A/N : Phew, made it
I aborted my plan to do alternative ending here... so there gonna be just 1 ending which is true ending.
Thanks for review/comment/faves/follows!
A year passed,
Kotori and Umi have to lives in a workshop at west kingdom that Nozomi own to do their tasks they assigned to. The workshop already upgraded since a year ago, they are also still living in luxury. Kotori seems to not mind with that, but Umi seems to be very troubled as she wanted her dear lover to be the one who sits on the throne and no one else.
Their relationship with Honoka also getting worse and even though they still exchanged smile when they meet her, something still feel very off between them.
Umi sighed heavily as she watches Kotori stirring her mixture in the cauldron,
"Kotori…" Umi called her.
"Yes, Umi-chan?" Kotori replied, she seems to be still cheerful.
"Are you just very sure that you're fine with this…?" Umi asked.
Kotori remained quiet,
"I know Nozomi isn't actually a total jerk, she knows mercy. But, still… why do you let her sit there? It supposed to be yours…" Umi said.
"She is actually more capable than me, right? Besides, we've been working under her command, ever since we started all this… so it doesn't make any difference, really… it was all just about who takes the credit." Kotori replied.
Umi sighed weakly,
"Well… true… but I still think it supposed to be yours… not hers. You're the princess, she was just a traveller— or that's what we know about. I'm still not sure how she can marry the guardian of the north, I don't buy their story about they just met and suddenly in love…" Umi smirked wryly.
"I agree, there must be something about it, but I still think I won't do any good if I sit on the throne. Besides, it's not like she never gave me a chance. She offered me the crown back then…in the ceremony… remember?" Kotori said.
"She only gives you a few minutes to think of it, it's still feels so unfair…" Umi said.
"I don't think so… it's fair enough… in my point of view, at least. Nozomi-chan and Eli-chan have been working so hard to take care of the nation while I...just take the credits of everything she asked me to. They're building up our reputation too… so I still believe that this is for the best…" Kotori replied.
Umi sighed weakly,
"You could've got more credit than doing all these… Kotori… beside, like what I've said, you're the princess… you could've—"
"I am born a princess, but is that mean I am born as someone who's capable to do everything? From the very beginning, I always wonder, why do I get all the respect? I can't do anything good for the nation, why people respect me? Then why a person like Nozomi-chan lives as traveler? Why a person like you lives as my guardian? Then why a person like Honoka lives as a chef? It's not fair!" Kotori cuts in.
Umi remained quiet,
"People have worked hard, even harder than I am… but why are they not living as good as I am?" Kotori added again, her voice tells Umi that she is about to cry. Umi took a deep breath, she doesn't know what to say to it.
"Look, Umi-chan… I'm really glad that you care about me, I really do…. And I'm also very glad that you love me… for whoever I am. But I just think I can't do any better than Nozomi-chan. She is more capable to take care of the kingdom. Just look at all those technologies she applied on the kingdom… then all those miracles she did…. And how much the other kingdom respect her… she is not only clever, she is also generous and kind… she got what she deserve." Kotori continued.
Umi sighed again weakly, she was about to say something but someone knocked the door. Kotori and Umi quickly fix their clothing, Kotori wiped her own tears and trying her best to look fine. Umikoto who has been quiet on her cushion jumped and running to get the door.
"Kotori?" Umikoto said shyly as she peeks behind the door.
"Nya-nya-nya!" Nekorin said. She is coming along with Rin, Maki and Hanayo.
"Hey…" Maki greeted.
"Kotori-chan and Umi-chan here? We have new tasks-nya!" Rin said.
"Kotori! Kotori-Kotori-kotori , Umi!" Umikoto said as she open the door for them.
They walked in in a cheerful step,
"Kotori-chan! You did a great job on making the antidote! The villages are all clear now-nya!" Rin said.
"Ah, Really?" Kotori asked, forcing a smile but she managed to look fine.
"Yup. You are… they're also glad that you are able to purify the water. Now they won't be worried about water supply.." Hanayo said.
"Not only that, we are also managed to purify the diseased forest, thanks to Nozomi who let us return the artifacts your father took back to its place…" Maki said.
Umi smirked wryly as she heard it, though she said nothing about it.
"Really? Then I don't regret giving up the throne for her…" Kotori said.
