A Horizon Without a Destination

As Ren and Mio fled the scene, stepping into the sunlight, the chaos inside the Crystal Cathedral was absolute. Minamoto's security guards, loyal to Kaguya, formed a human barrier, clashing with and holding back Ryōma's black-suited thugs. There was shoving, shouting, and the sound of cameras firing nonstop, capturing the civil war of the Japanese elite.

Amid the chaos, the two business titans stood face to face in the central aisle. Ryōma Shinomiya, red with anger and humiliation, pointed a trembling cane at Kaguya. " This is your fault! " roared Ryōma, spitting the words with utter hatred. " You and that protégée of yours! You turned my son into that! You corrupted him with your mediocre ideas and cheap sentimentalism! "

Kaguya Minamoto stood firm, unmoved by the fury of the man who had terrorized the industry for decades. " You're wrong, Ryōma. " said Kaguya with a calm that eclipsed Ryōma's rage. " It wasn't them. It was us. " She took a step forward, forcing Ryōma to step back slightly. " We turned our children into what they are, regardless of whether the result was good or bad... I pushed Tomoki away, and you... you broke Ren trying to control him. Ren was a good boy, Ryōma. The only one who corrupted him with hatred was you. "

Ryōma gritted his teeth, unable to accept the blame. " No! " he shouted. " I will destroy every one of you! I'll sue you for moral, psychological, and financial damages! I will sink your company and that runaway couple!"

Kaguya looked at him with pity. She reached into her bag and, with an elegant motion, pulled out a pair of dark sunglasses and put them on, hiding her red eyes from the tears she had shed minutes before. " Do as you wish. " Kaguya declared, turning halfway away. " Sue me. Attack me. But be clear about this: I am willing to spend the last yen of my fortune and burn my reputation if necessary to protect Mio... and now, my future son-in-law, Ren. " Kaguya walked toward the exit, leaving Ryōma shouting alone in the middle of a church emptied of love.

While the chaos was evident and guests began to be evacuated, Tomoki remained near the altar, watching his mother's argument. He felt exhausted, empty, but strangely at peace. A figure appeared beside him. It was Naoki. They didn't know each other personally, but Ren had spoken of him on occasion as the chef who had looked after her. Naoki looked at the open door through which his young master had escaped toward freedom. Then he looked at the man in the white tuxedo stained with blood.

" Why did you let her go? " asked Naoki, his voice soft.

Tomoki was silent for a few seconds, staring into the void, searching for an answer. " Sometimes... " Tomoki began, with a sad smile, " sometimes you're willing to do anything for love. Even if that includes hurting ourselves so they can heal. " Naoki simply remained silent, nodding with respect. Two guardians who had fulfilled their mission.

Far from the chaos, far from the cameras and the shouts, two young people ran through the streets of Tokyo. They were running from everything. From corporate wars, from the manipulative father, from social expectations... and from the pain of leaving behind a friend who had been willing to abandon his dreams for love.

They were two strange silhouettes to the people who watched them: a boy in a ruined tuxedo and a girl in a high-value pink wedding dress, running hand in hand, laughing and panting. A wedding that was not meant for the two of them, but which ended up uniting them.

They reached a pedestrian bridge and slowed their pace, walking to catch their breath. Mio finally reacted to reality. She squeezed Ren's hand and looked at him. " Ren... " she asked, her breath still ragged. " Where are we going? "

Ren stopped. He looked around. He had no money, no cards, no plan. He only had the rabbit necklace in his pocket and the girl in front of him. He looked into her eyes, and for the first time in years, his face lit up with a genuine, carefree, and free smile. " Does it even matter? " he replied.

Mio blinked, surprised. She couldn't believe what Ren had said. It was the most irresponsible and wonderful answer she had ever heard at the same time. But those words, for some reason, made her happy. The fear of the future disappeared. " Maybe love can be a curse... " thought Mio, remembering all the pain they had endured. " But it can also be the best experience in life. "

Both teenagers resumed their pace, walking toward the sunset that painted the city gold. They didn't know where they were going. They didn't know what they would eat that night or where they would sleep. They didn't know what fate had in store for them or if Ryōma would try anything else. But one thing they were sure of, an absolute certainty that shone brighter than any family jewel: As long as they were together, nothing and no one could separate them. Not family. Not money. Not even time.

Never again.