As I sat alone on the bench outside my family's mansion, the weight of my actions pressed heavily upon me. I could still feel the echo of my own violence, the desperation that drove me to attack Akari, to break off her Amica contract with Aria, all in a desperate attempt to keep her by my side. How could I have done this? How could I have hurt the one person who means everything to me?

"Shino, what have you done... you idiot?" I whispered to myself, my voice barely above a choked sob.