I start to stir awake by the sunlight that's penetrating through my blinds.
I slowly groan as i allow myself to slowly wake up.
I feel that my thighs are heavier then before, and notice now that i'm on the couch...
I suddenly remember how i went to sleep last night and it all makes sense now.
I slowly remove Eta's head from my lap and get up, preparing to leave.
I however, cannot leave without at least patting her head once or twice.
I take my time to take in my room, messy as always but hey, it's home.
I wear the academy clothing and prepare for another day.
Today ill have to work with Alexia.
It doesn't sound too terrible on paper, practice however?
Not sure yet, haven't tried.
But it definitely sounds horrible!
I go over to Eta and gently shake her awake.
She begins to wake up slowly.
"Master..."
She says as she manages to get up.
"Is it... time yet..?"
I shake my head.
"It's instead time for school"
I hear her groan as she tries to go back to sleep.
I sigh and prepare myself to go outside.
"When you wake up, come to class."
I say before then muttering at a low level that i knew she would hear, making it seem unintentional.
"How unfortunate. I was thinking about departing more shadow knowledge too."
I shrug, stepping a half a step into the doorway before-
"Wait... Master..."
I turn around and to my surprise (not really), there is a completely dressed and school-ready Eta with big pleading eyes.
"Let me... go with you..."
I sigh, smiling a small smile.
"Sure then."
I finally leave, with her following me close behind.
As i walk through the school, i begin to hear mutterings and whispers.
"The princess chose him...?"
"The royal family must be desperate to keep the Shimo's loyalty..."
"Makes sense with what they did in the first war..."
"The Shimo's huh..? It almost feels like its them losing out and not the kingdom."
...What is all this?
What did my parents do for me, part of the 'miserable duo', to be talked so damn well about!
I'm supposed to be the loser not the person the kingdom needs to keep in check!?
Ugh, whatever...
I can't be bothered with all of this...
Eta seems apathetic towards this entire situation.
Probably because either way, she's getting her shadow knowledge.
Ohhh man, this is already going bad...
WAIT, HOW DO THEY EVEN KNOW?!
I CAN ALMOST SWEAR ALEXIA SAID IT TO ME BEHIND THE SCHOOL AT CLOSING TIME?!
As i'm there, panicking severely about the leak of information, a familiar voice rings out.
"Dear?"
Oh.
Oh NO.
I turn around, preparing for the worst.
"Alexia?"
I say, fegining surprise and confusion.
She hugs my arm, pretending to be all lovey-dovey.
"Dear, i was beginning to get worried when i couldn't find you."
Aside from the 'Dear' part, i could sense genuine worry in her voice which surprised me.
I smile, speaking softly.
"To get rid of me is not so easy, Alexia."
Of course, this is an act.
But i had to reassure her somehow.
...Why does she look surprised.
She however, quickly snaps out of it, speaking once again in a pretend loving tone.
"Of course Dear, this is why i chose you!"
...I can see the happiness in her eyes.
Oh just you wait...
When i get my hands on you i swear il-
"HEY SHIMO, FIGHT ME FOR PRINCESS ALEXIA-"
"NO, FIGHT ME-"
"OBVIOUSLY IT SHOULD BE ME-"
Oh boyy...
Eta doesn't seem to care too much but the noise is beginning to seemingly affect her now.
...
GOD FUCKING DAMN YOU ALEXI-
After that whole ordeal, we decided to go get lunch.
I'm feeling pretty hungry after fighting off so many damn students!
Anyways, as i we wait in line i secretly impart some shadow knowledge (cameras and live streaming) onto Eta.
Suddenly however, in the blink of an eye we got our food trays and food before now looking for a place to sit.
...Can't help feeling like im missing somethin-
Oh.
I'm forgetting Claire.
THE ONE THING I WAS MEANT TO REMEMBER!
OHHH NOOO!
It's so fucking over and it hasn't even been 3 weeks man...
I'm glad i remembered now at least...
I look around and look for Claire, eventually finding her in the sea of students.
I go up to her and put my tray on her table, smiling a small smile at her as i activate my overdrive.
