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What Airi despised about the kingdom of Miyamasuzaka was how the sun always seemed to smile down at her, even as she suffered the most melancholic and atrocious moment of her life. Truth be told, Airi thought that the sun was always shining brightly, a sentiment that differs from the rest of the kingdom’s residents. The brighter the sun seemed to shine, the more complications she had to endure. And as the sun had given Airi and the entire kingdom of Miyamasuzaka sustenance and blessing, she grew to hate it more.

Perhaps she was overly pathetic, some maybe call her insipid and stupid, for hating such an object burning radiantly thousands of kilometers away from her, far from her reach but even knights of her stature are allowed to lament.

“Are you sure about this, my friend?” A perturbed voice asked her, one she had grown to hear multitudinous times in the past. “I can make an audience with the princess and I am filled with certitude that she would help you in your move.”

“Haruka,” Airi sighed that same sigh, the doleful and disconsolate sigh she was sure her throat was getting tired of continuously releasing. “I appreciate your concern towards my state but I simply cannot stay here any longer.”

Silence of utmost discomfort engulfed them but Airi’s conviction stands. She walked past her friend, who Airi noticed had kept this indecipherable expression, to retrieve a silver knife, perfectly safe in its sheath. She hooked the blade onto her belt before she glanced back at her friend, whose gaze was fixed forlornly on her.

“You kept the dagger blacksmith Hinomori made,” her friend pointed out, any amount of malice was absent in her voice yet Airi still shuddered.

“It is to be used if I encounter bandits on my travels,” Airi replied after she willed herself to find the strength in her voice. “Bandits tend to target people who are traveling alone, as they say.”

“Please, Airi,” Airi heard the desperation in her friend’s voice and she looked away from her before walking towards her bed, where her satchel bag, the last of her things, remained. She grabbed the strap and slung it over her shoulder.

“I can at least accompany you to Kamiyama,” her friend continued. “I am in the benevolence of the knight Shiraishi. I can help you.”

“You know you cannot do that,” she finally looked at her friend, her expression the same crestfallen one she sees on her friend, before she spoke again, “Haruka, you are needed here. Abandoning your duties as a knight could be cause for punishment.”

Airi saw the defeat on Haruka’s face before the other knight nodded. The woman was prepared to leave the room until her friend asked her a question.

“What about your duty?”

Airi closed her eyes shut and her grip on her satchel’s strap tightened.

The sun’s rays were seeping brightly into her room’s window. Its radiance was something Airi could not possibly comprehend. She had made swords in the blacksmith’s forge, the heat of the metals melting in the room exhilarates every fiber of her being, yet the sun’s rays were a different kind of heat — a thorn. A thorn clinging to her flesh, one she desires to remove desperately yet cannot find her will to do so because once she does, blood will ooze. And she finally faces a wound. A wound of her own doing.

The sun’s rays were bright. Radiant, in every sense of the word. 

But she grew tired of casting a shadow.

“People do not see me as a knight anymore, Haruka,” muttered Airi before she finally walked towards the exit of the room. “That is why I have quit.”

“I have already failed my duties.”

Kamiyama was a two-day journey on foot, and Airi has provided herself with every bit of pabulum she needs for her travels. Despite Haruka’s insistence on giving her a horse to lessen her travel time, she thought she did not deserve such help after she had diminished her position as a knight of the kingdom of Miyamasuzaka.

She had left Miyamasuzaka almost an hour ago. There were much trees and woods to traverse and traveling with only yourself can be a cause for danger. However, she was not too worried. She was a royal knight, one of the fiercest knights the kingdom has ever known. She has faced more dangers in her position than merely traveling like this.

Airi aims to reach the village just at the neck of the woods before night rises. There is an inn in the village, where she could spend the night. She had traveled to Kamiyama before because of diplomatic relations with the said kingdom, so she is familiar with the path and confident in the direction she is supposed to take.

As Airi walked hastily through the woods, the same forest she and Haruka, along with the rest of the body of knights she was in position with, she wondered if quitting her position was the right decision.

Her gaze went to the top of the trees, the bastard rays of the sun peaking through the branches and stems, illuminating the very path she walks on, and for a second, she feels ungrateful to the star for sharing its light.

A skilled archer knows how to land an arrow to the highest of heights such as those high grounds of trees, Airi had come to know. If one is not careful, an unsuspecting arrow may be the last thing even the most powerful knight in the kingdom could encounter.

Being an archer in Miyamasuzaka was a hefty challenge. Regardless of the struggle handling a bow and arrow brings, whether it be a longbow or a crossbow, Airi finds archery a noble task and every person who takes part in it a responsible and respected person.

Some more so than others.

One more so than others, if she was honest.

Which brings her to her current feeling right now. She purposely did not tell a specific person that she would be leaving today. She thought it would hurt less. She already told her parents, her sister, her friends, Minori, and Haruka of her plan but telling this person would have been different. 

Because if this person tells her to stay, she would have.

Airi was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard dead leaves and broken branches distantly stepped on. Alertly, she quickly hid behind a tree’s trunk as silently as she could. She gripped the hilt of her dagger and unsheathed it from its confines. There were usually no bandits that would dare to be in this part of the forest as that location was coupled with a few of Miyamasuzaka’s knights on duty. Perhaps they might have mistaken her for an intruder but she cannot let her guard down.

She was about to make her next move, to quickly run towards the trunk of a nearby tree but she heard a twang of a string. It was from a distance she could not pinpoint but she still heard it. Loud and clear.

Before she could move, even exhale the handful of air she was holding in and accumulating in her lungs, something hit the tree she was hiding in, with a good amount of force that would render a person knocked down from their position.

She stilled completely, and her grip on her dagger tightened with every passing second. She slowly craned her head to confirm her suspicions about the object that made contact with the tree. 

She took a calm intake of breath.

Right above her, just merely centimeters near her head, ruffling just a few strands of her hair, and if it was aimed correctly, at the perfect angle and the perfect trajectory, it would have been the end of her.

It was an arrow.

Someone was targeting her.

And they purposely missed.

And with that precision, that beautiful and perfected type of aim, it was utterly dangerous. No one in the entire kingdom of Miyamasuzaka can shoot an arrow so calculated and measured as that. She knew exactly who it was.

Airi sighed as all fear had now dissipated from her body. She put her dagger back in its sheath and with her other hand, she grabbed the arrow from above her head, groaning as she gathered enough strength to remove the weapon lodged in the tree. 

Once she had done so, she inspected the arrow. And just as suspected, the arrow has a distinct feature.

Official archers of the Miyamasuzaka archery force have only one color for their arrow’s fletching—gray and red. But this one is different. It’s blue and the shaft was painted silver.

There was only one person in the entire kingdom of Miyamasuzaka whose arrow contained such a difference—the Toxophilite of Miyamasuzaka.

And suddenly, that brute sun’s shine shone less.

“Shizuku!” Airi groaned out loud, feeling some respite from every vibration of her voice. “You can come out now.”

She later heard a distant giggle before a hooded figure emerged from above the trees right in front of her, landing as if it were a cat. Emboldened with silver and turquoise fabric, a crusted bronze belt hung above their waist, they walked towards Airi, with their longbow in one hand and their quiver where her arrows contained slung across her upper body.

Airi stood in her position with an indifferent expression before the figure stopped in front of her. The new arrival whipped their hood covering their face, and Airi was met with a beaming expression, one that perhaps rivaled the sun’s radiance, if one must ask Airi.

“Just what on earth are you doing out here?” asked Airi, crossing her arms after she dropped the arrow on the ground. “You are supposed to be helping Haruka guard the kingdom.”

“But you’re traveling alone in the woods,” the archer said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I wanted you to stay safe.”

Airi felt a warmth taking over her neck at the Toxophilite’s admission and she shook her head.

“This is in no concern of yours, Shizuku,” sighed Airi. “You should not have followed me. The purpose of this journey is for me to find another calling that is outside of being a knight.”

