VOL 0: The Puppeteer Age
Chapter 5: The Savior
By this point, my associate and I had already finished reviewing the journals from the Grey Triad.
Naturally, the next question was obvious.
How did the Puppeteer Age truly begin?
Many people believed it started with a rumor.
Others believed it started with an expulsion.
Some claimed it began when the first student's reputation was destroyed.
They were all wrong.
The Puppeteer Age began with trust.
Specifically, the trust between two friends.
So I decided to ask the one man who would know.
Aoi Fushimiya.
When I asked him how everything began, he sat quietly for several moments.
Then he leaned back.
His expression remained calm.
Measured.
Almost nostalgic.
Finally, he spoke.
"Very well."
And so he told me.
---
September 2022.
The National Institute for Future Leaders.
Study Hall.
The room was quiet.
Most students were preparing for upcoming examinations.
At the center of the room sat Aoi Fushimiya.
While others talked, laughed, and wasted time, Aoi studied.
His notebook was covered in calculations, observations, and notes.
Then the doors burst open.
"AOI!"
Several students immediately turned toward the entrance.
Atsuhiko stood there breathing heavily.
Aoi slowly closed his eyes.
"Why must you always be so loud?"
Atsuhiko ignored the comment and pulled out a chair.
"The Puppeteer struck again."
Aoi continued reading.
"I see."
Atsuhiko leaned forward.
"They spread more rumors. Freshmen this time. Some sophomores too."
Still, Aoi remained focused on his notes.
Then he calmly asked,
"And if the rumors were true?"
Atsuhiko blinked.
"What?"
"What if the people being exposed actually deserved it?"
Atsuhiko frowned.
"Their methods are wrong."
"Perhaps."
"We'll find them eventually."
Aoi finally looked up.
"And then what?"
"We get them expelled."
Aoi observed his friend silently.
Then he closed his notebook.
Atsuhiko continued.
"Remember what happened last year?"
Of course Aoi remembered.
Everyone did.
A student had been expelled after examination papers were switched.
The culprit caught afterward had merely been a disposable pawn.
The true Puppeteer escaped.
Again.
"The girl who got expelled wasn't innocent."
Aoi's voice was calm.
"She physically assaulted multiple students."
"That doesn't matter."
"It matters to the victims."
Atsuhiko shook his head.
"Rules exist for a reason."
"Do they?"
Atsuhiko ignored the question.
"I've already started talking to people."
Aoi sighed.
Of course he had.
"When did you do that?"
"Last week."
A grin appeared on Atsuhiko's face.
"I'm building an operation."
Aoi already knew where this conversation was heading.
"And what role have you assigned me this time?"
Atsuhiko pointed dramatically.
"Assistant leader."
Aoi stared at him.
For several seconds.
Then he rubbed his forehead.
"I see."
Atsuhiko leaned back proudly.
"We're going to find the Puppeteer."
Aoi folded his hands.
Then he asked a question.
"What if the Puppeteer is helping us?"
Atsuhiko laughed.
"Then we'll catch them too."
The irony of that statement would only become apparent years later.
Aoi eventually closed his notebook.
"Fine."
Atsuhiko grinned.
"You have an idea?"
"Yes."
Aoi's eyes sharpened.
"We create a special examination."
Atsuhiko immediately became interested.
Aoi continued.
"An examination dedicated to identifying the Puppeteer."
Atsuhiko scratched his chin.
"The student government regulations won't allow that."
"We can convince the principal."
"And if we do?"
"Then we make the reward significant."
"How significant?"
"Ten thousand private points."
That answer immediately caught Atsuhiko's attention.
Aoi knew it would.
People always moved when incentives were involved.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then Atsuhiko smiled.
"How long?"
Aoi thought briefly.
"One year isn't enough."
"Then two."
Aoi looked up.
"Two years?"
"The Puppeteer is a sophomore."
"What makes you think that?"
Atsuhiko crossed his arms.
"Because the moment our year entered this school, the Puppeteer appeared."
Aoi remained silent.
"The targets fit too."
Freshmen.
Sophomores.
Student government members.
Students deemed unworthy.
A twisted sense of justice.
Atsuhiko had noticed more than most people.
