The Mystery of the Railway Station and Katon's Disguise

Finally, after making him regret opening his mouth when he didn't know what he was talking about...

She stopped, you can say she felt pity on him.

Katon was lying on the ground like a dead body.

But one thing for him to feel proud is that he's still conscious even after all that.

But barely.

He breathed heavily for several seconds.

Monika looked at him politely.

"Does that answer your question?"

"Or do you still have any doubt left?”

Katon took another ten seconds to recover.

"...I understand."

"So you don't love anyone."

"It's more like..."

"You're being forced into this situation.”

Monika's expression softened slightly.

She lowered herself slightly to reach him, as he lay motionless on the floor.

"Olelele..."

"If you had simply asked instead of jumping to conclusions..."

"You wouldn't be in this much pain."

Katon stood up slowly.

Tried to straightened himself, start coughing 

"Thanks for the advice."

"I'll remember it."

"Good, let's go now. We wasted so much time here already."

...

After walking nonstop for half an hour.

The two eventually arrived at Takada Restaurant.

Katon immediately noticed something strange.

Nobody reacted to Monika.

It's more like they're trying to ignore her.

Katon quietly observed the staff.

Hmmm.

Interesting.

They all must be order by her to do so.

Monika led him toward the elevator.

They descended.

Far below the restaurant...

The atmosphere changed.

The ordinary world above them seemed to disappear completely.

A long underground passage stretched ahead.

Katon stopped, eyes narrowed slightly.

"A secret tunnel."

Monika continued walking.

"Yep."

Katon followed while observing his surroundings.

At the end of the tunnel...

An underground station appeared.

And waiting there...

Was a small luxury train.

Katon's eyes moved toward the elegant writing on its side.

Kagenou Hime.

He looked at Monika with a genuine doubt.

"...Is it yours?"

She nodded proudly.

"Yeah, it's mine."

Katon thought and asked.

"Then should I add 'princess' to baby, honey, darling, or whatever?"

Monika burst out laughing.

"Are you an idiot?"

"You don't even know this much?"

She looked at him curiously.

"Did you seriously never talk to girls?"

Katon nodded, he didn't mind anything she said just now.

"Yep."

"Everything you just said is the truth."

Monika's laughter disappeared, curiosity took its place.

"...Wait."

"You're serious?"

"Yeah, completely."

Monika remembered something after listening his words.

"Well, what can I even expect from someone whose friend declares himself as ‘forever single’ at the time of introduction."

Now that I think about it.

She's technically correct.

Then his attention shifted toward the underground station.

"This place is impressive."

"The construction is incredible."

"It makes me wonder how they built it."

Monika nodded since she has the same doubt.

"Yeah."

"Me too."

Katon slowly turned, her saying that didn't made any sense to him.

"...What?"

"It's yours."

"And you don't even know?"

Monika sighed dramatically.

"Unfortunately..."

"No."

"I don't."

Katon remained silent, his mind was working.

Then I guess I have another truth to find out.

He decided that asking further questions would probably create more problems than answers.

The two boarded Kagenou Hime.

The doors closed automatically.

A moment later...

The train began moving on its own.

Slowly at first.

Then faster.

Much faster.

The underground tunnel stretched endlessly into the darkness.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

Katon looked through the window.

The walls surrounding the tunnel weren't ordinary rock.

They were made from some of the hardest natural material found on the planet.

And yet...

A tunnel had somehow been carved through them.

A private railway had been built beneath the surface.

And no one seemed to know exactly how.

Not even Monika.

Not even her parents.

Katon quietly narrowed his eyes.

There was something strange about this place.

Something that didn't fit.

Monika sat across from him.

She looked toward the passing darkness.

The underground journey continued.

Kagenou Hime moved through the enormous tunnel beneath the surface.

Eventually...

The train began slowing down.

The darkness outside the windows gradually disappeared.

Then...

The doors opened automatically.

Katon stepped outside first.

For a moment...

He simply stood there, seeing a new place.

The Imperial Capital.

He had heard about this place before.

But seeing it with his own eyes was completely different.

The enormous buildings.

Wider roads than the Hashito city.

The advanced infrastructure.

Katon quietly looked around.

