Later That Night – The Kaisers' Interrogation
The dimly lit room was heavy with tension. The silver-haired man sat bound to a chair, his face pale, his breaths uneven. The Kaisers stood around him, their expressions cold, unreadable.
Sora's piercing gaze didn't waver. His voice was calm but carried an underlying intensity as he gave the command. "Tell us everything."
The mind control ability took effect. The man's body stiffened, his willpower crumbling beneath the Kaisers' overwhelming presence.
"They want to eliminate you," the man muttered, his voice distant. "Takumi… he's growing stronger. He won't stop until your family is destroyed."
The name hit Sora like a knife to the chest. His breathing faltered. His fingers curled into fists so tight his nails dug into his palms.
Takumi…?
His mind rejected it instantly. It wasn't possible. Takumi was dead. He was supposed to be dead.
But the man wasn't finished. His glazed-over eyes stared past them as he continued, unaware of the storm he had just unleashed.
"He was the one who ordered the attack on Hana. He wanted to test your weaknesses… see how fast you'd react."
Sora's heart pounded in his ears. His mind flashed back to the moment he heard Hana's screams, the sheer terror in her voice as she was taken. He had barely made it in time. If he hadn't…
His jaw tightened, his body trembling—not in fear, but in fury.
Takumi—his old enemy, the one he swore was gone forever—was not only alive but had dared to lay his hands on Hana.
A sharp crack echoed through the room. Sora had slammed his fist into the nearest wall, leaving a dent. His siblings flinched slightly at the raw rage radiating from him.
Kaiser, usually the colder of the two, watched Sora carefully. "Sora…"
But Sora barely heard him. His breaths came fast, his chest rising and falling as his mind swirled in chaos.
"How?" His voice was low, dangerous. His eyes burned with something dark, something furious. "We saw him die. We killed him."
The man twitched, his body convulsing slightly as he struggled against the ability. "Takumi… he never died. He was found… saved… strengthened. And now, he's coming for you."
Sora let out a slow breath, trying to contain the overwhelming rage coursing through him. But it wasn't working. His vision blurred with anger.
Takumi had always been a monster, but now, knowing he was alive, knowing he had set his sights on Hana—it made Sora feel something deeper than fury. It was a primal, suffocating hatred.
If Takumi thought he could touch his sister and walk away unscathed, he was wrong.
Dead wrong.
Sora turned away from the unconscious man, his fists still clenched. His siblings watched as
Sora stepped out into the cold night air, his breath uneven, his heart pounding in his chest. The walls of the interrogation room, the faces of his siblings, the words of that man—they all faded into the background.
All he could hear was the echo of his own thoughts.
*I should have made sure he was dead.*
His hands trembled as he ran them through his hair, gripping at the strands like he could physically pull the regret out of his head. Takumi was alive. Alive—and strong enough to come after them. Strong enough to hurt Hana.
The thought made his stomach churn.
He had been so sure back then. He had stood over Takumi's lifeless body, watched the blood pool beneath him. The weight of revenge had felt so final in that moment. He thought it was over.
But it wasn't.
He had failed.
Sora exhaled sharply, his throat tightening. The guilt clawed at his chest, suffocating. He had always told himself he would protect his family no matter what. But he had made a mistake—a mistake that put Hana in danger.
His baby sister.
The image of her terrified face flashed through his mind—the way she screamed his name, the way her tiny hands reached for him when she was taken.
Sora staggered forward, gripping the railing of the balcony outside their home. His fingers dug into the cold metal as he lowered his head.
He was furious. At Takumi. At himself. But beneath the rage was something else—something deeper.
Fear.
Not for himself. Never for himself. But for them. For Kaiser. For Sakura. For Hinata. For Hana.
His family was everything.
And he had failed them.
His shoulders trembled as he exhaled shakily. The weight of it all pressed down on him, heavier than anything he had ever carried before. He had always been the strong one, the reliable one. But right now, standing alone in the cold, he felt like he was breaking.
A soft sniffle made him freeze.
Sora turned his head slightly, and that's when he saw her—Hinata.
She stood a few feet away, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if she was trying to hold in her emotions. Normally, she carried herself with confidence, but right now, her eyes were glassy, her lips pressed into a thin line, trembling slightly.
"Sora…" Her voice was small, fragile.
She hesitated, then slowly walked toward him.
Sora barely had time to process what was happening before she crouched down and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. Because of their height difference, his head barely reached her chest, but she held onto him tightly, as if she was afraid he would slip away.