Far more.
Which made him dangerous.
Not because he was intelligent.
Because he was determined.
---
Their conversation ended when a crying freshman was escorted into the room by several staff members.
Atsuhiko immediately recognized her.
Her friend had withdrawn from school the previous day.
Exposed by the Puppeteer.
Destroyed by public humiliation.
Atsuhiko looked away.
"What they're doing is wrong."
Aoi watched the girl.
Then quietly asked,
"But is it ineffective?"
Atsuhiko looked confused.
Aoi simply stood.
"Forget it."
The intercom activated.
"Aoi Fushimiya. Please report to the front office."
Aoi sighed.
Then left.
---
Waiting for him was Taro Fushimiya.
His father.
The conversation that followed would remain burned into Aoi's memory.
Taro wasted no time.
"I hear you're helping organize resistance against the Puppeteer."
Aoi nodded.
"So?"
Taro looked directly at him.
"What happens when Atsuhiko discovers who the Puppeteer really is?"
Silence.
Then Aoi answered.
"He won't."
Taro laughed softly.
"Aoi."
The smile vanished.
"I know it's you."
For the first time, Aoi's expression shifted.
Only slightly.
Taro continued.
"When your friend discovers the truth, what will you do?"
"I won't let him discover it."
"That wasn't my question."
Aoi remained silent.
Taro turned toward the door.
"Create a contingency."
Aoi's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not expelling Atsuhiko."
Taro paused.
Then smiled.
The kind of smile that carried disappointment.
"Very well."
He opened the door.
"But you already know what must happen eventually."
And with that, he left.
Leaving Aoi alone.
---
That evening, representatives from every student government division gathered together.
Freshmen.
Sophomores.
Juniors.
Seniors.
Over fifty students filled the room.
A rare sight.
Atsuhiko stood before them all.
Confident.
Hopeful.
Determined.
He explained the operation.
The reward.
The objective.
The two-year examination.
The room listened carefully.
A senior eventually stood.
"How do we know the Puppeteer isn't one of you?"
For a brief moment, the room became completely silent.
Then Aoi stepped forward.
His voice was steady.
Controlled.
Convincing.
"We've already investigated every sophomore involved."
The statement was a lie.
A flawless lie.
"The Puppeteer is not in this room."
Nobody questioned him.
Not because the statement made sense.
Because it came from Aoi Fushimiya.
His reputation spoke louder than evidence ever could.
Then Aoi addressed the entire room.
"This is not merely about private points."
The room focused on him.
"You all fear the Puppeteer."
Nobody argued.
"One person cannot stop them."
His gaze swept across the crowd.
"But together..."
He paused.
"...we can reclaim this school's autonomy."
The applause was immediate.
Thunderous.
And just like that, every division united.
---
The following morning, posters appeared throughout campus.
Each contained a QR code.
Curious students scanned it.
The result was a private audio recording.
A familiar voice changer activated.
Then the Puppeteer spoke.
"So you've decided to unite against me?"
A pause.
"Very well."
"I accept your declaration of war."
Another pause.
Then laughter.
Cold.
Amused.
Dangerously confident.
"Just know..."
"I won't lose quietly."
The recording ended.
Across the campus, students became more determined than ever.
Atsuhiko clenched his fists.
"We'll catch them."
Beside him, Aoi simply smiled.
Not because he doubted Atsuhiko.
Not because he underestimated him.
But because he already knew something his friend did not.
The closer Atsuhiko came to the truth...
The closer he came to disaster.
And neither of them understood that the war had already begun.
The Puppeteer Age had started.
The first move had already been made.
And the board would never be the same again.
END OF CHAPTER 5: THE SAVIOR
Chapter 6: The Grey Judas, The Serpent on His Shoulder, and His Rabbi
Aoi fell silent for a moment.
The look in his eyes had changed. Not dramatically. Not enough for most people to notice. But after everything I had seen, I recognized it immediately.
Regret.
"...From that day onward," Aoi finally said, leaning back in his chair, "they hunted me until senior year."
I folded my arms.
"I see."
For a brief moment neither of us spoke.
Then I asked the obvious question.
"What happened?"
Aoi closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, he had already traveled somewhere else entirely.
