Chapter Text
Fairy tales and storybooks
as one can tell by name and just a look
gift fables of magic and monsters that fly.
With pixies and dragons
and giants and elves
and even simply bound pages
possess the intelligence of mages.
There’s true love and true peril
and evil lurking unseen.
There’s the good ones and bad ones
and those that lie in between.
A good story also teaches the reader a lesson
the consequence of the choices we make.
But this fairy tale varies in plot
for our hero had no choice at all
or so he thought.
It starts with a fairy that does adore some drama.
This one's for a baby named Hitoshi of Saitama.
Hitoshi wailed and whined in his father’s arms, his infant tongue still unable to utter any request or command.
Shota continued swaying back and forth gently in the rocking chair, one arm holding the miserable baby close to his heartbeat while the other hand held a leather-bound book of fables. He attempted to hush away the baby’s tears with gentle murmurs. “Shh, shh, Hitoshi. How will you ever hear the happy ending if you won’t stop crying?”
The question fell on deaf ears as Hitoshi’s sobs persisted, tiny fingers stretching forward to grab for something he couldn’t reach.
“That’s nothing a fluffy kitten can’t fix!”
Ochako’s cheerful voice chimed through the air as she entered the small, cozy nursery of the Aizawa cottage. Her long pink dress complemented her rosy complexion, short brown bob of hair flouncing with her every step. The hem and bell sleeves of her gown fluttered lightly on a mystical breeze.
She gestured to the fuzzy purple kitten plush discarded on the floor and immediately pink sparkles surrounded the toy. Shota watched in amusement as her cheeks puffed up in frustration when the plushie refused to move, hands flicking upwards over and over again.
“C’mon! Up, up! Oh please, not today!”
With a few more flicks of the hand and a little more pleading, the kitten finally levitated into the air and followed her hands’ guidance to float softly over to Hitoshi, landing gently in his little hands.
Immediately, Hitoshi’s crying quieted into little hiccups and finally content gibberish as his fists squeezed the fuzzy purple material.
Shota let out a relieved sigh, the dark circles under his eyes seeming to lighten a bit with the exhale. “Thank you. You always know how to calm him. What would I do without you?”
Ochako huffed but smiled under the praise. “Probably find a household fairy to help you who doesn’t struggle with a simple levitation spell. And don’t be so hard on yourself, you’re a great father!”
“I don’t pay you to flatter me,” Shota replied dryly.
“Not flattery, just truth. Izuku agrees, you know! Besides, you barely pay me, though if you think I deserve a raise I wouldn’t argue,” she quipped back.
“The opinion of your problem scribe boyfriend doesn’t mean much to mー”
A loud whooshing sound cut off his insult as something flew past the cottage.
“Hello darlings! Incoming!” an excited voice shrieked from the outside, loud enough to be heard through the walls.
Shota and Ochako exchanged a look of horror before leaping into action.
“It’s Mina!”
“I know! Oh fables, she gives the worst gifts! Quick, quick, you have to hide Hitoshi!”
Shota jumped to his feet, being careful not to jostle the infant in his arms and restart the crying. His gray eyes darted around the room frantically before landing on the closet door.
Ochako’s eyes followed his gaze, sparing him an incredulous glance, before shrugging and flicking a hand towards Hitoshi and the closet. Her eyes sparkled with success as the door creaked open and the baby floated happily through it, using the lavender blanket swaddling his tiny body to secure Hitoshi to the hook on the inside of the door.
The whooshing noises got louder and louder as Mina’s melodic laugh echoed through the space. Ochako surreptitiously closed the closet door with her heel at the same moment that Mina crashed through the cottage ceiling, the rocking chair breaking her fall as it smashed into pieces under her weight.
Seemingly unbothered by her less than graceful entrance, Mina popped back up on her feet, teal iridescent wings fluttering rapidly as she flew in a quick circle before touching back down again. Her wild bright pink curls bounced with each movement and her golden horns seemed to sparkle even more as she smiled. The purple zebra print bodice and matching purple skirt contrasted starkly against her soft pink skin, with her leather corset accentuating her curves. After flitting around excitedly, she finally landed, striking a pose as she did so with one fur-lined glove on her hip and the other holding the back of her head.
“Ta da! Mina has arrived! Pure magical perfection here to astonish your abode and bless your baby!”
Ochako nonchalantly pressed her back further against the closet door as her and Shota shared a nervous glance.
The yellow pupils of Mina’s black moth-like eyes flashed with intrigue. “Now, where is the little cutie pie?”
“I apologize, had we known you were coming we would’ve ensured he’d be here. Unfortunately, he’s with his grandmother right now,” Shota replied coolly, eyes pointedly staring straight at Mina to avoid giving away Hitoshi’s location.
Mina’s head cocked to the side, eyebrow raising skeptically at the statement. “Really? Is that so?” she asked airily, staring back at Shota with a tight-lipped smile.
Suddenly, her gaze turned sharply on Ochako, eyes darkening as the other fairy began absentmindedly stroking the ends of her brown locks.
Mina’s smile turned devious, teeth showing as she grinned wide and victorious. “Oh Ochako, by now you should know I can always tell when you’re hiding something…” she sang happily.
With a simple jut of her chin, the closet door swung open, lightly smacking Ochako’s backside as it did so, causing the other fairy to squawk in indignation.
There was no way to preserve the facade now as little Hitoshi came into clear view, purple eyes blinking owlishly as all other eyes turned on him.
Ochako forced a chuckle, shooting an apologetic look in Shota’s direction. “Wow! Back already? And I wonder how did he even get in there?” she mumbled half-heartedly.
Shota rolled his eyes in defeat, waving his hand in Mina’s direction before sitting down heavily upon a wooden chest in the corner. “Just get it over with already.”
Mina set both hands on her hips and pouted with a humph. “The utter lack of enthusiasm is almost offensive!”
“Guess we’re not trying hard enough then,” Ochako muttered under her breath.
Mina ignored the jab and sauntered over to the closet, lifting Hitoshi off the hook with two hands and raising him into the air as she smiled up at him. “Oh isn’t he just the most adorable little thing?!” she cooed sweetly.
Her wings fluttered excitedly as she lowered Hitoshi back down to cradle him in her arms, rocking him gently. “Such beautiful eyes too! He’s going to be a heartbreaker for sure, just like his fairy godmama! Isn’t that right?” she glanced up at Ochako, tossing her a mischievous smile and wink before turning her attention back to the baby. “Aw, yes you will be!” she continued to fawn over him as Ochako and Shota anxiously looked on.
Her head snapped up, glitter flying across the room from her curls. “Hmm, now what wonderful little gift shall I give him? What’s his name again?”
