Chapter Text

⁂ Chapter 2 ⁂

With the front door open wide, night air seeps into the household. Wise and Shunguang are still staring at each other in disbelief, but the warmth on their cheeks shields them from the cold.

An awkward silence lingered between them.

Belle watched the scene unfold with barely concealed amusement, clearly enjoying every second of their mutual embarrassment.

The lady of the household noticed the two’s familiarity with each other. 

[Sunbringer] “Oh? It seems like you already know my son, Ms. Ye. Come in, Wise; we have guests waiting.”

He snapped out of the silence, and the ice finally melted.

[Wise] “Oh… right! We're coming.”

Belle quietly closed the front door behind them, shooting Wise one last teasing grin before skipping toward the dining room. 

Wise let out a defeated sigh; deep down, he already knew that he was NEVER going to hear the end of it.

He diverted her attention back to the girl in front of him, a faint blush visible on her cheeks, which in turn also made his own face redden.

[Shunguang] “So, Wise… hehehe I didn’t expect that you actually live here hehe.”

She laughed sheepishly

“I had my suspicion at first when you and Ms. Sunbringer shared the same surname; I guess my hunch was right.”

[Wise] “Yeah… I didn’t expect that you were going to be our new neighbour; what a small world we live in, haha…”

The two chuckled to themselves at the absurdity of the situation; first they stumbled upon each other, then they found out that they were in the same class, and now they are neighbours.

Just then, a tall man stepped out from the dining room.

He shared the same fox ears and tail as Shunguang, though his composed demeanor, office attire, and neatly fitted glasses gave him the air of a dependable older brother.

[Shiyuan] “What's taking you two so long? The food prepared will get cold.”

The girl’s ears tensed up. 

[Shunguang] “Brother! We were just about to head to the table; you didn’t need to stand up from your seat.”

She hurried over in his direction.

Wise quickly gave the man a respectful bow.

[Wise] “You must be Ms. Ye’s older brother; I’m Wise—we met at the school earlier.”

The man returned the bow with a polite smile.

[Shiyuan] “Ahh, yes. Thank you for looking out for my sister; I  truly appreciate your goodwill.”

[Wise] “Sir, you don’t have to mention it; I was happy to help.”

A knowing smile slowly appeared on Shiyuan's face.

[Shiyuan]  “You know, on her way home, the first thing she talks to me about is how she made a good friend, which in this case… you.”

Heat rushed quickly to the girl’s cheeks; she immediately covered her face with her hands and vulpes' ears. 

{Author’s note: vulpes is the scientific name for fox.}

[Shunguang] “Brother–! You didn’t need to say that…”

He chuckled to himself, satisfied with his sister’s cute reaction.

Another figure emerged from the dining room. He had grayish hair resembling Wise's, and a facial structure also similar to his.

He smiled warmly at the gathering.

[Joyous] “Looks like there is no need for formal introductions; everyone seems to be well acquainted.”

[Shiyuan] “Ah, Sir. Joyous, I was just teasing the young ones; I apologize if I had overstepped.”

Shiyuan inclined his head respectfully. 

[Joyous] “No, it's fine; something this mundane doesn't warrant an apology. If we may, the food is waiting at the table.”

[Shiyuan] “Thank you, sir; I understand.” 

He gently rested a hand on Shunguang's shoulder. 

[Shiyuan] “Let's go, Shunguang; we must not be rude; let's comply with their hospitality.”

[Shunguang] “Well then, excuse us.”

The Ye siblings politely bowed before joining everyone at the dining table. 

Now only Wise remained at the entrance.

He went to look at his son.

[Joyous] “So… what are you waiting for? Gilded Carrot Day is still 5 months off.”

Alerted, the boy snapped out of his mind.

[Wise] “Ah... I was just going to drop my bag off upstairs first. I'll be down in a minute.”

As he turned toward the staircase, Joyous spoke again. 

[Joyous] “Getting cozy with someone before the school even starts, thats a record. I guess you two are going to be neighbours, so it was inevitable.”

He let out a tired sigh; he didn’t know that his dad was on board the teasing train.

[Wise] “Are you going to tease me like Belle, father?”

[Joyous] “No, no, no, I’m a guy too. I know how it feels to be teased; I’m just impressed…”

He folded his arms.

[Wise] “It's no big deal, father, I'm just trying to be a decent person.”

He headed upstairs with his bag slung over one shoulder. 

As he disappeared around the corner, Joyous watched him quietly before smiling to himself. 

[Joyous] “Back then, I said the same thing to myself too.”

He muttered to himself before making his way to dinner.

As Wise came down to the kitchen, soft chatter reached his vicinity, accompanied by the clinking of utensils. He could hear the nonchalant tone of his mom, the steady tempo of his father, and the cheeky giggling of his sister.

Of course, the presence of the two guests brought some fresh air, one that he wholeheartedly welcomed.

