Kurenai’s Forced Enrollment!?

“So in light of Kurenai’s recent accomplishments, the Emperor himself ordered her to attend the royal magic academy?”

My mom verified while we were all sitting at the table, except for Dad, since he went out to get some fresh air.

“Is Dad upset?”

“Don’t worry, Kurenai, he’ll be fine after a short stroll.”

Mmmmmm...

“So why does the Emperor want me to attend the royal magic academy?”

“Power. The rumors of you beating me must have reached him.”

Hikari’s mom looked annoyed as she mumbled.

“Way sooner than I anticipated...”

“But then why the dacrii?”

“It’s ‘decree’...”

Hikari whispered into my ear.

“Right! That’s what I said.”

But Hikari didn’t like my attitude, so she bit my hand.

Ouch, ouch, ouch!

“Ok-ok. I’m sorry, Hikari!”

“Well, now he’s forcing us to react.”

“How so?”

“If you ignore the decree, he’ll send the royal elite guards or the army after you.”

Haaaaa!?

“And what if I go to that academy?”

“Then they’ll try to test you, and if it turns out that the rumors are true... They’d resort to any means necessary to make sure you’re on their side.”

“What!? But isn’t that evil?”

“Hehe. True, but currently you’re a danger to the empire.”

My naive thought process made her chuckle, but I retorted while slamming my hands onto the table.

“I’m not a danger! I’m a hero! Let’s go, Hikari.”

Taking her hand I stormed out with her, hiding in my not-so-secret hideout that we had to rebuild.

Sitting down while hugging my knees, tears poured down my face.

“Kurenai...”

“This isn’t fair!”

“I know... so what do you want to do?”

Hikari sat down beside me and leaned on my shoulder.

“I don’t know... I don’t want to go alone to some weird academy.”

“I don’t want you to leave either, Kurenai.”

“So then-”

My eyes lit up, and I looked at her teary-eyed.

“But I’m worried about what they’ll do if you don’t...”

Her face said it all. She was just as worried and unsure as I was.

“I don’t mind running away with you, Kurenai. But what about the others? Your parents... this entire village might become a target.”

My head drooped.

I was fully aware that she’s right... Yet, is that really my only choice?

After pondering some more, I realized the only way out of this situation. Or more so, the only thing I could try to do.

“Hikari! Let’s go back. I made up my mind.”

“Really? Tell me, tell me.”

But I just dragged her along with me back to our parents.

“Mom, Dad, Mrs. Crimson Dragon! I decided what I’ll do.”

“...”

“I’ll attend the academy, become super strong, and use that to become a hero that even the Emperor can’t touch!”

My parents looked at me in disbelief, while Hikari’s mom started laughing so hard that she fell to the ground rolling around.

“What? Isn’t that the perfect solution?”

“Kurenai... are you sure you’ll be able to-”

“Of course! After all, I’ll have you with me and we’ll find even more strong friends who’ll join us.”

I proclaimed as I held Hikari’s hand.

“Why does that not surprise me anymore? Well said, Kurenai.”

Hikari’s mom got up and wiped away the tears from laughing.

“Are you making fun of me?”

“No, no. Not at all. I genuinely believe that if anyone can do it, it’s you.”

What!? Am I dreaming? I’m receiving praise from the Crimson Dragon!?

“I’ll even give you a very important tip. Hide your real strength as much as you can.”

“Why?”

“You don’t want unwanted attention before you become a legendary hero, do you?”

She’s right... even thinking back, all of this only happened because I beat her. That alone already resulted in the Count Vandegard coming after me... and now the Emperor himself.

“So, when is she expected to enroll?”

Dad finally managed to get some words out.

“In three years.”

“So we still have a lot of time, Hikari!”

“Let’s make it count, Kurenai!”

We jumped into each other’s arms and kept jumping up and down until the inevitable happened.

Bonk!

Jumping too quickly, the top of my head hit her right in the chin.

