Chapter 5: The Calm Before the Storm and the Birthday Revelation

The days that followed were filled with a frantic yet organized energy. The peaceful facade of the city remained, but behind closed doors, the Suzuki household had transformed into a high command center for survival.

Harumi stood on the balcony of her room, breathing in the fresh morning air. It was hard to believe that in just a few weeks, this air would be filled with the stench of decay and smoke.

"Celestia, status report," she murmured.

"Right away, Master!" the system chirped happily. "All supplies have been successfully transferred from the warehouses into your space storage. Food, water, medicine, weapons, clothing, fuel, and machinery—everything is secured and organized. We are officially ready for any scenario!"

"And the base?"

"The land provided by Master Demetrius is being prepared. We have started the initial construction using materials created by your magic. The defensive barriers are being set up. It will be an impenetrable fortress!"

Harumi smiled. "Good. We are ahead of schedule."

Downstairs, the training ground was alive with activity.

Jinho and Shiro were sparring, their movements fluid and powerful. Jinho slammed his fist into the ground, causing pillars of rock to erupt, while Shiro moved like a blur, his body wrapped in shadows, dodging the attacks effortlessly.

"Not bad, little brother," Jinho grunted, a smirk on his face. "But you're still slower than me!"

"We'll see about that!" Shiro laughed, launching himself into the air.

Nearby, Kaizo was practicing his combat forms. Bolts of blue lightning crackled around his fists, increasing his speed and striking power to terrifying levels. Every punch he threw created a sonic boom.

And watching them all from the side, leaning against a pillar with arms crossed, was Demetrius. He wasn't training physically; instead, he was honing his control over darkness, creating solid barriers and weapons out of thin air. His eyes, however, were fixed on the balcony where Harumi stood.

"She is watching," Demetrius muttered to himself, a small smile playing on his lips. "Good. Let her see that I am strong enough to protect her."

Harumi shook her head and walked down the stairs. "Alright everyone, break time!"

They stopped immediately, turning to look at her with puppy-like eagerness.

"Little sister!" Shiro ran over, sweating but grinning. "Did you see that move I did? Wasn't it cool?"

"It was great, Shiro," Harumi patted his arm. "But you left your flank open. Jinho could have hit you there."

Jinho chuckled. "She's right. You still need work."

Harumi looked at them all. They were so different now from the people she remembered in the book. No longer blinded by plots or misunderstandings, just powerful men united by one goal—protecting her.

"Listen," Harumi said, her tone becoming serious. "The day is coming. The day of my birthday party. That is when Alicia will make her move, just like she did before."

Kaizo’s expression darkened instantly. "She thinks she can drug you and humiliate you again? I will kill her before she even steps foot inside the venue."

"No," Harumi said firmly. "We won't kill her yet. Not publicly. We need to make sure everyone sees her true colors. We need to destroy her reputation completely. We need to expose her lies so that no one will ever believe her again."

Demetrius raised an eyebrow. "And how do you propose we do that, Bunny?"

Harumi smirked. "Leave that to me and Celestia. We have all the evidence we need. All we have to do is press play."

The Night of the Party

The Suzuki mansion was decorated lavishly. Guests filled the halls, chatting and drinking, completely oblivious to the end of the world looming over their heads.

Harumi stood in front of the mirror. She was wearing a beautiful white and blue dress that shimmered like starlight. Her hair was done up elegantly, and around her neck sat the Moon Pendant—her source of power.

"You look breathtaking, Master," Celestia praised.

"Thanks, Celes. Now, let's go show them what a true protagonist looks like."

She walked out of her room. Waiting outside were her four guardians.

Jinho offered her his arm. "Shall we, little sister?"

Harumi took it. "Let's go."

As they entered the main hall, all eyes turned to them. The gasps were audible. Harumi looked like a goddess descending from the heavens. But what caught everyone's attention most was the entourage behind her—her two powerful brothers, the fearsome Kaizo Donovan, and the dangerous Demetrius Romano, all looking at her with absolute devotion.

Halfway through the party, Alicia Brown finally arrived.

She was dressed in a red dress, trying to look seductive and innocent at the same time. She walked up to Jinho, expecting him to welcome her like he did in the past.

"Jinho~ I'm here," she said sweetly, trying to link arms with him.

But Jinho took a step back, his face cold and expressionless.

Alicia froze. "J-Jinho? What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Jinho scoffed. "Why are you here? I don't remember inviting you."

The guests began to whisper. Alicia panicked, but she quickly put on her crying act.

"How could you say that? After everything we've been through? And Harumi... I know you hate me because I'm with your brother, but you don't have to be so mean!" She turned her tears on Harumi, trying to make her look like the bad guy.

Here we go, Harumi thought. The same old script.

"Mean?" Harumi said softly, her voice carrying across the silent room. "Why would I hate you, Sister-in-law? In fact, I have a video I want everyone to see. I found it accidentally, and I think it explains a lot of things."

She waved her hand, and using her light magic, she projected a large screen in the air.

Alicia’s face turned pale. "N-no... stop it!"

But it was too late.

The video started playing. It showed Alicia flirting with other men, badmouthing the Suzuki family, and cruelly bullying students at school. The audio was crystal clear, her words sharp and venomous.

"You bitch! You think you're better than me?"

"Once I get that space and Kaizo, they are all useless to me!"

"Jinho is just a tool I use for money!"

The room erupted in shock and outrage.

"Is this true?!"

"She was just using them?!"

"What a horrible woman!"

Jinho’s face was like ice. "So all this time... you were just pretending?"

Alicia was shaking, her mask completely shattered. "I-I... it's not what you think! She edited it! Harumi edited it!"

"Did I?" Harumi stepped forward, her eyes glowing faintly blue. "Then explain this."

She held out her hand, and suddenly, the drugs Alicia had hidden in her clutch flew out into the open.

"Planning to use these on me tonight, weren't you?" Harumi said coldly. "Just like you did in your past life. You wanted to defile me and make me look like a slut."

Alicia screamed. "SHUT UP! HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?!"

"Because I am not the same person you manipulated before," Harumi said, her voice dropping to a whisper that sent chills down everyone's spine. "And now... your game is over."

Kaizo stepped forward, his aura killing intent. "Guards. Throw this trash out. And make sure she never shows her face anywhere again."

"With pleasure," Demetrius said, waving his hand. Dark tendrils grabbed Alicia, dragging her screaming out of the mansion while everyone watched in fear and awe.

Later that night

With Alicia gone and exposed, the atmosphere in the mansion became relaxed again, but now it was filled with respect and awe for Harumi.

In the private living room, the five of them sat together.

"You were amazing tonight, Kitten," Kaizo said, holding her hand and kissing it. "You destroyed her without even lifting a finger."

"She deserved it," Shiro nodded vigorously. "I feel so light now that she's gone!"

Jinho looked at Harumi with gratitude. "Thank you, little sister. For opening our eyes. Again."

Harumi smiled. "We are a team now. No more secrets, no more lies."

She looked out the window at the dark sky.

"The party is over," she whispered. "And very soon... the real end of the world will begin."

Demetrius stood up and walked to the window, standing beside her.

"Then let it come," he said softly, looking at her profile. "Because as long as we are with you... we will survive anything."

Harumi leaned her head against his arm, feeling the warmth and safety surrounding her from all sides.

Yes. She was ready.

To be continued...

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