Ye Shiyuan’s calm, collected voice is synonymous with Joyous’ calculating manner of speaking. In contrast, Ye Shunguang’s soothing tone complements Belle’s brimming energy.

As if their family just received an extension.

[Joyous] “Wise, you have arrived. You may sit next to Belle.”

[Belle] “Hey bro~ you better hurry, or I’ll also eat your portion of the meal.”

[Wise] “Don’t you have anything but food on your mind?”

He went to take the seat on her right. He settled down nicely, grabbing a napkin and utensils.

The two pairs of siblings are seated facing each other; Shiyuan is face to face with Belle while Wise is facing Shunguang.

Joyous is sitting to Shiyuan’s right side, facing Sunbringer, who is sitting beside Belle on her left.

[Sunbringer] “Now come down, Belle; there's plenty of food for everyone.”

[Belle] “Sure, Mom. But Wise is not a heavy eater, so if he has leftovers… I will make sure to eat them.”

Wise releases an exhausted sigh.

His reaction earned a chuckle from everyone.

[Shiyuan] “Haha, Sir Joyous, your family is very energetic, and your daughter is pretty eccentric.”

[Joyous] “I’m sorry tho, sometimes they are maybe tiresome to handle.”

[Shiyuan] “Not at all, it reminds me of back home.”

[Shunguang] “Aww… brother, do you miss mother and father too?”

[Shiyuan] “Yeah, kind of. But I’m sure we will be fine.”

He gently pats Shunguang’s head.

The group continued with their food. The eastern-style cuisine appealed to the Ye siblings, since it shared similar flavors with the cuisine they were used to back at Waifei.

[Shunguang] “The food tastes amazing. I’m quite fond of the sushi rolls.”

[Sunbringer] “You think so? Actually, I got them prepared since it's one of Wise’s favorite meals.”

[Shunguang] “Is… is that so? Uhm, well… it's a great dish after all hehe…”

A faint blush formed in her cheeks.

The ever-so-observant Belle noticed the situation and gave Wise a playful stare.

He didn’t want to indulge her antics, so he focused on the food instead.

[Belle] “Mmhmm, that’s right, I remember bro only eating the sushi back at the Hoshimis in that one gathering because he likes it so… much~.”

She teased him, nudging his shoulders playfully.

[Shunguang] “Hoshimis? Is that a restaurant?”

[Sunbringer] “Hoshimis are friends of ours; I’m surprised you don’t know about them, considering that our current vice mayor is a Hoshimi.”

[Shunguang] “Whoa, really?  Well, I’m not familiar with them yet since we just moved recently, but I can tell they are such an influential family.”

[Shiyuan] “That’s amazing, sir, to think you have connections with politicians as well.”

He nodded thoughtfully before leaning slightly toward Joyous.

[Joyous] “Not really, our friend there is not keen on the idea of politics, and she avoids it most of the time.”

The woman of the household chuckled softly.

[Sunbringer] "The last time we saw everyone together was six years ago. It was Miyabi’s 10th birthday.”

[Shunguang] “Miyabi? Is she a friend?”

[Sunbringer] “Yes, she was my friend’s niece. If I’m correct, then she is about the same age as you and Wise now.”

[Belle] “Yup, she's only about a year older than me. So… you could say me and bro are her childhood friends.”

She nodded enthusiastically.

[Wise] “I wouldn’t say that… after all, we haven’t really spent enough time with her.”

[Belle] “I guess the opportunity to hang out with her didn’t really come, huh.”

She rested a finger against her lips, looking up as she searched through her memories. 

[Wise] “We did spend some time with her on some occasion, so that has to count for something.”

Across the table, Shunguang's fox ears perked up with curiosity. 

[Shunguang] “Your friend sounds very interesting. I wonder if I can also become friends with her?”

[Belle] “No kidding, you two will definitely hit it off. Miyabi is not your stereotypical noble who is arrogant and mean.”

She nodded confidently.

[Wise] “Yup, she is eccentric. She will do silly things like hop on the white lines in the pedestrian lane and call it routine training.”

He chuckled

[Shunguang] “How amazing. I wonder where she gets the confidence to just act silly sometimes?”

She couldn’t help but giggle.

[Belle] “It's more like she doesn’t think much about how people see her.”

[Wise] “As long as her actions don’t cause harm to others, she will just do random things, even if it's a little strange.”

He nodded in agreement.

[Sunbringer] “I have met her on many occasions; she is a good child.”

[Shiyuan] “I think so too, Shunguang. You should introduce yourself to her when the opportunity arises.”

He said, glancing towards Shunguang.

[Joyous] “Maybe at another banquet. So Wise, make sure you invite Shunguang here.”

The man glanced at him.

[Wise] “I understand your intention, father, but… why me?”

[Joyous] “Because you are Shunguang’s friend. Belle can invite her too, but she can use that plus one for someone else.”

