Future leader of the Suou Family

Ryan watched the horizon as the last rays of sun faded in the orange sky. The noise of the city in the background was the only sound filling the silence... at least until Yuno appeared beside him, her voice laden with frustration.

"Seriously, how can you be so chill while you're, apparently, hitting on your sister?" Yuno's eyebrows were furrowed, her fists clenched, but the slight blush on her cheeks betrayed her.

Ryan laughed, turning to face her. "You know, thinking about it, I think you and she would be great friends."

Yuno narrowed her eyes, tilting her head slightly. "Why are you saying that?"

He waved his hand, as if dismissing the comment. "Forget it. Can you take me to the meeting now? I'm very late, and you're my only hope."

She sighed, crossing her arms. "And why didn't you just go back in time to avoid being late, nitwit?"

Scratching his hair, Ryan responded with a smile that mixed charm and guilt. "Ah, you know how it is... Some things happened today that I'd rather not undo."

Yuno was silent, her eyes half-closed as she processed his words. Then, her expression changed to a mixture of understanding and indignation. "You scoundrel... You already slept with your sister!?"

Ryan calmly shook his head. "No... not yet."

Yuno blinked, confused, before repeating in an incredulous voice. "Ah... not yet... Wait a minute! What do you mean not yet!?"

Ryan sighed, putting a hand on her shoulder and showing a photo on his cell phone. "Can we leave this subject for another time? Can you take me here?"

Yuno blinked a few times, visibly irritated and with a slightly flushed face. However, she let out a long sigh. "I'm not your personal transportation, you jerk."

Ryan gave a sly smile, full of provocation. "Maybe, but you're my dear Pinkie."

Before he knew it, Yuno had already teleported them. When the environment stabilized, Ryan found himself at the luxurious entrance of the Suou mansion, but the bigger problem was right behind him. "Dear... Pinkie?"

The deep voice, laden with curiosity, was unmistakable. Ryan turned slowly, coming face to face with his grandfather, Gensei Suou. The man stood there with a serious expression, wearing an impeccable black suit that exuded authority and preparedness.

Ryan swallowed, but forced an awkward smile. "Sorry for the delay, old man. I had to stop by to give some attention to my dear Pinkie here."

Yuno jumped slightly, whispering in his ear, angrily. "What's this talk, airhead!?"

Gensei, without changing his expression, continued in the same firm, drawn-out voice. "I see... But who exactly is she? And how, exactly, did you two appear out of nowhere? I just walked through the door and didn't see you."

Ryan was quick, as always. "Ah, I was worried about being late. So, I jumped the gate with my lover."

An uncomfortable silence fell over the place, broken only by the muffled sound of Yuno's indignant scream. "Your what!? Are you crazy, blockhead?! I-I- you'll pay for this, you jerk!"

While Yuno stumbled over her own words, Gensei resumed speaking with the calmness of someone who has seen it all. "I understand. Polygamy is not allowed in Japan, Kuze. It wouldn't be wise to draw unnecessary attention."

Flushed and clearly disconcerted, Yuno tried to argue. "He's a complete idiot, sir! Please, give him the lecture he deserves!"

Ryan just laughed at the situation, watching her with an amused look. He thought to himself: "How strange... Yuno is more... cute? Something's wrong here. Is this her new strategy? To make me fall in love so that, at the right moment, she can kill me in the worst possible way?"

Gensei, however, remained focused, ignoring the reactions around him. "As the head of the Suou family, I assure you that this will not be a relevant problem."

Yuno looked away, the blush on her face becoming even more evident. Meanwhile, Ryan maintained his sarcastic smile, studying every nuance of her reaction.

Gensei turned, walking towards a corridor. His deep voice echoed through the environment. "I'll be waiting in the meeting room. Hurry up, I have important matters to attend to."

Ryan watched his grandfather walk away before casting a sarcastic look at Yuno. "So, my dear lover, will you accompany me?"

Yuno narrowed her eyes, clearly irritated, but her tone carried a hint of provocation. "I promised Rika I'd braid her hair. Goodbye."

Before Ryan could respond, Yuno disappeared before his eyes, leaving him with a surprised expression. "Wait a minute... She didn't fight with me for calling her my lover? That's weird..." He scratched his head, thoughtful, before sighing and heading down the hall.