"Kotori-chan, you're very humble and kind. You could be the queen and just let her do all the work. It's better on you…" Hanayo said.
"True-nya! But it's not like we mind with Nozomi-chan sitting on the throne. She really improved everyone's economy. The markets too are now balanced, although there are still some slight differences on price, but it's very balanced-nya!" Rin said.
"That one is everyone's work, you know, although the plan was coming from her… but yeah, we wouldn't need to spend too much for fashion or food now. Everyone can live healthy. Except those outlaws outside, but they don't want to agree with the rules we have so, that's their fault…." Maki said.
"I wonder what's up with those people nya… just about a few days ago I found a group of them near the east kingdom. I heard them ranting about how cruel Nozomi-chan is-nya… said she is very abusive-nya…" Rin said.
Hanayo giggled,
"Just ignore them, they must be the ex-soldiers who disagreed with Nozomi-chan's decision to lower their wages… even though they have an argument about how they will sacrifice in battle, Nozomi-chan's argument still stronger as if they can't offer a better skill and raise their own rank, then they are not worthy to get more wages…" Hanayo said.
"To begin with, their previous wages are too high. King and Queen Minami are too generous. Low rank soldiers here don't get that much wages…" Maki said.
"How about the elites?" Umi asked.
"The elites still get the same wages, but they also get a special treatment from the newest bar she opened… three free drinks and foods each day… that totally enhance motivation for the lower rank soldiers to hurry up and raise their skill. Now we just don't know how strong their militaries are. It's like we will see over a thousand Elites in battle later…" Maki said.
"W-wow, with that, they can upgrade their home and live prosper until age sixty…" Umi said.
"Retired soldiers still getting money each month, it's the same amount as the advanced soldiers, but they don't need to work as much so no one complain about that…" Maki said.
"Kotori-chan you're very lucky… the east kingdom is probably be the richest kingdom right now." Hanayo said.
"Hehe…is that so?" Kotori replied sweetly.
"Yup, you should be proud, it's your kingdom!" Hanayo said.
"My…kingdom…." Kotori said softly.
"Yeah, if you're thinking that you're not part of the royal family anymore, you're wrong. You're born there and raised there, as a princess. You should take up the throne once you're ready… but I doubt it will be easy to do that since… you totally say out loud that you refuse to be the queen when Nozomi offered it in coronation ceremony— and with that many witnesses, so if you try to ask that all so sudden without preparation or Nozomi's recommendation, people won't acknowledge you…" Maki said.
Kotori remained quiet, Umi bit her lip bitterly. The room filled with an awkward silence,
"B-by the way nya! Do you have tomatoes? I want to feed Maki-chan's homunculus-nya!" Rin said.
"Tomatoes?" Kotori turned to Rin confusedly,
"Yup! Maki-chan's homunculus love tomatoes! So we call her Tomaki-chan nya!" Rin said.
"H-hey! Don't just name her that!" Maki said.
"But she likes that name-nya!" Rin said. Then as she said that, something is violently moving in Maki's bag.
"Yup, she does love that name… Tomaki-chan! We have tomato!" Hanayo said.
"T-Tomato!" A cute red haired little creature appeared from Maki's bag. She looks a little fierce on her face but with the cute panther ears flapping, she looks extremely cute.
"H-hey! Don't just appear because of that! You're being tricked!" Maki said to the little creature.
"Maki! Maki-maki-maki-tomato!" the little creature said angrily.
"What?! I don't have tomato! It was Hanayo who said that she have tomato!" Maki said. Tomaki turned to Hanayo
"Ehh…. Uhhmm… Kotori-chan, you have tomato, right?" Hanayo asked.
"Uhm… no… I don't…. I rarely use that…" Kotori said.
"Oh-dear… Uhh…." Hanayo looks a little scared, Tomaki jumped off from the bag. Her tail signaling that she is on her hunting mode— her sharp purple eyes glaring at Hanayo…
"Nya-nya-nya!" Nekorin said.
"Maki?!" Tomaki turned to Nekorin.
"Nya-nya…." Nekorin showed a picture of Tomato, colored with crayon.
"Tomato!" Tomaki quickly jumped at her and grab the paper… then she bit it… and she spit them out again because it tastes bad.