“Outside of being a knight?”

Airi merely offered her a thin line of a smile. She did once enjoy it, being a knight. Being a knight was a noble profession but it comes with a grand responsibility.

“Yes,” she ultimately agreed, a feeling of looming doom written on her face. “I hope to find something else in Kamiyama.”

“You are going to Kamiyama?” Curious as ever, Airi remarked.

“Yes,” nodded Airi as she gripped her satchel with one hand. “My friend, Lady Ena Shinonome, will accommodate me in my indefinite stay in the kingdom.”

“Indefinite stay,” Shizuku trailed off, putting a hand on her chin, just below the mole under her lips. “You mean you are not sure when you will come back to Miyamasuzaka?”

A few moments had passed before Airi looked up at the archer, the latter’s light blue eyes glimmered under the sun Airi despised, expectantly waiting for a response.

“That is correct,” said Airi, and her breath somewhat stuck in her throat before she continued once more, “And I do not know if I will ever return.”

There was a silence that engulfed them. It was not uncomfortable nor was it something solemn. Airi cannot possibly pinpoint what it was. As the birds continued chirping on the branches of the trees and the breeze of the southeast blew forth the forest, Airi watched the grin on the archer’s face suddenly widen.

“I can come with you!” exclaimed Shizuku excitedly.

“What!?” Airi’s eyes widened and she quickly retreated to the trunk of the tree, her back making contact with the wooden surface. “You must be out of your mind,” Airi chuckled incredulously as she put her hand on her forehead.

“No, I am not,” disagreed Shizuku, and Airi felt the strong determination in her voice before she heard the other woman continue, “I want to accompany you in Kamiyama.”

“Shizuku,” she knew her voice was bordering on desperation. “You have a duty to Miyamasuzaka—”

“And what if this duty is something that I do not wish to continue?”

Airi’s breath caught in her throat faster than when two knights’ swords clashed on the battlefield. She glanced at Shizuku, the archer looking at her with dismay, and perhaps something else behind those eyes that always seemed to be shimmering with conclaves of fairy dust.

“Shizuku, what do you—”

“Being the Toxophilite,” Airi heard Shizuku’s voice falter as it dipped, it was magnificently concealed but Airi saw right through her. “Being the Toxophilite is my burden to bear. So whatever comes to me, it is my doing, therefore I must have been deserving of it.”

“Burden,” whispered Airi before she looked at Shizuku with a frown. “Had something happen again with you and the rest of your archer troops?”

“Airi-chan,” she saw Shizuku smile sadly at her, and with the way the sun burned through her flesh, even if they were in the middle of the forest whose trees carry shade, she knew something was wrong.

Airi knew of that look and that sound of dismay, and unpleasant memories flashed before her the longer the sun shined on Shizuku’s somber smile.

“Do not tell me those good-for-nothing nitwits still do not respect your abilities,” snarled Airi as Shizuku looked at her with a sad smile.

“Princess Asahina and the kingdoms beyond the walls of Miyamasuzaka!” She knew her voice’s volume was steadily increasing. “They recognize your skills. You are deserving of your title, Shizuku. I ought to ram some sense into your troops!”

Airi felt a hand on her right shoulder, and instantaneously, she felt her rage momentarily evaporate. She looked at Shizuku, staring at her desperately. Sighing, Airi put a hand on top of Shizuku’s and held it, her thumb brushing against a portion of scarred knuckles Shizuku accumulated on her hand.

“I suppose,” Airi relented. “You can accompany me on the way to Kamiyama. Perhaps just a few days. And perhaps we can ask a messenger to tell the princess and Haruka of your whereabouts.”

“Truly!?”

And just like that, the sun’s rays diminished slowly, and Airi could not be more grateful.

“But you need to return to Miyamasuzaka after,” Airi told Shizuku, watching the expression on Shizuku’s face grow crestfallen. “You cannot just abandon your position without warning. You know that.”

“I know,” was the only response Shizuku gave her.

Airi watched in awe as the arrow hit the bullseye for the fifth consecutive time. The sun was shining awfully bright that afternoon in the training court yet its flares have not stirred the archer she admired even an inch from her current position.

The onlookers were as easily tranced, and Airi could not blame them.

The archer’s stark concentration was palpable. Airi watched in anticipation as Shizuku grabbed another arrow from the quiver hanging from her belt. She kept her elbow high and her jaw straight, then she drew the bow by pulling back, preparing to make another shot.

She had been staring for a good few minutes, and the castle caretakers must have sort of an opinion about her regarding that so she finally decided to make her presence known.

“Shizuku!”

And the archer let go of the bowstring before she quickly looked at Airi, beaming brightly. Even though she was interrupted, even though that was supposed to be a completely messy shot, Shizuku’s arrow still made the bullseye, for the sixth time.

Airi was impressed. More than impressed. If there was another word to perfectly articulate how she felt at that moment, it must have not existed yet.

“Airi-chan!”

Without acting wordlessly as she felt, she approached Shizuku, the weeds that were growing were clinging to her leather boots.

“That was an impressive shot, Shizuku,” Airi managed to say, her words understating the feeling that just washed over her. “You really have quite the precision.”

“You tell me all the time,” Shizuku smiled. “What brings you to the archers’ side of the court? Do you need a partner on an assignment? I would gladly accompany you.”

“Ah, no,” Airi shook her head before she took an intake of breath. 

“I was wondering if you would help me improve my aim.”

It would be a complete waste of opportunity, Airi thought, to have one of the best archers in the kingdom inside the same training ground and not ask her for some insights on her expertise.

Airi saw the delighted surprise in Shizuku’s eyes, and she wondered if the flicker she saw that flashed within them were the sun’s flares reflecting or something else.

“Of course, Airi-chan!” Beamed Shizuku before she handed Airi her bow, the latter inspecting the bow intently, finding the weapon such an intriguing piece of arm.

“Have you finished sparring with Minori-chan?” Shizuku asked after she gave an arrow to Airi, to which she immediately inspected, finding Shizuku’s arrows more comforting than those of the rest of the archers.

She nodded and answered, “Minori has been steadily improving,” smiled Airi. “She even rendered Haruka, one of the most skillful knights ever, speechless earlier with her skills. It was quite a sight to witness, Haruka getting flustered.”

“I am sure Haruka-chan is just impressed,” she heard Shizuku giggle as the archer stepped behind Airi. “You are a good mentor to Minori-chan after all.”

Airi smiled to herself, hoping that what Shizuku said rang true in Minori’s ears.

“All right,” she heard Shizuku say behind her, her tone had grown a bit serious. “Can you show me how you shoot that arrow?”

Airi hardened her gaze as she imitated Shizuku’s position and stance earlier. Standing upright, she placed the arrow across the middle of the bow with the bowstring in the arrow’s nock, securing her position. With a firm grip on the middle of the bow, she drew the arrow back.

With an inhale, she loosed her grip on the bowstring and watched as her arrow flew forward.

Only to hit the corner of the target.

Airi groaned out loud as she glanced back at Shizuku, who was examining the entire ordeal earnestly, her hands on her hips. 

She asked for two more arrows from the archer to repeat her actions, to which the latter obliged. However, her results remained as they were — the target was missed entirely. 

“I should perhaps only stick with sword and shield,” lightheartedly laughed Airi. “This type of offense will not do me well in a battle.”

Just as she was about to give Shizuku back her bow, the latter approached her and put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at the taller woman inquisitively.

“Let us try one more time,” declared Shizuku, and Airi was inclined to refuse before the archer continued, “Do not fret. I will guide you.”

Airi’s eyes widened slightly at the offer before she nodded as she genuinely wanted to learn better.

Shizuku handed her another arrow, and she resumed her position from earlier, loading the bow and maintaining the same actions she had done earlier, with some minor adjustments to her footing.

Before she could release the arrow, she felt Shizuku’s hands on the end of her elbow, fixing her stance.

