The girls and Yuki arrived in Celeste's suite, taking seats. Nika turned to Yuki, a bit uneasy. "Thanks for joining us, Yuki…”

  Yuki settled into a seat, nonchalant. "No problem. I've got some free time anyway. So, what did you want to chat about?”

  Nika fidgeted, unsure where to start. "Well... We're curious about your life as a member of the Xerosi Clan. We've heard it's pretty extreme even from birth, and we're interested in learning more about it, if you're willing to share.”

  Yuki leaned back, her expression still cool. "Yeah, I can share, if you really want to know. It's pretty intense, though...are you guys sure you're ready to hear about it?”

  The girls exchanged looks, curiosity piqued. Nika spoke up, trying to be sensitive. "We're aware it might be a heavy topic, but yes, we're genuinely interested in learning about your experiences as a Xerosi. If you're comfortable sharing, of course.”

  Yuki nodded, a hint of a smirk. "Alright, if you're game. Don't say I didn't warn you, though. It's not a pretty story…”

  The girls braced themselves, preparing for what was to come. Nika gave a determined nod. "We understand. Please proceed, Yuki. We're all ears.”

  Yuki leaned back, her gaze steady. "Alright. Let's start from the beginning. From the moment you're born, you're basically thrown into training. No baby talk or cuddles for us. From day one, you're training. We're taught combat skills, weapons handling, strategic thinking, and stealth techniques. It's intense and relentless. No time for anything besides training until you hit age 10.”

  The girls listened intently, intrigued and slightly horrified by the early training. Nika spoke up, trying to keep the conversation going. "Wow, that sounds...harsh. No childhood at all, huh?”

  Yuki nodded, her tone matter-of-fact. "Pretty much. We don't get to experience normal childhood stuff. It's strictly training and learning until we turn ten. After that, it's the same routine, but also learning to control our emotions and suppress our feelings. Emotions are seen as a weakness, you see. We're taught to be fearless, cold, and emotionless killing machines.”

  The girls exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of concern and shock. Nika tried to keep her voice steady. "That... That's intense. So no room for emotions or attachments at all, huh?”

  Yuki shook her head, her expression cold. "No room at all. We're taught that attachments, emotions, and soft feelings will only hinder our performance as assassins. We're meant to be ruthless tools of the clan, nothing more.”

  Rachel couldn't help but interject with a hint of sarcasm. "Wow. Sounds like a real fun childhood...no love or nurturing. But you seem pretty peppy to me so far, so what's up with that?”

  Yuki smirked at Rachel's comment, amused by her slight sarcasm. "Oh, I may seem peppy, but don't be fooled. I'm good at concealing my emotions, especially in public. But inside, I'm just as cold and calculated as any other assassin in the clan. I just know how to put on a good show while I'm at it.”

  Nika leaned forward, intrigued. "So you're saying you're masking your true emotions with a more outgoing persona?”

  Yuki nodded, her smirk still in place. "That's right. I've learned to put on a confident, nonchalant facade to hide my true nature. It's part of the act, a way to catch people off guard when they think they've got me all figured out.”

  Rachel raised an eyebrow, curious. "So, it's like you're playing a role. But like...do you ever feel anything genuine, or is it all just an act?”

  Yuki shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, I can feel things, sure. Small things, like satisfaction or annoyance. But deep emotions like love or sadness? I've been taught to suppress them, to lock them away. They're chinks in the armor, you know?”

  The girls nodded, understanding the gravity of Yuki's words. Nika spoke up, trying to understand more. "So...do you ever feel loneliness or isolation? You know, not having any real friends or attachments?”

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Yuki's smirk faded for a moment, but she quickly reeled it back in. "Oh, there are days when loneliness hits. It gnaws at you like a dull ache deep inside. But I've learned to bury it, to keep it hidden. Emotions are dangerous. They make you vulnerable, and vulnerability is the enemy for an assassin.”

  Alice, unable to hold back her curiosity any longer, spoke up timidly. "But...how do you deal with that loneliness? Doesn't it get really tough and…hurt?”

  Yuki's smirk widened, masking any vulnerability. "Oh, it does get tough, no doubt. But it's part of the job. We're taught to channel that pain, to use it as fuel for our training. It fuels our strength, our focus. So yeah, it hurts, but I've been hardened to it. It's just part of the life I live.”

