"I see... so you talked to Father, didn't you, Brother?"
"Yeah. He told me a lot, and he even gave me some praise."
A short while later, after concluding the Luminous Academy observation tour with the heads of the Three Great Houses, Hugo dropped by the workshop where Fee and the others were busy at work.
On a side note, Setsuna and her two companions had remained with their fathers, and since Ryuga—who had sneaked out of the hospital—had been forcibly hauled back by Lamy, Hugo was the only one who had returned.
Fee spoke up, stealing glances at his older brother’s side profile. Hugo looked slightly pleased, yet he carried an air of loneliness.
"I’m sorry... I knew Father was coming, but I wasn't sure if I should tell you, Brother."
"You don’t have to apologize, Fee. My own bad behavior was the reason I was disowned in the first place."
Realizing that this had been the reason behind Fee's strange behavior when he’d delivered the dragon materials earlier, Hugo gave a wry smile. Considering the turmoil his brother must have felt—torn between wanting to tell his disowned sibling and fearing the pain it might cause—Hugo realized he likely put a heavy burden on the boy in more ways than one. He let out a sigh.
"I’ve caused the old man and you so much trouble. Seeing it all again... it really hit home."
"It’s not really like that. It’s true that things are chaotic at home, but it’s not all your fault, Brother..."
"Still, if I’d just behaved normally, none of that mess would have happened. I can’t help but feel responsible for it."
Technically, the man currently inhabiting this body—Yugo Kurei—hadn't done any of those things. Yet he believed that as long as he lived as Hugo Clay, he was obligated to shoulder the weight of those past deeds.
If he was to accept Eugene’s rare praise intended for a son, then he also had the duty to endure the responsibility and the scorn that came with the role. As Hugo’s eyes narrowed under the weight of these thoughts, Fee called out to him, his voice laced with worry.
"Are you okay? You don't need to be so hard on yourself, Brother."
"...Thanks."
Hugo stood up after giving his younger brother a few gentle pats on the head. He bid Fee farewell and began the walk back to his dormitory.
He paused along the path, looking up as the sun began to dip below the horizon. Watching the world dye itself in shades of crimson, a question gnawed at him.
(Do I even have the right to call them my father and my brother?)
He knew deep down that Eugene's praise and Fee's admiration were not meant for him. He was living as Hugo Clay, but his true identity was Yugo Kurei, a man from another world. He was neither Eugene's son nor Fee's brother.
Even if he confessed, the odds of them believing him were slim. They’d likely assume he’d lost his mind again, and that would be that.
Even if it was unavoidable, he was still lying to his family and his comrades. At the same time, he couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the original Hugo Clay—the rightful owner of this body. He placed a hand over his heart.
"..."
Back then, during his confrontation with Eugene... the moment he’d instinctively called the man "Father"... he felt a foreign will surface from deep within. Perhaps it had just been an unconscious slip of the tongue. That was entirely possible.
But what if the person who spoke those words was the other "me" residing within? If so, then the real Hugo hadn't simply vanished; he might still be sleeping somewhere inside. If he ever woke up, would it be Yugo Kurei's turn to fall into a deep sleep?
The world was full of things he didn't understand. He’d wrestled with these thoughts countless times, only to arrive at the same conclusion. Every time he considered the family who truly cared for the real Hugo, Yugo Kurei felt the crushing weight of his deception.
"What am I supposed to do? I really don't have a clue."
He was grateful that his friends, his family, and those around him finally accepted him, but he couldn't ignore the fact that he was living a lie.
Through this endless cycle of sorrow and self-doubt, where are we headed? Hugo swallowed the self-deprecating thought and continued walking toward the setting sun.
He told himself that the only thing he could do now was strive not to betray the expectations of those who believed in him. Even so, he couldn't quite bring himself to justify a life built on a foundation of lies. With that heavy resolve, Yugo Kurei steeled himself to continue his journey as Hugo Clay, one day at a time.