As they reached Yona's house, the scene outside the train couldn't have prepared them for what they saw. The car that picked them up took a quiet turn into a long, private driveway.
Trees arched overhead like a living tunnel, and the road opened into a sprawling estate, elegant and surreal beneath the evening sky.
The house wasn't just big..it was magnificent. Modern lines met classical architecture, with tall, arched windows glowing from the inside, like the place itself breathed with warmth and legacy.
Three stories of stone and glass rose against the skyline, surrounded by manicured gardens, still fountains, and marble sculptures tucked into corners of ivy. Aria leaned forward, eyes wide.
"This is his house?" she whispered, half to herself.
Even Daiki, still wrestling with his quiet storm of emotions, looked out the window with a stunned expression. His jaw slackened this time..not from tension, but from disbelief.
None of them had known. None of them could've imagined this level of wealth. Except Noir. Noir said nothing. He simply glanced at the house with familiar eyes, no surprise in his face.
After all, Yona had been his best friend since they were kids. He had been here before. He had sat in those same rooms, laughed in that garden. For him, this wasn't new..it was memory.
As the car came to a gentle stop in the stone-paved courtyard, a man in formal wear stepped forward, bowing slightly. His face was composed, respectful.
"Welcome," the servant said softly. "Please, this way."
They followed him inside. The scent of soft incense lingered in the air, calming and quiet. Their footsteps echoed across polished marble floors. The walls were adorned with paintings..real ones, museum-level, the kind that whispered old money.
The servant led them toward the mourning hall. A space prepared for those coming to pay their respects.
The room was still. Somber. Sunlight filtered in through tall windows now fading with dusk. There, at the far end of the hall, Yona sat..composed, dressed in black, his face unreadable.
Aria's breath caught. Daiki froze. Everything felt heavy. The silence lingered in the room like a weight, broken only by the faint rustle of fabric as they shifted in their seats.
Daiki leaned forward slightly, his voice barely a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the stillness.
"Where is Yona… I want to see him."
Aria looked at him, soft and steady. She gently placed her hand over his, grounding him.
"Of course… he'll be here soon," she said with quiet assurance.
Daiki nodded, eyes fixed on the doorway. Ayumi, standing nearby, glanced toward Noir and spoke in a hushed tone.
"Yona never talked about his family before."
Noir looked at her, his expression unreadable. He didn't answer..only held her gaze for a moment before turning away. There was nothing to say. Some stories weren't his to tell.
Then the door opened. Yona entered the room, walking slowly beside Lira. His head was lowered, his hands clasped in front of him. Every step he took carried the weight of loss and the effort of keeping it all together.
When he finally lifted his gaze, his eyes landed straight on Noir. His lip trembled. And then, quietly..without a word..his tears fell.
Daiki moved before anyone else. He crossed the room in a few swift steps and pulled Yona into a firm embrace. Yona didn't resist..he collapsed into Daiki's arms like a dam breaking.
Noir followed behind silently, stepping up beside them. He didn't say anything, just rested a steady hand on Yona's back—reassuring, silent, strong.
The three of them stood together, grief and friendship tangled in silence. Across the room, Lira looked toward Aria and Ayumi, her expression pained, eyes glassy but composed.
Aria approached her gently, Ayumi at her side. Aria spoke softly, her voice like a thread of light.
"He'll be okay. We're all with him."
Ayumi nodded in agreement, placing a hand on Lira's arm. Lira gave a small nod, lips pressed together. No words came. But the presence of their support filled the air like warmth in winter.
Their embrace slowly loosened, though Yona's hand still clung to Daiki's sleeve. His tears had stopped, but the weight of them lingered in his eyes. He didn't try to hide it..not from them. Not now.
The door opened quietly once more. A woman stepped in..graceful, dressed in elegant black, her posture composed but not cold. Her presence brought a stillness with it.
She carried the kind of quiet strength that speaks without words. Her eyes, slightly tired, softened the moment she saw her son… and the friends surrounding him.
One of the house servants leaned toward her and whispered something. She gave a small nod, her gaze sweeping gently over the group.
"You must be Yona's friends," she said, voice warm, calm. "Thank you for coming."