"That's a paper, you idiot…" Maki said.
"M-maki! Maki-maki-maki-tomato!" Tomaki yelled.
"Nya-nya!" Nekorin giggled.
"M-M-Makiiiiii!" Tomaki looks angry.
"Kotori? Kotori-kotori?" Umikoto called them, then she took out a tomato out from her bag.
"T-Tomato!" Tomaki jumped at Umikoto, opening her mouth widely like she is about to eat her,
"K-Kotoriiiiii!" Umikoto getting scared,
"Maki!" Tomaki only bit the tomato, then she run away, climbing Maki's leg and hid inside the bag again.
Everyone watched it in awe…
"S-so….so cute…." Kotori said.
"L…let's make sure we grab some tomato on the way home…." Umi said.
"That would be nice-nya! Tomaki-chan always refuses to play with us without tomato in our hand-nya…" Rin said.
"Our task is something related to tomato anyway, we need to gather a bunch of tomatoes. Eli said she wanted to try some things on them… so she told us to gather them in many quality variations…" Maki said.
"I see… I wonder what kind of things she is up to with tomatoes…" Umi replied.
"No idea, but I don't really care about that. I only care about this parasite monster we need to kill along the way and also getting my tokens. I can't wait to forge my weapon…" Maki said.
"Same with me, the only motivation for me now is to get that metal forged into a bow…" Umi said.
"Glad to hear that, we better get going…" Maki said as she turned around and walk to the door, opening it a little rudely,
"Kotori, take care of yourself, ok?" Umi said as she walks to the door along with Maki and Umikoto.
"Ok!" Kotori replied.
"Rin will also have to go sending stuffs nya! Bye-bye!" Rin said as she left with Nekorin and closed the door.
"Bye-bye, Rin-chan!" Hanayo said.
The two alchemists are left alone in the workshop. They giggled softly at them,
"They're really cute… don't you think?" Hanayo asked.
"Yup, they are…" Kotori replied.
They giggled again,
"Now, shouldn't we start working on our task? We're supposed to make a few medicines— uhm… here is the list…" Hanayo took out a paper and showed it to Kotori.
"Ah…. I think I've tried this one on my own before…" Kotori said.
"Really? That's great, how is it exactly…?" Hanayo asked,
"Well—…."
Kotori began to explain.
Meanwhile in the other Kingdom…
The throne seat is empty, the throne room has changed into a discussion room, a big table set on the middle of the room with a huge map on top of it. Nozomi walks around it as she examined every detail of the map.
The ministers stand near the table with a few paper works they worked on for a few nights in their arm.
"This is an old map, right? I don't remember the clock tower still existed… It was destroyed after an earthquake a few years ago." Nozomi said as she marked a picture of clock tower on the map.
"No one reported that to us…" Erena said.
Nozomi and Eli smirked,
"That's sad…" Eli said.
"Maybe we should start giving three of you tasks to travel around the nation and see everything on your own…" Nozomi said.
"That would be great!" Tsubasa said excitedly.
"Tsubasa!" Anjuu and Erena spanked her.
"Ouch… but I think that would be nice. We've been staying around the castle all years, we need to go out and see the nature…" Tsubasa said.
"Yeah, but then who will do the paperwork? We can't let our queen do them all…" Erena said.
"Yeah! Think of your responsibility!" Anjuu said.
Nozomi giggled,
"I would like to tell all of you to not worry about that, the only question here is, do you all want it or not? I won't force it if you prefer to stay here and help me out…" Nozomi said.
"W-well… My queen, I mean… Nozomi-san… we wanted it, but…. really, we just can't imagine it if you have to work everything on your own…" Erena said.
"Yeah, it's a tough works… " Anjuu said.
Nozomi giggled again,
"Now-now… leave a strand of your hair on the table and come back here in three days. You might want to use those three days to prepare your adventure. Your task is simple, please check everything in this map, especially the one that I marked. If you find anything strange or new, draw the scenery or describe it then report to me… we'll make sure this kingdom have the newest map…" Nozomi said as she rolled the map on the table.
"What about the north area? We doubt we can deal with that one…" Anjuu said.
"Leave that alone… I'll handle it." Eli said.
"That's awesome, Eli-san, do you want to join A-Rise?" Tsubasa said.
