Afternoon of the same day.

The Kagurazaka mansion is as always bare, and the only daughter of the house has always expected that not one blood relative is there to greet her home. Only the butlers and maids are present as they are busy tending to the entirety of the house which its size outdoes the Room of Reality.

Sora, at the very start of the day, had received an incredible weight that she can't take out of her shoulders. She managed to mask the distressed face she was making even after Ginji's exit, and carried on outwardly for the rest of the day.

But as much as she thinks of herself highly, she was never exempt to having limits.

"We have arrived home, miss."

The driver then walked out of the vehicle and prompted to open the door nearest to the mistress.

Her head was gradually angling down in silence. The door has been opened for quite a while, but no signs of movement came from her.

At that very moment, she was thinking of running away. She knew a very particular person where she can go to at times like this, but she also knew that she can't on her own. Even though she had ventured out on the streets by her own, although seldom, she does not know where is what, as her days are mostly spent with the guidance of her personal driver.

"Close the door back."

"Uhh… miss?"

"Drive me to my brother's place and leave without me. I'm also dismissing you for the day once you're done."

"Miss… I know that there is no problem if you are visiting your brother, but we can't risk your safety. I'm sure that the master and madame will be extremely worried."

"Just drive me there and leave me alone…!!"

The anxious driver momentarily gazed on the subtle movements of her employer upon a burst of exclaim. He has brought assistance to the girl herself for twelve years, and this was the first time he saw her act on her emotions as she was seen grasping tightly her skirt to a crumple.

Without a word, she closed the door and came back behind the wheel to accompany the mistress on the road until they reached their destination.

He then listlessly explained to Sora's brother anything that he knew which was near to nothing and left with the vehicle. But of course, he did not want to betray the loyalty he gave his employers. After a single turn, he parked the car in a safe place and waited on his seat.

But numerous minutes later, he was urgently recalled back to the mansion without hesitation.

~ ~ ~

Haruka Hayasaka, the man who erased his very existence to the Kagurazaka power, placed both his hands on the shoulders of her blood-tied younger sister.

An esteemed Kagurazaka seeking out to a person whose original name has been long forgotten in the country, or a mere commoner, is not a scene a person of hierarchy would want to look at, especially if it was a child of the man whose life itself evaded debts.

"Sora… did something happen?"

"…"

"I wouldn't know anything if you won't tell me what's bothering you."

His hands that were long placed on her sister's shoulders separated as Sora gravitated down to her knees with an impending cry.

"I don't know anymore… I don't know anymore what I should believe, Yuka…!! What should I do…?! What am I supposed to believe now…?!"

To his utmost honesty inwardly, he still was not able to understand what it is that her sister is conflicted about. In an attempt to make her calm down, he bent his knees down and reached out his hand to Sora.

"Let's go up first. I'll listen to what you'll have to say."

…

Yona.

The house has two floors, but every floor is approximately equal to the size of the Kagurazaka house's master bedroom. It was by no means small, but it was not very large too. The first floor is therefore being occupied for business use, in which its name is that one word above. It was a cafe that Haruka himself established with all the knowledge he learned from business ventures after abandoning his old name.

Regardless of the challenges he faced after starting a new life, Yona is now the most famous cafe in the entirety of Sector T1. Its popularity even skyrocketed when Yuki Amagami himself requested to rent the cafe for a signing event for his Orion fans.

Indeed, his life changed incredibly as his former employee named Sana, who is a year younger than her, eventually became his wife that then helped to run the shop alongside her husband.

And that very wife of him finally met with her sister-in-law for the first time, not in the brightest time however.

As though the couple can communicate through their minds, one gaze at each other prompted them with what they need to do. Sana immediately prepared a soothing tea for the perturbed girl while Haruka pulled his phone to his ear.

"Mom, can you come to my shop right now? Sora suddenly came here crying. I think something happened to her."

It was the reason why the driver was recalled—to pick up the madame from her office and back to the cafe.

Before Marianne arrived, the context finally surfaced gradually after a cup from tea leaves that Haruka grew himself. With that, Sora finally pacified.

"Did that calm you down?"

"Thank you…"

In an attempt to change the mood, Sana started, "Your brother didn't tell me that he has a very beautiful sister. Ahhh, I wish you're living in this house so I can always see your face everyday."