He gestured casually toward Belle. 

[Shunguang] “Eh… Wise will invite me?”

She reacted in surprise.

Behind her glass of juice, Belle snarkingly grinned in the background as she watched the scene transpire.

“Nice save, Dad! I knew you were on board with this idea.

She muttered to herself.

On the other hand, Joyous was thinking of something entirely different. He only had good intentions, devoid of malice compared to the gremlin across the table.

“If Wise was able to invite Shunguang to the next banquet, then it could serve as a good enrichment experience.

He conversed with himself.

[Shunguang] “Mm–me? How could I possibly be–”

Before she could finish, she was interrupted.

[Wise] “If you say so, I will make sure to invite her.”

He smiled reassuringly.

“You heard my dad, right? When an invitation comes up, I’ll make sure to give you a heads up.”

Shunguang froze for a second.

A faint blush spread across her cheeks.

[Shunguang] “I… see, if you say so. Thank you.”

She quietly lowered her head, hoping her hair would hide the warmth coloring her face. The conversation soon drifted toward lighter topics once more, laughter naturally filling the dining room as everyone continued enjoying the evening together. 

After the warm meal, the people scattered throughout the household, their little actions contributing to the harmony so unique yet comforting. Each individual attended to their own little business.

Joyous helped Sunbringer clean up in the kitchen. Now and then they banter about the most mundane things, such as whether a glass should be kept upside down or right side up.

Nearby, EOUS and Twenty clean after the dining table; their stubby little toes and their waddling are just adorable. Someone would mistake them for living plushies despite being mechanical constructs.

Shiyuan stepped outside to catch some fresh air, taking in the scent of a relaxing evening. He pulled out his phone to talk to his parents, telling them that he and his sister were doing well.

Back inside the living room, chatter and laughter can be heard. Wise, Belle, and Shunguang familiarize themselves with each other as they discuss topics unique to them.

[Belle] “So, Ms. Ye Shunguang~ what is your Interknot username?”

[Shunguang] “Um, yes! If I remember it correctly, it’s shunko_Ik.”

[Wise] “shunko_Ik? I understand the _Ik part being the initial for Interknot, but what does ‘shunko’ mean?”

He tilted his head.

[Shunguang] “Oh, it's simply ‘Shunguang’ in a different language. I wanted something that still felt connected to my name while giving me a little anonymity.”

She smiled sheepishly.

[Wise] “I see, it's clever and very in character for you.”

[Shunguang] “Thank you, I thought it was pretty neat as well.”

Belle eagerly searched for Shunguang’s profile in Interknot. 

[Belle] "Alrighty, let's see if I can find you."

After scrolling for a while, she brightened.

[Belle] “Hey hey! Look at this, Ms. Ye. Is this you?”

 She leaned toward Shunguang and showed her the screen. 

The profile displayed a familiar girl with long chestnut hair and fluffy fox ears, carrying a large orange tabby cat. 

[Shunguang] “Yep, thats me, hehe. The cat is really cute, isn't it?”

She gave a shy little laugh.

[Belle] “O-M-G, that cat is really cute. It's pretty fat, but that adds charm.”

Her eyes practically sparkled.

[Shunguang] "He's actually a stray. Somehow, he found his way to our shop already looking like that." 

She chuckled, reminiscing about her little friend.

[Shunguang] “Mother has been trying to put it on a diet ever since.”

Wise smiled at the picture.

[Wise] “Found it. I’ll send you a friend request; my username is nothing special, it's ‘WPhaeton’, my initial then last name.”

Shunguang accepted the request with a small nod.

[Belle] “My brother is such a nerd. Can you believe that his favorite film genre is documentaries?”

[Wise] “Hey! Documentaries are fascinating. Besides, I’m also aware of what’s popular; I consume other forms of media, which include video games.”

He crossed his arms.

[Shunguang] “Wait! Do you play video games, Wise? If so… what kind of game do you usually play?”

Shunguang's ears immediately perked up. Enticed to hear his preference for games.

He thought for a moment.

[Wise] “Me? Uhm, A little bit of everything, really. Rhythm games, some gacha games on the side, and competitive games like Foody Fighters.”

Her eyes brightened even further.

[Shunguang] “I have been trying to get into playing ‘Foody Fighters’ for a while now; it's a bit difficult since it's competitive, and I hope you can teach me some tricks hehe…”

[Wise] “Sure, happy to oblige. Let's play on our console next time.”

His sister slowly turned toward him. Her expression was skeptical.

[Belle] “Are you sure, big bro, that you're qualified to teach her? If I remember correctly, you got destroyed by big sis Remielle with a niche character 4-0 once.”

A wrinkle formed on Wise’s forehead; clearly, she had said something that struck him.

[Wise] “Thats beside the point! Remielle has been maining Hannibal since the release of the game, 1st gen!”

She snickered.