Erena and Anjuu spanked Tsubasa again,
"Tsubasa! Eli-san is the king!" they said.
Nozomi giggled,
"What a playful silly girl, reminded me of someone…" Nozomi said.
"Honoka isn't it? They are somewhat feel like role model of each other…." Erena sighed.
"Yeah… so troublesome…" Anjuu sighed too.
"Aah! That reminds me! I should stop by on her shop to get some food!" Tsubasa said.
"Tsubasa!" Anjuu and Erena protested.
Nozomi giggled,
"Are you all always this lively? I really rarely see you all like this…" Nozomi said.
"No… not really, we kind of feel bad to do this in front of Queen Minami, but… we don't know… it feels like we're feeling more confident to talk with you. We're like… friends…?" Anjuu said.
"W-we can stop if you mind with that attitude…" Erena said.
"No-no, it's fine, please continue being yourself. I believe Kotori-chan will want the same too…" Nozomi said.
"Haha, awesome! I really like working with you, Nozomi-san!" Tsubasa said.
"Me too…" Nozomi smiled at her.
"We better get going and prepare our adventure, maybe we should pay a visit to Princess Kotori as well?" Erena asked.
"Oh, yes please. Also… don't forget to share the information with her. She need to know the kingdom's condition…" Nozomi said.
"No problem!" Tsubasa said before she turned around and run to the door.
"Wait Tsubasa! Gesture!" Anjuu said. Too late, Tsubasa already left the room along with the map.
"Sheesh…. That's what we get if we are being too soft on her…." Erena said.
"Don't worry about that, just go…" Nozomi said.
"Ah…" Anjuu and Erena gestured to her politely.
"You have our heart, Nozomi-san… thanks for everything…" Anjuu said.
Nozomi only smiled at them before the two left the room quickly to chase after Tsubasa. The room is only left with Nozomi and Eli inside. The guards who usually stands near the door are all relocated to guard another area since Nozomi said that she don't need any other guard than her dearest wife.
"Nozomi…" Eli called her gently.
"What is it, Ericchi?" Nozomi asked.
"I…. accidentally killed a few more people out there… didn't expect the new sword to be that strong…" Eli said hesitatingly.
"You tested your new sword to the outlaws? Silly Ericchi, of course they will die, they're not well armored!" Nozomi said.
"Sorry…." Eli replied.
"Where's the body?" Nozomi asked.
"It… was destroyed… then consumed… I think we…uh… made an…. extremely dangerous weapon…" Eli scratches her head shyly.
"Then you better hold that well, Ericchi. This is all your idea to create such thing! I told you to just make armor out of that metal…" Nozomi said.
"Don't worry, I will… but anyway… can I request something else?" Eli asked.
"What is it?" Nozomi asked back.
"Can you... put some…uh… street lights or something? Then also add more lights around the castle…. It's…dark…. At night…" Eli said shyly.
Nozomi sighed,
"Ericchi… we're still trying to press the spending, adding more lights around will lower our budget… it will cost us some daily spending for the maintenance…" Nozomi said.
"Right… then…uh… maybe just from the bedroom until the bathroom?" Eli said.
"Ericchi…. That will still cost plenty… thanks to the previous king to make the bathroom far away from the bedroom… we can change that later though." Nozomi sighed.
"T-then! You should just…uhm… accompany me to go to the bathroom at night until then… also… accompany me to patrol around too?"
"I'll do that, let's not spend too much budget, ok? We need the money to do our project…"
"Yeah, that's fine… uhm… I wish there's something that can lit the ways without have to spend too much budget…"
"Like fireflies? We can add mini garden around the hallway… it will cost less for the maintenance… we can handle that."
"Oh, true… hmm… actually maybe we should mutate the fireflies a bit so they glow brighter. I'll try to get the recipe for that…" Eli said before she took out her note and starts to walk away.
"Don't overdo it…" Nozomi said.
Eli giggled,
"You will still be the one who do the synthesis anyway…"
Back into the workshop at West Kingdom,
Kotori and Hanayo still remained on their work. It's very quiet around there since Elichika and Nozochika are no longer accompanying them. They're busy with managing everything around the castle at east kingdom.
Kotori sighed weakly,
"It's so quiet… I wish we already have our own homunculus…" Kotori said.