"There you go with your jokes again…"

Sora then asked for a refill and finally spoke once the cup is filled anew. Her proud tone of voice was nowhere to be heard, and instead let out introverted.

"Yuka… Can you tell me the reason why you left the house…?"

It was rather early in his life when Haruka left the Kagurazaka at the age of 17, and it was already ten years since then. It was always a fact that he was an exceptional student, and gained scholarship to his college and supported himself at the same time. And now, he owns a business that is being supplied by a sub-company of the versatile Carnation Group with his wife.

"I suppose you haven't really heard about it…"

Haruka knows in his mind what he wanted to say, but verbalizing them was harder than he thought and he did not know where to start.

"I… gave up the things I realized that weren't necessary to me, but in the end, I was frightened so I left the house. I found out that my apparently "gifted intelligence" was not so important for me. To be very honest… it felt like I was a slave to Dad, and I can't swallow how the prime business world was.

I went against Dad's thinking and rebelled. I didn't want anyone to see me as who I am in the past, so I even went as far as having my name changed. I don't want to be seen with high regard. It was suffocating.

I threw away my unneeded material things, and what do you know? Compared to your company's bank, I'm now earning not even a fraction of Kagurazaka's earnings per month. But it didn't matter.

I'm now living a content life where I am happier, Sora."

Sora listened word per word to what the gentle voice said. Once again, the stupefied expression returned on her.

"He was like you…"

"He…? Who?"

"I think I destroyed someone's life, Yuka…"

"I think I destroyed someone's life, H-Haru…"

(!)

He had heard the exact same words from someone, and with the very same face at that. That person also had a very beautiful visage, which actually was where Sora's beauty was inherited from.

"Sora… are you talking about Aomine Sanshoin?"

Goosebumps traveled to Sora's entire body as if electricity was rapidly running to wires.

Her tears fell even more.

"Does father really not love us, Yuka…?! You said that you felt like you were a slave to him… I went to Blue Ink because he wanted me to take down its system…

Am I just a tool for his success?!"

Haruka was about to wrap her arms on the agonizing girl, but their mother who as if came from nowhere tightly embraced her daughter.

"This was all my fault, Sora… Please don't ever blame yourself…!"

"Mother…

I don't even know if I can trust myself…! He was suffering because of me… I don't even know what to do anymore…!"

On the other side of the living room while Haruka is massaging his temples, she called out to her wife.

"Sana… can you tend to the shop for a bit? I'll tell you all the details later."

Also wearing a hardened face, she replied, "Okay."

~ ~ ~

"Mom, I think it's time for Sora to know about him."

And so, details of Aomine's past involving Marianne were then told slowly to Sora. She found out that it was her mother that encouraged Aomine the most to utilize the fullest of his abilities, which corrupted him and then broke him after an incident with his own family.

And even though Aomine looks like he wasn't paying attention to certain things, he actually began a query as to why Sora was in Blue Ink High, and knew of the truth.

"I will forever be in debt to his family. His parents who I was friends with outside my company decided to leave my subsidiaries, but I begged them not to so as to atone to what I did to them.

I was struck with fear when I heard about what happened to him, and Haruka running away was still fresh in my mind. That is why I can understand every last bit of your feelings…"

Haruka added, "Mom then asked me to visit them from time to time. Aomine's parents grew apart from him, so he became a very helpless child. I told him my story and it felt like I gave him a brand new hope. Afterwards… I guess he really did become like me. But I was thankful that he sincerely developed his humility."

"I didn't know that he was still being weighted by his past. It's hard to even forgive myself for what I did. I thought that I was right with my decisions, and didn't consider his and his family's feelings.

…

The reason why I agreed to Takezo on sending you to that school is because I failed to raise you. In truth… I wanted to teach you to be how your brother is now, but I wasn't able to.

I knew that Aomine was going to Blue Ink, so I felt that it could be an opportunity to change your point of view even if by a little. But I didn't consider that it will happen to him again…

Sora, your father truly loves you. But he has been working to the bone for so long, and now that he is at the very top… he might have forgotten some things. But please forgive him…"

"That may have been the case."

A masculine voice was then heard from their back. A man with a coat on his arms stood before the entrance of the house with Sana behind him.