[Belle] “Whatever you say, Cook main who only knew how to spam projectiles, and despite that you still got cooked by a grappler.”

[Wise] “Uh-huh, whatever you say, lil girl.”

He pointed at her.

“I can count the number of times you've beaten me on both hands—six!”

Her jaw practically dropped.

[Belle] “Hey!”

The two immediately began arguing over each other's playstyles. Shunguang watched the exchange with an amused smile.

Then she caught on to something: the mention of a new character.

[Shunguang] “I’m sorry, but did you guys just mention ‘big sis’ Remielle? Do you two have a third sibling?”

The siblings paused.

[Belle] “Actually, she’s our aunt.”

She smiled.

"She's around the same age as our parents. They were classmates back in high school."

[Wise] “Yeah, we address her as big sis because she didn’t want to be called aunt.”

He added.

 “She says it makes her sound much older than she actually is.”

[Belle] “Yep, and our parents are still in their mid-thirties, believe it or not, so she is plenty young. They had big bro pretty ‘early’.”

[Wise] “Hey, I don’t like that tone. Are you implying that I’m some kind of mistake?”

He immediately frowned, offended.

[Belle] “Oh, please, if you were really a mistake, they wouldn’t have followed you up with a sibling literally the year after.”

[Shunguang] “Wow, your family is really… interesting? They also have some fun friends.”

She covered a small laugh.

[Belle] “Things just happen when Mom is part of the upper echelon of the Marcel Group, and Dad is a genius prodigy who founded an indie company before he even graduated.”

She explained roughly.

The older sibling shrugged.

[Wise] “In any case, things would be way different if our parents were regular people; it would be much more chaotic.”

[Belle] “Alright, back to the topic at hand, where was I?”

She suddenly snapped her fingers and recalled the previous conversation before firmly clasping her hands.

“Ahh yes! Big sis, Remielle, well, she is super duper cool. She can keep a conversation interesting, and if you put her in a school uniform, you will mistake her for our peer.”

Belle enthusiastically described her.

[Wise] “Despite all of that, it's safe not to let your guard down around her.”

His expression became serious.

[Wise] “She always talks in riddles; she has this poker face of a smile, and is good at finding weaknesses that she can tease you with.”

His sister stared at him in confusion.

[Belle] “Hmm? I think she's only like that to you, big bro… damn, what did you do to her?”

She gave him a concerned look.

[Wise] “How am I supposed to know?”

He let out a frustrated sigh. Slouching back on the couch.

Their friend let out a hearty laugh. Thinking that this “big sis” of theirs seems to be full of whimsy and very playful by nature.

[Shunguang] “Haha… I hope she can teach me some unique tricks of her own. I also like Hannibal’s playstyle despite being a niche character.”

[Wise] “What! Seriously?”

His jaw dropped.

[Belle] “I know, right! I’ll definitely talk about you with big sis Remielle. I’m sure she’s gonna love playing with you; she’s very fond of cute things!”

She reassured Shunguang, full of excitement.

[Shunguang] “Then… I’ll be in your care.”

The night remained lively for a while longer.

Wise insisted that he would make a better mentor for Shunguang than Remielle, while Belle continued teasing him about his pettiness. Their playful bickering filled the living room with laughter, creating one of those simple moments that would later become a fond memory.

Eventually, the evening drew to a close.

The hour had slipped deep into the night, and a gentle silence had settled over Sixth Street. The subtle flickering noise of the street lamps, the whisper of the evening breeze, and the singing of crickets hidden in the trees created a peaceful symphony.

The Phaeton household had bid a short farewell to their guests, who settled in the neighbouring home.

[Joyous] “I guess it’s no surprise to you now, but you're hired; you may start this Thursday.”

He chuckled before continuing.

“To let you in on a little secret, we already planned to hire you before the interview.”

He let out a long breath, as though a great weight had finally been lifted from his shoulders. 

[Shiyuan] “I’m truly honored, sir; thank you.”

Joyous gave Shiyuan a few light pats on the shoulder. Beside him, Shunguang wore a proud expression; she was clearly happy about her brother’s accomplishment.

[Shunguang] “Wow, brother! Congratulations, we should celebrate your achievement together next time.”

His brother smiled, and she received a few pats on her head.

[Shiyuan] “Of course, we will.”

While patting her head, Shiyuan's sibling intuition told him that Shunguamg still had something on her mind.

His eyes briefly shifted toward Wise, who remained standing nearby. 

“I see… it looks like they still have a couple of words to share.

He muttered to himself.

[Shiyuan] “Shunguang, I will head in first. Do take the time to formally thank your friend here.”

[Shunguang] “Huh? Brother…”

Shiyuan gave her one more pat before he left, as he waved goodbye to Joyous and Wise.

[Joyous] “Ahem, it looks like you two still have something to discuss. Well then, pardon my 

leave.”

The man went back inside, nodding to the two before closing the door behind him.