Two years into the past.
And so his story continued.
---
May 8th, 2024.
Senior year.
The final weeks of school.
Rain hammered against the windows of the student government building like artillery fire.
All four divisions of the student government had gathered together once more.
Freshmen.
Sophomores.
Juniors.
Seniors.
Two years.
For two entire years they had hunted a ghost.
And they still had nothing.
A freshman girl finally stood from her seat.
Her name was Tatsuki.
"I know I'm just a freshman," she began, "and I haven't experienced most of the Puppeteer Age like the rest of you."
Several students glanced toward her.
"But you've all been searching for two years."
Her voice grew sharper.
"And you've found nothing."
Silence.
"The school year is ending in a few weeks. At some point you have to accept reality."
She looked directly at Atsuhiko.
"We lost."
The room became still.
Then—
BANG.
Atsuhiko's palm slammed against the table.
The noise echoed throughout the room.
"No."
His voice carried enough conviction to make several students flinch.
"No. We are not giving up."
His fists trembled.
"That's exactly what the Puppeteer wants."
The room remained silent.
"They want us exhausted."
"They want us frustrated."
"They want us to believe this is impossible."
Atsuhiko's gaze swept across the room.
"Do any of you understand how much damage they've caused?"
His voice rose.
"Friendships destroyed."
"Students expelled."
"Dreams shattered."
"We cannot allow this injustice to continue."
Tatsuki immediately interrupted.
"Some of the people exposed by the Puppeteer deserved it."
Several students exchanged uneasy glances.
"And others were publicly humiliated."
She crossed her arms.
"Most of them withdrew from school afterward."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Can you just admit it for once, Atsuhiko?"
"You lost."
Atsuhiko stared at her.
For a moment, he looked exhausted.
Then determination returned.
"If I stand by and allow rules to be ignored," he said quietly, "then why have rules at all?"
Nobody answered.
"We have to maintain order."
Tatsuki sighed.
"No."
She picked up her folder.
"We're ending today's meeting."
Several students nodded.
"We have bigger concerns than chasing some phantom."
One by one, people began leaving.
The room emptied.
Soon only two people remained.
Atsuhiko.
And Aoi.
Atsuhiko left first.
Aoi followed a few minutes later.
---
The rooftop was empty.
Rain poured endlessly from the gray sky.
Atsuhiko stood near the edge.
Watching the city.
Watching the storm.
Watching a war he had spent two years fighting.
Aoi stepped onto the rooftop.
Rain immediately soaked his uniform.
Neither of them cared.
"You know," Aoi began, "Tatsuki might be right."
Atsuhiko didn't look at him.
"We should probably give up."
Silence.
Then Atsuhiko laughed.
Not because something was funny.
Because something finally made sense.
"The Puppeteer is in the student government."
Aoi looked at him.
"What makes you think that?"
Atsuhiko finally turned.
"The intercom systems."
Aoi remained expressionless.
"They were bugged."
Atsuhiko continued.
"Small microphones."
"The same kind the Puppeteer uses."
Aoi said nothing.
"And those microphones came from old student government equipment."
The rain continued falling.
Atsuhiko smiled.
"The Puppeteer appeared during our year."
"That means they're one of us."
Aoi remained silent.
Atsuhiko continued calculating aloud.
"Eighteen people."
He held up a finger.
"That's how many senior division members there are."
Then another.
"Minus you."
A third.
"Minus me."
He laughed.
"Sixteen."
His smile widened.
"For the first time in two years..."
He looked almost proud.
"...we're actually close."
Aoi looked away.
Atsuhiko didn't notice.
"If I randomly guessed now, I'd have a six point two five percent chance."
He laughed again.
"That's terrible."
Then he smiled.
"But it's still better than before."
The storm began weakening.
For the first time all day, sunlight broke through the clouds.
A rainbow appeared across the horizon.
Atsuhiko stared at it.
"Honestly..."
His voice softened.
"I'm glad it took this long."
Aoi looked at him.
Atsuhiko smiled.
"It would've been boring otherwise."
A moment passed.
Then he added:
"And I'm glad I got to do it with you."
The words struck harder than they should have.
"We'll graduate soon."
