"Yes, parents! Please!" Elara interjected, her voice choked with emotion. "It's a lifelong dream. Think of all the things we can do, all the places we can visit. You've always worked so hard. Now it's our turn to take care of you, to repay all your love and dedication." She approached her parents, hugging them tightly.
Akemi burst into tears of joy, clinging to Daniel. "My son... you are an angel. We... we don't know how to thank you."
"No need to thank me, Akemi," Daniel replied, hugging her gently. "Your happiness is my greatest reward. I know how much family means to Elara. And for me, now, you are a fundamental part of my life."
Kenji, who had approached, finally spoke up, his eyes still reflecting the excitement of the fireworks. "Does this mean I can play video games in every home, in every country?" His question, though naive, broke the emotional tension and brought a light chuckle from the adults.
Daniel smiled at him. "In every home, in every country, Kenji. And we can explore the best arcades in Tokyo together, if you want. You'll be the gaming expert in our family."
Kenji's face lit up, and he joined the group hug, transforming the solemn moment into a warm, familial celebration. The atmosphere on the terrace was pure joy, a testament to the union of this new family. The paper lanterns flickered gently, the Tokyo night breeze carried the sounds of laughter and promises, and Elara's ring twinkled like a small blue star, sealing a destiny of luxury, love, and a secret complicity. The "Ghost" had found not only his queen, but also a family to protect and love, while Daniel's vast technological network continued to operate in the shadows, ensuring that the facade of his public life remained untouched, a secret vital to his survival and the safety of all. The night in Tokyo, which began with the promise of a marriage proposal worthy of royalty, ended with the vision of a new family, united by fortune, love, and a secret shared by only two hearts.
Daniel smiled at him, but his gaze quickly became more serious, though still affectionate. He turned to Kenji, placing a hand on his shoulder. "But on one condition, Kenji. A very important condition to me." Kenji's amused smile faltered slightly, replaced by an expression of curiosity. Daniel continued, his voice soft but firm, conveying a depth that went beyond words. "I want you to study. I want you to dedicate yourself, work hard, and graduate from a good college. I guarantee you'll have a job in my companies. But don't think you'll reach director or a high-ranking position right away. No, Kenji. You'll work your way up gradually. You'll start as a mail carrier, on the factory floor, or in the most entry-level position. And you'll climb the ladder step by step, as far as your effort and intelligence allow. Until you reach the highest position in the company, if that's what you desire."
Kenji's face showed a mixture of surprise and a hint of initial disappointment, but Daniel kept his gaze fixed on him, with an intensity that captured the young man's attention. "Do you know why, Kenji?" Daniel asked, his voice deepening, filled with a moving sincerity. "Because only then will you know what the employees think. What they need. What they feel. You will know the essence of each department, the effort of each person who makes the company work. You will learn to value each role, no matter how small. Because I treat my employees like family. For me, they are the only family I have in the world, the people who built all this with me, who were by my side in the most difficult moments, in the invisible behind-the-scenes that the world doesn't see."
Daniel's words echoed in the air, charged with genuine emotion. The glow of the fireworks had already faded, but the light of truth in his eyes was stronger. Thomas and Akemi watched the interaction, moved by the vulnerability and depth of this man who was now part of their lives. Elara, who knew the true "invisible behind-the-scenes" and "shadows" of Daniel's life as "Ghost," felt a lump in her throat. She knew how much that statement meant to him, the loneliness he had endured for so many years before finding them.
Daniel squeezed Kenji's shoulder, his eyes watering, though he quickly blinked them away. "Now, with your arrival, I have a blood family too. And that is the greatest gift. I want you, Kenji, to learn the value of work, sweat, and dedication. I want you to understand what it means to build something, step by step. And I want you, from day one, to be a leader who inspires and cares about each person. I want you to know what it means to be a ghost in the system, what invisibility means, and what it means to build from scratch."
Kenji, who had been waiting only for permission to play, was now silent, absorbing every word. Daniel's tone was so charged with emotion and profound wisdom that the young man couldn't ignore it. He saw in Daniel's eyes not just the billionaire, but a man who had built his empire with his own hands and valued every brick. A glimpse of the loneliness of that "ghost" operating in the shadows touched Kenji's heart.
A tear ran down Kenji's face, a rare occurrence for the energetic boy. He nodded, his voice cracking. "I... I get it, Daniel. I'll study. I'll graduate. And I'll start from the bottom. I promise."
Daniel smiled, a smile that lit up his face, and pulled Kenji into a tight hug. "It's a promise, then," he whispered. Thomas and Akemi joined in the embrace, a new family cemented under the Japanese sky. Elara, watching them, felt her heart overflow with love and gratitude. She knew that, for Daniel, the family he was building was his greatest treasure, a refuge from the "Ghost" that operated in the shadows, and she would be his partner in all worlds, seen and unseen. The night in Tokyo, which began with the promise of a marriage proposal worthy of royalty, ended with the vision of a new family, united by fortune, love, a secret shared by only two hearts, and the promise of a future built on values and dedication.