"I…actually already have one, she is in my workshop though. Working on the daily castle work while I'm here…" Hanayo said.
"Oh?"
"Hehe, I want to hang out with everyone… it seems fun…" Hanayo said.
"Yup, thanks for deciding that!" Kotori replied cheerfully.
The two continued stirring quietly for a while until Kotori decided to break the silence,
"Hanayo-chan… do you value yourself as a princess?" Kotori asked.
"Me…? Well, I do… what about you?" Hanayo asked.
"I…don't know…. I just feel like I'm not worthy to be a princess…. I can't do much things…" Kotori said.
Hanayo smiled at her,
"Being a princess is a birthright, Kotori-chan. You're born as that and you shouldn't deny yourself… good or bad, that's how you are born. You have to treasure it no matter what… " Hanayo said.
"But, look, Nozomi-chan is a lot better than I… she is more worthy to sit on the throne…" Kotori replied.
Hanayo giggled,
"I used to tell the same thing to her…." Hanayo said.
Kotori remained quiet to listen.
"Then she told me about the story of the north princess…. Hmm… I wonder if it will be alright to tell this to you…. But…. anyway, that story made me realize something… I can't really explain it, but I suppose you just need to hear it out…. will you?" Hanayo said.
Kotori nodded quietly. Hanayo smiled at her.
"Long time ago, there was a princess that live in the north kingdom. She was granted with cunning wit, beauty, and power. She knows how to do so many things, she is almost perfect and a lot of people respect her…" Hanayo started,
"Is it possible to have someone like that in the world?" Kotori asked.
"Possibly, but Nozomi-chan said it was just a legend anyway…" Hanayo said.
"I see…."
"Anyway, this princess, because of her perfection, she becomes an arrogant person— even if she was actually good at heart, her pride was just always prevents her to do things right…or… saying things properly. She always ended up hurting others or made others feel awkward… then she eventually being betrayed by others…" Hanayo continued.
"How come?" Kotori asked.
"Well, people like her is too good to be ignored, no one like her, but she is good at everything, so it's no surprise if some others are using her to get what they want and dump her when they no longer can leech out of her…" Hanayo replied.
"That's… mean…" Kotori said.
"Yeah… it is… but that's how it is… you should be glad that you have friends who like you as whoever you are… friends who knows you from zero… or even minus…" Hanayo said.
"Yeah… like… Umi-chan… and… Honoka-chan…." Kotori replied.
Hanayo smiled sweetly at her,
"Anyway, back to the story…. Because this princess realize that she is being betrayed over and over, then being talked behind her back all the time, she decided to close her heart… she speak to no one but to her family who loved her no matter what she is… or so that she believes…" Hanayo continued again.
Kotori remained quiet, she tried to remember how she was back then, but as she tried to remember it, her memory feels so vague. She forgot a lot of things in her childhood. She decided to drop her attempt and keep listening to the story,
"Then at one day, a witch came into her dream, she asked to her, what will you do once you become the queen? People hate you and you hate them…" Hanayo tried to sound evil, though she was too cute to become an actual evil.
Kotori giggled,
"…and the princess said, not like I need them to decide my action. I can do whatever I want because this is my life and I'm very sure that people will change their action to me if I could change myself for the better…" Hanayo tried to sound arrogant, yet again, she sounded too cute.
"Did she manage to actually do that?" Kotori asked.
"Sadly, No… she didn't. She was too driven by her hate towards others and result her to failure to change herself for the better…. You might want to ask Umi-chan or Niko-chan… they might know more about it…" Hanayo said.
"Umi-chan might know about it?"
"Yup, but anyway, the point is, being good at everything doesn't make you a success, it's a benefit, but still not enough to guarantee yourself to be success. Our decision also matter, so we have to get to know with things around us before making one… experiences will help a lot, reading history is a good lesson, so don't lose hope of yourself just because you're not good at anything. There must be something you can do for yourself…" Hanayo said.
Kotori smiled at her,
"Like… alchemy…. There's not much alchemist around… they're always feared to be called as witch…" Hanayo said.
"Yeah… I guess we're lucky that none of us having that kind of trouble…" Kotori said.
"hehe, thanks to our status as royal family… also not to forget Eli-chan and Nozomi-chan for being so famous… we're kind of dragged into their popularity…" Hanayo said.
