October 2nd, 3027.
11:00 AM.
The living room sat in a quiet balance of light and stillness.
Sunlight poured gently through the wide window, spilling across the floor and climbing up the edges of the furniture.
The soft hum of the outskirts lingered faintly outside—distant wind, rustling leaves, a world that felt untouched.
At the center of it—
Three people.
Seated.
A low wooden table between them, freshly poured tea resting in delicate cups, steam rising slowly into the calm air.
Emilysat on one side of the couch, composed as always, her posture relaxed yet attentive.
One hand rested lightly around her cup, the other on her lap.
Beside her, slightly angled—
Lily.
She sat upright, her hands loosely placed on her knees, her silver eyes flickering—uncertain, curious… and increasingly aware.
Across from them—
Hanaka Tachibana.
Calm.
Elegant.
Still.
She held her teacup gently, fingers precise, posture straight but not rigid.
Her gaze… was not on Emily.
It was on Lily.
Observing.
Quietly.
Carefully.
Not invasive.
But not casual either.
Lily felt it.
That gaze.
It wasn't harsh.
But it lingered too long.
Like being… measured.
Evaluated.
Her fingers shifted slightly on her knees.
…why is she looking at me like that…
A thought she didn't voice.
Instead, she glanced briefly toward her mother—
Then back at Hanaka.
The silence stretched just enough to become noticeable.
And finally—
Lily spoke.
…Mama…
Her voice was soft.
Careful.
…how do you know her?
Emilys eyes moved to her, a gentle smile forming almost immediately.
We go back… quite a while.
A simple answer.
But not a full one.
Hanaka took a quiet sip of her tea.
Then, without shifting her gaze much—
Long enough.
Short.
Calm.
Closed.
The air stilled again.
Lily blinked.
Her brows furrowed slightly now.
…that's not really an answer…
She didn't say it out loud—but her expression did.
A faint hint of annoyance crept in.
Not anger.
Just… dislike.
She didn't like being outside something that clearly involved her.
Her fingers tapped lightly against her knee once… twice… then stilled.
Emily set her teacup down gently.
So… how have you been, Hanaka?
The shift was smooth.
Intentional.
Hanakas gaze finally moved away from Lily, returning to Emily.
I've been well.
A pause.
Work has been… demanding.
Emily nodded knowingly.
I can imagine.
Running something like that isn't easy.
Hanaka gave a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
It rarely is.
Emily leaned back slightly into the couch.
And Jin?
The name slipped into the room.
Lilys eyes flickered subtly at it.
Jin.
A new name.
Hanaka responded calmly.
Hes managing.
A small pause.
Hes grown… quite capable.
Emilys expression softened slightly.
I'm not surprised.
She picked up her tea again, taking a small sip.
He always had that kind of presence.
Hanakas fingers traced lightly along the rim of her cup.
…he does.
Silence followed again—but lighter this time.
Controlled.
Measured.
Emily spoke again, tone casual but observant.
And you?
Still staying in the city?
Hanaka nodded once.
Yes.
A brief pause.
…Itwatsuki hasn't changed much.
Emily let out a small breath of amusement.
The inside hasn't.
Her gaze drifted toward the window.
But the outside… we kept it that way.
Hanaka followed her gaze briefly.
…for balance.
Emily nodded.
For balance.
Lily sat there.
Listening.
Piece by piece.
But none of it connected.
Names.
Hints.
Half-answers.
Her confusion didn't fade.
It grew.
Her eyes moved between the two women.
…what are they even talking about…
Then—
Emily set her cup down again.
Her fingers rested lightly against it.
Her tone changed.
Subtle.
But clear.
…so this is about that matter, isn't it?
The room shifted.
Not loudly.
But undeniably.
Hanaka didn't hesitate.
Yes.
One word.
Steady.
Final.
Lilys head turned sharply.
…what matter?
Her voice carried more now.
Confusion.
A hint of impatience.
Silence answered her first.
Emily looked at her.
Really looked this time.
Then spoke gently—
Lily…
A small pause.
…there's something we need to discuss.
The words settled slowly.
Heavy in a way she couldn't explain.
Before Lily could respond—
Hanaka spoke.
Her gaze returned.
Direct.
Unwavering.