Atsuhiko chuckled.
"We'll probably never spend this much time together again."
For the first time all day, Aoi's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
"I was glad too."
Atsuhiko looked at him.
Aoi continued.
"No matter what happens..."
His voice became quieter.
"You are my brother."
The rain stopped.
"You've always been my brother."
Atsuhiko grinned.
"Then what does that make Kei?"
Aoi almost smiled.
"Still my brother."
"Good answer."
Atsuhiko laughed.
"How old is he now?"
"Thirteen."
"Damn."
Atsuhiko looked genuinely surprised.
"Time moves fast."
The two stared at the rainbow for a while longer.
Neither realizing they were standing at the edge of a cliff.
One was about to jump.
The other was about to be pushed.
---
They eventually returned to Aoi's dorm.
Both completely soaked.
Atsuhiko grabbed a towel.
"Hold on."
Aoi looked confused.
"What?"
"Take your shoes off."
Reluctantly, Aoi obeyed.
Atsuhiko frowned.
"Damn."
"Our shoes are soaked."
He crouched down.
Then began cleaning the mud from Aoi's feet.
Aoi blinked.
"What are you doing?"
Atsuhiko shrugged.
"I'm the leader of this operation."
Aoi raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
"And that means I look after people."
He continued wiping away the dirt.
"Simple."
Aoi stared at him.
For some reason, he couldn't find words.
Eventually he simply nodded.
"Alright."
Atsuhiko smiled.
"There we go."
A few minutes later, he left.
The room became silent.
Then Aoi picked up his phone.
And called his father.
The call connected almost immediately.
"What is it?"
Taro sounded annoyed.
"I'm busy."
Aoi hesitated.
Then spoke.
"He knows."
Silence.
"The Puppeteer is in the senior division."
Another silence.
Then—
A loud crash erupted through the phone.
Aoi heard something shatter.
"ARE YOU INSANE?"
Taro's voice exploded through the speaker.
"WHY IS HE STILL HERE?"
Aoi clenched his jaw.
"I couldn't do it."
"Couldn't?"
Taro sounded disgusted.
"You were supposed to remove him months ago."
Aoi lowered his head.
"He's my friend."
Taro laughed.
A cold laugh.
One without humor.
"Friend?"
"That is your excuse?"
Aoi remained silent.
"He's like family."
Taro's expression darkened.
"Family?"
Aoi spoke quietly.
"I consider him my brother."
For a moment there was only static.
Then Taro sighed.
A long sigh.
The sigh of a man preparing to cross a line.
"Listen carefully."
His voice became calm.
Far too calm.
"Follow my instructions exactly."
And then he explained the plan.
Every detail.
Every step.
Every contingency.
Every sacrifice.
Every casualty.
The more Aoi listened...
The wider his eyes became.
By the end, he could barely breathe.
The call ended.
Silence filled the room.
Aoi slowly lowered the phone.
His hands were shaking.
He wasn't Eiji.
He wasn't Taro.
He wasn't capable of making decisions that easily.
At least not yet.
Atsuhiko had always been his anchor.
The one person capable of reminding him he was still human.
Taro represented the opposite.
Ambition.
Results.
Victory.
No matter the cost.
Aoi looked down at his hands.
Then slowly collapsed to the floor.
"I..."
His voice cracked.
For the first time in years.
"I can't."
He squeezed his eyes shut.
"I can't do it."
And yet...
Somewhere deep down...
He already knew he would.
The phone had already gone silent, yet Taro's words continued echoing inside his mind.
Follow my instructions exactly.
Aoi clenched his fist so hard his nails dug into his palm.
His father and Atsuhiko stood at opposite ends of his life.
One was ambition.
The other was conscience.
One represented everything the Fushimiya bloodline had built.
The other represented everything Aoi wished he could be.
For several minutes he simply sat there on the floor, staring at nothing.
Rain tapped softly against the dormitory window.
His breathing gradually steadied.
Eventually he stood.
The trembling disappeared from his hands.
His expression returned to normal.
The same expression he always wore.
The same mask.
Taro's plan was ruthless.
It would hurt too many people.
Too much collateral damage.
If someone had to dirty their hands...
Then Aoi would do it himself.
