Thursday – Afternoon – Tenkaichi Elite Academy
The halls buzzed with usual chaos, but Ayaka's voice cut through like a lightning bolt.
> "He's my stepbrother, okay?!"
Silence.
Every head turned. Phones slowly lifted.
Ayaka stood frozen in the middle of Class 2-A's hallway, white eyes wide with realization. Her heart pounded.
She hadn't meant to say it out loud.
But it was too late.
---
Online – Within the Hour
> "Wait… did Ayaka Kael just say stepbrother?"
> "Is she talking about Aeron Kael???"
> "No way. That ghost boy is part of that family?!"
Screenshots flooded every student group, private Discord server, and even underground gossip sites that tracked elite family bloodlines.
And it didn't stop there.
---
Later That Day – Lucent Corp's Perimeter
A drone photo appeared online: Aeron and Himari Kael stepping out of a sleek black car days ago.
Together.
Calm. Connected.
> "Confirmed: Aeron Kael is the stepson of Himari Kael, President of Lucent Corporation."
> "Lucent heir? Or scandal waiting to happen?"
Then the swarm began.
Paparazzi outside the school gates.
Corporate blogs spinning theories.
And worst of all…
Reporters showing up at the Kael residence.
---
Evening – Kael Residence Driveway
Aeron arrived late from a drive.
His car slowed to a halt just outside the gate. He stayed inside the vehicle for a moment, watching a familiar scene unfold.
Reporters shouting. Cameras flashing.
His name being yelled out.
His identity no longer a secret.
And in the middle of it all—
His mother.
Himari Kael, standing at the front step in full control. Press in front of her, but not a single crack in her expression.
Ayaka beside her, visibly shaking.
---
Himari's Response – Sharp and Ruthless
"You want a headline?" Himari said coldly. "Here's one for you."
> "Yes. Aeron Kael is my stepson. But no—he is not your next corporate scandal."
> "He's not a puppet. He's not a prince. He's a boy who's endured more than you know."
She turned to Ayaka briefly.
"I told you to protect his peace."
Ayaka flinched. "I didn't mean to say it—"
"But you did."
> "And now you've invited the wolves to our doorstep."
Aeron watched this exchange from the shadows of the car, expression unreadable.
Not angry. Not hurt.
Just… distant.
---
The Return
A soft engine hum rolled up the driveway.
Another car.
A familiar one.
Aeron's father stepped out, a gentle smile on his face despite the flashing cameras.
He walked toward his son, reached into the car window, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You okay?" he asked, voice low and calm.
Aeron simply nodded.
And his father said what only someone like him could say:
> "Come inside. We'll deal with this as a family."
---
Inside – Aftermath
The front door shut behind them, muffling the chaos outside.
Himari paced the living room, tension sharp in every step. Ayaka stood by the window, guilt burning behind her white eyes.
"I ruined everything," she muttered.
"No," Aeron's father said gently. "You just forgot the weight our family carries."
Then Himari turned.
> "From now on," she said, "every word you say in public matters. Every name you drop. Every look you give."
> "This world doesn't forgive boys like him for being strong. It only tries to break them harder."
Ayaka bit her lip, trembling.
Aeron sat quietly on the couch, fingers intertwined.
He didn't speak.
But for the first time…
> The world knew who he was.
And it wasn't going back to silence.