"Yup, that we are…" Kotori said.
"Ah, by the way, your mixture already started to change color, you should start adding the next ingredients….."
"Oh right!"
And the two continue to work….
Meanwhile outside the west town outskirt,
Maki jumped up high to the sky before she spins like a tornado, thrusting her pole blade right into the head of a giant lizard. The head bleeds greatly and it getting worsen as Maki pulls out her pole blade and jumping away from it.
"Now, Umi!" maki shouted. Umi shot the lizard with her sleeping arrow—aimed it right into the open wound on its head. It was luckily penetrated deep into its wound before it regenerated. The Lizard fall into sleep after a few second…
"Great job, now we can skin him…" Maki said.
"You are really going to skin him like that…?" Umi asked.
"How else…? It's impossible to kill him for a hundred times. We're not going to spend all days for that…" Maki said as she walks to the lizard and taking out her knife.
Umi remained quiet as she watches her.
"Are you going to help me or not? I don't have time to deal with you and your troubled mind…" Maki said.
"Sorry…." Umi replied as she joined Maki to skin the lizard. The two remained quiet as they keep working on it until Niko and Honoka came by,
"How is it?" Niko asked.
"Do you still need to ask?" Maki said sarcastically.
"I was just asking damn it…" Niko said.
"Well as you can see, this lizard is sleeping and we're skinning him… alive…." Umi said.
"That's how you supposed to do it, the alchemist need his living skin and if it possible, you should get his living heart as well…" Niko said.
"Gross…." Umi said.
"That's why Nozomi aren't picking you as her student, your mind is too stiff and dull. You should change that, be a little playful…" Niko said.
"Not like I want to be her student…" Umi said a little angrily as she pulls off the lizard skin along with Maki.
"Umi-chan, are you still upset with her because she took the throne?" Honoka asked.
Umi sighed,
"How do I put it? That throne is supposed to be for Kotori and her family… Don't you feel wrong to let others sitting there? Even if she is better than Kotori, I still feel wrong!" Umi said angrily.
"Then go appeal with her. Tell her that you want Kotori to sit there instead of her…" Maki said.
"It's not that easy… She needs to be willing to sit there and truth is, she never has the will again ever since that coronation ceremony…. But sheesh, why does it have to be her anyway…." Umi said.
"It's Queen Minami's recommendation, you can't deny that…" Niko said.
"Is that letter even real? I mean, look, it was just one night and she suddenly decide to leave that letter to the ministers… does she even have time for it? I remember we're searching through the castle immediately and couldn't find her anywhere…" Umi said.
"Do you really search everywhere…? I'm pretty sure I didn't see you searching that night…" Niko asked.
"You are there too that night?" Umi asked,
"Yeah… and I know you're under effect of that chocolate..." Niko said.
"Did you see the queen write that letter then?" Umi asked.
"Sadly, no, but I see her being a little insane along with Queen Nishikino…" Niko glanced at Maki.
"H-hey, I don't want to hear that!" Maki said.
"Relax, they're just distributing the chocolate brownies to everyone in the castle, they offered me too but I can smell alchemy in it so I didn't eat it…" Niko said.
"I thought you ate it though, totally saw you ate it…" Honoka said.
"D-Don't tell them! Sheesh!" Niko said.
Honoka giggled which caused Umi to be angry, she dropped off the skin and swiftly walks to Honoka before she slapped her very roughly.
"How could you talk like it's not your fault, Honoka… this mess is caused by you…" Umi said.
Honoka remained quiet as she smirked bitterly.
"Answer me, you idiot!" Umi yelled as she was about to hit Honoka, Maki quickly drops her work and hold Umi back.
"Hey- Stop it!" Maki yelled.
"Can't you see?! You caused Kotori to lose what supposed to be hers!" Umi yelled.
Honoka still quiet about it.
"Calm down, damn it!" Maki yelled as she tried her best to hold her.
Niko snapped both of them very quickly.
"Ouch!"
"Are you two seriously going to fight like that forever?" Niko said.
The two remained quiet,
"Don't think that I don't know about anything, I have been in the castle longer than you two. I know what's going on… between your family and the king…" Niko continued.
