As I navigated the rain-soaked roads, the familiar sight of home slowly came into view. “Twenty minutes until arrival,” Johann, my personal AI assistant, chimed in my earpiece.
I still couldn’t figure out why my brother summoned me to come with no prior warning. Family gatherings were always planned weeks in advance, and here I was, racing through the night-all to answer my brother’s call. I decided to leave that life a long time ago, but maybe a fear still lingered.
From afar, the city stood just as I remembered it—timeless traditional buildings that seemed untouched by the passage of time. Home was within hand’s reach, and before I knew it, I was driving through the city’s roads. Nothing seemed different, the lit alleyways stirring memories of my childhood, like stepping back into a bygone era, one less complicated.
At an intersection, the green light switched to red, and out of instinctual respect, I stopped for the first time since I got on my bike. Everything appeared normal. The shops were open, the streets alive with pedestrians, and the aroma of street food wafted through the air. The city was fine, and there was no urgency.
To say nothing had changed would be a stretch; buildings had nearly doubled in size, but somehow it felt ordinary. My nerves had calmed but the uneasy feeling kept my hairs standing. The light turned green, and I accelerated down the slick roads. The closer I got to the family estate, the more the familiar paths felt foreign.
As I approached the large gates of the mansion opened, they knew I was here, and a chill ran down my spine when I saw the dozens of luxury vehicles parked one after another inside—a rare sight, one I had never seen before. Clearly, times had changed. I parked my vintage bike inside, away from the fancy cars, while the two large doors closed behind me. I approached the grand entrance to make my away inside.
The family house was in the middle of an expansion, autonomous drones rested by the side of the house with tools, no workers could be seen today. News had it that the recent military contracts brought wealth to the family with generous bonuses from the Government. The Hibana House made profitable earnings from sales in weapon manufacturing, leading to these ambitious renovations, not that any of us needed more space or luxury.
As I took my shoes off, an assistant approached and greeted me at the door—our family’s ‘butlers’ were more like personal aides than traditional servants
“Welcome home, Daichi-sama. The main family, extended relatives, and honorary members are all gathering at the main hall,” he said politely. “The Core members will be arriving soon. Please, allow me to escort you to the lounge.”
Before he led me toward the lobby, I tapped on the entrance’s right-side wall and a compartment popped out displaying different types of clothing-a lot had changed, but it seemed some things remained the same. The butler brought me to where my numerous family members rested, waiting for the big fish to arrive. Their gazes followed me—sharp, scrutinizing, and unwelcoming. It felt like walking through a field of daggers. I avoided eye contact and made my way to an unoccupied sofa away from them.
Scanning the room, I noticed that none of the Heads of the Houses were present. Just as I pondered this, a familiar voice spoke beside me.
“They arrived earlier. They’re upstairs in the main conference room.”
I turned to see my second eldest brother, Tsukuyo, standing beside me. Startled, I began to stand, but his firm hand on my shoulder guided me back down.
“Oni, it’s been a long time,” I whispered, acutely aware of the curious glances from others around the room.
“Let’s not make a scene,” he replied calmly, his eyes fixed ahead. His arm remained draped over my shoulder- a gesture that felt more restraining than affectionate. “You’ve kept father’s bike in excellent condition. I noticed some upgrades.”
“Yes,” I responded cautiously. “I managed to upgrade it without having to throw any parts away, it was only possible due to the family’s funds.”
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“Good to see you’re making use of the resources allocated to you,” he said, finally meeting my gaze. His eyes were piercing. “I’ve had a few people keep an eye on you. They say you haven’t been up to much since graduating from the officer’s program.”
I tensed. The weight of his arm felt like a serpent coiling around me. “I’ve been… I need time,” I responded, knowing it sounded weak.
“Well, it’s time to stop reflecting.”
Alarm bells rang in my mind. I turned to question him, but he was already walking away, disappearing into the crowd. I looked down to find stains of blood seeping into my jacket. I blinked, and the stains were gone—a figment of my anxiety-ridden mind.
“Just be prepared to join our private army,” those words he whispered entered my ears, and he knew I heard them.
The Government had begun building its military after hundreds of years of disarmament; with it came many programs with the goal to raise military officers. The US backing out from foreign affairs was like a splash of cold gasoline and now the increasing threat from the Chinese felt like a flame igniting fire, no one felt safe. Military personnel were in extremely high demand, and that is where our family’s foundation stood.
