---
Kiyoto lay on the bed, eyes closed, feeling like he had been crushed by a mountain.
Finally, he opened his eyes.
White ceiling.
Quiet room.
Then a calm voice came from the side.
"Oh. You're awake."
Kiyoto turned his head.
Yukina sat beside the bed, silently reading a book.
Kiyoto blinked.
> How long was I unconscious…?
Yukina didn't even look up from her book.
"About an hour. Ichiro was the first to wake up."
Kiyoto's eye twitched.
> Don't tell me Mizuki spent the whole time with Ichiro while I was dying…
He rolled around on the bed dramatically.
Then rolled some more.
Then kept rolling until he rolled over the edge of the bed.
Yukina sighed quietly.
Kiyoto sat back up. "So… did you stay here the whole time? Or maybe Mizuki visited me?"
Yukina shook her head.
"No."
Kiyoto's face dropped.
"…Oh."
Yukina added softly, "But Elaria did."
Kiyoto looked up quickly. "Really!?"
"Yeah." Yukina stood and handed him a small bag. "She said to give you this. To thank you for saving her life."
Kiyoto took the bag.
"Chocolate?"
"Elaria made it herself," Yukina said before leaving the room.
Kiyoto stared at the chocolate, surprised.
Then he got up and walked out as well.
---
Jealousy and Chocolate Disaster
Mizuki spotted him immediately.
"Oh. You're awake," she said, like it didn't matter at all.
Kiyoto noticed she was sitting right next to Ichiro.
He clenched his fist, jealousy burning.
He forced a fake laugh.
That was when Princess Elaria noticed him.
"Oh! You're awake!"
Kiyoto nodded. "Yeah."
She saw the chocolate bag in his hand and looked away shyly.
"Oh… you have my chocolate. How did it taste?"
Kiyoto froze.
He hadn't eaten it yet.
But he couldn't say that.
So he opened the bag… took a piece… and ate it.
His face turned purple.
> This… doesn't taste like chocolate at all…
Elaria leaned in excitedly. "Well? Isn't it good?"
Kiyoto swallowed painfully and forced a smile.
"N—no… this is… b-bad."
Elaria's lips trembled.
Then—
She burst into tears.
"I made it just for youuuuu!"
Ichiro sighed. "Unbelievable."
Mizuki patted Elaria's back. "That's Kiyoto for you… He can't lie to save his life."
Kiyoto panicked. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Elaria cried even louder.
Kiyoto sighed. It was going to be a long day.
---
Babysitting the Princess
Time passed.
The team's mission was simple but exhausting:
If Elaria went to the bathroom → Mizuki had to follow.
If she went outside → Ichiro had to follow.
If she went shopping → they all carried her bags.
"Let's goooo!" Elaria shouted, running again.
Ichiro sighed. "This is a waste of time. I should be training. That masked guy said there's someone stronger than him."
He threw all of Elaria's bags onto Kiyoto.
"You three watch her. I'm going to train."
"Wait—!" Kiyoto tried to call out, but Ichiro vanished.
"What a drag…"
Elaria began calling him again. "Kiyoto! Come here!"
Kiyoto sighed even harder.
---
Nightfall
Back at Elaria's mansion, Kiyoto collapsed onto the couch.
"Ugghhhh…"
Yukina sat next to him quietly. Mizuki came in after putting Elaria to bed, and flopped down on the floor.
"I don't want kids when I grow up," Mizuki groaned.
Kiyoto stood up suddenly.
"Okay! Time for me to train!"
Yukina raised an eyebrow. "With what?"
Kiyoto dropped to the floor and did 100 push-ups in seconds.
Then 100 sit-ups just as fast.
Yukina sighed. "That's… your training?"
"Yep!" Kiyoto grinned. "I'm not useless. I have to try."
Yukina lowered her gaze. "You remind me of myself… a little."
Kiyoto blinked. "What do you mean?"
"…Nevermind."
Before he could ask more—
BOOOOM!
The house shook.
Kiyoto jumped to his feet. "What was that!?"
Yukina and Mizuki woke up instantly and ran outside.
Four men stood in the yard.
One of them held Elaria by the arm.
She was screaming.
"KIYOTO!!!"
Kiyoto rushed forward and threw a punch—
But the man caught it effortlessly and kicked Kiyoto hard in the stomach.
Kiyoto flew back and hit the ground.
Yukina charged next.
"First Form — Tidepiencer!"
A wave of cutting water surged toward the enemy—
But the man roared, blowing the attack apart and sending Yukina flying.
Kiyoto stood up again, blood dripping from his lip.
He dashed forward and punched the man square in the stomach.
The man coughed blood and stumbled back, shocked.
> Why is his punch so strong!?
He flew backward.
Kiyoto ran to Elaria. "Are you alright!?"
The enemy stood again, wiping his mouth.
"A lucky shot," he said. He removed his jacket and cracked his knuckles.
"Give me your name."
"Kiyoto Arakane."
The man grinned.
"My name is Number 1. And I'm going to take you down."
Kiyoto stepped forward.
He knew he couldn't win.
But he also knew what he had to do.
"Yukina! Mizuki! Take Elaria and RUN!"
Yukina shouted, "What about you!? You're just immortal!"
"That's the point!" Kiyoto yelled. "If YOU fight him, you'll die! But me— I can't die! GO!"
Yukina clenched her teeth, grabbed Elaria, and ran with Mizuki.
Number 1 smiled wide.
"Good. Let's end this quickly."
Kiyoto tightened his fists.
> Even if I can't win… I can buy them time.
And then—
The real fight began.
---
Character Card
Ichiro Natsume — Age 16
Ability: Fire
Weakness: Overheats and burns himself if he uses too much fire
Favorite anime character: Naruto
---