The night air was still warm as Yuto slipped quietly through the front door of the Kazama estate. The hallway lights were dimmed, and the house had gone quiet long ago. He had stayed in Hina's room until she'd fallen asleep in his arms, her breathing soft and even. Only after making sure she was truly resting did he finally pull away.
He adjusted his yukata as he reached the entryway, but before he could step into his shoes—
"Leaving already?"
Yuto froze.
Emi stood at the foot of the staircase, dressed in a soft robe, arms crossed loosely.
Yuto straightened quickly. "Ah—sorry, Emi-san. I didn't mean to wake anyone."
"You didn't," she said gently, walking over. "Mothers don't sleep well when their daughters come home shaken."
Yuto looked down, guilt flickering in his chest. "She's okay now. I stayed until she fell asleep."
Emi studied him for a long, quiet moment. Then, softly, "You stayed by her side because you knew she needed you. I'm glad."
"I'll always protect her," he said, voice firm. "Even from things I can't predict."
"I know," Emi said. "That's why I trust you with her."
Yuto blinked. That was the first time she'd said it aloud.
"You don't need to sneak out next time," she added with a wink. "Just let me know, and I'll have breakfast waiting."
Yuto smiled, the weight on his chest easing slightly. "Thank you, Emi-san."
As he stepped outside, Emi stood in the entryway a moment longer, watching him disappear into the soft shadows of the estate grounds.
*****
The next day morning, in an office deep in central Tokyo, Ren Kazama seated at the head of the long table.
He said nothing at first, simply reviewing the reports on the tablet before him.
Across the table sat his assistant, quiet and still, like a loaded weapon waiting for a nod.
Ren finally spoke, his voice calm.
"Reiki Hoshino touched my daughter."
Ren continued while his eyes fixed on the report. "He dragged her into an alley. If Yuto hadn't gotten there in time, we'd be talking about more than bruised pride."
The assistant said nothing. He knew better.
Ren set the tablet down.
"I don't want retaliation," he said. "Not publicly. Not yet. The last thing I need is to start a war."
His assistant finally spoke. "What is your plan, sir?"
Ren leaned back in his chair. His expression didn't shift. But his eyes were deadly.
"I want Kaito Kurosawa to bleed slowly," he said. "Silently. I want his contacts erased, his deals rerouted, his shipments delayed. I want his son to feel pressure from the men he depends on. Quietly. Systematically."
He paused, then added coldly:
"And when he comes crawling to ask what happened, I want him to realize it all began the moment his bastard son touched what was mine."
His assistant gave a sharp nod. "Understood."
Ren stood, straightening his cuffs. "Do not touch Reiki. Yet. Let the world turn against his father first. The son will fall on his own."
As he turned to leave, his voice dropped to a near whisper:
"No one lays a hand on Hina. And walks away whole.
****
Back at the Kazama estate, Hina woke late in the morning, sunlight spilling across her bed, warming her skin through the sheer curtains.
She blinked slowly, stretching beneath the covers, her body still heavy with the memory of the night before.
The first thing she felt was the faint echo of comfort with Yuto's arms around her, the steady rise and fall of his chest against her cheek, the safe cocoon of silence they had shared.
It had been the first time in her life she had fallen asleep without worry.
She reached for her phone and found a message waiting.
Yuto: Did you sleep okay?
I left quietly. Didn't want to wake you.
I'll come over if you need me. Just say the word.
Her lips curled into a soft smile. She typed quickly, thumbs pausing between each word.
Hina: I slept so well I almost drooled. You were… comforting. I kind of didn't want you to leave.
Three dots blinked instantly.
Yuto: I didn't want to leave either. Next time, I'll stay longer. With permission. How's your heart today?
Hina stared at those words.
How's your heart today?
Not how are you, but her heart. The part that had been the most shaken.
Her fingers moved again.
Hina: Beating. A little slower. A little steadier. Because of you.
Before she could lock her phone, a knock sounded at her door.
"Come in," she called, sitting up quickly and pulling the blanket higher around her chest.
Emi stepped in, carrying a small tray with breakfast and barley tea. Her expression was gentle, her steps quiet.
"I thought you might be too lazy to come down this morning," she said teasingly. "And you earned a little spoiling."
"Mama…" Hina said, eyes softening. "Thank you."
Emi set the tray on the bedside table and sat at the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Hina whispered. "Tired. But safe."
Emi reached out, gently brushing her daughter's damp hair behind her ear. "Yuto stayed with you all night, didn't he?"
Hina nodded slowly.
"I was glad when I saw him leave," Emi murmured. "Because it meant you finally fell asleep. You never sleep deeply after something scares you. But last night, you did."
Hina's voice was barely audible. "He made me feel like nothing could reach me."
Emi smiled, soft and knowing. "That's what love is supposed to feel like."
There was a long, quiet pause.
"Papa's angry, isn't he?" Hina asked.
Emi sighed. "He's calm. Which is scarier."
Hina looked down. "I didn't want to cause trouble."
"You didn't," Emi said gently, lifting Hina's chin. "Reiki did. And your father isn't angry because he's a mafia boss. He's angry because he's your father. And in his eyes, you're still the little girl who held his pinky finger and followed him everywhere."
Hina's eyes stung. "Will he do something?"
"Of course," Emi said. "But you don't need to worry about that. You just rest. Heal. And let the people who love you do the protecting this time."
Hina nodded, blinking away the emotion rising in her chest.
Then, hesitantly, she asked, "Would it be okay if Yuto came over later? Not for anything special. Just… to be here."
Emi smiled. "You don't have to ask for permission, sweetheart. Not anymore."
She stood, smoothing the blanket over Hina's legs. "He's already part of this family. Your father just hasn't admitted it out loud yet."
As Emi walked toward the door, she paused.
"And Hina?" she said over her shoulder.
"Yeah?"
Emi gave her a small grin. "You're glowing."