Back at the dimly lit bar, Ayame sat quietly, her emerald eyes reflecting off the swirling ice in her glass. She watched the liquid move, lost in thought.
"Who is this maid?" one of the thugs beside her muttered, leaning in with interest. "I've heard of her before."
Ayame took a slow sip before answering, her voice cold and measured. "Yukino Asano."
The name alone made the group stir.
"Ex-military," she continued, setting her glass down with a faint clink. "Then turned housemaid for the Tanaka family."
The thugs groaned in surprise, exchanging glances. "You knew Yukino?"
At Umbra Nexus, Sang stood outside the school gates, his well-fitted uniform crisp, every detail meticulously neat. His face, however, was unreadable—expressionless as always.
Just as he took a step forward, a firm but familiar grip pulled him back.
Yukino had rushed out of the car, wrapping her arms around him in a sudden embrace.
Sang stiffened, unsure how to react. The warmth of her body against his own was foreign—almost unnerving. His arms hovered at his sides before awkwardly curling around her back.
"Your mother would be so proud to see you here." Her voice was soft, yet certain.
She pulled away with a small, warm smile, and for the briefest moment, Sang didn't see Yukino—he saw his mother. Alive. Healthy.
Then the vision faded.
Sang turned back toward the school, disappearing into the crowd of students.
Behind him, Yukino's phone rang.
She exhaled, her expression dull and unamused before pressing the answer button.
"Mr. Tanaka, sir. How may I assist you?" Her tone was perfectly polite, at odds with the irritation in her face.
"Right away, sir."
Sliding back into the car, the warmth she'd just shown Sang was gone.
Sang stepped into the crowded hallway, his presence drawing the attention of every passing student. With each step, the chatter seemed to quiet, all eyes subtly following him. He paused for a moment, scanning the sea of unfamiliar faces.
"Hey, your uniform's pretty neat," one kid called out, stopping in front of him.
Sang's expression remained unchanged, not a flicker of acknowledgment. He glanced around, taking in his surroundings.
"Are you new?" another voice piped up, now a small group gathering around him, intrigued by his stoic demeanor.
Sang didn't respond.
"Hey, you're Sang, right?" Sophia's voice cut through the noise, and Sang turned to face her.
"Follow me. I've been tasked with showing you your locker, your class, and the rest of the school," she said, her tone calm and assured. Without waiting for an answer, she began walking, expecting him to follow.
Sang hesitated, then fell into step behind her.
"You don't say much, do you?" Sophia asked after a short silence, glancing at him as they walked.
Sang remained silent.
They stopped in front of a locker. Sophia opened it and gestured toward the contents. "This is your locker," she said, handing him the keys.
As their hands brushed when he took the keys, Sophia pulled her hand back quickly, startled by the sudden contact. She gave a small, awkward laugh. "Come on, let's head to class."
Back at the Tanaka estate, Yuki stood before Mr. Tanaka in his office, her posture straight, hands neatly folded. A facade of respect masked her true feelings.
"Is it true?" His voice was sharp, cold. He paced behind his desk, each step heavy with restrained anger. "Did you enroll Sang?"
"Yes, master," Yuki responded softly.
Tanaka stopped pacing. His fingers clenched into fists. "After I told you not to?!" He roared, sweeping the papers off his desk in a fit of rage. Documents scattered, pens clattered, but Yuki didn't flinch.
"I did what was best for him," she said calmly. "What his mother wanted."
Tanaka's breathing grew uneven. His usually neat hair was now disheveled as he turned to face her, his eyes burning with fury.
"If it weren't for my father-in-law, you would be gone by now," he growled, stepping closer. His voice dropped lower, but the venom in his words cut deeper. "Quit pretending to respect me. Look at me."
Yuki lifted her gaze, meeting his stare with unwavering defiance.
"You are not the boy's mother," he sneered, his lips curling. "And you never will be. You will never be a mother at all."
A brief silence settled between them.
Yuki's expression didn't change, though his words pressed against her chest like a knife. "You're right," she admitted, her voice steady. "I'm not his mother. His real mother is lying in a hospital bed, fighting for her life. But before she fell into that coma, she entrusted me with a mission—to give her son a better life, even if it meant becoming his mother by force."
