Chapter Text
The sky flashed before Princess Ena’s eyes, hues shifting from blue to a deep orange as the clock on the train ticked. She frowned, picking up the cold tea on her tray table and giving it a quick stir with her pinky. It had been sitting there for what, 2 hours, now? She wasn’t hungry, her stomach aching with the thoughts she had pushed down and out of her head.
This boarding school, as her parents had called it, seemed to be the lowest she could have gone.
From private tutors and her canopy bed with silky white sheets… to sleeping in commoner facilities with probably not even a vanity for her to do her makeup. They had said little about those that she would be rooming with as well, only being told they were from foreign kingdoms.
Embarrassingly enough, she couldn’t recall the names of any. Ena didn’t leave her castle much, and certainly didn’t pay enough attention during her tiring history lessons.
What time was it now?
She turned her gaze to that irritating source of noise, watching the minute hand circle as the hour hand remained near-stationary. 23:00. Surely they would be arriving soon? She had gotten on the train in the early morning… but it had gotten dark hours ago. Due to the harsh winter that had taken a grip on the kingdoms, night approached before dinner-time and thus there was near to no way to tell her surroundings.
This season always seemed to drag by slowly, as usually Ena was forced to spend ages preparing for the solstice ball.
It took place in the Shinonome estate, which was filled with drunken nobles that somehow became more insufferable once wine was added to the equation. With every rejection she gave to those asking to dance, she could feel eyes burning into the back of her head. She could hear her parents mutter to themselves. Why hadn’t she loved yet?
…
Escaping that stuffy place might have been the sole reason Ena accepted entering this school. Located somewhere inaccessible by anything but the train that she had found no information on. Just a year, she had to remind herself.
No romance.
No expectations.
She could work for her ideal self.
Be better.
A harsh buzzing jerked her out of her thoughts, before the intercom broadcasted a static-filled announcement. “Do exit the train promptly… watch your step and be aware of your surroundings. Thank you.” The voice sounded almost robotic, but with a touch of femininity to it. Ena had heard rumors of these technological advancements being made elsewhere, but so distant that it was but a myth to the inhabitants of her kingdom.
Dragging her suitcase out of the compartment to her right, Ena joined the crowd of mismatched royals. Their attire depended entirely on the climate and colors of their kingdom, but the Shinonome Kingdom had so few children of Ena's age she doubted she would find any familiar faces. Unless… she thought with scorn, her brother decided to grace her with his appearance. She doubted it. Akito was probably too scared to go out in what she had determined was rain, for fear of ruining his leather boots.
The thought drew a quiet giggle from Ena’s lips.
She didn’t mind this light drizzle that dampened her dress and wet her hair. It was refreshing. However, gasps echoed around her. Some were asking others for coats, others simply beginning to run down the endless bridge they had been dropped off at.
Maybe it was a bit lonely to have gone here by herself. But… It didn't matter.
Their surroundings were certainly confusing. The train had disappeared as quickly as it had come in early morning, leaving behind this crowd on a rather impressive looking arch over the abyss. Most of the people had gone ahead, leaving behind Ena and a cloaked girl looking over the guardrails. From the back, she noticed every now and then the girl would let herself go limp, slipping just slightly before straightening again. Some pathetic attempt at an adrenaline rush? She asked herself, heading to her.
“You probably shouldn’t be standing so close to the edge. Sort of idiotic if you ask me.” Ena muttered, shaking her head. The girl seemed to flinch, turning her head as her hood slipped off.
She was strikingly beautiful and familiar.
It filled Ena with disgust.
Refined features and nightshade eyes that stared at her through her television daily. Flyway strands of her hair escaped, quickly pushed behind an ear by a manicured and soft hand. That hair was tied in a high ponytail with a ribbon, falling down her exposed shoulders in soft curls.
That gaze was one only belonging to the Asahina kingdom. Most wealthy and prosperous of all, fueled toward success by their only princess.
Every day, Mafuyu Asahina was in the spotlight.
Fundraisers, sitcoms, advertisements, Ena had seen it all. That smile that at one point she had spent hours mimicking was now present about half a meter in front of her. God dammit…
“Ah, you must be… forgive me, I don’t know your name. Certainly from the Shinonome kingdom?” The princess clasped her hands together, bowing her head in apology. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“-Eh-” Ena felt her pride wither, taking her words with her. Of course miss famous wouldn’t bother learning the name of a lesser being like herself. “Princess Ena Shinonome, actually.” She snapped, twisting the toe of her heeled shoe back and forth on the ground. Perhaps that came out a bit rougher than she intended.
