As soon as Tifani and Reika got the wind that I was around,they immediately started name-dropping me in their every appearance,and finally Tifani just appeared at the state.

"Sister!You're back!Oh Yukina you have no idea what you mean to us. We’ve missed you terribly!” Tifani’s voice dripped with artificial sweetness as she strolled into the estate’s main hall. Her perfectly poised smile did little to mask the calculating glint in her eyes.

“Tifani,” I replied, keeping my voice neutral. “What an unexpected visit.”

“Unexpected?” she repeated, feigning surprise. “How could I not come? After all, you’re finally home! Reika and I have been so worried about you.” Her gaze flickered to the journal tucked under my arm, her smile tightening. “What’s that?”

“Just some light reading,” I said, stepping further into the room to put some distance between us.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but her mask of charm didn’t falter. “Yukina, let’s not play games. You’ve been away for so long. Surely you’re curious about the family affairs Reika and I have been managing in your absence?”

“Oh, I’m more than curious,” I replied, folding my arms. “But I think it’s time we stopped pretending this is a friendly reunion. What do you and Reika really want?”

Tifani’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. “What we’ve always wanted, dear sister: to secure our family’s future. With your help, of course.”

“And by ‘help,’ you mean submission,” I said, my voice hardening. “I’ve seen through your plans, Tifani. I know what you and Reika are trying to do.”

Her laughter was soft, almost mocking. “Oh, Yuki. You’ve always been so dramatic. This isn’t about submission; it’s about unity. Together, the three of us could achieve so much. The Kumo and Astrino legacies are meant to be ours. Why,it's in our name,Yuki!"

"DO NOT call me Yuki,Tifani. I know what you're trying to do! What you ALWAYS do,you play that silly part of only being the caring sister, the mediator, the charmer, but it's all a façade, isn't it, Tifani?” My voice rose, trembling slightly, but I held my ground. “You think you can sweet-talk your way into anything, manipulate people into falling in line with your schemes. But I’m not falling for it anymore.”

Her eyes narrowed, her smile fading completely now. For the first time, I saw the cracks in her composure. But she quickly disguised it with a smirk. "Huh,clever girl. You know Yukina,me and you are not as different as you think... You're clever,you want the truth,you realized our parents and adults around us aren't as good as they seem,so I'll give you some choices,you come with me because I'm being infinitely kinder kinder to you than Reika will be,or I send Reika after you. And trust me, sister, Reika doesn’t share my patience.” Tifani’s voice was low, threatening now, her words slicing through the tense air like a blade.

I forced a smirk, even though my heart pounded in my chest. “So, that’s your idea of kindness, Tifani? Threats disguised as options? You’ve really outdone yourself this time.”

Her eyes darkened, the feigned warmth finally melting away. “You think you’re clever, Yukina, but you’re still the same naive little girl who doesn’t know how to survive in this world. The only reason you’ve lasted this long is because I’ve let you.”

“And yet here I stand,” I countered, refusing to flinch under her gaze. “Not because of you, but in spite of you and Reika. You underestimate me, Tifani. You always have.”

Her smirk returned, sharper now. “You’ve grown a spine. I’ll give you that. But bravery doesn’t win wars. Strategy does. And I’ve been playing this game far longer than you.”

“Maybe,” I admitted, stepping closer. “But while you were playing games, I was uncovering truths. Secrets. The kind that could unravel everything you and Reika have worked so hard to build.”

Tifani’s smile faltered, her confidence wavering for just a moment. “You’re bluffing.”

“Am I?” I held up the journal, my voice steady and cold. “You see, Tifani, I’m done letting you and Reika dictate the narrative. This time, I’m writing my own story. And I’ll make sure the world knows the truth about the Kumo and Astrino families.”

For the first time, genuine fear flickered in Tifani’s eyes, though she quickly masked it with a laugh. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Yukina. And you have no idea who you're messing with."

"No,Tifani,you and Reika have no idea who I really am! And trust me you won't like it when you find out." My voice rang out, steady and unyielding. The tension between us was palpable, the weight of our words filling the room like a storm about to break.

Tifani's smirk faltered again, her eyes narrowing. "You think you can stand against us, Yukina? Against the legacy we've built, the alliances we've forged? You're just one girl with a journal full of half-truths."

"Half-truths?" I shot back, holding the journal up higher. "This 'journal' holds more than you could ever imagine. It’s the key to unraveling the lies, the betrayals, and the power plays you and Reika have hidden behind for years. You might have been the ones pulling the strings, but now it's my turn to pull them—and cut them when necessary."

Tifani took a step closer, her voice dropping into a sharp whisper. "And what exactly do you think you’ll accomplish by doing this? Destroying the family name? Turning everyone against us? You’d burn this entire legacy to the ground just to prove a point?"

"If that's what it takes to stop you and Reika, then yes," I said without hesitation. "This 'legacy' you’re so desperate to protect isn’t worth saving if it’s built on lies and manipulation. I’m not afraid of starting over. But I am afraid of letting this poison you and Reika spread any further."

For a moment, Tifani was silent, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, her lips curled into a chilling smile. "You’re brave, Yukina. I’ll give you that. But bravery won’t save you from Reika."

"Let her come," I said, my voice unwavering. "Because for the first time in years, I’m ready to face her—and you. And this time, I won’t back down."

Tifani’s laughter was soft but laced with menace. "You’ve changed, sister. I almost admire it. But remember, courage can only take you so far. And when Reika comes for you, don’t say I didn’t warn you."

She turned on her heel and walked out of the room, her heels clicking against the polished floors. The echoes faded, leaving me alone with the journal still clutched tightly in my hand.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. Tifani was right about one thing—Reika would come, and she wouldn’t hold back. But I was no longer the little girl that only observed from the shadows. This time, I was ready to fight back