Chapter 85 - Blindness

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Side Story ーChildren's Storyー

 

Chapter 85

 

 

Shion Kunishiro had turned twelve.

 

As always, he rose promptly at six in the morning, meticulously donning his uniform without a single crease out of place. Standing before the full-length mirror, he examined his reflection and let out a small sigh, quiet enough that no one would hear.

 

His hair, a soft shade of ash brown, was neatly trimmed short. His large eyes, clear and sky-colored, shimmered faintly with a touch of gold—just like his father Aoi's.

 

Since he was little, people often said Shion took after Aoi. And truthfully, even Shion himself would occasionally find that his facial features closely resembled his father's. Still… if he had to choose, he would've preferred to look more like Yuto.

 

His father, with his strikingly beautiful and cool demeanor, was always calm—so composed that even at home, he rarely let his guard down. That unapproachable aura made it hard for a younger Shion to depend on him. It wasn't fear, exactly—just an ever-present distance.

 

It wasn't that he disliked his father. On the contrary, Shion respected him deeply. If he brought a concern to him, Aoi would listen with quiet kindness and always offer precise, thoughtful advice. As a person, Aoi was undeniably admirable.

 

But the title "Current Head of the Kunishiro Conglomerate," attached to his father's name, followed Shion wherever he went.

 

And being the eldest son of Aoi Kunishiro—bearing that title himself—was heavy. Sometimes, the sheer weight of others' expectations pressed so hard on his young shoulders that he felt like crying.

 

Still, Shion worked hard to become someone worthy of the Kunishiro name.

 

Because he was the eldest son. Someday, it would fall to him to lead the Kunishiro family. That was why he needed to stay strong. His little sister, five years his junior, was easygoing to the point of worry. A brother's duty was to protect his sister. And to do that, he needed to become capable. Reliable. Respected.

 

Staring into the mirror at his uniform-clad self, Shion sometimes felt like his own reflection was glaring back at him—reprimanding him: "A Kunishiro man must never wear such a pathetic face." "Straighten up. Look sharp!" The ideal version of himself loomed always in the background, scolding the real Shion for falling short.

 

Keep your collar-length hair trimmed so it doesn't brush the uniform's neckline. Maintain a polished, clean appearance at all times... The school's teachers never stopped harping on such rules.

 

But it made sense. Fort Worth Academy was among the country's most prestigious schools, filled with the children of elites from every corner of the nation. Most of the middle and upper school students were elite Alphas. To uphold the academy's reputation, students were expected to act with unwavering dignity no matter where they were, to carry themselves with pride. The rules weren't mere suggestions—they were expectations.

 

Not that anyone had to remind Shion. Upholding the academy's name and standards was an obligation as natural to him as breathing.

 

After all, his father Aoi, his uncle Ren, and Mikado—all three had graduated from Fort Worth. And now, those three led the very forefront of the national economy.

 

As their son, Shion couldn't afford to fall behind. He'd known that instinctively, ever since he was old enough to understand the world.

 

Thanks to the rigorous gifted education he'd received from early childhood, his progression through the academy's kindergarten and lower school had been smooth. The six years in lower school were challenging but rewarding, and though the coursework was demanding, having a private tutor had allowed him to maintain top marks. Without that support, staying in the top tier of students would've been nearly impossible.

 

Now, in just two months, he would face the exam to move into middle school.

 

He'd once overheard a rumor: anyone who didn't make the grade would be mercilessly cut. That thought alone made his stomach churn.

 

"Ugh… my stomach hurts…"

 

He tore his eyes from the mirror and pressed a hand to his abdomen, sighing heavily. He had to eat something soon, or he'd be late for school. Grabbing his bag, he stood before the door, drew a deep breath, steeled his expression—and stepped out into the hallway.

 

＋

 

"Morning, Shion!"

 

"Ah… morning, Rei, Tasuku."

 

On his way to the dining room, Shion nearly bumped into the twins—Rei and Tasuku. They were the sons of his father's older brother—his cousins. But having grown up together in the same house since birth, they were more like little brothers to him than cousins.

 

And while they might be his "little brothers"… Rei and Tasuku were prodigies.

 

Unlike Shion, who had to put in constant effort just to stay on top, the twins were naturally gifted—sharp of mind and blessed with striking beauty.

 

With hair like spun platinum silk and eyes as vivid as polished emeralds, they drew awe-struck sighs from nearly everyone who laid eyes on them together.

 

They were identical twins, difficult to tell apart at first glance. But Shion had long since memorized the cues: Rei had sleek, straight hair, while Tasuku's was soft and wavy, almost like a natural perm.

 

Despite being only eight—four years younger than Shion—they had once breezed through a set of entrance exam past papers he'd jokingly handed them. Working together, they had solved them effortlessly. From that moment on, Shion couldn't help but see them as rivals… a little shameful for an older brother, perhaps.

 

"Shion, your face looks kinda pale," Rei said.

 

"Is your stomach hurting?" Tasuku added with concern.

 

They wore the same school uniform as Shion, though the younger students' version included knee-length shorts. Their slim, pale legs peeked out above neatly patterned argyle socks—an ensemble that suited them so well it seemed practically tailored.

