Ryo crouched behind a wall, his heart racing as he waited for someone. He was quite literally stalking, though he wouldn't dare admit it. "No backing out now, Ryo. We're doing this, okay? Okay?" he muttered to himself, trying to muster the courage.
He was tailing Fujita Tadashi, following him like a shadow lurking in the dark. But he wasn't alone in this task; Ravenna trailed behind him, and she showed little regard for being discreet.
"Sir, if I may," Ravenna piped up.
Ryo barely glanced away from his target as he replied, "What is it, Enna?"
"Well, you could just walk up to him and talk," she suggested casually. Then, suddenly curious, she added, "Wait, Enna?"
"Don't sweat it. It's a hassle to say 'Ravenna' all the time, it hurts my tongue. Plus, I think it suits you better," Ryo shrugged, trying to keep things light. Ravenna offered a conflicted nod but chose not to argue further.
"Also, I'm tailing him because it would be embarrassing to just talk to him in front of all these people." Ravenna pressed her hands to her mouth, suppressing a laugh.
"Forgive me, sir, but I always thought you were a critical thinker, someone capable of making rational decisions. But it seems when you're nervous—"
"I'm not nervous!" Ryo shot back. "I'm just trying to consider his, uh, reputation. I mean, he's quite the looker, he must be popular with the ladies, right? Asking to meet privately in front of all these people might give the wrong impression." Ryo knew how silly he sounded, even to himself. "You know what? Never mind. Screw it." With renewed determination, he stepped out, ready to confront Tadashi. As he walked away, Ravenna watched him with a soft smile; these past three days, Ryo had seemed a little brighter, a bit more welcoming.
"Hey Fujita! Um, can I speak with you?" Ryo called out, trying to sound casual.
Tadashi turned and smiled warmly, as if talking to a friend. Ryo was taken aback; the boy radiated a friendly aura, a sharp contrast to his previously cold demeanor. Could this really be Tadashi's true self? Ryo couldn't help but wonder.
"Yeah, sure," Tadashi said, Ryo pointed towards a secluded area. "Oh, I see. Okay then." Ryo felt an unexpected pang in his heart; this exchange felt oddly intimate, like a high school love confession. He silently prayed no one would misinterpret it.
...
"You've been standing there for the last five minutes. I'm curious about what you wanted to say," Tadashi remarked, the hint of impatience obvious in his voice. The silence between them had grown heavy, and Ryo, who had instigated this moment, remained frozen, his serious demeanor intensifying.
This is so embarrassing! How am I supposed to bring this up? I want to make it right, but whenever I feel like I can say something, the embarrassment takes over. I didn't realize I was this prideful.
Ryo steeled himself and broke the awkward silence. "I haven't introduced myself, have I?" he asked, wiping the bead of sweat that dripped down his forehead and forcing a smile.
"Not that I'm aware of, no," Tadashi replied.
"Well, I'm Kobayashi Ryo. Uhh, pleased to meet you… I guess." Ryo faltered, uncertain about the proper way to navigate these introductions but determined to push through.
"Nice to meet you too… Ryo," Tadashi said, catching Ryo off guard.
"Already on a first-name basis, huh?" Ryo rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Ryo continued, "I just wanted to apologize for running away the other day when you were being so nice to me. It was uncool."
"Oh, I see what this is about. I accept your apology," Tadashi said, a wry smile flickering across his face. Ryo extended his hand for a shake. "So we're good now, no more bad blood? We're no longer enemies?"
"Enemies? What made you think we were enemies? Was it because of the mock duel?" Tadashi's response shocked Ryo. Had he really been the only one to perceive tension between them? It made sense, he realized, given how Tadashi had spoken to him that night; it wasn't realistic to be enemies, just a reflection of Ryo's own pettiness.
Noticing Ryo's contemplative silence, Tadashi seized his hand, still hanging awkwardly in the air. "Friends, okay?"