“It’s Hitoshi,” Shota grumbled, clearly quickly losing his patience.
“Of course! Hitoshi of Saitama,” she said confidently and then lightly tapped a pink finger to his nose.
At the sudden foreign contact, Hitoshi burst into tears again, blubbering and wailing without forgiveness.
Mina’s nose scrunched up in displeasure at the high-pitched crying, rocking Hitoshi a bit faster in an attempt to calm him but it was to no avail. “Oh for the love of dragons, stop crying!” she pleaded but the sobs continued.
Mina looked to Ochako with a pained expression but the house fairy only crossed her arms and let a smug smile dance across her lips.
Mina stuck out her tongue childishly before returning her focus to the infant in her arms. “Not very good at following orders are you?” she asked mockingly.
Even louder cries were the only answers given.
Mina groaned, eyes squinting in pain. “Ugh what horrendous noise! You’re giving me such a headache, I can barely hear my own thoughts!”
Her eyes narrowed even more for a moment before blinking wide open brightly as if a candle of inspiration was lit behind her irises. “Oh this will be perfect for you…”
“Hitoshi of Saitama, I give you the gift of obedience.”
With those final words, she quickly lifted an arm and brought it down to snap her fingers right above Hitoshi’s temple, a flurry of purple sparkles exploding over him as she did.
Shota’s head, which had been resting tiredly in his hands, jerked upwards, his eyes widening in concern at the same time that Ochako’s hand flew to her mouth in shock.
However, Mina only had eyes for the newly gifted baby still shedding endless tears in her hands. “Alright Hitoshi, listen up! Go take a cat-nap,” she ordered happily.
As soon as she uttered the command, the crying cut off and Hitoshi’s eyes fell closed as he slept peacefully.
Mina sighed contentedly into the silence for a moment before speaking again. “Okay…now wake up!”
Hitoshi’s eyes immediately blinked open, darting around the room curiously.
Mina fluttered a few inches off the ground as she giggled excitedly, making eye contact with both Shota and Ochako as she grinned widely. “Now isn’t that just amazing?”
Ochako’s cheeks quickly reddened with anger, eyebrows furrowing as she glared at Mina with distaste. “No! It’s horrible! To have to follow every order? How can you consider that a blessing? You always give the most terrible gifts!”
Mina scoffed and promptly plopped the still quiet Hitoshi into a speechless Shota’s waiting arms before she stalked towards Ochako with a deceptively sweet smile.
“Oh really? Because if memory serves, you seemed to quite like the gift I gave you that one time…back at the fairy academy?” she taunted, glossy lips pulling upwards into a smirk.
The angry scarlet in Ochako’s face settled down to a rosy flustered pink as she stammered through her retort. “Iーweーthat was one time!”
Mina tapped a mocking finger against her chin, eyes gazing upwards in the pretense of deep thought. “‘The most wonderful night of your life’ I believe was the direct quote, sweetie,” she teased mercilessly.
Ochako gritted her teeth in embarrassment and frustration. “Well that isn’t true anymore because I have a boyfriend now and he’s even more wonderful! So there!”
Mina simply shrugged and flew in a lazy circle around the brown-haired fairy. “Right, right I’m sure the human scribe is…” she leaned in close to whisper provocatively in Ochako’s ear, “satisfactory.”
Ochako clenched her fists and stormed past Mina to the other side of the small nursery. “You justーargh!”
“I’m right aren’t I?” Mina sang mockingly.
A loud snore from the corner interrupted their bickering.
Ochako dashed over to shake Shota awake, careful not to disrupt the baby tucked carefully in his grasp. “Oh my! Sir Aizawa, please wake up! Don’t tell me she hexed you too!”
“You do mean blessed right?” Mina called indignantly.
Shota rolled his shoulders and sat up slowly, rubbing the sleepiness from his eyes. “No, I was just snoozing through the ex-lovers’ quarrel.”
“How can you nap when your son’s just been hexed?!”
“How can you nap when your son’s just been blessed?!”
Shota ignored both their exclamations, standing slowly to walk towards Mina with a tense look. “I must insist you take it back.”
Mina tsked sharply, shaking her head with pursed lips. “Sorry! No take-backsies!”
Shota leveled her with a confused but stern glare as he clutched Hitoshi a bit tighter to his chest.
Mina rolled her eyes in boredom. “I will accept concerns, comments, or cash but no returns. Show a little gratitude! I could’ve turned him into a skunk, you know.”
Ochako huffed in disbelief but Shota’s shoulders sank in resignation. “Fine, obedience is a wonderful gift then.”
Mina fluttered up and down happily, placing a soft kiss to her fingers and then pressing them against Hitoshi’s forehead. “Good, you’re seeing it my way! Enjoy the perfect little angel I’ve given you. Never a parental headache again!”
------
Even hindered by a hex
Hitoshi grew up defiant
His gift made him follow each verbal command
But never was he perfectly compliant.
“Hitoshi! Come downstairs for dinner!” Ochako called from the kitchen.
Five-year old Hitoshi heard her order, but stubbornly refused to get up from the floor where he was drawing a family of cats with his charcoal pencil and parchment.
She said to come down but she never said when.
Despite the itching feeling in his limbs and the tugging at his mind, Hitoshi resisted. Body shifting in discomfort but hands continuing in their movement as he carefully drew the whiskers.
“Come down now, please!”
The pencil clattered to the floor as Hitoshi stood up abruptly and quickly descended the stairs, taking a seat at the table with his hands folded neatly in his lap. He grit his teeth in frustration, tongue poking stubbornly at a loose tooth that wouldn’t fall. He wanted to finish his drawing, he knew he had, and yet his body just couldn’t help but go where it was told.
He didn’t understand it.
Ochako set a plate in front of him, gently ruffling his short lavender hair with a smile. “Hungry?”
“I guess so…”
Hitoshi looked across the table to find his father looking at him expectantly. “Perfect, then eat those vegetables, they’re good for you,” he muttered tiredly.
Hitoshi grimaced down at the cabbage on his plate, hand already lifting the fork to dig in as if it had a mind of its own. But Hitoshi’s own mind paid heed to his father’s wording and so his mouth simply bit off a small piece of the leafy green before setting his fork back down with a smug look.
Shota spared his son a bored glance. “Eat all of it, Hitoshi.”
Before he could even attempt to sigh in defeat, his fork was spearing through the greens and shoveling them into his mouth without pause.
However, it didn’t stop him from scowling while doing so.
As Hitoshi bitterly chewed on the cabbage against his will, his mind contemplated freely.
There was power in words, each syllable carrying hidden strength.
And with that realization, Hitoshi decided that he himself would never speak so carelessly.
