~At the Hospital~

Shu: Y/n!

Y/n looked at him as he entered the room with Free and Dalny. He rushed to her side, taking her hands gently in his.

Shu: A-Are you okay?

Y/n nodded, and without another word, they embraced tightly, both seeking comfort in each other.

After a few moments, they broke the hug.

Free: Dalny told us everything, Y/n... about how it was all Mom's doing...

Shu: I-I never imagined this... I never thought she could do something like that...

Free: I know, Shu, but we have to act. We can't just let this go.

Y/n: Of course. I won't let her get away with this.

Dalny: Have you two decided what to do?

Shu: Yeah... We'll handle this.

Free and Dalny exchanged glances but said nothing further, knowing this was Shu and Y/n's battle to fight. They all left the hospital and headed back to the mansion—first Free and Dalny, and later the others.

~At the Mansion~

Shu and Y/n arrived at the mansion, having told no one yet about Mrs. Hoya's involvement. The family welcomed them as they entered.

Mrs. Kurenai: Shu? Y/n? Why are you both back so soon? Shouldn't you be at the hospital?

Mrs. Hoya: Y/n dear, are you feeling better now?

Mrs. Hoya's voice held an undercurrent of fake concern, her mind racing with disbelief that Y/n was perfectly fine. Shu clenched his fists, fighting the urge to lash out, knowing all too well that this was an act.

Shu: Yeah... She's okay.

Mrs. Kurenai: T-Thank God! I was so worried nothing happened to her!

She pulled Y/n into a tight hug, her relief genuine.

Mrs. Hoya: O-Oh, but—

Shu: Please excuse us. Y/n needs some rest.

He took Y/n's hand and led her upstairs to their room, leaving Mrs. Hoya standing confused by Shu's cold demeanor.

~In Their Room~

Shu stood by the window, staring out at the night sky, his thoughts spiraling as he tried to decide what to do next. His emotions were a whirlwind—anger, betrayal, and disbelief coursing through him. His mind replayed every interaction, every memory he had with Mrs. Hoya—trying to reconcile the woman who once loved him like a son with the one who had just tried to kill his own children.

He was pulled from his thoughts by a gentle hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he found Y/n standing behind him.

Y/n: Are you okay?

Her voice was soft, filled with concern. Shu nodded slightly but kept his gaze downcast before meeting her eyes.

Shu: I... I don't know what to do, Y/n. I never thought I'd be in this position. 

Y/n stayed silent, letting him speak, knowing he needed to get it all out.

Shu: I love Aunt... but I can't just let this go. I can't ever forget what she's done.

He took a deep breath, his voice shaking with emotion.

Shu: I think I should punish her legally... She deserves to be in jail.

Y/n: And do you think sending her to jail will make her regret what she's done? No... she'll just hate me more. She won't see it as a punishment.

Shu: Then what do you want me to do, Y/n? Let her go? NO. Never. She hurt my family, Y/n. What if something had happened to the babies? Or worse, to you?

Y/n: I understand, Shu. But you're letting your anger cloud your judgment. Sometimes the law isn't the solution to every problem. Sometimes things need to be handled personally, with the heart, not the law. She needs to regret what she's done, and we will make sure she does. But not by sending her to jail.

Shu didn't say anything, his head bowed in thought. Y/n gently cupped his face, making him look into her eyes.

Y/n: Whatever decision you make in the end, I'll support you, no matter what. I trust you, Shu.

She kissed his forehead softly, and Shu closed his eyes, finding warmth and comfort in her touch.

~Later That Night~

Y/n was fast asleep, but Shu couldn't close his eyes. He sat beside her, lost in thought, reflecting on everything that had happened. His mind wandered back to his childhood, to moments he had almost forgotten—moments that now felt heavy with new meaning.

~Flashback~

A young Shu, no more than four years old, was running around the large garden, dressed as a police officer, holding a toy gun.

Shu: Dishoom! Dishoom! BOOM!

He pretended to shoot at the maids and guards, laughing with innocent joy. His parents watched him from afar, smiling, as did the rest of the household. But Shu's eyes fell on Mrs. Hoya, who was sitting on the sofa, deeply engrossed in paperwork, her expression stern and serious. 

Ignoring the calls of those around him to stay back, Shu ran towards her. In his excitement, he slipped, causing a nearby coffee cup to spill over the important papers Mrs. Hoya had been working on for months. Everyone froze in horror, knowing how much work she had put into them.

Mrs. Hoya: WHAT THE HELL?!

Mrs. Kurenai rushed over immediately.

Mrs. Kurenai: H-He didn't mean to... I'm so sorry. He's just a child.

Little Shu began to cry, not just from fear but also because his knees were badly scraped from the fall. To everyone's surprise, Mrs. Hoya quickly moved toward him, her anger forgotten.

Mrs. Hoya: Oh my God!

She scooped him up in her arms.

Mrs. Hoya: Why are you all standing there?! Get the first aid kit! Can't you see he's hurt?

Despite the ruined papers, her focus was entirely on Shu. She bandaged his knees with great care, but Shu didn't stop crying.

Mrs. Hoya: Sshh... Baby Shu, aren't you brave?

Shu looked up at her through his tears, but continued to sob. Seeing him in pain, a tear escaped Mrs. Hoya's eye. Shu noticed, his little heart moved.

Shu: D-Don't cry, Aunty. Shu won't cry anymore.

She smiled, wiping her tear away, and scolded the staff for their carelessness.

Mrs. Hoya: My brave little Shu. No more tears, okay?

He nodded, sniffling.

Shu: No more tears from you either!

Everyone stood in stunned silence, witnessing Mrs. Hoya's unusual display of affection. She didn't care about the papers she had spent months on—only Shu mattered to her in that moment. It was the first time anyone realized just how deeply she loved him.

Shu was ten years old, lying in bed with a high fever. His parents were away again, and the house was filled with worried whispers. The doctors had come and gone, but the fever wouldn't break. Shu felt weak and alone.

It was Mrs. Hoya who stayed by his side through it all, holding his hand and placing cool clothes on his forehead. She hadn't slept for two days, refusing to leave him alone even for a moment.

Mrs. Hoya: Ssh... it's okay, Shu. You'll be alright. Just rest.

Her voice trembled with exhaustion, but she never let go of his hand. He could see the dark circles under her eyes, the way her hands shook slightly from fatigue, but she stayed strong for him.

Shu: A-Aunty...?

His voice was weak, barely above a whisper. She leaned in closer, her eyes filled with concern.

Shu: Y-You'll stay with me... right?

Mrs. Hoya smiled through her tears and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

Mrs. Hoya: I'll never leave you, Shu. Never.

It wasn't until his fever broke that she finally allowed herself to rest, collapsing into a chair beside his bed, her body and heart drained. Even in her sleep, her hand remained on his, as if she was afraid he might disappear if she let go.

~End of Flashbacks~

Tears filled Shu's eyes as the memories washed over him. Mrs. Hoya had always loved him. But something had changed, twisted that love into something unrecognizable. He couldn't reconcile the image of that loving Aunt with the woman who had tried to hurt his family.

He didn't know if he could bring himself to punish her as harshly as she deserved.

Y/n's words echoed in his mind once more. Maybe Y/n was right. Maybe this wasn't about the law or revenge. Maybe it was about finding a way to make Mrs. Hoya regretted her actions—not out of fear, but out of love.

----------------------------------------------------

What you think Shu will do now?