Many years later, a teenaged Chronia (her height has only increased by about a quarter of the height she was when she was a kid)(wearing a silver hampster onesie and has super scruffy hair) led on her bed whilst she read the first volume of a manga titled: Despite Being A Coward, I Ended Up Becoming A Wanted Criminal After Accidentally Kidnapping The Princess Before Her Arranged Marriage.
"Heh, neet premise... but the people in Kalikose really need to stop making the synopsis the title," Chronia remarked as she cheerfully slammed the manga shut and placed it on her nightstand. Chronia glanced over at the cat-themed digital alarm clock under the manga, and Chronia disappointedly sighed upon seeing it said nine-thirty.
Chronia rolled out of bed and onto her feet before she dragged herself towards her balcony. Chronia opened one of the balcony doors and peeked her head through. A teenaged Zalroth was locked in a fierce block and counter exchange with a multiple-rotating-parts combat dummy (he's wearing baggy pink trousers and is topless)(he was a slightly tall teenager and on the cusp of a young adult with slightly defined muscles, and he has six kitsune tails).
"Hey, Zalroth, we gotta get ready for school!" Chronia proclaimed. Zalroth looked back and nodded to Chronia before he limbo-ducked to avoid the swinging arm of the combat dummy. Zalroth grabbed the base of the combat dummy and hurled it into the air before it bursted into a cloud of varying coloured green qi.
A few minutes later, the duo exited Chronia's bedroom sporting similar European-styled high school uniforms, and Chronia had her hair done up. Zalroth took a single step away from the door and swiftly raised his arms into a guard before Marok's fist stopped inches away from Zalroth's arms. Marok smirked before he withdrew his fist, and Zalroth lowered his arms while Chronia looked unamused by the situation.
"Your senses have gotten sharper, Master Zalroth; I didn't need to hit you for you to notice me this time," Marok remarked smugly, causing Zalroth to chuckle defeatedly.
"Mr. Marok, do you have to keep trying to punch Zalroth?".
"Oh but, Master Chronia, didn't he personally request me to do it?" Marok asked whilst he bowed to Chronia. Chronia sighed as Marok intentionally coughed to get her attention.
"Your parents wanted to speak with you before you and Master Zalroth head off," Marok added. Chronia sighed and walked off as she dragged her feat against the carpets of the hallways. Zalroth turned to walk with Chronia, but Marok placed a hand on Zalroth's shoulder to stop him from walking.
"It's a private matter, so you should wait outside," Marok stated.
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"Understood...," Zalroth uttered as he walked in the opposite direction of Chronia.
Minutes later, Zalroth jogged on the spot as he waited in front of the estate's front gate. Zalroth heard an agitated drawn-out groan before he watched Chronia hop over the meter-tall metal fence-like gate, and she landed next to him. Chronia angrily huffed before she walked off, and Zalroth followed behind her.
The duo walked through the empty early morning streets of Chronia's hometown and even walked past an aquarium which previously was the laboratory Zalroth and his allies escaped from.
"No matter what that place does, it can't seem to not be in a state of trapping things," Zalroth remarked mentally as Chronia mentioned they should go to the aquarium since she heard a new fish was going to be added. Chronia continued to look at the sign displaying the advert for the aquarium's upcoming attraction while she tried to force a smile using her hands. Zalroth lightly exhaled from his mouth.
"What's the issue did your parents propose some wacky vacation again?" Zalroth asked, causing Chronia to huff before she lowered her hands.
"No....".
"Then what?". Chronia sighed and turned to Zalroth.
"They said Max's parents sent them a letter, how old fashion, that they wanted to arrange an orange marriage between me and Max!" Chronia exclaimed as her forehead turned a deep red from frustration.
"An... orange marrage?" Zalroth asked with a puzzled tone. Chronia complexion softened upon realizing she said the wrong word, mixed with Zalroth's puzzled look, which made her quickly calm down. Chronia cleared her throat while having a faint blush on her face.
"I meant an arranged marriage.". Zalroth tilted his head at Chronia's clarification.
"Which is?" Zalroth asked. Chronia's face palmed and sighed.
"It means two people's parents arranged for them to get married, duh," Chronia said snarkily.
"I know what the word arrange means," Zalroth stated whilst he crossed his arms. The duo stood in silence before Chronia's brain cells bumped into each other, and she pieced together what Zalroth meant.
"Wait, you don't know what marriage is; is it just not a thing where you were from?!" Chronia blurted out.
"Naturally," Zalroth stated matter of factly.
"Jealous...," Chronia uttered under her breath before the duo continued on their way to school.
The duo eventually arrived at their high school, which was covered from top-to-bottom in graduation celebration decorations. Students from every year aside from the highest year were putting the final touches on the decorations as Chronia was scanning her surroundings before the meaning of the decorations popped into her mind.
"Shoot... the thing my parents told me had me in such a slump I completely forgot today is our last day at high school; man, time sure flies when you're not-". Chronia halted her speech as she spotted Maxomillion Blight (he's now a tall, popular pretty boy-looking guy) talking to a group of upper-year students before they all split up and Max entered the main school building. Chronia quickly sprinted after Max, while Zalroth jogged behind Chronia.