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Kanrai Ushirono is the most important person in your life.
One of Kanya’s first memories is his father telling him just that. He remembers the exact situation - he was three years old, sitting next to the older man at the dinner table they had in the secondary home on the Ushirono Estate.
“You may be too young to understand that right now,” Shigure Kareno continued, his knife cutting silently into the meal on his son’s plate, to make it easier for him to eat. “Even if you ask after him. But the purpose of the Kareno family – of you – is to attend to the Ushironos.”
Later in life, he understood this a bit more. The Ushirono family was special, due to the illness they carried, though his father had specified Kanrai to him for a reason. Daikan Ushirono, the aforementioned man’s father, had a different type of illness that ended up being the one to take his life only a few years later. Kanya’s own father was older than the parents most children his age had – so it made sense. It would be Kanya and Kanrai, sticking together through thick and thin.
Even as a three year old, though, busy taking the cut up pieces of his meal into his mouth he understood some of what his father explained. Especially when the older man always seemed so pleased, when Kanya asked when Kanrai would return. When Kanrai would want to hang out with him again.
It’s only a few weeks later, his face pressed against the window of his father’s car that he understands something very fundamental in his relationship with Kanrai.
That red haired boy sitting on the park bench – living in the house next door – would always be more important.
Risshun Maeno was the most important person in Kanrai’s life.
Kanrai Ushirono was the most important person in his life.
That’s why the anger Kanya felt shifting through his veins was inappropriate.
By this point, he was sixteen. Risshun and Kanrai both had gotten married and had children. Loss had run its course through the three families as well – Daikan passed, Risshun’s parents passed…and then Risshun himself had passed, alongside his wife. Nearly their child as well.
Honestly, the way Kanrai had acted when news of Risshun’s death made their way to them was…terrifying. Kanrai was someone who kept his emotions guarded - no one aside from the Kareno family knew the truth of the Ushironos. But even then, he was guarded. To say he saw who Kanrai really was that day…it probably wouldn’t be a wrong assumption to make.
Kanrai hadn’t even been that upset when his own father died.
But now it was his own turn for grief.
Shigure Kareno didn’t have a large funeral. Not like Daikan did, being the Prime Minister. The Kareno family didn’t have any other living members, and not many people outside of the Ushirono Family interacted with them. The sons were too young to really get it, so it left a handful of people.
It hurt but if nothing else, Kanya was happy Kanrai showed up. Naturally he would - Shigure helped to raise him. He helped with his homework, with the political lessons his father gave him, drove him around, cared for him – it was natural, the man who instilled in him the importance of the Ushironos would also be important to that child.
“Sir,” his voice begins, sounding much too old for someone still in school. “I appreciate you being here today. And, I’m sure my father would too.”
The practiced way Kanrai smiles, the way the corners of his eyes crease up…he’s seen it one too many times. Naturally now being Kanrai’s assistant, beyond just being a Kareno, he’s studied the way the other acts. To know the difference between when Kanrai is Kanrai, and when Kanrai is whoever the other person wants him to be.
That sympathetic look was not real.
Kanya almost stiffens when Kanrai’s hand moves to rest on his shoulder and the man leans down a little to speak to him, that smile still on his face.
“It’s no trouble! It really is a shame what happened to Shigure-san. I definitely would have thought he had a few more years in him!”
A smile. Condolences, a hope for a better outcome. Sound close to the person who’s the topic, to get closer to the person you were speaking with.
These were the tactics to appear friendly to other people.
So why was Kanrai acting like that with him?
“But you know, you’re my best friend, so you can rely on me if you need.”
…right. Kanya relaxes a little bit, giving a small nod towards the other.
That was right. There were other people here, so it was natural that Kanrai would try to look good in front of them. He was quickly rising in the political field, after all, just like his father had done. The Ushironos would be on top of Japan, and in order for that to be the case, they had to look good in the public eye. There were few people here, but there certainly were a few faces from the political sphere attending and giving their condolences. Shigure was Daikan’s assistant as well, until his age caught up with him and he transitioned into being the Ushirono Family’s chauffeur instead…
Kanrai just wanted to keep up appearances.
