Night – Private Mountain Track, Observation Lounge
The glass wall slowly retracted.
The silence after the roar of the engine felt deafening.
All eyes were locked on the entrance to the underground garage, where the sleek, jet-black supercar rolled to a stop like a phantom. Its body still glowed faintly from the heat of the run.
Then the door opened.
And out stepped Kael Aeron.
Hair slightly windswept. Jacket thrown over one shoulder. Calm as ever.
As if he hadn't just torn across the mountain roads like a demon.
---
A Flood of Questions
Tatsuki's voice broke first. "BRO?! What the—how the—when did you even learn to drive like that?!"
Misora blinked rapidly. "Do you realize what just happened? That wasn't driving—that was artillery fire on wheels!"
Yume stepped forward, her eyes wide. "You… You've been doing this every night?"
Aeron shrugged. "It's quiet out here. I like the silence."
"But—this isn't normal!" Misora exclaimed. "You're not normal!"
Ayaka smiled proudly. "I know. That's why I fell for him."
Tatsuki froze. "Wait, fell—?"
Ayaka elbowed him before he could finish the sentence.
---
Then They Noticed Her
"Enough noise," came a calm voice from behind them.
All eyes snapped toward the shadows.
There, seated gracefully on the edge of the lounge's low couch, legs crossed, arms folded—
Mirei Asagiri.
She'd been there the entire time.
And now that she moved, it was as though the air itself bent to her presence.
Yume's heart stopped. Misora's jaw dropped.
"T-That's… Mirei Asagiri…" Yume whispered.
"The CEO of Asagiri Holdings?" Tatsuki nearly stumbled. "What is she doing here?!"
Mirei smiled faintly. "Watching someone I love."
---
Himari's Challenge
Himari approached Mirei, crossing her arms with her usual effortless authority.
"You've only seen a glimpse, Mirei," she said smoothly. "That was just driving."
Mirei raised an elegant eyebrow. "Oh?"
"You'll be far more shocked when you see how he handles business," Himari continued. "His memory, logic, learning curve—it's almost terrifying."
The president of Lucent Corp looked toward her son as he adjusted his gloves and tossed them onto a table.
"He's not just a boy," she said coldly. "He's a monster in the making."
---
Mirei's Thoughts
Mirei said nothing at first.
But inside, her heart raced.
> "He drives faster than elite racers after a week." "He picks up business strategies I studied for years… in days." "And he still doesn't care about attention, admiration, or power."
She bit her lip.
> "That's what makes him dangerous." "And what makes me fall harder."
She looked at Ayaka, whose eyes hadn't left Aeron once.
> "I'm not the only one who sees it now."
---
Aeron Walks In
Aeron stepped into the lounge, toweling off his hair, ignoring the stares.
"You're all still here," he muttered.
Tatsuki grinned. "Still here?! Man, you just burned rubber through a mountain like a racing god!"
"Cool," Aeron replied blandly.
"You're seriously not gonna explain anything?" Yume asked.
Aeron looked at his mother.
Himari smiled. "Let's just say… my son found a new place to be alive."
---
Final Shot
As the group stood stunned, Aeron sat at the edge of the lounge, looking up at the stars beyond the glass ceiling.
Around him, ambition, obsession, admiration, and jealousy swirled silently.
And he, as always—
Remained untouched by it all.
> "Let them watch.
I only feel alive when I'm moving too fast for anyone to follow."