Chapter Text
If knighthood wasn't enough of a pain in the ass, It didn't help that Akito just had to be lumped in with the most wound-up looking recruit as his partner. One look was enough to know that he would have to deal with a new pain in his ass along with his duties.
"Would you get moving?" His new partner (begrudgingly), Shiho Hinomori, hissed with disdain. "I still have to do something after patrol and I want to be early."
"You ain't the only one who wants this over and done with," Akito grumbled, packing his things and opening the door. "Come on, we have a handful of stops to check out."
Shiho gave one nod and followed suit. Side by side, they strolled down the streets of the town. It was silent; awkward even. Akito often thinks on how he managed to end up being partnered with someone like Shiho of all people. He suspected that the Knight Captain, Tsukasa Tenma, had something to do with it. Shiho was a Hinomori, so that meant that she must have some connection to the Knight Mage Shizuku Hinomori.
The Knight Mage and Knight Captain go way back, so it wasn't far to assume that Shiho was brought in through nepotism. Nevertheless, the younger Hinomori didn't look too thrilled to learn that Captain Tsukasa was her commanding officer. Akito couldn't blame her. Tsukasa was a straight-up and kind captain, but Akito couldn't stand how loud he could get when briefing recruits or handing out orders.
His thoughts were interrupted when Shiho broke the silence. "Do you know where we're going?"
"Uh..." Akito's eyebrows scrunched and he pulled out his notebook. "The mission assignment today was just to patrol the streets for an hour, then head back to the barracks for debriefing so we could go home."
"Walking around for an hour? Boring..."
Huh, Akito blinked. Weird that she and I share the same sentiment.
"Yeah," Akito agreed. "But it is what it is."
"I don't want to circle the same way around and around for an hour."
"Me neither, so let's just get this over with, okay?"
Shiho let out a grumble and sped up her walking. Akito matched her pace without a word, albeit he was kinda pissed that she just took off like that.
He directed Shiho the route that they were assigned, and they began patrolling aimlessly. What was there to look out for? There was nothing of note; only the laughter of the city folk, the clopping of horses around the cobblestone roads, and the busy establishments were to be seen in their patrol. They saw no reason to keep watch!
Oh well, Akito sighed. It'll be just an hour. It'll fly by soon.
The only thing to hasten the hands of the clock was to keep his mind stimulated. With that, he decided to talk to Shiho.
"So," Akito began. "You were brought into the platoon recently, right?"
"Why do you ask?" Shiho eyed him suspiciously.
"Just making small talk, don't be so touchy."
"I hate small talk."
"Well, me too. But right now, I'm looking for the fastest way to kill time, and that's by making conversation."
"Conversate with someone else."
"Tch..."
Akito grit his teeth. Good Heavens, what was her problem!?
Seeing as he couldn't coax a conversation with her, he decided to shift his focus at the road they're walking. Surprisingly, he found enough entertainment watching two kids, a boy and a girl, argue over sweets they've just bought from a confectionary store. That brought back memories from home and his older sister. These thoughts began to make him wonder about how Ena is doing, seeing as she decided to enroll in a scholar's course for the arts, but his daydreaming was soon interrupted when he was nudged by his partner.
"Hey," Shiho spoke. "Uh..."
"I thought you told me you hated small talk?"
"I do, but I'm bored."
"Oh, so now you want to hold a conversation, Hinomori?"
Shiho bit her lip, then began to tilt her gaze away from Akito.
"Fine," Akito sighed with a hint of smugness. "Since we got off on the wrong foot, and you don't seem to be the type to make the first step towards making amendments, let me kick things off."
He extended a hand towards Shiho. "Akito Shinonome. Don't have to use formalities around me, just call me by my first name."
The gray haired squire reluctantly took his hand and shook it. "Shiho Hinomori. Same here."
"Well, now that's been sorted out, why don't you tell me a little about yourself?"
"Huh?" Shiho pouted. "We're going towards that part?"
"Why not? What else are we supposed to talk about right off the bat when we barely know anything about each other?"
"...Fine."
Shiho turned her head away and spoke with little interest. "Born as the younger sister, the older being Shizuku Hinomori, the Knight Mage. Don't get any funny ideas, I didn't ask any favors to get a spot here."
"I know. It feels more like Captain Tsukasa and your sister were the ones who put you in this spot."
"At least you understand."
"Hey, I'd feel embarrassed if I had to deliberately pull a nepotism move to get a good social standing. Then again, there's no shortage of the kind in this land."
"Mhm."
"In any case, looks like you and I share the younger sibling curse. One older sister too, in my case."
"The way your tone talks about her, also a pain in the ass?"
Akito let out a sharp laugh. "Seems like you can relate too."
"Onee-chan's only troublesome because she's too doting," Shiho sighed. "I mean, I get along with her, but she sometimes has no definition of personal space."
Akito couldn't keep in a giggle, which annoyed his partner. "What are you laughing about?"
"I'm sorry," Akito replied, obviously not sorry. "I just couldn't help imagine that the Knight Mage would dote on you so affectionately."
"Well, stop imagining! Jeez!" Shiho growled, embarrassed. Akito held his hand up in mock defeat and heaved a sigh.
A resonating 'GONG!' echoed into the streets, signaling a new hour is upon them. That would also mean that their shift is over. Immediately Shiho made a brisk walk back to their barracks.
"Ah, hey! Wait for me, too!" Akito called out, surprised at Shiho's sudden departure.
He didn't struggle to keep up, and soon, they found themselves reporting back to Captain Tsukasa.
"So!" The loud captain smiled. "Have you gotten to know each other well?"
Akito and Shiho exchanged awkward glances and stutters, saying "I guess", "Yeah, kinda", and other vague responses. That alone seemed to satisfy his question.
"Good! Because for the following year or two, the both of you will be partnered to assignments that I may have for everyone around the kingdom!"
Akito and Shiho had no reaction to what he said. After a few more reminders, Tsukasa dismissed the two as he could hear Shizuku calling him over for a discussion.
"That was your sister back there, right?" Akito asked. "Didn't bother to say hello?"
"It'll make them both late for whatever meeting they might have," Shiho shrugged. "Trust me, it's for the better that way, for our sake too."
"Point taken."
"Now, if you'll excuse me..."
Shiho moved past Akito and hastily left the quarters as if she had somewhere to be.
Jeez, what a strange girl...
Akito paid no mind to it, as he too was needed somewhere else.