"…

Dad… did you hear everything?"

"It has been ten years since I last saw you… son. I guess you go by the name Haruka now.

But yes, I came here with Marianne but I decided not to enter just like that."

He walked in to the living room to approach his two children. He bent his knees to a kneel and lowered his head to the lowest in front of the two.

At the very background, Sana was extremely astonished. She of course knew about the mogul and Haruka's relation to him, and also about his principles. It was indeed a huge surprise to see one of the most outstanding men of the country to lower his head like that.

"It seems that I have been blind for all these years…

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

I can't deny what I have done to the two of you, and I am very sorry for all the things that I did…

I hope that you can forgive me even after all that…" Takezo exclaimed with his voice that turned hoarse and trembling.

~ ~ ~

The shop has closed, and the night has gone deeper.

"Father, mother… I chose not to go home until I decide to come back…"

In a saddened tone, the father spoke, "I… I understand…

But I hope that it will not be a problem for you, s-son…"

"She's welcome here as long as her things are sent here. I'll make her work here in exchange.

Sora, I hope that you know the weight of your words just now."

She sheepishly nodded.

"If that's all… then we'll be going," Takezo turned about face.

"Dad.

Sleep more hours in the nights, will you?"

"…

I'll try my best to."

▪ ▪ ▪

Somewhere around the beginning of February.

"Yona.

A very famous cafe established in Sector T1 a few years ago, that is always populated with customers that are mostly freelancers, but still maintain a peaceful ambiance inside.

We traveled from Sector 527 to finally get a taste of-"

"Gin, I know that you haven't been getting much POV in the past few chapters, but please stop narrating out loud. Cut us some slack."

"My face hasn't been in a few chapters, you know."

"Yeah, literally. I was an Exile in the past chapter and I got shot on the forehead again!"

As always, the fourth wall is broken.

Today is Wednesday, so Gin and Rin was free, and decided to finally visit Yona in Sector T1 as long as they come back before dinner. They were not planning to consider it an after school date anyway, and Ginji decided to go along with them, saying that he wants to ask about something as his reason.

"So? What is it that you want to talk about?"

"I guess I'll go describe things first. I think it's an occurrence in the mind where it at some point goes out of control… like maybe turning mentally unsound? It's in a sense going insane but… Ugh, it's hard to explain…"

"You might be talking about 'distortion?'"

"Distortion…?" Ginji repeated.

"Do you want to explain it, Rin? You know that already."

"You're the one who already experienced it, so why me?"

"Ahahaha.

Anyway, I'm actually the one to coin the term distortion, mind distortion, or cognitive distortion. I think it's something that mostly involves emotions since I define it as something like… When one's mind suffers from total despair, an unconscious will takes over it, while the conscious won't have control. Sometimes I remember it, sometimes I don't."

"When did it first happen to you?"

"Regrettably, it was back then when my hands moved on its own.

The next one was when white turned black, and then the next is before I turned silver for the first time.

Why do you ask, though?"

Then, the owner of the cafe which has his shift as a waiter today approached their table, "Have you chosen your orders now, customers?"

"Blue Ink students…? I didn't know hair dye is allowed there."

Ginji spoke first, then Gin, and Rin.

"I'll have peppermint mocha (lol that's the only thing I order)."

"Blueberry cheesecake and the best tea of the shop, please."

"Strawberry shortcake, black tea…

And one very beautiful girl hiding under the counter."

All of them then looked at a girl's head poking from the counter which once again hid.

"Uhh… Did I scare Ms. Kagurazaka with my hair…?"

"Waaaahhhh…! Thank goodness I was wearing wig back then when I was a faceless…!"

"I don't think that's it… But you know her?"

"I think no one in the school don't know her."

Suddenly, the girl in question sneaked out to the kitchen of the shop while Haruka made his way back to the counter.

"Where were we again?" asked Ginji. "Right, at Yona."

"Oooh, nice save."

Ginji's voice then lowered a little, "Who I'm talking about is that kouhai from S1BM. His name is Aomine Sanshoin, which probably experienced distortion."

"Oh, I think you mentioned him once.

When did that happen?"

"Some time before my exams. He personally told me about his past where he also disliked the concept of hierarchy and achievement."

"Uh-huh. I saw that when your mind was unguarded."