Umi is still glaring at Honoka,
"What about things that you said to Eli before? You told her to work with you instead of hating everyone around her…" Maki said as she tried to hold Umi. Umi realized her action, she cringed and trying to calm herself down.
"Rin told me about it… and she think you're wiser than Eli, but look at you now! You're just like her…!" Maki said.
Umi sighed heavily. Honoka still quiet…
"Just… tell me, Honoka, do you feel guilty about it?" Umi asked.
Honoka keep her mouth shut,
"Answer me!" Umi yelled.
"What if I do feel guilty about it? What are you going to do to me?" Honoka finally replied.
Umi smirked bitterly, she began to attempt to hit her again but Maki hold her back strongly.
"There! Stop it! It's not going to solve anything!" Maki yelled.
"And what if I was the one who helped them to gain the throne?" Honoka asked
"You're not the Honoka that I know! Honoka would never say that with that bold face!" Umi yelled.
"Then you never knew me before! This is me and I truly say what I think! I'm expressing myself faster than thinking! If you want my true opinion, then I can say, just drop that off! Kotori-chan isn't meant for the throne and you already know that!" Honoka yelled back at her.
"No! She is supposed to be there! She is brave! She is kind! She is clever! You just never know her because you keep your mind filled by everything about your own life! You are selfish! You're Bossy! You are a big trouble maker!" Umi yelled, struggling to get out of Maki's grab.
"Then what about you? You are strict and stiff, you never think of other's feeling but rule this rule that, you never know how to be fun! You keep lying to yourself to look good! Beside, if you really want Kotori to be there, why don't you force her? Why you keep waiting her to do something about it?!" Honoka yelled.
"You don't know me!" Umi yelled.
"You don't know me either!" Honoka yelled.
"Just let her go, Maki…" Niko said.
"What are you saying? They're going to hit each other!" Maki said.
"Just let them…. take off their weapon, let them do it…" Niko said.
Maki smirked wryly before she quickly grabs Umi's bow and arrow away before she released Umi. Honoka throw her knife and frying pan away as she charged forward— clenching her fist and began to attack Umi who also attempted to hit her.
"Are you serious?!" Maki complained as she walks to Niko, watching them fighting with their fist.
"At least they didn't do it with half asses this time…" Niko said.
"I don't understand… what are they up to….?" Maki asked.
"You see, they have grudge over Kotori's father… The King… for what he had done to their family… but they cannot hate Kotori just because they began to understand with what's going on. Knowing that Kotori wanted to resurrect that man, they cannot just reject her and ended up to help her out with half asses…" Niko explained.
"Why? Can't they just forget it?" Maki asked.
"You can say that because you didn't get a direct impact in your life…" Niko replied.
"True…." Maki said as she sighed weakly.
"They've been childhood friends, although they split up for a while because of something, their bond to each other are still as strong as it is…" Niko added.
"They're breaking each other now though…" Maki said.
"Nah, they are not. They're trying to help each other with realizing something… so that's why we should let them do it…"
Night time in the West Kingdom workshop,
Kotori and Hanayo just finished with their first step for the medicine they're working on, they should continue it tomorrow since there won't be enough energy and time to move on the second step.
"I'll be back here in the morning, are you fine with that?" Hanayo asked.
"Yup, I'm fine…" Kotori said.
"Hehe, by the way, how's your token? Did you collect enough to get your homunculus?" Hanayo asked.
"I'm not sure…. Maybe?" Kotori said.
"Hehe, you should get them, it's really worth it. They can duplicate or create items like a true alchemist…." Hanayo said.
"Is that so? Then I'll make sure to count it tomorrow…" Kotori said.
"Or you can ask Umikoto to count for you…" Hanayo said.
"Ah, that works too…" Kotori said.
"What animals you're going to get?" Hanayo asked.
"Uhm… sheep? They're so fluffy!" Kotori said.
"Good choice, you can get their meat in the marketplace too… or get one from our farm. I don't mind to give you one…" Hanayo said.
"Ehhh? Really?" Kotori said excitedly.
"Yup, we're friends after all, right?" Hanayo said.
"Yup, hehe…" Kotori nodded cheerfully.
Someone knocked the door,
"Ah…? Who's that I wonder…" Kotori said.
"Should be them, Maki are always quick on finishing her task…" Hanayo said.