“Your elbows should be fixed like this,” explained Shizuku before she continued, “It is to ensure that you have a proper aim at your target.”

Shizuku suddenly slid one hand onto her arm that was drawing the arrow and the bowstring and the other hand dangerously near her own that was gripping the bow.

“Next,” Airi was suddenly made aware of the fact of how close they were, Shizuku’s voice just above her ear. “You should have three fingers holding the bowstring. It helps guarantee a smooth trajectory.”

Airi instinctively tightened her hold on the middle of the bow, afraid that perhaps her unyielding grip would render the weapon broken, as she dutifully tried her absolute best to not seem as bothered as she was with their current closeness.

In her peripheral vision, she saw onlookers whispering amongst themselves. She saw some of Shizuku’s troops staring at them, but she maintained her composure. Yet she wondered what those people must have thought of them while watching them practice in an unconventional way. She already has an idea of what those people must have been thinking.

“Airi-chan.”

She managed to swallow a breath at the faint way Shizuku whispered her name, in that gentle tone that was always present whenever the archer uttered her name, a phenomenon Airi cannot seem to solve.

“Shizuku?” She wondered if her voice shook, or trembled in the slightest way, something unbecoming of a royal knight of her stature.

From the corner of her eye, the sun was quiet, its rays uncharacteristically not mocking her existence, and then she heard Shizuku giggle, a sound she thought could rival the princess’s golden harp.

“You are too tense,” finally said Shizuku, in that calming voice she always used with her. “Take a deep breath,” Airi gathered herself, closing her eyes before exhaling a handful of air that she did not realize was stuck in her lungs.

“And let the arrow go,” and so Airi did. The fingers holding the bowstring brushed against Shizuku’s as she let the arrow fly free, and at that moment, in that one split moment, Airi only had one prevailing thought.

Shizuku’s hand was so soft.

Perhaps it was because of their close proximity or perhaps it was because onlookers were watching, expecting an amazing performance from her that must have rendered her trembling, standing in that training court, her hand dangerously near to Shizuku’s as she practices a skill she is not that familiar with. With the way she could not find her breath, despite the cool breeze of the northwest, she had a feeling it was not because of the latter.

“Ah, you made a good shot, Airi-chan!”

It was only then she realized Shizuku and the warmth she brought with her had long gone, and she was surprised when she missed it, that warmth, that embrace? If she could address it as that.

Airi looked forward and she saw that Shizuku was right, her shot made it into the target. It was only near the central circle but nevertheless, Airi was happy with this development, a small smile visible on her lips.

She turned to Shizuku, who was now beside her and handed the archer her bow back. With one free hand, she brought a first to her lips and the other, she folded behind her back.

“Thank you for helping me, Shizuku,” said Airi, clearing her throat as she kept her eyes closed. “The recent attempt was clearly an improvement from the earlier ones so I thank you for your,” she cleared her throat once more as she wondered what exactly just transpired between them. “Guidance,” she settled with instead.

Instead of receiving a normal “you’re welcome” like what an ordinary person exclaims once someone has offered to teach and help them, she released a loud yelp when she was raised into the air, her feet disconnecting from the ground as she felt a tight embrace clinging onto her waist, and heard a heavenly laugh ringing in her ears. Not that she would admit that.

“Shizuku!” Airi yelled out, unable to push the other girl away as both of her hands were caught in the embrace. “Unhand me this instant! I am demanding you!”

“Airi-chan thanked me!” Airi could see the delighted grin on the archer’s face, and she felt something within her skip a beat, momentarily ceasing her ability to think comprehensively. 

“My hero thanked me!”

“Shizuku,” groaned Airi. “We’ve gone over this before! People cannot see a royal knight like this! This is unheard of!”

But people were already looking at them. She felt her face flush when she saw the onlookers staring at them wide-eyed whereas the archers and knights seemed to have indifferent reactions. Airi thought it was because most of them are used to seeing both of them act that way toward each other but still, she saw some mischief and amusement from those peering eyes. Some of them even failed to conceal their amusement by smiling at the display before them.

Her words must have not rung in Shizuku’s ears as the archer kept embracing her that way, and Airi kept to herself, groaning once more as she came to the conclusion she cannot do anything about her current predicament.

It was to everyone’s common knowledge, from the castle caretakers to Airi herself and the rest of the knights and archers to even the princess, that Shizuku holds Airi in a specific regard, her “hero” as Shizuku would often say, and Airi, although would not admit out loud or perhaps even to herself, holds that same regard towards Shizuku.

The sun was already setting anyway, and Airi thought that perhaps she does not mind staying in that position for a while.

“Lady Shinonome is a childhood friend of yours?” repeated Shizuku.

“Yes,” confirmed Airi as she kicked the branches of wood blocking their way before they continued their walk. “As children, we were best of friends but my family had to move to Miyamasuzaka as my father thought there were better job opportunities. We communicate in letters every time I get the chance to write to her.”

“This Lady Ena,” began Shizuku once more. “Is she a noblewoman? Or of royal blood?”

Airi nodded. “She and the Princess Asahina are good friends, as far as I am concerned,” she wondered before she continued, “Truth be told, I do not know what Lady Ena thinks of the princess. She called Princess Asahina ‘insufferable’ in many of her letters but thinks the princess is a very ‘interesting’ person. Truly, that Ena can confuse me sometimes.”

She heard Shizuku contain a laugh before she gave a smile.

Shizuku and Airi have been traveling for an hour or two, neither feeling a hint of exhaustion because of the stamina they have developed over the years. The forest was big, to say the least. Many of Miyamasuzaka’s knights still find this forest as a labyrinth, Airi remarked. She thought that reaching the village will take them the entire sunlight’s reach and would arrive once the full moon rules the sky. It was already afternoon and the sun would almost set, meaning they are not much from their mid-destination.

Airi still thinks that Shizuku accompanying her was a terrible idea. One way or another, Haruka or the Princess Asahina are going to notice the Toxophilite’s absence, and knowing Haruka, Airi is sure the knight would send out a search party to scour the entire kingdom of Miyamasuzaka, perhaps even reaching outside its walls.

She was dazed out of her looming thoughts when she felt a droplet of water hit her head. She quickly looked up at the sky, the trees’ branches were stretched outward but were not enough to shield them from the slowly aggressing downfall of pouring rain.

“Rain!” Airi groaned once more in annoyance before she let out strings of curses, possibly for the umpteenth time that day. “We need to seek shelter! Quickly!”

Instinctively, she grabbed hold of Shizuku’s hand. She was aware of the archer’s ability to get easily lost in the rain, especially since the fog from the precipitation are slowly overtaking the grounds where they walk. It has become a habit if one must ask her.

She and Shizuku started to quickly pace, careful as to not slip on the moss gathering and the moist rocks. She used her satchel to cover her head, a futile attempt to shield herself from the downpour.

“Shizuku, cover your head with your hood!” Airi yelled as she whipped her head back, hoping the archer heard her. Seconds later, Shizuku managed to put her hood over her head and some of Airi’s worries evaporated.

She squinted her eyes to see better against the truculent drops of water that fell from the heavens. From where she was and what she was observing, she was familiar with the area and had come to know that there was a cave nearby. Airi turned west, getting closer to the cave she once marked in a mission with Haruka. Nearly a few moments passed, and from what she could make out, she finally saw a familiar rock formation in front of her, where the cave resides. 

Without letting go of Shizuku’s hand, she ran quickly to the corner of the stone wall, finding the entrance to the cave. Once they have reached the inside of the cavern, Airi could only let out a sigh of relief as they are no longer under the mercy of the relentless torrent of rain.

Instantly, instead of immediately drying herself, she turned to look at Shizuku worriedly, hoping the archer did not trip against the slipper rocks or get wounded by the roots of the trees that were sticking out.

“Shizuku,” panted Airi but she thought the concern still surfaced in her voice. “Are you all right?”

