The grand All-of-War Battle finally ended as Yukiha Marissa with her Roaring Dragon clan become the winner. She defeated the last Participant, Arya with his Winged Crimson clan in the battlefield. Their fight was, if in summarized is in 'Equal ground', they fighting in the middle of the battlefield and keep exchanging blow.
The title Goddess of War having difficulties to defeat the red knight, Arya. It's become the hot talk with their fight as a talk topic. Because at that time The Red Knight able to thrown her away a few times, is the undefeated Yukiha will be defeated today? However, the reality is cruel. When their fight became more intense, The Red Knight unable to receive the attack from the Goddess of War and defeated in the end.
The loud cheers exploded by each person in front of their hologram panels, in the home, store, and much more. They really feel it unbelievable that the Goddess of War still keeps the seat of Champion. At the same time, when this event was finished, the next events are Dance Party which being held at the Academy. The next awaiting events by the students all around.
But between this happy moment, there is some individual that having a gloomy atmosphere. Arya was sitting on his bed in the dorm while holding his knees without motivation.
'Equal Ground? Able to win? The next champion? Are you kidding me!? Yukiha-san holding back her strength and I still lose!? She really looks disappointed!! I broke her expectation!! I don't know how to face her anymore... Argh!!'
Arya rustled his hair in frustration and rolling on his bed. He want to scream, hitting the wall until his hand was red, try to jump to the sea from the cliff-
''Jumping from the cliff!? I am crazy!! I am afraid of height and I want to go to the cliff!? I will die of fright first!! Argh..''
Arya banging his head at the poor pillow while shouting something.
''Oi, Arfools what are you doing? You scare me out you freak!"
When Arya hears Edward voice, he raises his head and see Edward backing away and trembling Charles behind him. With a leap Arya changes his position and sat on his bed with pokerface, ignoring them as if somebody problem.
"Ah, good morning"
"Don't 'good morning' me! What are you doing rolling and screaming without sound in the morning!"
Arya innocently greeted them and make Edward shouted him in anger. Arya ignores him and tries to lay in his bed to sleep when he suddenly does a flip and face-plants the floor, when looking closely Edward holding a blanket with both hands and Charles holding his stomach and mouth while trembling. Naturally, Arya jumped up and glaring at Edward while holding his red nose.
"What are you doing!? Are not seeing I am going to sleep!?"
"That's my line! It's already 11, just get up already!"
"Heh! It's already that late? ...Auch"
When Arya hears Edward, he leaped once again and hitting the edge of the second bed above he dropped while holding his head.
"Sigh, you do amaze me..."
"It's fine, it's fine Edward. Hey Arya, we planning to go to the city."
"Ah, I see. I need to find some wood to-"
"No no, we aren't going to find something like that."
"Heh, then?"
While Edward seeing Arya with a deadpan look, Charles stepped forward and telling their plan. When Arya interrupted by Charles, he looks at them in confusion while Charles and Edward keep grinning. They ignore confused Arya and walked at him, with a suspicious smile that makes Arya face pale.
****
The City in Althinaia Island isn't big like normal modern city, but the technology and buildings aren't inferior either. Almost all the buildings at least 3 stories high or more, ranged from Store, Pub, Restaurant, and House. The city is split into two sectors, Residential area, and Market area. When someone getting out from the Academy gate, they will arrive at the round plaza with a square fountain, there will be a sign that showed which area located.
The Market area is always so bustling with life, with people buying and selling things, negotiating price, observing the product and naturally, there are some people who chatting about the recent All-of-War battle which making Arya whose looking at the lively market to covering his face with both hands in embarrassment. He really regrets not wearing his jacket today.
"Man, you really are popular right?"
"Don't start Edward."
"W-well well, calm down both of you. We here to search for new clothes! Not searching for trouble! ...Eh ?"
When Edward beside Arya hearing the certain conversation, he started to teasing Arya with smirk resulting in receiving his glare. Charles jumped forward to stopping them while swing his hand around, seeing this Arya and Edward giving each other a glance for a minute before nodding in some understanding. The swinging machine, Charles suddenly feels a hand on his shoulder and head, there he saw Arya patting his right shoulder while Edward patting his head. Charles confused and didn't notice when Arya and Edward started to walk past him, 5 minutes after before he started to chase them in anger.
Before long, Arya turned his attention to a certain store at his left. A store that makes and sell a furniture from wood, unknown from his two friends in front of him he approaching it. His eyes glued at the scattered wood waste at the front yard, few minute later he arrive at the door and opened the door while having his hand trembled.
