The traffic was intense, and Osaka Station was overflowing with people.
A sea of humanity surged in a controlled chaos, punctuated by the rumble of trains and the endless repetition of announcements over the loudspeakers. The air was thick with exhaustion and resignation, a near-tangible coldness lingering in the atmosphere.
Yes, it was a Monday morning.
On a bench near the station, a young boy unintentionally drew the attention of passersby. Dressed in a black hoodie and casual pants, he seemed lost in thought, a suitcase resting beside him. But it wasn't his appearance that caught people's eyes—it was his loud, incessant sighs and overly dramatic gestures, as if he desperately wanted the whole world to feel his frustration.
"Damn it! What the hell did I just do?!"
Eventually, the sighs gave way to a string of colorful curses.
"How can I be so damn talented at screwing everything up?" he muttered through clenched teeth.
Shit! Saying something like that to someone like Mom was a huge mistake.
The boy slouched on the bench, as if the weight of the entire world had come crashing down on his shoulders. He looked like he was one breath away from shouting a full-throated, "Fuck you, fucking world!"
His name? Kenshin Ishikawa.
Ironically, he was the eldest son of one of the most powerful women in Japan: Madam Sakura Ishikawa, CEO of the Tenkai Group—a conglomerate ranked among the top three corporations in the country.
In other words, his mother was filthy rich.
So how did her son end up like this?
"I got dumped by my girlfriend… for my best friend. I bet all my allowance money on the lottery—millions of yen—and lost it all like a damn idiot. And now this…"
A deep sigh escaped his lips as he sank even lower into the bench, his posture screaming despair. From the outside, he looked like a man who had lost everything—a rare sight of misery for someone of his status.
Eyes shut, he let his mind drift back, replaying the events that had brought him here.
---
Three Hours Earlier
In Tokyo, one building towered above the urban skyline, both for its imposing architecture and the massive LED screen displaying the "Tenkai Group" logo in gleaming gold letters. It was the headquarters of the empire ruled by Madam Sakura Ishikawa, the businesswoman both feared and respected across the entire nation.
Inside her luxurious office, a heated confrontation was reaching its peak—a clash between a ruthless mother and her desperate son.
"You don't deserve to bear my name. You're a disgrace."
Seated behind her desk, Madam Sakura Ishikawa delivered those words in a calm, emotionless voice. Her face, cold and stoic, betrayed neither anger nor disappointment—just a chilling detachment.
Despite her age, she possessed a striking beauty: long, jet-black hair meticulously styled, and a figure that could rival the most elite runway models. But what truly stood out was her aura—crushing, oppressive. It was the presence of a seasoned warrior, a woman who had conquered the business world without ever flinching. One look was enough to know: she was born to dominate. The complete opposite of her son—a son she no longer recognized.
"M-Mother, please! Just hear me out! It was a solid deal this time. I just had a bit of bad luck at the last second—I could've—"
"Enough."
Sakura's voice sliced through the air like a blade.
"Give me one good reason not to disown you right here and now."
Ken froze, a shiver crawling down his spine.
"I've been more than patient with you. I handed you opportunities others could only dream of. And yet, tell me—what have you achieved as my heir?"
"I…"
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Unlike your sisters, you're a failure. Even the youngest, still in high school, shows more promise than you. And you? You blow fortunes on casinos and women. Is that what I sent you to study in the U.S. for?"
Every word was a dagger. Every syllable dragged him deeper into the abyss.
He wanted to shout, to flip the desk between them, to scream that she was his mother. But he couldn't. Because deep down… everything she said was true.
So he stayed silent. He listened to what felt like the reading of his own death sentence.
"You've left me no choice. I've made a decision I had hoped to avoid. From this day forward, Nora will inherit the company."
A thunderbolt. A final verdict.
Ken's eyes widened, his breath caught in his throat. The blow landed, heavy and merciless.
"What?!"
Silence was his only answer.
Then came the rage.
"What the hell is this?! I know I haven't been perfect these past few years, but does that really justify stripping me of my birthright?!"
A faint, cruel smile finally curved Sakura's until-now expressionless lips. It was small, almost imperceptible—but merciless.
She murmured, as if to herself, "Birthright, huh…?"
With trembling hands, Ken gripped the edge of the desk, panic flooding his eyes.
"I'll make it up to you! Please, Mother—no, Mom!"
Desperation. He could feel it consuming him, crushing his chest.
"I swear I'll change! I'll dedicate myself to the company. I'll work hard, I'll—"
"That's enough."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Sakura's gaze was colder than ever.
"I've lost count of how many times I've heard you say those exact words."
She sighed—a slow, icy exhale that carried the weight of final judgment.
Ken understood.
Being disowned meant losing the Ishikawa name.
In the world of business, he would no longer exist.
To society, he was no longer an Ishikawa.
In other words… he had just been cast out.
Suddenly, the atmosphere around Ken shifted.
His smile returned.
But it was no longer nervous. No longer apologetic.
It was strange now—twisted, touched with the faint glimmer of madness.
Madam Sakura raised a slight eyebrow. It was the first time she had ever seen such an expression on her son's face.
Then, in a voice that was calm—too calm—he spoke:
"If I were to one day lead a company more powerful than the Tenkai Group... would I be able to reclaim what's rightfully mine?"
A heavy silence followed.
Sakura's eyes, already cold, turned glacial. In that moment, it was as if the last shred of interest she had in him had vanished.
With a disinterested tone, she said, "I thought you were finally going to say something worth hearing… but once again, I overestimated you."
"Answer me, Mother."
Ken wasn't shouting. His voice was steady. Resolute.
Sakura stared at him for a brief moment before turning away, clearly unimpressed.
"Tch..."
She stood up slowly and walked toward the window, her back to him the entire time.
Then, without even glancing his way, she spoke in a voice colder than steel:
"Do as you please. As of today, you are no longer an Ishikawa. A transfer has been made to your account. Your things are packed. Leave."
She paused for a moment, then added—her words as sharp as a blade:
"However… if you succeed, you'll get what you want."
And with that, she turned her back on her son once more, bringing their conversation to a close.
And so, the heir to the Tenkai Group… ceased to exist.