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The lapping of waves against the hull of a ship set the rhythm of the crossing, while the sea breeze played with Geto's hair. Draped in his usual long black coat, he stood at the bow of the vessel. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, where the water and sky seemed to merge in an endless dance.
A faint rustle behind him announced Manami's discreet arrival. The young woman held a binder against her chest. She stood still for a moment, hesitant, as if searching for the right words—or the right posture—to break her superior's concentration.
"Still no word from Miguel and Toshihisa?" Geto asked calmly, without taking his eyes off the ocean.
Manami's shoulders slumped slightly, her expression uneasy. She gripped the binder a little tighter before answering in almost a whisper: "No… not yet."
Geto gave only a brief nod in response. The conversation could have ended there, but the heavy air of uncertainty seemed to stretch between them, almost tangible.
"And? Are we close to arriving?" Geto asked after a few seconds, his voice carrying louder on the wind.
Manami quickly lifted her head, nervously consulted her notes, flipped a few pages, and finally replied: "About three more hours. We'll reach the island soon."
Silence.
Geto closed his eyes for a moment, inhaled deeply, then turned slightly toward her.
"Then I have no choice but to become savage… Do you think I'm wrong?"
Manami froze for a moment.
"No," she finally answered, with more certainty than she expected.
A faint smile—or perhaps a grimace—touched Geto's lips, but he said nothing. He turned back toward the horizon, and Manami briefly wondered whether he was searching for a destination, or for a justification for what lay ahead.
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The door of a suite opened softly, revealing Ryosuke. He had barely stepped inside when a woman rushed toward him, arms outstretched.
She embraced him.
"Mom…"
The woman tightened her hold, trembling.
"Let me hold you," she whispered. "Just for a little while."
Ryosuke felt his chest tighten.
"And Sayuri? How is she?"
His mother finally pulled back, her eyes red but full of tenderness.
"She's in her room," she said gently. "She's still a bit shaken…"
Then, hesitantly, she added: "You shouldn't have come all the way here, Ryosuke. Don't you have classes? You could have just sent a message…"
Ryosuke shook his head, a reassuring smile on his lips.
"School isn't more important than family."
At that moment, a voice rose behind him.
"Looks like Ryosuke didn't come alone."
Ryosuke turned to let Utahime step inside. She moved forward slightly and bowed.
"Utahime Iori, Ryosuke's academic supervisor. I am deeply sorry for the tragedy you've been through."
Ryosuke's mother looked at her with gratitude tinged with sadness.
"We survived… miraculously."
A brief silence fell, heavy with emotion. Visibly uncomfortable with the tension, Ryosuke made his way to the spiral staircase at the end of the hallway.
He stopped before a wooden door adorned with delicate patterns, hesitated a moment, then drew a deep breath and knocked softly.
"Sayuri?" he murmured, his voice full of tenderness. "It's me."
A faint sound, barely perceptible, came from the other side. Ryosuke placed a hand on the door.
It opened slowly, just a crack, letting a sliver of light seep into the dark room.
Sayuri stood there, withdrawn, wearing an oversized sweater, her hair slightly disheveled. Her face was pale, her eyes swollen, but she couldn't hide a trembling smile at the sight of her brother.
"Big brother…" she whispered, her voice fragile as glass.
He smiled softly and extended his hand.
"Hey, little sister."
She hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sweater, but finally took a step forward. Then another. Until her hand finally touched Ryosuke's. That simple gesture seemed to break a dam: Sayuri collapsed against him, her tears spilling out in torrents.
"I thought I was going to die…" she sobbed, her voice muffled against his chest. "I was so scared, big brother…"
He held her tightly, gently stroking her hair.
"I know. But look at me: it's over now. I'm here. Nothing will happen to you as long as I'm here."
She hiccuped, as if trying to speak, but in the end just clung to him. After a few moments, he gently guided her to her bed, a cocoon of pillows and soft blankets. They sat side by side, Sayuri still clinging to him like an anchor.
Ryosuke turned his head slightly at the sound of quiet footsteps approaching. Utahime appeared in the doorway, her serious expression softened with empathy.
She stepped forward slowly, her movements light, as if careful not to disturb the fragile calm of the room. At the sight of Sayuri, she offered a gentle, almost maternal smile.
"Hello, Sayuri," she said warmly. "I'm Utahime, one of your brother's supervisors."
Sayuri, still nestled against Ryosuke, looked up at her with hesitant mistrust, but the young woman's soft demeanor seemed to ease her nerves slightly.
Bowing politely, Utahime added: "You mean a great deal to your brother. I never knew he had such a tender side."
Ryosuke turned away, visibly embarrassed by Utahime's remark. He cleared his throat, hoping to diffuse the awkwardness.
"That's not… that's not it!" he stammered, his cheeks slightly red. "And you, Sayuri, stop clinging to me. I'm not a plush toy, you know."
Sayuri lifted her head, still sniffling, but her lips curved into a mischievous smile.
"But big brother, you said yourself nothing would happen to me as long as you're here," she replied, her voice already brighter.
Utahime couldn't hold back a soft laugh.
"Come on, Ryosuke," she said with an amused smile. "I think your little sister is taking you at your word. You should be flattered, don't you think?"
He sighed, raising his hands as if in surrender.
"That doesn't mean I have to turn into a giant stuffed toy," he grumbled, shooting an accusatory glance at Sayuri. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Sayuri pretended to think, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Maybe… just a little," she said with a small laugh before snuggling against him again.
This time, Ryosuke groaned loudly, feigning exasperation, though his touch was gentle as he adjusted the pillows behind her.
"I give up," he said, throwing his hands up, which made both Utahime and Sayuri burst out laughing.
"I must admit," Utahime said teasingly, "I'm discovering a whole new side of you, Ryosuke. Who would have thought you were such a protective big brother?"
"Keep this up," he muttered, a hand on his forehead, "and I'll start regretting letting you in."