Now that it was only the two of them outside, for a moment none of them spoke. Ye Shunguang couldn’t help but blush. She tried to avert her gaze in an attempt to stop her cheeks from going red any further.

[Shunguang] “So… Wise, the weather tonight is really nice, huh? Hehe…”

She gave a nervous little laugh.

[Wise] “Yup, it's neither too hot nor too cold, probably around 25°C, just the right temperature for a good night's sleep."

He scratched the back of his head.

“Sorry about my nerdy opinion; you didn’t have to hear all of that. Is just that I have a hard time falling asleep sometimes.”

[Shunguang] “What? Not at all. Every time you talk about something, I feel like I always learn something new.”

She reassured him, waving her hands.

“Knowing a bunch of facts is not nerdy at all. It's really—cool.”

[Wise] “You… think so?”

His expression softened, and a faint warmth reached his cheeks.

“Thank you… for saying that.”

Wise smiled.

For some reason, seeing that smile made Shunguang's heart flutter. Her fluffy ears bobbed a few times, and she quickly looked away before he could notice.

[Shunguang] “Hehe~ no problem, don’t mention it.”

Her voluminous tail wagged subtly behind her.

[Wise] “So… what did you want to talk about, Ms. Ye?”

[Shunguang] “Eeep! Almost forgot about that—well.”

She straightened herself.

“Wise, I want you to call me by name.”

He stood there stunned.

[Wise] “Haha, I’m sorry, but I don’t understand… isn’t Ms. Ye your name?”

[Shunguang] “There it is! Right there.”

She pointed at him with a small pout.

“It's too formal, you know? Hmph, I keep calling you Wise, but you addressed me as Ms. Ye. Shouldn’t friends address each other by their real names?”

She crossed her arms.

[Wise] “I see, so that's where you are going. Let me think.”

He closed his eyes and placed a finger against his chin, thinking.

After a moment, he opened his eyes.

[Wise] “How about… Xiao’guang”

[Shunguang] “Xiao…guang?”

[Wise] “I heard it was part of  Waifei Peninsula’s culture to put ‘xiao’ on names. They say it's meant to show warmth and affection to family and friends.”

He looked her in the eyes.

“I think… it suits you quite well.”

[Shunguang] “Wise…”

Her eyes gradually lit up.

“I like it! I like it very much; please keep calling me that.”

[Wise] “Understood. Glad that you like it, Xiao’guang.”

[Shunguang] “Aww, that makes me feel quite nostalgic. That's what my friends back home call me. My shifu and my parents use it too.”

She tilted her head curiously.

“I must say, Wise, you know a lot about our culture. Did you do some research or something? How did you know about that?”

[Wise] “Well… my family went to Waifei Peninsula for vacation a while back”

He paused, searching through his memories.

“I think I came across it in some of the scriptures at one of the temples.”

[Shunguang] “I see… You must be talking about Suiban Temple then.”

Her ears perked up.

“I used to train there for a while; my shifu there is super nice, and everybody looks up to her.”

[Wise] “Really? Then I should probably visit her. Maybe when my family plans another trip there.”

He briefly wondered what kind of souvenirs he could bring back.

[Shunguang] “Exactly, a trip to Waifei is not complete without visiting the temples.”

The two continued talking for a little while longer, exchanging small pieces of their lives.

Eventually, Shunguang's ears twitched. 

Shunguang heard her brother opening boxes, and moving furniture back home. Her thiren ears allow her to hear more than ordinary humans; they are also extra sensitive.

[Shunguang] “I should probably head home.”

Her ears twitched again.

“I think I hear my brother fixing up things in our place.”

[Wise] “Whoa, those ears of yours are amazing, Xiao’guang. Looks like their size is not just for show.”

He took out his phone to look at the time.

“But yeah, it's also getting late. I think you should head back home now Xiao’guang”

She smiled, and her voluminous tail swayed again at the familiar nickname. There was something about hearing him say it that made her chest feel strangely warm, tho she wouldn’t admit it.

[Shunguang] “Well… Wise, I think this is where I go. You should also head back.

[Wise] “I guess… see you tomorrow. I mean, your house is just nearby.”

He scratched his head. Who knew that ending conversations is just as hard as starting them.

[Shunguang] “Uhm, sure, but I will probably head downtown.”

She joined her fingers as if she were about to admit something.

“You see, I still need to buy some school supplies… I kept forgetting that classes start this coming Monday."

[Wise] “Haha, yeah, my sister gets that a lot too. She is also a last-minute prepper.”

[Shunguang] “So… this is where we say goodbye?”

Her smile carried a strange mixture of emotions.

[Wise] “Goodbye is a bit melancholic.”

He smiled.

“So how about goodnight?”

Her expression brightened, as if the bitterness was alleviated.

[Shunguang] “Yeah, that’s better.”

With a warm smile, she looked at him.

