Kaede sat at the edge of a pond, enjoying the silence he had always appreciated since childhood. These small moments of tranquility were his refuge, especially when he knew something would soon interrupt them. Just as he anticipated, he felt a disturbance in the space around him—something that didn't belong there, challenging the very laws he often broke. Without fully turning around, he commented:
"What brings the leader of the Gojo clan here? Do you have a meeting with my father?" His voice was calm, but the weight of his words was unmistakable.
A few meters behind him stood Satoru Gojo, his eyes uncovered, staring intently at Kaede, whom he perceived as Naoya. "How strange," Satoru thought. "Since when has his cursed energy increased this much…"
Kaede slowly stood up, with calculated calmness. "My father isn't here right now, so I doubt you have business with him… What brings you here, Gojo? Or rather, why are you invading my clan's territory?" The apparent relaxation in his tone contrasted with the growing tension in the air. Kaede had sought this meeting, manipulating events to force this confrontation.
"You know very well why I'm here, Zenin," Satoru replied, his voice firm. "What were you doing with a member of the Gojo clan this afternoon?" Although Satoru was willing to avoid a war, his cousin's safety was paramount. He had neglected her once, and he couldn't afford to make the same mistake twice.
Kaede feigned surprise, opening his eyes slightly. "Are you referring to Aiko-chan? Haha, it was just an informal date, nothing serious, though it didn't end well, hehe. I misread the situation, I suppose… But tell me, why is this so urgent that you'd invade Zenin territory without permission, appearing alongside one of your clan's helpless heirs? Do you want another war?" His tone was full of mockery, deliberately provoking Satoru.
Satoru's expression remained serious as he responded. "Even if there's a war, none of you are a match for me… Even now, with just a few moves, I could destroy you all." This time, he didn't seem to be joking. The threat was clear and tangible. "So don't provoke me, Zenin, or—"
In a blink, Kaede appeared right in front of Satoru, invading his personal space. "Or what? Haha, your ancestor said something similar and ended up dead. Come on, Gojo, don't make declarations without having all the information." Kaede smiled, enjoying the psychological game.
Satoru clenched his fists, starting to accumulate cursed energy in his hands. "Do you want to see how well-informed I am?" His voice, heavy with intent, resonated through the space around him.
But just as the tension reached its peak, a desperate voice broke the silence:
"STOP!" Miyako's voice rang out forcefully, interrupting the tense standoff. She was with Satoshi, who had caught up with her, both panting from the rushed run. Naoya's brothers were also present, having arrived to investigate the sudden commotion in their clan's territory.
"Aiko-chan, it's not what you think," Kaede said, trying to smooth over the situation with a calm expression, but Miyako glared at him furiously. "I already know what you intended, Naoya, but this has gone too far!"
Satoru, still charged with energy, looked at his cousin with a mix of concern and anger. "Aiko-chan, this guy isn't to be trusted, you know that. I can't let—"
"I don't need your protection! Naoya isn't your enemy right now," Miyako insisted, taking a deep breath. "Please, Satoru-sama. Let's go."
Naoya's brothers, with their cursed energy fluctuating, approached, aware of the gravity of the situation. One of them, more composed, addressed Satoru: "Gojo-san, we don't want more conflicts between the clans. Our father doesn't want that either. Please, for everyone's sake, let's step back and discuss this later."
Satoru kept his gaze fixed on Kaede, weighing his options. He knew that any misstep could ignite the spark of a large-scale war. "This time… I'll let this slide," he said, slowly retracting the cursed energy he had accumulated. "But if you go near a member of my clan without reason again, Naoya, there won't be any warnings."
Kaede, still appearing relaxed, looked at Miyako with a slight smile. "See? Just a misunderstanding." However, in his mind, he knew that this encounter was only the beginning of something much larger.
Satoshi quickly opened the door of the car they had arrived in, allowing Miyako and Satoru to get in. "Let's go, Miyako, before this gets worse," he said as he closed the door behind her. Miyako glanced at Kaede one last time before Satoshi started the engine.
The three of them drove away, leaving Kaede behind, who watched them go, reflecting on the unexpected outcome of his plan. As the vehicle disappeared into the distance, Kaede returned to where he was, knowing that his brothers would severely reprimand him and that his father would summon him later. He sat down again and simply returned his gaze to the pond, contemplating the next steps he would need to take in this game.
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In the back seat of the car, the tension was palpable. Satoru stared at Aiko, still upset by what had happened. Satoshi, at the wheel, kept his eyes on the road but couldn't help but listen to every word exchanged in the back.
"Do you really think Naoya is someone you can trust?" Satoru asked, his tone full of disbelief. "I don't understand how you could even think about dating him."
Miyako took a deep breath before responding. "Satoru-sama, I know it's hard to believe, but Naoya isn't as bad as you think. I've spent time with him, and… well, I think I'm falling in love with him."
Satoshi felt his heart shatter upon hearing those words. Since they were children, he had always harbored feelings for Miyako, though he never dared to confess them. Now, hearing her talk like this about another man, and worse, about Naoya, tore him apart inside.
"Falling in love with him?" Satoru nearly shouted. "Aiko-chan, I can't let you do this. He's not someone trustworthy, and even less so someone from that clan."
Miyako tried to calm Satoru. "I know, I know. But please, trust me. I've seen something in him that you haven't. I just need a little time to prove to you that he's not what everyone thinks."
Satoshi, with his heart in pieces, continued driving in silence, unable to intervene. The conversation behind him was like a dagger that pierced deeper and deeper into his heart with each word he heard.
Satoru crossed his arms, clearly displeased, and looked out the car window. "Time? How much time do you think you have before he does something you can't undo? This isn't a game, Aiko-chan. What's at stake here is more than just your feelings."
Miyako, maintaining her facade as Aiko, gently placed a hand on Satoru's arm, trying to make him listen. "Satoru-sama, I understand your concern. But if he were truly a threat, do you think I'd be here trying to convince you otherwise? I'm risking a lot by being with him, and if I'm wrong, I'll accept it. But please, give me the chance to prove that I'm right."
Satoru slowly turned his head, looking at her with his characteristically cold eyes. "If something goes wrong, Aiko… I won't have a choice. I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to you, and even less so if it were because of him."
Miyako nodded, knowing that Satoru's words weren't empty threats but a promise. "I know, Satoru. But I trust you to step in if necessary. Until then, just… let me handle this my way."
Silence filled the car once more, though now it was heavier, laden with unspoken emotions. Satoshi, unable to bear it any longer, forced himself to focus on the road. Every mile they traveled brought them closer to their destination but also further away from the person he had always loved.
Finally, unable to contain himself any longer, Satoshi asked, trying to keep his voice from trembling, "Are you sure about this, Aiko? Do you really think Naoya is someone worth it?"
Miyako looked ahead, towards Satoshi, not knowing that her words were hurting him. "Yes, Satoshi. I am. I've never felt this way about anyone."
Satoshi swallowed hard in silence as he continued driving. The city lights faded into the distance, but for Satoshi, the future had never felt darker and more painful.