The next day, Yoru and QP boarded a plane to Wimbledon, England.
Given the sensitive nature of the trip, neither Yoru nor Nanjiroh revealed the true purpose to Rinko—they simply claimed they were "going out for a change of scenery." QP tagged along purely to avoid sitting through another round of family drama, which he considered torture.
But secrets never stay buried for long.
After their departure, Ryoga—sharp as ever—noticed something was off. After relentless questioning, Nanjiroh finally cracked and revealed the real reason for Yoru's trip to England.
"No wonder Big Bro didn't let me come! Do you have any idea how cruel this is for him? You bastard!"
Ryoga's fist collided with Nanjiroh's face. The older man didn't dodge, taking the blow squarely. A bruise immediately bloomed around his eye.
"If I'd known Big Bro would have to do this... I never would've come back."
The punch seemed to drain Ryoga of all strength. He slumped to the floor, curling into himself as silent sobs wracked his body.
Nanjiroh placed a hand on Ryoga's back and sat beside him, equally defeated. "I regretted saying it the moment the words left my mouth. But Nan... he said he's your brother."
"That's exactly why I didn't want him to suffer for me!" Ryoga lifted his head, eyes hollow. "To me, Rinko, you, and Auntie... you're my real parents. And Big Bro, Ryoma... they're my real brothers."
"When my parents died, it wasn't abandonment. But for Big Bro..."
He couldn't even imagine the pain Yoru must be feeling—meeting the woman who discarded him, all for the sake of helping him. The guilt crashed over Ryoga like a tidal wave.
In his eyes, Yoru's situation was worse than his own. At least Ryoga knew he hadn't been abandoned.
Silence stretched between them.
Finally, Nanjiroh spoke softly. "To Nan, you and Ryoma are his brothers. The only thing you can do now... is remember that."
---
As they stepped inside, Rinko—midway through slicing fruit—paused at the sight of Nanjiroh's swollen eye. "What happened to your face?"
"Ah, well—"
Ryoga cut in smoothly. "The old man was browsing adult dating apps. I caught him and punched him."
"Eh?!"
Before Nanjiroh could process the betrayal, a slender hand seized the back of his hair. In the blink of an eye, he vanished—only his wooden geta remained, suspended mid-air for a split second before clattering to the ground.
"SHINEEEEEE!!"
Rinko's war cry echoed through the house, followed by rhythmic thuds and Nanjiroh's increasingly pitiful wails.
Ryoga slipped into the backyard and dialed Yoru's number.
---
Airport, Pre-Flight
Yoru glanced at Ryoga's caller ID and sighed. "He knows."
The moment the call connected, Ryoga's strained voice confirmed it: "...Big Bro."
A single word, heavy with guilt.
Yoru exhaled. "Unreliable old man..."
In the background, Rinko's furious shouts made him tense. "Does Mom know?"
"No. I just—" Ryoga quickly explained the adult app cover story.
Yoru's eyelid twitched. That's a death sentence. Rinko would turn Nanjiroh into a human punching bag.
"...Sorry, Big Bro."
"Don't be stupid. Who else is gonna look after you if not me?" Yoru chuckled. "Gotta go—plane's taking off."
He hung up.
---
First-Class Cabin
"Rich people really live differently," QP mused, reclining his plush seat to maximum comfort.
After a pause, he added, "So your mother is Joanna Longman. No wonder you inherited Sensory Manipulation."
"Correction: birth mother." Yoru adjusted his sunglasses. "My only mom is Rinko."
He felt no connection to the woman who'd abandoned him. If not for Ryoga—and the system's quest—he'd never have sought her out.
Still, part of him did want to see her. Not for reconciliation, just... to know.
QP didn't press further. As another child of abandonment, he understood.
His attention soon shifted to the plane's luxuries. Last time, he'd been too reserved to explore. Now, he poked at buttons curiously—
Click.
A hidden compartment slid open, revealing a row of designer sunglasses.
QP blinked. "...Huh."
---
Wimbledon Airport – 1:00 PM
One hour until the women's finals.
Yoru and QP stepped off the plane, shades on, exuding icy coolness. A vintage luxury car awaited them, its polished exterior gleaming under the midday sun.
A plump, overdressed woman scurried forward. "Welcome! I'm Marian, Joanna's manager. The match starts soon—please, this way!"
Yoru's gaze turned glacial.
This "Marian"—according to Nanjiroh—was the one who'd convinced Joanna to abandon him. While the primary blame lay with Joanna herself, this woman was no innocent bystander.
QP, sensing the tension, gave Yoru's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before nodding at Marian. "Thanks."
The car ride was suffocatingly silent.
Marian, ever the professional, forced a smile. "We've prepared a VIP suite for you—fully stocked with refreshments. Just let the staff know if you need anything!"
"Mm." QP handled the replies, sparing Yoru the effort.
Despite the short distance, traffic stretched the trip to thirty minutes. Upon arrival, Marian hurriedly ushered them to their suite.
"The match is starting—I must return to the locker room. Enjoy!"
She left without looking back.
---
VIP Suite
Yoru's eyes locked onto the figure stepping onto the court.
Joanna Longman.
Up close, the resemblance was undeniable—the same sharp jawline, the same piercing gaze. Yet the woman radiating cold dominance bore no trace of maternal warmth.
A notification chimed in his mind.
[Quest Complete: Meet Joanna Longman. Reward: Talent Upgrade Card x1!]
Without hesitation, Yoru stood. "Let's go, QP. Back to Japan."
"...What?"
---
Locker Room Hallway
Marian froze mid-step. A shudder ran down her spine as a horrifying realization struck her.
Her face paled. "That boy... his eyes...!"
Too late.
The car was already gone.
---