I opened the letter carefully,my heart racing,it contained both mom's and dad's handwriting and as always with this family it was a cryptic message,this time in form of a poem in both greek and japanese:

 Στο φως του φεγγαριού, οι αλήθειες ξεδιπλώνονται,

 Τρεις δρόμοι που τέμνονται, μια μοίρα ξεθωριασμένη.

 Αίμα που ενώνει, αλλά και διχάζει,

 Μια αλυσίδα δεσμών, που μόνο το θάρρος σπάζει.

 月光の下で真実が現れる

 交わる三つの道、薄れた運命

 絆を結ぶ血、そして分裂する血

 鎖を断つのはただの勇気

The poem’s haunting duality mirrored the confusion swirling in my chest. Its words felt like a riddle wrapped in metaphor, a last cry for redemption or clarity from my parents—two people who had shaped the tangled web I was now unraveling.

The moonlight, the three intersecting paths, and the faded destiny—all of it hinted at choices made long ago, choices that continued to ripple into the present. The mention of blood binding and dividing sent a chill down my spine. It spoke to the fractures in our family, the alliances and betrayals that had left scars on generations.

The "chain of bonds" being broken by courage resonated deeply. Could it be referring to the burden of secrets I now carried? Or to something more, a task I was meant to fulfill?

I clutched the letter tightly, the weight of its words settling over me like a shroud. There was no escaping it now—this wasn’t just about me. It was about unraveling a history that had been carefully buried, about choosing whether to embrace or break the chains my family had forged.

It was time to return to Japan.

The thought struck with a clarity that left no room for doubt. Whatever answers I sought would only reveal themselves there, in the place where it all began. My chest tightened with a mixture of fear and determination.

I gathered the documents, tucking them carefully into a folder. My hands steadied as I packed my things, each movement deliberate."Summer,I want to go home."

"Yuki,dear,your dad told me to keep you here,your sisters-"She then stopped herself,then sighed."Yukina,your dad told me to keep you here."

Summer's pause was enough to set my nerves on edge. Her hesitation spoke volumes—something was happening back home, something no one wanted me to know about.

“What about my sisters?” I pressed, stepping closer. My voice wavered slightly, but I held my ground. “What did they do?”

She hesitated again, her lips pursing as though debating whether to tell me. Finally, she sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Reika went back to Japan. She joined Tifani, and the two of them…” Summer trailed off, rubbing her temple. “They’re causing chaos, Yukina. Your father thought it would be best if you stayed here until things calmed down.”

“What kind of chaos?” I asked, my voice rising despite my effort to stay composed.

Summer walked over to the kitchen counter, grabbing a newspaper and handing it to me. “This kind.”

The headline made my stomach churn: “Sisters of Scandal: Reika and Tifani Kumo-Astrino Stir Controversy in Tokyo Society.”

The article detailed a series of events that read like something out of a soap opera: extravagant parties, public outbursts, and bold accusations against prominent figures in the business world. There was even mention of a protest Reika and Tifani had staged outside a Kumo family estate, demanding “truths to be revealed.”

“They’re making a spectacle,” Summer said softly. “It’s not just about the parties or the drama, Yukina. They’ve stirred up attention from the media and the authorities. Your father’s been trying to keep the family name out of it, but it’s only a matter of time before things get worse.”

I clenched the newspaper, my pulse pounding in my ears. This wasn’t just chaos—it was a deliberate attack on the fragile balance of our family’s reputation. Reika and Tifani weren’t just stirring the pot; they were upending the entire table.

“I can’t stay here,” I said firmly, meeting Summer’s gaze. “If they’re doing this, it’s connected to everything I’ve been uncovering. I need to go back and figure out what’s going on.”

“Yukina…” Summer began, her tone gentle but wary.

“I’m not a child,” I interrupted, my voice steady. “I know what I’m walking into, and I know it’s dangerous. But if I stay here, I’ll just be another piece in this twisted game. I need to face this head-on.”

Summer stopped me."But you are,you're only 13,Yukina,trust me you don't want to mess with your sisters,they're too much like your mom and aunts,they'll make a circus to get whatever they want."

Wait,Summer knows my aunts,great more secrets,but this time,this time I wouldn't ignore it,I'd get it all out of Summer before I go."Looks like they aren't the only ones playing the secrecy game," I said sharply, narrowing my eyes at Summer. "You know something you're not telling me. About my aunts, about my mother, about all of this."

Summer froze, her usual warmth replaced by a guarded expression. "Yukina," she said carefully, "there are things about your family that are better left buried."

I slammed the newspaper onto the counter. "Buried? Like everything else? Like this poem, these secrets, and this chaos my sisters are creating? No, Summer. I'm done being kept in the dark. If you know something, tell me."

Her gaze softened, but her reluctance was still there. "You're too young to carry this weight," she murmured.