However, Shizuku was not too focused on listening to Airi, the former knight saw. She furrowed her eyebrows when she noticed that Shizuku was looking downwards, in the space between them, a small smile gracing her face.

Before acknowledging it, Airi took a moment to look at Shizuku’s appearance, and she thought that perhaps that was not the greatest decision she had made, maybe even in her entire life.

The archer looked absolutely regal, even in that disposition. Her hair was disheveled as drops of water fell from the strands yet that did not do well in hiding the archer’s beauty. Airi figured that being stuck in this cave, drenched because of the rain, while staring at the archer she admired most, and thinking about how charming and handsome she looked, was worse and more dangerous than any bloody battle she would fight in.

Because here, at this moment, she knew she would not emerge victorious.

Then, she glanced down, to where Shizuku was looking, an even more deadly mistake.

Her eyes could not get any wider when she realized Shizuku was staring at their joined hands.

She did not realize she had not let go, and with the way her hand seemingly— no, perfectly fit Shizuku’s, she might have a problem letting go.

“Shizuku,” whispered Airi, and she felt her voice tremble, perhaps from the cold that had engulfed her or from the feeling that never seems to yield in her chest. She can never tell what it was when it came to Shizuku. “My hand, please,” she said instead because it would hurt a thousand times more if she were the one that pried her own hand away from the space she felt somewhat safe the most.

“Oh,” she heard Shizuku exclaim, and Airi heard a hint of woe before the archer spoke again, “My apologies,” said Shizuku but her actions spoke differently as she did not even attempt to slip her hand away from Airi’s.

Airi does not want her to.

Frustratingly, slowly, maddeningly, torturously, Shizuku let her hand go.

Airi missed it already.

However, there is no point in lamenting about it much longer. Clearing her throat, she spoke, “We can stay here until the rain moves on. I can only hope it does not bleed the day dry before we can leave.”

She saw Shizuku nod at her before Airi turned to the opening of the cave, watching as the drops of water hit the ground mercilessly, one after the other.

“The downpour looks to be unrelenting any time soon,” she heard Shizuku say from behind her, sharing her same thoughts. “It seems that we are stranded in this cave for much longer time.”

“Wonderful,” murmured Airi before she unslung her satchel from her shoulder, putting the bag on the ground. “Help me gather some twigs and branches so we can start a fire,” she requested as she wandered further into the cave, picking up some of the discarded wood that must have been blown inside the rocky cavern, Shizuku followed suit.

After a couple of minutes, she and Shizuku piled up their collected branches, enough fuel to last them until the following morning.  She quickly retrieved something from her satchel, two flint rocks to be used to ignite a fire. She figured the minerals would be useful in cases of an emergency such as this.

Failed attempts forward, Airi finally lit a spark, and the twigs and branches were slowly sent to flames. She sighed in relief before she leaned the back of her head against the rocky surface behind her, letting the warmth of the fire relieve her of the frozen plight they were currently in.

She felt Shizuku sit down next to her and as she looked over to her side, she saw the archer looking up to the top of the cave, seemingly to be deep in thought. 

“What are you feeling right now, Airi-chan?” She heard Shizuku ask after a few moments of silence, without letting her gaze upon the ceiling of the cave falter.

“Cold,” she simply replied. “You?”

“Cold,” nodded Shizuku, she saw. 

They sat next together in front of a fire, the pouring rain halting their journey to Kamiyama, and Airi wondered what could have happened if she just agreed on letting Haruka give her a horse to help her travel.

It must have not been a journey interesting enough, she thought. Besides, there was no sun tormenting her now.

“This downpour must be afflicting Miya as well,” Shizuku announced. “What do you think Minori-chan and Haruka-chan are doing now?”

Airi hummed contemplatively and answered after a few seconds, “Minori is possibly begging Haruka to let her train even though it is raining in the yard,” she smiled at the image. “Haruka ends up dragging her back to the castle instead.”

“It is a very Minori-chan thing to do after all,” chuckled Shizuku. 

Airi watched the measly but sufficient flames dance right in front of her, the fierce yellow and bright orange tangling each other, the fire slowly consuming each twig and branch. The scent of burnt wood filled the cave, and if one must know, Airi prefers this to the damning heat of the star that torments every minute of her rising day.

“Are you certain this dismal temperature is not affecting you, Shizuku?” muttered Airi. 

“Do not fret, Airi-chan,” Shizuku answered her, and she heard a quiver of voice. “The fire would suffice just fine.”

Airi sighed as she laid her head on Shizuku’s shoulder, without thinking, and then she frowned, “You are shivering.”

“So are you.”

Airi let out an asinine laugh, her sound accompanied by a tremble, gritting her teeth before she responded, “I suppose I am.”

“Why do we not play a game to pass the time?”

Without moving from her current position, Airi scoffed lightheartedly, “What could we possibly be playing in a disarrayed situation such as this?”

“Ask each other questions,” she felt Shizuku shrug. “Unless you prefer something else.”

Airi let out a laugh, “Since we clearly do not have anything else to do in this inclement weather, I have no inclinations to disagree.”

“I would like to go first,” she heard the excited edge in Shizuku’s voice prominent the same way the misty and piercing temperature was, and the archer asked, “Do you remember the first time we met?”

Airi snuggled her head on Shizuku’s shoulder as she pushed her knees up, trying to garner more of the warmth the fire in front of them is failing to provide. 

Leaning her head on Shizuku’s shoulders — it was something she always did. Whether it be taking a break from training or just a reminder that Shizuku was there. It provided a mysterious sensation of comfort she cannot find somewhere else. Of course, she never told Shizuku that nor will she ever tell her.

Airi chuckled to herself, “Oh, how could I forget? I have a scar on my shoulder to remind me of it.”

Airi had never been sent to the healer’s quarters before since she regards herself as a really careful and skillful knight in training but she supposes it was her fault. She was not informed that the archers’ practice was scheduled that midday and if she was looking better and if the sun were not reflecting too much on her eyes, she could have seen it — the arrow that hit her shoulder.

“Shit!” Airi winched in unimaginable pain, throwing different strings of curses, as the healer finally and safely removed the arrow lodged into the base of her shoulder, the end of the sharp weapon bloodied red.

Notwithstanding the pain she felt earlier, she was in her right mind not to remove the arrow immediately because blood would fall and it would have been harder to treat her.

“Momoi,” she heard the healer before she felt something be applied on the exposed wound on her shoulder as she grimaced at the cool liquid, “Please do be careful and watch where you are going next time. You are lucky Hinomori only hit your shoulder. She looks to be such a promising archer, knocking you down with a failed shot.”

It had been a week since Airi kept hearing that name. She heard failed whispers about this Hinomori and how a good archer she was. For some time, she did not mind nor thought of it. That was until now that she had heard that the very arrow barred in her shoulder flew from this archer’s bow.

“Ah, so Hinomori is the archer that hit me. I keep hearing such high praises about her, and to think fate has brought us both—” before she could release a smile, she gasped in pain when the healer applied a clean cloth, with an unknown liquid poured all over it, to her open wound. “What on earth are you putting there!? That burns!”

“Restrain yourself, Momoi. It was only more medicine. It will help prevent an infection.”

Airi only groaned as she leaned her head back comfortably, closing her eyes. She thought that the entire ordeal was amusing, regardless of her current state. She did not think she would receive an injury early into her training as a knight yet there she was earlier, got knocked down by an arrow because she did not know archers were practicing.

“There,” she heard the healer say a few moments later. She craned her neck to her side, and she saw her exposed wound now covered in a clean cloth. “Come visit me again this week so I can change the bandage cloth and apply more medicine to your wound.”

Airi nodded as she stood up and fixed her clothes, covering her bandaged wound. She winced palpably at the pain she felt when she moved her shoulder.

“Remember,” she heard the healer address her in a stern tone. “You mustn’t engage in any intense training that would strain your right shoulder. It would prolong your recovery.”

