On our drive home, Mio remained visibly stunned.

"I never imagined... that someone like Saeki would expose everything... Isn't he supposed to be one of the bad guys?"


"There are no purely good or purely evil people in this world," I replied, navigating the road with steady hands. "No fury in hell matches that of a man whose genuine devotion has been betrayed. We didn't coerce him—we merely provided a glimpse of truth and a channel for his rage."

I caught Mio's thoughtful expression in the rearview mirror.

"The payment footage, the unaltered recording of Hana's instructions, and now Saeki's public testimony."


I turned the wheel, guiding us into the private drive of the Ryuuji estate, lined with stately plane trees.

I parked and gazed at the mansion bathed in sunset's glow, a cold smile playing at my lips.


"Now we simply wait for the perfect moment to... bring everything crashing down."

The school scandal appeared to leave Hana untouched.

With her consummate acting and impeccable damage control, she temporarily contained the controversy. She cast herself as the innocent victim of malicious slander, garnering even more sympathy from those ignorant of the truth.

Moreover, she swiftly secured a far more valuable target than Saeki—Takuya Igarashi, sole heir to the Igarashi conglomerate.

Father hosted an extravagant dinner that evening. The Igarashi family—honored guests—occupied the prime positions at our table.

Hana appeared breathtaking—a celestial vision in a custom midnight-blue gown, her makeup flawless. She conversed with perfect poise throughout dinner, bringing immense pride to our parents. The Igarashi couple regarded her with undisguised approval.

Mio, though permitted to attend, sat silently in her modest dress—a beautiful but ignored ornament. No one addressed her or acknowledged her presence.

I assumed my customary role as the superfluous, silent eldest daughter.

The dinner reached its zenith amid pleasant conversation. Father and Mr. Igarashi had begun addressing each other as "in-laws," while Mrs. Igarashi clasped Hana's hand, already calling her "our future daughter-in-law."

Hana's ambition to marry into wealth appeared on the verge of fulfillment.

Father rose, glass in hand, preparing an effusive toast.

"Mr. and Mrs. Igarashi, we're deeply honored by your presence tonight. To join our families in alliance..."

"Father, a moment, please."

I rose, my voice measured yet unmistakable, cutting through his speech.

Every eye turned to me. Father's expression darkened with irritation: "Tsukiyo, what is it? Can't you see we're hosting distinguished guests?"

"It's precisely because they are distinguished guests that they deserve to see the true character of the daughter the Ryuuji family offers."

I smiled, moving to the expansive media wall and connecting my laptop to the display.

"Before we celebrate, I'd like to share something fascinating—consider it a brief entertainment."

I pressed play.

The first clip showed Hana in the garden, coaxing Mio to pluck the "Moon Goddess" orchid. Her manipulative tone and Mio's hesitant compliance were captured with perfect clarity.

My parents' expressions shifted subtly. The Igarashis exchanged puzzled glances.

"Every good presentation needs structure—beginning, development, climax, and resolution," I explained calmly, advancing to the second clip.

The abandoned factory, dimly lit. Hana tossing an envelope to Tanaka, who deleted files before her eyes.

"What exactly is..." Mr. Igarashi's brow furrowed.

Father's face had drained of color: "Tsukiyo! What do you think you're doing? Turn that off immediately!"

"Patience, Father. We're just reaching the climax."

Ignoring his furious protests, I played the final audio file through the room's premium sound system.

Hana's cold, unmistakable voice filled the room with crystal clarity.

"...It's simple. You burst in at the arranged time, create a scene, then produce this recorder I've given you and claim Mio orchestrated everything..."

"...Once it's done, this payment is yours. Don't worry about my sister—she's an absolute fool. She's no match for me..."

The room plunged into absolute silence.

Hana's face turned ashen. She leapt to her feet, pointing at me wildly: "That's fake! She fabricated everything! She's always been jealous of me!"

"Is that so?" I regarded her with the faintest hint of pity. "Then I suppose Saeki's heartfelt confession on the school forum is also fabricated?"

"I..." Hana faltered, words failing her.

Mr. Igarashi's expression had hardened to stone.

He rose abruptly, addressing my father with icy formality: "What an... illuminating performance. Mr. Ryuuji, I believe we deserve an explanation."

Father turned on me furiously: "Tsukiyo, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

Mother joined in: "I know you've always been jealous of your sister, but to ruin such an important evening—how could you?"

Hana collapsed into Mother's embrace, sobbing with theatrical devastation.

What a family, indeed.

I regarded them coldly, but this time I wasn't standing alone—Mio was beside me.

She finally found her voice, speaking with newfound courage: "That night, I never mentioned going to any club. It was Hana who wanted to go. I don't understand how everything became twisted afterward!"

"My sister Tsukiyo and I have proof. That recording was completely fabricated." Mio's voice grew stronger as she pointed directly at Hana. "You framed me! You deliberately played the innocent to make our parents believe I was the troublemaker!"

Mr. Igarashi observed the unfolding drama with shrewd eyes: "Interesting. I've heard Hana described as gracious and kind. If that's true, why would both her sisters unite against her?"

Father floundered, confronted with irrefutable evidence. He managed only a placating smile: "There must be some misunderstanding. Perhaps we should investigate further?"

Mr. Igarashi's response was a contemptuous snort: "That won't be necessary."

Hana rushed tearfully toward Takuya Igarashi: "You believe me, don't you? They're conspiring against me!"

Takuya Igarashi stepped back smoothly, his voice devoid of emotion: "I'm sorry, but I defer to my father's judgment in all matters."

As the massive front door closed behind the Igarashi family, Hana seemed to deflate completely. With an anguished cry, she crumpled to the floor, her theatrical sobs echoing through the sudden silence.

Our parents sat frozen, their expressions vacant, as though some essential part of them had been violently extracted. Their gaze darted between Hana's crumpled form and Mio's straight-backed stance beside me, their eyes reflecting confusion and dawning horror.

"How could... how could this happen..." Mother murmured, dazed.

I approached them—these two people who had given me life yet denied me justice.

"Do you know," my voice was quiet but cutting, "I've spent my entire life waiting for you to see me—truly see me—just once."

I gripped Mio's hand firmly.

"Why has Hana become this monster? Because you only respond to tears. When she cries, you offer sweets; when she throws tantrums, you surrender. Meanwhile, Mio's and my quiet endurance you mistook for defiance."

Mother's mouth opened soundlessly while Father's face contorted with bewildered pain: "We gave you everything—good food, fine clothes—why would you do this..."

"Because we never wanted food and clothing!" My voice rose for the first time. "We wanted you to see—to see that when Hana stole my belongings, you said 'be generous'; to see that when Mio was falsely accused, you condemned her without question—"

I drew a deep breath and enunciated each word precisely:

"It is you who, through blind favoritism, created this monster who only knows how to take. It is you who, through persistent injustice, forced Mio and me to become what we are today. Everything unfolding now is merely the harvest of seeds you planted years ago."

My parents' faces drained of color, as though my words had physically wounded them.

Mother crumpled, hiding her face in her hands, while Father collapsed onto the sofa, suddenly appearing a decade older. They finally recognized the monster they had created, but the realization came far too late.

I no longer cared about their reactions. I turned to Mio, whose tightly pressed lips had finally relaxed into the faintest smile of liberation.

"Come, Mio." I took her hand firmly, my voice gentle now. "From this day forward, I'll protect you. Our true home isn't behind us—it's ahead, in the future we'll build together."

We walked away, leaving the wreckage of lies and regret behind us. Sunlight streamed through the corridor windows, illuminating our path forward and casting our intertwined shadows before us.