Meanwhile, Charles and Edward noticed that Arya vanished from their back and stunned. Before long, Charles sees Arya getting out from some store holding a two bundle of broken wood and bright smile.
"Alright, I already got some wood and this nice knife! I don't have anything anymore so, I will back first. Good luck. "
When he started to turn around with an innocent smile, his friends seized his shoulder to stop his movement.
"The hell! what do you mean by 'good luck'? We came here to find nice clothes for this night!"
"Hee is that so~"
"You aren't planning to go at the party wearing school uniform, are you?"
"Well..."
When Arya started to make some reason, Edward makes his face closer with a deadpan expression. His annoyed meter already beyond max, with angry vein popped in his forehead, made Arya unable to look straight at his face with his back drenched with sweat.
"Y-you knows, I just going there to taste the food. Yes!" Arya eyes swimming around while making an excuse.
Not expecting his word, Edward and Charles dumbfounded. "Haah?"
"Y-you see, they say that the variety of food will be huge! We can just come to eat! No need to buy clothes"
"I-I see, you got the poin- No wait, that's wrong! D*mn it!"
Edward shouted again when he almost agreed with Arya while holding his head in agony, he feels an unreasonable headache right now. Somehow they making the commotion and a man approach them.
"Hey you, what are you doing! You are disturbing the passerby here! Fix your attitude or I will personally beat you up!"
"Y-yes I am terribly sorry!"
""Eh!?""
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
The man voice was rough and loud which make Charles and Edward jumped in surprise, meanwhile, Arya jumped in full reflex and do complete bow toward him while apologizing. Make them stare dumbfounded. When Arya peeked at the man, the familiar blue apron and brown beard can be seen. What more the original scowl expression changed into a smirk, make Arya sweating waterfall and keep his posture. The man keeps his smirk while approaching them, he put his hand on the apron with the motion of searching something.
Before long he takes out a long wooden stick and his smirk turned into a sinister smile, sensing the pressure Edward and Charles screamed in silence while hugging each other. When the man standing in front of Arya, he grips his stick with much strength that his muscle bulging its wonder that the stick isn't breaking. Without much time he swings the stick with a serious expression which makes Charles and Edward screamed in despair.
~Krack!
The wooden stick was blocked by another stick by Arya which who know when being taken out, the man didn't continue and smiled. Edward in other hand screamed in confusion 'Bandit!! We gonna robbed!' And Charles flustered 'C-call the police! No an Army!'. Both of them naturally being ignored.
''You does slack off quite of time, right?"
"Well, you just too energic like always, Master Albert."
""Ehh.... !?""
With the surprised sound of Charles and Edward as the background sound, both master, and disciple standing tall in reunion with serious expression. If there are wind blow and flying leaf, the scene will be perfect
~Duag!
"You are the one who disturbs the passerby! You bearded muscle !"
""Ehh...,!?""
The man straight posture crumbled by a hit from a woman behind him and crouched holding his head which making a smoke. The hit sure is hurt.
****
"Ah, isn't it, Arya? It sure a long time right?"
"Y-yes mrs. Miraela!"
"Don't be so tense, not like I will 'hit' you. Ohohoho..."
The woman, Miraela the wife of Albert smiled at flustered Arya. Well, it's can be helped, he peeks at his master and thinking a woman slender hand able to defeat his master in one hit! He remembers that his master always act docile while around her, but seeing it in person is scary!
"So, what are you doing here?"
"I am-"
"Good afternoon Mrs.Miraela, my name is Charles. We come here to buy clothes for the party tonight."
"Ah, what a polite child you are."
When Miraela asked about their reason, Charles cut Arya word and saying with a bright smile. Miraela who taken aback at first, but after seeing the child charm and the attitude in Charles she softened while holding her red cheeks with one hand. 'It's super effective!' Edward behind him giving a thumb up at him. Charles just takes a peek over his shoulder and giving Edward a smirk and thumb up. 'Leave it to me.'.
''We come here to find a nice store, does Mrs.Miraela know recommended store, please?"
"......"
Charles hurriedly faces Miraela and asking with a tilted head, he makes his eyes rounder like a small kitten. With his small height, he really looks like adorable animal! Miraela was struck speechless while some wife woman who seeing them at distant were having nosebleed and some fainted in place.
"E-erm, I-I like to personally teach- No, I m-mean I will show you the way! B-but..."