With a disappointed look, Airi nodded, “I know. But can I at least participate in defense training? I would not even have to use my sword since I need to use my left arm in handling the shield.”

She heard the healer sigh, “I suppose I could allow you to do that but do remember to lessen your physical activities until your wound has fully healed.”

Airi gave the healer a final smile before she exited the healer’s quarters. The healer’s quarters were directly connected to the training ground and Airi exhaled a sigh of relief when there were only a few people left in the field. She walked towards the grassy remains of the training ground and put her hands on her waist as she looked up.

The sun was already setting and flares of orange and pink were stretching outwards in every direction in the sky and she heaved a sigh, gently putting a hand on her wounded shoulder.

“Hinomori,” she whispered, testing the name on her tongue. “Who must you be?”

She heard the archer’s name over and over earlier. She heard the current archer team talking about this newcomer and she even overheard some of her fellow knight trainees praising this new archer for her talent. Of course, as someone who is determined to become a great knight, she needed to meet this person.

She had not taken a glance to see the archer’s face that had hit her as the arrow immediately plunged into her shoulder, causing her to get knocked down. Haruka, one of her close friends she had made in training, accompanied her to the healer’s quarters.

She wonders whether she should find the archer, and confront them about what they have done to her but she does know it was entirely her fault for having to walk into the training ground while the archers were practicing. 

“Momoi-san?”

Airi looked to her side from where the airy yet timid voice came from, and there she saw an archer, her bow held tightly in two hands in front of her, almost as if the archer was using the bow as her shield. She was wearing the usual trainee’s clothing — a brown cloth serving as a shirt reaching towards her waist and some white pants. The archer was wearing her hair in a messy ponytail and Airi thought the light blue color of the archer’s locks was a beautiful hue. There was a pained and meek expression written on the archer’s face, and Airi saw that she kept fidgeting from where she stood.

“Momoi-san, please forgive me!” Airi’s eyes widened when the archer bowed at her as she retreated dramatically. “It was not an intent of mine to hit you with my arrow!”

You must be Hinomori, Airi thought. 

Airi shook her head and said, “No, it is fine. I walked into the field without prior knowledge that the archers would be training. It was my mistake. Please do forgive me for causing you unnecessary inconvenience.”

The archer stood up properly and looked at her worriedly, “But you have a wound now...”

“It will heal,” what Airi said does not seem to alleviate the worried expression Hinomori had on her face so she continued, “We, knights and archers, would ultimately receive injury once we are finally given our titles, right?”

Airi saw that the archer finally had a small smile on her face.

“You are Hinomori, right?” 

“You can call me Shizuku, Momoi-san.”

Shizuku…

“Then, please call me Airi, Shizuku.”

“Airi…chan? Would that be all right?”

Airi nodded at her, giving Shizuku a smile.

“What made you want to be an archer?” asked Airi interestedly.

“Oh,” chuckled Shizuku awkwardly. “I, in fact, did not.”

“No?” Airi frowned. “Then, why are you here?”

Airi recoiled inwardly at how her question must have sounded like. She watched as a sad expression settled on Shizuku’s face and she lamented whether she should not have asked that.

“You see,” began Shizuku, fixing her gaze on the ground. “A friend wanted me to accompany them to the tryouts. What I did not know was that they also signed up my name,” Shizuku’s voice dipped.

“That is an insanely irresponsible thing to do,” responded Airi, her frown not relenting.

“I know that being an archer is a noble task but what if this is wrong? And I am not entirely fit for this duty? People are already expecting so much from me and I do not want to let them down.”

She heard Shizuku release an airy laugh, watching as the archer gripped her bow tightly, she could even spot some tears forming in the corner of the other woman’s eyes. Her heart somehow contracted at the sight of it, as she deliberately tried to shake that feeling off.

Airi could only imagine the hefty responsibility suddenly dropping on Shizuku’s shoulders, especially as someone who was not even aiming to become an archer. If she was put in a similar position, she knew she would have done worse.

“You do not need to impress people,” Airi told her, offering a small smile. “Being a knight is a heavy task on its own, the same goes for being an archer. A lasting impression on other people is trivial. As long as your heart is in the right place, I think you will accomplish incredible things.”

“Is that true?” Shizuku looked at her with a glimmer in her eyes.

Airi gave her a quick nod and said, “If it bothers you that much, I could help you opt out.”

“You would do that for me?” Shizuku never stopped looking at her with that glimmer in those light blue pools.

Airi nodded once more, but then she remembered the events that transpired earlier — how Shizuku’s arrow managed to strike her down.

“In admission,” she continued, trailing her words. “You do have a solid aim. You knocked me down badly earlier— No, do not look sad! Take it as a compliment. You truly have a solid aim.”

“I do?” Shizuku looked at her with wide eyes and Airi felt a beat skip within her. She saw wonder and stars tangled in the archer’s eyes, looking expectantly at her. 

“Yes,” smiled Airi, not exactly meaning to. “Perhaps a few more training hours and you would be an amazing archer.”

“An amazing archer, huh…”

Shizuku smiled widely at her for the first time in that conversation and Airi felt her own lips extend a bit as well, especially with Shizuku looking at her like that.

“Now cheer up,” exclaimed Airi, nudging the other woman with her uninjured shoulder. “Not every archer or knight that comes around here is as smirched in beauty as you.”

Airi’s eyes widened at how easily she said that. She had half a mind to walk away from Shizuku and save herself from further embarrassment but she caught how Shizuku’s cheeks flushed, likely from her words.

Blinking repeatedly, she put a fisted hand to her mouth, pretending to cough, casting her gaze in another direction.

“Pretend you did not hear that last part,” murmured Airi. Seconds later, she heard a hushed laugh.

“Thank you, Airi-chan,” Shizuku softly said after a good few seconds as Airi quickly looked back at her. “I suppose I will try my best to become a good archer,” paused Shizuku before looking at the knight. “Knowing I have the support of someone like you.”

Airi felt another beat skip within her when Shizuku looked at her, unfamiliar. It seemed like Shizuku was planning to stay for a little while, given what she just said to her. She thought it was Shizuku posing a friendly challenge, something that would push both of them to be better. But with the sun setting just behind the pillars of the training ground, its colors slowly dissipating as the skies finally welcome the night, Shizuku somehow brought warmth in her words, a warmth Airi could not pinpoint.

“But do not put your guard down just yet,” Airi smirked at her. “I will train hard to become the greatest knight in the kingdom so you best keep up by being the greatest archer!”

“Greatest knight?” She heard Shizuku reiterate what she said, a quiet whisper only heard by Airi. “And greatest archer?”

Airi nodded at her pridefully, a confident smile overtaking her face.

For a moment, she wondered what unearthly force permitted her to say such a proclamation with abiding poise. She thought it was because she did not want to lose to someone else, who, regardless of being a beginner, was already making a name for herself, or perhaps it was because she had never met someone on these grounds who was reluctant to join. Whatever it must be, Airi was certain of one thing.

She was utterly intrigued by this new archer.

“From this day forward,” Airi grabbed hold of Shizuku’s hands, quietly grimacing at the pressure she felt on her injured shoulder. Her actions surprised the archer as Airi looked at her, more determined. “You, Shizuku Hinomori, are my rival!”

Shizuku only looked at her confusedly, a vivid flushed expression on her cheeks that Airi chose not to lament on, but a smile eventually settled on the other woman’s face.

“I suppose that’s not too bad.”

Airi truly did not know how just in her first month of training as a knight, she gets injured by an archer destined to be great with only a little practice but that moment, when Shizuku hit her shoulder accidentally, she decided she will try her absolute best into becoming the greatest knight she could be.

“Our first meeting was truly something, was it not?” Airi heard Shizuku laugh lowly, the latter bringing her knees to her face as she hugged it, likely trying to battle the cold temperature.

