Chronarch World
Konoha — Cherry Blossom Garden
Petals drifted lazily through the air, carried by a gentle spring breeze.
Beneath a towering cherry blossom tree, Akira lay stretched out on the grass, one arm tucked behind his head, the other resting loosely by his side. Sunlight filtered through layers of pink petals above him, scattering soft shadows across his calm, handsome face.
A short distance away, two familiar figures moved about busily.
The two Yamanaka Ino—one from Chronarch World, the other from Vivienne World—were setting up a picnic with practiced coordination.
Cloth was spread neatly over the grass, containers opened, food arranged with surprising care. Their movements mirrored one another so closely that, at a glance, it was difficult to tell who was who.
Akira, meanwhile, appeared to be fast asleep.
Or at least, enjoying the illusion of it.
"Hey, Akira," one of the Ino suddenly spoke, breaking the tranquil rhythm of the moment.
She straightened, hands on her hips, and looked toward him with narrowed eyes.
"You're not actually asleep, are you?"
Akira didn't respond.
The other Ino rolled her eyes. "He never is."
A brief pause followed, then the Ino from Chronarch World hesitated, her expression turning thoughtful. She glanced at Akira again—really looked this time.
"…Akira," she called, her tone quieter now. "What's your life expectancy?"
That question finally earned a reaction.
Akira's eyelids twitched slightly, though he still didn't open them.
Ino continued, her voice edged with curiosity—and concern.
"Are you still an immortal?" she asked. "Before… you said you could live for at least thousands of years."
The petals kept falling. The breeze kept blowing.
Akira remained silent for a moment, the dappled shadows of cherry blossoms swaying gently across his face.
Then he opened his eyes slightly and asked calmly,
"Why are you asking this?"
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Both Yamanaka Ino—from Chronarch World—and Yamanaka Ino—from Vivienne World—fell silent at the same time. Their hands paused mid-movement as they arranged the food, fingers tightening just a little.
For a brief second, neither of them spoke.
Then Ino of Vivienne World broke the silence, her voice quieter than usual.
"Akira… are you going to marry?"
Akira turned his head, looking at the drifting petals above him. He nodded once.
"Yes," he said simply. "I'm thinking of getting married this year."
The air grew tense.
Both Ino stiffened, their expressions changing almost identically—nervous, restrained, as if bracing themselves for something inevitable.
Finally, Ino of Chronarch World spoke, trying to keep her tone casual but failing slightly.
"If… if I'm not intruding too much," she asked, "who are you going to marry?"
This time, Akira didn't answer.
He closed his eyes again.
One second passed.
Then another.
Then a full minute slipped by in complete silence.
During that minute, both Ino felt their hearts tighten. Their breaths became shallow, their expressions carefully controlled yet undeniably anxious—as if the weight of their entire future hung on the next words Akira would say.
But inside Akira's mind, there was no hesitation.
Only regret.
Specifically—regret directed at a certain raven.
Yatagarasu… you bastard, Akira cursed inwardly.
Today had been planned carefully.
Painfully carefully.
He had intended to propose—to both of them—at the same time.
The plan had been simple.
A picnic beneath the cherry blossoms.
A quiet afternoon.
The warmth of the sun as it began to descend.
Then—at the right moment—Akira would give a signal.
Yatagarasu would descend from the sky.
And with him—two rings.
That was how it was supposed to happen.
Akira had even accounted for uncertainty. He had warned Yatagarasu beforehand that plans might change, that timing was delicate.
But, now Yatagarasu was nowhere near his senses.
Slowly, Akira opened his eyes again.
The cherry blossoms continued to fall, indifferent to his dilemma.
---
Akira looked at the expressions on both Ino and finally smiled.
"Well," he said calmly, "although I've decided to marry, I don't yet know whether the two beautiful, extraordinary women I am in love with would accept my proposal."
The moment the words left his mouth, both Ino felt their hearts flutter. It was as if happiness had exploded inside their minds—sudden, overwhelming, almost unreal.
Still, they held their composure, forcing their expressions to remain steady despite the storm inside.
The Ino from Vivienne World tilted her head slightly and asked, pretending to be casual, "Then… who are these two lucky women you're in love with?"
Akira knew it. Both side already had the answer in mind.
But this wasn't just about the answer.
This was Akira's test—of words, of sincerity, of everything he had learned in the eighteen years of his previous life. It wasn't that Ino would reject him if he spoke plainly. He knew that.
Yet Akira also knew this much—he was already crossing a line. Proposing to two people. At the same time. Asking them to walk the same path together.
If he was going to be selfish… then at the very least, this moment deserved something unforgettable.
---
Akira listened to Ino's question, then slowly pushed himself up from the grass.
He coughed twice—lightly, almost theatrically—drawing both of their attention.
Then he lifted one hand and snapped his finger once.
For a split second, the world blurred.
When the haze cleared, Akira was no longer dressed in his casual clothes.
Instead, he stood there in a refined, almost storybook-like outfit—half knight, half prince. Dark fabric traced with subtle silver patterns clung neatly to his frame, a short cloak resting over his shoulders, simple yet dignified. It wasn't ostentatious, but it carried a quiet nobility.
Before either Ino could fully react, Akira stepped forward.
