Chapter 30

[Next morning]

Morning light spilled through the car windows, warm and steady. The road ahead was quiet, only a few cars passing by as the city slowly woke up. The engine hummed softly beneath them.

Jin drove with one hand on the wheel, eyes calm, focused. Hinata sat beside him, watching the road for a while before turning to speak. Hana was asleep in the back seat, breathing quietly under her hoodie.

"Where are we going?" Hinata asked, her tone soft.

Jin glanced at her briefly, then looked ahead.

"You could say… to my old home. The place I grew up in."

Hinata was quiet for a moment, then said,

"I never really asked about your past. Mostly because. anytime it came up, you seemed off. I didn't want to push."

She rested her hand gently over his.

"We can turn back, if you don't feel like going."

Jin smiled lightly.

"Oh? Do I seem that gloomy?"

He let out a small breath.

"It's okay. There are things you should know. As my wife."

She gave a slow nod, then tilted her head.

"So.. Ryuto is your little brother, right?"

Jin nodded once.

"Then why does he call you boss?"

Her voice carried a hint of curiosity, eyes on him, waiting

"You see.. we're not blood-related," Jin said after a moment, his voice calm as always.

He took a quiet breath, eyes still on the road.

"When I was about seven, I wandered into a forest near our house. It was a lot bigger than I thought, and I ended up getting lost. While I was trying to find a way out, I heard someone crying."

He paused, a faint memory flickering in his voice.

"So I followed it and found this kid, maybe a year or two younger than me. That was Ryuto. He was injured, and right behind him was this huge evolved dragonfly. Easily twice my size at the time."

He gave a small chuckle, just a breath.

"I killed it. Somehow. Then I just stayed with him, since I was lost too. A few minutes later, my dad showed up looking for me and took us both home."

Jin's fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel as he continued.

"Dad tried to find Ryuto's family but couldn't. So Mom and Dad adopted him. I was excited finally had a little brother."

He smiled faintly.

"But the peace didn't last long. Ryuto watched way too much anime on TV. Started calling me 'my lord' and himself 'my sword' because I saved him."

Hinata covered her mouth, holding back a smile.

"I scolded him, told him to stop, but he didn't. Mom and Dad thought it was cute, he stop calling me that when he grow up but he didn't. So before I left home, I gave him a little scare told him if he kept calling me that, I wouldn't come back to see him."

He shrugged slightly.

"Now, when we meet, he just calls me 'Boss.' Still weird, but better than 'my lord.'"

He kept his eyes on the road, expression relaxed.

Hinata leaned back in her seat, a small, satisfied smile on her face.

---

After a few hours of driving, the car rolled into a silent forest path, deep and quiet. The trees thickened around them, and the air felt still. Eventually, Jin slowed down and stopped in front of a tall black gate. Behind it stood a large, elegant mansion, tucked away in the woods like a hidden memory.

Jin stepped out of the car. The man at the gate, dressed in a tidy uniform, caught sight of him and bowed respectfully before opening the gate without a word.

Jin got back into the car, drove through, and parked near the mansion's entrance. Waiting there were a few people, mostly servants but standing at the center was a middle-aged woman with a kind face.

He stepped out and gave her a warm smile.

"How are you, Miss Anna?"

She smiled back softly.

"I'm good. It's truly good to see you again, Master Jin."

Her eyes flicked toward the car.

"Young Master Ryuto told me you were coming back with your family. I was excited to meet your wife and daughter."

Jin gave a small chuckle.

"Still calling me Master, huh? I've told you I don't mind it from the others, but you were here before I was even born. It just feels odd coming from you."

He turned and opened the passenger door. Hinata was fast asleep. He gently shook her shoulder.

"Hey, we're here."

Hinata stirred with a soft yawn, rubbing her eyes as she stepped out. When she saw Anna, she bowed politely.

Jin glanced around.

"Ryuto's not here?"

Anna shook her head.

"He's out on a date with his girlfriend."

She looked toward the other staff and gave a subtle nod most of them quietly returned to their duties.

Jin replied

"Is that so. He do tell me he got a girlfriend."

Then he walked over to the back seat, opened the door, and gently lifted Hana into his arms. She was still asleep, her little hands clinging to Jin's shirt in her dreams.

"Hina, this is Miss Anna the head maid of the mansion," Jin said gently.

"Hello," Hinata replied with a warm smile.

Anna's eyes lit up as she looked at her.

"Oh my, aren't you Hinata the head of Tokyo Evolvers?" Her voice was kind, with a touch of surprise.

Then she turned toward Jin, her expression softening even more.

"Let me see the little one, Master Jin." She reached out her hands toward Hana.

Jin gave a small nod and carefully passed Hana into her arms.

"She didn't sleep well last night." His voice dropped a little as he watched Anna hold the child.

Anna looked at Hana's peaceful sleeping face, her fingers brushing softly over her cheek. A tear slipped from her left eye as she smiled.

"She resembles.. My Lady." Her voice trembled slightly.

"I'll put her to bed. You two go have some lunch."

Without saying more, she turned and quietly walked inside with Hana resting against her shoulder.

Hinata watched her go, a bit puzzled. She turned to Jin.

"Did something happen? Why did she tear up seeing Hana?"

Jin kept his eyes ahead as he spoke.

"Anna was really close to my mother. Hana has a few features similar to her."

He gently took Hinata's hand.

"Come. I'll show you. You've never seen my parents."

They stepped into the mansion, and the hallway welcomed them with quiet grandeur. The floors gleamed under their feet, polished to a mirror shine. Tall windows let the morning light stream in, casting long, soft shadows across the stone walls. The air held that faint, nostalgic scent of wood polish and age familiar to Jin, new to Hinata.

At the center of the grand hallway was a large framed portrait hanging on the wall, catching the light just right. Jin pointed toward it.

"There. That's my family."

The painting showed a man in a sleek black coat standing tall and proud. In front of him stood a boy, about eight years old young Jin. Beside the man was a woman holding his hand gently, her expression warm and composed. And standing in front of her was a younger boy, around six years old Ryuto.

Hinata stared at the picture. Her steps slowed until she stopped completely. Her expression shifted her eyes narrowed a little, trying to make sense of what she saw. Then she turned to Jin.

"Is he really your father, dear?" Her voice was quiet, but there was a flicker of confusion and surprise in it.

Jin looked at her and gave a simple nod.

"He is...."

[Chapter 30 end]