"Friends?" Ryo echoed, bewildered by Tadashi's unexpected friendliness.
"Yes, friends. Or do you not want to be?" Tadashi's expression faltered, and Ryo quickly reassured him. "No, it's cool. I was just a little surprised. I guess we're friends then… Fujita." He hesitated to use Tadashi's first name, feeling a sudden wave of shyness.
Tadashi smiled warmly. Ryo couldn't help but think that this was a far cry from their first encounter.
†
It has been a week since my return to the training grounds. Initially, I felt rusty after my previous slacking off, but now I've shaken off the cobwebs and am feeling more motivated than ever. I discovered that Kardia Beast combat training had commenced during my absence, and we've been continuing with that training now.
Mei has been somewhat distant lately. It seems she has risen to the top of the rankings as the most promising candidate among our lilies. It stung a bit to see her achievement, but I've come to terms with it. The top three spots are occupied by Fujita Tadashi in third, a foreign salaryman named Gregory in second, and, of course, Arakawa Mei at the top, As for me I ranked eleventh. Mei's popularity has drawn swarms of admirers, especially girls around her age, and even some boys. I know her well enough to sense that the attention overwhelms her, it probably reminds her of her life before this place. And I'm not jealous after all, I'm not a people person, seeing so many people around could easily become stifling for her.
Despite her success, Mei hasn't developed strong alliances with the other girls. There is, however, one exception, Svetlana Smirnov, an eccentric character who seems to have forced her way into an alliance with Mei. Svetlana frequently praises both herself and Mei, referring to them as "chosen ones" of sorts. I don't know how she managed to befriend Mei, but ever since their alliance formed, our communication has dwindled. I would've thought she'd want to check in on my progress, but maybe she has lost hope that I'll be able to form my own alliances. Of course, I won't let that bother me; I have a friend of my own. It's not like I care whether she chooses to talk to me or not.
---
Today marked the long-awaited opportunity for the Lilies to venture beyond the confines of the facility, a day off. A mixture of nerves and excitement filled the air as everyone buzzed with questions about what life outside would be like. Ryo, however, remained indifferent. To him, it was just another day, but he acknowledged that a change of scenery could do wonders for the mind. Besides, he was eager to visit the food stall Vallia had shown him.
That's right, that girl could be lurking around somewhere, better keep my guard up.
After taking a refreshing bath, he enjoyed the meal prepared by Ravenna before heading out. As he exited his room, Ravenna waved and said, "Have a good day, sir." He turned back, his expression unchanged, and replied with a nod, "Yeah, I will. Thanks."
Following the crowd as they departed, he was struck by how vast a crowd of around seventy people truly seemed. Spotting Mei and Svetlana exiting, he noticed Mei catch a glimpse of him. For a fleeting moment, she smiled and waved, and Ryo felt an unexpected blush creep across his cheeks. Confused, he quickly averted his gaze to avoid her eye contact.
"Hey, Ryo! You doin' alright? I heard ya guys are headin' out for the first time today, ain' that right?" Kaito called out, approaching Ryo just as he was about to leave. His maid chased after him, breathless. "K-Kaito-sama! You keep disappearing whenever I look away!"
Man, these two are just so odd. They get along pretty well, I guess. I'm a weirdo too, so I'm not really one to judge.
"Yeah, I'm heading out now. See you later!" Ryo said as he walked away.
"Yup, see ya later! Wait, he just said 'see ya later,' didn't he?" he mused, glancing at Emily, who was still catching her breath.
"Yeah… he did."
"Alright, let's head out too, Emily!"
"Eeeeeh?"
...
