Broken Masks and Burning Wars
Vermouth Finds Yukiko Fujimine
Rain fell softly over a forgotten coastal town.
The house Vermouth stood before was small—too small.
Paint peeled from damp walls, windows fogged with age, the scent of mildew clinging to the air.
This was not the life of a former star.
Vermouth knocked.
After a few seconds, the door creaked open.
A woman stood there with tired eyes—but the moment Vermouth saw her face, there was no doubt.
Yukiko Fujimine.
Once radiant.
Once adored.
Now surviving.
Yukiko blinked, confused at first… then her eyes widened.
"C—Chris…?"
Before she could say another word, Vermouth pulled her into a tight embrace.
The moment Yukiko felt those familiar arms—
She broke.
Tears streamed down her face as she clutched Vermouth like a lifeline.
"I tried to smile," Yukiko sobbed.
"I really did… but everything kept falling apart."
Vermouth held her firmly, voice low and steady.
"You don't have to pretend anymore," she said.
"I found you. That's enough."
Inside the house, Vermouth saw the truth.
• Old furniture salvaged from trash
• Part-time work tools stacked in corners
• Medical bills unpaid
• Scripts long expired
A once-great actress reduced to odd jobs just to eat.
Vermouth's eyes hardened.
Unforgivable.
She took Yukiko's hands.
"Pack your things," Vermouth said.
"You're coming with me."
Yukiko hesitated.
"I… I don't have anything to offer."
Vermouth smiled softly.
"You're wrong.
You're exactly what we need."
Shiro Suzuki's War Escalates
Japan, meanwhile, was burning—quietly.
Shiro Suzuki had finally learned the truth.
Not from evidence.
Not from proof.
But from desperation.
Every investigation led him to the same dead ends—false trails pointing toward Kurosaki and Amamiya.
And Shiro believed it.
His retaliation was brutal.
• Corporate espionage
• Stock manipulation
• Leaked documents
• Weaponized media narratives
The Kurosaki Group was hit first.
Executives resigned.
Loans were frozen.
Overseas contracts were cancelled overnight.
Then came Amamiya.
Their fragile recovery shattered completely.
Kazuto Amamiya was exposed as incompetent once again—his past resurfacing like poison.
Harumi Amamiya, now his wife, became the target of public ridicule.
"Bad judgment."
"Failed marriage."
"Corporate parasite."
Shiro didn't care who burned—
As long as it wasn't him.
The Trap Tightens
But Shiro didn't realize one thing.
Every move he made was being watched.
Every illegal transaction logged.
Every threat recorded.
Every bribe traced.
Red Queen observed silently.
Subject: Shiro Suzuki
Psychological stability: deteriorating
Probability of self-destruction: increasing
In France, Keith read the report calmly.
"So he chose war," Keith murmured.
Vermouth, now back with him, spoke quietly.
"Yukiko's safe," she said.
"She'll recover."
Keith nodded.
"Good."
Then his eyes sharpened.
"As for Shiro…"
"Let him keep fighting."
He closed the file.
"The deeper he sinks," Keith continued,
"the easier it will be to erase him."
A New Beginning for Yukiko
That night, Yukiko arrived at the Runcandel mansion.
Warm lights.
Clean air.
Safety.
She stood frozen at the entrance, overwhelmed.
Keith approached her politely.
"Welcome to Runcandel," he said.
"I hope you'll stay."
Yukiko bowed deeply, tears forming again.
"I won't waste this chance."
Keith smiled.
"You won't need to prove anything," he replied.
"Just be yourself."
From the shadows, Vermouth watched.
And for the first time in years—
Yukiko Fujimine believed she could shine again.