"Ugh."

"Are you sure he's not a coincidence?" Rin asked.

"He's not like us antisocial kids."

"Right, that's definite proof.

But have you talked to him?"

"He's now calmed down for the most part and he's back to his normal routines. I just can't bring up that incident, though."

"Hmm. I guess that's up to how he will decide what do from now on. I respect that he gave up his intellect since I also know that it is not all that matters, but I do hope that he will be decisive to things. He can't just be running a loop.

Whatever is the root of the conflict, I think he's the one that can face his own predicaments and fix it…

Even if the results can be fine or harsh. The world doesn't always give us beneficial choices."

▪ ▪ ▪

Before the events in Yona happened involving the three second year students of Blue Ink, the beginning of the day was not very calm at first. Murmurs passing throughout S1BM lasted for quite a while as Aomine has finally come back to school after a few days of absence when the "distortion" occurred.

In his case, it took him a few days to remember what happened, but he came back to Blue Ink once his recollection was done.

Sora definitely thought that those murmurs were to look at Aomine with pity, but few of their classmates immediately approached him, asking if he is fine now. They heard his reply, and they rejoiced in happiness.

Courageous steps made Sora approach Aomine slowly…

"Ah-umm… Ao-"

"…"

But it was as though she wasn't even there in the eyes of him.

This time, she felt a different feeling. Her chest began to tighten upon the thought that she was not noticed, or in some ways ignored registered in her mind. It was a different pain that she felt.

~ ~ ~

"…If this is not enough for you two to reflect about, then I don't know what I'm supposed to do anymore."

It was what a certain senior student said to her before exiting with Aomine being carried by him.

In all actuality, she came back to the counter shortly after and heard the conversation of the second year students in the cafe. What she realized is that one of those students is the one who stopped the incident.

Thus, she finally had the time to reflect.

Sora was someone with an above average memory, and so she backtracked to the very first time she became aware of Aomine Sanshoin until what happened earlier in the school.

She realized that she was never seeing Aomine with remorse, but she was always driven by her inherited ideals and her pride can't accept him. Ai Hikari's words surfaced in her mind, as Aomine was being described. She recalled the many times she saw him having fun with friends, and pulling a hurtful expression when the world's system is heard.

Sora's thinking wavered when she heard of his past. She asked herself what sets them apart, as Aomine was able to find the change he wanted while she has now hit a dead end.

"…Whatever is the root of the conflict, I think he's the one that can face his own predicaments and fix it…"

He clearly heard those very words with his anxious brother, and now that she looks back on those, she realized that she won't be able to do anything unless Aomine himself will face her.

Whether it is likely or not, the only thing she can do is wait, even if the outcome will be something that is good or painful.

▪ ▪ ▪

S1VA.

The first year students were looking confused in front seeing Martin on a daze as he just stood behind the teacher's desk with his hands leisurely resting on its surface.

After a few seconds of that nonsensical silence, he finally spoke.

"Uhh… I'm guessing that you studied the material for today…?"

Some nodded, some verbally affirmed.

"Hahh… I'm really sorry about this, but I changed my agenda for today. We'll have a practical exercise for today, and then we'll have the discussion tomorrow.

The theme for today is simply just 'open.' How you will interpret the theme and what medium you'll use is up to you. Try to also apply the 'Studio Thinking Theory' while you're at it.

Citation, anyone?"

A student raised their hand, "Theory was from 2006, by Winner and others."

"Thank you. So you actually listen to my lessons. That's good.

Alright, I'll give you 40 minutes. You can start now."

~ ~ ~

Very few actually started immediately, while others began by brainstorming. Indeed, the word "open" as a theme seems very broad, but in Martin's perspective, it was the very essence of his exercises. He wants to know and observe the creative capabilities of his students.

He however admitted that he will not be fully utilizing the theory as he mostly wanted his students to use "Student-at-Work" and "Critique" from the three teacher-student interactions. But he thought that it is not something he needs to be worried about as he is confident that they will use the theory on their own.

Aomine's paper is still very clean and blank. The only way as of the moment is identifying the definitions of "open" and its etymology to generate an idea, but he was still running short. He waited a few minutes as he minds the running time.

One of the theory's "eight studio habits of mind" is "Observe."

