A Grand Banquet

Eventually the party ended and Keitaro and Toko were escorted to their rooms which were more luxurious than a five-star hotel. But by this point, they were both too tired to be impressed. While Musashi and Tomoe hung back and kept watch, they started getting ready for bed with Toko opting to stay in Keitaro’s room since she did especially bad in unfamiliar locations.

However, just as Keitaro was about to get into bed, he saw a note under the door. Curious, he picked it up.

“Hm? What’s that?” Toko had come over too.

“A note.” Keitaro read it out loud, “‘Meet me in my room. It’s at the end of the opposite hall.’” He sighed. “And it’s signed ‘Sylvie.’”

Nervously, Toko looked up at her brother. “D-do you think…?”

“Oh, I think all right…” His eyes burned through the paper. “What kind of cruel joke is this!? First time a girl ever asks me out and it’s some French hussy!?” He crumpled up the note and threw it across the room. “Twenty-three years I’ve waited and this is what I get!? Not cute, or geeky, or bookish, or anything! And she’s engaged!” He rubbed his face in frustration.

In dating sims, you have to select the right things to say or do to make the girl you want like you, but Keitaro absolutely did not want the Sylvie Ending. It was too bad that this might lock him out of the Paris Alliance Ending too.

With a sigh, he gave up. “Whatever… Let’s just go to bed…”

Toko was at least relieved that her brother wasn’t falling for Sylvie’s feminine wiles.

***

It was a beautiful day in Paris. The gardens of Versailles shone in the light, the lush greenery bursting with life.

The luxury of the palace naturally extended to the grounds, and while the bushes were perfectly trimmed and the flowers flawlessly cultivated, Keitaro couldn’t help but be frustrated as he was once again subjected to another party.

Described as a banquet, it was more like a glorified tea party held in the gardens of Versailles. While Keitaro insisted they talk business, he was brushed aside by Sylvie, stressing the importance of giving the honored Japanese guests a warm welcome.

At the very least Sylvie didn’t seem bothered by being blown off last night, but Keitaro didn’t want to press his luck further.

This party had less guests and wasn’t as noisy, but all Keitaro wanted to do was make a deal and leave.

Toko wasn’t having a good time either. She found this one easier to manage, but was still struggling.

Growing increasingly bored and annoyed, Keitaro got up. “I think I’ll go for a little walk.”

“O-okay…” Toko followed him.

It really was a beautiful garden. Not just the plants but also the decorations. Various statues dotted the paths with Keitaro stopping to look at each.

The two soon made their way to a massive fountain.

Reaching into his pocket, Keitaro pulled out two five yen coins, passing one to Toko. “Here.” He placed his coin on top of his thumb, ready to flip it in. “Let’s make a wish. I know I could use one, at least.”

“All right.” Toko envisioned her wish in her head, and just as she was about to toss in her coin, she was interrupted.

“I was wondering where you two had gone off to,” Sylvie called out.

“Ms. Marche.” Keitaro hid his own coin in his palm.

“If you wanted a tour of the grounds then you could’ve just asked me, you know.” Noticing the coin still in Toko’s hand, she grinned. “Are you two making wishes?”

He wanted to tell her to go and kick rocks, but couldn’t. “Yes.”

“Ooh, I will too then!” She pulled out a coin of her own and tossed it right into the fountain.

With a sigh, Keitaro threw into his own, shortly followed by Toko.

“So… What did you wish for?” Sylvie asked.

“If I tell you then it won’t come true.” He wished to be rid of her as soon as possible.

“Hmph.” She turned to Toko. “What about you then?”

Toko jumped, stammering out a response. “S-sorry…i-it won’t come t-true…” Hers was a lot more positive.

Crossing her arms, she pouted. “You guys are no fun at all.”

What followed was a short silence, but as Sylvie stared at the two siblings, a thought crossed her mind. “You know, you two seem pretty close. Practically attached at the hip.”

“Is there something wrong with that?” he shot back, harsher than intended.

“Nothing at all…” She impishly looked away.

Toko fidgeted awkwardly, but Keitaro just stared at her. Her comment really irked him. The last person Keitaro wanted to be judged by was Sylvie, and he, unlike Sylvie, knew that the Knights and Maidens were brought to Kosma together for a reason.

***

New York had begun its assault on London. Unfortunately, it had so far been fruitless. Jack and Ella, with help from their general, Ulysses S. Grant, had created a great plan in theory, but in practice, everything had fallen apart. Either the Pink Knight or Maiden had an Ability that allowed them to literally create rivers, slapping two right on their borders. Paris had realized quickly that it was a fool’s errand to invade London without proper buildup, but New York just went for it and was now paying the price. They had lost a significant number of troops trying to cross the river, their makeshift bridges getting torn apart by British fire. They then proceeded to burn through their artillery shells bombarding the city, shredding through the streets and toppling buildings, but ultimately leaving London as impenetrable as ever.

“Are there any updates on Japan?” Jack had called a meeting to determine their next steps in this war.

“They’ve arrived in Paris.” Chancellor Franklin D. Roosevelt read from a report. “A deal should be finalized within a day.”

Jack put his head in his hands. If Japan joined, everything should be fine. Turning to his right, he asked, “Allan, any intel from the agents in London or Moscow?”

Allan Pinkerton, the American spymaster, had a sullen look on his face. “London we can handle, but Moscow will prove to be a problem for the French. Even with Berlin's help, they’ll need to fight the Russian army as well as Turkish and Italian holdouts with their depleted forces. Additionally, the Blue Knight will have to defeat three Knights and three Maidens by himself.” He let out a sigh almost bordering on a groan before continuing. “If we’re being realistic, their odds aren’t great. That is unless the Japanese join and attack from the other side.”

Ella spoke up, “Well, the Japanese are going to join, so it shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Pinkerton wasn’t confident in that assertion. “They should…” He shook his head. “But if you need to start relying on luck, you’ve already lost.”

Jack closed his eyes. This war hinged on Tokyo. If they joined, victory was guaranteed. Jack had personally met the Black Knight and Maiden. Keitaro and Toko. He thought back to the time they spent at Joy World together. Not only did they have fun, but Keitaro saved their lives. Even after that, Keitaro and Toko went on to conquer Seoul and defeat the Gray Knight and Maiden, a far cry from what they’ve been able to do against London. The two were unassuming, but Jack knew that Keitaro and Toko Owari were people he could count on, and he definitely knew that they were not people he ever wanted to face.