The following day was difficult for Kokoro to get up. Every vote had robbed a little more from her pool of motivation. She only had so much left. Her penthouse was spacious. She could hear her slippers echoing off the walls. The sparse furniture made it look like she had just moved in, although she had been there for almost two years. This was the vice-president’s suite. Kokoro thought it was ugly. She felt just out of place there as she did in her position.

  Her introduction to politics came at a young age when her father's childhood friend served a full 10 year term as president. Some of Kokoro’s fondest memories came from the parties that followed that inauguration. It meant her father was guaranteed a spot on the cabinet of Arcadia’s top office. His own presidency was all but confirmed since he had known the former president so well. Things had begun to look good for Kokoro and her brother who had blossoming political careers, following in their father’s footsteps.

  When their mother died, everything changed. Their father became President Azuma and promised to carry on in her memory. Only he became much sicker not too long into his term. The same horrible disease that had taken their mother and countless others in that generation now had a grip on their father. After a brief, horrendous run at vice-president, Kokoro’s brother gave up on politics and left Arcadia entirely. He had always been prone to making hasty decisions, but years later with no contact told her that he might be serious about this one. Kokoro wasn’t exactly hoping to hear back any time soon either. She then assumed his position on the cabinet, becoming the first female chairperson in Arcadia’s history. She didn’t have time to appreciate this feat before being thrown into a political abyss. It turns out she was just as unwanted as she believed she would be. The rest of the cabinet refused to accept her legitimacy as vice-president when her father appointed her. Now with her father nearly on his deathbed, it had only gotten worse.

  She decided to stop feeling bad for herself and get dressed. A meeting between her and the chief of the APF had been scheduled for that day and she needed to appear professional. Especially after putting her neck out for him so publicly and being a big reason why he landed that job in the first place. His recent failures had been a reflection of her supposed mediocrity.

  In the elevator, she debated going up a floor to visit her father who was being cared for in the presidential suite, one floor above her own. The doctors had decided to move him out of the hospital to make him more comfortable and able to work from home. He hadn’t been responsive the past few days and she didn’t feel like seeing him. She pressed the first floor button before she could change her mind.

  When she arrived at Capitol Tower, Chief Suzuki was already waiting in her office. He was instantly recognizable with his broad shoulders taking up the whole chair. Kokoro walked around the desk and sat in her chair. Suzuki stood up and removed his hat out of respect.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “Good morning, Chief Suzuki,” Kokoro started. “You’re a hard man to reach.”

  “Forgive me, Madame vice-president,” he said. “I have been very busy as of late. I’m sure you can understand.”

  “There are few people in Arcadia who can resonate with that statement more than myself.” Suzuki smiled. “I wanted to ask how you felt about my brother’s stint as vice-president.” Suzuki shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He didn’t have a grasp of where the conversation was going.

  “Well, he is your brother…”

  “I don’t like him, Suzuki, you can be honest with me.”

  “I was very publicly opposed to his policies if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “I’m sure you remember the law that he passed that allowed Osaki Neon to monopolize every aspect of Neon production in Arcadia. It was quite controversial,” Kokoro said. Chief Suzuki was puzzled over this. What game was she playing?

  “Of course I do, Madame vice-president. If you recall, I was a member of the AOA, Anti-Osaki Association. We did a lot of work to protest that law.”

  “Yes, it looked quite good on your resume. It’s one of the reasons I advocated so highly for you to become chief. You weren’t in charge at that time but you’ll also remember that Glow circulation nearly doubled in the immediate months following that law,” Kokoro said, remaining stone faced in her intentions. Her point had yet to reveal itself. “It was also around this time that Chairman Hayashi purchased his second lavish condo in the Circle and began shelling out money to break up that association of yours. Seems coincidental perhaps?"

  “I stopped believing in coincidence as a boy, Madame vice-president,” Suzuki noted. Kokoro narrowed her eyes. He was beginning to catch on.

  “You know one of the other reasons I stuck my neck out so much for you was because I knew you weren’t afraid to face the real issues. You were desperate to attack the root of the corruption in this city,” Kokoro said. She let the word hang in the air for a moment. “I could use some of that gumption again.”

  “What did you have in mind?” the chief said, catching on completely now.

  “Maybe a task force. Small. People you can trust. It’s time we got to the bottom of some of this, don’t you think?”

  Suzuki tried to stop a smile from forming.

  “I couldn’t agree more, vice-president Azuma. I’ll get started right away,” Suzuki said. The grin belonged to Kokoro. She stood up and shook his hand firmly. He bowed and put his hat back on. In his mind, a list of men was already being assembled.

  “Oh, and chief?” she called on his way out. He stopped in the door frame. “Let’s be relatively quiet about this. No need to disturb the budget over something I can pay out of pocket.” Suzuki nodded.

  Kokoro sat back in her chair feeling good for once.