The next morning, Sakura and Mai called Mr. Yoshida to confirm their decision to meet. The drive to his house was cloaked in silence, the atmosphere in the car thick with unspoken thoughts. Each woman was lost in her own mind, the enormity of what they were about to do pressing heavily on their shoulders. The quiet hum of the engine and the occasional thrum of tires on asphalt only underscored the tension between them.

  Mr. Yoshida greeted them at the door, his expression a blend of relief and nervous exhaustion. His eyes were shadowed, rimmed with fatigue, and his shoulders sagged, as if burdened by a weight he could no longer carry. Still, he managed a polite nod and stepped aside.

  “Please, come in,” he said, his voice low and tight.

  Inside, Natsuki Yoshida stood waiting in the living room. As they entered, she rose to greet them, offering a slight bow. Though her smile was warm, it didn’t quite reach her eyes. There was a flicker of worry behind her gaze that she couldn’t hide.

  “This is Mai Yaga,” Mr. Yoshida said, gesturing toward Mai. “She’s the friend of Ms. Hanabira I mentioned.”

  “Ah, yes. Welcome,” Natsuki replied, her tone courteous, though faintly strained. “Please, have a seat.” She motioned to the sofa across from where she and her husband were seated.

  Sakura and Mai took their places beside one another, sitting upright, every movement laced with unease. The room settled into a charged silence, each person glancing at the others, measuring intentions and preparing for the conversation ahead.

  What followed was a long and tense exchange. Mr. Yoshida outlined his plan slowly, methodically, each word carefully chosen. But beneath his composure, desperation trembled in his voice. As he spoke, Natsuki’s face changed—flickers of doubt, disbelief, and eventually alarm crossed her features with every new detail.

  By the time he finished, Natsuki turned sharply to her husband, eyes wide in disbelief. “What?! Are you serious, Haruto?!” she exclaimed, her voice rising in shock.

  Sakura felt her heart thunder in her chest. “This is even more dangerous than I imagined,” she said, struggling to keep her voice steady. Her fists clenched in her lap. “Mr. Yoshida, how can you possibly expect us to agree to this?”

  Natsuki gave a firm nod, her expression stern. “I agree with Sakura. This isn’t just dangerous—it’s reckless.”

  Up to that point, Mai had remained silent, her gaze fixed on Mr. Yoshida, observing closely. Then, she spoke—quiet but clear. “Ahem.” The sharpness in her tone brought everyone’s eyes to her.

  Her expression remained unreadable, but her words were pointed. “Mr. Yoshida, if I’m understanding correctly, you’re asking for Hikaru’s involvement. Is that right?”

  Mr. Yoshida hesitated, visibly uncomfortable. His confidence wavered as he gave a slow nod. “Yes,” he admitted, voice heavy with guilt. “We need Hikaru’s help if we’re going to save Hana.”

  A long, tense pause followed.

  Then Mai leaned forward slightly, her voice like frost. “Then here’s my proposal. If you’re willing to place Hana’s fate in our hands, then give Hana to Sakura.”

  The words hung in the air like a thunderclap—sudden and impossible to ignore.

  Her words landed like a thunderclap.

  Mr. and Mrs. Yoshida stared at her in stunned silence, their eyes wide with disbelief.

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  “What do you mean by that, Ms. Yaga?” Natsuki asked, her voice trembling slightly.

  Mai leaned forward, her expression calm but resolute. “Sakura has told me she’s often the one looking after Hana while both of you are at work or scrambling to manage your debts. If you already trust her with your daughter during those times, why not trust her to take full responsibility now?”

  Before either of the Yoshidas could respond, Mai reached into her bag and pulled out a folded document. She placed it gently on the table and slid it toward Mr. Yoshida. “Here,” she said, her voice unwavering. “This is a formal agreement to transfer temporary custody of Hana to Sakura. Sign it.”

  Mr. Yoshida’s hands trembled as he unfolded the paper. His eyes scanned the lines, his face twisting with confusion and disbelief. “What is this, Ms. Yaga?” he murmured, barely able to speak. “Hana is our only daughter!”