You're exactly as I was told.
Lily froze.
Just slightly.
Her fingers tightened unconsciously against her dress.
…what?
The word barely left her lips.
Hanakas expression softened just a fraction.
A faint smile.
Not warm.
Not cold.
Something in between.
Emily remained calm beside her.
Silent.
Watching.
And Lily—
Sat there in the middle of it all—
Confused.
Unaware.
And suddenly… involved.
Lily remained still.
Her fingers curled slightly against the fabric of her dress, her silver eyes fixed on Hanaka—searching, questioning, trying to make sense of something that refused to explain itself.
Silence lingered.
Heavy now.
Different from before.
Emily took a slow breath.
Then, gently—
Hanaka didn't come here just to visit.
The air shifted.
Not loudly.
But completely.
Lilys gaze snapped toward her mother.
…what?
Before she could push further—
Hanaka spoke.
Calm.
Unrushed.
This is a formal proposal.
A pause followed.
Just enough.
Lily blinked.
Once.
Twice.
…proposal…?
The word left her lips slowly, uncertain, like she didn't fully understand it yet.
Emilys eyes softened slightly.
For marriage.
And there it was.
Clear.
Unavoidable.
It landed.
Lily froze.
Completely.
…what?
A breath caught in her chest.
No—wait…
Her voice rose slightly now, confusion spilling over.
What are you talking about?
She looked between them.
One.
Then the other.
No, this—this isn't funny, Mama.
Her brows pulled together, frustration beginning to surface.
You cant just say something like that and expect me to just—what—nod and agree?
Her hands moved slightly as she spoke now, restless, trying to grasp something that felt unreal.
Marriage?
To who?
Why?
Since when is this even—
She stopped.
Her chest rose and fell once.
…why me?
The question slipped out.
Raw.
Honest.
Why now?
Another step forward in her confusion.
And who even—
Jin Kurotsuki.
Hanakas voice cut through.
Clean.
Precise.
The name settled into the room like a stone dropped into still water.
Ripples.
Lily went quiet.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
Jin.
The same name from earlier.
The same one they spoke about.
Before she could ask—
Hanaka reached into her side.
Pulled out a small photograph.
Without a word, she placed it on the table.
Then slid it forward.
Slowly.
Until it stopped right in front of Lily.
Lily hesitated.
For just a second.
Then leaned forward slightly.
Her fingers hovered above the photo before finally picking it up.
She looked.
And paused.
A second passed.
Then another.
Her eyes softened… just slightly.
Her breath stilled.
…hes…
The thought formed before she could stop it.
…handsome…
Sharp features.
Dark presence.
Calm.
Unreachable.
Something about him felt… distant.
But strong.
And then—
It hit her.
Her eyes widened slightly.
A faint flush rose to her cheeks.
W-Wait!
She lowered the photo slightly, flustered now.
That's not the point!
Her voice rose again, snapping herself out of it.
She placed the photo back down quickly, almost defensively.
This—this doesn't change anything!
Her gaze turned sharp again.
Conflicted.
Confused.
Unsettled.
You still haven't answered me!
She looked at both of them again.
Why me?!
Why now?!
Her voice carried more weight now.
More frustration.
But—
Neither of them reacted the way she expected.
Emily remained calm.
Composed.
Her gaze steady.
This was decided a long time ago.
The words were soft.
But firm.
Final.
Lily blinked.
…what?
Hanaka added—
Were only informing you now.
And that—
Hit harder than anything before.
Lilys breath caught.
Her fingers clenched.
…informing…?
The word trembled slightly.
So… you're saying…
Her voice lowered.
Tight.
…this isn't even a choice?
Silence.
No denial.
No correction.
That was the answer.
…why…?
Her voice cracked just slightly now.
Not weak.
But shaken.
Why would you decide something like this without even telling me?!
Her eyes searched her mothers face.
WHY?!
Emilys expression didn't break.
You'll understand later.
That was it.
No explanation.
No comfort.
Just delay.
And that—
Was enough.
Lily stood up.
Suddenly.
.
I'm not agreeing to something like this!
Her voice was clear.
Firm.
Real.
I don't even know him!
Her chest rose with her breath, emotions finally breaking through the calm surface she held earlier.
