The wind whispered softly through the trees as the moon hung low over Reikoku. On the quiet balcony of the Kaneko residence, Zuzu stood, arms folded over the railing, yawning deeply.
He blinked at the horizon, eyes barely staying open. "It's almost dawn… I'm sleepy," he muttered, rubbing his eyes.
The cold breeze ruffled his hair, making it sway gently as he let out another tired sigh and turned to go back inside—
Only to freeze mid-step.
Daita was standing there, leaning casually against the wooden post just beside the doorway, arms crossed, half-shadowed in moonlight. His sharp eyes were already on Zuzu, glinting faintly.
Zuzu blinked. "Huh—Seventh Prince… You?!"
Daita smiled faintly, stepping out of the shadows. "Shall we talk a little before you yawn again, shall we?"
Without hesitation, Zuzu rushed to him, eyes wide with questions. "When did you come back? I thought you wouldn't be able to return today! But where were you these two days?!"
Daita stepped toward him, his expression unreadable. "I'll explain that later….Now hurry up, we have to leave. We've got a long way to go."
"Go where?… Return to the capital?" Zuzu asked, brows knitting.
Daita gave a small hum of confirmation.
"But our work here isn't done yet! You haven't even gotten Grandpa to agree—!"
"I got the message… from His Majesty," Daita interrupted coolly. "He demands our presence in two days, leaving everything behind. He's furious."
Zuzu's eyes widened. "What?! He's furious? Is it because you came here without reporting first?"
"Maybe," Daita replied dryly. "That's one reason."
"…Another reason—" Zuzu hesitated, "….is it because today is the Second Bloom and you're not present there?"
Daita gave a nod, then turned slightly to look back at him. "Exactly. So… let's hurry. Besides, I really need to discuss some things with the Crown Prince."
"But—but what about Maihima? You wanted to spy on her, right?"
At that, Daita casually pulled a small scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Zuzu. "Leave this behind. I wrote that you had to leave immediately due to something urgent."
Zuzu took it and exhaled in relief. "Ah… That means I don't have to be a woman anymore. Thank heavens. I can go back to being myself again."
Daita patted him on the shoulder with a sly smirk. "Don't get too comfortable. Who knows when you'll need to be a woman again?"
Zuzu froze. "What?!"
The sky was painted in soft streaks of orange and purple, the horizon trembling with the first breath of sunrise. A chill breeze stirred the air, tousling Astra's hair as she stood with her arms crossed, staring at Ryoma.
Kaen stood beside Ryoma, his arms stiff at his sides, expression tight with concern, his eyes flickering from Astra to Ryoma as if trying to intervene without stepping forward.
Farther behind, Shion and Seiya stood silently. Shion leaned against a tree, his flute still, brows furrowed in rare seriousness. Seiya's gaze didn't waver from the pair ahead—he watched with the sharp focus of someone waiting for an explosion.
Ryoma's voice finally broke the silence, low and cold.
"Astra… how many times has this happened?"
Astra blinked and looked down, counting her fingers. "Umm… there was once in the forest… then on the rooftop… or wait, does that time with the river count? Then there was—"
"You can't even count, can you?" Ryoma snapped, his tone sharper now. "Why? Because you've dragged so much trouble behind you, you don't even know the number anymore."
"Ryoma, as I said, this time it wasn't like that—"
"I don't want to hear it anymore." His eyes flashed, voice rising with frustration. "I've had enough of your reckless, stubborn nature! You're out of control—each passing day you just keep doing whatever you want without thinking!"
Astra sucked in a breath and threw her arms up, exhaling sharply, her voice rising to match his. "Then why don't you stop trying to control me?! I've had enough of it too!"
Ryoma's eyes narrowed, voice quiet but sharp like a blade. "You never think. You just act. Do you have any idea what kind of danger you could've landed in again? Always going against us, Do you expect whenever you do those things ending up In danger someone will save you always!"
Astra flinched, his words cutting deeper than any blade could. Still, she stood her ground, her voice rising with each word.
"I didn't ask anyone to follow me! I don't need to be saved or scolded like some child every time I make a choice! You think I am going against your ways?! I never wanted to be in your way!"
Ryoma's jaw tightened. "Then why do you keep putting yourself in danger?! Why do you always do the opposite of what I tell you? Is it pride? Stupidity? Or do you just enjoy seeing people get hurt trying to protect you?!"
Her breath caught. "I never asked anyone to protect me!"
"But we do!" Ryoma snapped, voice sharp with frustration. "Because you're reckless! Because you don't know when to stop! Because every time something happens, you're at the center of it—dragging the rest of us in!"
