"Haruka! Your future is more important! Why don't you listen to me!"
Haruto's voice rose without him realizing it—a tone he'd never used with his sister before.
Haruka's eyes widened in shock, her shoulders tensing as she clenched her fists to steady herself.
"I... After Mom died, you barely spoke to me... Do you really not want me by your side anymore?"
Her voice wavered, her gaze locked on him, the glimmer of unshed tears threatening to spill over.
"No, of course not!"
Haruto reached out to take her hand, but she slapped it away, the sting hitting deeper than he expected.
"I just want what's best for you," he said softly.
Haruka's face twisted with hurt.
"What do you know is best for me? We're barely even close as it is!"
She shot to her feet, leaving the table without a second glance.
Haruto dropped a few bills on the table and rushed after her. "Haruka, please, just hear me out..."
"Don't follow me!" she snapped, her tone laced with anger and betrayal.
"Don't be like this," he pleaded, trying to keep his voice steady.
"You have a bigger future than mine. We'll always be together—that's not going to change."
He finally caught up, grabbing her hand to stop her in her tracks. He needs to make sure that she would agree, even if it means she would hate him.
He didn't know what would happen in the future since he changed a lot of it. He didn't even know the full torture of Haruka at that time since he was busy of himself.
He didn't know the future too well to trap all his enemies, except to steal all of their women.
He just knew when everything was too late, that was why he needed to make sure she was far away from Daiki, until he could get rid of that monster.
Haruka paused, the anger in her eyes softening into something more vulnerable.
"You don't even see me as a woman," she muttered, turning away from him slightly.
"Are you just trying to keep me at a distance so you can be with your girlfriend?"
"What? Where is this coming from?" Haruto squinted, baffled.
"Even if I had a girlfriend, you would still be the most important person to me."
He softened, taking a step closer. "I'm doing this for you, for your future. Please... just consider it."
Haruto's mind wandered back to Kota's surveillance setup, now better understanding how easily Kota had planted hidden cameras throughout.
"Is the camera only in your room, or...?" Haruto asked, letting his question hang in the air.
Mari's brows knitted together as she nodded. "I only found it in my room. He gave me a teddy bear once, and when I checked inside, there was one in it." She shuddered slightly at the memory.
"You didn't find anything elsewhere?"
Mari sighed, shaking her head. "I tried, but I haven't found anything."
Leading him up the stairs, she took him into her room. The space was draped in soft, baby-blue hues, from the walls to the bedding—a cozy yet feminine atmosphere, inviting and neat.
"Sorry if it's a bit messy," she murmured, cheeks pink.
Haruto glanced around. "This is spotless."
He knows for sure that Mari has been cleaning this room maybe since yesterday, he could see it from her proud expression of her works and how he praised her.
Her shoulders relaxed, visibly relieved. "My parents are out of town, so you're free to check any room you like—except, of course, the master bedroom," she added with a small, nervous smile.
"Great, we are free then." he grinned at her, and her face blushed and nodded.
"You are right."
He smirked, observing her response. She was nervous, not because there was a possibility that there were more hidden cameras, but because what they might do alone in her house.
Haruto looked around, assessing the room's layout and noting the small cupboard filled with porcelain dolls, each one posed with eerily lifelike expressions, their eyes seemingly watching him.
"Quite the doll collection," he noted, eyebrows raised.
Mari's eyes sparkled as she reached for a particular doll with wavy blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
"I know, right? I collect them every time I go on a trip. Look at this one!"
She held it up next to her face, grinning. "Doesn't it look just like me?"
Haruto smiled, nodding, his gaze shifting to scan the room. A faint sensation crept over him, as if someone's eyes were following his every move.
He was certain that, even here, he was being watched.
He leaned in close, gently tucking a strand of hair behind Mari's ear, letting his fingers linger just enough.
"Yes, it's as beautiful as you are."
'Perfect
,' he thought, his smirk widening.
'If Kota is watching, he'll get a front-row seat to everything that's about to happen.'