“So, we only have three years to drill as much as possible into you...”

Oh no... She’ll make the next three years a living nightmare! Is it too late to change my mind!?

“Hikari!”

Seeing her mother’s glare combined with that wide smirk, she slowly backed away from me.

“Traitooooooor!”

Without further ado, she started the hellish training, way more intense than before.

“You were right! We’ll make those three years count, Kurenai!”

“Please... Go easy on me!”

I pleaded, shouting as she chased me in her dragon form, breathing fire at me.

“Stop running away! It’s not going to kill you.”

“But it’ll hurt!”

“Only if you don’t protect yourself with your mana.”

“And how do I do that!?”

“Figure it out. Hahahaha!”

But, no matter how rough it got and how many times I wanted to give up, remembering who and what I was doing it for replenished my motivation instantly.

Oh, and let’s just say I miraculously forgot all the times I failed to control my magic or lost a fistfight against Hikari and her mom. I wonder if that memory loss had anything to do with all the shattered daikon radishes I saw... Well, it doesn’t matter anyway!

And now, three years later, on the day before my departure for the Royal Magic Academy, I was physically ready, just not mentally...

“I don’t want to be away from Hikari!”

While pouting and whining, I clung tightly to her.

“Three years later and still such a crybaby... Haaaa.”

“Don’t be so harsh on her, Tomoko.”

Mom said to her as she placed a hand on her shoulder.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. Constantly calling her Crimson Dragon or Hikari’s mom got annoying, so I just chose a name for her as well.

“Don’t worry, Kurenai, it’s not a goodbye! More so a see you later.”

Hikari comforted me while being teary-eyed herself.

“I know... but still.”

“Let’s go outside and spar one last time! Winner gets the loser’s cheesy potato mochi!”

But Hikari couldn’t fool me. We’ve been together twenty-four seven for three years, I know her inside and out.

So, I could easily see through that fake smile, not like it was hard. After all, she hates sparring... but she loves to steal my mochi!

“Oh, you’re making a big mistake! You have no chance of winning, Hikari!”

I grabbed her arm, and we ran outside to spar in the backyard.

While watching us spar, Tomoko thought to herself.

Three years, huh? My body still remembers it...

She looked at her trembling hand.

Despite it never showing up again... Hopefully it really was just my mind playing tricks on me...

Thud. Splash.

Spaced out in her mind, she didn’t notice the condensed water ball flying her way, hitting her across the face and drenching her.

Was it on purpose? Yes, does she know? No, and she doesn’t need to! Tehe.

“Kurenai, Hikari!”

Ohoh.

I don’t think she liked my farewell gift very much!

“Hikari! Run!”

“B-but I didn’t even do anything!”

Dashing right after us, we booked it out of there, running for our lives.

The next day was finally the fateful day when I would set out. They even sent a small carriage for me.

The weight of separating from everyone only really set in now as I stood across from them with my bags packed.

“Kurenai, here, take this.”

Mom said, stepping forward to hand me a pouch.

“What’s in it?”

“Your favorite. As many cheesy potato mochi as I could fit inside. Eat them on the road.”

Her eyes teared up as she stepped back, and Dad hugged her tight.

“Be careful, Kurenai. And don’t forget to send us letters and come visit.”

“I’ll visit as often as I can!”

Even my dad teared up, something I had never seen before.

“Kurenai, always remember. Be diligent and hide your real strength as much as you can.”

Tomoko advised me. It wasn’t even surprising, but she didn’t shed a single tear.

“K-K-Kurenai!”

Hikari just hugged me tightly while sobbing into my shoulder, making me tear up as well.

“I’ll miss you even more, Hikari!”

After getting into the carriage, we set out. On the way through the village, every single resident gathered to send me off, wish me good luck, and beg me to come back as soon as possible.

“You’re our village’s hero after all.”

Or so they shouted.

With that, my heartwarming farewell was finished, and the carriage headed straight for the Royal Magic Academy.