He finally stood and walked around the room, like a few of his classmates are already doing before him. He just stood, watching as the others do their work, while sometimes asking the meanings of their pieces.

"…"

Aomine Sanshoin may have an outstanding intellectual prowess, but being an art student made him realize that he is scarce of creativity and imagination. But being creative means that one looks at something in a different perspective, and so to speak, go beyond one's cognitive limits.

The academic year is about to end, and what he had learned for the past nine months wasn't all for naught.

Instead of persisting to the meaning of "open," he sought for its opposite.

Close.

Electricity ran through all of his nerves and his body immediately moved with great vigor.

Ironically, he was the very first one to submit his piece right on top of Martin's desk. It was a very rough portrait only sketched with graphite, but in Martin and in Aomine's eyes, the visage was clearly seen as the realism was emphasized on the face.

"Thank you, Sir Martin."

"…?"

"Today's theme is 'open' but I ended up interpreting the opposite of it, which is 'close.' I realized that ever since I came back from my absence, I've been closing myself away to the person I drew. I may just be running cowardly right now, but what I need to do is to open myself and deal with with what I need to."

Martin suddenly chuckled from his seat while holding the portrait. Eventually, he let out a light laugh.

"I guess Ginji was right. You may care of your intelligence no more, but your perception is indeed great.

Hahh… Your performance in my subjects is always average or slightly below that, but that is always my honest assessment. But this time, I'll give you full marks.

Good job on finding yourself."

"I can't thank you enough…"

▪ ▪ ▪

Lunch break.

The three Japanese and one Orion are once again found in the rooftop of the old building with their lunch. This time, Naru was the one feeling the most out of place, as her three friends are using chopsticks to eat. For a moment, she sulked thinking about how her brother still has not taught her how to use them.

But after that thought, she raised a question.

"Is it just me or, uhh… Does Sora look a lot relaxed these days?"

"W-What do you mean…?" the person in question dumbfoundingly asked.

"Well… I think that you're quite uptight sometimes, but now your basic gestures aren't predictable anymore. Like… you move easier now?"

"Does it really look like that?"

"Yeah…" and the other two also agreed.

"…

I guess this is the result of me not coming home for quite some time now."

As expected, the three stopped their eating utensils of choice as their eyes widened in shock.

"Don't misunderstand, though…" Sora timidly shook her hands. "I decided to live with my brother's family for the time being to clear my mind. What Aomine said got to me, and I learned the truth about him from my parents. It was our fault why he is suffering, but what hurts is that we're unable to do anything for him…

But I guess the reason why I am acting a little differently is because the life with my brother is rather easy-going. Their dog is very cute too."

"My brother actually has a talking cat."

"Unbelievable."

"Yeah, it seems that he and Mato-sen is the only people who can understand the cat."

"Still unbelievable."

…

"Sora-san, are you worried of Aomine-kun by any chance?" Ai, who by this time eased up the honorifics, asked.

"I am…"

"But please don't tell us that you actually pity him, Sora," suddenly, Anna chimed in. "I'm only borrowing my brother's words, but I think that Aomine will feel more hurt if that is the case. But even I don't know what to feel about this since I don't really know him."

"No, that's not it… but I can't help but feel very guilty for what I did. On the contrary, I realized that I don't hate him at all… I'm very worried, and I can't stop looking at him for some reason. It also hurts that he is avoiding me after the incident…"

No matter how serious things are, the other three maidens are sensing the development of symptoms from Sora. No, it was not because of the pandemic, as it was in the process of being extinguished thanks to Rishou Kagetora's immediate actions. It was a very different kind of symptoms.

"I reflected the times since I met him. At first, I didn't like his attitude because of my pride, but after considering my brother's case, I now find Aomine's new way of life as something that is amazing…

Even if just by a little bit… I think I…"

"Kyaaaaaaa~!!!!!"

A maiden's heart and intuition does not lie, and it was the moment where it was found out that Sora is not so much of a tsundere.

▪ ▪ ▪

March 23.

There are only a few days before the school year ends.

"Excuse me… is Aomine here?"

There are still twenty minutes to the lunch break, and Sora came to the room of S1VA with her objectives in mind. Thankfully, it was Ai who found her, and immediately whispered to Aomine that Sora is looking for her.

