Hikaru Kamiki had always had a high perception of himself, not out of arrogance, but out of the certainty that he was different from the rest. From an early age, he had shown a wit and audacity that allowed him to climb the ranks in the ruthless world of show business. His adolescence was marked by bright lights and deep shadows, a contrast that ended up shaping him more than he would have liked to admit. From his first audition, he stood out among the others, not only for his talent, but for his ability to adapt to any situation. However, behind that brilliance were scars that no one could see, scars that were formed in his encounter with an older actress, who abused his trust and marked him for life. That, far from breaking him, turned him into someone more reserved, calculating and, above all, distrustful.
It was in this environment of falsehood and masks that he met Ai Hoshino, a young woman whose innocence and charisma seemed to defy the rules of the game. In his eyes, Ai was a phenomenon, a rising star whose radiance was so dazzling that for the first time in a long time, Hikaru felt like he could believe in something genuine. She represented a spark of hope in a world that, to him, was rotten to the core. Although Hikaru never confessed the darkest details of his past to her, his closeness to Ai allowed him to find respite, a reason to stand up and not let himself be consumed by emptiness. Ai was not aware of the impact she had on him, but Hikaru felt that as long as he was by her side, he could avoid falling into the madness that had always haunted his mind.
Over time, that admiration transformed into something deeper. Ai was not only his light; she was his anchor, his reason to believe that not everything in his life was destined to fall apart. But, as he had learned from a young age, good things never lasted long. His relationship with Ai, as meaningful as it was to him, soon dissolved. Hikaru, who had pinned his last hopes on her, felt his world shake when Ai decided to distance herself. Although he never expressed it in words, Ai's rejection was for him a confirmation of his worst fears: that no one could truly love him, that he was just a passing shadow in people's lives.
Despite the breakup, Hikaru couldn't completely detach himself from her. From a distance, he continued to watch her, seeing her career skyrocket. Each of Ai's successes was a painful reminder of how far away he was from her, but also proof that her light still shone in the world, even if it wasn't for him. For years, Hikaru nursed the hope that one day Ai would come back to him, that they would somehow find a way back to each other. That hope, however small, was the only thing that kept him going.
When he finally received a call from Ai, his heart skipped a beat. He thought that perhaps, after all, his prayers had been answered. Ai, who had been the center of his universe, had contacted him. Could it mean that there was still something between them? During the first moments of the conversation, Hikaru could almost feel the warmth of that lost connection. However, that spark quickly faded when Ai revealed the reason for her call. It was not to resume their relationship, nor to heal the wounds of the past, but to tell him about their children.
The weight of those words crushed him. In an instant, all his illusions were shattered. For Hikaru, that was the breaking point. He realized that he was not the one Ai had sought, but the father of her children, a role he had never asked for, nor even imagined. She did not need him as a person, but as a figure who could fill a void in the lives of those children. In her eyes, that was not an act of love, but a practical, almost mechanical decision.
Hikaru could barely respond. His thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions: pain, anger, resentment, and above all, a deep sense of emptiness. For years, he had kept alive the idea that Ai could return to him, but now he understood that that had never been a possibility. Ai no longer saw him as someone significant in her life; he was just another piece in the puzzle of her existence, a means to an end.
After that call, Hikaru felt something inside him break irreparably. He couldn't blame Ai for wanting the best for her children, but he also couldn't ignore the fact that, for him, that was confirmation that he had been replaced. His light, the one that had kept him afloat for so long, was finally extinguished.
In the days that followed, Hikaru sank into dark introspection. He relived every moment with Ai, every smile, every word, trying to understand when everything had changed. But as hard as he searched for answers, he only found more questions. What had he done wrong? Had he been too weak, too dependent on her? Or was it simply his destiny to be someone destined to watch from the shadows, unable to hold on to what he valued most?
Over time, the bitterness began to morph into something colder, more calculated. Hikaru knew he couldn't change the past, but he also knew he wasn't willing to be a bystander in his own life. Ai's call, while devastating, had also given him a new purpose, though it wasn't the one she had probably imagined. If his children existed, if they carried his blood, then they were part of him, a legacy he wasn't willing to ignore.
Deep down, Hikaru knew he could never be the same again. Ai had been his salvation, his only connection to something pure, and losing her had finished molding him into someone completely different. But at the same time, that loss had made him more aware of what really mattered. If he couldn't reclaim the light that Ai had represented, then he would make sure that the world knew who Hikaru Kamiki was and what he was willing to do to leave his mark.
Time passed, and with each day that Hikaru Kamiki woke up, he felt his mind sink deeper and deeper into a spiral of dark and obsessive thoughts. Ai's call, which had initially filled his heart with hope, ended up being the catalyst for an irreparable change in his being. Disappointment, rejection, and emptiness consumed him, transforming him into someone who barely recognized himself. Months later, Hikaru made a decision that, in his mind, was inevitable: to retire from the world of entertainment. That industry that had once fueled his dreams now seemed empty, corrupt, and lacking purpose without Ai.
