"Alpha."

"Exactly."

Akira takes his gaze from Hinata.

"So, when all the women started choosing strong men, the weaker ones got jealous. Desire and lust exist in them as well, right?"

Akira glances back at Hinata.

"That's when poetry came into the picture."

"I'll bring the moon for you."

"I'll swim across the river of fire for you."

"I'll cross the seven seas for you."

"I'll get you this, I'll get you that."

"But they never really do anything. The only ones who do something are the…"

Akira stops and Hinata completes the sentence,

"Alpha."

Hinata took a slow breath, then lowered her gaze to her feet, and then back to Akira.,

"I didn't even realize you were touching my feet."

Akira blinked and glanced at his hand, which was resting lightly on her foot, he slowly withdrew it.

Hinata glares at him, and Akira unfazed stares back at her.

Without another word, Hinata turned and started walking.

"Hinata."

Hinata stopped and turned slightly.

Akira held her gaze.

"You have a big pelvis."

Hinata's face darkened and scowled.

"You mean to say I am fat?"

Akira shook his head.

"No, I'm not trying to say you are fat."

He paused,

"What I mean to say is you have a big pelvis. You can accommodate healthy babies."

Hinata just stared at him.

…

Garuda the guardian eagle, stood tall and stretched his massive wings, sending the blue rose petals that rested on the floor to scatter, He lifted his head gazing at the bright moon.

Hearing the nearing voices that broke the peace he had, he turned his towards them and in them found Akira.

Hajime glanced at his small group of friends.

"Thanks for coming, guys."

They responded in chorus.

"It was a great evening, Hajime"

Akira lost in thoughts spoke.

"Hajime…"

Hajime turned toward him, squinting slightly.

"Yeah?"

"Is there any chance that I can marry Hinata?"

Hajime looked at him puzzled, not processing the words fully.

"What?"

Akira repeated.

"Is there a chance?"

Hajime shook his head in disbelief.

"What are you saying? Are you crazy?"

"Are you here for Uncle's birthday party or to break off her engagement?"

Akira dismissed the comment,

"Forget about that, Could you talk to your dad?"

"Oh hey, relax"

Hajime stops him and gives a glance at Garuda,

"You should leave."

Akira paused for a second,

"This drama all started because of your aunt."

"Think about it, Out of all your friends, why did she only address me as "brother". Your aunt must have seen something in Hinata's eyes, which made your aunt tell her to call me that."

Hajime looked at Akira like he was staring at an idiot.

"I already proposed to her on my sixteenth birthday."

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"16th?, And what about her?"

Akira replies.

"She was thirteen."

"Then it becomes fourteen and seventeen. And she said yes."

Hajime frowned.

"What do you mean she said yes?"

"She said yes means she said yes."

Akira stated as a matter of fact,

"She even invited me to her house. That was the same day your aunt visited."

Akira mimicked an exaggerated older woman's voice.

"Who is he, Hinata?"

Then in poor imitation of Hinata's voice, he answered himself.

"A friend of Hajime, Aunty."

Switching again he added,

"Oh, your brother's friend… Yeah then he is also your brother, Call him Brother"

Laughter erupted from the group.

Akira turned and scolded,

"Don't you dare laugh!"

"Did Hinata ever call any one of you "brother"?"

Asked scanning the group left and right.

"No, Akira."

"In academy or after academy?"

"No, Never"

Akira turned from them to Hajime.

"She calls me brother when I'm with them… but uses my name when we're alone."

"Yeah… I've noticed that too."

One of them from the group replied.

"That very night, I fell ill with a high fever."

Hajime scoffed,

"Come on man, Fever? Really?"

Akira shrugged.

"If you push yourself to the limit and then suddenly stop, won't your body react? I had a high fever."

Akira gestured towards below,

"Ask her, she must have had it too. I'm one hundred percent sure!"

Hajime gritted his teeth in frustration.

"Man, if you knew all this… where have you been until now?"

Akira replied,

"I didn't know you all would be so eager to get her married. And it's not like these emotions have suddenly resurfaced today. This feeling was, is, and will always be there."

Hajime exhaled deeply.

"Stop acting like a child. She's getting married in two days and leaving just after."

Akira didn't hesitate.

"She's not going anywhere."

Hajime asked sharply,

"What?"

"She's not going anywhere."

Hajime eyed him skeptically,

"Do you think you can just call her and she'll come to you?"

Akira's lips curled into a confident smirk,

"She'll come running to me."

At that very moment, the rapid sound of footsteps echoed up the stairs. Hinata appeared at the top floor, she stopped at the entrance and stared at the boys, who in return stared at her.

"Brother!"

She called out.

Akira smriked at hajime,

"She's talking to you."

Hajime turned to face her.

"Dad wants to talk to you."

Hajime frowned but nodded, walking past her.

Meanwhile, Akira gazed at Hinata for a movement before turning away. He walked toward Garuda, running his hand along the smooth and rugged feathers. Garuda lowered itself, allowing Akira to climb onto his back.

With a single powerful flap of its wings, Garuda took off from the Blue Rose Mansion, disappearing in the dark sky.