Yukinoshita Haruno.
The eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family.
With only two daughters in the family, Haruno is the elder, the one more attuned to the world's expectations.
She is the symbol of the Yukinoshita family—a prestigious lady, admired by society.
Yet beneath this shining exterior lies a woman broken and scarred.
Haruno knows her mother well. A woman who, with unwavering ambition and capability, seeks only to preserve and expand the family legacy.
From a young age, Haruno understood her role. Her mission was clear: for the Yukinoshita family to advance, she must succeed.
Every day, she wore a mask. She spoke sweetly to some, fiercely to others. She was prepared to sacrifice her personal desires for the sake of the family's honor.
But two events shattered her resolve.
The first: an evening party. Haruno was drugged by her fiancé, who sought to violate her despite the two years remaining on their engagement.
That day, she escaped, but her innocence was lost.
If there was any small solace, it was that her first time was with a young man who, while a stranger, was kind and handsome—barely a distraction from the pain she felt.
The second: Yukino left the Yukinoshita family.
Haruno's feelings toward her sister were complicated. Though she loved Yukino, she didn't want her to suffer. She also wanted Yukino to grow—mature into someone who no longer relied on her.
Throughout their youth, Haruno had been the perfect yet terrifying older sister. She had played the role of both guide and opponent, pushing Yukino to strive for greatness. But the family's turmoil forced Yukino into an arranged marriage, a fate Haruno could not prevent.
The Yukinoshita family was controlled by their mother, leaving the two daughters as gilded birds in a cage. Haruno tried to excel, occasionally stepping out to earn admiration for her mother, but ultimately remained tethered.
Yukino, on the other hand, broke free. Graduating from university, she soared into the sky, unburdened by her family's chains. Even if her wings were singed or broken, Yukino would never return.
Haruno, in awe of her younger sister's strength, felt a simultaneous heartbreak. Yukino was strong enough to break free from her mental chains, but she was fragile, unable to fully embrace the freedom she had won.
Haruno was sent to Tokyo to bring Yukino back, a task she had approached reluctantly.
Yet even as Haruno took steps to force her sister's return, Yukino resisted, enduring hardships in the city and finding a place for herself.
In her search for Yukino, Haruno discovered something unexpected: Yukino worked for Laplace Corporation, a company run by the very man Haruno had once tried to escape.
Yukima Azuma.
Haruno had crossed paths with him years ago, a fleeting encounter she never forgot. And now, that very man had become a crucial part of her sister's life.
Haruno, overwhelmed by a mixture of emotions, sought him out. She needed to bring Yukino back, but Azuma was resolute. When she asked him to return her sister, he answered with unwavering determination.
"I must have her. No one else, only her."
Azuma's words were clear. Despite Haruno's attempts to sway him, his resolve remained. "Yukino belongs to me. Only me."
As Haruno watched him walk away, the weight of her own reality pressed down on her. Her younger sister had found the strength to break free, while Haruno remained trapped.
The jealousy Haruno felt was unfamiliar, intense, and it tore at her.
After leaving the car, Azuma was met by a frantic Yukino, disheveled and breathless. She had heard what Haruno had said and rushed to clarify, but Azuma only gently adjusted her appearance, straightening her collar and smoothing her sleeve.
"Yukino, panicking like this isn't dignified," he said softly. "You're the branch manager of Laplace Corporation. Whatever anyone says doesn't matter."
He spoke calmly, with a sense of certainty. "I can't let anyone take you from me. If you try to run, I'll bring you back. Yukino, remember this: Laplace can't be without you. I can't be without you."
Yukino stood stunned, words failing her.
Those words, simple but profound, were something she had never dared to imagine.
Yukima Azuma's gaze held firm. "I can't be without you."
For the first time, Yukino was left speechless, caught in the realization that reality could be even more surreal than her dreams.