For some reason, he let out a very long sigh before standing from his desk.

It was not Sora that was feeling anxious, as Aomine himself is showing signs of nervousness.

It was almost the last week of March, and the springtime in Orio is reaching its end. Logically, Sora led the lad on the shade found in the rooftop of the new building and they both sat on the bench, although as if the social distancing is still applicable, which is not anymore, in reality.

The rooftop is very silent, as they are the only one in there… not. What they and anyone do not know is that a certain man with a two-tone hair is sleeping on the roof of the rooftop entrance.

"Aomine… I don't think mere words can express my apology to you…"

"…"

Aomine would be lying if he said that he was not surprised that arguably the most powerful lass of the country is apologizing to her. But of course, she can't say those words.

"I knew that I was very rude to you because I didn't like the fact that someone is better than me… I was also being very insensitive as I didn't know your past in that time…

It was totally my fault… because of me, you are once again suffering…"

"I have heard that very same line from your mom, and I can't count anymore how many times I've heard that from her.

I… I should be the one apologizing to you. I said too much because I was caught up too much with my emotions…"

"No… You were actually right with what you said, apart from one thing…

You were right that at some point, my father was only treating me as a mere tool, but in the midst of that, he realized his mistakes. He still loves his family in the end."

"I'm rather relieved to hear that… but still…

I…"

"I…"

"I hope that you can forgive me."

Word by word, they uttered the exact same sentence.

It felt like it was an unbreakable silence, but Aomine immediately spoke.

"The only request is that I hope that you will understand what I feel about what you think, and about my dislike of the current system of the world, but that also applies to me. I will try my best not to get in your way, but I can only think of distancing from you.

But I hope that we can now consider this as water under th-"

"I think I won't like that…"

"…?"

"I was finally able to know your past, and it gave me the urge to know more about you. There is still one more year before we graduate in this school, and I think it will hurt me more than anything if you start to avoid me…"

"…

A-Are you saying…"

"Yes… I have started to develop feelings for you."

"……"

A genuine silence began this time.

"I'm very sorry… but I don't think I have the right to accept your feelings. With the way things are, we are like oil and water; we are opposite in many ways.

I don't think that there is a gain from being together with me knowing you. And if you began changing because of me, I wouldn't want that. Even if you decided to change or stay the way you are, please do that for you own sake.

I changed because I wanted to… because I have a clear and concrete reason. I have wasted my abilities, but you didn't. You alone in this world can dictate what you will do, and that is what I did after giving up everything.

Just like Yuka Haruka, your brother, I am very content with my life and my family."

"…

I… I guess I can't do anything about that if that's what you say…"

"Actually, I'll have to swallow what I said earlier. Now that I discovered what you really feel, I think that there is no need for me to distance myself to you.

And if it is fine with you…"

He unfolded his arms so as to reach out to Sora.

"I don't have an ounce of interest on finding my own love right now as I'm still immature…

But I hope that we can be friends from now on…"

Aomine has been looking down for the entirety of his time in this place, but he became struck with astonishment upon raising his head.

Sora accepted the handshake with her eyes tearing up as she spoke up with a weak voice.

"Thank you… Thank you for giving me an opportunity to reconcile…"

Meanwhile, on the unseen side of the rooftop…

"Isn't this the very same place where G confessed to Yui…?

What a coincidence… Ah no, he's not."

▪ ▪ ▪

Time flew very slowly as March ended, and summer began.

Under the heat of the sun, Sora stepped out of the car on her own and looked towards the door of the Kagurazaka mansion where she was greeted by her parents.

"Welcome home, Sora."

Wasting not a single second, she wrapped her arms on Takezo and Marianne.

"I'm home…"

"Was it fun in your brother's place?"

"It was. Very.

I've contemplated a lot, and I also came to a decision."

"…?"

"I will accept inheritance of the corporation when the time comes…

In conditions where I wouldn't care even if the company is not on the top anymore. I will grow as an heir that will consider my subordinates' circumstances.

Even if I can't be as good as you, father, I will consider what is best for me and for the company in the future."

"I do not have any right to oppose what you wish to do now… My only request to you is to support your mother's group once you are the chairwoman."

"That goes without saying, Dad.

But for the meantime, I want to spend my youth more."