------
Hitoshi was ten years old when he finally understood his “gift.”
He gripped tightly onto his father’s hand as they walked down the cobblestone path leading towards the orphanage.
“What are we doing here?” Hitoshi asked.
He felt Shota squeeze his hand gently as he studied his father’s face which remained facing forward, giving away no emotion.
“Not every child is as lucky as you, some aren’t born into loving homes.”
Hitoshi looked at the ground and frowned.
Shota sighed and finally looked down to make eye contact with Hitoshi, his reserved face now giving away a glimpse of sorrow.
“A little girl needs a home and we have one to offer her. When you have the ability to help, to make a difference in someone else’s life, you must always try to do so. Do you understand, Hitoshi?”
Hitoshi let the words wash over him, parsing out the meaning of each one. He quickly found that these were ones he quite liked and would not ever try to resist obeying.
“Yes, I do.”
Shota let a small smile break his neutral expression for a moment. “Good.”
Hitoshi held his father’s hand a bit tighter as Shota pushed the door to the large cottage open, gently guiding Hitoshi along behind him as they stepped into a small room with a wooden desk.
The woman sitting behind the desk stood up quickly, dropping into a polite curtsy. “Sir Aizawa, thank you so much for coming on such short notice! We really wish we had the ability to care for her, but someone with your unique gift is far better equipped to do so.”
Shota extended a hand for her to shake, waiting patiently as the woman looked at it in surprise before gingerly offering up her palm for the greeting.
“Formalities aren’t necessary. Especially, given that I’ll be stepping down from the guard shortly,” he replied calmly.
The woman stumbled over her words, clearly not expecting such humility and indifference from a knight of the crown guard. “R-right, of course! Have you, um,” she glanced nervously down at Hitoshi, “been informed of the girl’s condition?”
Shota gently pushed Hitoshi forward a few steps, who had remained quiet throughout the introduction, watching the exchange curiously. “My apologies, let me first introduce my son, Hitoshi. You may speak freely in front of him. As her soon-to-be brother, he should know as well.”
The woman seemed reluctant to continue, sparing the silent Hitoshi another anxious look before speaking again. “A-as you wish, Sir Aizawa. She’s six years old and her name is Eri and well…we have limited knowledge but we do know she was rescued from an unregistered warlock coven. They were experimenting on her with dark magic and…unicorn blood.”
Hitoshi sucked in a breath, earning him a warning look from Shota. However, the woman smiled sadly at him.
“Yes, it is horrible. But as I was saying, the full effects are still unknown. We know she has strong magic but there is little control.”
Shota nodded, expression thoughtful. “I see, and you think my magic blocking gift could be of assistance.”
The owner of the orphanage nodded in turn, eyes still sad but hopeful.
“May I send my son to go help her pack her things while we handle the parchment-work?”
The woman’s eyes lit up in relief. “Yes, yes that would be lovely! She’s in the girls’ dorm just across the hall.”
Hitoshi immediately followed the woman’s directions, hearing his father’s low voice cut off as the wooden door closed behind him. He studied the uneven floorboards as he walked across the hall, feeling nerves setting in at being in an unfamiliar environment and meeting new children. Hitoshi had been homeschooled by his father and Ochako up until this point, he didn’t really have friends or any other family.
Maybe it would be nice to have a little sister. He hoped she would like him, at least.
Hitoshi stepped into the room, eyeing the light pink and yellow paint chipping off the walls and line of wooden bunk beds. Some girls were gathered in the center of the room playing with dolls.
“Is Eri here?” he asked quietly to announce his presence.
The girls all turned their heads at the sudden intrusion, expressions ranging from curiosity to unease.
One girl with dark blue hair tied up in a tight ponytail jerked her thumb in the direction of the far right corner. “She’s over there.”
Hitoshi carefully walked past the girls to investigate the corner and his blood chilled slightly at what he found.
Eri was huddled under blankets alone on her bed tucked into the corner, tattered white dress swallowing her frail frame, and dirty bandages covering her forearms and legs. She had long white hair that made her ruby red eyes stand out even more, and a tiny horn protruding from the right side of her forehead.
Her head peeked out of the blanket cocoon a bit more as Hitoshi approached, eyes blinking in barely contained fear.
Hitoshi stepped forward slowly, so as not to startle her, and spoke softly. “Hi. I’m Hitoshi. I’m here to help you gather your belongings, is that okay with you?”
Eri stared back at him for a moment until the fear in her eyes receded and she nodded silently. She scooted off the bed, leaving the blanket behind and crouched down to pull a small canvas sack, a pair of worn boots, a hairbrush, and a plush toy from underneath it.
“That’s all?”
Eri nodded again.
Hitoshi frowned but collected her things while Eri slid on her boots, and then motioned for her to follow him out of the room.
As they walked by the group of girls playing, the same one who spoke before let out a phony cough. “Good riddance.”
Hitoshi paused in place, turning around slowly to eye the culprit.
“What did you just say?”
Eri stopped at his side, hovering nervously and glancing repeatedly between the doorway and Hitoshi.
The girl with the blue ponytail looked surprised for a moment at being addressed before her face settled into a cruel smile. “I said ‘good riddance.’ That girl is creepy and dangerous! Thank goodness she was only here a few days. No one wants her here,” she finished with a scoff.
None of the other girls spoke but a few nodded along and murmurs of agreement and giggles tittered throughout the group.
Eri shrunk within herself even more, becoming as small as possible and staring at the floor.
Hitoshi saw her reaction and his heart fell, an urge to protect taking over him.
“Don’t talk about her like that.”
The girl stood up, a pretty doll still clutched in her grip, and sneered at him. “Oh yeah? Then do something about it!”
For once, as the familiar tugging sensation came over his body, Hitoshi didn’t fight it.
Such vague wording.
Rookie mistake.
Hitoshi let his mind guide the compelling force in his veins to reach forward and snatch the doll out of the girl’s hand, her smug face suddenly crumbling into distress.
Then without any ceremony, Hitoshi twisted the doll’s head until it popped right off and casually tossed it over his shoulder.
The room was completely silent for a moment, only the sound of the wooden doll head hitting the floor and rolling away could be heard.
Finally breaking from the shock, the girl began screeching and sputtering but Hitoshi simply smirked and turned away.
“C’mon Eri, let’s go.”
Hitoshi didn’t break his stride as a tiny fragile hand slipped into his and squeezed lightly, but he felt the smirk on his face morph into a genuine smile as he squeezed back.
It wasn’t until after they had returned home and Eri was safely settled in her new room with Ochako happily doting over her that Hitoshi’s father finally turned a disapproving glare on him.
