The Kirijo estate had always been quiet, vast, and somewhat lonely. My father was often busy, and while the staff was always present, I had little company. The silence was a constant companion, and I had grown used to it. But when he arrived, everything shifted.

He was the child of one of the maids, brought to live in the estate as part of an arrangement I didn’t fully understand. At first, I thought little of it. Another presence, but nothing that would change my world.

But then, I saw him.

I had heard the staff speak about him, but I hadn’t expected to actually meet him so soon. He was younger than me, though not by much—around my age, I thought. His eyes were wide with curiosity, and he seemed a little out of place in the large, formal halls of the estate. But there was something endearing about him, something genuine.

I wasn’t sure how to approach him at first. I knew I had to make a good impression, as I always did with others. After all, I was Mitsuru Kirijo, the heir to the Kirijo family name. People expected me to be poised, composed, always in control. But in that moment, all I wanted was to be kind.

Taking a deep breath, I walked up to him. I needed to leave a good first impression, make him feel welcome, and ease his apparent unease.

"Hello," I said, offering him a gentle smile, trying to sound as warm as I could.