Chapter Text
A New Guardian
«"Long before I found my own name... someone welcomed me without asking who I would become."»
---
Ten years had passed since Yonaka Yumie was born into the respected Yumie Family.
Today...
She would be formally introduced as the future Guardian and successor of the Yumie Family.
---
The morning sun shone over the Yumie Family Estate.
Servants prepared the family car while Yona nervously adjusted her formal uniform.
Her mother smiled warmly.
"You're nervous."
Yona gave a small nod.
"...Yes."
Her father chuckled.
"Today isn't a test."
"It's simply the beginning of your journey."
---
Several hours later...
The Yumie Family's car entered the gates of House Lee Estate.
Cherry blossom trees lined the long stone road.
Eight family crests flew proudly in the spring breeze.
Yona looked out the window in amazement.
"...It's beautiful."
Her mother smiled.
"It has always been the home of the Eight Guardian Houses."
---
Inside the grand council hall...
The leaders of the Eight Guardian Houses greeted one another warmly.
Christopher Lee welcomed every family.
"Today..."
"Our children will meet for the very first time."
"They are the next generation who will one day protect our Houses."
---
One by one...
Each family introduced their ten-year-old successor.
When it was the Yumie Family's turn...
Yona stepped forward.
Although nervous, she bowed respectfully.
"My name is Yonaka Yumie."
"I am honored to become the next Guardian of the Yumie Family."
The adults nodded with approval.
Christopher smiled.
"Welcome, Yonaka."
---
After every successor had been introduced...
The adults remained inside for their council meeting.
Christopher looked toward the children.
"You've listened to enough adult conversations."
He laughed softly.
"Why don't you all explore the estate?"
The children happily left the hall together.
---
Yona quietly followed behind them.
The others were already chatting and introducing themselves.
Not knowing what to say...
She slowly wandered away from the group.
---
Without realizing it...
She arrived at the peaceful gardens behind House Lee.
A gentle breeze carried cherry blossom petals across a quiet koi pond.
Beneath the largest cherry blossom tree...
Sat a girl about the same age.
She was reading a book.
---
Yona hesitated.
"...Sorry."
"I didn't mean to disturb you."
The girl looked up.
She closed her book and smiled warmly.
"You didn't."
She stood and walked over.
Without mentioning House Lee...
Without introducing herself by title...
She simply smiled and held out her hand.
"Hi."
"I'm Sara."
---
Yona looked at the offered hand for a moment before smiling shyly.
She shook it.
"I'm Yonaka Yumie."
"But..."
"My family calls me Yona."
Sara's smile widened.
"It's nice to meet you, Yona."
---
The two girls sat beneath the cherry blossom tree.
They spoke about books.
About music.
About how nervous they were meeting so many new people.
Neither asked about status.
Neither cared which House the other belonged to.
For that quiet afternoon...
They were simply two ten-year-old girls talking beneath the blossoms.
Neither of them knew...
That this small conversation would become the beginning of a friendship that would last a lifetime.
Seven New Faces
«"One friend became eight. Eight strangers became a family."»
---
The spring breeze continued to carry cherry blossom petals across the quiet garden.
Sara and Yona remained beneath the tree, chatting comfortably.
Neither of them noticed how much time had passed.
---
Sara suddenly closed her book.
"Oh!"
"I almost forgot."
Yona tilted her head.
"Forgot what?"
Sara laughed softly.
"The others."
---
Before Yona could ask another question...
Several voices echoed from the garden pathway.
"Sara!"
"We've been looking everywhere for you!"
Sara smiled.
"They found us."
---
One by one...
Seven children appeared along the stone path.
Each of them was ten years old.
Each had arrived earlier that morning as the future successor of one of the Eight Guardian Houses.
---
The first to arrive was a tall girl with long dark hair tied neatly behind her head.
She carried herself with quiet confidence.
Sara waved happily.
"Nine!"
The girl smiled gently.
"There you are."
Sara walked over and pulled her closer.
"Yona, this is Nine."
Nine bowed politely.
"It's nice to meet you."
Yona returned the bow.
"Nice to meet you too."
---
Behind Nine stood another girl whose bright smile seemed impossible to hide.
She rested a guitar case against a nearby tree before waving enthusiastically.
"I'm P!"
"You can talk to me anytime!"
Yona smiled shyly.
"I'll... try."
P laughed.
"Good enough!"
---
Next came a calm girl with soft eyes.
She gave Yona a small wave.
"I'm Hushh."
"I don't talk much either."
Yona felt herself relax a little.
"...Really?"
Hushh nodded.
"So don't worry."
---
A loud voice suddenly interrupted.
"Is anyone hungry?"
Everyone turned.
A cheerful girl was already holding a bag full of snacks.
Sara sighed dramatically.
"Gunn..."
"We just met."
Gunn grinned.
"What?"
"Meeting people makes me hungry."
Everyone laughed.
Even Yona couldn't help smiling.
---
Standing beside Gunn was another girl carrying a small notebook.
She seemed to be writing while everyone else talked.
Sara pointed toward her.