 

With both of them walking beside him, peering up with identical looks of worry, Shion couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed of himself for seeing them as rivals.

 

Yes, they were kind. And he knew they held a deep affection for him—for Shion had cared for them like an older brother long before they were old enough to remember.

 

With a wry smile, Shion reached out and patted each of their heads. He had just recently surpassed 150 centimeters, but the twins still only came up to his chest.

 

"…No, I'm okay. It's just the studying. The exam's coming up soon."

 

"You'll be fine. Your name's always near the top of the rankings," Rei replied coolly.

 

"Yeah, totally! We're cheering for you!" Tasuku grinned brightly. "And we won't bug you while you study!"

 

Rei, with his silky hair and calm demeanor, gave off a composed air that reminded Shion of Ren. Tasuku, with his unruly curls and boundless cheer, was the spitting image of his father, Mikado.

 

When they were babies, they moved in perfect sync, like mirrors. Now that they were older, differences had started to emerge, yet they still shared a deep, invisible bond—often moving as if guided by the same breath. It was always a fascinating sight to behold.

 

Just then, as if triggered by the same thought, both twins lit up with realization.

 

"Hey, Shion! Mr. Suno is coming today, isn't he?"

 

"Oh… now that you mention it, yeah. Mom said he'd be staying with us for work."

 

"I can't wait! It's been forever since we last saw Yuha!"

 

"Yuha, huh…"

 

The Kunishiro and Suno families had a long-standing relationship—one that stretched back generations. The Sunos were a prestigious family of traditional Japanese dance, and their current head, Masami Suno, an Omega and the twenty-sixth head, was especially close with Shion's mother, Yuto. Their names came up in conversation often.

 

Naturally, the children of such families also grew up together. Yuha, the eldest son of the Suno family, was a year younger than Shion, and the two had been close since they were little.

 

Shion had always looked forward to the Sunos' visits, eagerly awaiting their arrival.

 

Even to Shion's eyes, Masami Suno was undeniably elegant and beautiful. But Yuha—his son—was brash, wild, and strong-willed. It wasn't unusual for their playdates to end in arguments.

 

Still, neither of them ever stayed angry for long. Within half an hour, they'd forget all about the fight and be back to playing as if nothing had happened.

 

Once school started, their time together was limited to long vacations, but even then, whenever they met, it felt as if no time had passed. They would pick up right where they left off.

 

But ever since about half a year ago—since the moment Shion was revealed to be an alpha—Yuha had started to change. There was a distance now, a subtle coolness in his attitude. He always seemed vaguely irritated.

 

Yuha had always had a short fuse, so maybe it was nothing to worry about… But he hadn't come to visit during summer break, and even his messages had grown sparse.

 

"Did you and Yuha have a fight?"

 

Rei, noticing the shift in Shion's mood, looked up at him with concern and asked gently. Shion was struck by how considerate the boy was—so young and yet already so thoughtful—and he shook his head with a smile.

 

"No, nothing like that. I'm looking forward to seeing him too."

 

"Maybe Yuha's just jealous since you're an alpha," Tasuku chimed in, his voice stretching lazily.

 

"Yeah," Rei agreed, nodding. "He's always saying how he wants to be one."

 

"Yuha'll probably turn out to be an alpha anyway," Shion replied. "He's stronger than me in a fight, and he's smart, too."

 

"Hmm… I don't know. I feel like Kasumi seems more like an alpha than Yuha does," said Rei thoughtfully.

 

That made Shion chuckle. For someone so small, Rei sure liked to sound like he knew everything.

 

Kasumi was Yuha's younger sister, the same age as Shion's sister, Kikuno. But unlike the dreamy and gentle Kikuno, Kasumi was quick-witted, decisive, and sharp-tongued—widely considered the most formidable member of the Suno household.

 

Yuha had always said, "I want to be an alpha," like it was a dream he held close. And now, with modern blood tests becoming more accurate, the time for his secondary gender to be revealed was approaching.

 

According to Dr. Ayase, some research institutions were even developing methods to determine secondary gender from infancy.

 

"Well, it doesn't matter either way," Shion said, cutting the conversation short as they arrived at the dining room. "We're friends, no matter what."

 

He had said it lightly for the twins' sake—but deep down, Shion remembered vividly the flood of relief he'd felt when he learned he was an alpha.

 

It was as though he'd finally acquired the missing piece he needed to be truly recognized as the heir of the Kunishiro family.

 

He didn't think less of omegas. Not at all. Especially after Ren's public coming-out had shattered the long-standing belief that alphas were inherently superior to omegas. But that was true only for exceptional cases.

 

In the broader world, Alphas were still seen as stronger, more capable—both physically and intellectually.

 

And to grow into someone who could support and protect the Kunishiro family as an adult, Shion felt he had to be an Alpha. That was the belief he'd grown up with since he was small.

 

He wanted to get closer—to reach the father who always seemed to walk so far ahead of him.

 

Not just as someone being protected. But truly, on equal footing.

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