  The girls were taken aback by the harsh reality of Yuki's existence. Zalgo, in an attempt to find a silver lining, asked, "But surely you have some moments of joy, even if fleeting, right?”

  Yuki thought for a moment, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, I guess there are some moments. Small things, like the feeling of successfully completing a difficult mission. Or the rush of adrenaline during a challenging fight. But it's fleeting, you know? It's not the same as the warmth of real relationships or genuine love.”

  Nika, feeling a mix of sympathy and concern, asked, "What about...your family? Your biological parents, I mean. Do you ever think about them, or miss them even a little?”

  Yuki's expression hardened again, her voice toneless. "Oh, I don't think about my parents. They're just names on a document. They didn't love me, they didn't raise me. The clan is my family. My upbringing was in the hands of trainers, not parents. I don't know anything about my blood parents, nor do I care.”

  The girls were taken aback by Yuki's indifference towards her biological parents. Zalgo, unable to hold back her emotions, blurted out, "But...how? How can you not care at all? They're your parents, your blood, your creators…”

  Yuki's expression remained cold, her eyes hardening further. "Biologically, maybe. But they're not my parents. They're just two strangers who happened to bring me into this world. But the clan, my trainers, they're the ones who shaped me into the assassin I am today. They're the ones who matter, not some strangers who passed down their DNA.”

  Alice spoke up timidly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But...what about Akari and Akumu, your little sisters? Do you feel differently about them than your biological parents since they're also in the Clan with you?”

  Yuki's expression softened slightly, her smirk replaced with a small smile. "Oh, Akari and Akumu...they're different. We share a bond, you could say. We've shared similar upbringings, gone through the same rigorous training, and faced the same challenges. We're united by our clan and our shared experiences. It's a different kind of connection compared to blood families. It's a bond forged in fire and sharpened by bloodshed.”

  Nika, sensing Yuki's slight change in tone, seized the opportunity to dig deeper. "You seem...softer when you talk about them. Is there a special bond between you and them, beyond just being clan members?”

  Yuki's smirk softened into a small, genuine smile. "You noticed, huh? Yeah, there's something special about my bond with Akari and Akumu. We've been through a lot together, you know. Grew up together, trained together, and have fought together. There is a sense of closeness, a bond formed through shared experiences and mutual understanding. It's still not the same as a traditional family, but it feels close enough.”

  The girls exchanged glances, taken aback by Yuki's softened demeanor. Nika, encouraged by the shift, cautiously continued. "So...you care about them, huh? Like...you love them, but as siblings, right? Not romantically or anything…”

  Yuki chuckled lightly, amused by the implication. "Oh, definitely not romantically. That's a different kind of nonsense. They're like my little sisters, my partners in crime, you might say. I may not be very expressive, but there's a bond there, a sense of loyalty and protection. I'd go through hell and back for them.”

  Rachel nodded, a bit more relaxed now that the conversation was getting more comfortable. "Okay, at least you do have some sort of connections and attachments, even if it's not the typical family. And if that bond's enough, then I guess you're not completely...emotionless, right?”

  Yuki smirked again, her usual cool demeanor returning. "Oh, don't mistake it. I've been trained to suppress my emotions, to focus on the mission, to be cold and calculated. Emotionlessness is my default state, but that doesn't mean I'm always devoid of emotion. Small things can slip through the cracks, especially when it comes to those close to me.”

  Alice's curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "So...why exactly are you participating in this tournament, Yuki? What are you in it for?”

  Yuki leaned back, her smirk widening. "Oh, the tournament? It's a chance to prove myself, to test my skills against others. It's a chance to show my clan and my sisters that their training was worth it. Besides, winning brings its own rewards, doesn't it?”

  "Wait, your sisters?" Alice blurted out. "As if...they're here, participating in the tournament as well?"

  With impeccable timing, Marco's voice boomed through the window as he made his announcement. "Attention, all! I hope you're enjoying your break, as the next match of the tournament will begin shortly! The opponents?"

  The girls gathered around the window, watching Marco from above.

  "On the south corner, we have... Akari Xerosi!!”

  Nika peeked out the window, her curiosity piqued to see Akari. "Huh, so one of Yuki's little sisters is about to fight?”

  Rachel leaned closer to the window, eager to see Akari in action. "Yeah, looks like it. Let's see what kind of fighter Akari is and who she's up against.”