“The head of the orphanage almost wouldn’t let us take her after your little stunt with the doll. What possessed you to do that?” Shota inquired harshly.
Hitoshi looked up at his father with a bored expression, the very same he had seen on Shota’s face many times. “I think you know, and I want you to tell me.”
Immediately, Shota’s resolve fell, irritation giving way to exhaustion as his tense shoulders sagged in defeat. It almost looked like he had aged 10 years when he heard those words come from Hitoshi’s mouth.
“What happened?” he asked warily.
“That girl was being mean to Eri. I told her to stop. She told me to ‘do something about it.’ And then I had to ‘do something.’ Why?”
Shota sat down heavily in the nearby chair, dipping his head and running tired fingers through his shaggy black hair before lifting his eyes once more to hold Hitoshi’s gaze.
“If you’re mature enough to figure it out, then I suppose you’re old enough to hear the story.”
Hitoshi listened quietly as his father explained how he received his “gift,” resignation filling his soul as Shota went on. When he was done speaking, Hitoshi only had one question.
“Why did you wait to tell me?” he asked quietly.
Shota sighed, eyes looking even more tired than before. “A rational deception. It’s a difficult thing to tell a child he has no free will.”
Hitoshi nodded. He could understand that, even if it felt like a punch to the gut. Not for his father’s omission of truth, but for the sickening feeling of hopelessness growing within him.
“But what about your gift? It can erase the effects of magic, right? Can’t you use it on me?” Hitoshi whispered, for fear if he spoke any louder his voice would break.
Shota placed a hand on his son’s shoulder and squeezed softly, his usually stoic expression softening to show his true distress. “I would if I could. My gift works on all other creatures’ magic but only a fairy can undo her own spell. It’s part of the Fairy Council’s codes. So seeing as my power is also from a fairy’s gift, it won’t work on yours.”
“Oh.”
Shota squeezed his shoulder again. “We tried everything, Hitoshi. Ochako pleaded with the council but they threatened to revoke her eternal youth for insubordination. I begged Mina but she insisted this was her ‘grand design’, whatever that could mean. She also threatened to turn me into a skunk…”
Hitoshi snorted softly at the thought, even if it didn’t bring much comfort.
Suddenly, Hitoshi felt himself being pulled into a tight embrace as his father hugged him close to his chest. He had to bite his tongue from shouting in surprise given Shota has never been a touchy-feely parental figure.
When Shota spoke into his ear, it sounded strained. “I do my best to never give you orders unless I think it’s for your own good, which is why I need to give you one now. Only Ochako and I know about the gift. Not even Eri can ever know. I don’t want anyone to have the power to knowingly use it against you.”
“So you must never tell anyone else.”
Hitoshi felt the familiar sensation, but it felt less like a pull and more like a hand softly covering his lips before fading away but without leaving behind a slight weight on his tongue.
Shota released Hitoshi from his grip, gently pushing him back by the shoulders so Hitoshi was forced to look at him.
“And no matter what anyone makes you do. Remember your mind is still your own and your heart holds more power than any hex.”
------
Hitoshi kept those words close when too soon his father was called back to the guard to fight.
“But you’re retired! They can’t force you to fight, can they?” Hitoshi spoke for both himself and Eri who stayed at his side, arms wrapped tightly around his waist.
“King Juden requests my return, so I must follow his command. As a knight, I swore an oath,” Shota replied calmly as he polished his sword that had been collecting dust in the chest for years.
“Why are we even fighting the ogres?” Hitoshi protested.
Shota sighed. “It would seem they are posing a threat to the kingdom and the king believes my skills are necessary to neutralize it.”
“Butー”
“Enough Hitoshi. There are no loopholes hidden in this order, I don’t have a choice. It’ll only be a few months. You’re old enough to take care of yourself now and Ochako is more than capable of handling Eri. Stop arguing.”
Any other protests died on Hitoshi’s tongue at his father’s curt command and he remained silent as Shota donned his rusted armor and walked out the door.
And still, he had no words when his father returned eight months later with one blind eye and a wooden leg.
Shota never spoke of the war but Hitoshi could tell something in his father had changed, and likewise something in the kingdom shifted as well.
------
Unbeknownst to our hero
Change would come to closer borders
For within their cottage walls
Rose new familial orders.
Hitoshi adjusted the strings of his white linen shirt while checking his reflection in the mirror. He ran his fingers through the messy locks of purple hair, noting how long it was getting, not like his father’s but almost to his shoulders. Shrugging to himself, he quickly pulled the front strands back into a short ponytail, braiding a few strands as he did so.
“Hitoshi! That hairstyle suits you so well!”
He almost jumped as the quiet of his bedroom was suddenly disturbed with Ochako’s cheerful voice.
He turned away from the mirror slowly to throw an annoyed look her way, but it was half-hearted in its irritation. “I was just trying to do damage control.”
Ochako huffed and walked over to him, invading his personal space to adjust a few of the loose strands framing his face. She brushed a few wrinkles out of his shirt with the wave of a hand glowing with pink sparkles. “Perfect. Oh fables, I really can’t believe you’re almost 21! Time flies faster than fairies these days.”
“Ironic from the woman who time conveniently stands still for,” he replied dryly.
Ochako smacked him lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t sass me, I’m basically your only friend. Now if you wouldn’t mind coming downstairs, Sir Aizawa wants to speak to you and Eri.”
Hitoshi rolled his eyes at her first comment but followed her down the creaking wooden steps of the cottage.
“Hey loser. Your hair looks weird.”
Hitoshi quickly walked over to where Eri was seated at the table and ruffled her hair into a rat’s nest. “And yours looks worse now. You know I really miss the days when you were a little angel who worshiped the ground I walked on.”
Eri screeched and pushed his hands away with a glare. “Hitoshi! C’mon! Ochako just brushed it,” she whined.
The fairy in question smiled at their antics and simply floated a brush into Eri’s hand. “You had that one coming. Now you get to fix it yourself!”
Shota cleared his throat to get his childrens’ attention. “This will only take a moment, so Hitoshi, if you could please join your sister at the table?”
Hitoshi was used to his father always sounding serious, but there was a different edge to his voice this time, so Hitoshi sat down quickly.
“I’m married.”
“WHAT?!” Eri screamed.
Hitoshi heard the familiar sound of Ochako coughing up sparkles, something she did whenever she was shocked or distressed.
“You’re joking,” Hitoshi said flatly.
Shota continued speaking as if he was simply discussing the weather. “He has money and was impressed by my title. It was either get married or sell the house. You both know given my condition I can’t support this family myself much longer. It was a rational arrangement.”
Eri pouted. “But…what about true love?”
