"Did you see it?! Did you see it?!"
The school was chaos.
Every hallway buzzed with energy like a festival had suddenly erupted overnight. Students held up phones, showing the video of the confession on loop. Some were laughing. Others were shocked. A few were already creating memes.
"They actually confessed in front of everyone... like, at a billionaire's banquet?!" someone gasped near the lockers.
"Izumi's got RIZZ," another student declared, slapping a dramatic title card on the video: The Butler and the Billionaire Princess: A Love Story.
Even the teachers were acting weird. Homeroom that morning began with awkward silence until Mr. Sakamoto cleared his throat and mumbled, "Love is... a powerful thing."
Izumi kept his head down, walking fast through the corridors, but there was no escape.
"You're FAMOUS now!" Anzu squealed, leaping beside him.
"That confession was so dramatic I almost thought you were in a romance anime!" Yuki added, eyes sparkling.
Behind them, Niko wore a crown made of construction paper. "As club president, I declare you two the OFFICIAL Power Couple of the Anime Club! Long may your shipping reign!"
Ren leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Tch... took you long enough to grow a backbone."
Izumi blushed. "Please... stop talking about it."
But no one would. It was all anyone could talk about.
At the Izumi Household
Back at home, things exploded.
"IZUMI!!" Hana shrieked, storming into the living room with her phone. "WHAT. IS. THIS?!"
She shoved it in his face. The video of his confession played at full volume.
Their mom dropped the plate she was drying.
Their dad paused, turned slowly from the TV, and squinted at the screen. "...Is that the Ashford girl?"
Izumi turned pale.
"You never told us Marina was Marina Ashford!" their mom gasped.
Hana jabbed him repeatedly in the arm. "You're dating a billionaire! Is she gonna be my sister-in-law?! Can I call her onee-san?! Are you gonna move into a mansion?!"
Izumi panicked. "No! I mean, yes! I mean—it's complicated!"
Their dad nodded solemnly. "Son... I had my doubts. But now I know. You're living in a romance drama."
"Not helping!!"
Across the Ocean…
In a luxury first-class cabin, a laptop screen glowed.
The confession video played silently. Marina's face. Izumi's trembling voice. The moment he grabbed her hand. The tears.
A woman watched with icy blue eyes.
Silver hair, perfectly styled. Dressed in a designer suit, her posture was flawless.
"He made a move without informing me," she said quietly.
Her assistant fidgeted beside her. "Lady Celestia, shall I contact Master Ashford?"
She didn't blink.
"No. Book me the next flight to Japan. I want to see my daughter."
Meanwhile… at the Mansion
Marina stood by her window, phone in hand. The screen buzzed with endless messages and calls.
A maid peeked in nervously. "Young lady… a call just came through. From America."
Marina turned slowly. "...My mother knows."
The maid lowered her head. "Yes. Lady Celestia may return soon."
Marina's hands tightened on the window frame.
"It's been years..."
Ashford's Move
In the darkness of his private study, Ashford swirled wine in his glass.
He watched the same video again.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Now… let's see if he has the courage to protect what he loves."
Behind him, his bodyguards exchanged nervous glances.
"Should we tell him we helped Izumi?"
"Do you want to die before the wedding?"
The Letter
The next morning, a formal envelope arrived at Izumi's house.
Sealed in crimson wax, stamped with the Ashford crest.
His mother gasped. His father looked like he might faint.
Inside was a single elegant letter:
You are formally invited to a private dinner… to meet the mother of Marina Ashford.
Lady Celestia wishes to evaluate the young man who won her daughter's heart.
Izumi dropped the letter.
"I'm… going to die."
Hana grinned. "I'm dressing up for this."