Tanaka's face twisted with disgust, but Yuki didn't wait for a response. She gave a small, formal bow and turned on her heel, exiting the office without another word.
The steady beeping of medical equipment filled the sterile hospital room. Yuki sat at the bedside of Sang's mother, her fingers gently wrapped around the unconscious woman's hand.
"Things are getting dangerous," Yuki whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Please wake up. I need you... Sang needs you."
She rested her head on the bed, exhaustion washing over her. Her eyelids grew heavy. And then—
A deafening explosion shook the ground beneath her.
Young Yuki jolted awake, the thick scent of smoke filling her lungs. The sky above was no longer blue but swallowed by fire and ash. The distant sound of gunfire rattled through the ruined village, screams blending with the chaos.
"Yuki! You're awake—good!"
She turned to the voice. A rugged man with a golden beard and a dirt-streaked face knelt beside her, his expression frantic.
"They're closing in. We need to retreat," he urged. "Can you walk?"
She nodded, forcing herself to stand, though her legs trembled beneath her. Her wide eyes took in the carnage—buildings reduced to rubble, bodies scattered, flames licking at the remains of what was once a home.
A rifle was pressed into her hands. "It's loaded. Stay close."
Another explosion erupted nearby, the shockwave knocking Yuki off her feet.
"RUN!" the man shouted.
She pushed herself up and sprinted ahead, stumbling as bullets zipped past, tearing through her comrades. One by one, they fell.
She tripped.
A sharp pain shot through her knees as she hit the ground hard.
"YUKI!"
A soldier with blood-red hair stopped mid-run, turning back.
"LEAVE HER, CAPTAIN!" someone yelled.
But he ignored them.
Rushing back, he hoisted Yuki into his arms and ran, his pace relentless despite the gunfire chasing them.
Then—
A shot rang out.
A bullet tore through his leg, sending them both crashing to the ground.
Yuki scrambled up, panic seizing her chest.
The captain groaned, gripping his bleeding wound. "Run," he gasped, shoving his rifle into her hands. "I'll hold them off."
Yuki hesitated. "But—"
"RUN. NOW!"
Tears welled in her eyes as she backed away. Their gazes met one last time.
"Bye-bye."
His lips moved, forming the words with a faint, bittersweet smile—
Then a bullet pierced his skull.
Yuki's breath caught.
She turned and ran.
Cold.
Dark.
Yuki drifted across the sea, gripping a pistol with weak fingers. The sky stretched endlessly above her, the water beneath carrying her farther and farther from the shore.
She was alone.
With a sharp breath, Yuki jolted awake, her heart hammering.
The hospital room was quiet. Safe.
She exhaled shakily, rubbing the dampness from her eyes.
A glance at her watch.
"Sang should be out by now."
She stood, pressing a lingering hand against her old friend's before whispering, "Bye, old friend."
Outside Umbra Nexus Academy, the sun cast a golden glow over the courtyard.
Sang and Etsu stood side by side near the school gates, their expressions unreadable.
A sleek black car pulled up in front of them.
The chauffeur stepped out, adjusting his tuxedo before opening the door. Yuki emerged, her sharp gaze immediately softening upon seeing them.
Sang stepped forward first, sliding into the car without hesitation.
Yuki turned to Etsu, recognizing him instantly.
"Oh, you're that boy from the market," she said warmly. "You met Sang? I'm glad."
Etsu didn't respond, but his eyes flickered with something unreadable.
As the chauffeur moved to shut the door, Yuki suddenly stopped him.
She turned back to Etsu, offering a gentle smile.
Then, with a simple gesture, she invited him inside.
For the first time, Etsu hesitated.
But after a moment, he climbed in.
As the car pulled away, the city lights flickering past the windows, Yuki glanced down.
Sang and Etsu had both fallen asleep, their small bodies leaning against her.
A soft smile played at her lips.
She rested a hand on their heads.
For the first time in a long while, she felt at peace.