"Too young? I'm already carrying it!" I shot back, my voice trembling with frustration. "You said it yourself—my sisters are like my mom and my aunts. That means there's a pattern here, a history. And if I don't understand it, how am I supposed to stop it?"

Summer sighed deeply, running a hand through her hair. "Fine," she said finally, her voice tinged with resignation. "But you have to promise me, Yukina, that you’ll be careful. Once you know the truth, there’s no going back."

I nodded, my throat dry. "I promise."

"It all dates back to when your mom met your dad,at the time....I was his fiance...Adara,Areti and Sophneia were fugitives from Greece,we all were quite young back then,your mother and Areti were always causing chaos in the Kumo family,in mine and your father's relationship,Adara,your mom planted ideas in Fuyuki's head that his family’s traditions were suffocating, that he needed to break free and forge his own path. And Areti? She was the one who introduced him to rebellion—protests, rallies, anything to challenge the Kumo legacy. Your mother knew exactly what she was doing, Yukina. She used Areti and Sophoneia as pawns to get closer to Fuyuki, to disrupt everything he stood for.”

Summer’s voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed the bitterness lingering just beneath the surface. “Your mother was relentless. She convinced Fuyuki to abandon our engagement, to leave behind everything his family had built. And that killed his parents,they couldn't take it,and then when your mother birthed your older sisters and even your aunts started not agreeing with her methods,and the media started to catch on to their lies,she sent your aunts back to Greece,it was damaging especially for your aunt Sophoneia,you don't know much about her,but she was completely dependent on your mother's care and when she sent her back to Greece,she disappeared and is to this day unaccounted for. No one knows what happened to her. Some say she went into hiding; others think she didn’t make it out of Greece alive.”

The weight of Summer’s words was suffocating. I gripped the counter to steady myself, trying to process this labyrinth of betrayal and manipulation. My mother wasn’t just a woman with secrets—she was the architect of a web of chaos that spanned decades, pulling everyone into its tangled threads.

“And now Reika and Tifani are doing the same,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Summer nodded. “Reika and Tifani see you as their Sophoneia,Yuki,they're trying to attract you back to Japan with rumors upon rumors,your sister isn't pregnant, that was rumor,they're name dropping you in every single interview,they see you as their final piece. They want you back, Yukina—not because they care, but because you’re the key to whatever game they’re playing. They know you’re the bridge between the family’s fractured sides, and they’re banking on you to take the bait.”

My heart sank at Summer’s words. Reika and Tifani’s intentions were far from noble—they were manipulative, calculated, and deeply unsettling. I wanted to believe there was still some love in their actions, but everything pointed to their desire to control and dominate the narrative.

“They’re name-dropping me?” I asked, anger bubbling beneath the surface. “What do they even say?”

“Everything and anything,” Summer replied grimly. “They’ve painted you as the perfect younger sister, the innocent one who will bring the family together. In some interviews, they claim you’ve always sided with them against your parents. In others, they frame you as a victim of your father’s strictness, someone who would naturally join their cause if given the chance.”

The audacity of it all made my blood boil. I wasn’t a pawn in their schemes, and I refused to let them manipulate my identity for their agenda.

“I won’t let them define me,” I said, my voice firm. “They think they can control me with lies, but they’re wrong. If I go back, it’s not for them—it’s for the truth. For Aunt Sophoneia, for the mess my parents left behind, and for myself.”

Summer’s expression softened slightly, but her concern didn’t waver. “Yukina, you have to understand—this isn’t just a family feud. It’s dangerous. People who challenge the Kumo or the Astrino name have a way of… disappearing. You’re brave, but bravery doesn’t make you invincible.”

“I know,” I said quietly. “But if I don’t face this, I’ll always wonder what could’ve been. I need to know the truth, Summer. Even if it hurts.”

She studied me for a long moment before nodding. “If you’re sure, then I won’t stop you. But you’ll need help. You can’t do this alone.”

“I won’t,” I promised, though I wasn’t entirely sure who I could count on. “But I need to start somewhere. And that somewhere is Japan.”

Summer sighed, walking over to a drawer and pulling out a worn leather notebook. “Then take this. It’s everything I’ve kept track of over the years—about your mom, your aunts, the Kumo family, everything. I didn’t think I’d ever show this to you, but… you deserve to know.”

I took the notebook with trembling hands, its weight symbolic of the burdens it contained. Flipping through the pages, I saw scribbled notes, photographs, and newspaper clippings—fragments of a puzzle that had haunted my family for decades.

“Thank you,” I whispered, meeting her gaze.

“Just promise me one thing, Yukina,” Summer said softly. “Don’t lose yourself in their games. You’re stronger than they think, but even the strongest can fall if they’re not careful.”

“I promise,” I said, determination burning in my chest.

As I packed my bags, ready to leave the sanctuary of Summer’s home, I felt a strange mix of fear and resolve. The road ahead would be treacherous, but I was done running. It was time to confront the ghosts of the past, to unravel the truth, and to forge a path that was entirely my own.