How could that even slip his mind? He was like this at his own father’s funeral too - though Kanya knew that even in private, Kanrai did not care. He had no love for his father, and Kanya couldn’t blame him for that, seeing how he was treated.
But at the funeral for the Maenos…
Well. That reason was simple;
Risshun Maeno was the most important person in Kanrai’s life.
Kanrai Ushirono was the most important person in his life.
And yet, at times, he still doubts some of his decisions.
“What do you mean you aren’t calling a doctor for her!?”
Kanya tilts his head to the side, subtly pressing his ear into his shoulder in hopes of forcing the ringing out of it.
Aki Maeno - that man’s living legacy - had always been loud. Even when he wasn’t a seventeen year old, nearly about to graduate from college, he had been loud. Kanya remembers far too many sleepless nights spent banging on the wall he shared with Fuyu, Kanrai’s own son, trying to get the two boys to quiet down when they were speaking too loudly with each other.
Fuyu had always been a respectable boy, on the other hand. A bit on the quieter, stoic side - but that was only for people that didn’t know him. He was bright, intelligent, caring; exactly what an Ushirono should be. He just wasn’t sociable like his father, and didn’t care to be. His stronger emotions sometimes got the better of him, but that was beyond his control, really.
Kanya still couldn’t understand why he had chosen Aki Maeno of all people to befriend.
(He did - but he wasn’t happy about it. Aki Maeno was one of the most important people in Fuyu’s life - second only to his younger sister. And Aki Maeno did not need to be subjected to Kanrai’s delusions about his father, no matter how well the politician thought he hid them.)
…though there is also the matter of the fact that he hates that he agrees with Aki. Even if the boy is yelling. Even if he looks angrier than Kanya has ever seen him before, it shrinks in comparison to the grim look on Fuyu’s own face.
They didn’t know the truth and Kanya suspected they never would, beyond whatever Kanrai told them, here and now, in his office.
The truth was, Natsu Ushirono was the first of Kanrai’s children to contract ZENO. But…she wasn’t controlling the same way Kanrai was able to. It was a devastating moment for the family. Naturally as a Kareno, Kanya was one of the only members of the Ushirono Family’s staff to know the truth of this disease that ran through their veins. Even after young Natsu attacked one of the maids - it was still covered up.
“She’s sick, and we aren’t sure what she has,” Kanrai’s voice had rung throughout the meeting hall where the staff gathered. “But we’re going to work to make sure she gets out of this alright. The maid who was injured has been given temporary leave to recover, so please send her well wishes…without making any of this public.”
Kanya remembered that well, and it was sickening to recognize the feigned concern in Kanrai’s voice. Appearances were one thing…but this was his daughter. An innocent and kind child, who was unable to resist the terrible urges ZENO was forcing her to experience.
Fuyu and Aki had every right to be mad, and to be making demands. Kanya would join them in any other situation; but this was Kanrai. He surely had some sort of plan. ZENO was a familiar beast to the Ushirono line, even if he hadn’t told his children about it before.
“Well boys,” Kanrai begins, a smile on his face as he leans forward to address the two standing opposite of them. Kanya straightened up a little from his place behind Kanrai. “The truth is, we already know what dear Natsu has. I’ll be contacting some trusted doctors to see what we can do for her, but…there’s slim chances.”
The two boys exchange a look. Fuyu is the one to speak next.
“What is it?”
Brisk and to the point. Barely holding back his anger. Usually he was pretty to the point with his father, but this was different.
“Hm.~ Well, Fuyu, I’m just not sure if I should tell you, you see! You should be happy around your sister while this is all happening, it would raise her spirits.”
Playing a game, like he didn’t see how upset his own son was. Kanya wasn’t sure why he acted like that with him.
Honestly Fuyu looked like he was two seconds away from jumping over the desk, but Aki’s hand on his arm stopped him. He deflated for a moment, but Kanya could still see the way his rage was ready to consume him whole.
“...please.”
Aki’s voice is quieter all of the sudden. Pleading. Kanrai shifts in his seat. Kanya couldn’t see his face, but he was sure that the man’s smile had widened a bit.
