapter 132: Receiving An Order
With the chaos finally over, the six Seaton Academy girls made their way to one of their usual spots, a place that always felt like neutral ground.
Aki’s aunt, Coco, owned a nearby hair salon. She was a hairstylist with a loyal clientele, and more importantly, she gave Seaton girls a standing discount. It was always packed in the afternoons, but the girls didn’t mind. It was close to school, in their territory, and surrounded by people who knew better than to mess with them.
This time, it wasn’t just Aki and her two closest friends. Synthia and the others, still shaken from what had happened, tagged along too.
The moment they stepped into the salon, Coco looked up from her workstation, eyeing them like she could smell trouble before it walked in the door.
"You girls always up to your dangerous business," Coco muttered, not even pausing as she brushed dye through a customer’s hair. "I’ve turned a blind eye ’cause none of you have come back broken. But that luck runs out. One day it will."
"We’re trying to be more careful," Aki said, holding her voice steady. "I’m trying to get everyone away from that stuff. We’re fine... right?"
"Most of you," Coco replied dryly, her eyes landing on Synthia’s face, still red and bruised from earlier. She didn’t know Aki was the one who left the mark, but the concern was clear.
"What even happened back there?" Synthia asked quietly. "Those guys... the ones who saved us. I really thought it was over. I thought we were done."
The Seaton girls had always relied on control, blackmail, recordings, information leverage. It had been enough to keep people in check. People didn’t fight back when there were consequences waiting on camera.
But this time... this time was different.
Aki leaned back in her seat, her eyes trailing over the tile floor.