Lords and knights, preparing for upcoming battle

“Hmm,” I murmur, giving my room one last glance. “The backpack, notebooks, speech…” I pick up my bag to confirm everything is in place.
“The uniform, my tie -no crooked lines. Looks good; all’s ready.”

I tug at my tie, satisfied. The white shirt and black jacket uniform aren’t anything extraordinary, but the Kotton Academy’s light pink dotted pattern cascading from the collar gives it a distinct charm. It contrasts the dark fabric beautifully, a calming touch to the otherwise standard attire. There’s a choice between a dark green tie and ribbon, or alternatively, a dark green-collared jacket paired with a light pink tie. The academy eschews the traditional emblem, letting the dotted pattern symbolizing cotton and rain take its place.

I head downstairs, and the breakfast table is already lively. Dad’s exaggerated voice booms, as always. “Lona! Please take care of Akari!”

Akari waves her hand dismissively, a patient smile on her lips. “I’ll be fine, really.”

Lona’s calm demeanor begins to crack. “Katsuo-san,” she says, her voice rising. “Akari doesn’t need me to babysit her. She’s stronger than you think!”

“Take care of each other!” Dad barrels on, undeterred. “It’s a big day for her! The academy is huge! Please help her adjust!”

“We’ve already visited the academy more than ten times in the past three weeks!” Lona retorts, her fingers curling against the edge of the table. “I think she’s adjusted enough!”

“But Akari is such a cute little girl!” Dad says, his tone softening into something almost wistful.

“She’s taller than me!” Lona shouts, slamming her hands on the table. The force makes the silverware rattle, and I flinch slightly from the doorway.

“Katsuo-san! Lona-nee!” Akari yells, her arms flailing above the table in a desperate attempt to restore calm. Her cheeks puff as her voice squeaks, making her look irresistibly adorable.

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from saying it aloud. Too cute...

“Kats...” Mom’s voice interrupts, cutting through the chaos like a knife. She enters the room, balancing two trays stacked with breakfast dishes. “Stop crying again. Do you think so little of these girls?”

The room falls silent as Dad sinks into his chair. “They’re...” Mom continues, her tone rising in pride.

I brace myself. I already know what’s coming.

“They’re my amazing daughters! They’ll do just fine! Better than you ever were in high school!”

“Y-Yes, honey!” Dad stammers, straightening up like a soldier under inspection.

Lona, noticing me lingering at the door, spins away. Her pale complexion betrays her embarrassment as the back of her neck and ears flush bright red. Akari isn’t as pale, but even she stumbles over her words before breaking into a bright, beaming smile.

“G-Good morning, Renyuki-san!” Akari stutters, her voice slightly higher than usual.

“Good morning, Akari-san,” I reply, grinning. “Energetic as always, I see.”

“Eh-hehe...” she chuckles nervously, her hands fiddling with her fork as if it’s the most interesting thing in the world.

“Ren, could you grab the rest from the kitchen?” Mom says, snapping me out of the moment.

I nod, but before I can move, Akari and Lona both bolt past me. “We’ll help!” they exclaim in unison.

“There’s not much left to-” Mom begins, but it’s no use. “...do.” They’re already in the kitchen.

I glance at her, and we exchange a knowing smile. “Take care of them, okay, Ren?”

“Of course, Mom,” I reply. “You don’t even have to ask.”

She laughs lightly. “I know.”

From behind us, Dad wails dramatically, “I feel so lonely suddenly… I’m going to cry…”

Mom pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs. “Here we go again...”

—---------------------------------------

The morning sunlight streams over the rooftops, painting the sky with hues of gold and pink. At the door, ready to leave for school, I pause as the familiar spark of energy approaches. Ebeil bounds toward us, his arms waving like windmills, his smile so wide it practically splits his face.

Even the birth of a new day -complete with a glowing horizon- feels dim compared to this guy’s sheer radiance.

“Did you take your lunchboxes?!” my father’s voice booms from the kitchen. “Check again! Akari’s is yellow, Lona’s is green, Ren’s is pink!”

I sigh. Yes, mine is pink. I’m not going to question why my dad picked that color. It’s not worth the effort.

Lona slings her backpack over one shoulder and strides out the gate, sparing Ebeil a wave.

“Hey! Lona, did you hear me?!” my dad yells, clearly not done.

“All’s there, Katsuo-san. We checked five times already,” Lona calls back, not even glancing over her shoulder as she chats with Ebeil.

“I-I see.”

I place a reassuring hand on my dad’s shoulder. “Calm down, Dad. I won’t let anything ruin their enjoyment, youth, or love.”

He clasps my hand with an exaggerated nod of understanding. We share a moment of unspoken agreement, and I feel Akari’s incredulous gaze burning into us.

“Again?” she mutters, her eyebrows furrowed and mouth slightly open. She’s seen this exchange a hundred times.

“I’ll make sure–buahh!!”

I’m cut off by the force of Ebeil launching himself onto my back. The impact sends me head-butting my dad, who stumbles back dramatically.

“Let’s go, Renyuki!” Ebeil crows from his perch on my back. “What’s taking you so long?!”

As I'm struggling to straighten under his weight, he glances over my shoulder. “Ah! Good morning, Katsuo-san! Please have a great day as usual!”

“That depends on my lovely daughters…” dad replies, his voice quivering as he’s clearly on the verge of tears.

