"Ken...?" Yumiko's voice trailed off as she noticed the sudden silence engulfing her son. Concern etched on her face, she saw his bowed head and wondered what was on his mind.
Yet, upon closer examination, her concern transformed into alarm, and she rushed to his side. "Hey, what's the matter? Why are you crying?"
Izumi, too, sensed something wrong. Leaving her pots to simmer, she also joined them to assess the situation. "What's going on?"
Akihiro observed the unfolding scene with guilt, understanding all too well how Kentaro currently felt. The suffocating feeling of helplessness that threatened to drive one to madness—he knew it all to well.
The ginger-haired teenager had intended to maintain composure, to reassure the women that he was alright. But their mounting worry shattered his feeble resolve. Defeated, he buried his face in his hands and sobbed quietly, unable to utter a single word.
"Kentaro?" Yumiko's voice carried a tinge of fear now. Memories of her son's similarly miserable state, long ago when they were first separated, resurfaced. And that was when he was merely a six-year-old child.
Even when Ken had been made to leave the mansion on his own at twelve, he hadn't been this distressed. What could have possibly made him look so utterly defeated and powerless?
Misa, drawn by the commotion, entered the room. Since the baby had finally dozed off in her arms, she didn't linger but hurriedly laid Kaiya down in another room, before rejoining the group to comfort the distraught teen.
Yumiko turned to Akihiro, who'd been silence ever since earlier. Her intuition told her he knew exactly what was going on.
"What happened, Hiro?" Her voice trembled with worry. "What are you both hiding?"
Akihiro knew Ken would have preferred revealing the truth in due time, but he couldn't bear the weight of that burden alone. And so, with a heavy sigh, he made the decision to confess everything himself.
"Auntie, the truth is—"
"No," Ken's interruption stunned them all. Though he avoided their inquisitive gazes, he vehemently shook his head, whispering, "Please, don't say anything yet."
"Keeping it to ourselves won't help anyone," Akihiro insisted, his voice involuntarily lowering. "Nor will it change anything..."
"It's too soon!" Ken's head snapped up, his tear-stained face contorted with anger as he glared at the person seated across from him. Akihiro met his gaze, cool and unwavering.
Izumi, who had observed silently until now, reached her breaking point. "Enough with the mind games! What's happening?"
"Yeah, Aki, spill it out," Misa added, her tone demanding answers.
"It's the chairman," Akihiro revealed, ignoring Ginger's protests as his gaze evaded theirs. "He plans on marrying Aunt Yumiko."
His confession left everyone bewildered, including Kentaro, who couldn't fathom how Akihiro could disregard his explicit instructions. Dropping his head once more, Ken remained silent, unable to meet his mother's gaze.
Yumiko parted her lips, as if to respond, but closed them again, lost in a sea of conflicting emotions.
"Huh?" Misa was the first to regain her composure, albeit falteringly. "This... This has to be a joke, right? Don't mess with people."
But neither of the boys spoke further, realizing there was nothing left to be said.
"I see. So that's what happened," all eyes turned to Yumiko Nomura, who inexplicably released a relieved sigh. "You scared me. I thought something bad had happened to you, Ken."
Kentaro's troubled eyes widened slightly. Why did it appear as if his mother was more concerned about him when the devastating news concerned her?
Turning to the rest of the group, Yumiko made a request. "Could you all give us a moment alone?"
The trio didn't question her and left the kitchen, lingering outside where Izumi immediately demanded an explanation from Akihiro. Her voice wavered between shock and fury.
Now that they were alone, Yumiko sank into a chair, collapsing beside her son.
"I'm sorry, Mom," Kentaro murmured.
Yumiko twirled a small purple scrunchie around her wrist, a powerless chuckle escaping her lips. "What are you apologizing for? You didn't make this decision."
"He's punishing me," Kentaro's voice trembled. "He found out that I exposed them to the Fukudas, so he's doing this to remind me who's in charge."
Yumiko studied her son's conflicted expression, understanding his silent admission. She posed another question, her voice gentle. "Do you regret the choices you've made so far?"
Fidgeting with his fingers, Kentaro nodded slowly.
Her shoulders slumped against the chair. "What a shame," she sighed. "Because I don't."
Kentaro's gaze snapped up to meet his mother's, stunned, before he was enveloped in a warm embrace.
"You shouldn't regret either, dear," she whispered.
"But... why?" he choked, his voice filled with confusion. "My decisions led to this outcome. If I hadn't—"
"You wouldn't be the person you are today if you hadn't," Yumiko comforted, running her hand through his hair. "Are you really going to say you regret meeting the people you hold dear in Ichihara?"