And then, she broke.
"I was so scared," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I thought… I thought we were going to lose her."
Sora stiffened. He had seen Hinata upset before, but this—this was different. She wasn't just upset. She was *terrified*.
Her fingers clutched at the fabric of his shirt, her shoulders shaking as quiet sobs wracked her body. "You're not the only one who feels like they failed, Sora. I should've been there. I should've protected her, too. But I couldn't. I *couldn't* do anything."
Her voice cracked, and warm tears dripped onto the top of his head.
She was crying.
Hinata—the one who always tried to stay composed, who rarely let herself break in front of them—was crying.
Sora's chest tightened.
Slowly, hesitantly, he lifted his arms and hugged her back, his small hands gripping the back of her jacket. She was so much taller than him, so much stronger, but right now, she was the one breaking.
Sora didn't know what to say. He wasn't good with words—not when it came to feelings like this. But he didn't need to say anything. He just held onto her, letting her cry.
For a long time, they stayed like that—Hinata holding him tight as if she was not going to ever let go.
Then, finally, he spoke, his voice quieter than before.
"We're not going to lose anyone." He closed his eyes, gripping her jacket tighter. "I won't let it happen."
Hinata sniffled, nodding weakly.
She believed him.
She *had* to believe him.
And Sora—despite the guilt, despite the fear—would make sure he kept that promise.
This time, when he faced Takumi, there would be no mistakes.
The morning came and the Kaisers siblings went to school.
The morning air was crisp, the sun casting long shadows over the school grounds as students milled about, chatting and laughing. Kaiser leaned against the wall near the courtyard, enjoying a moment of peace—until that peace was shattered by a familiar, confident voice.
"There you are, Kaiser."
He sighed, already knowing who it was before he turned his head. Rika stood before him, her presence as bold as ever. Today, her uniform was different from the rest of the student
She wore a long tailored uniform that hugged her figure perfectly, her long, dark brown hair cascading over her shoulders. Her striking green eyes held the same smug confidence they always did, like she had already won some invisible game.
"You've been ignoring me," she said, crossing her arms. "That's rude, you know. Most people would be honored to have my attention."
Kaiser let out a slow breath, his expression unreadable. "I didn't realize I owed you my time."
Rika smirked. "Oh, you don't—yet. But that's exactly why I'm here. You don't know anything about me, do you? And that just won't do."
Kaiser gave her a blank stare, unimpressed. "And this concerns me how?"
She stepped closer, the scent of expensive perfume lingering around her. "Because, Kaiser, people like us? We belong at the top. My family is one of the wealthiest in the country. My father, Ryuunosuke Takahashi, owns multiple luxury hotel chains and international real estate businesses. My mother, Ayame, controls one of the biggest fashion brands in Japan."
Kaiser remained silent, but Rika wasn't finished.
"I have a younger sister too, Satsuki. She's 15, just a year younger than me. She's quieter than I am, but don't let that fool you—she's just as ambitious as I am. Our family doesn't settle for mediocrity, Kaiser. We were raised to dominate."
Kaiser's gaze flickered to her for a brief moment before looking away again. "Good for you."
Rika frowned, but she quickly replaced it with another smirk. "You're playing hard to get, aren't you? That's fine. I like a challenge."
Kaiser exhaled through his nose, already tired of the conversation. "I'm not playing anything."
Rika ignored his disinterest. "My father always taught me that if you want something, you take it. You don't ask for permission. And right now, I've decided I want you."
The Fifth Day – The Unraveling of Rika
Kaiser finally looked at her, his amber eyes colder than ice. His expression was unreadable, but beneath that stillness, something dark brewed.
"I'm not something to be owned."
His voice was steady, but there was an undeniable sharpness in it, a silent threat buried between the syllables. He turned away, fists clenched, as if the very act of restraining himself was an unbearable weight.
As he walked off, his mind seethed. That phrase—"I want you."—it was more than just words. It was a chain, a haunting echo of his past, a reminder of the suffocating hands that once tried to claim him.
Rika had no idea what she had awakened.
Even as he stormed toward his classroom, seeking Hinata for comfort, the fury refused to subside. His body was tense, his jaw clenched. She didn't understand. No one understood.
Yet, despite his clear rejection, Rika did not waver.
