Once a mobster, now Masachika Kuze

Yuki Suou, the younger sister of Kuze Masachika, was the embodiment of a model girl: confident, elegant, and flawless in everyone's eyes. Yet the truth behind her facade was far from perfect. Recently, the pressure from the Suou household—one of the most influential and traditionalist families—was slowly draining her, leaving her on the brink of exhaustion.

For Yuki, her only anchor, her sole source of solace and comfort, was her older brother, Masachika. With him, she could finally be herself, away from the suffocating expectations surrounding her. He was the only person before whom she felt free to reveal her vulnerabilities.

A few years ago, Kuze Masachika had been the natural heir to all the expectations of the Suou household. The family patriarch, Gensei Suou, had placed the weight of continuing the family legacy on his shoulders. However, when their parents divorced, Masachika made a bold decision: to follow their father and abandon the Suou household. That act was seen as an unforgivable betrayal. Disappointed, Gensei shifted his focus to Yuki, transferring to her all the burdens that had once belonged to her brother.

That morning, Yuki prepared for another day at school. Standing before the mirror, she adjusted her impeccably ironed uniform, noting the dark circles under her eyes. She sighed but refused to let her exhaustion show.

"It's not enough. Do better than this," she told herself.

Straightening her posture, she forced a smile onto her lips—a smile she knew was false but necessary.

"As the successor of the Suou family, perfection is the least expected of you. You can do it, Yuki... not for yourself... but for him."

These words echoed like a mantra in her mind, a constant reminder of the role she had to play.

Be the best at this. Be the best at that. Never fail.

It was a life Yuki never wanted. She didn't wish to bear the weight of the Suou name, its responsibilities, or its judgmental gazes. But she would rather endure all of it than see those burdens fall back onto Masachika's shoulders.

Even when melancholy consumed her and exhaustion overwhelmed her, Yuki refused to show any weakness before her brother. To her, Masachika had already suffered enough. He was her safe haven, her inspiration, her everything. And even if it meant sacrificing her own happiness, she would do anything to ensure he never had to carry the weight of a past they both wanted to forget.

The day unfolded seemingly peacefully. At school, Yuki, as always, was the center of attention. Her flawless beauty and unquestionable intelligence made her a figure admired and envied by everyone around her. But behind the polished smile and exemplary behavior, emotional exhaustion began to show in her features.

When she returned home, the cold and austere atmosphere of the Suou mansion awaited her. As she opened the main gate, she saw her grandfather, Gensei Suou, hurrying out. His presence was always intimidating, exuding an imposing aura.

"Good evening, Grandfather," Yuki greeted politely, bowing deeply as she always did.

But Gensei didn't even look at her. He walked past with firm steps and a stern expression, entering his car without a word.

Yuki stood still for a moment, the polite smile slowly fading from her lips. "Maybe he's just having a bad day..." she thought, trying to rationalize the indifference she had received. She was used to her grandfather's personality quirks, but this time, his silence weighed heavier than usual.

As she turned to enter the mansion, she noticed her mother, Yumi Suou, standing by the door. The woman's expression was weary and distant, as if each day were a losing battle.

Yuki took a deep breath, rehearsing a greeting, but before she could open her mouth, her mother interrupted.

"Why can't you ever be enough..."

Yumi's voice trembled, almost inaudible, but the impact of her words hit like a blow. Without waiting for a response, she turned and disappeared into the vast mansion, leaving Yuki alone at the entrance.

The simple yet cutting phrase echoed in Yuki's mind. It wasn't a shout or a harsh reprimand, but the disappointed and resigned tone of her mother hurt a thousand times more.

She stood there, motionless, trying to swallow the lump forming in her throat. The day, which had started as routine, now seemed drained of all color.

Unable to endure the oppressive atmosphere of the house, Yuki turned and ran outside without bothering to say where she was going. Her feet carried her instinctively to the gate, and then, without hesitation, she headed toward her brother Masachika's apartment.

