After breakfast, the Yukinoshita family's car arrived right on time.
Yukinoshita Yukino stepped inside without much expression on her face, though her eyes briefly lingered on Akira Fujimiya.
When the door closed, the car drove away smoothly.
Akira stood there, hands resting in his pockets as he watched the luxury vehicle disappear down the street.
When its silhouette finally vanished, he took out his phone and opened the message he had received the previous night.
It was from Yukinoshita Haruno.
Only one sentence:
"I've got the evidence."
The evidence Haruno obtained was enough to force Mrs. Yukinoshita into a corner — to make her step down on her own.
But both Akira and Haruno knew this wasn't something that should be leaked directly to the media.
If the scandal erupted publicly, the Yukinoshita family's reputation — and its massive business empire — would suffer unimaginable damage, and Yukino would become a joke in high society.
Which — neither Haruno nor Akira wants.
Haruno's goal wasn't destruction.
Her goal was freedom.
Akira exhaled slowly, then dialed Haruno's number.
It barely rang for two seconds before a confident voice answered:
"I'll be there soon."
She hung up first, without giving him any chance to talk.
Typical Haruno.
Akira headed back upstairs to get something.
A few minutes later, he walked out of Sakurasou to find a brand-new luxury car parked at the entrance.
The driver's window rolled down.
Yukinoshita Haruno sat inside in the driver seat, wearing stylish sunglasses despite the mild weather. She looked stunning and dangerous — the kind of person who smiled while planning ten steps ahead.
"Get in," she said calmly, smiling.
Akira didn't ask questions.
He simply opened the door and sat beside her.
.....
Thirty minutes later—
The car stopped in front of a warmly furnished house.
Akira stepped out, eyes subtly widening.
"…Where is this?"
"Our home," Haruno replied effortlessly, handing him a key.
"When did you prepare all this?" he asked, accepting the key.
"The day I came to see you in the afternoon," Haruno said, walking toward the entrance and unlocking the door. "I was certain Yukino would not reject me —But— I was never certain about you."
Her voice carried a faint trace of resentment, not enough to sound angry, but enough to sting.
Akira scratched his cheek awkwardly and followed her inside.
As soon as he stepped inside, Haruno was already kneeling, taking out neatly arranged slippers.
He bent down immediately. "I can do that myself—"
"Please," Haruno interrupted, lifting her gaze to meet his. "Let me."
Her eyes were surprisingly soft.
After a short pause, Akira sighed, and stopped resisting.
Haruno smiled faintly and helped him change into slippers, her movements gentle and careful, as if she were handling something precious.
"Well," she said with an elegant flourish of her arm, "Now this place officially feels like home."
"Funny," Akira muttered, glancing around. "Because it doesn't feel like it to me."
Even though he said that—
Compared to Sakurasou's, this house felt warm, personal — a place created by two people, not a shared dorm. The furniture, the lighting, even the faint floral scent… all chosen with intention.
"I prepared clothes for you, a workspace for your manga, and a studio on the first floor," Haruno explained. "Our bedroom is also in the first floor. The second floor—"
She suddenly cut herself off.
But Akira definitely understood what she meant.
Haruno cleared her throat, brushed her hair behind her ear, then opened a door.
"Come. The evidence is in here."
The bedroom's layout startled Akira — it resembled Yukino's room, almost the exactly.
"The evidence is in the USB, you can used the other USB's," Haruno said as she placed a flash drive beside a sleek laptop. "Copy the data in them, while I'll make some tea."
"…You want me to see this?"
"Because you will have to do the negotiation on my behalf." Haruno looked straight into his eyes. "I do not want to speak to her directly."
"That's… not an easy task," Akira replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
"What, if your father knew this…" he added.
Haruno shook her head.
"Father and Mother haven't had a real relationship in years. They have stop caring about each other long time ago. You don't worry have to worry— the only ones who will know the truth are Mother, you, and me."
"…Okay."
Haruno gave a small, grateful smile before stepping out, closing the door behind her.
...
Akira sat down, opened the laptop, plug the USB in and clicked on the file waiting for him.
The USB contain only one video.
As he click on the video.
Madam Yukinoshita appear.
The resemblance to Yukino wasn't just in her features — the cold elegance, the aloof posture, even the way she crossed her legs — it was like looking at Yukino's future with Kimono.
