Keith Argus Yamamoto stood frozen across the street.
His school bag slipped from his shoulder, hitting the pavement with a dull thud he didn't hear.
In front of him, beneath the warm glow of Tokyo's evening lights, Harumi Kurosaki laughed brightly—her hand gripping the arm of Kazuto Amamiya. The sound of her laughter, once something Keith treasured, now felt like knives piercing his chest.
Kazuto leaned closer.
Harumi didn't pull away.
Instead, she smiled… and wrapped her arms around him.
The world went silent.
Keith's vision blurred, his heartbeat thundering violently in his ears. A sharp pain exploded in his chest, his legs giving out beneath him.
And then—
Darkness.
"Keith!"
Hidden a short distance away, Ran Mouri gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Beside her, Sonoko Suzuki froze in shock.
They had followed Keith quietly, worried about him. Both girls—each harboring feelings they hadn't yet admitted—had sensed something was wrong when he suddenly changed direction.
Neither of them had expected this.
They rushed forward just as Keith collapsed onto the cold pavement, completely unconscious.
"Ran, he's not waking up!" Sonoko shouted, panic clear in her voice.
Without hesitation, Sonoko pulled out her phone.
"Driver, come immediately! He's collapsed—no, I don't care about traffic, just come now!"
Within minutes, the Suzuki family car arrived, and Keith was rushed to the nearest hospital.
Unnoticed by everyone else—
Hidden in the shadows—
The people assigned to secretly protect Keith watched everything.
And immediately, they made the call.
France – Runcandel Estate
The sound of the report echoed through the grand study.
"…Miss Kurosaki was seen openly embracing Kazuto Amamiya. Young Master Keith collapsed shortly after and has been hospitalized."
Silence.
Then—
CRASH!
Darius Runcandel hurled his phone against the marble wall with terrifying force. The device shattered instantly.
The air itself seemed to tremble.
At that moment, Clara Runcandel entered the room.
She took one look at her husband's expression and knew—something unforgivable had happened.
"Darius," she said calmly, "tell me."
He clenched his fists.
"Harumi Kurosaki betrayed our grandson."
For a brief second, Clara smiled.
But anyone who truly knew her would understand—
That smile was far more frightening than rage.
"So," she said softly, eyes cold as steel, "the girl dared to hurt the child we raised with our hearts… after Lucian and Kaori died."
Darius picked up another phone—secured, encrypted—and made a single command.
"Use all connections. I want everything on the Kurosaki family and the Amamiya family. Immediately."
One hour later, the results arrived.
"In ten days," the aide reported, "the Kurosaki and Amamiya families will publicly announce the engagement of Harumi Kurosaki and Kazuto Amamiya."
The room fell silent.
Then—
Darius laughed.
Clara laughed with him.
A slow, chilling sound that carried authority born of power.
"They looked down on our grandson," Darius said coldly, "because he was kind… because he was gentle."
Clara turned away and walked toward the door.
"I'll pack my luggage."
Darius looked up.
"We're going to Japan," she continued calmly, "to see our grandson."
He nodded once.
"Yes."
She paused, then added quietly,
"We have erased the enemies of House Runcandel for four years now. That is enough."
Her eyes sharpened.
"The world should know who Keith truly is."
Darius's gaze hardened with resolve.
"Yes," he said.
"It's time."