This is insane!
Silence followed.
Again.
But this time—
It didn't feel empty.
Hanaka looked at her.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Then spoke.
The ceremony is on November 1st.
No emotion.
No pressure.
Just a statement.
And Lily—
Froze.
Again.
Her body stilled.
Her thoughts halted.
November 1st.
Not a suggestion.
Not a discussion.
A date.
Set.
And suddenly—
Everything felt… real.
The tension lingered in the room, stretched thin between words that had already been spoken… and those that refused to come.
Lily stood there, her chest rising slightly, her thoughts tangled, her emotions refusing to settle into anything clear.
Hanaka watched her.
Calm.
Unmoved.
Then, gently—
No one is forcing you.
The words landed softly.
Not defensive.
Not persuasive.
Just… true.
A pause followed.
Then—
You'll stay with him until the 25th.
Again—
Not a question.
Not a command.
Just a statement placed into reality as if it already existed.
Lily blinked.
Her mind struggled to catch up.
Before she could respond—
Emily spoke.
Her tone quieter now.
Take that time… and decide for yourself.
Lilys gaze shifted toward her.
Emilys expression remained composed, but there was something beneath it… something more personal.
Hanaka added, just as calmly—
If you refuse after that… the arrangement ends.
Silence.
But this time—
It wasn't suffocating.
It was… different.
A strange balance formed.
Freedom.
Pressure.
And something else…
Curiosity.
Lily stood there for a moment longer.
Then slowly—
She sat back down.
Right beside her mother.
Her posture slightly slouched now, one hand resting on her lap while the other brushed lightly against the edge of the couch.
Her gaze dropped.
Thinking.
Really thinking now.
Not reacting.
Not resisting.
Processing.
Her eyes drifted.
Back to the table.
To the photograph.
Jin.
It was still there.
Unchanged.
Waiting.
She stared at it.
For a second.
Then another.
And then—
Something… shifted.
A flicker.
Not outside.
Inside.
Her vision blurred—
Just slightly—
And then—
A flash.
For a single second—
She wasn't there anymore.
Darkness.
A sky—black, endless, heavy.
The ground beneath her—rough, broken, rocky… unfamiliar.
Cold.
And in front of her—
A figure.
A man.
Standing.
His back turned toward her.
She couldn't see his face.
But—
She knew.
The long coat.
The same presence.
The same silhouette.
Jin.
Standing between her… and something she couldn't see.
But could feel.
Danger.
Threat.
Something approaching.
And him—
Still.
Unmoving.
As if protecting her.
Then—
Flash.
It vanished.
Lilys eyes snapped back into focus.
Her breath caught slightly.
…what…?
She blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Confusion returned instantly.
The room was the same.
The sunlight.
The table.
Her mother beside her.
Hanaka across from her.
Both of them… speaking quietly now, their voices low, almost blending into the background.
As if nothing had happened.
…was that…
She didn't finish the thought.
Couldn't.
Her gaze lowered again.
Back to the photo.
Her fingers curled slightly.
A pause.
Longer this time.
Then—
She lifted her chin.
Her eyes steadied.
And she spoke.
Yes.
Both voices stopped.
Instantly.
Emily and Hanaka looked at her.
Lily met their gaze.
I'll go.
Her voice was calm now.
Clear.
I want to see…
A small pause.
…and get to know him.
Silence followed.
But not the same kind as before.
This one… shifted.
Emilys eyes softened.
Hanakas expression changed—just slightly.
And then—
Both of them smiled.
Faint.
But real.
They nodded.
Hanaka placed her teacup down gently.
Alright.
Emily nodded as well, a quiet sense of relief passing through her.
Hanaka reached into her side again.
Pulled out a card.
Black.
Sleek.
She placed it on the table and slid it toward Lily.
You can come to Jin Corporation tomorrow.
A small pause.
October 3rd.
Her eyes met Lilys.
Use this.
Lily reached forward and picked up the card.
A VIP entry pass.
Cool against her fingers.
Real.
She nodded.
…okay.
Emily watched her, a gentle smile resting on her lips.
The room settled again.
But nothing was the same anymore.
And somewhere—
Between curiosity…
And something she couldn't explain—
A path had just opened.