Tokyo, Japan
Back at the penthouse that Risa bought recently for Ray located in Marunouchi
June 17th, 2026 (Back to present)
11:23 PM
The moon hung high over Tokyo, casting a silver glow across the extravagant corporate district. Inside the penthouse that loomed above the city, where only the wealthiest dared to reside, Risa stood at the balcony, an expensive glass of white wine in her hand. The city below was a sea of lights, but her gaze was fixed upward, lost in the celestial glow of the moon. A soft sigh escaped her dark, crimson lips.
The Matriach. That was who she was. A woman whose wealth was beyond comprehension, whose power stretched across continents. And yet, here she was, standing alone, burdened by a singular thought - her son.
A sudden knock on the door broke her thoughts. Before she could respond, the doors swung open, and in came Daffodil, eating a blueberry cheesecake in a small glass and as lively and mischievous as ever.
"Ah dear sister." Daffodil then put the half eaten blueberry cheesecake on the nearby table.
"Always brooding under the moon. How poetic." Daffodil teased, striding in her usual confidence.
"You look like a tragic heroine -" Daffodil stopped. Then she formed a sly smirk.
"Or should I say a villain from one of those classical novels, drowning in sorrow. Shall I fetch you a quill and parchment?" Daffodil kept on teasing her.
Risa heaved a heavy sigh and didn't even glance at her.
"What do you want, little sister?" Risa uttered.
Daffodil grinned, stepping closer. "Another batch of you ex - special forces operatives just arrived from China. The men you've asked for. They're in downstairs, waiting for your orders. You do have quite the loyal following, don't you?"
"They're practically frothing at the mouth for a mission." Daffodil added.
Risa took a slow sip of her white wine. "Good. Have them on standby. Things may get...complicated.
Daffodil raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. "Complicated, you say? And here I thought after everything what happened on that hotel, we're here now to enjoy Japan. Don't tell me you're stil fretting over Ray."
At the mention of her son, Risa finally turned her gaze to Daffodil, a cold, firm, and controlled gaze.
"Mother called." She uttered with low voice.
Daffodil blinked. Then, dramatically, she groaned. "Oh, wonderful. And let me guess, she's demanding our presence back in London immediately?"
"Not just us. She wants to see Ray." Risa stated, swirling her wine.
Daffodil let out a laugh, throwing herself onto one of the lush velvet chairs.
"Oh, well, that's just splendid. And here I thought again that we're staying in Japan for a little longer and to relax. How lovely of Mother to summon us like we're her royal lapdogs." Daffodil expressed.
Risa exhaled. "We need to bring Ray back with us. With or without the order of Mother."
Daffodil sat up, her playful demeanor shifting slightly.
"And you think he'll just pack his bags and come along? She asked, her voice laced with amusement.
Risa didn't answer. She didn't need to. Both of them knew the answer.
Daffodil smirked. "You do realize Mother could wait for a few days? Hell, those few days will turn into weeks. And weeks could turn into months."
"If Ray doesn't want to leave, he won't. And given his....harboring feelings, probably bad ones, for you, I'd say he'll put up one hell of a fight." Daffodil added.
Risa finally put down her wine glass and rubbed her temples. "I know that."
Daffodil leaned in, resting her chin on her hand. "So what's the plan, dear sister? Kidnap him like Charlotte did five years ago? Chain him up in a private jet and throw him at Mother's feet? I hear chloroform works wonders."
Risa shot her a cold and deadly glare, but Daffodil merely chuckled.
"Joking, joking." Daffodil remarked gleefully with a lazy wave of her hand.
"But really, this whole situation is a fucking mess. Your boy isn't some obedient little child anymore. He's...well, he's Ray. If he doesn't want to go, we'd need a fucking army to drag him out." She added.
Risa leaned back against the balcony railing. "I don't want to force him."
Daffodil's heterochromia eyes softened, just slightly. "And that's the problem, isn't it? You're afraid."
Risa stiffened. "Afraid of what?"
"Afraid that if you see him, if you truly face him, he'll reject you outrightly." Daffodil said, her voice quieter now.
"Afraid that you'll see the same boy who once loved you unconditionally, only to find that the years have turned him into something....unrecognizable." She added.
Daffodil then looked at Risa with eyes narrowed.
"You know what I'm talking about, sister." Daffodil's implying something to her.
Silence hung between them for a moment.
Then Risa let out a slow breath. "It doesn't matter what I feel or what your implication is. Mother has summoned us. And that means we go back."
Daffodil watched her sister closely. Then, with a grin, she stood up and stretched. "Well, then, I suppose our "vacation" is over. Pity, I was starting to enjoy Tokyo."
Risa watched her sister head for the door. "Make sure the Chinese operatives are prepared for anything. We might need them soon."
Daffodil glanced over her shoulder. "You really think it'll come to that?"
Risa didn't answer.
Daffodil smirked. "Well, then. This should be fun."
As the door closed behind Daffodil, Risa turned back to the moon. The same moon she once watched with Ray when he was a boy. A boy who once swore he would protect her.
Now, she wasn't so sure if he even wanted to see her again.
She closed her eyes and took another sip of her white wine, letting the bitter taste drown out the ache in her chest.