“Right!” Mafuyu’s eyes shimmered, her tone sugar-sweet. Ena stifled a dry laugh. Ridiculous.
The brown-haired girl couldn’t find the right words, so she ended up staring down into the abyss. The silence felt stifling in itself, her breathing quickening.
Without a word, Ena turned away and stalked in the direction the mass had disappeared into.
Her steps echoed in the silence, followed by the delicate clicks of Mafuyu’s heels behind her. Ena kept up a quick pace, trying to shake her off, but this girl was oddly persistent.
In front of them, the haze slowly began to unveil itself. The shapes of an elaborate structure silhouetted themselves against the sky, encloaked in shadows. She was finally able to assume that they were at their destination.
“Breathtaking, isn’t it?” Mafuyu said, shooting a soft smile in Ena’s direction. She very much matched their ethereal surroundings, despite that the rain would have made most people look like wet rats. Her hair, only slightly dampened, framed her inexplicable happy face that she always seemed to wear. Ena scoffed and broke into a run, weaving her way into the commotion and leaving the girl behind. Her hand rubbed her flushed cheeks. Mafuyu’s voice lingered in the air as the brown-haired girl listened to bits and pieces of other conversations, her heart pounding with a mix of adrenaline and bewilderment. And something else entirely, although she wasn’t sure what it was.
Suddenly, Ena looked up.
A grandiose building stood before her, tall dark spires reaching toward the black sky. Towers twisted upward, forming intricate swirls that seemed to move out of the corner of her eye. In those towers were windows which shone with warm light, the silhouettes of furniture labelling them as dormitories. The cobblestone walls were weathered but maintained a regal appearance, century-old vines creeping through their cracks.
The crowd had gathered at a gigantic set of double doors, which creaked open to let them in. Ena’s wet shoes squeaked against the tile, the stark contrast in environment making her grateful to escape the cold.
However, she thought, as she was pushed and jostled to the side by indecent strangers. Being stuffed in here with a ton of random people wasn’t that pleasant.
Ena clutched her suitcase closer, observing the entrance hall for any indication of how to continue.
The interior was just as elaborate as the outside. There were crystal chandeliers hanging from angled ceilings, they cast a light that reflected off the polished floors. Portraits of past rulers and famed individuals lined the walls. They wore stern expressions, and left Ena pausing to observe them.
There were just the faintest glints of life in every art piece, something she knew was extremely difficult to get right. The paint seemed high quality and had retained its brilliant color after what must have been thousands of years. She reached out a hand and faintly traced a brush stroke, before a high pitched voice made her jump back in fear of breaking a rule.
“Are you an artist..?”
Before Ena stood someone probably her age or just a few years her senior. The girl had sunflower-yellow hair tied into a short ponytail. Her sweater-vest bore the crest of the Shinonome kingdom. So Ena could have seen this person when she was younger.
“Ah… I’m…”
What was Ena?
Did she like art?
That wasn’t the right question to be asking herself. So stupid. Of course she liked it.
But… was it something she could like?
“No.”
“That’s a shame…” The blonde replied. “Personally, I quite enjoy it. I’m Rin, I’m one of your prefects.” She grinned warmly. “I’m a royal painter. You don’t see us much outside of school.”
“…right.”
The conversation left Ena reeling, she had no time to collect herself before she was launched into the next part of this endless process.
"First years, this way please!" That voice from the intercom echoed across the room, casting it into silence. A younger adult stood at the center, carrying an air of authority that left Ena in awe. She wore a suit jacket along with black dress pants, and had striking blue hair in pigtails. How was it… unnatural?
Speaking of…
How was that prefect, Rin’s, hair unnatural?
Were they those automatons that were only briefly discussed in Ena’s kingdom when she was younger?
“Welcome to SEKAI. One of the most well performing boarding schools throughout all the kingdoms, and the most prestigious of all. You’re lucky to be here.”
The woman inhaled, falling into a short
“…just go up the staircases. Your uniforms display your dorm group on the crest.”
Ena looked down toward the pile of clothes she had been haphazardly handed while walking in, seeing the sweater vest sitting on top. A badge was sewn in, reading:
Shinonome
Nightcord
“Nightcord…” Ena repeated to herself quietly, her eyes flickering around the room until she caught sight of a sign matching that word. It hung above a grey stone staircase.
As she moved toward the staircase, she caught glimpses of other faces and colors. It was pure chaos, and it rendered the chance of seeing anyone she had met before near impossible. However, there was a new face that caught her attention. Cast in shadow by the hood of a cloak, grimacing. The hair that fell down their back was pin-straight and an icy blue.
