Chapter 4

Invitation and Secret Letter

Once he has everything he needs to clean the floors in the front lobby, Yuu is just about to get to work when he hears a voice behind him, "Yuu-san."

He turns to see his younger stepsister Shinoa approach him from one of the rooms. "Hey Shinoa."

The younger girl then gives her brother a sad expression. "I'm so sorry that my sister is forcing you to do all of the work without the others to help."

"Don't worry about it. I should have known better than to take a risky break." Yuu reassures her, then he thought about Mika, causing a small smile to form on his face. "It was worth it though." he whispers to himself.

Shinoa is about to ask what he meant when she hears Mahiru call for her at the top of the staircase. "Come, Shinoa. Time for your music lesson."

"I'm coming, Mahiru." Shinoa calls back to her sister who then enters the music room with Kouta. "I better go." Shinoa waves to Yuu and hurried back up the stairs and into the room to join them.

Waving back at her, Yuu exhales through his nose and went right to work, already hear Mahiru start the song.

The pear-shaped toad

Shinoa follows the start.

Ooh

Then Kouta starts playing his flute and Mahiru plays her piano.

Sing, sweet nightingale

Sing, sweet nightingale

Hi-i-igh

Above me

Shinoa can sing, just not with a chorus of angels. So then, Yuu sings to himself as he washes the floor.

Hi-i-i-igh

Above

Oh, sing, sweet nightingale

Sing, sweet nightingale

As he cleans and sings, Yuu continues to think about Mika, the time they had met in the forest, talk together and had fun together that morning.

Hi-i-igh

Oh, sing, sweet nightingale

Sing, sweet

Nightingale

Hearing him sing from their rooms, Kimizuki, Mirai, Narumi, Yoichi and Tomoe could smile and be at ease of how Yuu continues to handle Mahiru's hardships and stay ever so positive.

Oh, sing, sweet nightingale

Sing, sweet

Oh, sing, sweet nightingale

Sing

Oh, sing, sweet nightingale

Oh, sing, sweet

Oh

Sing

A knock at the door stops Yuu's singing and work, snapping him out of his tranquil mood. Placing the rag on the bucket handle, Yuu answers the door just as Kimizuki and Yoichi come out of hiding to see what's going on. "Good afternoon, sir." Yuu greets the royal messenger.

The man hands him an envelope with the royal insignia seal on it. "This is an urgent message from His Majesty." Yuu takes the envelope. "Also, are you Yuichiro?" the man asks.

"Yes."

"I was told by the prince to give you this." The messenger takes out a second envelope from his back pocket so it wouldn't get mixed up with the rest of the mail he has to deliver.

To hear the prince sent him a letter, a light blush forms on his cheeks as Yuu takes the second offered envelope. "Thank you, sir." With that the messenger leaves and Yuu shuts the door gently, the two envelopes in his hand.

"From the king and the prince?!" Yoichi says in excitement.

"Any idea what they say?" Kimizuki asks.

"Not sure, he said that this one is urgent." Hiding the second envelope, the one from Mika, in his back pocket and covered by his shirt, Yuu heads upstairs to inform his sisters of this urgent message.

Knowing full well that Mahiru will not approve him interrupting the music lesson, Yuu knows that they must know about this. Knocking on the door, Yuu hears Mahiru slam on a few keys before answering with an angered, "Yes!"

Entering the room, Yuu sees that Mahiru is indeed furious with him for interrupting. "Yuichiro, I specifically told you not to interrupt us!"

"Forgive me, Mahiru, but this came from the palace." Yuu approaches her and hands her the envelope.

Opening it, she takes out the contents to discover it's an invitation. "This is an invitation. There's going to be a masquerade ball tomorrow night."

"A ball?" Yuu and Shinoa ask together as they stand next to each other, listening to what it says.

"In honor of his highness Prince Mikaela." Mahiru continues reading the invitation. "By royal command, every eligible maiden and lad is to attend." A smile across her face, Mahiru turns to her little sister, "My dear Shinoa, this is your chance!"

As she thought about possibly winning Prince Mikaela, Shinoa wonders if this is right for her when Yuu speaks up. "That means I can go as well." Then he notices how Mahiru glares at him. "Well, why not? I am still a member of this family and the invite says 'By royal command, every eligible maiden and lad is to attend'." Yuu points out.

Then an idea pops in her wicked mind. "Indeed it does say that. Hence why I don't see why you can't go. If you get all of your work done by tomorrow evening."

This had made Yuu's smile grow, that he could see Mika again. "Oh I promise to get my chores done. I promise."

"And if you can find something suitable to wear." Mahiru adds.

"I'm certain I will. Thank you so much, Mahiru." With that, Yuu leaves the room to get back to work, his spirits high. With her brother gone, Shinoa can't help but feel suspicious of what her older sister is planning.

Later that night, with his work done and his family gone to bed after dinner, Yuu sits on his bed in his room, his five friends with him. Mika's letter in his hand, but not open yet. "Go ahead, Yuu, open the letter." Narumi says, leaning against one wall, his arms crossed over his chest and one leg hitched up.

Taking a deep breath to calm his excited heart, Yuu breaks the seal and takes out the letter, reading out loud,

Yuu,

Meet me at your parents' gravesite at the first light of dawn. I want to give you something and see you before the ball later.

Sincerely,

Mika

To read that Mika wants to see him tomorrow, Yuu turns a little pink at the thought of seeing him again sooner than he thinks. "Did you meet him while you were out this morning?" Mirai and Tomoe ask all at once.

Yuu just nods as he thought about how they had met this morning. "Man, if Mahiru found out about you meeting the prince, she's going to throw a fit." Kimizuki points out.

"Yeah since she wants her sweet Shinoa to have a fairy tale happy ending." Narumi adds.

With the prince occupying his thoughts, Yuu tunes out his friends as he gazes out his window at the endless black sky with the countless stars that sparkle like precious jewels and the moon in a beautiful crescent form, the shape reminding him of the blond's warm smile. He couldn't wait to see Mika again.