Ahead, he could see Gensei walking with slow steps. The yellow light from the windows and garden lamps illuminated the corridor softly, almost oppressively. Gensei, with his impeccable posture, glanced over his shoulder. "Where is that pink-haired girl?"

Ryan laughed with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Her mother is kind of controlling. So, she jumped the gate and ran away."

Gensei raised an eyebrow, surprised, but keeping his tone serious. "Ah... I see. Why do you insist on jumping the gate?"

Ryan shrugged, chuckling slightly. "She's kind of crazy... but I admit that has its charm."

When they arrived at an imposing door, larger and more decorated than the others, Ryan felt the weight of the moment. Gensei placed his firm hands on the doorknobs, but before opening the door, he assumed a darker tone, speaking without looking directly at his grandson. "From now on, you have made the commitment to be the future leader of the Suou. I don't know if you understand the magnitude of this responsibility, or the level of influence it carries... So, know this from now on: whether it's with Yuki or anyone else, don't let your relationships interfere with your duties... Kuze Masa-... No. Suou Masachika."

Ryan kept his eyes fixed on his grandfather, with a serious expression as he reflected. "Yeah... It's time to kill the curiosities of my 'Little Masachika' side..."

Gensei opened the doors, revealing an immense and luxurious room. The furniture boasted an almost intimidating sophistication, and antique chandeliers cast soft shadows on the walls. Ryan observed every detail, his eyes wandering over bookshelves and decorative objects, but his mind was elsewhere. "I remember well... As a child, I would see some old men show up here for meetings or business. I always felt something strange about them. Sometimes, they would bring boxes or objects covered with papers that looked like seals..."

He followed Gensei with his eyes as his grandfather walked towards a bookshelf, his firm steps echoing on the wooden floor. "At the time, my innocent side thought it was just business stuff or boring old man paperwork. But now that I've gained my malice as Ryan..." He smiled to himself. "Heh... I bet it was ritualistic stuff. Inscriptions, monks, strange words. Gensei is hiding something big under the rugs of this family... And, with what I know about the supernatural, that becomes even clearer. Damn, I wish my beautiful Arona-chan was here with me..."

While Ryan was lost in his thoughts, Gensei interrupted. His deep voice sounded like a warning. "From this moment on, I'm going to introduce you to a world you don't yet know. Know that it will be an imposing step—"

"Okay, okay, old man. If you're going to show me something supernatural, come on. Yuki is waiting for me at home."

Gensei turned to him, surprised by the interruption. His expression oscillated between disbelief and exasperation, but he was silent for a few seconds. Ryan, with his arms crossed, gave him a provocative look. "What's wrong? Did you think I was going to be shocked? I already suspected you were hiding some family secret."

Closing his eyes, Gensei took a deep breath before answering, in a somber tone. "Heh... You really are a special case. Very well. Follow me."

With precise movements, he pulled a hidden mechanism between the books. A secret door opened in the wall, revealing a passage leading to the basement of the mansion. Ryan looked at the entrance with a sarcastic smile. "Let me guess... This tunnel was already old when your friend from below was coming up, right?"

Gensei gave Ryan a cold, judgmental look, but said nothing. He just sighed and gestured for him to follow. "Come with me. In silence."

Ryan gave a short laugh, but obeyed, descending the narrow stairs lit by old lamps. He couldn't deny it: his curiosity was piqued. Ryan shrugged, following Gensei down the dimly lit path. The yellow lights, often too dim to fully illuminate the ancient steps, cast shadows that danced on the stone walls.

After descending for long minutes, they reached an old room, with a somber elegance that echoed the opulence of the mansion above. Ryan looked around, and his ironic comment came naturally. "So... Is this where you're going to introduce me to the secret truco society?"

Gensei turned abruptly, giving him a sharp look. His voice came out as firm as a commander disciplining a subordinate. "Control yourself. I have chosen you as the future leader of the Suou family, and I will not tolerate childish behavior at important times."

Ryan's smile slowly faded. His eyes, once mischievous, became cold and calculating. Although his usually relaxed demeanor hid his true nature, he had been a leader before, a feared and respected leader in another life. He knew very well how to handle tense situations.

Taking a step forward, he invaded Gensei's personal space, his voice laden with dark irony. "I understand... So what exactly do you intend to tell me, Gensei? As a leader, don't you think you should be more... direct in presenting your ideas?"

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