“Goodnight, Wise.”

“Yeah, good night. Xiao’guang.”

With one last wave, Wise bid farewell to Shunguang.

He watched as she walked toward her new home, waiting until she had gained some distance before gently closing the gate behind him. As they entered their homes, a warm sensation filled their chest. 

As Wise went back inside, he thought;

“Right, it's not a goodbye—”

It was only goodnight.

Morning sunlight spilled across the sprawling grounds of the university, illuminating a vast courtyard framed by towering buildings of steel, glass, and stone. The infrastructure carried a sense of grandeur; carefully maintained gardens, rows of trees, and open terraces softened the futuristic structures with touches of nature.

Around it, the academy was already alive. 

Students poured through the surrounding walkways in a steady stream, some rushing toward their next class while others lingered around the circular terraces. A pair of upperclassmen sat on the steps, comparing schedules on their phones. Transferees and freshmen looked around, still familiarizing themselves with the school.

At the entrance of the university, a pair of siblings were about to start their journey. Wise looked up at the towering structure before them, taking in the sheer scale of the academy. 

[Wise] “Look at this, Belle; another chapter of our lives is about to begin…”

His voice carried a reflective tone.

[Belle] “Yeah, it makes me feel… weirdly nostalgic?”

She scratched the side of her head, glancing around at the bustling campus. 

Wise thought about Belle’s words carefully: what made going to school again feel nostalgic? Then it hit him.

[Wise] “Perhaps because we have been homeschooled for some time. Although you could have attended school normally, but–”

She gave him a gentle nudge, cutting him off before he could finish. 

[Belle] “Hey… hold that thought. What did I tell you before?”

This time, with no tricks, Belle smiled at him.

“I said we would get through this together, because were siblings.”

Wise went quiet.

Oftentimes, Belle would be up to something, whether it was pulling his leg, teasing him, or doing something in secret. But on rare occasions, she would be just there for him, as his sibling and companion; this was one of those occasions.

A playful grin etched on Wise’s face.

[Wise] “Heh… alright.  Come here, you.”

He reached over and ruffled her hair, vigorously rubbing the top of her head like he was polishing a bowling ball. 

[Belle] “Hey! Stop that; I was trying to be nice! Then this is how you repay me?”

She squirmed, struggling under his grasp.

[Wise] “Hahaha, alright, alright, I’ll give it to you. You got me good there.”

He finally released her. Belle fixed her disheveled hair before grinning at him.

[Belle] “Hehehe~ so are you feeling better now, big bro?”

[Wise] “Yeah, I feel much better now. I already steadied myself earlier, but…”

He looked up at the school’s magnificent archway. Hundreds of students passed beneath it, each one heading toward whatever awaited them inside. 

“Thanks again. It was a much-needed push.”

Belle studied his expression. His resolve was already there.

She had simply reminded him of it.

[Belle] “Alright, they said that there would be an opening ceremony that all grades would attend.”

She reviewed her phone, looking at the student’s public forum.

“Apparently a ‘star’ student would be giving the opening remarks. They call her the Isshin Muga. They sound pretty cool, don’t they?”

[Wise] “Hahaha, what is that? Some sort of cliché nickname they give to campus beauty in a romcom?”

[Belle] “Hehehehe~ I know, right? School can be stressful, but fun stuff like this makes it worth it.”

A doubtful look forms on his face.

[Wise] “Isn’t the reason we go to school to get brighter futures?”

[Belle] “That’s only a part of it, big bro. Come on, don’t say old man stuff like that, big bro!”

She grinned mischievously.

“Keep that up, and  it would be hard for you to get a girlfriend.”

He sighed, thinking about Belle’s logic; it looked like she had returned to her usual antics.

[Wise] *sigh “Anyways, where is Xiao’guang? Should she be here soon?”

[Belle] “Oh! Almost forgot about it; in Interknot, she mentioned that I should pass along this message to you.”

She cleared her throat and dramatically straightened her posture.

“Ehem...”

‘Hey~ Wise it me, your adorable neighbour Shunguang! You see, on the way to school, I rode my brother’s bike, he dropped me off at school before heading for work. So I arrived early; I’ll be waiting for you at the auditorium, my dear neighbour,  teehee’

Wise’s expression slowly turned into one of pure secondhand embarrassment.

[Belle] *gasps “Bwahaha– that’s all.”

[Wise] “Whoa… that sounded nothing like her at all. But yeah, I get the gist of it.”

Ping! A notification rang from Belle’s phone.

[Belle] “Well, you look at that. She just dm’d me again. Looks like the ceremony will start in a few minutes; she reserved two seats far left, sixth row from the front.

Wise pondered just how convenient it is when you're connected with someone through DMs.

“Wow, girls can really just slide into each other’s DMs that easily, huh? I’m so jealous!  *sighs, Never mind that.

He muttered to himself.