They stepped onto the first step toward the Nightcord dormitory, and they collapsed. Their hair flourished into the air for a brief second from the impact.
This was probably the most insane day of Ena’s life.
“Someone’s passed out!” She yelled, her voice hardly heard over the commotion in the hall. She tried squeezing her way through the masses to get to the presumed headmaster, but the blue haired woman was so far away that she feared it would take too long. Looking at the frail girl, she was certain that wouldn’t be wise. This left her in a major predicament.
Ena sighed heavily, kneeling down to feel her temperature. She wasn’t a medic at all. How was she out of all people the one who got stuck doing this?
Footsteps behind her made her pause. They felt… familiar.
Her.
Ena’s stomach began to tighten.
“Need help?” Mafuyu asked with a thick layer of concern coating her voice. “This looks like a vasovagal episode. She leaned down. “…her vitals are stable.”
“Go back to your dorm.” Ena retorted.
“…this is my dorm.” There was a hint of amusement in her tone.
Ena paused, only managing to stammer a pathetic “R-really…?” before sinking down and hiding her face.
What were the odds?
Out of the hundreds of other students…
She had the worst luck, Ena decided. Now, there was a vague memory pricking at her from before. Yes… one of the kingdoms that her roommate would come from… was the Asahina kingdom.
But did it have to be her?
Ena stood up, wiping beads of sweat from her forehead and combing her hands through her damp hair.
“Can you help her?” She chose to say with a sigh.
Mafuyu nodded.
Together, they lifted the unconscious girl. She was concerningly light, and her cloak billowed around them as they tried to wrangle their way through the crowd. The journey was awkward, filled with tense silence and the occasional complaint by Ena.
"The infirmary should be..." Mafuyu paused, glancing around. "This way."
They turned down a dimly lit corridor, their footsteps echoing against the stone walls. Ena had no idea where she was, blindly following the princess. The girl in their arms stirred slightly, signifying her return to consciousness, but they continued on.
Abruptly, the purple-haired girl paused. "I know her," Mafuyu said softly. Adding on, she said, “not well, but…”
"That's the girl from the fallen kingdom. She's… a Yoisaki." She trailed off, biting her lip slightly to recall past memories. “A curse runs in her family. I’ve studied its effects in my classes. It’s said to have originated with her mother.”
Ena paused, looking at the hazy eyes of the girl she held. She carried a fragility to her, something so incredibly lady-like Ena’s parents would be proud. But it didn’t seem like something good to the Yoisaki girl.
They finally reached the infirmary, a candle-lit room with beige striped curtains and the sharp smell of antiseptic. A nurse hurried over, her automaton joints clicking softly as she moved. Apparently the staff here just… was robotic.
It didn’t shock Ena as much anymore.
"What happened?" the nurse asked, helping them lay her on one of the beds.
"She collapsed on the stairs," Ena explained, stepping back. "We don't know why."
The nurse nodded, already checking the vital signs. "You two can go. I'll take care of her."
Ena turned to leave, but Mafuyu lingered for a moment, her eyes fixed on the girl’s pale face. There was something in her expression that Ena couldn't quite read - something genuine.
Before she could analyze it further, Mafuyu turned away.
"We should find our dorm room," she said, her usual cheerful tone back in place. But something about it seemed more strained than before, faint lines creasing her porcelain skin.
Behind an arched doorway was their dorm room, a modestly sized space with wooden flooring. It creaked under Ena’s flats, making her cringe internally at the accommodations. It certainly was a downgrade, given that on top of the sheen of dust on the furniture, she would also have to be sharing a bunk bed with someone else. Maybe… she could make the most of it. There was a bed in optimal lighting, pushed against the left wall. It was in the same position as her old sleeping quarters, so she was spurred on partially by nostalgia when she moved towards it.
And promptly, Mafuyu sat down on it and began to slide off her silver heels.
“I-” Ena sputtered, this girl always seemed to choke her and twist her words so that they came out in a jumbled mess. She struggled to think of anything around her (because of her hatred, it was very debilitating!), and now on top of her mental turmoil Mafuyu had stolen her bed.
She stalked over to the lower bunk across from Mafuyu’s (hers) and threw her bag onto it. Across from her the purple-haired girl had begun unpacking her suitcase, placing a pristine mirror on the shared nightstand. Catching sight of her own reflection, Ena groaned. Her thick hair had frizzed in the rain and begun to defy gravity, along with the ribbon of her cloak that had gone crooked in a way that made the tails of the bow stick up. And little miss perfect was already changed into a nightgown when she looked back.
It was made of a purple satin, ending around her knees and flowing into soft ruffles. Mafuyu looked really freaking pretty. Objectively.