“You worry too much, sir!” Ebeil proclaims. “Akari and Lona are so dependable! You don’t have to worry about even a single matter! I assure you!”

“Ughhh…” Somehow, Ebeil's objectively lively and extremely positive words which came diluted and purely from heart, did nothing on his mental state. My dad’s melancholy deepens, as if he’s imagining his daughters being whisked away by their future lovers. I shudder at the thought of what he’ll be like when that time actually comes.

We finally say our goodbyes, and the last thing I see is my mom dragging my dad by the arm.

“You have work to go to!” 

“But Akari is so cute and little, and Lona-”

“No!” Mom cuts him off.

We leave the residential neighborhood, Ebeil still clinging to my back.

“Lona is our captain as our senpai! Lead the way, Capt'n!” he announces, pointing grandly at Lona.

“First, we’ll-” Lona begins but then pauses, glancing at me. “Ebeil, how long do you plan on using Renyuki as your… horse?” Her lips curl into a mischievous grin.

Ebeil blinks, confused.

“I don’t mind,” I say with exaggerated nonchalance. “It’s his high school debut, after all.”

Ebeil leans forward, his chin on my head. “What?”

“Nothing,” I reply flatly, sighing as he shifts his weight.

“Balance, Renyuki!” he chides.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Lona, our capt'n senpai, lead the way!”

“Whatever,” Lona mutters, giving me a sharp look before turning forward. "Ebeil, if you are riding a horse, and a lord yourself, I can't be a captain of a pirate ship. That is if that's what you are imagining. Just so you know."

Ebeil thinks for a moments, still his chin on my head. "What do you suggest I call you, former capt'n Lona?"

"Well, you can call me Captain Asano, just not Capt'n. Or Commander Asano. Surname is kinda important, too. Even if you are a lord or a prince, you should show me respect before our men. That will raise the morale and trust of them to us. It's very important," she says, still continuing -turning back to Ebeil after a few words and then forward in motion. "Of course it depends on the settings you want. If you want to be a lord who see his commander of army as a close friend, you can use his first name, too."

Ebeil, who's been listening with unprecedented attention, nods, but his chin being on my head, it just grazes my hair. Of course, I do not get mad.

"Captain Asano," he starts. "Would you rather a pirate setting with ships or knight setting with swords and horses?"

"That's a hard question.... Paladins and knights are-"

As their conversation take a turn into fantasy world, the things Lona loves to talk about so much -which includes me as well- I glance at Akari, who's been silent all this time. Her dreamy, far-off expression tugs at my attention.

“Akari-san?” I ask gently, smiling.

She doesn’t respond at first, lost in thought. Even with her absent-minded gaze, she’s adorable.

This girl… She’s full of energy and life, yet I can’t shake the thought that she’s destined to be a losing heroine. The idea boils my blood.

“I promise, I’ll make you the happiest,” I murmur.

Her eyes snap back into focus, brightening. “Huh?” she asks, startled. “Did you say something, Renyuki-san?”

“You’re nervous, aren’t you?” I deflect.

She rubs the back of her fluffy hair, laughing nervously. “Maybe a little?”

“It’ll be fine, Akari-san,” I say warmly. “We have each other. Let’s enjoy high school life together.”

Her expression softens into a smile, radiant and full of the Akari I know.

Ebeil, however, laughs like a hyena, brushing his hand across my face.

“Hey!” I protest.

“Lady’s man, Renyuki!”

“How do you even keep up with all these conversations at once?” I retort.

“Praise my genius!” Ebeil puffs out his chest proudly.

“You’ll probably get two confessions today just from being you,” I say dryly.

Ebeil leans back, grinning. “I dunno.”

“Ebeil,” I say seriously, “I value heroines, but I value you just as much. Love is important. I sometimes worry I’m holding you back from finding someone.”

For once, there’s silence. Even Ebeil doesn’t have a comeback.

“Well… here we are,” Lona announces as we reach the metro station. She sighs, clearly done with our antics. “Please, hop down from your horse, Your Highness.”

“Yes, Captain Asano,” he says, saluting as he dismounts.

“Hey, Ebeil,” I call as he turns toward the station. "You-"

He glances back, his handsome, feminine features catching the light of the Sun. His smirk is disarming. “You’ll never get rid of me, Renyuki,” he says before turning away.

I stand frozen, his words echoing in my mind.

“Renyuki-san?” Akari’s voice pulls me back.

“I’m fine, Akari-san,” I assure her quickly. “I was just… lost in thought.”

“Yeah…” she replies hesitantly.

I glance at her over my shoulder. “Akari-san, that goes for you too. Whatever you want to achieve -your future, your problems, even love- let me help you.” I grin mischievously. “Even if you want to strangle someone, you can count on me.”

Her eyes widen, and she immediately checks if anyone heard me. “Renyuki-san!” she squeaks, her face turning bright red.

I laugh softly, unable to resist her reaction. “I’m sorry, Akari-san. I can be a little mischievous sometimes.”

“It’s fine,” she says, her voice still flustered.

I grin. “But only sometimes? That’s no fun.”

She opens her mouth wide in mock outrage, making me stifle another laugh.

“Just joking,” I say, raising my hands in mock surrender.

She sighs, and her eyes light up as if she’s remembered something. “Your speech! Don’t forget it today!”

“Be prepared, Akari-san,” I reply showing another grin. “If there’s anything I’m not holding back on, it’s the love of romantically disadvantaged heroines.”