SUNSHINE ORPHANAGE — MORNING

Sunlight warmed the room like a gentle hug.

Kei sat propped against pillows, still pale but smiling.

The other kids circled him like tiny over-enthusiastic servants.

“Your soup, Your Majesty!”

“I fluffed the Royal Pillow!”

“King Kei, do you desire juice?”

Kei laughed so hard his stitches hurt.

 “Stop—stop—!! I’m not a king!”

The room echoed with pure joy.

Meikasa watched from the doorway, her smile soft… but mixed with a quiet ache.

Her laptop on the table still displayed the glowing offer:

Lustére Design Company — Full-Time Contract. Housing Provided. Neon City.

Neon City.

A real job. Real income.

Real danger.

She touched her father’s pendant lightly.

 “Dad… if I leave, who protects them?”

“If I stay, do I keep running forever?”

Before she could think deeper

Buzz.

A message from the same unknown ID:

 “Tick-tock, Meikasa.

You can’t hide in that small world forever.”

Her breath caught.

She snapped the phone shut.

Whoever it was—they were watching her choices.

NEON CITY — YUKIRO

The neon lights reflected in puddles like broken stars as Yukiro walked through the crowded streets, shoulders tense, eyes sharp.

He stopped before a tall steel door covered with warning stickers.

He hesitated—just for a heartbeat

then pressed the buzzer.

Click.

The door unlocked.

Inside was a room lit by a single lamp.

Walls full of weapons, sketches, blueprints, posters of dancers and assassins.

A woman lounged on the armrest of a sofa—silver hair cascading, smirk razor-sharp.

"Welcome back… little brother.”

Yukiro stepped inside.

“Sis… I need information.”

“About?” she replied, stretching like a cat.

 “The contract Meikasa signed.

What exactly was in it?”

Her eyes glimmered—cool and dangerous.

“Oh, Yukiro… you have no idea how deep this goes.”

She slid a file across the table.

“Read it.

And try not to panic.”

Yukiro opened the first page—

…and his expression froze.

SUNSHINE ORPHANAGE — EVENING

Kei slept soundly.

The other kids were curled around him like tiny kittens.

Meikasa stepped out of the orphanage for air.

The sky was turning dark purple.

The wind carried the smell of rain.

Her phone buzzed again.

A message from her old design mentor:

“Meikasa!!

Lustére gave you a full-time offer!?

That company never picks rookies!”

Another message immediately followed:

“You MUST accept.

This is life-changing.”

Meikasa’s fingers trembled.

 “Life-changing…”

“But what about the children?

What about… everything?”

Her future split into two impossible paths.

Stay:

Safe.Unanswer.Protect children

but can't find truth of her dad dead and Yukiro's past

Go:

Danger. Answers. Her mother.

And the truth of Yukiro’s past and dad dead

Rain began to fall.

NEON CITY — KEVI ESTATE

Lady Shizuka stood on her balcony, letting the drizzle soak her hair.

Her wine glass glowed ruby in the dark.

Her smile was thin, dangerous.

“Return to Neon City, daughter…”

“…come back where you belong.”

Because if Meikasa returned—

Shizuka could shape her, control her, own her future.

If Meikasa stayed away—

She might remain free.

Unreachable.

Uncontrolled.

Shizuka’s eyes sharpened.

"I won’t allow that.”

She picked up her phone.

"Activate Plan C.”

A cold voice responded:

 “Understood.”

SUNSHINE ORPHANAGE — 3 HOURS LATER

Meikasa paced the empty living room, anxiety eating her alive.

 “Neon City… orphanage… kids…

What am I supposed to choose?”

The TV behind her suddenly changed into a breaking news alert.

“LIVE — LADY SHIZUKA KEVI TO MAKE A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY.”

Meikasa froze.

Lady Shizuka’s face appeared on the screen—poised, powerful, smiling like a queen.

Meikasa’s stomach dropped.

 “What… now…?”

SHIFT BACK TO NEON CITY — YUKIRO

Yukiro sat on the floor of his sister’s apartment, surrounded by documents.

His eyes scanned line after line—

until he reached the page.

He gripped the paper so tightly it crumpled.

“…No.”

He read it again.

His heart sank deeper.

"She… she signed that?”

His sister tilted her head, enjoying his reaction.

“Now you understand, Yukiro.”

“Your Lioness just walked into the biggest trap of her life.”

 END OF CHAPTER 9