She stared at him, speechless, as he added coldly, do you really enjoy dragging people into your mess like a burden no one asked for? If yes then…maybe you should be alone. That's the only way you'll stop ruining everyone's peace around you."
That shattered the last of her restraint.
"…Fine," she said, voice hollow. "If that's what you think of me, then I'll make it easy."
Ryoma blinked, but she was already turning away.
"I'm leaving. I don't want to trouble you or my family anymore." Her voice wavered only at the end. "I don't want to be a burden who drags everyone around her into trouble. From now on… I'm not going to be staying with you all… after all, I'm just a trouble."
Shion's eyes widened slightly in disbelief, and even Seiya flinched at her words, brows furrowing with something unreadable.
Ryoma turned his head away instantly, but his fingers curled tightly into a fist at his side.
Kaen stepped forward, his voice urgent, "Astra, do you even realize what you're saying? Don't say stupid things! You know Ryoma, right? He doesn't mean those words, he's just—he's angry!"
"I don't know whether he means them or not…" Astra cut in sharply, her voice trembling, "But it really feels like he hates me—hates me to the core! And that… that makes me hate him more!"
With that, Astra turned sharply on her heel and started walking away, her fists clenched, shoulders stiff.
"Astra, wait! Just—!" Kaen called after her, stepping forward.
But she didn't stop.
Ryoma's eyes followed her, his jaw tightening. Kaen turned to him desperately. "Ryoma! Stop her! She doesn't know what she's talking about!"
Still frozen, Ryoma didn't move.
"RYOMA!" Kaen shook his shoulder sharply. "Are you seriously going to let her go like this?"
That snapped him out of it.
Seiya stepped in as well, voice sharper than usual, "Astra! Stop—are you crazy? Where do you think you're going?"
But Astra didn't even glance back.
Ryoma cursed under his breath, dragging his hand across his face in frustration. Then without a second thought, he took off after her, sprinting as the first rays of dawn casting long shadows ahead.
Ryoma caught up in a rush, and without a word, he reached out and firmly grabbed Astra's wrist, pulling her to a stop. She gasped, stumbling slightly as he turned her toward him, his grip unyielding.
"Where are you going?" he asked, breath visible in the cold air, eyes locked onto hers. "Leaving us?"
Astra twisted her arm, trying to break free, but his hold was too strong. "Anywhere!" she snapped. "Because you don't want me in the family—like always! You think I'm a burden. A trouble."
Ryoma's brows furrowed, jaw tightening. "My words didn't mean it that way."
"But you—" she started, voice rising.
"He's right," another voice interrupted.
They turned to see Seirou approaching slowly from the shadows, arms crossed, expression unreadable. His calm voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"And you know it too," he said quietly, eyes fixed on Astra.
Astra tensed, her throat tightening. "Know what?"
"That Ryoma didn't mean it the way it came out. That you're not a burden, and we've never thought of you that way," Seirou replied.
She looked away, hugging her arms. "Then why does it always feel like I am?"
Ryoma opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't then Seirou, said stepping closer. "Because you keep running before anyone can tell you otherwise."
"I'm not running," Astra said, barely above a whisper. "I'm just tired. Tired of feeling like I'm the odd one out. The orphan girl who just tags along."
"You're not just tagging along," Kaen said, stepping up beside Ryoma, his brows furrowed. "You're part of this family. We all chose to keep you close—not out of pity, but because we care."
Astra bit her lip, shaking her head. "I don't want to stay anymore. I'm not a child anymore. I don't want to keep making you all angry or worried or—"
Shion cut her off sharply, his tone colder than usual."You say you're not a child, but now you throw a tantrum and threaten to leave. Astra. That's recklessness."
Seiya joined him, his voice low and tight. "You're hurting us by saying you'll leave. Can't you see that? It's making me angry."
Astra looked between all of them Seirou's stillness, Kaen's pleading eyes, Shion's firm stance, Seiya's clenched fists and her gaze finally rested on Ryoma, who hadn't spoken again, but looked like he was holding back something heavy.
Ryoma's grip on her wrist tightened slightly, and his voice finally broke through the chaos.
"Stop being stupid now," he said, firm but quiet. "You're not going anywhere. That's final."
Astra froze.
"You were, are, and will always stay with us. No matter how reckless or stubborn you get, you're still one of us," he added, eyes locked onto hers.
Astra turned her head slightly, her eyes still glossy but a small, stubborn spark lighting up again. "Alright. I'll stay…"
Everyone exhaled in quiet relief.
"…but only if you do something for me," she added.
Ryoma narrowed his eyes. "What now?"
Astra looked straight at him, voice steady. "You have to accept me in the group… and teach me the sword dance yourself. Like before."