A few hours later...
The decision had already been made.
And once Aoi made a decision, he rarely turned back.
The halls were quiet.
Most students had already returned to their dorms.
Aoi walked alone.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Eventually he stopped outside a familiar door.
Atsuhiko's room.
Knock.
Knock.
A few moments later the door opened.
Atsuhiko grinned.
"Yo."
Aoi forced a small smile.
"Sorry. Could you hold this folder for a second? My hands are kind of full."
Atsuhiko grabbed it without hesitation.
"Sure."
Then he raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you wearing gloves?"
Aoi lifted a paper bag.
"I brought bread and grape juice."
Atsuhiko laughed.
"I guess that makes sense."
The lie came naturally.
That was what disgusted Aoi the most.
The two entered.
The atmosphere felt strangely peaceful.
Like neither of them realized they were standing at the edge of a cliff.
Aoi sat down.
Atsuhiko immediately began talking about graduation.
About university.
About the future.
The future.
Aoi almost laughed at the word.
Eventually he looked at Atsuhiko.
"I guess this could be one of our last suppers together."
Atsuhiko smiled.
"I guess so."
For a brief moment, Aoi wished time would stop.
Just for a few minutes.
Just long enough to avoid what came next.
The meal eventually ended.
Aoi stood.
He carefully took the folder back.
"Well."
He looked away.
"I'll see you later."
"See ya."
The door closed behind him.
Aoi immediately headed toward the administrative building.
The principal happened to be walking down one of the corridors.
Perfect.
Aoi approached him.
Then intentionally stumbled.
The principal quickly grabbed him.
"Careful."
Aoi regained his balance.
"My bad."
The principal chuckled.
Then his expression became more serious.
"Actually, have you noticed anything suspicious tonight?"
Aoi tilted his head.
"What do you mean?"
"Someone broke into the student vault."
Aoi acted surprised.
"What?"
"They used a crowbar and stole confidential files."
The principal sighed.
"We're still investigating."
Aoi paused.
Then spoke carefully.
"Not really."
A deliberate pause.
"Though... I did see Atsuhiko walking near that area earlier."
The principal's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Really?"
"Maybe it was nothing."
The principal nodded.
"Perhaps."
Then he continued down the hallway.
The moment he turned the corner, Aoi's face became expressionless.
The first move had succeeded.
While pretending to stumble earlier, Aoi had already taken what he needed.
The principal's keys.
All of them.
The master key.
The car keys.
Even the house keys attached to the ring.
Everything.
The rest unfolded almost mechanically.
Aoi headed toward the parking lot.
He pressed the button on the key fob.
The principal's car immediately began blaring its alarm.
Lights flashed.
Noise filled the area.
Teachers and staff rushed outside.
Exactly as expected.
While attention shifted elsewhere, Aoi moved.
Fast.
Silent.
Calculated.
He entered the security room.
Used the master key.
Deleted the footage.
Every trace.
Every recording.
Every angle that could expose him.
Then he moved again.
The principal's office.
The lock clicked.
Inside, he carefully placed the stolen documents.
The folder already carried Atsuhiko's fingerprints.
Aoi stared at it.
Just stared.
His hand refused to move.
His chest tightened.
This was it.
The point of no return.
One decision.
One final action.
And everything would change.
For several seconds he considered stopping.
Confessing.
Running away.
Anything.
Then he remembered Taro's words.
And Atsuhiko's discovery.
Sixteen suspects.
6.25%.
Too close.
Far too close.
Aoi gently placed the folder down.
Then left.
The trap was complete.
Hours later...
It was nearly midnight.
Three police vehicles rolled onto campus.
Red and blue lights painted the dormitories.
Students immediately began pouring outside despite regulations.
Confused voices filled the night.
Questions.
Rumors.
Fear.
Atsuhiko happened to be hosting a small gathering in his room.
Aoi sat among them.
Tatsuki was there.
Several other student government members as well.
Someone glanced out the window.
"Are those police cars?"
Tatsuki frowned.
Atsuhiko shrugged.
"Probably doesn't have anything to do with us."
Then—
BANG.
A heavy knock echoed through the room.
Everyone froze.
Another knock followed.
