"Azura, I think I'm in love"
The blue haired songstress sitting on a chair across from me gives out a small laugh. "Congratulations. Who's the lucky guy" she asked, sipping from her tea. We were sitting in my quarters, enjoying another sunny afternoon in Fort Corrin. "Could it be Jakob? I have seen him heading up here late at nights."
"He's my butler! He's doing his job!" Damn that Azura, spreading rumours like that. "No… Promise not to laugh or tell anyone"
"Of course, Kamui."
"I mean it. This does not leave here."
"I solemnly swear it."
"Oboro." Azura's eyes bulge slightly, but she keeps the neutral expression she usually wears born onto her face.
"As in, your little brother's retainer Oboro? The spear fighter Oboro?" she asks. Oh gods. She has 'that look' in her eyes.
"Y-yes." Oh gods, why did I say it!? Of course she wouldn't understand! She barely even spoke to the men of the army, what does she know of love and romance?! Quick, I need a way to play this off! "That was a joke!" Awkward laughter wouldn't salvage that disaster, but it's all I have to offer to this. Azura tilts her head to the side, those golden eyes gazing deeply at me.
"Kamui? You've turned a bright red."
Just kill me now, oh gods. Maybe I can just yell out Valla and get it over with. She's still giving me that look. Dammit Azura, at least smile or something!
"Hmm… Did you get so nervous in the moment and say Oboro when you truly meant Hinata?" Her lips curled ever so slightly at the corners. That witch! She's enjoying my anguish! My aching heart opens for her and she stomps all over it! "I jest, Kamui. Still, maybe you should work on your comedy."
Like you're one to talk, Azura. You smile like three times a week. And one of those times is getting to laugh at me.
"You should also work a bit on your covering up skills, too. Any good strategist needs to be able to bluff her way out of a pinch" said the songstress, putting her drink down. Great, now she's lecturing me. "Teasing aside, Kamui, you can talk to me about anything that's worrying you. Be it war problems, boy problems or girl problems. You're our captain and we're depending on you to be on top of everything"
She's really dug into her 'big sister' mode. At least hers isn't as overbearing as Camilla's. She moves her hands over the table, grabbing one of my stray palms in her cool grasp. Urgh, she can probably feel how sweaty my hands are.
It'll probably be quicker to come clean. I don't think she's going to leave me alone until she gets the answer she wants.
Blasted woman. Next time I admit to my desires I'm telling Lillith.
"Fine. I-I'm into girls, alright?" I admit. She keeps her cool gaze trained on me. Is she trying to make me confess more? "Fine! I've been pining after Oboro! She's so pretty and strong and kind and she's never going to look my way!" I spit it all out. Damn that woman, she's too good at getting people to lower their guards. She smiles, for real this time.
"Wasn't too bad, was it?" she says, with her smile remaining. To hell with you, Azura! I'm pouring my heart out here and you keep grinning through it! "Although, why don't you think she'll ever look your way? You'll never know until you ask."
And that lies the problem. I've basically been smitten from the first time I met my the retainers of my brother, Takumi. We had just defeated a Nohrian mage in Izumo and the duke, Izana, had died delivering a prophecy. My eyes meet that of something that looks otherworldly. She was a warrior, but she carried herself like a model, with her armour decorated slightly and those eyes… I'm rambling even when I think about her. I've never felt this way about anything before. I guess you could call me sheltered. Well. I am, but I know enough that this wasn't the usual way people did . But the problem really lies with Oboro herself. How her smile is the largest when it's for Takumi.
It sounds pathetic, really, all this jealousy, especially for my brother.
"She's only interested in Takumi. What do I have that he doesn't" I ask.
"I'd say you've got a nicer personality" she replied, chuckling. Well, she's not wrong. Little brother could be prickly at the best of times. "So you need to try and woo her? What does she like?"
That was a question I didn't have an answer for. All I knew of her was her position as Takumi's retainer and her penchant for staying up late to do chores like mending clothing. And that glare of hers, usually trained upon Jakob and Gunther. "I don't know, I guess she likes fashion?" Azura's smile slowly returned to her usual neutrality. That was probably a bad answer.
"Sounds like you have a lot of work ahead of you then" she said, sipping her tea. Despite sounding as passive as always, she sounded smug. A knock on the door interrupted the conversation.
"O-oh, am I interrupting?" asked Sakura, poking her head through the door.
"Not at all, sister. Is there something you needed?" I asked. My youngest sister, by birth, was the nervous sort. Also, she was very innocent and gave off an aura of 'I Must Protect' that affected everyone in a mile's radius. A devilish thought runs through my head.
"I-it's just that it's your turn to run the Accessory Store, Azura" stammered my sister. She'll be perfect for this mission. There's not a person alive who wouldn't drop their guard around her. Meanwhile, Azura finished her drink and stood up.
"Thank you for the reminder, Sakura. Kamui… Think hard about your feelings and make sure they're real, alright?" she said, leaving my quarters. Even when she's supportive, it feels like she's being condescending. Would it kill her to have some weakness? Sakura gave a little bow before following after the songstress.
"Sakura, could I just grab you for a second?" I ask, quickly heading to the door. She bites her lip as she turns to face me. Damn, that charm is already in gear.
"S-sure. What do you need?" she asked. I can't give her the whole truth about this situation. Despite being a lot stronger than she thinks she is, Sakura'd innocently give it away in an attempt to try and help. Or worse, try and give me advice. Heaven knows asking from Azura was enough of a mistake.
"You know how Takumi recently joined us?" I ask, receiving a nod from her. "In the interests of… unity, I'm trying to get to know all of the army better. I've never met Oboro and Hinata before, so I was wondering if you could ask them about what they were into?"
Sakura brought a finger to her lip and tilted her head. "I understand your request sister, but why do I need to do this?" Ah. Didn't think this through. Come on Kamui, think.
"Well, you're cute and calming. Yeah! Everyone feels at ease around you, so they're more likely to open up to you! I'm really sorry to burden you with this, but it'd be terrible if I tried to make conversation with them and I couldn't hold a conversation. Please, sister, give me your talents for this" I say, grabbing her hands. Anything to make me look desperate, and that atrocious attempt at lying should do something. After a glance to the side, Sakura's eyes rest back on me as she smiles.
"Of course, sister! I'll give you all of the information on him! And don't worry, your secret is safe with me!" she said, skipping through the door. I didn't just mishear her, did I? She did say 'them', right?
I really hope she did. But before I can even stop her, she's a out of sight. Approaching my quarters, I see my old teacher approaching. Likely to review previous skirmishes until the early hours of the morning. Having a guide like Gunther is vital during this war on both sides, but listening to him is something else. It doesn't help my mind in other, cuter places. The night rolled in quickly, with the meeting ending and me drifting off to sleep…
"Kamui, it's time to awake. We have a long march ahead of us" said a familiar voice. Jakob was in my room, which meant I had overslept. Again. A cold breeze blew in from the window as my butler had thrown my sheets off of me, sending a shiver down my back. "Oh, and there's someone who wanted to talk to you before we start today" he said, placing my armour on the bed and bowing, before ducking out of the room. Getting ready and dressed, I think who it could be. Sakura? Could she be this eager to report to me her findings. Opening my door and looking down from my balcony, I see someone I didn't expect to see.
"Heya, Captain! Sakura said you wanted to talk to me privately!" called out Hinata, waving a beefy arm above his head, huge grin plastered across his face.
"Come right on up, Hinata!" I say with a fake smile. I'm going to murder you, Sakura.