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The grand doors of the main conference room opened as Tsukuyo entered, striding confidently to the center of the circular table. Around him sat eight individuals-4 on each side-all prominent members of the family. An empty seat awaited at the head of the table.
“Our Patriarch is currently in negotiations with the Prime Minister and Heads of State,” Tsukuyo announced. “In his stead, my sister, Aiko, will address any questions regarding the recent developments”
From the doorway, Aiko Kurenai entered-a vision of elegance and authority. Her snow-white skin contrasted the Crimson Red crest embroidered on her silky neck, signifying her role. Her doelike eyes scanned the room with sharp focus, her presence commanded immediate respect. She wore a traditional red and white kimono made of true tomioka silk; a rare commodity, not easily seen even among the highest of class. Everyone stood as she made her way towards the empty seat in front of all.
With a nod and no words-the meeting continued, “Thank you all for assembling on such short notice. Now that everyone is here, I will be straight forward, as of yesterday at 1500 hours, our PINs operatives in China successfully intercepted and captured multiple high-value targets. The chaos we caused provided the perfect cover for our spies to gain access to many important key data bases.”
Murmurs rippled through the room.
“So, Operation Kakurenbo was executed without our consent?” one of the Heads of House questioned, his tone edged with irritation. “You know, the -”
“The operation was green lit under the Patriarch’s executive authority”, Tsukuyo interjected firmly, silencing further objections. The Heads of Houses kept quiet, but Tsukuyo’s eyes lingered on them.
Tsukuyo continued, "Regrettably, around half of the PIN operatives were lost during exfiltration while taking the hostages over the northern Russian border into the extraction points. Additionally, most of our long-term spies were compromised fallowing the data transfer.”
Faces around the table tightened-a mix of anger,concern, and calculation. Talk among the members started.
“Despite the losses, the operation is a significant success,” Tsukuyo asserted. “The Chinese have not yet managed to find the culprit, this is the largest operation we’ve managed to accomplish flawlessly to date, the outcome is a major success. We have obtained invaluable intelligence that could shift the power balance of the entire region-”
Gasps and whispers filled the room. One Head stood abruptly. “What makes claim such bold statement? The fortune my family has spent on this operation is insurmountable, and it was initially meant to be a backup plan-a fail safe, not the main objective!”
“We have secured more than just plans,” Aiko declared. “We possess the keys to understanding China’s next moves—their strategies, their technological advancements, and the clandestine projects they’ve kept hidden from the world.”
“Diplomatic communications and negotiations,” Tsukuyo elaborated. “We obtained the blueprints of their new weapons—though the label of ‘weapons’ hardly does justice to the enormity of their designs,” Everyone’s attention focused on Tsukuyo. “And let’s not overlook the importance of the minute details, there are signs of plans transpiring behind the scenes of which our operatives weren’t even able to reach.”
Aiko analyzed everyone’s reaction to the news and stood up.
“Changes will have to be made,” she announced.“From this day forth, our family will never be the same. Changes will be made to such an extent that we shall become unrecognizable to outsiders.”
“But this new position doesn’t come without costs,” Aiko continued, her gaze hardening. “Your past actions have been tolerated due to your utility. However, inefficiency and disloyalty have no place in our future.”
Tsukuyo stepped forward. “Effective immediately, certain positions will be reallocated. Successors will replace those who no longer align with our vision.” He stated non-chalantly, while resting his eyes on the specific seats of certain Heads of Houses.
“What is the meaning of this?” one of the Heads demanded, his face pale and eyes wide.
“You will be replaced by your successors—the ones we deem fit,” Aiko stated coldly.
Before any protests could erupt, the doors swung open again. Three figures entered—family members whose mere presence caused the Heads of Houses to shudder. Each bore the Crimson Red border around their crests, signifying direct lineage and the trust placed in them.
“From today forward we must be reborn,” Aiko declared, her voice echoing through the chamber.
Silence enveloped the room. The message was clear: adapt or be cast aside. The old guard exchanged uneasy glances, realizing that the foundations of their power were shifting beneath them.
——————————
In the lounge, I sat alone. The weight of my brother’s words pressed heavily upon me. Joining the family’s private military branch wasn’t just a career move—it was a binding commitment to a life I wasn’t sure I wanted.
The rain outside intensified, beating against the windows like a relentless drum. I stared at my reflection in the polished marble floor, I could see the shadows under my eyes.
‘It couldn’t be,’ I thought as a clear image appeared in my mind. ‘right?’