Yellow means joy, sunshine, hope.

But it was none of those Shou saw in Takemori’s eyes. Happy eyes are never like that.

Happy eyes always burn. They never die.

That was what Shou saw—dead eyes, like a corpse.

With every second passed gazing into the abyss Takemori’s eyes had become, Shou’s vision had blurred more and more. Until it all just became a void of darkness.

Now he is back at the Estate, lying on a white mattress. Tilting his head to the side he sees white again; a sheet blocking his view.

It seems he was in the nursery room.

Shou tries to get up, lifting his back-

an intense pain.

It felt as if his eyes popped,

Shou slowly started realizing.

He was entirely covered.

Bruises all over - and more importantly, his leg was raised - cast in white, making it stuck in place.

Shou drowns his head into the pillow and sighs.

“It's gonna take a while.”

Shou hears a muffled voice, from his right.

And so, he stiflingly spins his head, and sees a mummified person, with one leg raised, just like Shou’s.

“Akio-san…?”

Shou asked.

“Yeah… I think it's gonna be hard for us to make the finals this year, Shou.”

Next to Akio was another white sheet. And in front of them a desk, flowers filled it, with cactus and a small spot for paper and pen.

Then it thuds.

And thuds again, making even their beds shake a little.

The thuds were accompanied by voices - it was a woman’s voice - moans, to be exact.

“Mr. Takemori. I can smell him.” his words shook not only the desk and beds, but the entire building quaked.

The air became chill as a cold wind ran through the nursery room.

The moaning stopped just as the plants lying on the wooden desk became of a winter stand.

Icicles formed on them.

Then the white sheet sled and the nurse was revealed.

Her red hair was a mess, and her white ‘doctor’ clothes seemed to be loose, as some buttons were open, revealing skin.

“Shou? Who is this? What happened?? My leg feels heavier!!” Akio rushed to talk, he was flailing his mummified arms in the air.

“Oh! You woke up!!” the nurse says, she approaches Akio and pokes at his raised legs, now covered in a blanket of snow.

“Huh…” the nurse leans in towards Akio's leg, inspecting it from every angle.

with every poke was a slight grunt from the mummified child.

A scream was heard, a call for a certain name.

It was Takemori screaming for his dear student.

“Mr.Takemori…” Shou mumbles.

“Oh yes! He will be here shortly!” the nurse giggles.

Then the white sheets drop completely, and Takemori was unveiled, wearing the twice his size blue pants, and trying desperately to tie his montsuki robe.

“S-shou!” he stutters.

“Don’t worry, I'm sure your leg will heal soon, Akio’s too!!”

“Is that Sensei? What is happening?” Akio stressed, trying to flail. But it was clear, that not a single bone could be moved in his body. he was like a wingless bird in midair.

“Takemori-san,” Shou smiles “Do you have no dignity?”

“What are you talking about, Shou? anyways,” Takemori scratches the back of his head “I don’t know if the two of you can make it to the finals this year…”

All of a sudden, his tone dropped a tune.

Takemori coughs. “You two are the strongest in this school. No doubt about it.”

he was alive again, Shou thought. although he still misses the usual bright that always lit the room.

he seemed disappointed.

Takemori took a breath, filling his billy "At least in my eyes."

The only sound that filled the room after was cricket ticks.

Shou’s smile has long gone, and the sneer evaporated.

He rolls over, towards the bed next to him, Akio’s bed.

Even within the wrap of white, he knew Akio shared his tear.

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A week had passed.

Progress is nowhere to be seen.

Maybe, after all, finals are lost. Akio concluded.

His face is no longer wrapped in white cloth. Now, only his nose.

The rest of his body, though, is still mummified.

Tea and fish were always brought to him, to the nursery room.

On the other hand, Shou can walk fully, with a little help from some stick they gave him because his leg is still broken.

But he seems otherwise fine.

Akio was not fine.

It was only after a month he felt fine.

In a single night, it all changed.

He got a message in one of the fortune cookies the nurse brought him.

It said to put it onto the desk, laying next to half of the fortune cookie.

And so he bit into the cookie and asked the nurse to do just that.