At the entrance of the Isle, most of the lilies congregated, dressed in casual attire provided by their servants. They had been instructed to leave their weapons behind, and each was given a sigil indicating their origin from the Isle, designed to resonate with their Kardia gram, symbolizing the darkness scenario. Most of the lilies had trained diligently, succeeded to The next rank in their Scenario's progresion, while Ryo's initial advantage of being summoned first had all but vanished. The group gasped as their wrists glowed, including Mei's, but nothing happened for Ryo. He realized he was not part of the darkness scenario, which explained his sigil's failure. He reassured himself that its purpose was merely for identification.
"Alright, let's do this," Mrs. De Montclair, their instructor and tour guide, announced. Each month, they received Aurum coins for their stay; after three months, they had accumulated thirty coins, roughly equivalent to 300,000 Yen. Though Ryo carried only ten coins in his pocket for safety, he felt secure enough to venture out.
As they approached the Kardia Magia stairs leading to the city, some marveled at the view while others trembled, peering into the abyss below.
"Are we really supposed to walk on this? Is it sturdy enough to support our weight?" a woman in the crowd questioned.
"It's completely safe, I assure you," Mrs. De Montclair replied, as she stepped onto the stairs, prompting the others to follow.
Once in the city, most stuck close to the instructor while Ryo discreetly slipped away, eager to find the market.
"I can't believe I actually got away! Time to grab something to eat. But if I head that way, won't I run into that strange girl again?" he muttered.
"Now that I think about it, she was odd—her friendliness and knowledge of Japan felt off. But she did help me once, so even if she's—"
"Nyuuuuuuu!!!"
Speak of the devil is actually a thing?
Turning to see Vallia, he was surprised by her Different appearance, a tall woman with regal features and mirthful eyes, her attire unmistakably reminiscent of the petite girl he remembered.
"You're looking at me like you don't recognize me—nyu."
"Is that really you... Vallia?"
"Hey! I told you, friends call me Lia, remember?"
Ryo took a step back, bewildered. What exactly was he looking at? His mind raced with questions. Did time flow differently in this world compared to the Isle? Was this some sort of illusion? Or worse, a dream?
"Wait, how? What is this supposed to be?"
"Nyu? Oh, my appearance? This is just how I look, my true self. But it takes a lot of Kardia Magia to maintain it."
"What are you, really?"
"Ehehe, a lady must have her secrets~ nyu."
Ryo sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration. "My head hurts from all of this. Just so you know, I don't trust you one bit."
"That's fine~ nyu! You wanted to eat, didn't you? Come, come! I'll show you another amazing native dish they serve here."
"Okay, sure. But I have to ask: what exactly do you do here? Do you live here, or something?"
"Something like that. Now let's get going~ nyu!"
Just as they were about to head into the market, Ryo heard a familiar voice.
"Hey, Ryo!"
He turned toward the sound, surprised to see Tadashi calling out to him, with Mei and Svetlana following close behind.
"Rrrrgh."
Did she just growl? What is she, a cat? Ryo couldn't help but wonder about Lia's reaction.
"Hey, Ryo! Who are they?" Lia asked, her earlier enthusiasm evaporating.
Ryo hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. "They're friends."
"Friends?" Her expression shifted to one of suspicion and disapproval. She retreated, hiding behind Ryo, though it was hardly effective given her height, she was nearly as tall as he was.
What is she doing? Is this the part where she gets shy when meeting a stranger? Nothing about her adds up,
Ryo thought, placing a hand on his forehead.
"We've been looking for you, Ryo," Tadashi said, gesturing toward Mei and Svetlana, who stood beside him. "I noticed you slipped away from the crowd, and it seems I wasn't the only one."
Svetlana, the blonde Russian, followed Mei to search for Ryo, but her deep emerald eyes remained fixed on Mei as she admired her outfit. The two girls wore stunning clothes: Mei was dressed in an oversized, chunky-knit grey sweater dress adorned with a prominent cable-knit pattern and wide ribbed cuffs. She complemented her look with translucent black tights and ankle boots, her hair loosely braided to the side, an ensemble that suited her perfectly. Svetlana, on the other hand, wore a long-sleeved off-shoulder blouse with a wide collar, a brown tie, and halter straps, paired with high-waisted brown trousers. The outfit accentuated her confidence.
