Mayumi's hands pressed firmly against Akira's chest as she stepped between him and Masashi, her voice slicing through the mounting tension.
"You don't interfere."
Akira's sharp gaze met hers, searching for the meaning behind her words.
"What are you saying, Mayumi?"
Masashi let out a scoff, arms crossed over his chest.
"Hey, Mr. Golden Spoon."
His voice dripped with condescension.
"Why don't you just go and act like a typical spoiled brat? Travel the world, See things, Indulge in a few affairs. Maybe then you'll open those eyes of yours."
Akira's expression didn't waver.
"My eyes were open since I was eleven."
Mayumi shot him a warning glance before turning to Masashi.
"Masashi, please. Think of the occasion. Let's not do this here."
Masashi waved her off, his scoff turning into a bitter chuckle.
"No, no, no. The great scientist here thinks he knows everything. You don't belong in this world. Business isn't your thing."
Akira took a slow step forward, closing the distance. His voice was calm, but the edge in his words was undeniable.
"Because of this oil deal, you've disrupted the entire southern ecosystem."
Masashi rolled his eyes, shaking his head.
"Amazing. You take a victory and turn it into a disaster."
His tone darkened.
"You can't do business if you're afraid of the locals."
Akira ignored him and turned to his sister instead.
"Does he know the story of the monkey?"
Mayumi stiffened, but before she could respond, he answered for her.
"The monkey took up a sword to protect his king,"
Akira murmured, stepping closer to Masashi.
"But the monkey didn't know the difference between it's bravery and stupidity."
Mayumi's temper snapped.
"How dare you say that?"
Akira didn't even glance at her. His eyes remained locked on Masashi.
"I already did, Sister."
Mayumi's hands curled into fists.
"Shut up! Apologize. Right now."
Akira's jaw tensed, his voice rising.
"Apologize? Are you even listening to what he just said to me?"
He pointed a sharp finger at her, his frustration flaring.
"Say 'shut up' again, and I'll shove that cake into your mouth."
Masashi scoffed.
"Hey, hero, shut your---"
But before he could finish, Akira's hand shot up in front of his face, stopping him mid-sentence.
His glare burned through him.
"Don't interfere between me and my sister. Okay?"
Mayumi's patience shattered. She shoved Akira back, her voice cracking with raw frustration.
"Are you crazy? Stop this! Right now!"
"Apologize."
"No, I won't."
"Apologize!"
"Don't be ridiculous! I won't apologize."
Mayumi's fury boiled over.
"I'll show you what's ridiculous."
Without another word, she spun on her heel and stormed out of the pavilion, the sharp clicks of her heels echoing against the marble floor.
Masashi held his gaze for a long, tense moment before following after her. Not a single word was exchanged between them. Then, Masashi's younger brother silently rose and exited as well.
The air in the pavilion grew thick with unspoken words. Akira turned to Mina and strode towards her.
"I was just a kid when Mayumi got married."
He exhaled, shaking his head slightly.
"I wasn't in form back then. Otherwise, I would have never let her marry that guy."
Mina flinched slightly. Akira's eyes locked onto her.
"I never liked that guy even from the beginning, But I'll make sure I know the in and out of any guy, Who wants to marry you."
"I'll organize a group of suitors for you, Mina. There are great guys out there, I know some of them personally."
His pointed to the empty chair Masashi's brother had occupied.
"What's happening here isn't right."
"If there's anything going on between you two, finish it right away."
Akira took a step closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"If you don't listen to me…"
His stare bore into her.
"Trust me… you'll regret it."
A heavy silence pressed down on the room, Before Akira continued.
"One day, I'll put an end to both those brothers."
"I'll fucking kill them both."
"And it won't look good if both my sisters end up mourning their husbands so young,"
Before she could even respond, he spoke again.
"Did you see how he touched her?"
"But there's no point in saying anything now. She has two kids."
For a moment, neither of them moved. The weight of his words settled in. Then a thought struck him, and he turned toward her.
"Why didn't you go to Hinata's engagement party?"
"You and Hinata were best friends at the academy, weren't you?"
He leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing.
"What happened?"
Mina hesitated.
Akira's voice turned cutting.
"Then what is it? You don't like hanging out with middle-class people anymore? You only like these kinds of people?"
Mina shook her head quickly.
"No, brother, it's not like that."
"Then what is it?"
His gaze bore into hers.
"Get out in the real world, Mina."
He took a step back, exhaling.
"Then you'll understand all the things you father and grandfather have done for this country."
She opened her mouth but hesitated.
Akira turned away, glancing toward the doorway.
"Brother."
He paused, looking over his shoulder. "Yeah?"
Mina hesitated again before finally asking,
"Are you seriously going to kill them both?"
His expression remained unreadable.
"Why? Is there something going on between you two?"
"No!"
She blurted.
"Nothing like that."
Akira smiled.
"Then relax."
The pavilion doors swung open, Ending the conversation there, unfinished yet final. Heavy footsteps echoed against the marble floor as Zenjiro entered, his assistant lingering outside. His piercing eyes locked onto Akira.
"You started your trouble as soon as you returned,"
Akira exhaled.
"You too started it again, Dad."
Zenjiro stopped in front of him.
"Come again?"
Akira didn't flinch.
"You too started it again."
His father studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then his voice hardened.
"I thought you had grown up. That we could sit and talk as father and son."
"But you… you called him a monkey?"
He took another step closer.
"Go and apologize. Now."
Akira clenched his jaw.
"You don't want to know what happened?"
Zenjiro's tone remained cool.
"I already know what happened."
"Then don't you see I'm making sense, Dad?"
"We invaded Gekko. Now every major businessman in the South sees us as an enemy."
He took a steadying breath.
"Dad, what I'm trying to say is---"
"Now you're going to teach me how to run my own business?"
Zenjiro cut him off.
Silence gripped the pavilion.
"Just go and apologize to him. Now."
"No. I won't."
Zenjiro's stare hardened.
"Ten minutes. That's all you have."
"No."
Akira refused.
"Ten minutes."
Zenjiro exhaled sharply, leveling one last warning glance before striding out, leaving behind a thick, suffocating tension.
…
Outside, the garden buzzed with laughter and conversation, oblivious to the storm raging inside the family. Lanterns cast a warm glow over the gathering, highlighting the joyful faces of guests sipping champagne and exchanging pleasantries.
Akira walked through the celebration, a cigarette between his fingers, smoke curling into the evening air. His thoughts lost in dark.
In a secluded corner, Mayumi sat on a stone bench beneath a cherry blossom tree. Pale petals drifted down, catching in her dark hair. She stared at the ground, her shoulders trembling. Silent tears slipped down her face, glistening in the soft light.
Akira's shadow stretched over her as he approached. He reached out, resting a firm but gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Mayumi…"