And boom.

Just like that, the next morning he woke up feeling great.

One arm was completely healed. The other broken still.

One leg was healed, the other numb and shattered still.

His ribs were fine, and his nose didn’t need any more stitches, although the injury did leave a scar.

So now Akio could also walk using the magical stick, he pushed himself with his arm, and just like that he walked,

Just like Shou.

Only now, Shou’s broken leg was healed, and he only had a fracture in his ribcage.

He even started his recovery Training.

But alas, Akio could hunt his own food. The realm’s hunting grounds have expanded into the kitchen floor.

Another month had passed, and the same note came, and the same process followed, and the same progress was made.

And now Akio stood tall on both legs, and doing push-ups using both arms, starting his Recovery Training.

But he was too reckless, for he coughed up rose blood on their first session, and had to be put out of the next one.

Shou, on the other hand, could now lift a sword, he even started sparring.

But now winter has come. It was cold outside, and it was Akio’s first class after the incident.

It was cold, and he was dripping in sweat. His armpits formed stains of it, but he tried tucking them, to make them less noticeable.

He was wearing their black uniform, so they weren't so visible,

Stolen novel; please report.

And yet, it would be embarrassing if someone noticed his arm pets stained like that.

Especially in winter, and in winter clothes.

Other than that, his face was boiling, and his eyes were shaking just like the leaves of autumn before falling.

Nonetheless, he fixed his buttons, tucked his scarf of lime, and prepared to slide open the door of class D - 2.

That was when the quiet of snow and winter turned into a summer of ribbiting frogs. It was hard walking in. Akio took a first step, just enough to peek into the chaos.

It was no longer a class, he reflected. Chatter was in complete clutter, chairs were not in their place, and tables stopped acting as school tables becoming a restaurant of sorts.

This place was in havoc.

He looked over to the board. To the person who should be doing God's work. Teaching children.

Teaching to save lives.

Instead - he was reading a graphic novel - a book filled with pictures. Akio has never seen one like it before; pages of drawings in black ink.

‘Why not just watch a hologram?’ Akio thought.

“Oh! Akio! Come in, please.” said the sleep-deprived Sensei. His eye bags were further proof for Akio; his teacher is a mess.

But,

Akio thought, eyes dazzling as he took his first step into the madness,

He was the coolest teacher.

Akio took his seat. His old seat, right behind Shou, on the third row, right next to the glass wall.

The wooden school chair was covered with dust, and his table seemed still in the same place as before.

It seems, in all the havoc, his seat was not one impacted.

“Shou” he whispered. Shou was also sleep-deprived.

It was evident in his tucked head, lying on the table covered in his arms,

Shou was sleeping in class.

.1 - chapter break!

now for some real talk,

how would you feel if you knew someone,

at work or maybe school,

who is just so cool,

but is better than you. no matter how much work you put in

no matter how much you want to succeed, he, or she, is always ahead.

do you give up? search for another sport?

or do you bet it all, and let the wheel of God's faith guide you through the havoc that is rank, status, and success?

honestly, I'd just try to date them. it never worked out in the end though.

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Time flew by.

Just as wind and gusts did.

Akio noticed he was weaker now, thinner.

But his magical abilities are a lot better, his wind slashes are a lot more coordinated, and he is able to let his sword fully swoosh with the air around him.

Still, his magic could never be compared to Shou. Shou had it all. He was a master of the staff and the sword, with so much mana he could master the mist god style in no time.

Only three years had passed since he first came, and he already become one of the strongest in their academy, even for their age group.

He knew the only way to progress further was to abandon magic.

Akio knew his strength lay in his muscles. And now he has to get them all back.

Akio scrunchs his eyebrows as he raises his arms, fingers wrapping around the sword. He grunts and slashes the air, his wooden katana swooshes, and leaves lifted slightly from the ground.

“Good form. But your swings are slow, you will never be able to cut any necks, let alone a Demon's.” the voice was of a man, sitting on a rocking bench. It creaked with every swing.

“At this pace… you might become a commander… but a Shifuyo? Dream about it.”