Kentaro shook his head. "No, I don't regret..."
He couldn't bear to regret that part, especially when it implied wishing he had never met Haruki.
"But aren't you affected?" he pulled away, concern etched on his face. "This is a forced marriage, driven by selfish motives."
"Don't get me wrong, this is devastating news," Yumiko admitted, a hint of humorless laughter in her voice. "But more than anything, I feared you being sent away or something worse."
"And where would I go?" Kentaro finally chuckled, though it carried a tinge of bitterness. "I'm not allowed to return to Ichihara anymore."
"Because you exposed them? Tsk, I believe you did the right thing. Those people deserve the karma that's coming their way," his mother asserted.
Kentaro's lips pressed into a thin line. While relieved by his mother's resilience, he couldn't help but mutter, "It's not fair. I should be comforting you, not the other way around."
Yumiko drew him back into her embrace, her own emotions starting to surface. "Silly boy. It's always been a mother's duty to comfort and protect her child, no matter the circumstances."
***
A week later, news of the chairman's intention to marry Yumiko Nomura reached the rest of the Estate's residents, sparking a flurry of gossip among the staff.
Rumors spread like wildfire. Those who had always harbored animosity towards the innocent woman wagged their tongues, painting Yumiko as a cunning opportunist seeking personal gain. Others, who silently sympathized with the victims, felt sorry for Yumiko and her son, knowing they would be tied to the unbearable Harada family for life.
The family convened another meeting, this time including Yumiko and Kentaro. Kohana Ishihara, of course, was absent, her disdain for her husband's decision unwavering. Suzuki, too, chose to stay by her devastated mother's side, but Izuki had no qualms about attending.
This was no time for weakness. Despite feeling sick to his stomach, Izuki needed to assert his superiority over his half-brother.
Moreover, he had unfinished business with Kentaro.
The meeting revolved around revisiting the previous discussion, making sure the mother-son duo understood their predicament and the futility of resistance. While these matters remained undisclosed to the public and media, it was only a matter of time before their lives would be irrevocably changed.
Yumiko acknowledged her place but refused to surrender her resolve. After Satoshi had laid out all the details, she made a bold request.
She asked if she could continue residing in her humble cottage.
Suguru and Nanako Harada found her audacity outrageous, but Satoshi calmly agreed—on the condition that both Yumiko and Kentaro would sleep under the mansion's roof.
Though resentment played across Kentaro's face, he didn't want to create a scene in front of his mother. He listened obediently to his father's instructions, eagerly awaiting the end of the discussion to make his escape.
With his mother's hand firmly grasped in his own, Ken swiftly guided her out of the room as soon as the family session concluded. Akihiro - who'd been standing guard outside with two other staff - followed after them as soon as the mother-son pair came out, and the three of them left the mansion together.
Lost in a whirlwind of vengeful thoughts, the ginger-haired teenager belatedly noticed the strain in his grip when a gentle tap on his shoulder interrupted his internal turmoil. He turned to meet his mother's sympathetic smile, and guilt flooded his features.
Releasing his hold, he lowered his head in apology. "Sorry, mom."
Yumiko chuckled, affectionately patting his cheek. "What are you thinking so hard about?"
"... Murder," Ginger mumbled, eliciting another laugh from his mother and a concerned glance from Akihiro.
Just as the trio was about to resume their walk towards the rose garden, a voice called out from behind, capturing their attention.
"Brother," Izuki Harada descended the mansion's grand staircase, his hand casually tucked into a pocket as he addressed the fiery-haired teen. "Let's have a chat."
Akihiro audibly clicked his tongue, sensing that this "chat" was far from innocent. He prepared to step forward and confront this nuisance, but Ken halted him with a gesture.
"Take mom home," he instructed.
Akihiro hesitated. "But—"
"I'm sure it won't take long," Kentaro assured him.
Yumiko, though reluctant to leave her son with the troublemaker, found solace in Kentaro's reassuring smile. She patted Akihiro's shoulder and said, "He'll be fine. Let's go."
Watching them depart, Ken turned to face Izuki. "What do you want?"
Izuki simply motioned for him to follow and turned towards a particular direction, leading the way.
Kentaro's brows furrowed in displeasure, but he acquiesced without uttering a word. Trailing behind his brother, he suppressed any inquiries as they veered away from the grand mansion, their destination a desolate, typically unguarded storehouse that had fallen into disuse. Curiously, today was an exception as two men in black stood guard at the entrance, a strange presence that piqued Kentaro's suspicion.
With each hesitant step, the ginger-haired teen gradually grasped the gravity of the situation, and realization dawned upon him.
