CHAPTER 8: The Mask of a Genius and the Collapse After School

CHAPTER 8: The Mask of a Genius and the Collapse After School

As the final bell rang, Akane calmly packed her books.

She walked past Ren’s desk, casting a brief glance at the boy surrounded by a dense crowd of students. Without saying a single word, she left behind only the faint, pure scent of snow blossoms before disappearing beyond the classroom door.

She already knew.

Ren’s real “battle”… was just beginning.

Unlike Akane, who was free to remain distant and cold, Ren carried the diplomatic burden of the Takeda clan on his shoulders.

Surrounding him now were the heirs of powerful conglomerates and prestigious martial families.

“Takeda-kun, what do you think about next week’s market fluctuations?”

“Ren-san, your sword-drawing technique during training this morning was incredible. Could you give me some guidance?”

“Young master, my father sends his regards to you…”

Facing this overwhelming crowd, Ren activated the Hiyori bloodline inherited from his mother.

A faint white light flickered deep within his eyes.

His brain began to surge—

pushing his processing ability to 120%.

In an instant, the world around him slowed down.

Split.

Layered into streams of information.

Ren could listen to four conversations at once, each coming from a different direction.

He turned slightly, a gentle smile forming on his lips.

He answered the first person about economics.

Nodded to the second about swordsmanship.

And responded to the third with a subtle, refined glance.

Every word he spoke was sharp.

Elegant.

Flawlessly intelligent.

The crowd around him gasped in admiration.

“As expected of Takeda’s golden boy… This level of intellect is beyond normal!”

But inside—

Ren was screaming.

“CAN YOU ALL JUST LEAVE ME ALONE SO I CAN GO AFTER AKANE?!

I STILL HAVE A LOT OF SCORES TO SETTLE!!!”

Yet his expression did not change.

Not even slightly.

Instead, he continued to enjoy the admiration—

in the most dramatic way possible.

The Collapse Behind Closed Doors

It took nearly an hour before Ren finally escaped the crowd and stepped into the family limousine waiting at the school gate.

Click.

The moment the car door shut—

cutting him off completely from the outside world—

the white light in his eyes vanished.

Exhaustion crashed into him like a tidal wave.

His brain, pushed far beyond its limits, throbbed with a splitting pain.

Ren collapsed onto the soft leather seat, breathing heavily as sweat soaked his forehead.

The energetic, mischievous “school troublemaker”…

the flawless “perfect prince”…

All of it disappeared.

What remained—

was just a teenage boy, completely drained from forcing himself too far.

He muttered weakly, half-conscious, lightly punching the seat beside him:

“Damn it… this brain-control ability… it’s too exhausting…”

“…Akane… today… I’ll let you off…”

“…just wait… tomorrow… I’ll get my revenge… for sure…”

Before he could finish his sentence—

Ren had already fallen into a deep sleep.

The limousine continued gliding through the night.

Carrying a young heir—

who was collapsing under the weight of trying to be both

a perfect successor…

and a chaotic troublemaker at the same time.