Kei Inoue

The day's final bell rang, as Iscodaya and Kaus packed their bags. The first day was a hectic one for the duo, getting attention they’d rather not have. As the two thanked their teacher and left the classroom, Iscodaya sighed, “At least no one knows,” he whispered.

Kaus nodded, “First day’s always the worst,” he remarked. But as the two went down to the first floor and changed their shoes, Kaus felt a tap on his shoulder. Sensing no threat, the swordsman turned, only to see a group of students.

“Hey! Kaus Irom right?” A boy asked. Kaus observed his appearance, only slightly shorter than him, short black hair, very good-looking, and athletic, but, no sense of danger. The swordsman nodded, causing the boy to beam with positive energy, “Nice to meet you, I’m Yusuke Ogawa!”

The boy’s energy took aback both Iscodaya and Kaus, “I-I see, greetings to you as well,” Kaus replied, his smile shaky. The boy named Yusuke then turned his eyes toward Iscodaya, smiling that beaming smile yet again.

“And I take it you’re Iscodaya Kousa?” Iscodaya didn’t verbally respond, only nodding. “Alright! So, I heard from my friend Kei, that you guys are transfer students, and she insisted that I show you guys around.” But as those words exited Yusuke’s lips, a girl came running out of the group of students, her hands cupping his mouth.

“DANG IT YUSUKE I TOLD YOU NOT TO SAY THAT!!” She furiously remarked, but Yusuke merely giggled underneath his covered mouth.

He gently removed Kei’s hand as he smiled at her, “Sorry sorry, my tongue slipped.” Iscodaya and Kaus stared awkwardly, as the group of friends began to laugh and tease each other.

“Your Majesty.”

“Iscodaya.”

“....Iscodaya,” Kaus embarrassingly whispered, “What should we do?”

“Let us see, if we can find a way to escape, we escape.” But Yusuke caught the two muttering, so feeling like he was isolating them, he decided to go for it.

“So~” Yusuke exclaimed, catching the attention of the two again, “Since you both are new here, care to join us in a hangout?” He invited. But the young boy was suddenly stunned as the two glared at him.

“One minute,” Iscodaya asked, as they both gave him their backs and started whispering. But not a moment later, “Sure, why not,” Iscodaya accepted, reaching out a hand, a gesture he studied as polite. Yusuke was a bit weirded out by the formality of it, but decided to shake Iscodaya’s hand just to not make him feel awkward.

The friend group then introduced themselves, with Iscodaya and Kaus recognizing Kei. But as they were about to go, Yusuke pointed something out to Kaus, “Hey Irom, I saw your volleyball game, you were spectacu-” But before Yusuke could finish, Kaus gave him a scary look, one that stopped Yusuke on his tracks.

But before things could escalate, Iscodaya stepped in, reaching to grab Kaus’ head, he forced it down and talked to him, “Don’t give people that look, especially if they do not know anything.” The friend group was a little taken back by Iscodaya’s scolding of Kaus, but as he finished, he turned to Yusuke and the whole friend group, “Sorry for the gaze, it’s just that calling someone by their last name in our culture is something someone with a higher status would do to people below them. It’s highly disrespectful if someone of the same age and status does it.”

At Iscodaya’s explanation, Yusuke’s eyes widened, and quickly he bowed his head, “S-sorry! I should’ve been more cautious.” But as Yusuke apologized, he was a bit stunned as two fingers touched his chin, and began to lift his face.

There he saw them for the first time, the scarlet eyes of Iscodaya, staring at him with such authority, “You have nothing to feel sorry for, you didn’t know.” With a tap on the shoulder, Iscodaya smiled at Yusuke, leaving him very appreciative.

When the group had exited their school, suddenly Iscodaya had been getting more attention, “So~ Iscodaya and Kaus is what we should call you guys?” A girl from the back nicely asked.

“We would prefer that, thank you,” smiled Iscodaya, causing the girl to recoil a bit.

Yusuke then joined in the conversation, “I see now why you bonded with Kei, since she calls everyone by their first names.” But as fast as words came out of Yusuke’s mouth, a hand went under his chin and forced it closed.

“Not everyone idiot,” Kei bashfully remarked, with Yusuke joking around with Kei while she was telling him off. But as the friend group was having fun with all their joking, Iscodaya watched, as something caught his eye.

So as a few minutes went by, and Kaus was yet again the center of attention, Iscodaya and Kei found themselves trailing the main friend group. The two were talking, with Kei telling Iscodaya how to speak in a non-formal way.

“So instead of greetings, just say, hello, or hi, or even if you know them enough, something like what’s up, or yo.” Iscodaya nodded, intently listening, noting the words inside of his brain.

“I see, thank you, I’ll make sure to have that in mind.” But as Kei smiled and nodded, a silence came over the two, with Kei awkwardly trying to find things to talk about. But in that silence, Iscodaya decided to ask Kei something, “Does Yusuke know you like him.”

Instantly Kei’s face turned red, as her hands quickly placed themselves to cover Iscodaya’s mouth. By her reaction, Iscodaya knew he was correct in his hypothesis, “S-shhh, please don’t talk about that,” she uncomfortably asked, leading Iscodaya to nod.

Kei uncovered Iscodaya’s mouth, as the Prince stared at her, analyzing her face, “A maiden in love huh, what a sight,” he whispered, baring no emotion. Yet Kei turned red at the comment.

She grabbed her hair, trying to hide herself in them, “H-how did you know?” She asked, leading Iscodaya to scoff.

“I’ve got two very handsome brothers, along with my cousin over there, so I’ve observed when a girl is smitten with a boy,” Iscodaya explained. But as he realized Kei was getting redder as time went on, he turned his gaze to Yusuke, his bright energy almost blinding, “Have you told him yet?”

At his question, Kei became silent, as her bashfulness disappeared. Then, a few seconds later, she chuckled, “Nope… and I think I’ll never will,” she remarked. Iscodaya observed her face again, it spoke of… disappointment.

“Why? Yusuke doesn’t seem like he hates you,” remarked the Prince, causing Kei to shake her head, turning to him with a weak grin, she stated.

“It’s not about that… it’s about… who he likes more.” Just as Kei uttered those words, a girl in the friend group at the front slipped. But before she could fall, Yusuke quickly reacted to it, catching her.

And Iscodaya saw it, the slight appearance of red on his cheek, the widening of the eyes, and the slight embarrassment of touch.

“You alright? Rin?” Yusuke asked, his voice concerned. The girl he caught was a small, cute girl with long black hair, one who had the same expression as Kei earlier.

“I’m alright… Yu,” she stated, turning her bashful gaze away from Yusuke as she steadied herself. The friend group then spoke their concern for her, as Kei watched.

“Rin Kirishima,” she remarked, sadness enveloping her voice, “Yusuke’s childhood friend, and his crush.” But as she said those words, in the complete shock of Iscodaya, her mood and tone completely shifted. She approached the friend group with a big smile, walking up to Rin, she smiled, “You have to be more careful, Princess.”

Rin became embarrassed at Kei’s comment, “Please don’t call me that Inoue.” The friend group laughed, as Iscodaya watched a few feet away, his gaze analyzing the situation.

“So that’s how it is.”