However, his departure did not mean that he had to give up his passion completely. Hikaru found refuge in the theatre, where he worked as a director. There, far from the cameras and the superficiality of television entertainment, he dedicated himself to shaping young aspiring actors. In his eyes, these boys and girls were deluded, children who dreamed of fame and recognition, without understanding the price that had to be paid. Every enthusiastic smile and every word of admiration towards the world of show business seemed like mockery to him. He knew the truth: there was no place for genuine stars in such a rotten world. There was only one exception in his mind, a single person who deserved to shine: Ai Hoshino.
For Hikaru, Ai was still his light, even if she no longer considered him part of her life. He knew that, over time, she had probably left him behind, focusing solely on her children. That thought tormented him. How could Ai have abandoned the connection they had? How could she move on while he was trapped in the past? Those questions haunted him like an endless echo, and with each passing day, his need to possess what he had once lost intensified. Ai could not be anyone else's. If he could not bask in her light, then no one else should.
Hikaru's mind began to warp under the weight of his obsessions. His resentment toward Ai, toward the world, and toward himself morphed into a need for control. If he could not get Ai back, then he would do whatever it took to make sure no one else had her. In his mind, that was not evil; it was justice. Ai had given him everything and then taken it away. Now it was his turn to take something from her.
It was then that he remembered one man: Ryosuke Kaihara. Ryosuke was a mediocre photographer, someone who had crossed paths with Hikaru in the past, a man with little talent, but with an insane obsession with Ai. Hikaru had manipulated him before, using his desperation as a tool for his own ends. Although at the time Ryosuke was nothing more than a disposable pawn, he now saw in him a perfect opportunity.
Hikaru began to move cautiously, planning each step with precision. He knew that Ryosuke was still obsessed with Ai; it wasn't hard to figure that out. A few anonymous messages, a few carefully chosen words, and the photographer took the bait. Hikaru whispered the truth that he knew Ryosuke couldn't handle: Ai had fathered children. That revelation, coupled with the fact that Hikaru hinted that Ai had replaced him with someone else, was enough to ignite an uncontrollable rage in the man. Ryosuke was weak, emotionally unstable, and Hikaru knew how to manipulate him into doing exactly what he wanted.
Through indirect messages and carefully controlled calls, Hikaru fueled Ryosuke's hatred and frustration. It wasn't hard to turn him into a ticking time bomb. Every word he said to him was like pouring gasoline on a fire. "She forgot you," "Ai only thinks about her children now, not you," "Don't you think it's unfair?" Ryosuke, blinded by his own obsession, didn't see that he was being used. To Hikaru, this was nothing more than a masterstroke on a board only he understood.
On the day of the fateful event, Hikaru was at home, watching everything from the shadows. He had planned every detail, making sure to leave no loose ends. Ryosuke, pushed to the edge by Hikaru's manipulation, showed up at Ai's house. He carried a knife with him, his mind clouded by anger and despair. Hikaru didn't need to be present to know what would happen; he had studied Ryosuke well enough to predict his movements.
As the news began to circulate, Hikaru felt a mix of emotions he couldn't name. Ai Hoshino, the woman who had been his light, his salvation, and his obsession, had been murdered in her own home. Ryosuke, unable to deal with what he had done, ended his life as well. Everything had gone according to Hikaru's plan, but he didn't feel the satisfaction he had hoped for. Instead, he was overcome with a sense of emptiness, an abyss that seemed deeper than ever.
In the days that followed, Hikaru stood aloof, watching as the world mourned the loss of Ai. Her death became a media phenomenon, with fans, colleagues, and strangers alike expressing their grief. But to Hikaru, all of that was irrelevant. Ai was no longer in the world, and that meant no one else could bask in her light. Only he had truly known her, only he had understood how special she was.
Hikaru did not regret what he had done. In his mind, it had been a necessary act, a way to protect Ai's memory from a world that never deserved her. Yet, despite his justifications, he could not help but feel trapped in an even greater darkness. He had destroyed the thing he loved most, and with it, he had destroyed a part of himself. But to him, that was the price of justice. No one else could have Ai. And though he was now completely alone, he knew he had done what he had to do.
The theater, which had once been his refuge, now seemed to him like an empty stage, purposefully kept. Hikaru became a shadow of what he once was, a man who had lost everything, not by accident, but by his own hands. His mind, corroded by years of obsession and suffering, had brought him to a point of no return. And now, all that was left was emptiness.