He knelt on one knee.
The cherry blossoms drifted between them, petals settling softly against the grass.
Akira lifted his head and looked at both Yamanaka Ino—his gaze steady, sincere, unguarded.
"Your Highnesses," he said, a faint smile touching his lips, "two princesses standing beneath the same sky."
His voice wasn't loud, nor dramatic—but it carried weight.
"The moment this knight first met you," he continued, "I didn't realize it at the time… but I was already lost. Not to beauty alone—though you both have more than enough of that—but to the way you lived, laughed, argued, cared… to the moments that quietly became my happiest without me noticing."
He paused briefly, eyes softening.
"The time I spent with you wasn't extraordinary because of battles or power," Akira said. "It was extraordinary because it was simple. Because it was real."
He placed one hand over his chest.
"So this knight makes a selfish wish," he said gently.
"To protect both of you—not just in this life, but beyond it. Through the years to come. Through life… and death… and even the next turn of the wheel."
A faint, almost imperceptible pressure stirred the air.
Akira raised his other hand.
Karma–Karma no Mi—Eternal Reincarnation
Light gathered—soft, iridescent entirely something else. Two rings slowly formed above his palm, spinning gently. Their surfaces were etched with intricate, unfamiliar patterns, flowing endlessly into one another, as if no beginning or end existed.
Just looking at them gave rise to a strange sensation—like fate itself had been given shape.
Akira noticed their gazes linger on the rings and continued quietly,
"Your Highnesses… these are the Rings of eternal reincarnation."
He extended them forward.
"No matter how many lives pass," he said, "no matter how many worlds separate us, fate will always bring us back together. To meet again. To walk again. To live again."
"A thousand lives," Akira finished softly.
"A thousand worlds.
And not once… apart."
The petals continued to fall.
Akira straightened after finishing his speech.
"So then," he said, maintaining the solemn tone of a knight addressing royalty, "your Royal Highnesses—would you accept the proposal of this knight?"
For a moment, the world seemed to freeze.
Both Ino stood completely still. Surprise flickered across their faces first—pure, unfiltered. Then happiness bloomed, warm and overwhelming.
Beneath it all, there was a trace of mischief, as if they had been waiting for this moment far longer than they were willing to admit.
The Ino from Vivienne World was the first to move. She placed one hand lightly against her chest, lowered her head with exaggerated grace, and smiled.
"Your Highness, the Prince," she said softly, eyes shining, "this princess gladly accepts your offer."
Almost immediately, the Ino from Chronarch World followed suit, mirroring the gesture with a playful elegance of her own.
"Well," she said, her voice carrying unmistakable warmth, "this princess, too, has already fallen in love with your noble self. I would be honored to accept."
Akira let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
One by one, he reached out. First to one Ino. Then to the other.
Carefully—he slid the rings onto their fingers. The mysterious patterns shimmered faintly as they settled into place, as if acknowledging their new bonds.
The moment it was done, Akira stood there for half a second longer— Then, without warning, he turned around and dropped back onto the grass beneath the cherry blossom tree, arms behind his head, eyes shut tight, pretending to be fast asleep.
Inside, however, his mind was in complete chaos.
This is it? That's it?
I practiced all of this and still forgot half the lines?
I'm a single guy—how am I supposed to know how to do this properly?!
Petals continued to fall.
Not far away, both Ino exchanged a glance. Then they smiled.
They returned to preparing the food as if nothing extraordinary had happened—though the rings on their fingers caught the sunlight every so often, reflecting quiet promises.
"KRA!"
A sharp cry echoed overhead.
Akira's eyes snapped open.
"…Perfect timing," he muttered.
In the next instant, he vanished. A heartbeat later, he reappeared midair beside Yatagarasu, grabbed one of the massive raven's legs, and swung it upward with all the frustration and embarrassment he'd been holding back.
"KRA?!"
The action barely affected Yatagarasu—but it did wonders for Akira's pride.
That evening, laughter filled the Cherry Blossom Garden. A small celebration turned into a lively party.
And later that night, Akira invited both Ino to his home. No grand ceremonies. No formalities.
Just a simple, self-cooked dinner— A quiet, awkward, heartfelt beginning to something that would last far longer than a single lifetime.
---
Author's Note
Hello everyone. I hope you're all doing well and staying healthy.
First of all, please forgive me if this part feels a little awkward. To be honest, I don't even know whether what I've written is good or bad, whether it feels too cheesy, or whether it's too far from reality. But, well… you can't really blame me.
I'm 20 years old and still single. And if I had to describe my relationship with women, it would probably be like two magnets with the same charge—North Pole to North Pole. No matter how close they get, they just push each other away.
This is actually my first time writing a scene like this, especially one involving dialogue of this kind. All of my "experience," if you can even call it that, comes from watching movies or reading novels. And even then, I don't usually read novels from this genre. Most of the time, I read Chinese cultivation / sci-fic novels, and for the past year, I've been deeply into fan fiction.
So everything you see here is the result of what I've learned during my 20 years of single life, combined with imagination and secondhand experience.
If there are any senior brothers or sisters reading this who feel that something is unrealistic or awkward, this junior humbly welcomes your advice. I'll gladly revise it to make the scene feel closer to reality.