Atsuhiko stood and walked to the door.
The moment he opened it, three officers stood outside.
The room instantly fell silent.
Every face turned pale.
Every face except one.
Aoi simply watched.
The nightmare he created was finally unfolding.
One officer stepped forward.
"Atsuhiko Kato."
Atsuhiko blinked.
"What?"
"You are under arrest on suspicion of information theft."
The officer continued reciting his rights.
The words sounded distant.
Almost unreal.
Atsuhiko laughed nervously.
"You've got the wrong guy."
No one laughed with him.
The handcuffs clicked shut.
Everyone stared.
Tatsuki stepped forward.
"That's impossible."
Her voice shook.
"He wouldn't do something like that."
Aoi felt something inside him scream.
Tell the truth.
Tell her.
Tell everyone.
Instead he heard himself speak.
Coldly.
Calmly.
"Maybe his obsession with the Puppeteer pushed him too far."
The words tasted poisonous.
Tatsuki slowly looked at him.
Something about Aoi seemed wrong.
His face remained composed.
Yet his fist was clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.
Outside, another officer approached.
He held up the folder.
"If you're innocent..."
The officer opened it.
"Then why are your fingerprints on this?"
Atsuhiko's eyes widened.
The folder.
The same folder.
The one Aoi handed him earlier.
The one he touched without hesitation.
Because he trusted him.
Silence.
A horrible silence.
Atsuhiko slowly turned.
His gaze found Aoi.
Not the Puppeteer.
Not a suspect.
Not an enemy.
His best friend.
"It was you all along..."
Aoi lowered his eyes.
He couldn't answer.
The officers began pulling Atsuhiko away.
Then Atsuhiko shouted.
"LOOK AT ME, AOI!"
The entire courtyard froze.
Rainwater dripped from rooftops.
No one moved.
"WAS IT YOU!?"
For several seconds Aoi said nothing.
Then he finally raised his head.
Their eyes met.
Atsuhiko already knew the answer.
Both of them did.
Yet Aoi forced the lie out anyway.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
The officers dragged Atsuhiko toward the vehicle.
And in that moment, Atsuhiko understood everything.
The Puppeteer.
The investigation.
The clues.
The betrayal.
His greatest ally...
Had always been his greatest enemy.
And Aoi simply stood there and watched as the only person who ever truly understood him disappeared into the night.
---
May 31st, 2024.
Graduation Day.
The end of the Puppeteer Age.
The auditorium was overflowing with students, teachers, parents, and staff. Every graduate wore a pristine uniform. Every smile looked rehearsed. Every conversation sounded hollow.
Backstage, Class A surrounded Aoi.
Some congratulated him.
Others praised him.
One student laughed.
"We're lucky we had you, Aoi. You're someone we could always trust. Honestly, after what happened to Atsuhiko, you're the only person left I can rely on."
Trust.
The word irritated him.
No.
Not irritated.
It disgusted him.
The people around him knew nothing.
They praised a mask.
They admired an illusion.
For years they had admired a version of him that never truly existed.
The only person who had ever seen through that mask was gone.
And Aoi himself had destroyed him.
Soon the graduates were called forward.
The ceremony began.
Names were announced.
Certificates were handed out.
Applause echoed through the auditorium.
When Aoi received his certificate, he felt nothing.
No pride.
No joy.
No relief.
Only emptiness.
A few minutes later the principal approached the podium.
He looked unusually nervous.
His hands trembled slightly as he adjusted the microphone.
The room slowly quieted.
"Before introducing this year's valedictorian," the principal began, "I would like to announce that due to certain circumstances... I will be stepping down from my position."
A few whispers spread through the audience.
Aoi raised an eyebrow.
That was unexpected.
The principal earned more than enough money to remain here comfortably.
Why resign now?
Still, Aoi dismissed the thought.
It didn't matter.
Nothing mattered.
The principal continued.
"Additionally, a student has recently been arrested for illegal activities and will be dealt with appropriately."
Aoi's fist tightened.
Atsuhiko.
Even now his name haunted him.
The principal swallowed.
Then finally announced:
"This year's valedictorian is... Aoi Fushimiya."
The crowd erupted into applause.
Aoi rose from his seat.