Even though she knew he probably wouldn't be there, just being in that space—where she felt safe—was enough. It was her refuge, her only safe harbor amid the storm of life in the Suou household.

There, Yuki broke down. Alone in Masachika's small apartment, she cried silently, clutching a pillow while dressed in her pajamas. Tears streamed down her face as tormenting thoughts filled her mind.

"Why... why can't I bear this alone? Why can't I free him from this weight?"

To distract herself, she turned on the TV and played a random anime, hoping to escape reality. But even the animated characters couldn't dispel the sadness tightening her chest.

Suddenly, a notification sound pulled her from her thoughts. It was a message on her phone. Seeing Masachika's name on the screen made her heart skip a beat.

"Good evening, little sister," the message read.

Yuki felt the corners of her lips curl into a faint smile. Despite the lingering sadness, the simple idea of talking to Masachika calmed her. As they exchanged messages, she felt, for a few moments, that the loneliness was fading.

Then came a message that made her pause.

"Yuki, do you truly trust me?"

She stared at the screen, clutching her phone tightly against her chest.

"Seriously... how clueless does he have to be to ask me that?" she muttered to herself, her voice tinged with a mix of affection and melancholy.

She closed her eyes, letting out a soft laugh, even though it was muffled by the weight of her tears.

"Onii-chan... B-A-K-A!" she whispered sweetly, as a solitary tear rolled down her cheek.

Despite everything, Masachika was always the ray of light that kept her going. Even when everything around her seemed to crumble, he reminded her that she wasn't completely alone.

As she replied to her brother, another message came through:

"So, little sister, why don't you open up to me more?"

The words on the screen seemed to pierce through her emotional walls. She swallowed hard, feeling tears well up as she struggled to type what she truly wanted to say.

"Because I love you so much... I don't want to trouble you."

The words left her lips but didn't make it to the message. Her voice was weak, almost a whisper, heavy with melancholy, and before she could hold them back, tears began to stream down her face. The weight crushing her chest felt unbearable—a mix of anxiety, helplessness, and fear that left her paralyzed.

Then, amidst the whirlwind of emotions, an unexpected warmth enveloped her heart.

Ryan, who had been hiding behind the sofa, could no longer remain silent. He stood up and, without hesitation, wrapped Yuki in a strong embrace from behind.

She didn't flinch. Though she hadn't expected him to be there, the touch, the scent—everything was familiar and comforting. She knew immediately who it was. But even as she recognized her brother, the sudden gesture opened the floodgates of her emotions, and her tears began to flow faster.

Trying to keep her composure, Yuki spoke with a trembling, broken voice:

"Onii... I didn't see you come in. I was just watching a TV show about stray kittens being rescued. I couldn't resist and... ended up getting emotional—"

Before she could finish, Ryan's voice, firm and close to her ear, interrupted her. His breath was warm against her skin, and his embrace, so tight, seemed to connect the two in a way words never could.

"Yuki, there's something I need to tell you..."

He loosened his embrace just enough to move around the sofa and sit beside her, gently holding her hand. Yuki, still feeling the warmth of his touch, noticed the seriousness in his expression.

Before she could process what was happening, she tried to break the heavy atmosphere with her usual teasing:

"Why the serious face? Wait... don't tell me you've finally fallen for the charms of your beautiful little sister?! Heh, as expected of me!"

She smiled nervously as she glanced at Ryan's face. Even with tears still streaming down her cheeks, she wanted to lighten the mood. After all, just having him there was enough to make the world feel a little less heavy.

Ryan took a deep breath, gently squeezing her hand while keeping his gaze steady and resolute.

"Yuki..." he began, his voice laden with seriousness. "I want to talk to you about the Suou household."

Yuki's playful comment vanished instantly from her mind. Her smile faded, her expression softening into one of surprise and concern. Ryan rarely brought up the topic so directly. She knew he was about to say something important—and perhaps difficult.

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