Akio’s face shadowed as his eyes glanced towards his master, he didn’t see his face for it was covered by a ronin-straw hat. Its edge was cut.

Above him the roof of his little cabin; it was very traditionally built, with bamboo sliding doors, tatami mats, and the roof was filled with chimes that whistled with the wind.

It was truly a lord's house, Akio thought.

But it was just a glance. Because he knew, if he didn't keep his eyes on the target his master would be mad.

And so Akio takes a deep breath and prepares for another strike.

this time he parries,

But his arms flail

His finger's grip softens slightly,

and he is pushed backward onto the ground.

Akio quickly gets back up.

He hears the chime whisper again, and another slash hits his body, tearing a little of his training clothes.

The wind’s breeze hits him again.

Akio gets into a stance, he backs his foot in a circular motion, pushing dirt back. He breathes again.

Now the wind has no chance.

Akio parried the first slash of wind, and the second, and the third.

But the fourth he already knew, as the whisper of gust rushed at him, he dashed to the side, letting it cut the grass blades from behind him and make the leaves of newfound spring float their way.

A single slash is all it took, right at his target, a tornado of air spinning around itself, taking dirt and green with it.

That slash was coated with that same air.

The little tornado split. a wind collision.

The green splintered to the side, Akio's slash even caused a little bit of the dirt to hit the master's hat of straw.

“Impressive.” the master gets up from his creaking bench, revealing a scarred face; one eye was brown as autumn but the other white as snow, where the scar climbed.

His hair seemed long, it was also brown and lumped into a ponytail resting atop his broad shoulders.

The man had to use a crane to straighten completely. He cracked his back before whispering a few words.

Akio’s face became beet red, and his eyes finally lightened.

And then the master goes his way,

Probably to make matcha tea, Akio thought.

It was nearing that time again.

It never left his mind.

The end of the year means the end of exams.

The end of lessons,

And the start of eliminations.

“Okay, class…” Takemori sighs. He scratches the back of his head, trying to draw something on the class's green chalkboard.

“These are the times, brackets will be given later” his unenthusiastic voice was a small cricket sound compared to the class's behavior.

Just a moment ago, a paper plane flew right above Akio’s head, and right onto Shou’s ear. Not that it bothered him.

Except for himself, nobody is listening. Akio reflected.

Even Takemori seemed more in tune with his teacup rather than explaining the Tournament.

Akio’s eyebrows scrunched again.

He stood up, as the sound of his chair’s push-creak followed him,

His hands formed into a fist, shaking.

His teeth creaked grinding,

And his formed hands punched

Through the table,

The wood cracks spiked his now bleeding hand.

But it did not hurt more than the headache.

Nor heavier than the drops of tear.

“Pretty simple, I think” The roundtable had commenced, and lunch was being served.

“Shimazu-San, you shouldn’t speak with your mouthful…” said Shou. he was sitting across from the Shimazu kid. He started pushing his plate of peas and carrots against Shimazu’s, trying to make a place for it on the table.

“Yeah you're right…” he replied, “be careful there, you might spill my food” Shimazu added, pointing to the plate of various foods, taking cover of almost half the table.

Then he reaches out, and grabs onto a grilled chicken leg.

Red sauce dripped just from his grip, and with each bite he took, Shou knew there was no way this man,

Is a Shimazu.

“We just have to beat everyone, right?” he muffs, his mouth still full of chicken. He seemed to be enjoying his food, Shou thought.

“It's not that simple.” claimed a guy sitting next to Shou. he had a fade of black hair and wore a glass, similar to Sensei Takemori, but this one was see-through.

It seemed his hair had a green outline.

“Yeah there are one-on-ones, but there are also doubles… and a surprise thing at the end… It probably won't be up to just skill alone.” he took a bite off the freshly baked bread he was having for lunch. Just the bread, there was no plate, only a glass of milk to run it down.

“If it was, I would've definitely won!” declared Shimazu,

his chicken leg is now a wing.

“No… but in a power contest, maybe.”

“You don’t say, Ryosuke!” It was Akio, barging into the conversation, messing up Ryosuke’s hair.