Shota sighed. “That’s not in the cards for me at the moment. I’m perfectly happy with this decision. And I expect you both to make an effort to get along with Count Vlad and his two sons.”
Hitoshi raised an incredulous eyebrow, chuckling harshly. “What? Is he actually a vampire?”
Shota leveled him with a warning look. “You read too many horror scrolls. Vampires aren’t real. Vlad is simply a nobleman from a good family who has the means to support us.”
Hitoshi sunk back into his chair, feeling a bit nauseous. “When are they arriving?”
Shota glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner. “Oh, any minute now.”
“Really, dad? No warning at all? That is just so typical!” Eri exclaimed, crossing her arms in displeasure.
Hitoshi’s ears twitched at the sound of horse hooves against gravel as the carriage pulled up outside.
Ochako scurried over to the front door, quickly opening it just in time for a tall broad man, dressed in expensive-looking red and black velvet garb with white hair and a deep-set frown to barge through.
“This can’t possibly be the correct property! Where are we?!” the man grumbled angrily.
Two young men followed shortly behind him. One with shockingly silver hair and a toothy grin and the other with neatly combed blonde hair and a pompous air about him, the former carrying an excessive amount of luggage without even breaking a sweat.
The blonde one sneered at the cottage interior and its homely decor. “Father, I thought you said we were moving to a castle.”
Shota stood up and met Vlad at the door, offering an emotionless peck to his cheek and a tight-lipped smile to his sons. “I believe I told your father a man’s home is his castle,” he replied pleasantly.
Hitoshi almost gagged at the kiss before rolling his eyes at yet another “rational deception” from his father.
“Yes, right then,” Vlad grumbled. “Well, let me introduce my sons.”
He gestured to the blonde one who smiled fakely in turn and bowed mockingly. “My wonderful Neito.” He then waved a hand towards the silver-haired boy. “And my…special Tetsutetsu.”
The boy in question smiled happily and raised a hand to wave, seeming to forget it was holding a pile of luggage which all fell down onto his foot with a strangely metallic thud. However, Tetsutetsu remained unbothered, grin still fixed in place.
“Oops my bad, sorry everyone! But don’t you worry about me, gift of steel here!”
Neito huffed dramatically and stepped in front of Tetsutetsu to inspect Eri and Hitoshi closely. “Eri I presume,” he merely glanced at her before scanning Hitoshi intensely, “and you must be Hitoshi?”
Hitoshi bowed stiffly. “Yes, positively charmed to make your acquaintance,” he replied sarcastically, earning a giggle from Eri and a stern look from Shota.
“What are your gifts?” Vlad demanded.
“My children are both giftless,” Shota replied evenly.
Vlad pursed his lips. “How unfortunate.”
“Welcome to Saitama,” Hitoshi said with false cheer.
------
Hitoshi watched in slightly horrified fascination as Neito plastered the walls of their shared bedroom with posters.
“Is all the prince propaganda necessary?”
Neito turned sharply, placing his hands on his hips and letting out a self-righteous scoff. “Yes, obviously!”
“Neito’s the president of the Prince Denki fan club!” Tetsutetsu supplied helpfully from his seat on the pile of luggage.
Hitoshi nearly gagged again. These two were a special breed of imbecile, fawning over corrupt royalty like mindless fanboys. “You do realize Denki and his uncle are responsible for the ogre wars as well as the land displacement and forced servitude of the elves and giants, right?”
Neito blinked at him a few times before returning to his posters. “So? He’s handsome! And more importantly, rich!” He punctuated his point by stabbing the final tack through the wall with a satisfied smile. “Which is exactly why I am going to marry him and then get out of this dump.”
“Right…well you have fun with that. He’s all yours,” Hitoshi replied dryly.
Hitoshi made to slip out of the room but Neito suddenly cried out as if he was in excruciating pain.
“No, this has to be a ruse! You cannot possibly mean all my belongings are meant to fit in this one chest?! Hitoshi! Show me your closet!”
Hitoshi stiffened as the tugging sensation took over, forcing him to turn around and walk mechanically over to the closet door, opening it and stepping away for Neito to see.
Blue eyes narrowed in suspicion and then softened as a smug smile stretched across Neito’s face. “Well, aren't you accommodating?”
Hitoshi rolled his eyes before turning his head to the side in annoyance.
“Hmm well I really do need to go shopping for a new outfit for when the prince visits town next week. So Hitoshi, be a good brother and move all your drab clothing to the chest, unpack all my belongings, and move them into your closet,” Neito ordered sweetly.
Hitoshi internally groaned but let no noise leave his lips as his body immediately got to work, but not without glaring at Neito as he grabbed clothes off hangers and dumped them into the wooden chest.
Neito’s eyes widened in shock, not quite believing the sight before him. “Wow, you really are so helpful!”
Tetsutetsu looked between them dumbly before shrugging and hopping off the stack of boxes and following Neito as he exited the room.
Hitoshi bitterly unpacked the entirety of Neito’s wardrobe, which consisted of far too many items in Hitoshi’s humble opinion, and contemplated his current situation. Life just got dreadfully more difficult, especially with this particular step-family, and it had only been a few hours.
------
“Elves, giants, ogres, and humans all once lived together peacefully, however when King Kaminari was allegedly murdered by an ogre. Sir Juden replaced his brother as king and took the opportunity to exile all non-human magical creatures to the wilderness, conveniently leaving all their land open to take for himself.”
The sound of intrigued murmurs could be heard floating around the room after Hitoshi’s bold statement from the podium at the front of the classroom.
“Very-well articulated, Hitoshi. Give yourself a round of applause,” the professor commented.
Hitoshi cringed as he was compelled to clap loudly, feeling his peers’ bewildered stares but mostly Neito’s eyes trained on him with interest from right beside him.
He clapped a bit higher in the air and made a show of wrinkling his nose. “Sorry, there was a fly, but I got it. Carry on with the debate,” Hitoshi said calmly.
The professor furrowed her brow in confusion but pressed on. “Uh Neito, your response?”
Neito stepped haughtily around the podium, arriving at the center front of the makeshift stage with his hands rested proudly on his hips. “What my dear step-brother completely ignores is that King Juden has done a phenomenal job with the kingdom since he came to power!” Neito stated passionately, arms raising to gesture widely as he spoke. “He has removed the dangerous ogres and provided jobs for the giants and elves as farmers and entertainers! Ergo, if it was not for his impeccable ruling, we would not have the abundant free-enterprise system of today!”
Hitoshi scoffed to cut off the cheers echoing around the room. “It’s only ‘free’ because his knights were ordered to fight a baseless war and the creatures are now forced to work for almost nothing. It’s exploitation. Juden is a criminal, and I don’t have very high expectations of his nephew either,” he finished, tone skeptical and face purposefully bored.
