The grand hall of the kingdom shimmered beneath the morning sun.

  Crimson-and-gold banners hung high along the marble walls, fluttering softly as a gentle breeze slipped through tall, arched windows. Servants moved with practiced efficiency, laying out golden chalices and polished platters atop long oak tables. The faint scent of roses mingled with candle wax and incense, creating an oddly comforting—but undeniably regal—atmosphere.

  At the center of the hall, standing upon a raised dais, was the kingdom’s hero.

  His white hair glinted like freshly fallen snow under sunlight pouring through stained glass. His red eyes burned quietly, steady and intense, like molten rubies restrained by discipline alone. A pristine katana rested at his side—its white sheath adorned with red roses, a strip of crimson cloth tied neatly around it. Every step he took carried calm precision, a refined grace that commanded the attention of everyone present.

  The king cleared his throat.

  The murmurs in the hall faded instantly.

  “Today,” the king announced, his voice echoing across stone and glass, “we honor the bravest hero in all the kingdom. This warrior has defended our lands, our people, and our very way of life. We are proud to reward him for his unparalleled courage!”

  Applause thundered through the hall.

  The hero bowed deeply toward the royal family. His katana shifted slightly as he moved, releasing a soft metallic whisper as it slid a fraction from its sheath before settling back into place.

  As the king stepped forward holding a golden medallion, the hero’s gaze flicked—sharp and sudden—toward the far corner of the hall.

  Something pulled at him.

  A boy stood quietly near the side doors, half-hidden among servants and attendants. Simple clothing. Unassuming posture.

  Akitsu Shouga.

  “There…” the hero muttered under his breath.

  An urge surged within him—an almost instinctive need to cross the hall and speak to the boy. He took a step forward—

  Only to be blocked.

  Nobles shifted. Guards repositioned. Attendants moved with perfect, unintentional timing, forming an invisible wall between him and the corner of the hall.

  “What’s happening…?” he thought, frustration tightening his chest.

  Why can’t I reach him?

  “Enjoy your reward,” the king said, fastening the medallion around the hero’s neck. “Your bravery has brought pride to the kingdom.”

  The hero bowed stiffly, his attention never fully leaving the corner of the hall.

  But when he looked again—

  Akitsu was gone.

  Melted into the crowd. Vanished without a trace.

  Outside the castle, the sun hung high, warming the cobblestone streets.

  Akitsu walked alongside Kaoru and her family through the bustling plaza, keeping his posture relaxed and his presence unremarkable. Merchants shouted cheerfully from their stalls. Children darted between adults’ legs. Nobles laughed loudly over matters of no consequence.

  A group of noble children noticed him.

  They wore silk trimmed with gold, smug expressions twisting their young faces into cruel smiles.

  “Well, well,” the tallest sneered, stepping forward, “what do we have here? A poor boy daring to walk among us?”

  Another boy lunged forward, attempting to trip Akitsu.

  Akitsu stopped.

  His red eyes narrowed—not in anger, but calculation.

  Calmly, he placed one hand on the first boy’s shoulder and tilted him just enough.

  The boy stumbled forward and landed face-first in a puddle of mud.

  Gasps rippled through the crowd.

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  “Oops,” Akitsu murmured, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve.

  “I guess clumsiness is contagious.”

  The others rushed him—hands grabbing, bodies pushing.

  None of them landed a hit.

  Akitsu moved effortlessly, ducking and sidestepping with unnatural precision. Each attempt ended with nobles crashing into one another or stumbling into their own servants. Wine spilled. Pastries shattered. Silk robes were ruined beyond repair.

  Kaoru stared, eyes wide.

  “Shouga-kun… how are you doing that?”

  Akitsu smiled faintly.

  “It’s easier to avoid trouble than to fight it.”

  A third noble, face flushed red with humiliation, stomped toward him.

  “You dare humiliate us?!”

  Akitsu tilted his head, expression placid.

  “I don’t dare,” he said calmly. “You simply made it easy for me.”

  The boy took another step—slipped on spilled wine—and fell hard.

  Instinctively, Akitsu caught him by the arm and helped him back to his feet.

  The noble stood there, silent and mortified.

  Kaoru grabbed Akitsu’s sleeve and pulled him away, giggling.

  “You’re amazing! They didn’t stand a chance!”

  Akitsu smirked.

  “It’s not about standing a chance. It’s about knowing how to survive.”

  As they walked back toward Kaoru’s mansion, Akitsu’s thoughts drifted back to the hero.

  Why did he try to reach me?

  What was that feeling…?

  At the mansion, Kaoru’s parents greeted them immediately, fussing over both of them.

  “You’re back early,” Kaoru said, her eyes sparkling. “Did those spoiled brats give you trouble?”

  Akitsu shrugged.

  “They learned their lesson. I suppose that’s one way to start the day.”

  Kaoru’s mother smiled warmly.

  “You’re very brave, young man. Kaoru is lucky to have you looking out for her.”

  Akitsu shook his head.

  “I’m just… trying to keep her safe.”

  Kaoru looked at him with open admiration.

  “You’re amazing, Shouga-kun. I’m glad we met!”

  Akitsu allowed himself a faint smile—a rare, genuine one.

  Far above, within the castle hall, the hero stood before the king.

  “Father,” he said quietly, fists clenched, “I… I saw him again.”

  The king raised an eyebrow.

  “Who, my son?”

  “The boy,” the hero replied. “The one at the edge of the hall. Akitsu Shouga.”

  The king frowned.

  “What about him?”

  “I don’t know,” the hero admitted, voice tight. “There’s something about him… I can’t explain it. I need to find him.”

  The king sighed.

  “He’s just a common boy. Do not let this obsession cloud your judgment.”

  The hero’s red eyes burned brighter.

  “I can’t ignore it, Father. I have to know.”

  But the boy was already gone—swallowed by the crowd and the world beyond the castle walls.

  That evening, Akitsu sat by the window of Kaoru’s mansion, watching the sun dip slowly below the horizon. Shades of orange and purple painted the sky.

  He thought of white hair and red eyes.

  Of a pull he couldn’t explain.

  Kaoru approached quietly, brushing his shoulder with her own.

  “Shouga-kun… what are you thinking about?”

  Akitsu smiled faintly.

  “Someone I can’t reach… for now.”

  Kaoru narrowed her eyes, playful yet sharp.

  “Are you thinking about someone else, or just overthinking again?”

  He chuckled softly.

  “Maybe a little of both. But for now… I’m safe here.”

  Somewhere high above, within the castle, the hero stared toward the same horizon.

  His red eyes burned.

  His hand tightened around the hilt of his katana.

  I’ll find him, he vowed silently.

  Somehow… I’ll find him.