After the last plate was cleared and soft laughter faded into silence, Yona's mother stepped gently into the room. She looked at them with a kind smile, her voice soft and maternal.
"Did you enjoy the food?"
They all nodded politely, standing up instinctively, thinking it was time to go.
"Thank you so much," Aria said, speaking for them all. "It was delicious, really."
"We should be leaving now…" Daiki added.
But Yona's mother raised her hand slightly.
"No, no. It's late already. You shouldn't go back at night."
Her voice was firm, but caring.
"Stay the night. We have more than enough space. You can leave in the morning after breakfast."
They hesitated, exchanging glances..none of them wanting to be a burden. But Yona gave them a small, encouraging nod.
"Please. Stay."
Eventually, they agreed.
The servants quickly prepared the guest rooms. The girls..Aria, Ayumi, and Lira..were placed together in a spacious, warm room filled with soft lighting and elegant décor.
The boys..Noir, Daiki, and Yona..were given a neighboring room, just as large, with wide windows overlooking the moonlit garden. A gentle calm fell over the house. Crickets sang softly outside. The storm of the day had passed… for now.
Later that night...
Aria slipped out of the room, quietly moving down the hall toward the bathroom. The house was dim, quiet, wrapped in shadows and a golden glow from small hallway lanterns.
Just as she rounded the corner..she stopped.
Daiki stood in the hall, hands in his pockets, also headed to the bathroom. He blinked when he saw her, clearly surprised.
"Oh," she said, smiling. "You too?"
He gave a small nod and fell into step beside her as they walked. The hallway was quiet, and the air felt a little cooler in the stillness.
But something was off.
Daiki wasn't saying anything. His lips were pressed together. His usual easygoing vibe was missing. Aria noticed. She nudged him lightly with her shoulder.
"What is it?"
He glanced away quickly.
"Nothing."
"Come on," she said, eyes narrowing with a teasing smile."I know that face. There's something in your head. Tell me."
He stopped walking. His fingers tightened in his pockets.
"…What was that in the train?"
She blinked.
"What?"
He turned his gaze to the floor.
"I saw you. You were chatting with Noir… that smiling face…"
A slow smile spread across Aria's lips. She raised her hand to her chin and let out a soft laugh.
Daiki frowned.
"What?"
"You're jealous."
He looked away immediately, face tinged with red.
"No, I'm not."
She stepped closer and gently took his hand. Her voice was quieter now.
"Do you remember our first kiss?"
He blushed deeper.
"…Yes."
She looked at him, her tone more sincere.
"That day… after you left, I blocked him."
He turned to her, confused.
"He wasn't replying to my messages," she explained. "And I didn't want to wait around anymore. But on the train… we settled everything. We're just friends again. That's it."
Daiki didn't respond right away. His face still carried a hint of jealousy, but the edge had softened.
She squeezed his hand again.
"Come on, Daiki. You're my only Daiki."
That was enough to fluster him again. He gently pulled his hand back, covering his embarrassment with a dramatic sigh.
"Enough," he muttered, turning back toward the hall. "Let's go before someone sees us and starts thinking something weird."
Aria giggled and followed after him, the soft echo of their steps and laughter trailing into the quiet night.
-----------------------
The house had settled into silence. The stars stretched like scattered diamonds across the sky, and the moon cast a silver glow over the garden. The wind whispered through the trees, brushing gently against the old stone paths.
Noir stood alone outside, the moonlight catching in his hair, his gaze distant and quiet. He stood motionless, hands in his pockets, watching the night with something unreadable in his eyes.
Behind him, the gravel crunched softly.
"You can't sleep?"
He turned his head just slightly.
Lira approached slowly, wrapping her shawl tighter around her shoulders, then stood beside him. Her eyes lifted to the stars.
He glanced at her, then back up again.
"Can I ask you something?"he said after a pause.
She nodded.
"Yes."
He inhaled slowly.
"I've been thinking about it. That moment in the tower… something strange happened. You and Lena..you suddenly switched. How?"
Lira's expression softened as she looked down, searching her memory.
"I don't know for sure," she said. "But I remember… when I was standing near Diago, holding his hand, I felt this flash of light..just for a second. And then I was inside the tower."
As her voice faded, silence returned. Noir's brows drew together faintly.
"Do you remember anyone else being there? With us?"
Lira looked up at him.
"Who?"
"I don't know," he murmured. "But I feel like someone was. I just can't remember who."
She looked back toward the moon, lips pressing into a thin line.