Seated across from her was a professional-looking woman. They were clearly in a luxury hotel suite.
A Yukinoshita Group hotel, no doubt.
Akira watched the recording unfold, expression darkening by the second.
This… wasn't a business meeting.
It was leverage. Blackmail. And Control.
Madam Yukinoshita had been "grooming" and replacing secretaries and assistants — Most doesn't even dare to speak about it — Most likely out of feared or because they received money and some sort benefits in exchange for silence.
Akira copied the file to the other flash drive while keeping the original one in hand. He closed the Laptop, as leaned back in his chair.
"…This is dangerous." He mummer to himself.
If negotiations failed… he might very well end up "accidentally" disappearing.
A fall from a building, a sudden car crash — Or a truck sending him to another world.
He shook his head at the absurdity of that thought.
...
When he returned to the living room,
Haruno was sitting on the sofa, legs crossed like royalty. She looked at him the instant he appeared.
"I'm now very certain," Akira began, sinking into the seat beside her, "that no matter what happens, your mother will hate me. And there's a high chance she'll ship me off to another world."
Haruno couldn't help a short laugh.
"Mother wouldn't go that far," she said lightly, while pouring him some tea. "If she acted rashly… Yukino would never forgive her."
"So Yukino's existence is my insurance policy," Akira muttered after taking the cup.
"One of the reasons," Haruno admitted softly.
They sat in silence for a few seconds.
"When do we go?" Akira asked eventually, staring into his tea.
"I'm going to meet her later," Haruno replied. "You will come with me."
He froze briefly.
Haruno stood and approached him, her perfume subtly enveloping him.
"Our future depends on this negotiation," she said. "Yukino's future depends on it. The children's future depends on it."
{T/N: How many? }
Akira gave her a long look.
"…Children. You're already planning that far ahead?"
Haruno's cheeks reddened — a rare display of vulnerability, as she averted her eyes.
"...I haven't thought about what the Yukinoshita family will look like in the future," Akira said plainly. "That's will depend on you."
"By helping me…" Haruno leaned closer, her voice a whisper at his ear, "you're protecting Yukino and our future children as well."
Akira inhaled sharply.
"…Fine. I'm ready."
"Change your clothes first," Haruno said, eyeing his relaxed outfit critically.
He groaned. "Do I really need to dress up just to argue with your mother?"
"It's not just an argument." Haruno smirked faintly and walked toward the bedroom. "I'll pick your suit."
"…I guess I have no choice," Akira muttered and followed her.
...
Madam Yukinoshita's residence stood proudly near the top of a mountainside district — an area reserved for the most powerful families in Yokohama.
The lower hillside consisted of luxury villas owned by top executives of Yukinoshita Construction.
But at the very top — towering above others — was the main villa.
A symbol of supremacy.
"The Yukinoshita Group doesn't only do construction," Haruno explained while driving. "Hospitality, fashion, education, medical institutions… nearly every industry that affects everyday life."
Akira nodded. "Like: Food, clothing, housing, transportation too…it is total dominance..."
"Exactly. Mother manages it all flawlessly," Haruno replied, though her tone lacked admiration. "Every investment requires her approval. She has built an empire… but in doing so, she forged chains for me."
Chains disguised as expectations—
As duty.
As family honor.
The car passed through a security gate and glided up the smooth stone road.
The villa came into view — massive, spotless, imposing.
A battlefield wrapped in elegance.
Haruno parked the car nearby.
Akira quickly adjusted his tie and straightened his jacket, trying to ignore his racing heart.
A maid noticed them immediately and hurried over.
"Welcome home, Miss Haruno."
"Is Mother busy?" Haruno asked coldly.
"Madam is in the study," the maid replied, her eyes drifting nervously toward Akira.
A stranger here was unusual.
Especially a man beside Haruno.
Haruno ignored the silent judgment.
She turned to Akira.
"Are you ready?"
He took a slow breath.
"No," he answered honestly.
Haruno smiled — amused and fond.
"That's perfect. Anyone who claims to be ready before meeting Mother is a liar."
With that, she took the lead, walking toward the front doors with the confidence of a queen reclaiming her throne.
Akira followed.
Whether he liked it or not…this was not a path he escape from.
...
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