[Wise] “Anyways, let's not keep her waiting. I know where the auditorium is.”

[Belle] “Mm-hmm, right after ya.”

The two siblings passed beneath the academy's grand entrance, joining the flow of students heading toward the auditorium. 

Inside, rows of seats stretched toward a grand stage adorned with rich curtains, a podium, and an array of flags, all awaiting the opening ceremony. 

Wise and Belle made their way through the crowd to join Shunguang in the auditorium. 

[Shunguang] “Wise! Belle! Over here…”

Shunguang waved from their reserved seats, her chestnut hair and fluffy tail making her easy to spot. 

[Belle] “Oh, there you are, almost walked past you for a second.”

[Wise] “Thanks for saving us seats, Xiao’guang! Otherwise, we would have ended up all the way at the back.”

[Shunguang] “Yeah, there are so many students here. You two just arrived in time.”

Before either could say more, the auditorium lights dimmed. A single spotlight illuminated the podium.

The chatter died almost instantly.

[Shunguang] “Quick! The ceremony is about to start; have a seat.”

The two siblings hurried over to their seats.

After a while, a towering Wolf thiren emerged at the front; his presence carried both calm and authority. His white fur contrasted with his dark suit. A style that carried functionality and elegance.

It was none other than Professor Lycaon!

[Lycaon] “Greetings, everyone. Much appreciation to our faculty, committee members, parents, and students. Welcome to Olympus University.”

Thunderous applause erupted throughout the auditorium.

Lycaon raised a hand, and the entire hall fell silent.

[Belle] “Woah… now that’s an aura.”

She whispered to him discreetly.

[Wise] “Please behave, Belle; it's just our firstday.”

Shunguang quietly giggled at the siblings' exchange. 

[Lycaon] “Thank you. Now, before we officially begin lets stand and call upon the national anthem.”

Everyone stood firmly, putting a hand on their chest as they sang and paid respect to the flag. 

[Lycaon] “Now, we may officially begin. I hope everyone is prepared for what we have in store for our freshmen, transferees, and returning students alike.”

A second spotlight slowly shifted toward the side of the stage. 

[Lycaon] “Let us all welcome our second-year star student-athlete for the opening remarks.”

He paused.

“Hoshimi Miyabi!”

The auditorium erupted. Applause thundered through the hall, joined by cheers from students across the upper balconies.

Shunguang's ears shot upright. 

[Shunguang] “Wait! Thats–” 

She stared toward the stage in disbelief. 

[Lycaon] “Last year's all-star champion in Kendo swordsmanship and sprint marathon.”

The applause continued.

[Wise] “Yup, thats our friend. Hoshimi Miyabi.”

Wise couldn't hide the proud smile on his face. 

[Belle] “Woah, Shunguang, this is one hell of a first meeting. Hehehe, how did they convince her to do this tho?”

[Shunguang] “Hmm? What do you mean?”

[Wise] “Remember what we told you about? She's not the type for formalities.”

His smile slowly faded into concern. 

“So… I can’t help but wonder… what speech will she deliver?”

The applause gradually subsided. All eyes turned toward the stage.

And before they knew it, the so-called Isshin Muga was now making her way to the podium.

"NOTICE: Huge shout out to my friend Tutel, you can reach him via discord. He doesn't do commissions, he made this art because he was a friend of mine follow this link for higher RES: X/twitter "

Miyabi stepped behind the podium, her long, dark hair falling smoothly past her shoulders in neat, flowing layers that framed her composed features and striking crimson eyes. Her gray sailor-style uniform, accented with a vivid red collar and tie, fit neatly against her slender frame, giving her a youthful yet dignified appearance beneath the stage lights.

 Despite the thousands of eyes fixed upon her, her fox-like ears remained upright, and her expression stayed remarkably stoic as she calmly adjusted the microphone.

She adjusted her microphone, and a brief silence followed.

[Miyabi] “Hello, everyone…”

In the crowd, students discreetly chattered.

[Wise] “Oh boy… here she goes.”

[Belle] “Hahaha, I can’t wait.”

[Miyabi]

“I’m standing here, delivering this speech because I’m not sitting.”

“Prepared a script that's not  long, so I wouldn’t say anything wrong.”

“I’m good at hitting but bad at speaking, but this is part of training.”

[Belle] “Ain’t no way did she really make it rhyme? Bwaha—”

Wise quickly covered her mouth before bursting into laughter.

[Shunguang] “So this is… Lady Miyabi.”

She let out a sigh of relief; it looked like she wasn’t that hard to approach after all.

“Anyways, melon is my favorite food; it's healthy, and it tastes good.”

“I’ll no longer waste your time, since it's worth more than a dime.”

“I will no longer be rude. Welcome to school; we are very cool.”

The auditorium fell silent.

And the attendees cheered. Their applause even louder than the previous ones. They gave a standing ovation. Some clapping, some shouting.