“It was the day I wanted myself more worthy of knighthood,” shivered Airi, some of the treacherous wind from the outside seeping inside the cave, almost dispersing their feeble flame. “That day, I was filled with more determination to achieve my lifelong goal of being a knight. I do not know why. Perhaps it was because I was injured that day that I realized anything could happen or maybe it was because I wanted to work better knowing—” she paused abruptly.

Knowing I have the support of someone like you.

She instantly remembered what Shizuku said to her that day and she scoffed to herself, before reminiscing fondly at the memory, and she spoke again, “Knowing someone like you was watching me.”

Airi felt an unknown sincerity in her words. Her emotions are a topic she can easily understand but ever since meeting Shizuku, she has been introduced to a different land altogether, one she endeavors to understand to the brink of cataclysm yet failing spectacularly even with so many attempts. The only difference was that she does not mind failing every time, as long as there was Shizuku.

Smidgeons of frost she felt at the corner of her lips as she struggled to smile yet she did, unbeknownst to her.

“It is now your turn to ask me a question,” replied Shizuku.

Ah, they were still doing this apparently. She hummed to herself, thinking of a good question Shizuku would find delight in answering.

“How is Shiho doing as a blacksmith so far?” Airi asked as she gripped the hilt of the dagger that hung from her belt. “She gifted me this dagger on the day of my birth last year.”

“Ah, Shii-chan,” Airi could almost feel Shizuku smiling. “She never tells me of her ventures as a blacksmith but from what I could see, she enjoys it.”

“Although in recent memory," the archer continued. “I vaguely remember Shii-chan telling me about this knight who frequents the forge without even inquiring about the weapons. She sounded very intrigued about this knight.”

Airi remembered one detail about a certain knight, “I have an idea of who she is talking about.”

The archer hummed in question, her curiosity was evident.

“Ichika Hoshino,” continued Airi. “She talks about Shiho in a high regard as far as I have heard. She is friends with Minori so I often hear about their musings.”

“Must Shii-chan not tell me this?” Airi could picture a pout on Shizuku’s face. “She and I shall converse about this soon.”

Airi ruminated on Shizuku’s words as she frowned before asking, “Does Shiho know that you have left the kingdom? Did you tell her you have left?”

Airi felt Shizuku bristle next to her and the knight sighed, already knowing the answer to her question. She whipped her head back slowly from the archer’s shoulder and looked beside her, only to see Shizuku hugging her knees, looking into the fire in front of them.

“It would be all right,” Airi knew her words brought no comfort to Shizuku but she still said them, a well yet failed attempt to ease the archer’s worries. “We shall write to her once we arrive in Kamiyama.”

“I feel terrible, Airi-chan,” the quiver in Shizuku’s voice was more palpable and Airi reasoned that it was not just the cold. “I just left Shii-chan alone without telling her. What kind of older sister does that? What did I just do?” The archer’s voice grew silent, “What if she gets harmed or worse?”

“Shizuku,” despite how her own cannot seem to still because of the implacable cold, she grabbed one of the archer’s shaking hands and held it tightly. Shizuku cast her gaze on Airi, pleading and atwitter, staying in her position.

“Shiho is a strong person,” continued Airi, desperately hoping to let her voice show her strength because Shizuku needs her now. “I am certain she is strong enough to defend herself when it comes to dire situations.”

“And you say that with certitude, why?” 

“Because,” Airi breathed out, the brumal temperature doing nothing to appease her of her suffering, and she shivers altogether, hoping that regardless of it, her touch provided Shizuku some comfort, and hopes whatever she says next will do better, “You are her older sister.”

“You are a reliable older sister, Shizuku,” whispered Airi and she caressed Shizuku’s scarred knuckles, her hand quivering with her own. “A skillful archer and an amazing and strong person,” Airi felt warm in her chest again, and not because of the fire, that much she acknowledged now. “I am certain with someone like you in their life, they are bound to be strong as well.”

Airi looked at her as profoundly as she could and smiled, “I know I am.”

Airi must have said something right, with the way Shizuku’s tears almost disappeared, and how her eyes gleamed immediately, under the fire burning in front of them. Shizuku fixed her position and let go of her knees, without removing Airi’s hand holding her own. Airi watched as Shizuku glanced at her. Airi shivered, and for certain that this time, it was not from the cold.

“Do I mean that much to you, Airi-chan?”

Shizuku asked with the softest and most earnest tone Airi ever heard from her.

Airi’s heart skipped a beat, perhaps multiple ones, she was no longer aware of it, if she was being honest. She had half a mind to let go of Shizuku’s hand but she was under a trance that she was doubtless had happened before whenever she looked at Shizuku. Only this time, she knew and was aware she was under one.

“Yes,” whispered Airi, and she felt Shizuku’s hand tighten over hers. “You do.”

Perchance it was a mistake to have admitted that. Maybe she should have kept her lips sealed and quiet, let her thoughts wander to themselves because she had been rewarded with an unfamiliar glimmer in the archer’s eyes, lingering lovingly on her own, perhaps even rivaling the intricately woven fabric of stars sewn in the night’s sky. She was about to say something that she thought to be incoherent but—

“You mean the world to me as well.” 

—but maybe Shizuku’s answer was better.

Then Airi heard a sound. There was a beat. She was no longer sure if it was the rain pouring outside the cave or if it was the unending pounding that was ringing in her ears, and just as she was about to answer Shizuku, she saw her face inching closer to her own. Frustratingly, slowly, maddeningly, torturously, closer to her own. 

She was trying her best to control her breathing, opening her mouth now and then, ever so slightly, as if she was about to say something, anything , but she was left without words, not when she sees Shizuku’s gaze cast down on her lips, almost unnoticeable.

In a lack of impulse control, Airi risked herself by clinging closer to Shizuku, closer than they already are, leaving their faces inches apart. She could hear Shizuku’s breaths. It was just as breathless as hers. Airi swallowed a lump in her throat. The rain was not stopping any time soon, her grip on Shizuku’s hand gentle and noble, Shizuku’s face dangerously nearing hers. Lightning struck outside, it was distant but loud, enough to start a fire in the forest. She barely flinched. They barely flinched. Airi knew it could not compare to the incessant pounding in her chest.

“Shizuku,” Airi’s voice was a broken whisper but the only thing she heard was a certain fortitude present and as she was about to close her eyes, finally let herself embrace a wave of emotions unfold within her, she heard Shizuku whisper in that earnest voice she felt weak in.

“You were always my hero after all.”

Airi always wondered why Shizuku calls her her hero. Always wondered but never had the heart to ask why. It was not like it tormented her, no. It was the opposite. But seeing as what happened to Airi in the past had severely subverted her perception of being a knight and Shizuku having full knowledge about what had happened to her, she questions why, even after everything, Shizuku still calls her a hero.

When Airi knows she is clearly not. Not when Airi knows people do not see her as a knight anymore.

As much as it pained her, she sighed and pulled her head back quickly, watching as Shizuku’s half-lidded eyes widened slightly, before pulling back as well. She saw a hint of disappointment flash in Shizuku’s eyes but eventually, she returned back to her original position, leaning her head against the wall behind her.

Airi regretfully pulls her hand away from Shizuku, the latter likely intending to grip her battered hand for longer when Shizuku chases her hand immediately after Airi lets go.

She sat straight up and rubbed her hands together before putting them in front of the fire, hoping to radiate some heat. After a while, she put a hand on her forehead, rubbing her temples.

“Shall we continue with the game?” Airi spoke quietly, sensing the unresolved tension within the room. “It is now your turn to ask a question.”

“Why did you pull away all so suddenly?”

She should have known Shizuku would want to address that right away.

She heard the questioning and slightly hurt tone in Shizuku’s voice, and she turned to her head the other way discreetly, facing the entrance of the cave, focusing on the riveting sounds of the rain making contact with the ground. She could only hope Shizuku was not looking at her.

“Is it all right if that would be the last question?” Airi chuckled stiffly, disliking how her voice cracked and how pathetic she viewed herself at that moment. “I am still thinking of a proper answer.” 