Kotori decided to open the door,
She could see Rin carrying three homunculus on her arms. It's Tomaki, Umikoto, and Niko's Homunculus, Paniko, black haired, red eyes and panda ears and tail with matching panda suit.
"Good evening-nya! I just rescued them from the river-nya!" Rin said.
"Nya-nya-nya!" Nekorin said.
"Ehhh?! Where are their masters?" Kotori asked.
"Don't know-nya! Maybe still busy with the big lizard?" Rin said.
Kotori let Rin and Nekorin coming in before she closed the door.
"Maki-maki….tomato…." Tomaki said.
"Kotori-kotori…" Umikoto said.
"Niko…" Paniko said,
"They're chasing after falling tomato and got drowned instead-nya…." Rin said.
"Silly creatures…" Kotori and Hanayo giggled,
"I hope the masters aren't getting any—…." Before Hanayo finished, the door knocked again.
Rin opened the door,
"W-w-waaaa! Umi-chan! Honoka-chan! What happen-nya?!" Rin shouted, Kotori and Hanayo quickly take a peek.
Umi and Honoka helping each other to stand while Maki and Niko on the other side of them to make sure they actually still can stand. Umi and Honoka's face are also bruised everywhere, their noses too are bleeding slightly, but they have a big smile.
"Waaaa! What happen?!" Kotori and Hanayo screamed.
After the two received a proper treatment,
They didn't explain about what caused the fight, but they do say that the two are fighting for a reason. it was lucky that Kotori and Hanayo aren't the type who insist about details. Umi and Honoka sat next to each other on the sofa, they keep giving each other a smile despite all the bruises on their face.
"Sheesh, you two are suddenly fighting like that, I didn't expect that, you know…" Kotori said.
"Hehe, Sorry, Kotori-chan… it can't be helped…" Honoka said.
Umi chuckled before she is trying to stand up,
"Sit back down! I'll do it…" Maki said.
"No, it's fine, I want to give it myself…" Umi said as she struggled to reach her bag which hanged on the bag hanger. Everyone respect that and let her do it on her own. She searched through her bag and took out a bouquet of Anemone Flowers with dark blue center and grayish white outer crown.
"Kotori…" Umi said as she tried to walk to Kotori, Kotori waited her,
"I'm sorry… I've been a troublesome for you…" Umi said as she kneeled in front of her and offer her the bouquet.
"Umi-chan….?" Kotori said confusedly.
"I should've been braver to do this in front of everyone…" Umi continued.
Kotori stare at her in awe, she hesitatingly accept the flower. Umi stood up and placed her hand on her chest,
"I love you… Kotori… please forgive me for being a coward…" Umi said with a gentle smile.
"Umi….chan….." Kotori smiled at her before she happily hugged Umi.
"Umi-chan! I love you too!" Kotori shouted.
Everyone in the room smiled faintly at them.
"But… what happen? I don't understand… why is it all so sudden?" Kotori asked as she began to cry.
"Eh?! Don't cry, Kotori-chan!" Honoka said.
"Yeah, what she said, there's nothing bad happen…" Umi said.
"Sorry, but what happen? Please tell me!" Kotori cried.
"Uh…. well…. Kotori-chan, we're just… uhm…. want you to be the queen…" Honoka said.
"But we couldn't say that before because we thought, perhaps, it's true that it is for the best…" Umi said.
"…and we realized, it's not what we truly want to happen… even if it was true that we don't like your father…. And we admit that we've been working half-heartedly… it's still hard for us both to see your throne taken away…" Honoka tried to explain, her mouth still bleeding a little.
"Nozomi might be a better queen, but it is still not her place…" Umi said.
"It's yours, Kotori-chan…" Honoka said.
"Yeah… but…. Nozo—…"
"You don't need to worry about her, Kotori…" Niko cuts in before Kotori could finish her sentence.
Everyone turned to Niko,
"She has been a queen herself…" Niko added.
"Eeeehh!? A queen?!" Honoka, Umi and Kotori said all together.
"Yup, she has been a queen— she is the queen of the North Kingdom…" Niko said.
"But... the north kingdom was...destroyed?" Kotori said.
Niko took a deep breath...
"Well..."
A/N : Explanation is next chapter~