A slew of gasps echoed around the room while Neito’s face twisted into an offended scowl. “Well, thank you for proving my point by displaying how utterly moronic you are! Prince Denki will be an amazing king, right ladies?”
A group of girls near the front of the room voiced their enthusiasm, tittering over how attractive the young prince was.
Hitoshi rolled his eyes in disgust. “I raise the question of whether my opponent has based his opinion on the prince’s political beliefs or on how sexy he thinks his backside is,” he replied in a deadpan voice.
The classroom broke out into raucous laughter as the professor gasped and tried to quiet the over-excited college students.
Neito laughed along mockingly before fixing Hitoshi with a heated glare. “Just admit you’re lacking any intelligence and spouting pure nonsense!”
The words flew out like vomit upon him hearing the command. “I’m lacking any intelligence and spouting pure nonsense,” Hitoshi said automatically.
Neito stilled, now staring at Hitoshi in wonder.
Hitoshi mentally kicked himself but attempted to brush past it. “As I was saying…”
“Bite your tongue, Hitoshi,” Neito demanded.
Hitoshi winced in pain as his teeth chomped down harshly on his own tongue, stopping himself from speaking.
“Hitoshi? Are you alright?” the professor asked cautiously.
Hitoshi felt the metallic taste of blood and hung his head in defeat. “May I go to the nurse?” he asked bitterly.
“Well of course but…in that case I must declare Neito the winner by default.”
Hitoshi shuffled out of the room in disgrace, but feeling as if the real loss was the way Neito’s sharp knowing eyes followed him as he went.
------
“You’re leaving?! They can’t make you fight again!” Eri questioned frantically.
Hitoshi was hit by a wave of deja-vu at seeing his younger sister mimic his own reaction from so many years ago.
Shota brushed some hair off her face fondly and then returned to his task of packing. “Only for a week. The king has requested all knights be present for his nephew’s coronation. It’s simply formality.”
Still, Hitoshi frowned at the explanation. Why would the king need such a large show of arms for a peaceful coronation ceremony?
“I know that look, Hitoshi. No arguing. Why don’t you two go with Neito and Tetsutetsu to town to see the prince today? That’ll give you something else to focus on,” Shota said tiredly.
“Fine,” Hitoshi grumbled, skulking out of the room while Eri trailed after him.
As he walked away, the resentment towards royalty and their habit of taking whatever they wanted, whenever they pleased, soured something in Hitoshi’s gut. Once out of Shota’s earshot he turned back to face Eri, with a stubborn glint in his eye. “If we’re going to this ridiculous royal smoke and mirrors show, why don’t we cause our own little scene, hm?”
Eri’s red eyes sparkled with interest. “Oooh you have that unhinged look I’ve grown to appreciate. I’m in!”
------
Urged on by spite
Hitoshi plotted to cause disturbance
Never expecting his punishment
Would come as sparking a royal romance.
Hitoshi grimaced as the crowd of mostly teenage girls swarmed around them like lovesick ants hyped up on heartthrob hormones.
And there was Neito, the queen ant watching over his mindless followers with an obnoxiously large custom engraved “I <3 DENKI” pocket watch hanging from the front of his navy silk velvet doublet.
“Smile big and get the ring, smile big and get the ring!” he sang to himself happily.
Tetsutetsu stood at his side, contently chewing on a yellow lightning bolt shaped popsicle.
Hitoshi wondered if with how much his eyes had been rolling these days if the poor things might just tumble out of his skull.
The crowd quieting was Hitoshi’s signal that the show would be starting soon. He crouched down and motioned for Eri to climb onto his shoulders, which she did happily, placing a sneaky smooch to the top of his head before straightening quickly so her face was out of his own reach.
“Brat,” he hissed fondly.
Eri had no time to retort as loud cheering shattered both their eardrums when the king stepped onto the raised platform in the middle of the square guarded by knights in black armor.
King Juden was a tall man with a strong build, wearing the finest black leathers embroidered with gold to match the rich gold velvet cape draped around his shoulders. His square jaw and nose were sharp. Inky black hair was cut close to his head save for a long bang swept to the side of his face with a yellow lightning bolt design contrasting starkly against the darker strands. A matching meticulously trimmed black mustache decorated his upper lip. An ostentatious gold chain was laid across his chest to match the golden crown atop his head and the scepter in his hand that crackled with lightning.
“Hello, truly wonderful to be here in your lovely little Saitama,” King Juden said with a smile that seemed deceptively pleasant to Hitoshi.
“Each stop on this tour of the towns surrounding the kingdom has been a great opportunity for Prince Denki to meet you before his coronatiー”
At the mere mention of the prince’s name, the crowd exploded into an uproar. Hitoshi momentarily considered being sweeter to his little sister when she leaned over to helpfully cover his ears.
“They do this a lot at my school so I’m used to it.”
Despite the buffer of Eri’s hands, Hitoshi could still hear the chanting of “WE WANT DENKI!” over and over interspersed with shrill shrieking throughout the square.
King Juden chuckled and raised his hands placatingly. “Alright, alright. I won’t make you all wait any longer. It is my utmost pleasure to introduce my nephew Prince Denki.”
With those words, the crowd was sent into an absolute frenzy, screaming louder than Hitoshi thought humanly possible. Neito let out a choreographed squeal while Tetsutetsu cheered along with him.
Hitoshi looked on coldly as the prince walked onto the stage, somewhat surprised by what he saw. He was expecting some chiseled pompous asshole to parade out with a phony smile and perfect hair, like how he appeared in his illustrations.
Denki in the flesh was…not that.
His golden hair was slightly disheveled, sticking up a bit in the back, but somehow suiting him, especially with the black lightning bolt decorating one side. The exact opposite of his uncle’s. He wore a navy blue velvet tunic lightly embroidered with gold over his white shirt and brown pants, the whole ensemble very understated compared to the excessive decor of his uncle’s garb. His smile was open and a tad goofy, freckled cheeks spread so wide his gold eyes squinted a bit.
He jogged onto the platform waving happily with both hands, sometimes shooting a cheesy finger gun with harmless sparks of lightning at whichever lucky fangirl he caught eyes with in the crowd. He was shorter than Hitoshi pictured, probably only around 5’9” and although he filled out his shirt well enough with lean muscle he was far from some statue-like figure.
He was undeniably charming, just in a rather…unconventional way.
Hitoshi noted, objectively, that Neito’s stupid posters didn’t really do the prince justice.
A fist knocking on his head interrupted Hitoshi’s royal review. “Uh, anyone in there? Are we doing this or not, Hitoshi?”