Izuki noticed the other's hesitance, yet he walked on, leading the way into the heart of the room. Standing there were three additional boys of similar age, awaiting their arrival. Teasing his younger sibling, Izuki taunted, "Aren't you joining us?"
Ginger's gaze drifted towards the two guards, their eyes studiously avoiding his own, beads of sweat betraying their discomfort. Their expressions spoke volumes about their forced presence in this forsaken place.
A deduction formed effortlessly in Kentaro's mind: I see. They were probably made to come here and stand guard against their will.
As the young master, Izuki possessed the authority to command them at whim. Kentaro could easily alleviate their burdens and dismiss them, if he wanted. After all, Satoshi had made it known to everyone that his second son was to be respected.
However, Ken didn't want that for the time being. Muttering something audible only to the guards, he earned bewildered stares from the pair.
With a nonchalant stride, Kentaro breezed into the storeroom, even dutifully sealing shut the heavy doors behind him, and leaving the two guards outside to ponder intently the weight of the instructions they were just given.
Meanwhile, within the storehouse, Izuki Harada erupted into boisterous obnoxious laughter, unable to fathom his brother's audacity to willingly step into this volatile situation.
Ginger met his brother's gaze with a cool, deadpan stare.
"Are you fucking stupid? You knew what was going to happen, and yet you still came," Izuki sneered, closing in on Ken with nonchalant steps. "To think you'd even willingly trap yourself inside. You dumbass, you should've brought Kayame along. Look at the mess you've gotten yourself into."
Ken's gaze shifted from his brother to the three individuals standing before them, then back at his brother again. "So, there's really going to be a brawl?"
"What did you expect, a welcoming party?" Izuki scoffed, motioning for one of his friends to secure the doors with something, in case the guards outside decided to intervene. "It's almost embarrassing how naïve you are."
"Am I supposed to fight all of you at once?" Ginger questioned.
Upon hearing those words, the three individuals burst into raucous laughter. One of them jeered, "Is your brother for real, Izuki? I thought you said he was a wimp."
Another chimed in, mocking, "Maybe he has a death wish."
"Teach this insolent punk a lesson," the third one urged.
Observing them closely, Kentaro vaguely recognized their faces. He had encountered them during his previous visits to the mansion. These three were supposedly Izuki's high school buddies from similarly affluent families, and it appeared they continued to associate with each other even after graduation.
Since Kentaro couldn't recall their names, he mentally dubbed them Idiots A, B, and C.
Seeing how unfazed the other looked, Izuki's irritation grew. It reminded him of that day, the silent confidence that seemed to imply Kentaro Nomura looked down on him.
"Damn bastard..." Izuki wasted no time and launched a punch at the unprepared Ken, causing him to stagger backward. Seizing his brother's collar, the eighteen-year-old raged, "Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think you can belittle me so easily? How dare you and your bitch of a mother act superior when you're nothing but—"
Izuki's tirade was abruptly cut short as Ken swiftly grabbed his face. Before Izuki could process what was happening, Kentaro drew back, before slamming his own forehead hard against Izuki's nose without hesitation.
The unexpected attack left Izuki Harada utterly speechless.
Despite the searing pain throbbing in his forehead, Ginger pushed through and refused to give his brother a moment to recover. He forcefully yanked Izuki's head back, angled it with his raised knee, and mercilessly delivered yet another bone-chilling blow to his already battered face.
The three onlookers stood frozen, their eyes wide with shock and terror, witnessing the unfolding brutality before them.
Kentaro Nomura executed a headbutt followed by a knee-kick in rapid succession, his actions oozing with an effortless grace. His own forehead now stung and his left cheek bruised, but the steely determination etched on Ken's face revealed his indifference towards the pain.
Izuki stumbled backward, landing hard on his rear, his trembling hands desperately clutching the bloodied lower half of his face. Never in a thousand imagined scenarios had he anticipated Kentaro overpowering him in a fight. He had always believed himself to be the stronger one, even if not on par with Akihiro. But now, in this moment, Izuki felt a fear deeper than any he had ever experienced in his entire life.
"Now then," Kentaro wiped his bruised cheek, halting just before his fallen sibling, a smug and condemning smirk stretching across his lips. "Care to repeat what you said about my mom? I didn't quite catch it."
Initially, he had intended to honor his promise to Haruki and steer clear of trouble, but damn it all. Kentaro had reached the end of his patience. He had restrained himself countless times since returning to this place, but he would not allow this uncultured jerk to insult his mother and escape unscathed.
Everything had already fallen to shit, so the supposedly weak Ginger might as well embrace his newfound freedom and unleash the full force of his frustrations.
~~~~~~