The traffic was intense, and Osaka Station was overflowing with people. A sea of bodies moved in a controlled chaos, accompanied by the rumbling of trains and the repetitive announcements echoing through the station. The air was thick with fatigue and resignation, a coldness almost palpable hung over the place. Yes, it was a Monday morning.
On a bench near the station, a young boy, despite himself, was attracting the attention of passersby. Dressed in a sweatshirt and loose black pants, he seemed lost in his thoughts, a suitcase resting by his side. But it wasn't his appearance that caught people's eyes; it was his loud and incessant sighs, punctuated by exaggerated gestures, as if he wanted the whole world to share in his frustration.
"Damn it! What the hell did I do?!"
Finally, the sighs gave way to a string of curses.
"How can I be so good at messing things up?" he muttered through gritted teeth.
Damn it! Saying something like that to someone like my mother was a huge mistake on my part.
The boy, slumped on the bench as though the weight of the world had fallen on his shoulders, seemed on the verge of exploding, ready to shout out a resounding "Fuck you, fucking world!" His name? Kenshin Ishikawa. Ironically, he was the eldest son of one of Japan's most powerful women: Madam Sakura Ishikawa, CEO of the Tenkai Group, a conglomerate ranked among the top three largest companies in the country.
To say she was immensely wealthy was an understatement.
So, how did her son end up like this?
"I got dumped by my girlfriend... for my best friend. I spent all my pocket money on the lottery—millions of yen—and lost it all like an idiot. And now, this..."
A deep sigh escaped him as he slouched even further on the bench, his posture screaming despair. To the outside world, he looked like a man who had lost everything, a rare sight of misery for someone of his status.
His eyes closed, he let his thoughts wander, reliving the events that had led him here.
Three hours earlier
In Tokyo, a towering building dominated the urban landscape, its imposing architecture and enormous LED screen displaying the golden "Tenkai Group" logo. This was the headquarters of the empire run by Madam Sakura Ishikawa, the feared and respected businesswoman of the entire country.
Inside her luxurious office, a heated discussion was unfolding.
A confrontation between a ruthless mother and her desperate son.
"You don't deserve to carry my name. You're a disgrace."
Sitting behind her desk, Madam Sakura Ishikawa spoke these words in a calm, emotionless voice. Her face, as stoic as a statue, displayed no anger or disappointment. Only an absolute coldness.
Despite her age, she retained a stunning beauty: long, well-kept black hair, a figure that would make the top models envious. But what struck the most was the aura around her—heavy, crushing. A presence akin to that of a battle-hardened veteran, a woman who had conquered the business world without ever flinching.
With just a glance, it was clear that she was a born dominator, the complete opposite of her son.
A son she no longer recognized.
"Mom, listen to me! This time, it was a good deal, I just had bad luck at the last minute, I could've—"
"Enough!"
Sakura's icy voice cut through the air like a sharp blade.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't disinherit you on the spot."
Ken froze. A chill ran down his spine.
"I've already been more than patient with you. I've given you opportunities that anyone would have dreamed of. Yet tell me, what is your one and only achievement as the heir?"
"I…"
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Unlike your sisters, you're just a failure. Even the youngest, still in high school, has more potential than you. And you? You squander fortunes on casinos and women. Is that why I sent you to study in the United States?"
Each word was a stab. Each syllable drove Ken deeper into the abyss.
He wanted to shout, protest, knock over the desk that separated him from this woman who was still his mother. But he couldn't. Because, deep down, everything she said was true.
So, he listened.
He listened to his own death sentence.
"You've forced me to make a decision I would've preferred to avoid...
From now on, Nora will inherit the leadership of the company."
A shock. A sentence.
Ken's eyes widened under the weight of the blow.
"What!?"
Silence was his only answer.
Then came the anger.
"What the hell is this!? I know I haven't been perfect these last few years, but is that a good enough reason to take away my birthright?!"
A small, cruel smile finally appeared on Sakura's previously impassive face.
She whispered, almost to herself:
"Birthright, huh…?"
With a trembling hand, Ken gripped the edge of the desk, panic starting to cloud his gaze.
"I'll make up for it! Please, Mom… no, mother!"
Despair. He felt it eating away at him, crushing his chest.
"I swear, I'll change! I'll focus on the business, I'll… I'll—"
"Enough."
A heavy silence fell in the room.
Sakura's gaze was colder than ever.
"I've lost count of how many times I've heard those words come out of your mouth."
She sighed, a cold breath filled with an unshakable finality.
Ken understood.
Being disinherited meant losing the Ishikawa name.
In the business world, he would no longer exist. To society, he would no longer be an Ishikawa. In other words… he had just been repudiated.
Suddenly, the atmosphere around Ken shifted. His smile returned.
But this was no longer a nervous smile, nor an apologetic one.
It was a strange smile. A smile tinged with a glint of madness.
Madam Sakura raised an eyebrow slightly. It was the first time she had seen such an expression on her son's face.
Then, in a calm voice, far too calm:
"If I ever take control of a company that surpasses the influence of Tenkai Group... would I be able to reclaim what is rightfully mine?"
A heavy silence settled.
Sakura's eyes, already cold, turned to ice. As if, at that moment, she had just lost the last shred of interest she could have had for him.
In a nonchalant tone, she replied:
"I thought you were finally going to say something interesting… but I overestimated you again."
"Answer me, mother!"
Ken didn't shout. His voice was firm. Determined.
Sakura stared at him for a moment before turning away, visibly tired.
"Pfff…"
She stood up slowly, walking toward the window while turning her back to him.
Then, without even deigning to look at him, she spoke in a cold tone:
"Do whatever you want. As of today, you lose the Ishikawa name.
A transfer has been made to your account. Your things are ready. Leave."
Sakura paused for a moment before adding, her voice as sharp as a blade:
"However… if you succeed, you'll get what you want."
Then, without another word, she turned her back on her son once more, bringing their conversation to a final end.
And so, the heir to the Tenkai Group ceased to exist.