Then...
Noir suddenly flinched. A sharp, unseen jolt struck through his chest..like a blade piercing the left side of his heart. He staggered slightly, a hand flying up to grip his chest.
"Noir?" Lira turned, startled. "You okay?"
His breath hitched. In that brief second… a flash.
A vision...A face...
Ayumi? No… it looked like her, but not exactly her. Her eyes sparkled gently, and she wore a soft, almost knowing smile. Her hair shimmered faintly in golden light, her features ethereal, dreamlike.
Then...
Her lips moved. She was saying something. But no sound came. Nothing. Just the silent motion of her mouth forming words he couldn't hear.
Then it was gone.
He remained still, eyes wide, one hand still pressed to his chest as if to steady the tremor inside him.
"Noir?" Lira asked again, stepping closer. He took a slow breath and straightened up, lowering his hand.
"I'm okay," he said quietly, though his voice held the echo of confusion.
She looked at him, worried.
"Are you sure?"
He gave a small nod, eyes now fixed forward. The night air was growing colder, the silence settling in again.
"Let's go inside," he said after a moment.
She nodded.
As they turned toward the house, Noir glanced back up at the moon, his mind still replaying the image.
"What was that just now…? Who are you ? What were you trying to say?" he whispered to himself.
Then he followed Lira into the quiet warmth of the house..while something unseen lingered just behind his thoughts.
The house had grown quiet. Only the faint ticking of a clock in the hallway and the hush of wind outside could be heard. The night wrapped everything in stillness.
Lira stepped softly into the girls' room. The warm glow of the lamp cast long shadows across the floor. Aria lay facing the window, while Ayumi had already fallen asleep, her breathing calm and steady.
Lira moved carefully, not wanting to disturb anyone. She quietly changed, then slipped under the blanket. The long day had drained her, and the moment her head touched the pillow, sleep took her gently.
But Aria wasn't asleep. She sat upright in her bed, knees pulled close to her chest, eyes fixed on the window. The moonlight streamed in, painting silver streaks across her face and the floor. Her gaze was distant..somewhere far beyond the stars.
"I miss you, Mia…" she whispered, voice barely audible, caught between a sigh and a cry. "I wish you were here with me… I really miss you."
Her lips trembled as the silence answered her. Then, from the corner of her eyes, tears began to fall.. slow, silent, and aching. They streamed down her cheeks, catching in the dim moonlight, soft as rain.
She finally laid herself down slowly, curling slightly beneath the blanket. But the tears didn't stop. They slipped down, soaking quietly into the pillow.
She didn't try to wipe them away. She simply let them fall. And eventually, even with the ache in her chest, sleep crept over her.
The room settled again into stillness. Outside, the moon kept watch. And inside, they all slept.. each with their own quiet pain, each clinging to threads of comfort in the silence of the night.
Morning arrived slowly, like a soft whisper after a long silence. The golden light of dawn began to peek through the curtains, brushing against the edges of the room.
The girls' room was still and warm, the faint scent of fresh linens and lavender in the air. Birds sang lightly outside, their songs gently waking the world.
Ayumi stirred first, blinking slowly as she sat up. She stretched her arms above her head and looked around. Lira was still asleep, her breathing soft and even. Aria lay curled toward the window, her hair slightly tousled, a faint trail of dried tears still clinging to her cheek.
Ayumi watched her for a moment, her expression thoughtful, then quietly left the bed, not wanting to disturb her.
In the boys' room, the sun filtered in through a half-open curtain. Noir was already awake, sitting at the edge of his bed, his elbows resting on his knees, eyes distant.
He was thinking ..about the vision, the strange feeling in his chest, the smile that wasn't quite Ayumi's, and her lips moving without sound.
"What was that?"he whispered to himself again, rubbing the place over his heart where it had hurt last night.
Daiki stirred behind him."
You're up early," he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep.
Noir didn't turn.
"Yeah. Couldn't sleep much."
"Still thinking about Yui?" Daiki asked carefully.
Noir shook his head.
"No… something else. Can't explain it."
Daiki yawned and got up slowly.
"Well, whatever it is, maybe coffee will help."
Downstairs, the house was beginning to wake. The clatter of light dishes, the faint aroma of bread warming in the oven, and the scent of tea leaves steeping drifted through the air.
Yona's mother moved gracefully through the kitchen, instructing one of the maids with a gentle smile. She was composed, yet her eyes showed a lingering heaviness..grief never left so quickly.