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Over the months, he began to hunt down those he saw as a potential threat. Young people with charisma, talent, and the ability to attract the attention of the masses. To him, they were the new "demons" that stood between him and Ai's memory. In his mind, killing them was a way to protect her legacy, to make sure her light was not eclipsed by anyone else. The distortion in his mind had become an obsession: every time he eliminated one of those show-stoppers, he felt like he was one step closer to restoring what he had lost. He thought that, by getting rid of them, he was defending Ai, keeping her memory intact in a world that no longer remembered her the way he did.
This was how, little by little, he eliminated young hopefuls. Each death was cold, calculated, silent. He left no trace, he did not allow anyone to suspect his involvement. Throughout his journey, he never doubted his actions. In his mind, they were just. He saw them as mere obstacles in his path, and by removing them, he felt like he was getting a little closer to Ai, to the woman who had meant everything to him. He had created his own code, one in which the sacrifice of those brilliant young people was the price he had to pay to keep alive the memory of the only person who, to him, was truly worth it.
But everything changed the day he met Clara Edwards, a young actress from the United Kingdom, whose fame was beginning to grow rapidly. She was beautiful, talented, and her future seemed bright. Clara, with her innocent face and blossoming career, was a threat to Hikaru, one that had to be eliminated immediately. The young woman had come to Japan in hopes of expanding her career, and her success seemed inevitable. Hikaru, as always, watches from the shadows, planning his move. It didn't take long for him to set his sights on her, knowing he had to act quickly before it was too late.
Over the course of several weeks, Hikaru grew closer to Clara under a false guise of support. He seduced her with his experience in show business, offering advice and guiding her through the dark corridors of the industry. Clara, grateful for the interest of someone with Hikaru's background, accepted his help without question. As the days passed, Hikaru began to manipulate her more directly, his words laden with venom disguised as advice. Little by little, he undermined her trust, leading her into a trap that only he knew about.
The day came when Clara, now completely under his influence, offered him the chance to spend the night at her house. Hikaru knew that this would be the right time, the last step in his mission. That night, while Clara slept, he finished her off. It was a clean, quick, silent death. There was nothing that could alert the neighbors or the authorities. The girl no longer posed a threat.
When he finished, Hikaru prepared to leave, but something in the atmosphere stopped him. Something in that house seemed strange to him, as if something was out of place. His already deteriorating mind led him to explore further than he initially planned. He walked through the house, opening doors and looking into rooms he didn't know. It was then that he entered Clara's room, which seemed to be the most private of all.
What he found inside made his blood run cold. In the corner of the room, lying on a small, untidy bed, was a boy. He was no older than six years old, with his eyes closed and an absent expression. He was completely still, but what puzzled him even more was the state the boy was in. His skin was pale, his clothes dirty, and his body showed clear signs of physical abuse. His breathing was weak, almost inaudible, and he had a vacant look, as if his mind was stuck in a trance.
Hikaru watched the boy for a few seconds, feeling a knot in his stomach. Something about that boy struck him deeply, something that connected him inexplicably to his own past. Memories began to invade his mind. The feeling of helplessness, the pain and emotional pain he had experienced when he was abused, all of that was reflected in the empty eyes of that child. It was like looking at his own childhood, his own suffering, only in a younger and more vulnerable version.
The boy was not aware of what was happening. He was clearly under the influence of some drug, something that kept him in an induced trance state. Hikaru knew that Clara, in her desperation to control everything around her, had probably used some substance to keep the boy in that state, to prevent him from being able to speak or react in any way. That scene made him shudder, because he had never encountered anything like that in his previous shots.
Hikaru found himself faced with a dilemma: he could leave, leave the boy there and move on with his life, but that left a bitter taste in his mouth. Leaving him behind was like seeing his own self, that helpless child, abandoned and destroyed by a cruel world. He couldn't just leave and move on without doing something. The boy, even if he didn't know it, was a replica of what he had once been, and leaving him there, in that state, meant leaving someone else to suffer as he had.
The alternative left to him was to take him with him. But that decision also had its own dangers. If the boy saw him, if he remembered his face or his voice, he could betray his presence at any moment. Hikaru was a calculating man, but at that moment, paranoia took over. He couldn't risk the boy talking, becoming a witness that could destroy his life. However, his instinct drove him to take the boy in his arms, leaving the house quietly, as he had done so many times before.
He took him to his home, an isolated place where he could think about what to do with him. The boy, still in a trance, offered no resistance. Hikaru laid him down on a bed and sat beside him, looking at his innocent, helpless face. Something inside him broke, something he hadn't felt in a long time. As he looked at the boy, Hikaru felt a mixture of compassion and despair, as if he had rescued a part of himself from the abyss. But he also knew that he couldn't allow that fragility to remain within his reach for long. He couldn't allow himself to be vulnerable.
Now, with the boy in his care, Hikaru was faced with a new reality. He didn't know what to do with him, but what he did know was that this child would change his life.
