The word “Mother” hung in the air like a heavy weight, each letter sinking deeper into Aiko’s chest.

The woman who stood before her was everything Aiko had never known she was missing. Her long, black hair framed a face that was hauntingly familiar, her sharp features a perfect reflection of Aiko’s own. She had the same eyes — deep, dark, knowing. Aiko’s pulse raced, her mind struggling to catch up with the moment.

“You…” Aiko’s voice broke. “You’re… my mother?”

The woman’s lips curved slightly into a smile, though there was no warmth in it. “Yes, Aiko. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Sora stood stiffly beside Aiko, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make sense of the scene unfolding before him. Kaito, the man from before, took a step back, bowing his head respectfully.

Aiko couldn’t tear her eyes away from the woman standing in front of her, as though she might disappear if she blinked. “But… why didn’t you ever—?”

The woman raised a hand, silencing her gently. “There wasn’t a choice. You were never meant to know.” She turned her gaze to Kaito, who immediately stepped back into the shadows, silent. “It’s time you learned the truth.”

Aiko’s heart skipped a beat. “The truth?”

The woman’s eyes softened just for a moment, but the mask of control quickly returned. “You’re the heir to Kurohana.”

Aiko blinked, stunned. “What? No… that can’t be right. Kurohana’s just a name, a ghost story… You’re telling me—”

“Yes.” The woman’s voice was sharp, final. “You are the last descendant of a bloodline that has controlled this city for generations. Kurohana isn’t just a syndicate. It’s a dynasty. A hidden power that has shaped everything around us, from the shadows. And now, it’s yours.”

Aiko felt dizzy. “No. No, this can’t be real. I don’t want anything to do with this—”

“You don’t get to choose, Aiko.” Her mother’s tone was like ice. “You were born into this. Your blood is tied to the very foundation of Kurohana. You’re not just some outsider. You’re the key to the future — to restoring what was lost.”

Aiko recoiled, her chest tightening with panic. “I don’t want this. I don’t want any of it!”

“That’s not your decision to make.” Her mother’s words were laced with something cold and unyielding. “You will do as you’re told, or everything you’ve ever loved will be destroyed.”

Aiko felt like the walls were closing in. Her mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of truth she had just learned.

“Ren…?” she whispered. “What about Ren? Was he part of this? Was he trying to protect me from this—this legacy?”

Her mother’s eyes flickered with something that might have been regret, but she didn’t speak.

“Ren was a distraction.” She finally said, her voice like steel. “He wasn’t part of the plan. But he had a way of pulling you away from the truth. I knew this would happen eventually. That’s why I let him go.”

Aiko felt her world shatter.

“You… let him die?” Aiko’s voice cracked, her hands trembling. “You—”

“I did what I had to.” Her mother’s gaze hardened. “This is bigger than you, Aiko. Bigger than anyone. This is the legacy of Kurohana. And you will be part of it, whether you like it or not.”

Sora stepped forward, his voice cutting through the tension. “This is insane. You can’t just drag her into this. She doesn’t owe anyone anything.”

The woman looked at him, her eyes narrowing. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.” She turned back to Aiko, her voice softening, but just barely. “Aiko, your inheritance is the power to control this city. You can end everything — Kurohana’s reign, your pain, your past — with a single decision. Choose wisely.”

Aiko stood frozen, the weight of her mother’s words crushing her.

She wasn’t just a girl who had lost someone. She wasn’t just a grieving artist. She wasn’t just someone searching for answers.

She was Kurohana’s heir.

The woman’s gaze never left Aiko. “You have a choice, Aiko. You can take your place, and restore the legacy of Kurohana. Or you can destroy it all. But know this: the world will change either way.”

Aiko’s heart hammered in her chest, her body shaking. She couldn’t breathe. She didn’t know what to believe anymore.

But one thing was clear.

The truth was far darker than anything she’d ever imagined.

To be continued in...

Chapter 7: The Heir of Kurohana

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