Ren, indeed, was at the verge of burning out. He did not think that he would be able to cope with everything if not for Shin and Hayato helping him out whenever they could. A few times Shin had even sat with Hayato to go over the various aspects of the business just so that Ren could catch some sleep. Hayato was also struggling, as he too was juggling two roles at the same time; but he didn't complain. Ren felt indebted to him.

Yamato, on the other hand, was monitoring Ren's health critically. He gave Ren two caffeine pills and two sleeping pills every day, so that Ren could control his sleeping times as he liked. However, Ren was given a very strict warning to not exceed beyond that; including the consumption of caffeinated beverages and alcohol. All Ren's meals were also pre-packed and carefully planned to ensure that they contained enough nutrients to sustain him through long periods of work.

"Go to sleep, Ren. I'll review the rest." Hayato took the file from Ren's hand gently. "It's almost 2 am. I heard Shin telling you that you have an important clan meeting tomorrow morning."

Ren let out a deep breath and nodded. "Thanks, Hayato." He was about to pop a sleeping pill into his mouth when he lowered his hand. "Hayato… I've been wondering about something."

"Hmm?" Hayato asked, his eyes fixed on the accounts splayed before him.

"Why are you doing so much for me and the company and the clan? Not that I don't appreciate it, of course…"

Hayato looked up at him. "You mean you want to know why I'm practically willing to kill myself working for you." He stated matter-of-factly.

Ren gave a slow, uncertain nod.

Hayato closed the file he was looking at. "You remember what Ryu said in his valedictory speech? About how everyone gave up on him, except for you and Yankumi?" He exhaled heavily. "I was one of them, Ren. I gave up on Ryu. I gave up on our friendship, on the person I cared for most in the world, on the one person who had accepted me and gave me a chance when no one else would. I came from a pissed poor family, Ren. When I was a kid, no one wanted to befriend me. I was the dirty kid down the road that came to kindergarten with lice and flies. The children would avoid me and the teachers would ignore me. I sat alone, ate alone and played alone. And perhaps that would have been my whole life, if not for Ryu."

A tiny smile played on the corner of his lips as he recounted the next part of the story. "It was like a fairytale, you know? One day, out of a sudden, the whole kindergarten was all fired up. A rich prince was coming to our kindergarten. I later found out that he was only sent there because he was throwing terrible tantrums at every other kindergarten and none of them were able to cope with him. Don't take the current Ryu at face value, Ren. He was a real troublemaker when he was younger. But back to the story – a rich prince was coming to school. Everyone was excited; except for me, of course. I wasn't happy at all. He was just another rich kid who was going to belittle me for my torn shoes and hand-me-down clothes. Just another rich kid who would come to school with delicious-smelling fried shrimps and grilled eel in his lunchbox while I either ate nothing or a stale bun. Worse still, on the day he was due to arrive, the teachers were anticipating that his parents would show up as well; so they banished me to the playground. They weren't coming, of course; Ryu's parents never cared about him. He was practically raised by nannies and bodyguards, but the teachers didn't know that at that time."

Ren gave a sad smile. Ryu's childhood sounded remarkably similar to Shin. 'Money really isn't everything.' He thought. He made a silent vow to never treat his kids that way; before realizing that he was unlikely to have kids. Oh right.

Hayato continued his story, oblivious to Ren's musings. "The children never allowed me to play with them on the playground, so it was a blessing in disguise for me to be sent to the playground alone. I decided to make the best out of it. I ran up and down, giving a go at all the different ladders and slides and swings and bars; until a voice interrupted me. 'Did you run away from the classroom?' I looked towards the source of the voice fearfully and saw that it was a boy my age. He was dressed in a miniature crisp white suit. His hair was neatly brushed, and his nails were sparkling clean. He looked like the epitome of a prince. I immediately knew who he was then. I shied away, trying to hide myself from him. He didn't give up, though. He didn't know the meaning of 'no' yet at that age. 'My name's Ryu. What's yours?' He asked persistently. 'Ha…yato.' I stuttered. 'Well, Hayato, you must be the coolest kid in class. You're out here playing while everyone is sitting in that boring classroom!' I was bewildered. Me, the coolest kid in class? I didn't know how to tell him that he had misunderstood. I was chased away from the class so as not to leave a bad impression on his parents!"