The speech was crude, but it was very touching.

“Hoshimi Miyabi is the best!”

“Miss Miyabi is so cool!”

“ABSOLUTE CINEMA!”

“Lady Miyabi, please hit me!”

The crowd was loud; you wouldn’t think this was a formal ceremony. Amid the cheering, Miyabi quietly exited the stage.

[Belle] “Bwahahahha! Way to go, Miyabi.”

Couldn’t hold it any longer, Belle burst into laughter.

[Wise] “Sigh, I knew this would happen, but at least she was able to deliver a speech.”

[Shunguang] “Hahahaha, I guess this is what you mean by eccentric personality, huh?”

She chuckled; that speech left a good impression on her.

“So she also practices swordsmanship; I wonder if I would get a chance to spar with her? I also want to put my training to the test.

Shunguang muttered to herself.

[Lycaon] “Ahem, thank you, Miss Miyabi, for the speech, and may I have everyone's attention again?”

As Professor Lycaon returned to the podium, the attendees immediately behaved themself; despite the rowdiness, the students still knew how to respect the school grounds.

Thus, the ‘performance’ came to an end, then program continued as planned.

Eventually, it drew to a close, and the students had to go to their respective classrooms.

[Belle] “Alright, Wise, Shunguang, this is where we part. I’m still in first year, you know, haha.”

She waved at them.

[Wise] “Belle… I don’t think I have to remind you of everything again, right?”

His tone was serious.

[Belle] “Right, right. You don’t have to keep nagging me again, Wise; otherwise you’ll be late.”

She looked toward Shunguang.

[Belle] “Shunguang, please look after my brother for me, okay? You see his quite a handful, but he's a good person. Bye, guys!”

[Shunguang] “Oh yeah, don’t worry, I will”

Belle headed in the opposite direction as she left for her class.

[Wise] “And there she goes…”

He sees his sister off.

[Shunguang] “Let's head to class; it would be embarrassing if we're late on the first day.”

[Wise] “Yeah, I agree.”

The two headed for their classroom.

On their way down the corridor, Shunguang and Wise came across a familiar figure who was looking at each door, scanning for their classroom.

The iconic long ears pointing up that occasionally twitched, the silky smooth black hair, the sharp red eyes, and a cool composure that carried elegance.

[Shunguang] “Wise… is that?”

[Wise] “Yep, there is no mistaking those ears of hers.”

She quietly observes the girl.

[Shunguang] “Wise, I think she’s lost… we should help her.”

Concern written all over her face.

[Wise] “Yeah, she's not the best at directions.”

He thought for a moment.

“Xiao’guang, you should go ahead. I will handle this.”

[Shunguang] “Huh? But what if you also get lost? Let me help.”

She protested.

[Wise] “I appreciate the thought, but I can handle this. I’m really good at traversing mazes; it's like my forte, besides—”

He looked at Shunguang’s eyes that glowed like amber.

“I would rather it be me who’s late than both of us; I don’t want to cause hassle on your first day.”

Her cheeks warmed up from his words, her fluffy ears fluttering, while her fluffy tails subtly swayed behind her.

[Shunguang] “Alright, I will leave it to you then. So make sure you come back, Wise; I will be waiting.”

[Wise] “Yeah, this wouldn’t take time.”

Shunguang continued down the corridor while Wise saw her off. He then turned his attention towards the troubled fox thiren. He approached Miyabi, giving her a gentle pat on the back.

She turned towards him and was met with someone familiar, a friend she knew. Her crimson red pupils dilated as if she had just seen a fresh, cold cut of sweet melon; her long ears steadied in excitement. Then, with a smile, she said—

“Wise… you're back?”

[Wise] “I appreciate the sentiment, but this is neither the place nor time for a heartfelt reunion.”

[Miyabi] “I agree, but it has been years already. I was worried about you after I heard the news.”

There was a look of relief in her expression.

“But judging by how you are attending face-to-face classes again, I presume that you are now fine. I’m really glad.”

[Wise] “Yeah, it was rough, but my family was there for me; they stood beside me all this time, so I’m fine now.”

He gave Miyabi a confident look; a smirk formed on Wise’s face.

“So… Miss Miyabi, are you lost? Need my help?”

She smiled; it looked like Wise was just as reliable as she remembered

[Miyabi] “Yes, welcome back, ‘proxy.’ I need your help.”

Her crimson eyes shimmered.

“I’ll be relying on you… my fiancé.”

… … …

[Wise] “Hold up! Can you run that back again?”

Surprised, he was confused.

[Miyabi] “Right—”

------ ۶۟ৎ ------

Chapter 2: "I'll be counting on you, my fiance"

------ ۶۟ৎ ------

TBC…

Tutel's work process/Behind the scenes:

After coloring: 

Final result:

I was planning to leave this at my patreon, that I will open soon, but for now you can have this free taste. I was gone for 4 months after all.