"Mind if i sit here?"
She smirks and points at me in an almost accusatory way.
"If i say no would you leave?"
I shrug slightly with the tray still in my hands as i smirk.
"Probably not."
She then smiles and gestures to go ahead.
"Then skip the question and sit dumbass"
I take my seat as Eta sits next to me, eating slowly and quietly.
It was almost as if she wasn't there...
Meanwhile, me and Claire converse.
"And then she fell down the stairs!"
We both laugh at Claire's story.
"Ohhh, that was a good time... Oh, that reminds me."
I raise my eyebrow, seemingly interested.
"Hm?"
Claire smirks again and this time makes a finger gun at me.
"I got a job proposal for you."
I tilt my head slightly.
"And that is?"
"Why not become a core member of the princess new army unit?"
I raise an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
She casually leans back as she speaks.
"The Crimson Knights, the Great Midgar's newest army section, led personally by the princess."
"You mean Iris?"
Claire looks at me with a almost questioning look.
"Who else? the princess Alexia which hasn't even graduated? be real here."
She seems to have taken the news of me being Alexia's boyfriend rather lightly-
Suddenly, a group of students pass by and we hear them talk.
"Did you hear that the Shimo family is getting married into the royal family via princess Alexia?!"
"You mean the new pair? Kazuto and Alexia? i hope they're happy, that Shimo's story is truly heartbreaking!"
A male student scoffs.
"As if! i hope princess Alexia understands how much of a worthless loser he is compared to other nobles, what's good marrying into a declining lineage anyway?"
Suddenly, they go out of range of hearing.
I slowly turn my head to look back at Clai-
ACK!
"YOU WHAT?!"
"C-CAN Y-YOU N-NOT ST-STRANGLE ME?!"
"AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME?!"
As i was being choked by the angry Claire, my life begins flashing before my eyes.
...This was a good second life.
Fuck you Alexia...
...
...
...
Just kidding.
I almost forget that i made it so my skin can breathe...
...Wait, how could i forget this? Aren't i Shadow?
...No, Cid would have done better.
I need to push myself.
Suddenly Claire let's go of me.
I start fake choking and coughing.
"W-what is wrong with you?! what if i really died?!"
"Then I'll drag you back from hell! what the hell Kazuto?!"
Suddenly a trolley and a maid approach, and not to mention the star of the show.
Alexia shows up and points at the seat next to Claire, asking in a sickeningly innocent tone.
"May i sit here?"
Claire is staring holes into her...
In-spite of that, Alexia's smile never changes.
"Yeah, okay. come sit."
Claire says, in a incredibly fake nice tone.
If looks could kill Alexa would have been deleted by now...
Alexia's smile widens and sits in her place.
I was still rubbing my neck even though it didn't hurt or anything, just adding drama.
...Fuck, i wanted to avoid this...
Eta looks sleepy, but she's been glaring holes on the back of Aexia's head secretly as well...
Eta mutters something but all i could hear was 'try', 'take' and 'master'.
I can figure out where that sentence was going, but i don't want to assume anything.
...
Don't deny it...
"So, this is Claire, Kazuto?"
... Alexia is acting clueless!
Fuck!
"Yeah, this is Claire. She's my best friend since childhood."
Claire looked a bit shocked after i said that.
...What, is it weird to introduce your best friend or something.
Claire got up, where is she going...
Don't tell me i ofended her-
I suddenly feel a pair of arms wrap around me, encasing me in a gentle.
...It was Claire..?
Alexia then speaks, seemingly... I can't tell what her tone means but something is off...
"Wow, you guys are really close."
Was Alexia's hand shaking slightly or is it just me..?
I talk, trying to get Claire to sit down.
"Do you want to miss lunch or something? sit already..."
She tightens her hug before speaking in a soft voice.
"I'll miss it if i have to, it's that or you just feed me."
HEELPPPPPPPPP!
CLAIRE'S BEEN REPLACED!
Alexia is looking on in horror, probably getting a wierd delusion, meanwhile Eta stabbed her food a little TOO hard...
...
I'm in danger...?