“What about me, huh?! I am clearly stronger than Touma!!!” Akio heavily bumps into the already tight bench, making everyone shake.

Except for Touma, the Shimazu kid.

Then again it came, Shou’s daydreaming. You know it's coming when you hear this tone. “When was the last time you won a blow against sensei?” the cold air, Shou’s signature speak. “Touma-San lands a blow every single training session.” It seems he did not bother to take a glance to the new member of the bench crew. His eyes were staring at a point beyond the dining room.

“WHAT?! YOU LITTLE!” Akio grunts. Eyes scrunched and all.

His fist swung right towards Shou, heading down on his neck.

The only thing saving frozen Sato was Ryosuke’s tight grip, like a leash on a horse, slowing down Akio just enough.

While Akio’s screaming and Ryosuke’s failed calming, Shimazu Touma had a finger to his chin.

He was thinking. A very rare event,

And an even rarer event was his mutter.

“Will you two even make it?”

“Uhm uhm!!” coughed one purple-haori-wearing man.

He seemed quite important, thought Shou.

He had wrinkles, after all. It means he is old, and old people wearing expensive clothes are always important.

“Attention.”

His voice was subtle, but it seemed to do the job. No one could speak.

Then Shou tried opening his mouth, saying his usual criticism.

But he couldn’t.

Shou could not mutter a word, his throat worked to nothing but a wheeze.

It seemed the old man was not just any old geezer.

“So, Takemori over here will write my name on the board.” the old man glanced at Takemori. he was reading his graphic novel of girls and fashion.

Or that was what Shou thought.

“I am not your slave, Mr.President,” Takemori replied, his voice heedless of course, a never changing attitude of his, reflected Shou.

Shou laid his cheeks to press against his arm, noticing this won’t go anywhere, anytime soon.

A sigh was released from the hunched old man,

“Very well then.” a different glance, this time to his left, right where the bamboo door stood. It seemed a man sat behind it. “Tatsuya-Tarou, please, come fill the role of teacher, because the one we have here is not made of our material.” the wrinkled man said with a grin on his face.

‘Tatsuya Tarou… I've heard this name before…’ Shou mumbled.

Then he came, Tatsuya Tarou walked into the class, and wrote in beautiful kanji the name of the alleged president.

It read ‘Ashikaga Hachiro, main branch’

But the more important thing, it was not the only Ashikaga present in the room.

Now there were two. Shou tried calling his name out, but nothing came.

Still just air and wheeze.

It was Mr. Ashikaga, the innkeeper, and the hair of the Ashikaga clan and name. Bags were formed under his eyes. He never saw Ashikaga like that.

“Well, Class D-2. I saw you falling from the start.”

It began, the rant of old men.

“I never believed in anything Takemori-Sensei put out. I barely even acknowledge him as a Sensei, let alone a Shifuyo.”

He coughed into a handkerchief, its white becoming a little red.

“But the reality is different. I will admit, this class I believe will bring forth the best from our academy tournament, and many students have the potential to represent our flag in the main event. I am sure Takemori has been only blessed by you children and not the other way around.”

The man laughs hysterically, it was a funny laugh. almost out of place.

“What?! You do know I'm the strongest, right?” spat back Takemori.

“The strongest, not the smartest,” added Tatsuya Ashikaga.

“You too?! Man this sucks!” and so, the sensei abandons his class, and bursts out of the room.

“Well…” lingers the president. “I must put out the list of participants in two days time. I will let you children decide who will participate, and the start of your plans, as well as who will be Captain…”

He probably did this on purpose, going to each and every class, saying the words they want to hear, and then giving them the pause to think.

“Of course, it is not a long time. But I hope you can understand the situation. For now, I shall take my leave.” another pause.

It was probably just the time of a few falling leaves, but for Shou, it felt like the entire age of a tree.

And now, as the president walked towards the bamboo door, from behind his shoulder he gazed at Shou. the taunt in his smirk and the reveal of golden teeth. Now Shou knew, he was just another rich man.

The golden mouth widened, and one last thing was said before his leave.

“I expect a lot from you”