Chapter 69: Guardianship in the shadows.
As I drove through the labyrinth of city streets, my thoughts were as chaotic as the traffic around me. Each turn brought a new worry, a new concern, and every red light seemed to flash with the warnings of what could go wrong. But one thought drowned out all others: Tokusake Ren.
Ren. The second-year student at Roward Advanced Nurturing High School, a place where only the best minds in Japan could thrive. He stood at the top, among the elite, in a school that prided itself on nurturing the future of the nation. The boy had been the talk of the entire region back in middle school, holding the number one position with ease. Strong, intelligent, charming—he had the qualities that could win over anyone. But what truly set him apart was something more dangerous: his ability to plan.
"Ren isn't just smart," I murmured to myself, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "He's... calculated."
It was during the [J.N.H.S.E] exam that his brilliance truly shone. Ren had crafted a strategy that made the other students feel inferior, ensuring that he and his partner came out on top. While others struggled with college-level questions, the other students who attended the exam had calmly answered university-level ones, securing the first and second positions as if it were a mere formality. Although the first is known but his past or background is known that much and the second place isn't that much talked about for obvious reasons.
But there was something unsettling about the way he orchestrated it all.
I replayed our conversation from earlier today in my mind, unable to shake the image of Ren's eyes—those hollow, detached eyes that seemed to have seen too much. When he talked about the traitor within the company, it was as if he had already anticipated every possible betrayal, every double-cross, and had prepared for it. His plan was flawless, leaving no room for error, no risk to himself. The traitor would be the only one to suffer, crumbling under their own fear and anxiety. I had dismissed Ren as just another gifted genius before, but now... now I knew better. This was no ordinary boy.
"This kid... he knows too much. He's seen too much," I whispered, the weight of realization settling heavily on my chest. "How does a high school student gain that kind of insight? How does he plan like he's been doing it all his life?"
A memory surfaced, unbidden, of another young man—my brother. He, too, had been intelligent, driven, and unafraid to take on the corruption that plagued the world around him. He had tried to expose the dark secrets of a powerful corporation, thinking he could make a difference. But instead, they silenced him. Permanently.
"Shut down for good... shut down for all eternity," I muttered, my voice thick with old grief.
The thought of losing someone like Ren, someone who had become important to me, was unbearable. I had already lost my brother because of his ideals, and I couldn't let it happen again. I had to protect Ren, even if it meant stepping into the shadows myself.
I pulled into the parking lot of the office building, the city lights casting long, eerie shadows across the asphalt. As I turned off the engine, I sat in the silence for a moment, gathering my thoughts. Protecting Ren would mean crossing lines I had always avoided, lines that once crossed, there would be no turning back.
"I'll have to keep an eye on him," I decided, my resolve hardening. "I'll have to watch his every move, know who he's talking to, what he's planning. I can't let him get too deep into this... can't let him end up like my brother."
But how? How could I protect him without invading his privacy, without becoming the very thing I despised?
"Sorry, Ren," I murmured, stepping out of the car and heading towards the building's entrance. "But your safety comes first. Even if it means betraying your trust."
As I entered the dimly lit lobby, my thoughts were interrupted by the sight of Harate, Ren's grandfather, waiting in one of the armchairs. He was staring out the window, his posture calm, yet there was an air of tension about him. He turned his gaze towards me as I approached, his sharp eyes assessing.
"Luthor," Harate greeted me with a nod, his voice as steady as ever.
"Harate-san," I replied, bowing slightly. "You wanted to see me?"
Harate leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "You've been thinking about Ren," he said, more a statement than a question.
I nodded, taking a seat across from him. "Yes. I'm worried about him. He's... different. Smarter than most adults I've met. But that's what concerns me."
Harate's eyes narrowed slightly. "Go on."
"There's something in him—something dark. He plans too well, anticipates too much. It's as if he's been through things no high school student should ever experience," I confessed, the words tumbling out faster than I intended. "He's getting involved in dangerous matters. I'm afraid... I'm afraid that if he continues down this path, he'll end up..."
"Like your brother," Harate finished for me, his voice softening ever so slightly.
I swallowed hard, the old wound tearing open once more. "Yes. I can't let that happen. I need to protect him, but I don't know how."
Harate was silent for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. "Ren is not your brother, Luthor. He has his own battles to fight, his own path to walk. But I understand your concern. You see a reflection of your brother in Ren, and you fear losing him the same way."
"I don't just fear it," I admitted, my voice thick with emotion. "I can't let it happen. I've already lost one person close to me. I can't lose another."
Harate's expression softened, a rare moment of vulnerability showing through. "Ren is stronger than you think. But if you feel that you must protect him, then do so. Just remember that you cannot shield him from everything. Some battles he must fight on his own."
"I know," I sighed, feeling the weight of my decision pressing down on me. "But I'll do whatever I can to keep him safe. Even if it means keeping tabs on him... monitoring his movements, his interactions."
Harate nodded, his gaze steady. "You are a good man, Luthor. But be careful. Protect him, but do not stifle him. Ren must learn to navigate the world on his own, even if that means facing dangers you wish you could shield him from."
I bowed my head, acknowledging the wisdom in Harate's words. "I'll be careful," I promised, though the thought of not being able to protect Ren completely left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Harate stood, his presence commanding as always. He placed a hand on my shoulder, a gesture of both reassurance and understanding. "Trust in Ren. He has more strength than you know."
With that, he left, his footsteps echoing in the empty lobby. I watched him go, the words we had exchanged replaying in my mind. Harate was right—Ren was not my brother. But that didn't mean I could stand by and do nothing.
As I sat there in the silence, the city bustling outside the windows, I made a vow to myself: I would protect Tokusake Ren. No matter what it took. Even if it meant sacrificing everything.
Because losing him... was not an option.
"It's strange, isn't it? The way life entangles us in webs of duty and affection, forcing us to make choices that gnaw at our very soul. Ren...
He reminds me so much of the brother I couldn't save. The sharp mind, the relentless drive, the fire in his eyes—so much potential, yet so much risk.
But this time, I won't be powerless. I won't let the darkness consume another bright flame. Even if it means crossing lines, taking away freedoms, betraying the very trust he's placed in me—I'll do it.
I'll do it because I can't bear to lose someone again. Not like this, not when I can still protect him. Even if he hates me for it in the end, even if he never understands… at least he'll be alive to despise me. And maybe, one day, he'll see why I did what I had to do. Or maybe he won't. But I'll carry that burden alone.
Because I can't let him fall... not like my brother did."