"That's Sway."
Sway looked up from her notebook and smiled.
"I like writing songs."
Yona looked curious.
"You write music?"
Sway nodded.
"One day..."
"I want everyone to hear it."
---
A gentle tap landed on Sara's shoulder.
Sara turned around with a smile.
"Oh!"
"You made it."
Standing quietly behind them was another girl.
She smiled warmly but didn't speak.
Instead...
She raised her hands and began signing.
Yona watched curiously.
Sara translated with a smile.
"This is T."
"She was born unable to speak."
"But she's amazing."
T smiled and signed again.
Sara laughed.
"She says she's happy to meet you."
Yona smiled and bowed politely.
"It's nice to meet you too."
T gave her a thumbs-up.
---
The final girl came running down the pathway carrying a small paper windmill.
"I'm not late!"
"I'm not late!"
Sara laughed.
"You are."
The girl pouted dramatically before noticing Yona.
"Oh!"
"A new friend!"
She smiled brightly.
"I'm Yui!"
Yona smiled.
"I'm Yona."
Yui immediately grabbed Yona's hand.
"Come play with us!"
---
Yona looked around.
Seven unfamiliar faces.
Yet...
No one questioned her.
No one made her feel like an outsider.
They welcomed her as though she had always belonged.
---
Sara looked at everyone and smiled.
"I think..."
"This is the beginning of something special."
Nine nodded.
"I think so too."
The others agreed.
None of them knew what the future would bring.
They didn't know about music.
They didn't know about promises.
They didn't know they would one day become the legendary Eight Guardians and later stand together as ALPhaaXX.
Today...
They were simply eight ten-year-old children...
Beginning a friendship that would last forever.
📖 Volume 2 - Under My Own Name
Chapter 1 - Meeting Sara
Part 3 - The First Promise
«"Family isn't decided by blood alone. Sometimes, it begins with a promise."»
---
The afternoon sun slowly began to descend over House Lee Estate.
Laughter echoed throughout the gardens.
For hours...
The eight children explored every corner of the estate together.
They raced through flower gardens.
Fed the koi fish by the pond.
Played hide-and-seek beneath ancient trees.
Shared stories about their homes.
Even Yona, who had been nervous that morning, found herself smiling more than she ever expected.
---
Eventually...
Sara led everyone back to the large cherry blossom tree.
The same place where she and Yona had first met.
The eight children sat together in a circle.
For a moment...
No one spoke.
The only sounds were the wind and the rustling blossoms overhead.
---
Sara looked at everyone with a gentle smile.
"My father always tells me something."
The others turned toward her.
"He says our families have protected each other for hundreds of years."
She looked down at the grass.
"But..."
"I think we're the ones who'll decide what happens next."
---
Nine nodded thoughtfully.
"Our parents are already friends."
"But..."
"We should become friends too."
---
P grinned.
"Not just friends."
"The best friends."
---
Gunn raised a hand dramatically.
"And we promise to share snacks."
Everyone burst into laughter.
---
Hushh smiled.
"I think..."
"I'd like that."
---
Sway closed her notebook.
"I'll write songs about us one day."
---
Yui raised both hands excitedly.
"And we'll make lots of memories!"
---
T couldn't speak.
Instead...
She smiled and signed slowly.
"Together."
Sara had been learning sign language since she was little.
She smiled as she translated for everyone.
"T said..."
"'Together.'"
Yona watched T's hands with curiosity.
She didn't fully understand sign language yet...
But somehow...
She understood the meaning behind that single word.
---
Sara stood and stretched out her right hand into the center of the circle.
"If we're going to become the next Guardians..."
"Let's promise something."
---
One by one...
Nine placed her hand on Sara's.
Then P.
Then Hushh.
Then Gunn.
Then Sway.
Then T.
Then Yui.
Finally...
Yona looked at the seven hands waiting.
She smiled softly before placing hers on top.
---
Sara looked around the circle.
"No matter where life takes us..."
"No matter how busy we become..."
"We'll always be there for each other."
---
Nine smiled.
"As Guardians."
---
P laughed.
"As partners in crime."
---
Gunn added,
"And snack buddies."
Everyone laughed again.
---
T signed another sentence.
Sara translated.
"She says..."
"'No one gets left behind.'"
---
The eight children nodded together.
At that moment...
None of them realized how important those simple words would become.
Years later...
They would face hardships.
Distance.
Fear.
Heartbreak.
Dreams.
And battles no child could ever imagine.
Yet the promise made beneath that cherry blossom tree...
Would never be broken.
---
From the balcony of House Lee...
The adults quietly watched the children laughing together.
Christopher Lee smiled.
"It seems..."
"They've already become friends."
Yona's father smiled proudly.
"That's more valuable than any title we could ever give them."
The other Houselords nodded in agreement.
For the first time in generations...
The future of the Eight Guardian Houses looked brighter than ever.
---
As the sun disappeared beyond the mountains...
The eight children walked back toward the mansion together.
They had arrived as strangers.
They left as something much greater.
A family whose story...
Had only just begun.