The air in the Kamihara estate felt lighter, yet tension clung to the walls like mist. Celestia Kamihara, poised and pristine, stood facing Izumi across the private garden veranda. The autumn wind danced between them, rustling the hem of her silver-toned designer coat. Her piercing blue eyes held no visible emotion, but the silence between them was louder than words.
"Why do you think you're worthy of my daughter?" she asked coolly, taking a delicate sip of jasmine tea.
Izumi stood straight, unsure if his knees were trembling or if it was just the chill. "I don't know if I am. But what I do know is... I love her. I want to be the person she can rely on when the world turns its back."
Celestia tilted her head. "Love?"
He nodded. "Yes. Not because she's Marina Kamihara. Not because of her name or her wealth. But because she makes me want to be better. I want to see her smile every day. Not the practiced, polite one. The real one. The one she thinks no one notices."
A long silence followed. Celestia set her teacup down.
"You sound like her father. He said the same thing to my parents," she said softly.
Izumi blinked.
Celestia finally smiled—just barely. "You're not there yet, Izumi Aoyama. But you're walking the right path."
She stood, straightening her coat. "I will be returning to America shortly. But next time, I expect you to greet me not as a boy in love, but as the man who can protect her heart."
Izumi bowed deeply. "I will. I promise."
As Celestia turned away, Ashford watched from the upper balcony, sipping wine. He closed his eyes and muttered under his breath with a smirk: "He passed."
But just as the air began to settle, a new ripple broke through.
A sleek limousine pulled up outside the Kamihara estate as Celestia exited. A tall girl stepped out—American school uniform, long brunette curls, sunglasses, and an aura that screamed "spoiled nobility."
Celestia raised an eyebrow. "Eleanor? What are you doing here?"
The girl smirked. "Father sent me to observe Japan's finest heiress. I heard her little butler made quite the confession. Thought I'd see it for myself."
Back inside, Marina and Izumi were sitting in the estate's sunroom, holding hands in peaceful silence.
"It feels like a calm after the storm," Marina murmured.
Izumi chuckled. "Or maybe before the next one."
Just then, a maid entered.
"Lady Marina. A new transfer student has arrived at your school. She'll be joining Class A-3... by special political recommendation."
Marina blinked. "Transfer student? This late in the semester?"
The maid hesitated. "She's already outside... speaking to your mother."
Marina stood up slowly. Izumi followed, a sense of dread creeping up his spine.
From the shadows of the hallway, Ashford watched with a smile, swirling his wine glass.
"Let the next chapter begin."
To be continued...