The Man in the Shadows
The medical wing was still filled with warmth—both literal and emotional.
Darius and Clara sat quietly, their younger bodies still unfamiliar to them, when Keith spoke again, his tone calm yet resolute.
"Grandfather. Grandmother," Keith said, "I want to meet my great-grandfather."
The words fell like a stone into still water.
Silence.
Darius stiffened.
Clara's fingers paused mid-movement.
"…What did you say?" Clara asked softly.
Keith met their eyes without hesitation.
"I want to meet him."
For the first time in years, Darius looked genuinely shocked.
"How," Darius asked slowly, "do you know about him?"
Keith took a breath—not nervous, but respectful.
Keith's Deduction
"When I was in Japan," Keith began, "I was protected by two forces."
Darius narrowed his eyes slightly, listening.
"One was obvious—you, Grandfather. Your people, your influence, your reach."
He paused.
"But the second one was invisible."
Clara's expression sharpened.
"During the Kurosaki–Amamiya engagement incident," Keith continued, "dozens of companies terminated contracts within hours. That level of coordination wasn't just political pressure."
He raised his gaze.
"It was absolute authority."
Darius said nothing.
"And then there's the Runcandel Vision HQ," Keith said quietly.
"A structure that should have taken five to seven years… completed in one."
Keith smiled faintly.
"Even Runcandel power has limits. But this didn't."
He stepped closer.
"Someone was protecting me in the dark. Someone who loves me as deeply as you do—but chose never to appear."
Keith's voice softened.
"That kind of love doesn't come from business partners. Or allies."
He placed a hand over his chest.
"It comes from family."
Clara inhaled sharply.
"My mother's side," Keith went on. "My grandfather and grandmother passed away. That leaves only one person."
He looked at them both.
"My great-grandfather."
Recognition
For a long moment, Darius stared at Keith.
Then—
He laughed.
A deep, proud laugh.
"…You truly are his blood," Darius said, shaking his head.
Clara smiled—warm, but filled with emotion.
"To think you found him without ever being told," she murmured.
Darius and Clara exchanged a glance.
A silent conversation passed between them.
Then Darius nodded.
"You're right," he said.
"And you've earned the truth."
The Name Revealed
Clara spoke gently.
"His name is Karasuma Renya."
Keith did not flinch.
He only nodded.
"I thought so."
Darius stood.
"He is not a man the world should see lightly," Darius warned.
"He rules from shadows deeper than politics, deeper than war."
Keith bowed slightly.
"Then I will meet him as his great-grandson, not as the world."
Clara stepped forward and placed a hand on Keith's cheek.
"He's been waiting longer than you know."
Departure
Within hours, preparations were complete.
A special flight, unregistered and shielded from public records, awaited Keith alone.
No guards in uniform.
No banners.
Only silence.
As Keith stepped onto the aircraft, Darius spoke one last time.
"Be careful, Keith."
Keith turned back and smiled.
"He protected me without ever asking for recognition," Keith said.
"I owe him this meeting."
The door closed.
The jet lifted into the sky, heading east.
Somewhere in Japan…
In a quiet, ancient residence, an old man paused mid-movement.
"…He's coming," Karasuma Renya said softly.
Rum stiffened.
"…Lord Renya?"
Renya's lips curved upward.
"My great-grandson," he murmured.
"At last."
The shadows in the room seemed to breathe.