"I must say, Mei, you look absolutely incredible in those clothes! Of course, you do; I picked them out for you. Someone of your stature should look no less than fabulous," Svetlana declared, her excitement evident as she opened her arms for a grand presentation.
"Lana, stop! You're embarrassing me!" Mei protested, a blush creeping across her cheeks.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about! Hold your head high as you walk beside me. I should be the one worried that your beauty might overshadow mine. Isn't that right?" Svetlana asked, glancing at Ryo and Tadashi, who responded in unison, "Y-yeah."
"By the way, Ryo, who is that?" Mei inquired, her gaze fixed on the girl clinging to Ryo's back, glaring at them as if casting curses.
"Um, this is... Vallia," Ryo stammered.
"Nyu! Don't give the enemy my name, Ryo-nii!" Vallia squealed, clearly displeased.
"Nii? What kind of relationship do you both have?" Tadashi asked, curiosity piqued, while Mei leaned in with interest.
"Well, she's practically a stra—" Ryo hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "She's a friend of mine."
"Have you two met before? How? Weren't we all summoned together on the Isle?" Tadashi asked, his confusion deepening.
"It's a long story. Just join us, we're off to eat," Ryo replied, weary of the conversation.
"Mei, we can't linger with these suspicious men any longer. I have no idea what he might have done with that girl if we hadn't arrived. He seems to have brainwashed her into submission. I don't trust him one bit, look at those baggy eyes and that nonchalant demeanor. I've dealt with criminals like this back in my home country," Svetlana whispered to Mei, believing they were out of earshot.
"We can hear you, you know?" both Ryo and Tadashi pointed out.
"Look, I had a light breakfast because I was hoping to sample the food stalls in the city. You're wasting my precious time! Either you all come with me, or get lost," Ryo said, annoyance creeping into his voice as he turned away, Vallia still clinging to him. She stuck out her tongue at the others in mockery.
"This girl..." Mei muttered with a glare and a shaky smile.
"Alright, we're coming!" Mei finally said, and they all followed Ryo.
...
After hours of exploring the city's food stalls with Vallia as their guide, Mei had warmed up to her. Vallia had an undeniable knack for forming connections. As evening approached, Ryo noticed a familiar face ahead, and that person spotted him too. Soon, Mei approached them, it was none other than Koki.
"Kobayashi!" he shouted, beaming.
"That's me," Ryo replied.
"Kobayashi!" Koki repeated.
"In the flesh."
"Kobayashi!"
"Okay, this bit has gone on long enough," Ryo said, trying to rein in Koki's excitement. Koki leaped to hug him, but Ryo dodged, sending Koki crashing into Mei. Svetlana promptly kicked Koki away. "How dare you try to assault Mei! Explain yourself, peasant!" she snorted.
"Ouch... so mean, all of you," Koki muttered from the ground.
"Who is this, Ryo?" Tadashi asked, hurriedly.
"It's…" Ryo hesitated, looking at Koki.
"It's a friend," Ryo said reluctantly. Koki stood, tears in his eyes, arms outstretched as if for a hug.
"RYOO!!!!"
But everyone turned their backs and walked away, leaving his arms hanging.
"Hey, wait up!" Koki called out.
"Jeez, you seem even more insufferable after just three months." Mei added
"Mei, do you know this Man?" Svetlana asked knowingly.
"Yeah, we're acquainted, but he's from another isle, the thief scenario."
"How do you know each other? What are we missing here?" Tadashi added.
"Okay, Fujita, let me explain," Ryo said, ready to unfold the story.
...
"I see, so that's why. You must have had it rough. I'm sorry if I brought back bad memories," Tadashi said sincerely.
"No, it's alright; we've moved on," Mei reassured him.
