When Hearts Strike

The palace on Akarihoshi glowed gently in the early morning light, golden violet rays spilling across polished marble floors and catching the edges of the ornate crystal chandeliers, scattering prisms of color across the high, vaulted ceilings. The air vibrated faintly with residual energy, a soft hum that reminded anyone who entered that this palace was alive—not merely a home for royalty, but a vessel for power itself.

In the expansive training hall, sunlight streamed through towering stained glass windows, painting the room in molten hues of dawn—fiery reds, soft oranges, and delicate blues that flowed like liquid brushstrokes across the polished floor. Aiko and Akihiko stood poised across from one another, the faint scent of morning dew and moonflowers drifting through the open balcony doors, mingling with the tang of polished steel.

“You’re still too fast,” Akihiko said lightly, deflecting her strike effortlessly. The blade rang against his own, ringing out like a soft bell in the quiet hall. “If you rush forward like that, you lose your balance.”

Aiko exhaled softly, a strand of her reddish hair clinging to her damp forehead. She steadied herself, swinging again with more care—but Akihiko intercepted her blade with ease. Instead of scolding her, he lowered his weapon and stepped closer, the warmth of his presence brushing against her shoulder.

“But you’re improving,” he murmured quietly, his voice low and calm. “And that’s what matters most.”

Warmth spread in Aiko’s chest, a flicker of color in her cheeks. Training had always been exhausting, but sharing it with him transformed every laborious movement into something precious, each bead of sweat into a shared triumph.

She raised her blade once more, and this time, as Akihiko caught her strike, his hands lingered—not just on hers, but guiding them gently, their fingers brushing. Aiko’s breath caught, her heart fluttering like a trapped bird. The world outside seemed to fade—the colors of the hall, the morning light, even the distant call of birds—until there was only him, and the shared rhythm of their movements.

In that suspended moment, he leaned closer under the pretense of adjusting her grip. Her pulse spiked, a shiver racing along her spine. And then, in the quiet intimacy of their closeness, Akihiko’s lips brushed softly against hers—a fleeting, stolen kiss that was both tender and grounding. It was a whisper of warmth, a promise that neither words nor distance could diminish. Aiko froze, eyes wide, the glow of his aura—the pure white-and-blue light that always seemed to pulse in tune with his emotions—wrapping around them both like a protective cocoon.

She blinked, heart hammering, as Akihiko pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, the faintest smile tugging at his lips. “Balance,” he said softly, almost teasing, “in more ways than one.”

Her hands trembled slightly in his grip, and for a heartbeat, the world felt like it had shrunk to the space between them. The lesson continued, yet every strike, every parry, every careful step was now colored by the memory of that moment, a shared secret suspended in the golden morning light.

At last, they lowered their weapons. Aiko wiped the sweat from her brow, and Akihiko, ever gentle, tucked a rebellious strand of her hair behind her ear. “You’re stronger than you think,” he said quietly. “Every day, you grow.”

Aiko’s lips curved into a small, tired smile. Training was exhausting—but every drop of effort was worth it, because it was shared.

But the day’s duties were unrelenting. After their session, her schedule pressed on like a tide she could not resist:

Morning: visits to allied planets—ceremonial greetings, introductions, and palace tours.

Afternoon: lessons in etiquette, posture, and diplomacy, decoding subtle expressions and movements.

Evening: studying the histories of alliances and adversaries, learning the hidden politics that shaped the galaxy.

Every sigh she tried to conceal was met with gentle reminders: she was a princess now, destined to one day ascend to the throne. Aiko nodded obediently, though her muscles ached and her mind swirled with the endless weight of expectation.

That night, when she finally collapsed onto her bed, she closed her eyes and wished for one thing: a single day of silence, a day to simply be a girl dreaming beneath the stars.

As if sensing her fatigue, Akihiko appeared at her door. He settled beside her, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “They’re overburdening you,” he murmured softly, his hand lingering at her cheek.

Aiko gave a tired, small smile. “I have to endure, right? After all… I am a princess now.”

He tilted his head, studying her with the steady calm of someone who understood her better than anyone else. “You are Aiko. That alone is enough. Never forget that.”

That night, her dreams were heavier than usual, tangled with exhaustion and the blurred lines of her daily lessons. At first, she dreamed of stars—the familiar, comforting night sky of Earth—but tonight they were pale, almost shadowed, as though something unseen had dimmed their light.

From the darkness, a voice emerged—deep, soothing, carried like the wind across a vast plain.

“Tired… aren’t you?”

Aiko looked around, but there was no one. Only the vast night stretched endlessly, yet the voice filled her mind, intimate and insistent.

“They ask so much of you. They want the perfect princess, the warrior, the symbol. Yet in your heart, you crave only one thing… peace.”

Suddenly, a figure coalesced from shadow—a tall man, wrapped in cool dark-blue light. His face remained hidden, but his eyes glowed as if awakening something deep inside her.

“Why do you struggle?” he murmured. “If you were with me… you wouldn’t need to carry burdens that aren’t yours. I would give you freedom. Just… step closer.”

In an instant, she found herself on the edge of a black crystalline platform, the infinite night stretching below. The figure stood beside her, radiating warmth that tugged at her tired heart, a pull that almost made her forget the rules of reality.

Her pulse raced violently. Part of her knew she shouldn’t trust him, yet another part—the exhausted, yearning part—almost wanted to believe his words. Tentatively, she reached out—and in that moment, the star-shaped pendant around her neck pulsed warmly in red-and-gold light. The shadow flinched.

“Do not worry. You will come to me… eventually,” he whispered.

The dream shattered. Aiko awoke abruptly, heart pounding. Across the palace, in his own room, Akihiko stirred. The windows were open to the night sky, yet some unseen pull tugged at him like a taut string. A distant, commanding whisper reached him—not Aiko’s, but chilling and persuasive.

“When you are with me… you will be free.”

Akihiko’s eyes flared with white-and-blue light. “Who are you?!” he demanded, voice strong, echoing across the quiet chamber.

Then, soft but unmistakable, another melody—the fragile, familiar voice of Aiko—called across the distance: Akihiko…

His heart throbbed violently. “Aiko!”

Through his mind’s eye, he saw her standing on the dark platform, cloaked in shadow, her hand reaching toward someone far away. She looked lost and frightened, yet her own energy radiated a light of its own.

Without hesitation, he reached toward her—not physically, but through the bond they shared. His aura surged outward, white-and-blue light weaving into hers, connecting them across the void. Their combined energy wrapped them both in a cocoon of warmth and protection, repelling the shadowy figure that sought to claim her.

The shadow recoiled sharply, voice cutting through the dreamscape: “This is not over. You cannot always save her.”

Aiko felt Akihiko’s warmth anchor her, pulling her back from the edge. The shadow dissolved. They awoke simultaneously—she in her bed, he in his—hearts pounding, tethered by their unbreakable connection.

In the quiet night, she whispered tremblingly through their bond: Akihiko… something was there. Someone… they called me.

Akihiko closed his eyes, clenching his fist. Do not fear. As long as we are connected and together, no one can take you from me.