Hitoshi shook himself out of whatever strange daze had come over him, swiftly pulling the painted banners out of his leather satchel and passing one up to Eri. “Yes, of course.”
Eri grabbed the banner and raised it above her head, proudly displaying the same words she began to chant loudly over the crowd. “Defy the Tyrants, Save the Giants! Defy the Tyrants, Save the Giants!”
Hitoshi opened his banner and chanted in turn. “Elves and Ogres are Our Friends, Crown Corruption Has to End!”
Hitoshi’s success at capturing the prince’s attention was bittersweet when that sunny smile dropped upon seeing the anti-royal demonstration.
His victory, and yes it was surely still a victory because he came here with the exact purpose of offending the prince, was short-lived.
“Hitoshi! You are ruining my chances with the prince!” Neito whisper-yelled anxiously as he ripped the banner from Hitoshi’s grasp.
“It’s a free kingdom, right Neito?” Hitoshi bit back coolly.
Hitoshi watched with contained delight as a tendon in Neito’s forehead twitched with irritation but that glee quickly turned to fear when his step-brother’s eyes flashed something mischievous.
“Hitoshi. Go home. Now.”
The tugging sensation was instantaneous and unshakeable. It was all Hitoshi could do to pause long enough to safely deposit Eri back onto her feet and mutter out a hurried, “Sorry, I have to go. Stay with Neito and Tetsutetsu,” before he was dashing off towards the cottage, grinding his teeth in frustration as his feet moved against his will.
Eri dropped her banner, face falling in confusion. “Hey Hitoshi! Wait! Where are you going?”
Yet her protests were completely drowned out by Neito’s own shouts of adoration for the prince.
A girl near the front of the crowd raised her voice to be heard above the others. “Hey! Prince Denki! Are you a good runner?”
Denki paused in his waving to give his sole attention to the girl’s question. He scratched his head thoughtfully for a moment before answering. “Uh, to be honest, not really! But I’m a pretty good shot with a bow and arrow, why do you ask?”
The girl looked back at the others behind her and smiled excitedly. “Get him!” she shrieked.
Denki froze for a moment as the crowd surged towards him before coming to his senses and leaping off the stage to make a mad dash out of the square, an army of fangirls hot on his heels.
------
As Hitoshi strolled back to the cottage, as slowly as the hex permitted him to, he repeatedly ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. How silly of him to think he could make a stand against royalty when he can’t even defy his own step-brother.
The sound of screaming from the square persisted in abusing his eardrums and bruising his pride, almost appearing to get louder even as he walked farther away. How was that even possible?
Suddenly a body crashed into him and before he could even hope to shout in pain, a hand was covering his mouth and pulling him down to the ground behind a bush next to the dirt path.
The pounding of feet and high-pitched screams reached a crescendo as the pack of wild fangirls stormed past and then quickly faded away. Only once they sounded at a safe distance did the hand release his mouth.
Hitoshi spat one of his braids out of his mouth that had come loose in the fall and tucked it back into his ponytail with a displeased grunt before finally turning around to face his assailant.
“Prince Kaminari?” he asked incredulously.
“Not quite, Kaminari would be my late father. Please, call meー” he spoke quickly as his eyes searched the area for stray teenage threats before finally landing on Hitoshi.
Golden irises glowed with interest and the distressed look on his face rapidly changed into a flirtatious smile. “Call me Denki,” he said smoothly with a wink.
Hitoshi groaned. Nevermind, the prince was perfectly capable of being obnoxious, just as he originally anticipated.
“My sincerest apologies for that. Happens more than you’d think but I don't usually take collateral damage with me,” he rambled earnestly, seeming unfazed by Hitoshi’s scowl. “May I offer you a hand in getting back on your feet?”
Hitoshi swatted the prince’s open palm away. “I don’t need your false chivalry.”
Denki made a show of shaking out his hand and whistling slowly as if Hitoshi had scalded him. Then his easy-going smile twisted into a contented smirk. “Well if you find yourself so comfortable sitting in my lap then by all means, you may stay where you are. I personally have no complaints,” he replied smugly.
With those words, Hitoshi finally took note of his position and promptly scrambled to his feet, brushing the dirt off his gray trousers to distract himself from the warmth in the tips of his ears.
“I hope you don’t expect me to bow because you’ll be sorely disappointed,” he grumbled as he stalked away.
Unfortunately, seeing as how the heavens had never been on Hitoshi’s side, the prince persistently trailed after him with a grin, words flowing from his mouth faster than the waters of a babbling brook.
“Well you can bow to me or not, it’s entirely your choice! Not that I wouldn’t enjoy the particular sight, but there isn’t much I could actually do about it. Well…except have you hanged of course! But with a face like yours, I don’t think I could stomach the thought. Depriving the world of such beauty, it would be a crying shame, wouldn’t it?”
Hitoshi rolled his eyes and kept walking. “You really think you’re so charming, don’t you? How about you convert some of that energy wasted on fueling your incessant chatter into reforming your kingdom? Or by all means, continue to seize the land of innocents and exploit your subjects. It’s entirely your choice,” Hitoshi snapped, throwing Denki’s words back in his face causing the prince to stutter to a stop and allowing Hitoshi to evade Denki’s advances.
“Woah, woah! Hold on for a moment. Come back here, I want to hear more of what you have to say!” Denki called after him.
Hitoshi sighed deeply as his body automatically did a 180 and walked right back to Denki, placing him face to face with the prince. “As you wish, Your Highness,” he muttered dully.
Denki grinned up at him and Hitoshi had to squint for fear of being blinded. “First, tell me your name.”
“Hitoshi…of Saitama.”
“Saitama! You know, my mother was actually from here, so it holds a special place in my heart above the rest already,” Denki replied excitedly.
Hitoshi’s stubborn resolve moved an inch at the sweet comment but his expression remained cold.
“Well…Hitoshi of Saitama,” Denki continued on, “I’ll have you know, you’re the first man I’ve met who hasn’t swooned at the mere sight of me,” he drawled with another wink.
And with that comment, said resolve moved forward three inches, placing Hitoshi’s opinion firmly back in the range of ‘moments from committing treason.’
“Well, then perhaps I’ve done your ego a real service. No need to thank me,” he replied dryly, rolling his eyes once more.
Hitoshi ignored the brief feeling of remorse at seeing Denki’s bright smile drop as he turned sharply and made to walk away for good.
And yet, like a moth to a flame, Denki followed after him. “Hey! I still want to hear your grievances against me. Although I’m quite certain I never stole anyone’s land or exploited any innocents. How could I? I’ve been away at school for years! I can promise you there were no field trips in the form of conquests,” he rambled on, placing a hand over his heart once Hitoshi finally turned back to look at him. “Prince’s honor, I swear!”