Hayato smiled fondly at the reminiscence. He had never forgotten the day he first met Ryu. Sometimes, when he looked at his best friend, he still saw the handsome little boy in the crisp white suit.

"Well, somehow Ryu was convinced that I was the coolest kid in class; and he continued to befriend me, even though the other kids tried to tell him otherwise. He even hit a few people who dared to call me names in front of him. I followed him around quietly, and we often snuck out of class to play on the playground. Ryu was still a bucket load of trouble, but at least he wasn't throwing any more tantrums; so they let him stay and turned a blind eye to his antics. He would share his expensive lunchbox with me; and on the last day of autumn, he wore a thick winter jacket to kindergarten. After school, however, he threw his infamous tantrum about how it was too hot for a jacket and that he didn't want it any more. He tossed it to me and told me that I could do whatever I wanted with it."

Emotional tears filled Hayato's eyes. "It wasn't until much, much later that I found out that he had always known that I was the social outcast in the class. His exact words were 'Hayato, I could tell the difference between a genuine Louis Vutton from a grade-A imitation at the age of 6. Did you really think that I couldn't see the shabbiness of your clothes?' I think we were about 15 when he finally told me that." Hayato recounted.

"We stayed best friends throughout elementary school and middle school. His father sent him to an elite private school at first, but Ryu did the same thing as he did in kindergarten. He got into so much trouble and kept changing schools until he ended up at my school. Then, almost magically, the amount of trouble would drop to a more manageable level. Not that he suddenly turned angelic mind you, he simply became a delinquent; rather than a juvie-criminal who would be locked up the moment he turned 18." Hayato and Ren shared a laugh.

"Take joined us midway through elementary school. He was a little bit like how I was in kindergarten. He was tiny and easily frightened, so the kids liked to pick on him. Similarly, Ryu took him under his wing. After all, no one dared to defy Ryu. Over the years, both Take and I started to grow a backbone of our own; even though we still stuck to Ryu's side. Both of us became stronger and more confident with ourselves. Ryu became our friend, rather than our saviour… Although I suspect that neither of us has ever forgotten how he changed our lives. The three of us stuck to each other throughout everything—" Hayato closed his eyes. "until the day I punched him and called him a traitor." He said hoarsely.

"I don't know how I screwed up so badly. I, of all people, should have known that Ryu does everything for a reason. I should have listened to him, should have given him a chance, should have forgiven him… But I didn't. I chose to give our friendship up." He declared bitterly.

"You were young." Ren said softly.

"I was; but Ryu was young too, when he asked for my name on the playground, when he shared his food with me, and when he gave me his jacket. He was young too, when he chose to become my friend." A lone tear slid down his face.

"The second time I abandoned him was inadvertent, but I abandoned him all the same. After graduation, my uncle offered me a working scholarship in America and I just took it without looking back. I didn't know that Ryu was stuck in life. I didn't bother to check either; and as a result, I wasn't there for him when he needed help the most." He looked at Ren. "But you were, Ren. You were the one who brought Ryu back among the living. You brought the light back into his eyes and made him into the prince he was before. And for that, I owe you everything, Ren. Everything."

Ren smiled at Hayato. "I didn't make him into anything, Hayato. The potential was already in there, I simply encouraged him to bring it out. And regardless, you don't owe me anything."

Hayato ran his fingers along the Red Lion Group's crest on the file lightly. "I know, but I want to. It's my redemption, of sort. You also gave me a chance, Ren. You trusted me, even when I was a fresh grad out of university. You put me in the second highest position in the company, and shared with me all your visions and hopes and dreams for the Group. At that moment, it felt like déjà vu. I knew then, that it was my second chance. Here was another person who is willing to take me in as a nobody. I was determined to never disappoint any of you ever again." He looked at Ren a little self-consciously. "Too cheesy?"

Ren grinned and shook his head. "Thanks for telling me, Hayato. Good night."

"Good night, Ren."