"I can't believe that creature put Mei at risk. What if he had ruined her beautiful face?" Svetlana chimed in, ever self-absorbed.
Everyone sighed.
After proper introductions, Which Ryo took the lead in conversation.
"Let's continue sightseeing; there's a great place that sells tea~nyu," Vallia suggested eagerly.
When they arrived, three familiar faces lounged outside the store.
A woman with tawny brown hair and golden eyes, a girl with a brown ponytail in a gray off-shoulder sweater over a lace-trimmed top, and another girl with red hair in a white graphic T-shirt and denim shorts.
"Wait, what?!" Ryo exclaimed, taking in the scene. "Why do we keep running into everyone? I'm tired of introductions!"
"Whoa, Ryo! Mei! Koki! I didn't expect to see you all here, but I guess it makes sense since we just bumped into each other," Tsukiko said, smiling at them, as radiant as ever.
"No way! It's really you guys! I guess today is just one of those days," said the girl in the ponytail.
"Um, who are you again?" Mei asked, but then her eyes widened in recognition. "Akari? Is that really you?"
"Wait, that's Akari?" Ryo and Koki echoed in unison.
Tadashi and Vallia were overwhelmed by the situation. They had so many questions, but Svetlana placed her hands on their shoulders, shaking her head in a way that conveyed her inner conflict.
"Come on, guys, you're embarrassing me! It hasn't been that long since we split up," Akari brushed them off with a light chuckle.
They were all taken aback by her transformation, not just in appearance but in her speech as well. There was no trace left of the shy, nervous girl they remembered.
"I was surprised at first, too, but there's not much we can do about it," Hitomi interjected, thoughtfully considering Akari.
I guess people can change, sometimes much faster than you think, Ryo mused silently.
"So, are you going to introduce us or...?" Tadashi awkwardly attempted to redirect the wandering conversation.
"I'm back with the tea ladies!" a voice interrupted them. A guy appeared, holding a tray of servings.
"Oh great, more unknowns," Tadashi said, visibly stressed.
"Thanks, Todd," Akari replied with a smile.
Ryo felt an immediate aversion to this newcomer. Something about him just didn't sit well.
"Alright, let's do the introductions. Hitomi, Akari, Tsukiko, these are our friends, Vallia, Fujita, and Ms. Smirnov. meet the other members of our specific chapter," Ryo said, doing his best to facilitate the introductions.
"Okay, now that that's out of the way, mind telling me who that guy is?" Ryo asked, gesturing toward Todd.
"Oh, he's a friend of mine from The Cleric's Isle. This is Todd," Akari explained. Todd stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"Sorry if I was being rude. I'm just Todd, I don't have a last name," he said with a friendly smile.
"I-I see. Well, it's a pleasure," Mei stammered. "So, what exactly were you guys getting up to—"
Thud.
"I hear something. Everyone, be quiet!" Tadashi interrupted, cutting off Akari.
*Thud... Thud...
The sound grew louder. Suddenly, Ryo realized Vallia was missing.
"Where's Lia?" Ryo asked, looking at Svetlana.
"That strange girl was here just a second ago. Did she get bored and—"
"Can I have your attention, citizens of Griown?"
A loud voice rang out, a woman's voice that resonated with an unsettling authority. A chill swept through their group as they listened.
"This city will be brought to the ground, as declared by the leader of the Order of Thorns. I suggest you evacuate, but I guess it's too late for that. Tough luck for you idiots who indulge a false god, khahahahaha!"
Her laughter was so vile that it grated on their ears, and soon the citizens of the city began to flee in panic.
The sound of a heavy thud reverberated through the air, accompanied by The unsettling voice that resonated from the heart of the city, drawing closer to Ryo and his companions.
"Hey, what's going on? This isn't funny!" Ryo shouted, his voice tinged with a mix of fear and urgency.
The ominous voice continued, dripping with malice: "This city is now at the mercy of the Order of Thorns."