AN: Hi. Lazybones and storyteller are here.

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"Umetarou, would you please go find your brother and let him know that the tailor is here for his new measurements?" The tired King Nozaki rubbed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm so stressed out, I can't even deal with trying to decipher his broken sentences right now."

"Yes, father. But I'm not sure why you'd decide to throw a ball for me if you're this stressed out. It's really not logical." Leaving the king's office, Prince Umetarou paused for a moment, before heading in the direction of the royal gardens.

Along the way, he passed by Maeno, one of his advisors. The flamboyant man shouted a happy 'hello' in his direction, but Umetarou ducked his head and walked faster. He was absolutely not in the mood to deal with more tanuki puppets at this time of day. Besides, the faster he got to Mayu, the faster he would be able to drag him back to their father.

Entering the gardens, Umetarou expertly made his way through the labyrinth like hedges, passing servants who sometimes bowed, but often just said 'good afternoon, Your Highness'. Umetarou had a policy of friendliness with the staff of the castle, allowing him further opportunities to observe their characters.

Finally entering the center of the garden, Umetarou sighed in relief as he saw his brother sprawled out upon the bench, fast asleep. Mayu had a tendency to sleep anywhere he deemed fit, even if it was uncomfortable for others. Umetarou noticed that Mayu was wearing his jogging outfit, which explained how he had the energy to even get to the center of the gardens. Sighing again, he shook Mayu's shoulder.

"Mayu, it's time to wake up. The tailor is here for your new suit to be fitted."

Mayu opened his eyes and shielded them from the bright sun. "Time?"

"Three o'clock. You've been needed since one. Now hurry up, dad is getting seriously stressed out." Umetarou hoisted his brother off the bench, groaning in annoyance when Mayu leaned on him in apparent exhaustion as they walked towards the exit. "Why do you insist on being so lazy all the time?"

"Easy. Brother has puppets," Mayu mumbled. His words may not have made sense to anybody else passing by, but Umetarou grimaced.

"Just because it's easy to be lazy, doesn't mean you should be. And my puppets are an art form, supplemental to my tasks." Even though he tended to think about his stories all the time, even when filing papers for his father. "Don't just put all your energy into fencing. You need to learn how to be a proper diplomat as well."

As they neared the exit, Mayu grumbled. He wasn't even the first son! Why should he have to be so active in politics while Umetarou got to parade around town in disguise putting on puppet shows? It wasn't fair. Somehow, though, he got the feeling that something would change with his brother's rapidly approaching eighteenth birthday. Mayu wasn't sure what it was, but he knew that something would be different.

Mayu decided that focusing on unnecessary details would waste his energy, and quickly dismissed the thought as Umetarou muttered to himself about new puppet designs and a need for a new story.