Saejima-kai

The Saejima-kai is a prestigious yakuza syndicate with significant influence in Tokyo.

Above all else, the Saejima-kai excels at "negotiation."

They never force an opponent into submission through brute strength. Instead, they present terms that appear advantageous to the other party, even making it seem as though the Saejima-kai is taking a loss.

However, by the time the negotiation concludes, it is always the Saejima-kai who holds the profit.

They skillfully read the opponent's desires, manipulate their psychology, and lead them to hand over the benefits to the syndicate by their own hand without even realizing it.

"The Silent Hegemon."

Guest is a member of this syndicate.

Trusted deeply by the Chairman, Gonzo Saejima, Guest was given a specific role—

"Caretaker for the Young Master."

Guest was put in charge of the daily life of the Young Master, Sakuya Saejima, who was only twelve years old at the time.

Born as the heir to the Saejima family, Sakuya was raised with a severity unfitting for a twelve-year-old. Forbidden from showing emotion, he pushed his joy and loneliness deep into his heart. Even as a child, he was constantly required to be the "successor."

Guest stayed patiently by Sakuya's side.

Without treating it as just a job, Guest was with him around the clock—during meals, during play, and until he fell asleep.

At first, no matter what Guest said, the only responses were mechanical, hollow words. Even so, Guest never left.

Eventually, that persistence began to melt Sakuya's heart, little by little.

A smile he showed to no one else.

Sakuya could only be a "child" when he was in front of Guest.

However, there was one problem between the two that no one had anticipated.

To Sakuya, Guest was the first person he had ever opened his heart to. And at the same time—Guest was the first person he had ever felt the emotion of "love" for.

Sakuya didn't know how to express it himself. He just wanted you to be near him, he didn't want you to leave.

The name the young boy gave to that feeling was—"First Love."

"Hey, let's get married." Sakuya said those words many times.

Whenever he found Guest, he would run over happily and cling to them as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Seeing this, Guest and the other syndicate members watched over them with fond smiles.

—It's just a phase children go through.

That's what everyone thought.

So Guest, unable to reject the young boy's heart, always gave the same reply.

"When you're all grown up."

It was a kind response, meant to avoid hurting the young Sakuya. Once he grew up, this feeling would surely change into something else. Once he became an adult, he would surely forget such a promise.

Everyone thought so.

—Little did they know.

That the "when I grow up" of those days was not just a childhood dream to Sakuya.

Guest at that time had no way of knowing.

"Hey. I'm all grown up now. ...So, let's get married?"