Hayato stood towering over Akira, his eyes cool and detached.
"Tell him what?" Hayato asked quietly.
"I'll tell my father about you going to that old house," Akira said, crossing her arms.
Hayato's lips curved into a faint, empty smile. "Go right ahead."
Without waiting for a response, he turned his back on her and began walking away.
Akira stood frozen in disbelief. "Stop right there!"
Hayato didn't slow his pace. Teeth grit in frustration, Akira drew her katana in a flash and delivered a sharp, warning horizontal slash toward his flank.
Without breaking stride or losing his calm expression, Hayato ducked smoothly beneath the arc of the blade, letting the steel whistle through empty air. He didn't even look back as he kept walking.
"Hayato... I'll tell Father about the unmarked grave," Akira called out, her voice dropping to a serious tone.
That stopped him.
Hayato stood still for a second before turning on his heel and walking straight back toward her until he was standing mere inches away. Akira stood her ground, glaring back at him.
"So you really were tailing me," Hayato said, his voice eerily flat.
Akira met his gaze, refusing to back down.
"You never cared before," Hayato said softly, looking down at her. "So do me a favor... and buzz off."
Akira flinched, stunned by the cold, lethal edge bleeding through his eyes. Before she could process the chill running down her spine, Hayato turned away once more.
"You're hiding things from my father, and I'm going to bring you to him—by force if I have to!" Akira declared.
She lunged forward, executing a swift vertical strike. Hayato stepped laterally, letting the blade miss him by a hair's breadth.
I need to disarm her, Hayato thought, closing the distance instantly.
Akira redirected her strike into a broad sweep, but Hayato leaped over the sweeping metal. Before she could reset her guard, Hayato snapped a precise kick directly into the pommel of her sword, followed by a light strike to her wrist. The sudden impact forced her fingers open, sending the katana clattering across the cobblestones.
Furious, Akira threw a quick straight right toward his jaw. Hayato slipped the punch easily, bringing his own right fist forward in a blinding counter strike.
Akira's eyes widened in horror as the heavy fist zoomed directly toward her face—only to halt a fraction of an inch from her nose.
Neither of them moved. Hayato froze, his own eyes widening in shock as a third party grabbed his wrist, completely stopping the momentum of his strike.
An overwhelming, suffocating pressure washed over the courtyard.
Akira looked up in awe at the massive, seven-foot figure standing beside them, radiating an untouchable aura.
"Family Head?!" Hayato gasped out.
Instantly, both Hayato and Akira dropped to one knee, bowing their heads in deep respect.
"Do not turn your blades on your own kin," Takashi Yamamoto said, his voice deep and echoing.
"Yes, Family Head," both replied in unison.
Akira kept her head lowered, her heart pounding against her ribs.
The Family Head... It's my first time ever seeing him in person. Isn't he supposed to be in secluded isolation from the outside world?
Takashi Yamamoto gave a single nod, releasing Hayato's wrist before turning and walking silently toward the main estate.
Hayato stood up, brushed off his pants, and turned toward his quarters without saying another word to Akira.
Akira slowly rose, picking up her dropped katana and sheathing it. Watching his receding back, her brow furrowed.
Hayato really has changed... Didn't he like me?
His words echoed in her ears: "You never cared... do me a favor and buzz off."
A heavy, aching feeling settled in her chest. Lowering her head, she turned and walked back toward the garden where she had left her father.
Near the inner pavilion, she spotted the Family Head, Takashi Yamamoto, finishing a brief exchange with Commander Sasaki before stepping into the shadows of the main hall. Sasaki stood alone, watching him leave.
"Father..." Akira called out softly.
Sasaki turned, offering a warm, gentle smile. "Ah, Akira. How did your talk with Hayato go?"
Akira walked up to him and buried her face against his chest, wrapping her arms around him. "Father..."
Sasaki froze, taken aback by her sudden display of emotion. "Did... did he do something to hurt you?"
Akira pulled back slowly, shaking her head. "No... it's just..."
She recounted the entire confrontation—the fight, the disarm, the words exchanged, and the sudden intervention of the Family Head.
Sasaki listened quietly, his expression turning solemn. "So... it's far more serious than I initially thought."
Akira looked down, her shoulders slumping. "I was in the wrong, Father. I shouldn't have pushed him like that or attacked him."
Sasaki smiled warmly, resting a hand on her head and pulling her into a brief hug. "Remember, Akira... it's never too late to make things right."
Akira looked up at her father, reading the gentle encouragement in his eyes. She gave a firm nod, a small smile returning to her face as she turned and ran back down the corridor.
"Just don't push him too hard!" Sasaki called out after her, chuckling from the bottom of his heart.
As Akira disappeared around the corner, a heavy hand rested on Sasaki's shoulder.
Sasaki turned his head to see Takashi Yamamoto standing beside him once more, staring down the quiet hallway.
"Family Head," Sasaki greeted respectfully. "Are you heading back into seclusion?"
Takashi shook his head, a rare, nostalgic smile touching his weathered face as he looked at Sasaki. "How are you holding up, old friend?"
Sasaki smiled back warmly. "Hanging in there."
"Watching you and your daughter just now... it reminded me of my own son," Takashi murmured softly, looking up at the morning sky.
Sasaki patted Takashi's arm reassuringly. "He'll be fine. Trust me... he's in good hands alongside that guy's son."
Takashi nodded slowly. "Yeah... What was his name again?"
"Damian," Sasaki answered.
Takashi gave a quiet nod, his eyes deep with history. "Damian's first son..."
Meanwhile, Akira reached the front door of Hayato's residence. Taking a deep breath, she knocked three times.
A moment later, the door swung open. Hayato stood in the doorway, looking at her with a calm, completely normal expression—as if their fight in the courtyard had never even happened.
"Did you need something?" Hayato asked casually.
Akira swallowed her pride, looking him straight in the eyes. "There's something I need to say to you."
Hayato gave a slight nod, leaning against the doorframe.
"I'm... I'm really sorry about earlier," Akira said softly. "For spying on you and for drawing my sword."
The unexpected apology caught Hayato completely off-guard. His eyes blinked in surprise before a genuine, gentle smile spread across his face.
"It's okay," Hayato said gently. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, too."
Akira offered a small nod of relief. "It's fine." She paused, "So... will you tell me now?"
Hayato shook his head softly. "I can't, Akira."
Akira accepted his answer without pressing further, giving a quick nod. "Okay. I understand."
She turned and began walking back down the pathway.
Hayato stood in the doorway, watching her go with an amused smile.
Akira... actually apologized to me? Is the world ending today?
He chuckled quietly to himself, stepping back inside and clicking the door shut.