Aria gave a small respectful nod. Ayumi lowered her head politely. Daiki offered a quiet "thank you" as Noir stood beside him, still and calm as always.
But the woman paused when her eyes fell on Noir. For a moment, something flickered.. recognition, deep and distant. She stepped a little closer, her expression softening even more.
"Noir?" she asked, gently.
He lifted his gaze and nodded. "It's been a long time."
She smiled..genuinely this time, and her voice held a layer of memory.
"You used to come here every weekend. You and Yona were always running through the garden like little wild things." She chuckled faintly, though emotion shimmered just behind her eyes.
"It's been years since we've seen you in this house."
Noir gave a small smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Yes… far too long."
She looked at him for another moment, as if remembering the boy he once was. Then, gently, she turned to the others.
"Come," she said. "Let's give you somewhere quiet to sit. You've come a long way."
They followed her and Lira through a long, softly lit hallway. The house around them was grand, but every sound felt hushed..as if the walls themselves were mourning too.
She led them into a smaller room..4warm and quiet, lined with tall bookshelves and soft rugs. Cushions were arranged around a low table, and the faint scent of tea and cedarwood hung in the air. A place for presence, not performance.
Yona lowered himself onto a cushion beside Lira. His mother placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, then looked to the group with one final, grateful nod before she quietly stepped out and closed the door behind her.
Silence wrapped around them like a blanket. Not heavy. Just… real. They all sat, unsure of how to begin, but knowing they didn't need to say much.
Then, Yona..voice still raw, but steady..looked up at them all and whispered:
"Thank you… for being here."
Yona's voice had barely faded when two voices echoed at once:
"Of course, man."
Daiki and Noir spoke together..soft but steady. Yona blinked, almost startled by their perfect timing. A faint, broken laugh escaped his lips..the kind that comes when pain meets comfort. He didn't say anything, but something in his eyes relaxed.
Ayumi leaned forward slightly, her voice gentle and certain.
"Yona… we're all with you."
He turned to look at her, the sincerity in her eyes unwavering. He gave a small nod, his voice quieter now:
"Thank you."
But before the silence could settle again, Aria spoke..light, firm, and full of that natural warmth only she could bring.
"You don't need to thank us."She smiled. "This is what friends do, right?"
Lira, still seated beside Yona, gave a soft nod in agreement.
"Of course."
She reached for Yona's hand, her fingers threading gently through his. He looked at her, quietly moved. Her eyes held his for a moment before she gave him a soft, steady smile.
"You see? I'll keep saying it… you're never alone."
Yona didn't speak, but his grip on her hand tightened. That one gesture said everything. Just then, the quiet creak of the door interrupted the stillness. A servant stepped in, carefully pushing a wheeled table adorned with an elegant spread of food.
Silver dishes gleamed under the soft lighting, filled with fragrant rice, roasted vegetables, delicate sweets, and warm breads. The scent was inviting..comforting, even. The servant bowed slightly and said softly:
"Please… you must be tired and hungry."
He arranged the table gently before stepping back and leaving them alone once more. None of them moved right away. They just sat there, together..surrounded by quiet grief, loyal friendship, and the comforting aroma of shared meals.
And in that moment, though no one said it aloud, they all felt it: They were here. For each other.
A soft knock echoed against the wooden door. Yona glanced toward it, his voice low but steady:
"Come in."
The door creaked open. She stepped inside. Ayumi's eyes widened the moment she saw her. Noir's jaw clenched slightly. Everyone looked toward the door, watching her steps echo softly against the floor.
Daiki turned his head to Noir, then quickly looked back at her, uncertain. She stopped a few steps into the room and gave a respectful nod.
"Sorry for your grandfather," she said, her tone light but formal.
Yona nodded politely.
"Thank you."
Without waiting for an invitation, she crossed the room and lowered herself onto the empty sofa beside Noir. The moment she sat, Noir immediately stood.
The tension in the room thickened like fog. Without a word, Noir moved to the other side of the room and sat beside Ayumi instead, keeping his eyes low and jaw locked.
Ayumi's gaze followed him..confused, but silent. And the girl..lowered her eyes for a moment, pain flickering in her features. She slowly stood and stepped forward, facing Noir.