Calmly.
Methodically.
Like a machine following instructions.
As he walked toward the stage, he spotted several familiar faces.
His father.
His mother.
His cousin Sakura.
Paul.
A surgeon who worked closely with the family.
And finally—
Kei.
Sitting quietly between them.
For a brief moment, Aoi looked at his younger brother.
Aside from Atsuhiko, Kei was the only person he genuinely cherished.
And that frightened him.
Because if he could destroy Atsuhiko...
Then eventually he could destroy Kei too.
Aoi stepped onto the stage.
The applause slowly faded.
He unfolded the speech prepared for him.
Then he began.
"Good evening, everyone."
His voice was calm.
Measured.
Perfect.
"These four years at N.I.F.L. have taught us the importance of trust and unity. Unfortunately, there are individuals within this school who have damaged that trust. Such as the student known as the Puppeteer—"
Then he stopped.
The words froze.
A memory surfaced.
---
May 29th, 2017.
Seven years earlier.
Elementary school graduation.
Ten-year-old Aoi sat alone after the ceremony.
His father had already left.
His mother wasn't there.
Only Kei remained nearby.
For some reason, despite graduating at the top of his class, Aoi felt completely empty.
Then someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Did you forget you have another brother?"
Aoi looked up.
Atsuhiko.
Smiling.
As always.
"Come on," Atsuhiko laughed. "Stand proud, Aoi. You're at the top of our class after all."
"My father left."
"What about your mom?"
"She's rarely around."
Atsuhiko immediately pulled him to his feet.
"Then bring Kei."
"What?"
"My family's taking a group picture."
Aoi frowned.
"But we're not part of your family."
Atsuhiko looked genuinely confused.
Then he smiled.
"You are in my eyes."
Aoi stared at him.
Atsuhiko continued.
"Just know something, Aoi."
"What?"
"I don't see you as the heir to the Fushimiya family."
Aoi blinked.
"I see you as a person."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Atsuhiko grinned.
"So be yourself."
Aoi remained silent.
"Stand tall."
Still silent.
"And don't spend your whole life performing for people who don't value who you really are."
---
The memory shattered.
Suddenly Aoi was back on stage.
Back in the present.
Back in reality.
Back in the aftermath of his own betrayal.
His fingers slowly crushed the speech paper.
The auditorium watched in confusion.
Aoi lowered the paper.
Then he spoke.
"Pathetic."
The room fell silent.
Every student stared.
Every teacher stared.
Every parent stared.
Aoi's expression became cold.
Empty.
Dead.
"It's pathetic that you expect me to repeat this weak-minded nonsense."
Shock spread through the crowd.
"And to all my classmates."
His voice sharpened.
"The people who attached themselves to me like parasites."
Several teachers immediately stood.
But none approached him.
None dared.
They simply watched.
Frozen.
"You can all disappear."
His gaze drifted toward Kei.
Those words were aimed at him more than anyone else.
Not because he truly meant them.
But because he believed he no longer deserved his brother's trust.
Not after what he had done.
Not after Atsuhiko.
"No one here truly cares about me."
The auditorium remained silent.
"You care about achievement."
His voice echoed.
"Status."
Another pause.
"Results."
Then he laughed.
A small, hollow laugh.
"You want the truth?"
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Then Aoi finally said:
"I am the Puppeteer."
The world stopped.
Gasps erupted throughout the auditorium.
Teachers stared in horror.
Students looked physically sick.
Parents exchanged bewildered glances.
And yet Aoi continued.
"You are all cogs within a broken system."
His voice remained calm.
"You obey."
A pause.
"Or you get replaced."
Sakura suddenly ran from the auditorium in tears.
Aoi barely noticed.
He dropped the microphone.
Then walked away.
No farewell.
No conclusion.
No apology.
Only silence.
As he exited, he heard a single clap.
His father's.
Of course it was.
A scoff followed.
Probably Paul.
Aoi didn't care about either.
He stepped outside.
Then suddenly felt someone grab his arm.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Kei.
Aoi didn't even need to turn around.
"You don't know anything about me."
Kei tightened his grip.
"Aoi—"
"You don't know anything about the sacrifices I've made."