Ena felt envy gripping at her chest, reaching to untie her own cloak and take out her pajamas. She had taken into account that she would be rooming with stuffy royals such as Asahina. Thus, the nightgown chosen for herself would far outshine any other. It was laced with gold worth millions of gems, and was custom-tailored to accentuate every detail in her body. It would bring Mafuyu to shame-
Ena looked down into her suitcase which she had ripped open onto the ground. She too had brought a mirror, an essential for every princess, but it wasn’t in one piece. She reached down to inspect the broken contents but a sharp shard of glass slit the pad of her index finger open. She yelped and clutched her hand, cursing under her breath. This was terrible. Mortifying.
“Are you alright?” Mafuyu asked with concern, her head snapping up from her careful unpacking.
“My mirror…s-shattered,” Ena griped, running her non-bleeding hand down her face. “The glass is everywhere in my suitcase.”
“Let me see.”
“It’s-”
Ena’s protest died in her throat as Mafuyu stepped over the suitcase and sat way too close next to her. Had this princess heard of boundaries? Her lavender eyes were cast down to Ena’s injured finger, taking it in her soft hands and turning it over to inspect it. Ena felt her heart jump slightly with every new touch, discontent growing. God, she was insufferable. And this was beginning to make her cheeks heat up, in such a way that she wanted to turn away and hide.
Finally, Mafuyu exhaled and let go, taking a strip of gauze and wrapping it around the wound. “Nothing bad. Don’t worry.” She said with a smile.
“I’m not worried.”
She just looked at Ena in a way that made Ena grip the bed sheets slightly tighter, wincing as her cut ached in response. She looked back to her suitcase. The nightclothes were just within reach, as long as she braced herself and tried to avoid getting injured again she could probably…
As her hand reached down it was caught by Mafuyu, who shut the suitcase and turned to her. “You’re going to hurt yourself.” She reiterated gently. “Don’t try taking anything out until you can clean up the shards.”
“Do you expect me to sleep in this?” Ena muttered, shame washing over her as she once again looked down to her dirtied cloak and gown. She froze as Mafuyu carelessly threw her one of her gowns. It was of a similar material and pattern to the one she wore, but yellow.
Ena gripped it with caution, afraid the slightest touch would somehow ruin it. “I can’t just… this is yours.” Something about this felt incredibly intimate, and it scared her.
“You needed a nightgown.” Mafuyu says simply, her shining eyes bewildered.
Ugh. The brown-haired girl bit the inside of her mouth and changed into it, there was a pounding in her heart that hadn’t let up in a while. Anxiety. Hatred. Whatever it was, it pissed her off.
As Ena finished changing into the yellow satin gown, she couldn't shake the strange tension hanging in the room. Mafuyu was now lying on her side in bed, her smile replaced by a serene neutrality, but beneath it, Ena could feel the strange pull of something else— something intriguing yet unsettling.
She tugged the gown over her frame, the fabric clinging to her in a way that felt foreign but somehow familiar. It wasn’t her gown. It wasn’t her. It was someone a little too kind, too intimate for her taste. She turned away with a sigh, ignoring the quickening of her pulse with every movement.
Mafuyu’s voice, tired and gentle, broke the silence.
“You look beautiful.”
The words hung in the dusty air, and for a brief second, Ena felt herself falter.
Her fingers curled around the edges of her thick comforter, treating it as a lifeline. “Stop it,” she muttered, too exhausted to even question why the compliment felt like a thousand mosquitoes buzzing inside her chest. She hated it even if she didn’t understand it.
The girl across from her turned to face her. “Tomorrow will be better, I’m sure of it. At least, it can’t get any worse, right?” She giggled.
Ena glanced over at her roommate, her heart still racing at every breath. That laughter like the soft clinking of wind chimes? Everything about Mafuyu felt so... effortlessly perfect. It frustrated Ena to no end. Her heart wasn’t supposed to be tugged in all different directions.
“I’ll just... sleep, then,” Ena muttered, avoiding eye contact as she settled onto the lower bunk and pulled the blanket over her face to hide her reddened cheeks.
Sleep fell over her like a weight, stifling her racing mind for once and allowing her only the most simple of thoughts.
She was here to escape expectations…
Why was she drowning in new ones?
Around that princess… she had to be better. Somehow defy that perfection. That was why she had declared her a rival.
“…you’re beautiful, Ena.”
“…beautiful…”
“Ena…”
Why did that voice keep chiming in her mind? It was like her remaining bits of consciousness clung to those three words and held them tight, refusing to think of anything else.
Ena couldn’t decide if she hated them as much as she wanted to.