The Game Begins

Akihiko still stood on the balcony of his chamber, the necklace in his hand glowing faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat he could almost trust—but not entirely. The wind brushed against his face, cold and biting, carrying with it the scent of distant gardens and unfamiliar metals from the city below. Each flicker of golden-red light from the pendant reminded him of the fragile thread connecting him to Aiko—a thread so tenuous it felt as if a mere thought could sever it. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the pulse of the necklace mingle with his own heartbeat, trying to draw courage from its faint warmth. But doubt crept in, silent and relentless, whispering that he could lose her forever, that the space between them—both physical and magical—might be insurmountable.

Naoru and Mika burst into the chamber, urgency etched in every line of their faces. Their footsteps, hurried and uneven, echoed lightly, but the weight of the moment pressed down on them like stone.

“Akihiko, what just happened?” Mika’s voice trembled, her chest heaving, as though the answer might shatter her completely. She reached out instinctively, fingers trembling, afraid to touch him but needing to be near.

Akihiko slowly turned, eyes shadowed by tension, yet lit with a fragile, glimmering hope. “Aiko… I think she’s alive,” he whispered, voice low, almost afraid to give sound to such a fragile truth. His eyes sought Naoru and Mika’s, silently asking for them to believe, though he barely dared.

Naoru stiffened, disbelief hardening his features. “That’s… impossible…”

“No,” Akihiko said, pressing the necklace to his chest as though it could anchor him to the truth. “I felt her. For a moment, she was here. Not a memory, not a shadow… her heart reached mine.”

Mika’s lips trembled. Tears welled in her eyes, not just relief but a bitter mixture of hope and fear. “Then… she’s really still out there…”

Akihiko nodded, jaw tight, voice low yet resolute. “But that also means Tsukina is involved. If she controls her… or hides her… she’ll think her plan has succeeded. And that I am hers.” His shoulders stiffened. The thought of being trapped, even partially, in her influence, ignited a subtle flame of anger and resolve.

Naoru’s brow furrowed, concern etched in every line. “What will you do?”

Akihiko’s gaze dropped, shadowed by the weight of the coming struggle. “I’ll play her game—but on my terms. Every step I take will be mine, every move calculated. I cannot let her see the truth. Not yet. Not until the right moment comes.”

Naoru exhaled slowly, tension easing slightly, finally nodding. “Then this will be your most dangerous battle yet. Play the prisoner… until the perfect opportunity presents itself.”

Mika gently grasped his hand, her eyes locking with his. “Just… promise me you’ll hold on.”

Akihiko’s lips curved in a faint, bittersweet smile. “For Aiko, I would walk through fire. And now I know… somewhere, she’s still waiting. Somewhere, she’s alive.”

Next morning Naoru and Mika hid silently, watching the hall where a tense silence reigned. Their hearts pounded as they saw Akihiko step forward, facing Princess Tsukina. Her dark presence filled the space, her eyes gleaming dangerously as she observed him, like a predator watching her captured prey.

Akihiko stood calm, outwardly unwavering, yet inside, a storm raged. In his pocket, he felt the warm weight of Aiko’s necklace. Its glow, its scent, its memory — all of it kept him standing tall. If there was even a single percent chance that Aiko was still alive, he could not break. He could not allow Tsukina to sense his true intent.

His hand slowly reached for the ring — the ring that symbolized his eternal bond with Aiko. His heart tightened, his fingers resisting as if unwilling to let go. This is our symbol… our vow… I am hers, and she is mine. If I take it off, it will look as if I am betraying her. For a moment, he thought he heard Aiko’s laughter, like a distant echo. The memory pierced him so sharply it almost broke him.

But then he gritted his teeth. If I want to see her again, I must sacrifice this moment. Let Tsukina believe she has won. Let her think I am hers. The truth will remain inside me. The truth is Aiko. Only her.

With a slow, almost ceremonial motion, he removed the ring from his finger and placed it on the table. For a moment, he squeezed it quietly in his palm, as if etching the memory into his very skin, then lifted it high before him, letting it gleam in dazzling light. His voice was soft, yet resolute: "I don’t need this anymore…"

Naoru shuddered, and Mika bit her lip. "No, Akihiko…" she whispered.

Naoru clenched his fist, silently shouting in his mind: Even though it hurts to see you without that ring, I know you’re playing the game. I know you aren’t hers. You cannot be.

Mika held back tears. This is a test… a terrifying test. But you’ve always known how to endure. I believe in you.

Tsukina’s eyes sparkled. A triumphant smile spread across her face. She stepped closer slowly, her voice as sweet as poison: "So, Prince Akihiko… now you are truly mine."

Akihiko lifted his gaze, his eyes icy and calm, concealing the storm within, and whispered, "I am yours alone, Princess." The words were heavy, as if cutting into his own flesh. Each syllable was a betrayal of his truth, yet he knew they had to sound genuine.

Tsukina drew closer, dangerously near. In his eyes, she sought traces of resistance, but found none. As she leaned toward him, Akihiko heard a scream inside him: Aiko… everything I do is for you. I will not break. Even if I kiss darkness now, my heart will always seek your light.

Then it happened — her kiss. Cold, forced, foreign. Every second felt like a wound opening deeper. Naoru and Mika clenched their fists, wanting to scream, to throw themselves between them, but they knew this was part of the game. Akihiko had to endure.

When the kiss ended, Akihiko maintained perfect control, as if the moment had not shaken him. He smiled faintly, just enough for Tsukina to believe his act, and quietly said, "Princess… I would like to know your planet better. Everything that is connected to you."

Tsukina glowed with satisfaction, as though she had captured his heart. She did not even suspect that in his pocket still burned the real treasure — Aiko’s necklace, reminding him who he truly was and to whom he belonged. Then she smiled, tilting her head gently: "Of course, Prince Akihiko. I will gladly show you my planet…"

As she moved away, Naoru and Mika remained in the shadows, their bodies tense with the stress they had held in. The moment the doors closed behind Tsukina, Akihiko stepped toward them calmly but quickly.

"You played that very well," Naoru spoke first, his voice low, yet relieved. "For a moment, I almost believed you had truly succumbed to her."

Mika inhaled deeply, barely holding back the urge to embrace him. "You were on the edge, Akihiko… but you pulled it off incredibly."

Akihiko looked at them both, his eyes tired but resolute. His voice was quiet yet resonant: "I had to do it. As long as I have her necklace… as long as I feel Aiko within me, I will not give in. Let Tsukina believe I am hers. In truth, I have always been… and will always be… only Aiko’s."

Naoru and Mika nodded, this time without words. They were unnecessary. All three knew the game was dangerous, but that they were playing it together.