The moment the final bell rang, she was already at his seat, as if time itself had conspired to give her another chance. She didn't flinch under his glare. She didn't apologize. She just kept pestering him, an unyielding force that trailed after him like a shadow.
Everywhere he went, she followed.
To his locker. To the hallways. The next day. And the next. And the next.
Four days had passed since the attempted kidnapping of Hana. Yet Rika's persistence remained unchanged, as if Kaiser's rejection had only fueled her resolve.
The Fifth Day – Rika's Defiance
Lunch period. The cafeteria buzzed with idle chatter, but for Rika, there was only one destination.
Like clockwork, she approached.
Kaiser barely acknowledged her as he ate. The irritation in his posture was evident, but Rika ignored it. She leaned in, her voice carrying its usual air of confidence.
"Have you changed your mind?"
Kaiser sighed, finally setting his chopsticks down. His patience was wearing thin.
"Why do you keep doing this? Please, let me be. I'm having my lunch. And besides—why aren't you eating yours?"
Rika smirked, tilting her head. "I don't eat food from the cafeteria. Just like you, I prefer meals prepared by my private chefs—expensive and elegant food."
Kaiser blinked. "Oh..."
The moment he lowered his guard, she leaned in close, her breath warm against his ear.
"I want you."
It was a whisper, but to Kaiser, it felt deafening.
His body tensed. His hands twitched. A flicker of rage flashed across his golden eyes.
Without a word, he stood, pushing his tray aside. He had lost his appetite.
Sakura, sensing his turmoil, hurried after him. Hinata remained seated, her gaze colder than ever. But Rika didn't care.
Because in her mind, she and the Kaisers were equals.
As Kaiser disappeared, Rika turned to his tray. His half drink. His half-eaten food.
A thought struck her.
If she drank from his cup, if she ate from his food—would that be an indirect kiss?
She smirked, reaching for the cup.
But across the cafeteria, two pairs of eyes burned with fury.
They were girls—loyal fans of Kaiser, watching her arrogance unfold. One of them had harbored a crush on him since he came to the school, yet it was Rika—this overconfident girl—who dared to act so boldly.
Their fingers clenched against the table.
No one disrespected the Kaisers like this. No one had the audacity to treat Kaiser's rejection like a game.
And they would make sure Rika paid the price.
The Witch's Smile – A New Plan
As they walked past the restroom, their hushed conversation was interrupted by a sound—soft, broken sobs echoing off the tiled walls.
They paused, exchanging glances before stepping inside.
And there she was.
Rika.
Crying.
The girl who seemed untouchable. The girl who carried herself as if she owned the world. The girl they wanted to destroy but had no idea on how to destroy.
But now, what they saw in the rest room had given them the perfect weapon.
Their lips curled into wicked smiles.
The game had changed.
The Rooftop – Sora's Truth
After the end of school, Kaiser rushed up the stairs, the rooftop door swinging open as he stepped into the crisp afternoon air.
He needed to breathe.
To clear his mind. To drown out the echo of her voice.
But moments later, the door creaked open again.
Rika.
She had followed him.
Kaiser tensed, his frustration bubbling over. Without a word, he brushed past her, exiting through the same door and slamming it shut behind him.
But she wasn't alone.
Sitting near the edge, legs crossed, was a young boy.
Sora.
The youngest Kaiser. He came to deliver some information to Kaiser, that Kaiser had him look into.
He glanced up at her, his sharp eyes observing, calculating.
Rika hesitated, still processing Kaiser's departure, before turning to the boy.
"Who might you be?"
Sora tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Sora Kaiser."
Rika blinked. She had known about Hinata. But another brother? That was unexpected.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be following Kaiser?" she asked.
Sora didn't answer immediately. He stood, brushing off his uniform before looking her dead in the eye.
"I will. But first, let me ask you something."
"Sure."
"Why do you like my brother?"
There was no hesitation. No thought. The answer came effortlessly.
"For his money. And to become the queen of the Kaisers."
She grinned, tilting her head like a mischievous cat.
But Sora didn't smile.
He stared at her for a moment, then muttered a single word—soft, but sharp enough to cut through the air like a blade.
"Liar."
Rika stiffened.
A cold chill ran down her spine.
Something about the way he said it—so certain, so absolute—sent unease creeping up her throat.
Her heart pounded as she watched him walk away, his small frame disappearing behind the door.
And for the first time in her life, Rika felt exposed.
Like someone had just pulled back a veil she didn't even realize she had been hiding behind.
And she hated it.