"...So this is the Imperial Capital."

Monika walked past him.

"Impressive, isn't it?"

Katon nodded.

As expected... It's nothing special.

"...Very.”

He looked around once more.

"If Rurouni were here..."

"He'd probably humiliate himself for five minutes."

Monika laughed as she walked.

"I think so too."

As they continued walking.

They arrived at a private parking area.

Monika stopped beside a car.

It was blue.

And...

Surprisingly ordinary.

Katon looked at it from top to bottom.

Then looked at the enormous city around them.

"...This is your car?"

"Yes."

Katon opened the door.

"...It's surprisingly normal."

"Not everything has to look expensive."

Hmm...

So this must be something sentimental to her.

They got inside.

A short while later...

The car stopped in front of a large fashion store.

A sign stood above the entrance.

Hashka Fashion Store.

One of the most reputed clothing stores in the Imperial Capital.

Katon looked at the above average store.

"...This place is popular, isn't it?"

"Very."

Monika stepped out of the car.

Then turned toward him.

"Now then."

"You need to look a little older."

Katon raised an eyebrow.

"Huh? Older?"

"Yes."

"The choice of clothes is yours."

Katon looked at her, trying to understand her intentions.

Of course.

You want your fake boyfriend to look around your age...

Or slightly older.

After all...

You don't want your parents thinking you're interested in boy toys.

Fortunately...

Height wasn't much of an issue.

Katon was already about five feet eight inches tall.

The real problem...

Was choosing clothes that actually made him look mature.

He entered the store, eyes moved across the various displays.

Different materials, designs and styles.

He carefully examined everything.

For several minutes...

He didn't pick anything.

Monika watched silently, giving him no pressure.

Then after two minutes...

Katon finally began selecting his clothes.

White shoes.

Their soles had a nail-like pattern that almost looked like steel.

Then...

Black pants.

They were completely black, with silver-like stitching running through them.

A dark-blue belt with an IC symbol engraved on it.

Imperial Capital.

Finally...

A white T-shirt.

And over it...

A black coat with white stripes.

Katon looked at his reflection.

"...This should work."

Monika clapped lightly.

"I must say..."

"Your choice is unique."

Katon placed everything into the VIP basket provided by the store.

"So..."

"You don't like it."

Monika immediately corrected him.

"No."

"It's more like..."

"I don't care."

Katon nodded, it made sense this time.

"I see."

He began walking toward the counter.

"Then I suppose it's time to fool your parents."

Monika placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You were right about one thing."

"But wrong about another."

Katon stopped, decided to do the biggest mistake once more.

Maybe because it's time for his next doze.

What?

"...Does that mean we're going to fool your previous boy toys?"

Silence.

Monika's expression became completely blank.

Katon had approximately one second to regret his question.

She grabbed his neck.

Then...

BAM!

Katon found himself on the floor.

Monika looked down at him coldly.

"Do you still want to jump to conclusions again?"

Katon slowly sat up, still recovering.

"...No, thanks."

He dusted himself off.

"So..."

"Does that mean we're doing something else?"

Monika nodded tapped his back.

"Yep."

"We're going to do some makeup."

"...Makeup?"

"Yes."

"But you're completely fine."

"And they're your parents."

"You don't need makeup."

Monika smiled sweetly.

Then quietly grabbed his hand.

She held it like a couple walking together.

"I wasn't talking about me."

She leaned closer.

"I'm talking about you, my dear honey."

Katon froze, suddenly became nervous.

"But..."

"I'm a boy."

"I don't need makeup."

Monika tightened her grip, increased the pressure.

"Yes."

"But you're supposed to disguise yourself for my parents."

"You should have been prepared for at least this much."

Katon raised a hand, like he's asking a doubt in his class.

"Uh, can I go home now?"

Monika's grip tightened even more.

She added more drama in her acting.

"What? Baby, are you planning to leave me here all alone?"

Katon looked at her hand, worried for the first time.

Shit, she's stronger than I expected.

"...My bones."

"Don't worry darling, they're still there."

"That's good."

And that's how the leader of KRI lost himself to a kind-hearted, innocent girl.

Katon Ashford was about to experience something he had never imagined even in his wildest dreams.