Chapter Text
“Kagehira!” A familiar voice calls out. “Are you okay?”
“Nngh!…” I jump at the sudden call. “Mhm, ‘m fine. Just tripped, is all.”
He scoffs. “Well, if that’s all then you’d best get back to your training. They’ll be complaining about your disappearance any second now.”
“Mhm! See ya later, my Prince!”
I headed back towards the trainin’ grounds. I knew not to run around and try to speak to the youngest of the Itsukis, but I just couldn't help it! Ever since I first saw him, all I’ve ever wanted is to be right next to him. I don’t care that I’ve been enlisted to fight for his family. I wish to fight for him ; to protect him .
I’ve been workin’ my way up the ranks for probably a year just to get the chance to see him in person. I’ve overheard from other trainees that his name is Shu and that he normally stays in his room workin’ on what he calls “art” though no one’s been able to see it. He’s also rumored to walk about at night occasionally. I’ve tried to see if that was true or not but I end up fallin’ asleep before I’m able to. Everytime. Without fail.
Shockingly, I’ve actually been able to successfully talk to him a few times now, but I don’t really think he remembers much about me. He knows my last name is Kagehira at the very least! To know that someone of his upbringin’ is able to say my last name without shame makes me so happy! Afterall, someone like me doesn’t even deserve that kind of treatment. Him, born from royalty, sayin’ the name of me, someone born and quickly abandoned in front of an orphanage, feels so strange! Not in a bad way! Just… I dunno… it doesn’t feel right!
Ouch!
I ran straight into a pillar while I was lost in thought.
“Mika!~” My best friend, Naru, calls. “Where have you been! I’ve been worried sick about you!” She looks at my red forehead from when I hit the pillar. “Mika… what have I been telling you,” She pouts. “You think so much that you bump into things that you should see coming! Here.” She hands me a small, wrapped candy. “This will make you feel better.”
“Naruuu…” I draw out.
“No, no, you will take the candy!” She forces it into my hand. “You’ll also tell me what’s making you think so hard you run into a pillar.”
“Nnn… fiiine.” I pop the candy into my mouth. “First!” I pause to suck on the candy. “Why’re ya givin’ me this candy? Y’know how expensive these are, right?”
She sighs. “Yes, they are a little expensive, but I believe that when a dear friend is in need, they deserve it more than I do! So! You get to have it.” She grins and puts her hand on her waist.
“Nnn…” I mutter in disagreement. “I really can’t argue with ya, huh. But fine, ‘s your coin, ya get to spend it however ya want to.”
“Well…” She sits down, plops her hands onto her lap, and looks at me in the eyes. “Your turn. Tell me all about whatever’s got you thinking so hard! You must be worried about something, right?”
“Mmm… Not exactly… I’m just… Ngah…”
“Well? It’s okay, you can tell me anything my little Mika!” She cheers.
“Gnn.. Okay. Well, I’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout the Prince again.” I whisper.
“Mhm, mhm?”
“I just think he’s real cool and I wanna be able to be friends with him, I guess? I dunno but I just can’t stop thinkin’ ‘bout him. I wanna know him, and I want him to know me. He seems so cool and yet I can sense that he’s… lonely. There’d be no other reason for him to hole himself up, methinks.”
“Mika…” She pauses to hold me by my cheeks. “I think that’s what you’d call a--” She leans in to whisper “-- crush.”
“ ! Naru!!!” I shout while beginnin’ to cover her mouth. “Uh-uh! No way! I don’t even know him! Nuh-uh no way!!”
“Aw, little Mika’s embarrassed~” She teases. “Don’t worry, don’t worry, no one has to know but us!” She puts her finger to her lips to signify that she’ll keep this a secret.
“Nghh… But-”
“No buts, Mika! It’s okay. I’ll help you, okay? We’ll find a way for the two of you to get to know one another, alright? But, for now, you’ll have to wait patiently, got it? It might take a bit, but we’ll get it done! Hm hm~”
“Got it! You’re as dependable as always big sis,” I smile.
“Guh… Haah…” I breathe out harshly.
Trainin’ today has been rather hard on me. They had us doin’ a ton of laps before they made us fight one another between the laps. But I pushed on! I must if I ever want to be around Shu. I’ve got to be the best knight ever to deserve his gaze! If this is enough to make me reconsider, I’ll never get there. I must push on!
“Ah, good work out there, Squire Kagehira!” One of the Training Captains yelled. “You’ve been improving greatly, even day by day! I love to see it!”
This is Captain Kanzaki. He’s a little bit on the… dramatic side? He’s a good guy, for sure, he’s just a little bit loud? When it comes to trainin’? He’s especially fond of sword trainin’ and insists on bein’ the one to teach us everythin’ about our swords. How to handle them. How to wield them. How to do just about anythin’ you could think of.
“Gaa… thank ya kindly! I’m tryin’ to be the best knight I can possibly be, sir!” I salute.
“I love your attitude! You almost seem like a completely different person than you were just a few months ago! Keep up the good work, Kagehira, keep up the good work!” He starts to leave the training area since training is over for the day. “Take good care of your body as well, with as hard as you're working you must ensure that you’re not overworking your body, young man.”
“Mhm, got it! Thank ya, Cap’n!”
“Of course! Now, have a nice night. Make sure to get enough sleep for training tomorrow!” By the time he’s finished sayin’ this he’s already gone.
Phew. Well, ‘least that’s done for the day. Time to find big sis.
I walk to our normal meetin’ spot.
Hm. She’s not here? Strange. Guess I’ll go lookin’ for ‘er.
I walk down the hall closest to the trainin’ grounds. Not here.
I go further and find the courtyard. Hm. Not here either? Where could she possibly be?
“Ah!” A voice I know very well shouts. “My Lord ! Watch where you’re going, Kagehira! Ugh, you’re such a klutz!”
“Aaa!! I’m so, so, so, sorry!” I bow so far down that my hair nearly touches the ground.
The voice was none other than Shu Itsuki’s. He must’ve been on his walk back from some sort of trainin’ of his own.
“Uh-uh, yeah, whatever. Just don’t let it happen again, alright?” He scoffs.
“Y-yes, Prince!” I stay bowed.
“Hmph.” The Prince begins to walk off.
He seems to be headed further into the courtyard. I decided to follow him, close but not enough to be noticed.
He turns off the courtyard and heads into a small room I’ve somehow never noticed. I let the door close behind him before I get any closer.
From inside, I hear… a piano? He’s playin’ it so beautifully that I feel as if I’m bein’ enchanted. I sit down next to the door and listen to him play it. Words cannot describe the sounds, it’s like a musical representation of a bird bein’ released from its cage. But, deep down, it knows it must return.
While I’m busy bein’ sucked in by his playin’, another voice chimes in.
“You could do so much better , Shu!” The unfamiliar voice shouts. “I know you can play so. Much. Better. Than this. ”
While I’m busy listenin’ to whatever’s goin’ on behind this mysterious door, I feel a hand on my back. I jump.
“Woah, woah, calm down, Mika! It’s just me!”
I look up and see Naru. Her presence calms me immediately. She gives me a look as if she’s about to ask me why I’m over here nearly hidin’ in a bush, but I shush her before she can. I give her a knowin’ nod to say that I’ll explain it later.
She raises her eyebrow but gives up and ultimately shrugs. We walk for a while before we’re back to our usual spot outside of the trainin’ ground, under our tree.