"Please," she began, voice soft and shaky."I searched everywhere for you. Until I heard you were here… I.."
But Noir stood, eyes hard.
"What the hell is wrong with you, huh?" he snapped. "Don't you have any dignity?"
She flinched.
"There's nothing between us anymore. I already threw you out of my life the moment it ended. And I regret ever knowing you."
He spat her name like poison: "Yui."
The room froze. Daiki stood quickly, stepping toward Noir.
"Relax, Noir..come on, man."
But Noir wouldn't stop. His eyes still burning, he suddenly turned to Ayumi, grabbed her gently but firmly by the hand, pulling her up toward him..and before anyone could react..he kissed her.
A quick, sharp kiss. Full of fury, but also choice. Gasps broke the silence. He broke the kiss just as fast and looked at Ayumi, his eyes softer now, but unreadable.
Yui's eyes widened in disbelief. Her hands trembled, and tears slipped down her cheeks silently. Noir turned back to her coldly.
"Now get out of my sight."
Yui stood frozen for only a moment before the weight of everything collapsed over her. She turned and ran out of the room, sobbing as the door slammed shut behind her. No one moved.
Only the sound of Noir's heavy breathing remained. He exhaled slowly and lowered himself back onto the cushion, eyes now on the floor.
"…Sorry," he muttered.
Everyone was still staring at him. Daiki looked toward the door, then back at Noir.
"You were… very harsh on her."
Noir didn't respond right away. Then quietly, with no emotion:
"I finally got rid of her."
Yona looked at him but said nothing. His expression was unreadable, but heavy. Ayumi, still standing , was quiet. She didn't say a word about the kiss, but her heart was beating too fast. And though her cheeks were warm and her thoughts racing…
Inside, she was glowing. He chose her.
The room still held a faint weight, heavy from what had just happened. But Yona, sitting silently between Lira and Daiki, took a deep breath and slowly stood up. He walked toward the table of food, his hand brushing along the edge.
"Let's eat, guys…"he said quietly.
Then, trying to bring warmth into his voice:
"This food..my mother made it herself. You'll love it."
His words carried just enough softness to cut through the tension. Slowly, one by one, they all stood and followed him toward the table. Daiki stepped forward first, rubbing his hands together.
"It already looks amazing. Honestly, I'm starving."
Yona glanced over at him, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips, but the sadness still lingered in his eyes.
"Then let's eat."
They all gathered around, sitting comfortably on the cushions and pulling dishes toward them. Laughter hadn't returned to the room yet, but warmth was starting to bloom again in the quiet.
Ayumi reached for a small bowl, then glanced around the room with admiration.
"Your house is very big," she said, directing her words toward Yona. "And beautiful too."
yona gave a quiet nod.
"Thank you."
But Ayumi wasn't finished. Her curiosity pushed forward.
"You never told us about this before."
There was a pause. Yona didn't answer. He just kept his eyes down, stirring the rice on his plate. Noir, sitting beside Ayumi, gave her a gentle shake of the head..not scolding, just a subtle sign to let it go.
Ayumi caught the gesture and leaned back slightly. Before the silence grew too long, Aria jumped in..bright as ever.
"Your mother is so kind. And beautiful, too."
That got a reaction. Yona smiled..just a little. He didn't say anything, but his silence this time felt softer. Noir added with a small smirk, glancing sideways:
"She gets more beautiful every time I see her."
They all laughed gently. Even Yona chuckled under his breath. The mood softened. They passed plates around, shared small bites, and allowed themselves to simply enjoy the warmth of the moment.
At one point, as Ayumi reached for a piece of bread, her eyes drifted toward Noir. He was speaking with Daiki, calm now, collected, but the image of the kiss earlier returned to her all over again.
Her cheeks flushed lightly, and she quickly looked away, biting her lip. Noir, catching the slight movement, glanced toward her. He saw the faint pink on her cheeks and the flicker in her eyes.
He said nothing, but a small, knowing smile formed on his lips as he picked up his cup and took another sip, calm and steady.
Ayumi turned her focus back to her plate, but her fingers still tingled where he had held her hand. And though no one spoke of it again...the moment had not passed.
It had only just begun.
To be continue ...