'She is done for!!' Arya, Albert, and Edward were shouted in perfection on their mind while their mouth hang open seeing Miraela who turn her face away, holding her red face with both hands. The last hit from Charles sure is formidable! 'I already have Arya, but this child is so adorable. No, my little Arya is so funny. I don't need more child, but.. *murmur murmur*...' Miraela's hesitation make Charles sweating bullet, his smile became cramped. And then Miraela jumped.
"Cough, I am sorry Charles, right? But I have something important! Why not let this man help you all? Right, darling~"
Miraela smiled bright, her beautiful face made Charles turn his head below. She refused Charles and pull the confused Albert, she whispered something in Albert's ear in a small voice and make him stiff while sweating bullet, his face become red like an apple and his breath becomes rough. Miraela then turns at Arya and give a goodbye smile before dashed away, leaving them. Arya, Charles, and Edward backed away from the strange behavior of Albert.
Notice this, Albert coughed and led them away.
****
"Master Albert, why do you need energy drinks that many for?" Arya stared at his master in fright seeing two bags of energy drinks.
Albert smile suddenly turned stiff and he shouted. "Pfft... Y-you little imp! J-just do your own business!"
Naturally, Albert flustered expression makes Charles and Edward also turned red while they avoid eye contact from Arya questioned look.
After that, they started to touring to find the good and nice(cheap) clothes store.
"Cough. Anyway, I have something to said. You really become weak in this recent week."
"...."
"You know, at the Tournament, you aren't showing your real power. You just using some skill and didn't use the other powerful moves. What? Are trying to said that your aim is to make you familiar with a certain skill and sacrifice the other skill will make you better?"
"...."
Albert started to say something to change the conversation but hearing it make Arya unable to refute. He just fell in silence and averted his eyes away.
"Listen, I know hitting a girl is hard. But you must understand their resolution. The wrongdoing is hitting a weak and innocent woman! That's is what crime is! If you are challenged you have to fight with determination to win. Like at the All-of-War Battle, you didn't really fight at all. I feel bad for that samurai girl."
Albert stopped his word while observing Arya, but seeing that he flinched hearing the samurai girl, he continued.
"You know, it's good to protect a woman. You have a good heart and kind, you treated your soldiers and Partners different from other. You make sure to let them alive, even let yourself in danger like at the skeleton incident. But you must understand that is what their role are, what is soldiers? What is Champione? What's your role and what's your Partners do. Before you fall to deep and feel the despair."
Albert word really like a knife- no a sword stabbed Arya's heart. His word really hitting the vital spot, make Arya to hung his head.
"Oi! I found the nice store!"
".. Good Job boy, wait for us!"
The awkward moment broken by cheerful word from Charles, he swings his hand in front of the store while Edward standing with his hand folded. Albert thanked that young boy and giving a thumb up in his heart, without waiting any longer he dragged Arya toward them with a smile.
****
Albert, Arya, Charles and Edward. 4 of them currently inside suit store, there are so many designs and the price isn't that expensive! At the middle of this searching, Charles suddenly asked with a smile.
"Hey, when speaking at Party there is dance with a girl! Do any of you have a partner?"
Hearing this, three of them stopped what they are doing and stand there dumbfounded. Why Mr.Albert frozen as well?
"Ah, erm... well, I do have a candidate!"
Edward suddenly blurted out his mind, and hurriedly covered his mouth. He screwed! The other three showed a smile, their face completely showed 'Who is it?' 'Is it a classmate?' 'Who is she? Tell us, tell us'. Edward paled before pointed at Arya and shouted.
"W-what about you Arya! W-who is your partner?"
"Eh?"
Not expecting this, Arya jumped in surprise. 'Why it changed into me ??' Like a hummer hit their head, their attention locked at Arya with a suspicious smile. The smile from Albert is the one really wide and look intimidating, Arya's face turned white.
"I see, we didn't meet almost 2 years, right? With the recent event, you sure are popular. The girls ratio is quite high, I believe there is a girl who you take a liking. So who is it? Are there some girls you close with?"
Suddenly a picture of Linda appeared in his head, the girl who played with him when he was a kid. She turned into the beauty with long blond hair, Arya believes her side ponytail was the scoring point for his like. She having a slim and toned body because she is trained as a knight without disturbing her nice figure, as expected of the princess. But! She has a fiance. So.... no ?
And then the picture of Airi appeared, the girl who understand him the most. The one who stand beside him, even when they meet at the first time, he was charmed by her bright smile. Her red eyes that can look deep into his heart, the girl who stand to protect him and fight with him for a long time. Her black shoulder length hair is beautiful when swaying with the wind. He really wants to protect her smile. A-and he only think her as a Sister! Yes!
The girls in his soldier, No. Just no!