She was not thinking of a proper answer. She was doing everything she could not answer.

“If you must,” she heard Shizuku relent. Airi closed her eyes and was about to sigh in relief when she realized she does not need to talk about that topic now but—

“Did you want to kiss me?”

Airi felt her cheeks flush at the question as she groaned quietly, putting her hands over her face. She can now feel Shizuku’s gaze piercing through the back of her head and after she removed her hands from her face, she tried to lighten herself up by asking, “Does this game entail that I answer honestly?”

“Yes,” came Shizuku’s response, with no malice and no pressure, just raw curiosity.

Truth be told, Shizuku will not even know the difference if she lied. To Airi, it would simply be like those little white lies, harmless and completely— 

“Then, yes,” Airi found herself answering before she could even think of the correct words, before she could even realize she opened her mouth, before she could even accept the certainty oozing from that response. 

She closed her eyes shut and her teeth gritted not only from the cold but from the suspense. She quietly anticipates Shizuku’s reply.

“Me too,” Shizuku whispered and Airi could sense a longing in the Toxophilite’s voice. “I still want to. I think I have always wanted to.”

Notwithstanding the cold, Airi felt her neck warm up and it seemed that the unrelenting pounding in her chest is not going to let up, not when Shizuku is this close, saying these things.

“My turn to ask a question,” Airi flinched at the crack in her voice, still not facing Shizuku. She asked, “What is your favorite bow?”

In that forbidding and enclosed cave, Airi wished she could lodge her dagger to her own head the moment after she asked that childish question. It was to be expected though, Shizuku asked a very unexpected question, one that made her feel tingly sensations in her stomach when she answered it. It was enough to make her lose her sense of herself.

“Asking an archer a question such as that is quite something, Airi-chan,” she heard Shizuku laugh, and Airi felt like a pathetic knight surrendering herself to the enemy as the sound was enough to render her weak, added with such words that rang sweetly in her own ears.

“The one that Shii-chan made for me,” Shizuku answered, her voice sounded a bit quiet now, almost sleepy from what Airi could point out. “It is back in Shii-chan’s forge as I do not want to tarnish that gift. Shii-chan really likes giving the people closest to her weapons as gifts.”

“I can tell.”

Silence overtook them once more. Airi was still unsure if it was tense or uncomfortable. She gazed outside the cave and only just then realized that it was already dark. It was still pouring and Airi sighed, figuring she and Shizuku might still be stuck in the cavern until the next light.

She fixed her position, glancing at the fire in front of her, still unable to look at Shizuku. She saw that the branches keeping the flame going had almost run out, and she noted to gather more wood later, to keep them from freezing the entire night.

They stood silent after that. Airi could not think of any questions and Shizuku must have shared the same sentiments. Airi wanted to look back. She truly did but this was the first time in a long time Shizuku and she shared a moment like this. It somehow felt like a confrontation. The incessant sound of wood burning and rain clashing with the rocks was the only thing that kept Airi company at that moment, to keep the hammering in her chest quiet.

“I think we might need to stay here for a while longer,” sighed Airi as she reached out to grab her satchel beside her. She was rummaging through the bag, some glasses clanging inside in the process before she finally grabbed a mango.

“I have some mangoes I packed,” said Airi as she grabbed her dagger from its sheath, piercing its sharp blade on the mango peel. “We might as well gather strength in sustenance before we sleep.”

Apparently, she was a tad too late.

She heard some light snoring later on, abruptly pausing her ministrations.

Airi quickly looked to her side and saw Shizuku had fallen asleep. The archer was hugging her legs as her head was draped uncomfortably on them, her bow and quiver discarded on the ground beside her.

Airi groaned to herself before putting the mango and her dagger down on top of her closed satchel. Airi hastily moved closer to Shizuku’s side and observed the other woman’s sleeping face, facing her.

Even besmirched by rain and dirt, even submerged in a state of slumber and exhaustion, Airi’s heart sped up, just merely looking at her. 

Airi despised it. She despised it all. She thinks she despises a lot of things about Shizuku.

Airi despised how Shizuku was given such an honor of a title, despite being so reluctant when she was still in training. She despises how skillful Shizuku is. She despised how Shizuku’s improvement throughout the years was recognized by the people of Miyamasuzaka. She despised how Shizuku helped so many more people than she. 

Airi despised Shizuku. Airi despises other things about her as well.

She despised the way her heart raced faster than the stallions running on the meadows whenever Shizuku was near her. She despised the way Shizuku manages to render her speechless just with a simple smile. She despised how Shizuku radiates so much warmth and comfort. She despises the way her heart contracts in pain when Shizuku gets hurt.

And worst of all, she absolutely despises Shizuku for making her so happy.

“You are so cruel, you know,” said Airi, voice trembling, to Shizuku’s sleeping figure. “You sleep and yet I lay awake here thinking of you,” she laughed quietly. “Such torture you give me all the time.”

“You fool, your neck is going to hurt severely once you wake up sleeping from that position,” she wondered why she asked, a sleeping person provides no response after all.

Airi carefully untangled Shizuku’s arms from her legs, laid the other woman on the ground, and she cautiously placed Shizuku’s head on her lap. She looked at the sleeping Toxophilite’s form, her face illuminated by the dying flames in front of them. 

“Do you dream of me?” murmured Airi. “The way I do with you every night?” 

“You must be,” her voice dipped. “You should be,” the curl on her lips lingered. “If you keep thinking of kissing me.”

“I may be your hero, Shizuku,” yawned Airi, feeling some of the drowsiness hit her altogether. She glanced at Shizuku one more time, smiling ever so slightly.

“But you are mine.”

“On your feet, Minori! Stand up at once when you get stumped! The enemy is not going to patiently wait for you to stand up before it makes its next move!”

“Y-yes, Airi-chan!”

Airi watched Minori, who she just knocked down, scramble to get herself up, quickly grabbing her discarded sword on the ground. She gripped her own sword tighter as she widened her stance, watching as the trainee started poorly circling her. Minori was not breaking eye contact so she returned that look with a hardened gaze of her own.

Noticeably, Minori stalked closer to her. She shook her head, reminding herself to tell the trainee of the importance of keeping her next move unpredictable. She smirked to herself before she ran towards Minori, catching the way Minori’s eyes widened comically at her rash approach.

She lunged her sword at the brunette but Minori was able to deflect her attack, her reflexes not failing her. Airi turned her back to face the trainee, quickly catching the swing of the other woman’s sword with a clash of her own blade. Airi grunted as Minori kept her pinned to her current position, the trainee’s grip on her sword unrelenting. Airi managed to win the joust and with a munter, she swung at Minori swiftly. Minori hopped backward, avoiding her attack.

“You are getting good at avoiding my attacks,” groaned Airi as her and Minori’s blades kept clashing. Airi crouched down, dodging Minori’s swing before she used her left foot to try and disrupt Minori’s footing but to no avail as the knight in training managed to recover at a quick speed.

“That’s because!” She heard Minori pant heavily as Airi veered her sword backward, the space between her and Minori open for attack. “Because!”

Before she could swerve her sword onto Minori’s, she released a groan out loud and got knocked down, her back hitting the ground harshly as she let go of her weapon, the sword clattering somewhere else. 

Minori just kicked her in the stomach. Minori found a good angle and took it.

She craned her head but her breath hitched as she leaned her head back as quickly as she could when she caught sight of Minori’s sword, now pointed at her throat.

“That’s because,” Minori panted but a satisfied smile was on her face and she said, “I have a magnificent and smart mentor.”

Airi felt pride wash over her. It was unlikely for a full-pledged knight to feel proud over a trainee knocking them over but she could not help feeling this way. Minori was enhancing and she feels like she had done something right, knowing she is one of the reasons for the knight’s improvement.

Airi released a tired chuckle albeit she felt more relaxed, “Good work today, Minori.”