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He was at a critical point in his life, faced with a decision that could change everything. For years, he had walked alone in the shadows, manipulated by his obsession with Ai and his inability to let go of what she represented. The child in front of him, in his bed, had become a reminder of his own suffering, of his own lost childhood, but also an unknown that offered him new possibilities. For Hikaru, the dilemma was not simply about what to do with the child; it was a cold calculation about how to use him in his dark game, as another piece in his complex plot.
Leaving the child in an orphanage was undoubtedly an easier option. It would have freed him from responsibility and he could have gotten rid of the trouble of caring for him. But that idea not only seemed inadequate to him, but also extremely risky. The child might speak, might remember something he did not want to come to light. If the child recognized him, if he remembered his face or his voice, he could become a threat that endangered his existence. And that was something Hikaru couldn't allow. His world, his darkness, depended on everything remaining in the shadows. The boy, as small as he was, could be the key to unraveling his secret life.
However, leaving the boy there, as he was, was also a dangerous decision for Hikaru. Seeing the boy, that vulnerable and helpless figure, was a painful reminder of what he himself had lived through. Somehow, seeing the boy made him feel trapped in an endless cycle, reliving his own suffering and fear. But at the same time, a part of him felt compassion, a compassion he had rarely experienced, especially for someone so vulnerable. That was the part that held him back, that small spark of humanity that he couldn't quite erase.
But as the minutes passed, an idea began to take shape in his mind. The boy could be more than a burden or a reminder of his past. He could be useful. He could serve him. Hikaru had spent years manipulating, training, and building his own empire in the shadows. He had made manipulation an art form, and now, with this child, he could take it a step further. He could turn him into a tool for him, a perfect smokescreen, allowing him to carry out his plan without raising suspicion.
The child did not have to be a threat, but could instead be his salvation. Hikaru had been adept at adapting to the world of show business, at using his experience and knowledge in that environment. He had controlled the lights and the cameras, he had manipulated public perception in his favor, and he knew that with the child he could do the same. Train him, educate him, turn him into a promising young show business man. If he played his cards right, the child could become a star, a spotlight that would overshadow everything else, including Hikaru's shadows.
From the moment he decided that the child would be his project, his mind began to visualize the possibilities. It would not be difficult to give him an attractive personality, something that would draw in the public and make him irresistible to the masses. Hikaru had a vast knowledge of the entertainment industry and knew exactly how to mold someone into a star. He could start by teaching him the basics of theater, of acting, of how to manipulate people's emotions, just as he himself had learned in his youth. In this way, the boy would be able to captivate everyone, without anyone suspecting his true intentions.
The key, Hikaru thought, would be public exposure. If the boy became well-known enough, if he managed to stand out on stage, all eyes would be on him. Hikaru could continue to move in the shadows, but the boy, now a star, would capture attention, distract everyone. Thus, Hikaru would have a free hand to continue with his plan, to eliminate those who represented a threat or a distraction to his purpose. No suspicion, no inquisitive glances, just the false image of an innocent boy who had achieved fame naturally.
It would be a spectacle. Hikaru was sure of it. And best of all, the boy would not do it for him, but for himself, feeding on his own desire for recognition, for that same fame that Hikaru had craved in his youth. Just as he had done, the boy would fall into the trap of his own ego and desires. Hikaru would only have to make sure that he followed the path that he laid out for him.
In his mind, Hikaru had already planned every step. As the boy grew older and gained more notoriety, he could continue to orchestrate his moves in the dark. He could manipulate the show, performances, generate events where the boy was out of the spotlight. Through his relationship with the boy, Hikaru could weave a web of control that expanded even further than he had managed in the past. He would be the director of a play where all the actors would unwittingly follow his orders, and the boy, the star, would be the leader on stage.
The idea of using the boy as a smokescreen not only excited him, it also made him feel empowered. He had finally found something that could secure his place in the shadow world, while still fueling his obsession with Ai. The star he had loved, the star that had faded, could live on through this boy, this new face that no one could associate with Hikaru's dark past. The boy would be his legacy, the star that would never stop shining, at least in the world of appearances.
As the boy rested peacefully in his bed, Hikaru looked at him with a mix of determination and cold calculation. He didn't know how long it would take, or how far they would go on this path, but he knew he had stumbled onto something important. The boy not only represented his own salvation, but also meant a new opportunity for Hikaru, a chance to maintain his hold on the world, on fame, on everything he had lost. The boy's future, in his hands, would be the key to everything.
And so, in that dark room, among the shadows of his own heart, Hikaru began to weave the web that would keep him standing, a plan that would take him to new heights. A new beginning, a new face, and a new legacy, one that no longer depended on Ai, but on what he himself was capable of creating.
And end of the chapter