Then Aoi pulled away.
And left.
---
Eventually he arrived at an old treehouse.
A forgotten place.
The same treehouse connected to Eiji, Chimpei, and Shinobu.
The roots of everything.
The origins of the disease.
Rain clouds drifted overhead.
Aoi sat in silence.
Then footsteps approached.
His mother entered.
She looked at him.
Truly looked at him.
For perhaps the first time in years.
"I know you didn't mean any of that."
Aoi laughed bitterly.
"Why would that matter?"
His mother sat beside him.
"You really did grow up."
"Oh please."
Aoi looked away.
"As if you were ever there."
His mother remained quiet.
Then she sighed.
"This is all because of those three."
Aoi frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Eiji. Chimpei. Shinobu."
"The Grey Triad."
Aoi folded his arms.
"Father told me about them."
His mother shook her head.
"No. He told you his version."
Aoi remained silent.
His mother looked out toward the horizon.
"In my opinion, all three of them were fools."
That caught Aoi off guard.
"Most people who knew them argued about who was right."
She continued.
"They spent decades choosing between Eiji and Chimpei."
A pause.
"I think both of them were wrong."
Aoi listened.
"Your great-grandfather wanted to raise children from birth and mold them into geniuses. He wanted to decide what they learned, what they experienced, and when they were allowed to see the world."
Her voice hardened.
"He stole childhoods and called it progress."
Aoi didn't interrupt.
"He believed he was saving Japan."
She laughed bitterly.
"But he was worse than many corrupt elites."
Aoi frowned.
"Worse?"
"Because corrupt people know they're crossing a line."
She looked directly at him.
"Eiji stopped believing lines existed."
The words hung in the air.
"He didn't see black and white."
A pause.
"He only saw grey."
Aoi remained silent.
Then she continued.
"Chimpei created N.I.F.L. to oppose him."
Aoi nodded.
"I know that part."
"No. You know the simplified version."
Her voice sharpened.
"Chimpei believed morality alone could save society."
She shook her head.
"He would rather watch the nation collapse than become what he hated."
Aoi frowned.
"Isn't that principled?"
"No."
His mother answered immediately.
"It was cowardice."
Aoi blinked.
"He obeyed laws without questioning who created those laws."
She looked disappointed.
"He never understood that corrupt people write rules too."
The wind blew through the trees.
"He viewed the world through the eyes of a child."
A pause.
"And children cannot fix broken civilizations."
Then she mentioned the final member.
"Shinobu."
Aoi listened carefully.
"She fell in love with Eiji."
His mother sighed.
"And somehow convinced herself she could save him."
A sad smile crossed her face.
"She couldn't."
A pause.
"Nobody could."
Aoi looked down.
His mother continued.
"Eiji was too ambitious."
"Too stubborn."
"Too convinced he was right."
"Shinobu should have walked away."
Instead she stayed.
The three of them loved each other like family.
Yet they constantly pulled against one another.
And eventually their conflict infected everyone who came after them.
"Eiji's son avoided that fate."
Aoi nodded.
"My grandfather."
"Yes."
"He focused on business."
"Competition."
"Family."
"He wasn't perfect, but he never took things too far."
Then her expression darkened.
"Then Taro was born."
Aoi already knew where this was going.
"He inherited Eiji's ambition."
"And when he met Toshiro..."
She sighed.
"The curse returned."
Aoi laughed weakly.
"A curse?"
"This isn't some horror story."
His mother looked at him.
"No."
Her voice became quiet.
"It's worse."
Aoi waited.
Then she said the words that would remain with him forever.
"The inheritance of ideals."
Silence followed.
The two stood together beneath the fading evening sky.
Aoi stared toward the horizon.
Toward the future.
Toward a world built from the mistakes of countless generations.
A cycle.
A chain.
A burden.
And somewhere within that burden existed one final hope.
Kei.
His younger brother.
The one person who might be capable of breaking the cycle that Eiji, Chimpei, Shinobu, Taro, and even Aoi himself had continued.
The one person who might finally end the Puppeteer Age.
And so the story of Aoi Fushimiya came to its conclusion.
But the story of Kei Fushimiya...
Had only just begun.
End of The Puppeteer Age.