Hitoshi examined his face, searching for any ill intent or duplicitous nature. Upon finding none, his hard gaze softened a degree. “So what do you plan to do once you become king?” he asked skeptically.
Denki blinked widely back at him, looking much like a deer caught in an archer’s line of fire. “Well…uh um…define ‘plan’?”
Hitoshi shook his head in disappointment. “So typical. Royals have no sense of the world outside their comfy castles or a shred of sympathy for their subjects. You only have eyes for your sparkly jewels and screaming fangirls,” he retorted, voice raising in disdain.
Denki gestured towards Hitoshi and flashed a half-smile. “And fanboys too, it seems. Good thing I’m not picky about that,” winking for a third time in the span of five minutes and successfully raising Hitoshi’s blood pressure to match his tone of voice. “But honestly, your thinly veiled hatred for me is quite the unexpected turn on, so please do continue,” he teased.
Hitoshi gasped in mock surprise. “‘Thinly veiled?’ And to think, I was trying so hard to be discreet,” he deadpanned.
Hitoshi made to walk away and finally rid himself of the prince, reaching his hand into his satchel for his compass but his fist met only empty air. “My satchel…is back there. Of course it is,” Hitoshi grumbled, turning around once more.
Before he could take another step Denki was leaping into action. “Despite your claims, chivalry is not dead! Stay right where you are, I’ll get it for you,” he insisted, grinning far too happily for a prince about to fetch an old leather bag for a peasant.
Hitoshi felt that damn tugging sensation take root in the soles of his feet, forbidding him from moving even an inch from where he stood.
Alone on the path, Hitoshi allowed himself to grip his head in annoyance and let out a strangled scream of frustration. Of course the bumbling fool of a prince would be so careless with his commands, probably having never been questioned in his entire carefree existence.
Hitoshi crossed his arms and waited, knowing better than to try and think his way out of such a clear-cut order.
He was perfectly content to stew until the sound of horse hooves and a carriage rapidly approaching interrupted his brooding.
Oh for the love of dragons.
As the carriage careened towards him, Hitoshi weighed his options.
Or more accurately, option, singular.
“Prince Denki!” he shouted down the path the prince had run down.
But no head of golden hair appeared.
Goddamnit. If he died like this he would make sure his ghost haunted the crap out of that prince.
“Prince Denki! …DENKI!”
Hitoshi decided it was better to close his eyes than to see the end coming.
Right before the carriage crashed into him, a body collided with his, using the force to throw them both off the path.
When Hitoshi opened his eyes, Denki was laying on top of him, chest heaving from the adrenaline rush, breathing quick, and searching Hitoshi’s body for injury with seemingly uncharacteristic graveness.
“Are you alright? Why didn’t you move out of the way? Do you have a death wish or something?!”
Hitoshi gazed back up at the golden eyes boring into his, and finding that he couldn’t look away answered with “I might…”
He chuckled softly at the look of deep concern passing over the prince’s face but quickly took pity on him.
“Or consider the incredibly likely hypothesis that I just genuinely enjoy being surprise-tackled by a man I barely know into the dirt. That’s the second offense today, you know,” he said sarcastically.
Denki surprised him by laughing loudly at the retort and Hitoshi would be a liar if he claimed he didn’t enjoy the sound just a little bit.
“The creativity of your tongue is truly astounding! But given our position, I do believe this must be the part where I kiss you. So maybe you should consider using that skill with your tongue differently, hm?” Denki grinned cheekily down at him, even going so far as to comically pucker up his lips and make kissy noises.
Hitoshi huffed and roughly pushed Denki off of himself, earning an undignified yelp from the prince for his efforts.
“If you’re that desperate for affection, I’m sure any number of your adoring fangirls would gladly offer up their tongues for the cause.”
Denki brushed his bangs out of his face so he could look at Hitoshi properly, his smile genuine. “Naturally. But what if I’ve grown attached to this tongue in particular?”
Hitoshi decided it was best to stop counting how many times he’d rolled his eyes this afternoon and just let nature take its course. “Then you should’ve made a better impression on the man who wields it,” he replied smartly.
And no, he was not flirting back. Simply responding to a question, thank you very much.
“I’ll keep that in mind next time I save you!” Denki said earnestly.
Hitoshi scoffed. “And in what world would there be a next time? You actually believe we’ll see each other again after this disastrous chance encounter?”
Hitoshi, like any human being with empathy, immediately felt regretful when Denki’s face fell into a sad dejected pout as if Hitoshi had kicked a pixie.
“Well, we could, couldn’t we?” the prince asked hopefully.
Before Hitoshi could respond, a familiar grating voice pierced his ears.
“Hitoshi! Come here,” Neito called, voice straining to remain sweet in front of the prince and hide his deep displeasure.
Hitoshi groaned and got to his feet, walking dutifully to stand by Neito’s side, noting Tetsutetsu and Eri’s presence with a short wave.
“What were you doing lying in the greenery with the prince? You know, the very same one we were just protesting against? Very interesting take on the grassroots movement, big brother,” Eri teased mercilessly, eyebrows waggling as she looked between the two of them.
Hitoshi tried to defend himself but Neito wrapped a hand around his wrist and pulled him close to whisper in his ear. “Stop flirting with him,” he hissed.
If Hitoshi felt a tugging sensation confirm his previous actions that was between him and the hex.
“I’m the one that’s going to marry him, remember? I’ll be the one at that coronation,” Neito continued his whispered tirade, all the while smiling at Denki who hovered uneasily at a distance.
“Yeah, in the middle of the dance floor, wearing a hat with jingle bells and juggling bean bags,” Hitoshi replied bluntly with the hint of a smirk.
Neito’s phony smile finally crumbled as he sneered back at Hitoshi. “Go home with Eri and Tetsutetsu now.”
Hitoshi’s eyebrows furrowed in annoyance but he said nothing, doing his best to ignore Tetsutetsu bugging him for details while Eri mimed, less than subtly, writing a letter and stared knowingly at Denki before jerking a thumb at her brother’s back with an encouraging smile.
“Hitoshi?” Denki called after him.
Even if he wanted to turn back, Hitoshi couldn’t. He could only obediently listen to the sickening sound of Neito sucking up to the prince as he walked away. “Oh don’t worry about him, Your Highness! I’m the real protagonist of interest here. Just walk with me and imagine it, your dashing good looks and charm combined with my wit and confidence, we would be an unstoppable royal item, if I do say so myself! Now, how many towers does your castle have exactly?”
Hitoshi swallowed thickly and shouldered on, lamenting the time when resisting the hex was the hardest thing he had to do, not convincing himself he didn’t care.