The Red Queen

Ren and Akira rushed out of the building, breaking through the security barrier amid the chaos their best friends had created. They ran down the sidewalk, leaving behind the screams of the guests and Ryōma's fury.

However, halfway down the block, something unexpected happened.

Akira's hand, which was clinging to Ren's, let go. Ren stopped at that very moment, skidding on his heels. He turned around, surprised and agitated. “ Akira? ” he asked, panting. “ What are you doing? Are you okay? We have to get out of here before they catch up to us! ”

Akira was standing a few feet away from him. Her wedding dress fluttered in the wind. She kept her head down, staring at the ground, completely silent for several seconds that seemed like an eternity. “ Akira, please, there's no time. ” Ren insisted, taking a step toward her.

However, she raised her head. Ren was paralyzed. There was something different about her. Gone were those cold, arrogant, defiant violet eyes that had characterized her so well. These were the eyes of a happy woman. In her gaze, one could only perceive happiness, a happiness that Ren had never seen in her before.

“ No, Ren, I'll go with you this time... ” Akira said softly.

Ren felt confused. “ Don't be silly, Akira. If you go back to that place... Your father... No, my father... They'll hurt you again. They'll lock you up like they did me. ” 

“ No. ” said Akira with a sad but firm smile. “ Not anymore. Thanks to you, I was able to experience true freedom. I won't let them control me anymore. Not them, not fear, not anyone else... ”

Ren hesitated. He didn't want to leave her there. But Akira approached him and placed both hands on Ren's shoulders, feeling the tension in his muscles. He looked him straight in the eyes, conveying all his strength. “ Ren... go alone. ” She ordered. “ Go to where that girl is... ”

Ren blinked, feeling a lump in his throat. “ Akira, what the hell are you talking about? ” Ren said as he looked him in the eyes, trying to understand those words.

" Come on, Ren... you don't have to hide it from anyone. I knew from the beginning that I didn't stand a chance... I've seen it, every time someone talked about her, I could see the happiness in your eyes, that happiness I could never have... "

“ But... ” Ren said, but Akira interrupted him again.

“ She's your destiny, not me. ” Akira continued, his voice breaking more and more. “ Run, you idiot. Before it's too late. ”

Ren finally understood.

He understood that she wasn't staying out of fear, but out of love. A love big enough to let him go. He took a few steps back, away from her. “ Thank you, Akira. ” he whispered. “ Go! ” she shouted, with a smile. Ren turned around and began to run with all his might in the opposite direction, toward Mio.

However, as soon as Ren disappeared around the corner, Akira's strength vanished. Her legs gave way under the weight of her emotions and she fell to her knees on the sidewalk, not caring about her white dress. She thanked heaven that it was all over... But then, she broke down.

She began to cry. These were not the tears of a capricious girl, but the tears of a woman with a broken heart. “ I finally understand... ” Akira sobbed, hugging herself. “ I'm not the girl who will make him happy. It's Mio... it was always Mio. ” Akira remained there, mourning the loss of her beloved and celebrating her freedom at the same time.

Ren ran several blocks, sweat soaking his shirt, which was now torn. His lungs burned, but he didn't stop. Suddenly, a black car pulled up beside him. Ren was on guard, thinking it was his father. The window rolled down. “ Young Master Ren! Get in! ” It was Naoki. His loyal butler had escaped too. Ren didn't think twice. He quickly climbed into the passenger seat. “ Let's go to the Crystal Cathedral! Hurry! ” Ren shouted.

Naoki nodded and stepped on the gas. He drove with a speed and skill that defied traffic laws. He didn't need to know anything else; Naoki and Ren understood each other without saying a single word. The butler's loyalty was absolute.

The car drove on without incident. They were halfway there. Ren felt his hopes rising. But then, Ren looked in the rearview mirror. “ Naoki, watch out...! ” The roar of an engine could be heard behind them. A car was approaching at an alarming speed. “ Hold on tight, young master Ren! ” Naoki shouted.

The impact was brutal. The hood of the car slammed violently into the rear of Naoki's vehicle. The car shook violently. Naoki fought with the steering wheel, turning the wheels to avoid crashing. He almost lost control, skidding in the middle of the avenue.

Ren hit his shoulder against the door, but turned to see who was attacking them. The car that had rammed into them pulled up alongside them, matching their speed to try to push them off the road. It was a luxury sports car, yellow in color.

The sports car's window rolled down. Ren saw the driver. Her blonde hair blew in the wind. Her blue eyes were wide with madness, and a psychotic smile distorted her perfect face. It wasn't Ryōma. It was someone who had lost everything and had nothing left but hatred.

“SERAPHINE!” Ren shouted. The model, furious at the humiliation of the fashion show and the cancellation of her contract, had returned to exact her final revenge.