Arya shakes his head to clear his mind, but Charles suddenly added which take the Albert interest.
"You know, Arya currently close to a girl! She usually comes to find Arya and Challenge him, although he never agrees. Anyway, this times they are quite close and always eat together!"
"Hoo, a rival become close friends? This story sure is wonderful right? No matter what-"
Arya who want to retort, a picture suddenly appeared and he didn't listen to Albert. This time, a girl with red hair popped in his mind. The usual cold stare from her eyes really make him shudder, but the picture suddenly changed into the kind smile which makes him frozen, he remembers his fight with her and he remembers that it was fun. Even at the first time, they competed to killing goblin at the first time it sure is fun. When he close to her, she really kind person. And he really likes to tease her. He remembers certain situation when her face turned red and he finds it quite cute, it is what they call 'gap moe'? But....
Edward who keep searching for a suit and ignore their conversation didn't stop what he was doing and just saying without turned around as if uninterested.
"How about that senior? The black hair and blue eyed one? They sure are close, I think."
"Ah, you mean senior Yukiha? They sure are!"
"Heh? That Goddess of War? The one who defeat this boy?"
Hearing Edward word, Charles nodded in agreement and Albert peeked at Arya with a smirk.
This time, the picture of senior Yukiha appeared. The black long haired beauty who captivated him with her kind smile. When they always meet at his resting spot, her smile really makes him feels warm. Her angry and serious expression when he tells her about his treatment of his soldier's training is- Arya unable to find any word. Her beautiful face, her bright blue eyes, and she have a good figure, she sure is popular for both man and woman. Suddenly memories of when they must hide from the mob of 'Makers' the fan club of her appeared.
He somehow had to hug her and position himself above her, while their head until stomach covered by jacket! Her nice smile makes him blush. But suddenly, he remembers that Lin Chen was her Fiance- is that true?? He feels down and the final blow was her disappointed face at the All-of-War Battle. His atmosphere turned dark and he was depressed.
"So is it? You sure are naive! As man choose the right thing!"
"Ahh!! Shut up! Leave me alone! You Bearded Muscle!"
"What. Did. You. Say!!"
Naturally, the store becomes so noisy which make another customer who wants to visit to turn their back and leaving at full speed.
****
The sun already set on the horizon, the sky turned into black and the night will come. At the Academy, there are so many noises between the preparation of the Party at the 8. At the male dorm, many students talking about the dance and their partner the excitement between all of them is showed clearly from their own room. Including Arya room, they are currently prepared and wearing their suit. But there is no Charles present.
"Hey, Edward where did Charles go? Didn't I see him here few minute ago?"
"He said that he will wait for us at school plaza, and going there first. "
"Hee? Did he come to pick up his dance partner?"
"That boy have a girlfriend? Hah, you are joking. "
"I know right. He doesn't look like having a girlfriend at all, because he always with you right?"
"Now now, are you calling him lonely? At least just hope he has a fiance who wants to wait for him.."
""Hu hu...Ghu ha... Gua ha ha ha...""
Arya and Edward talking while making fun of Charles, they are having a personal imagination and laughing like a villain. Scaring some student walking in front of their room, they coughing up and there repaired their suit before walking away with a poker face as if nothing happen.
Before long, they almost arrived at the school plaza and saw a girl. Yes a girl, its sure is a real girl. It's no illusion yes!
"L-look Arya, t-there is a girl waiting for me !"
"D-don't joke around! You are dreaming !"
"What, look at that girl! She is hot!"
Seeing the girl Edward pulled out Arya and whispering at him while taking a glance at the girl, she's having a short hair and tall girl with slim body, her body facing the other side and showing them their back. Her dress is perfectly showed the body curve and bare shoulder. They are confused and happy seeing her, and make their own assumption.
Before long the girl noticed their glance and turned at them with a kind smile, make them smile in return. However, that smile didn't last long after Charles popped out from behind of her. He waved his hand and then dropped the bomb.
"Ah Arya, Edward come here! I will introduce you!"
Charles makes a cheerful expression while Arya and Edward standing dumbfounded. The girl herself just smiled at them.
"Taadaa~ Here is my only fiance~"
"Good Night everyone, my name is Daisy Einsbern. Like Charles said, I was his fiance. Thank you for always taking care of him."
The girls Introduced herself as Charles fiance, she placed her hand in front of her breast and smiled at them. Her smile makes people feels that she was a person that able to take care of other with gentle atmosphere, a typical of Onee-san. Meanwhile, Arya and Edward just fell silence and unable to believe their ears and stand there unmoved.