  Mai didn’t flinch. Her gaze stayed fixed on him. “Exactly. And Hikaru is Sakura’s only son,” she replied, her tone sharp and uncompromising. “You’re asking us to consider placing him in harm’s way. That’s not a decision we take lightly. If you want our cooperation, it comes with a condition.”

  Sakura, who had remained silent throughout Mai’s proposal, finally spoke. Her voice was low and cold, her face unreadable. “You want Hikaru’s help, Mr. Yoshida? Fine. But in exchange, Hana comes under my care—temporarily. She becomes part of my family until this is over.”

  Mr. Yoshida recoiled, his eyes widening as her words hit him. Rage flickered across his face, and his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “How dare you suggest such a thing?!” he shouted, his voice cracking with emotion.

  Mai, unshaken, met his fury with an unwavering gaze. “You’re asking for the impossible, Mr. Yoshida. If you’re willing to risk Sakura’s child to save your own, then it’s only right that you offer something just as meaningful in return.”

  Natsuki let out a gasp, turning to her husband in alarm. “Haruto, stop this madness! We can’t agree to this—it’s too much!”

  But Mr. Yoshida didn’t respond to her. His eyes remained locked on Sakura, his breathing ragged. Beads of sweat gathered at his brow, and a tremor ran through his frame.

  Then Mai spoke again, her voice quieter now but no less firm. “This isn’t just about trust. It’s about fairness. You say you’ll protect Hikaru—but can you truly promise that? And if something does happen to him, what then? You’ll have to live with that for the rest of your life. Can you handle that burden?”

  Her words seemed to strike deep. Mr. Yoshida’s shoulders slumped, and he lowered his head, his hands trembling as they gripped the edge of the paper.

  “Please,” he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. “Please believe me. I would never let any harm come to Hikaru. But I’m out of options. I’ll do whatever it takes to save my daughter.”

  Mai’s expression softened slightly, but her resolve remained firm. “Words are cheap, Mr. Yoshida. If you mean what you say, then prove it. Show us that you’re willing to sacrifice just as much as you’re asking us to.”

  A heavy silence settled over the room, thick and suffocating. The weight of Mai’s words seemed to press down on everyone like a storm cloud. Mr. Yoshida looked away, his jaw tightening as he struggled for words. Finally, he managed a quiet response.

  “I... I’ll think about it,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

  “Good,” Mai replied, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Take all the time you need. But understand this—Sakura and I will do whatever it takes to protect Hikaru. You need us far more than we need you.”

  No one else spoke after that. The conversation had reached its limit, and the tension in the room was no longer sustainable. As Sakura and Mai stepped out of the Yoshida household, the cool air outside hit them like a wave. Yet instead of relief, Sakura felt a familiar sense of dread begin to creep in, coiling itself tightly around her chest.

  The decision that lay before them was agonizing—no matter which path they took, someone was bound to get hurt.

  That night, sleep remained elusive. Sakura lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as her thoughts spiraled in endless circles. The room was dim, lit only by the warm, gentle glow of the bedside lamp. She turned her head slightly, looking toward Mai, who sat in a nearby chair, her expression pensive as she reviewed some papers.

  “Mai,” Sakura said quietly, “do you think we’re doing the right thing?”

  Mai looked up and met her gaze, her eyes steady but shadowed with fatigue. “We’re doing what we have to, Sakura. To protect Hikaru. And to make sure none of this ends in vain.”

  Sakura’s voice trembled. “But what if it is? What if... we lose him?”

  For a moment, Mai didn’t answer. Then she stood, moved to the bed, and took Sakura’s hand gently in hers. Her grip was warm and grounding.

  “We won’t lose him,” she said with quiet certainty. “We’ll find a way. But we need to stay strong—for him, and for each other.”

  Sakura nodded, though the fear in her chest refused to ease. As she finally closed her eyes, she clung to Mai’s words, holding them tight like a lifeline in the dark.