“Well…~ Since Maeno-kun asked so nicely, unlike my darling son!” Kanrai laughs a little when Fuyu huffs - almost growls, even - in response. “The truth is, Natsu-chan has something we’re calling ‘ZENO’.”
“We don’t know much about it, and because of that there’s currently no known cure. This disease isn’t public knowledge because it would cause mass hysteria. You understand that, right? From what happened to that poor maid. That sort of behavior Natsu exhibited is a side effect of ZENO.”
The weight seems to sink in on the two teenagers. Fuyu’s anger quickly morphs into an overwhelming grief, and Kanya feels his heart tug at the sight. Kanrai likely had little care for that sort of emotion, though, but he hoped it would stir something in the man.
“...could we help?”
Aki Maeno, ever the genius, found a loophole. Kanya hated to admit that - but Aki saying that caused Kanrai to perk up. The rest of their conversation was more or less tuned out, with the amount of medical jargon Aki was rambling about, and Fuyu was adding his thoughts in with.
…but at least they left with a little hope.
…
“Sir,” his own voice rings out, causing Kanrai to turn back and look at him. “...may I ask why you’ve decided not to tell them about the facility? Or, in turn, why you decided not to send Miss Natsu there? Surely they’d be able to provide her some support.”
He gets a small hum in response, and it lasts a bit as it turns into some little tune the man must have heard on the radio.
Behind closed doors, when it was just the two of them, Kanya got to see the real Kanrai. Sometimes he still wore that happy, carefree attitude but…that too, was just one of the many sides of Kanrai. For as easily as the man read other people, he did not let himself be read in turn. Despite the hours and hours Kanya had spent flipping through the pages of “Kanrai Ushirono” - he knew he’d never know the full story.
No matter how badly he wanted to.
“Kareno,” Kanrai’s voice calls out, quickly calling his attention. “You do know what we’ve been doing with ZENO patients that get taken in, right? We can’t let anyone know about the existence of ZENO until the time is right, so they’re either treated as dead or missing depending on the state they’re in.”
Kanya nods slowly. Right, of course he knew that but…would Kanrai really do that to his own daughter just to preserve public peace? A sympathetic father would surely have the same effect – though he did also understand the concerns of people panicking over the knowledge of ZENO…
“If Natsu disappears, or we tell the public she’s ill…well! That’ll just turn out to be a real sticky situation, don’t you agree? It’s better to just help her in private!”
“Of course, sir. I suppose I can’t help but be concerned for her well-being.”
“Public image is too important! The panic that could arise…we don’t want that. I knew you’d understand, you’re my best friend after all! And besides…”
Kanya’s heart flutters in his chest for a moment, at the praise he received, but…that feeling dies quickly, when he notices the little glint in Kanrai’s eye.
Ah right. Of course. Even now…
“...I can’t wait to see what Maeno-kun does.”
Risshun Maeno was the most important person in Kanrai’s life.
Kanrai Ushirono was the most important person in his life.
So that’s why, this betrayal stings more than anything.
Kanya’s hand weakly clutches at his chest, failing to keep the blood from sputtering out. The bullet Kanrai fired into him was well placed - fatal, but not fatal enough to be an instant kill. Kanrai wanted him to suffer in his final moments.
It’s warm and sticky, pouring past his fingers. But in a sense…maybe he deserves this. After all - he was going to kill Kanrai himself. He just got beat to the punch. What kind of friend was he, trying to kill someone he cared about? Someone he was born to love?
The kind trying to protect the rest of the world.
The kind trying to stop someone who was too far gone.
The kind…that didn’t exist at all.
Because Kanrai knew his feelings. Taunted him for them. Made fun of him for ever truly believing that they were “friends”. Because –
Risshun Maeno was the most important person in Kanrai’s life.
Despite ignoring him for years (he was always by his side) .
Despite not feeling the same (he longed so deeply for it) .
Despite opposing his wishes to spread ZENO directly (it wasn’t right to do this) .
Risshun Maeno was the most important person in Kanrai’s life.
And Kanya Kareno meant nothing.