Soon after, the group gathered in the dining room. One by one, they came down the wide staircase. Aria had washed her face, the traces of tears gone, though her eyes still held a quiet shadow. She smiled softly when she saw everyone.
"Morning," she greeted, her voice gentle.
"Morning," Daiki and Ayumi replied in unison, followed by Lira and Noir.
Yona joined them a moment later. He looked a little better than the night before..still somber, but grateful.
"My mother made breakfast. Please… eat before you leave."
They nodded and sat down. The table was set beautifully, a mixture of traditional dishes and fresh fruit, warm bread, and aromatic tea.
While they ate, there was quiet conversation. Small smiles. Glances exchanged that spoke of deeper things unsaid. It wasn't joy, but it was healing. A moment of peace.
And though none of them knew what the day would bring, for now… they had each other. They sat around the long, polished dining table, the scent of fresh bread, tea, and fruit mingling in the air.
Yona's mother sat with them this time, her presence calm and gracious. She poured tea for Ayumi and Lira herself and smiled gently.
"You're all good friends,"she said warmly, her voice soft but elegant. "I'm glad my son has people like you beside him."
"ofcourse ," Ayumi said, bowing her head politely. "He's like family to us."
The atmosphere was peaceful..until the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway. The door swung open, and a tall, imposing man stepped in..sharp suit, stern face, and eyes that scanned the room like a storm about to break.
Yona's body stiffened. Noir noticed immediately and glanced at him.
"Good morning," the man said curtly, ignoring everyone's presence but focusing on the one person he clearly came for.
"Or should I say… Akehiro ?"
The room froze. The name hung in the air like smoke. Yona's jaw tightened.
"Don't call me that."
His father's gaze sharpened.
"That's your name .. Akehiro Masanari. Not whatever alias you go by now."
Daiki looked between them, confused. Ayumi's brows furrowed, and Aria leaned forward, sensing the tension building.
"You left everything," his father said, stepping closer to the table."Your family. Your responsibilities. You ran away from who you were."
Yona stood slowly, his chair scraping against the floor.
"I ran because I was never heard ,"he snapped. "You forced everything on me. You and your status. You tried to marry me off like I was a piece on a board."
His mother gently reached out, whispering,
"Please, not now..."
But the fire was already burning.
"You think escaping to the city, changing your name, hiding from your blood makes you someone else?" his father continued, voice rising. "We gave you everything, and you threw it away like it meant nothing."
"Because it meant nothing to me!" Yona's voice cracked. "You didn't give me a life. You gave me a cage."
A heavy silence fell. Even the clink of a teacup being set down felt loud in the tension. Yona's friends sat speechless, some shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Noir looked at Yona with quiet understanding. He had known parts of this, but not all.
Suddenly, he turned toward Lira and grabbed her arm..not harshly at first, but with enough force to make her flinch.
"Is this the one you chose?" he sneered, looking her up and down. "A girl like her ? You don't need someone like this clinging to you."
"Ah—!" Lira winced as his grip tightened.
"Let her go!" Yona shouted, stepping between them. He grabbed his father's wrist.
His father's face twisted.
"Don't talk back to me.."
And then, with a violent shove, he released Lira..throwing her to the floor.
"Lira!"
Yona dropped to his knees beside her, helping her up as she winced, her arm cradled against her chest. Aria gasped, rushing to her side. Ayumi stood from her seat, stunned. Yona looked up at his father, fury in his eyes.
His father scoffed and shook his head.
"You're still the same foolish boy who thought feelings were more important than legacy."
Yona stepped forward slightly, his eyes firm.
"Feelings are important. And my friends, my identity .. they're not foolish. They're mine."
His father looked at him for a long moment, his lips tightening. Then without another word, he turned and left the room. Everyone was frozen.
Noir stood slowly, fists clenched. Daiki looked at the doorway, brows furrowed. Yona gently helped Lira to sit on the nearby couch. She nodded at him with a pained smile, her voice a whisper.
"I'm okay…"
He looked at her, then turned to the others.
"I'm sorry… You didn't deserve to see that."
Noir stepped forward, his voice steady.
"We're here, no matter what. And you..whatever name you had before..you're Yona to us."
Ayumi, Aria, Daiki… one by one, they all nodded. Yona breathed out slowly, eyes clouded with emotion.
"Thank you. All of you."
And quietly, Lira reached for his hand, squeezing it. His mother gave him a look filled with sadness and regret but said nothing.
To be continue ...