Chapter 29: That Girl, That Ring, and This Heartache

The gym echoed with the sharp slap of bare feet against mats, punches landing with crisp precision. Ken stood still among the rhythm of movement, but his heart was elsewhere — caught in a different kind of battle.

"Arashi was on a date."

That simple sentence from Haruto earlier had wrecked his entire balance.

"Probably a business thing," Ken had lied, keeping his tone even.

But Haruto had tilted his head. "Didn't look like business. She reached over and wiped sauce off his lip."

Ken's stomach had dropped then. Now it just… ached.

Later that night, in his quiet apartment, Ken sat on the floor, stretching absently.

His phone buzzed once.

It wasn't Arashi.

It hadn't been Arashi in months.

Ken had tried to move on — buried himself in work, focused on students, taken walks with music loud enough to drown memories.

But nothing helped when news came like that.

Arashi.

With another girl.

Looking like a future.

Ken whispered to no one, "So that's how it ends… quietly."

Meanwhile, back at the Aoyama estate, the living room grew cold as Arashi stood frozen, facing his father.

"You did what?" he asked, voice barely contained.

"I arranged a quiet engagement dinner with Reina's family," his father said, voice calm. "They're good people. It's time, Arashi."

Arashi shook his head. "You didn't ask me. You assumed."

"I thought you liked her. You've been polite, responsible."

"I've also been miserable."

His father raised an eyebrow. "Don't be dramatic."

Arashi stepped closer, jaw tight. "I don't love Reina."

"Then who?"

"Ken."

The name sliced through the air.

His father's eyes went wide. "Ken? That Ken?"

Arashi met his gaze. "Yes. I love him."

"Arashi," his father said sharply, "he's like your little brother."

Arashi flinched. "Don't say that."

"You grew up under the same roof—"

"And we fought every single day! You think I saw him as a sibling when I was holding him down just to shut him up?"

His father looked scandalized. "This is absurd. He's a man—"

"And so am I."

"This isn't what I wanted for you!"

"Well, maybe that's why I never told you," Arashi spat. "Because deep down, I knew you'd say things like this. That you'd rather see me in a fake engagement than happy."

Silence.

Then his father looked away. "I'm too old for this argument."

"I'm not marrying Reina."

"You will cancel years of respect between our families for that boy?"

"I'd burn every bridge," Arashi growled, "if it means not losing him again."