Minori gave her a wide grin before she let her sword fall down to the side. Minori gave her a hand which she received eagerly, letting the trainee drag her up from the ground.

Once she’s up, she dusts her clothes harshly. She crossed her arms and looked at Minori, who was unable to contain a grin.

“You think that just because you knocked me down, I am going to go easy on you?” Airi raised an eyebrow at her.

“No! Of course not!” Minori shook her head. “I expect to learn more from you, Airi-chan. I know things will get harder from here on out but I know you are here to help and guide me.”

Airi felt her heart swell at Minori’s unwavering belief in her. Ever since she had started doing the joust competitions, her belief in herself slowly dithered. She knew a knight’s jousting ability is an important aspect of being a knight and Airi did enjoy it at first but she felt like that was all she was doing, and it was not enough.

“Good,” Airi uncrossed her arms and smiled warmly at the taller woman. “You are going to be an amazing knight, Minori. That brainless captain would regret rejecting you.”

Minori returned her smile before she removed the tie holding her ponytail. Airi was surprised when she moved closer to her, crouching down near her ear, seemingly about to whisper something.

“Do you think Haruka-chan is impressed?” She spotted the bashfulness in Minori’s voice. She could not help but laugh quietly. She gently pushed her away a bit from her.

“Why do you not ask her yourself?”

Airi pointed something with her eyes, and Minori followed her line of sight. Airi chuckled when she saw Minori’s face flush heavily before strings of incoherence started spewing out of her mouth. There, where Airi pointed, Haruka was standing near a pillar, her mouth hanging agape. Airi could only guess it was because of what Minori just did.

“From what I see,” Airi figured she could tease the other woman. “She looks thoroughly speechless.”

“Airi-chan!”

Airi spotted Haruka snapping out of her gaze before approaching them, her hand heavy on the scabbard hanging from her belt. There seemed to be a nervous smile plastered on Haruka’s face.

“Here comes your knight,” teased Airi and she felt Minori nudge her, causing her to laugh.

“Airi,” the knight gave her a curt nod once she arrived in front of them.

“Haruka,” she returned the gesture.

“Minori,” Airi spotted a smile on the other knight’s face. “Hi.”

Minori stammered before greeting her, “Haruka-chan! Hi!”

“I only get a nod from her and you get a greeting,” Airi shook her head in feigned disapproval. “Favoritism has befallen the great knight Haruka Kiritani.”

She bit down a laugh at their reactions. Airi could only shake her head at how her friends acted around each other. It reminded her how intimidated she was by Shizuku at first.

“Airi-chan!”

Speaking of which.

“Shizuku?” She turned around to see the archer fast approaching them.

Airi’s eyes widened when Shizuku tackled her to the ground, the archer wrapping her arms around Airi’s neck, trapping her in a warm embrace. 

“What on earth is up with you and Minori throwing me to the ground!? Quit hugging me!”

She heard Minori and Haruka’s badly concealed giggles, likely at the display, and she felt her face grow hotter every minute, almost matching the setting sun’s intensity.

“What are you even happy for to be embracing me like this!?”

“Airi-chan! They gave the Toxophilite title to me!”

Her breath caught in her throat. She heard gasps followed, presumably Minori and Haruka.

“What?”

“I’m the new Toxophilite!”

Airi could not believe what she just heard. She released a single airy laugh. Followed by strings of laughs of disbelief, and before she knew it, she was embracing Shizuku back.

“You are the new Toxophilite!”

It had been over four years since that fateful day — that day Airi declared she and Shizuku will become the greatest knight and archer of the entirety of Miyamasuzaka. Airi knew how much they both struggled and failed, won some victories and failed again, over and over until they could one day achieve their goal.

And that day has come true for one of them.

Bearing the title of Toxophilite of Miyamasuzaka means only one thing — the greatest archer in Miyamasuzaka, a heavy responsibility and a noble position, one that recognizes an archer’s immense talent and skill.

And Airi could not find anyone else deserving of that position, only Shizuku.

She had watched Shizuku train intensely and admired how much the archer improved over the years. She had beared witness to Shizuku’s late-night practices in the courtyard once everyone had fallen asleep.

However, there was this quiet feeling of jealousy brewing inside of Airi, gnawing at her with its envious and dainty fingers. She knew of Shizuku’s great skill but a question she pondered on was if ever people are going to view her the way they do with Shizuku. She had worked the same amount as hers but she often feels like she was being left behind, especially since the captain of the royal knights kept assigning her to join those joust competitions.

No matter, that was something she shall focus on later. Right now, at this moment, she felt overwhelming pride for Shizuku.

“I get that we should have a celebration,” she laughed awkwardly before she continued, “But do you mind getting off me!?”

“Oh! My apologies!”

Shizuku quickly stood up and offered a hand to Airi, helping the knight up. 

Airi heard Minori and Haruka offer their cheers of jubilations to Shizuku, watching as the pair gave Shizuku hugs and pats on the back.

Airi felt a specific warmth, watching all three of them. She, Haruka, Shizuku, and Minori was quite the quartet if she does say so herself. It started with just the three of them and then suddenly, a year ago, one brunette with a dream of becoming a knight came knocking on her door, begging her to teach her. She did not have the heart to refuse. She was happy she did not, seeing as her teaching has been slowly coming to fruition.

“What do you say we go to the nearest tavern?” Haruka asked them, a big smile plastered on her face. “Big news such as this deserves to be lauded!”

Minori nodded enthusiastically, “We can toast to the newest Toxophilite of Miyamasuzaka!”

“An amazing idea!” Shizuku agreed before looking at Airi. “What do you say, Airi-chan? We can call Shii-chan as well!”

All three of them looked at her expectantly. Inwardly, she was inclined to refuse because the captain of the knights had scheduled a training with her regarding the upcoming joust competition but seeing as Shizuku just achieved such an exalted feat, her companion for such a long time achieved something she once thought was not for her, how could she decline?

It was Shizuku, after all. All consequences be damned when it comes to her.

“Well,” she sighed quietly as she cast her head down before revealing a grin. “What are we still loitering around for? Celebration awaits us!”

When Airi woke up, the rays of the sun were seeping into the cave, tormenting her eyes. Her eyelids fluttered open before she released a long yawn, stretching her arms. She looked forward, the fire that kept her warm the night before was reduced to mere ash. She leaned her head to the side and she saw some sparrows, three or four from what Airi could make out because of her blurred view, chirping to themselves on the ground just at the entrance of the cave. Airi smiled at the birds, appreciating how they seemed to be fribbling.

A quiet sigh escaped from her lips, a foreign feeling of comfort settling in her chest. Airi thought it made completely no sense, to be feeling some sort of comfort after what had just transpired the previous day. Airi hummed appreciatively as she instinctively caressed the sleeping woman’s hair, refusing to stand up from her current position.

Half drowsy and nearly awake, it took her a little longer than a few seconds when she registered there was a weight in her lap. 

And it took her much faster than one second to remember the events that happened last night. Shizuku holding her hand in the rain and unable to let go once they found shelter, Shizuku wanting to kiss her and even saying that had always wanted to, Shizuku almost kissing her, Shizuku admitting Airi has always been her hero, Airi dolorously pulling away.

She felt her cheeks flush madly and in an instant, she was as alert as if she was in a battle.

She watched the other woman sleeping soundly in her lap, hair disheveled and breathing steady. Airi can almost feel Shizuku purr and she cannot help but smile. 

Adorable.

Even in slumber’s messy wake, Shizuku still manages to take her breath away.

She shook her head and released a shaky sigh, trying to reclaim some of the sanity she feels like is slipping from her. Airi remembered her initial goal of going to Kamiyama and she gathered that she needs to leave the cave early if she plans to reach the other kingdom before another day has been taken from her. Decidedly, she planned to wake Shizuku, no matter how adorable she thinks Shizuku looks.

“Shizuku,” she called out in a raspy voice, removing her hand from the sleeping woman’s hair before she continued, “Come on, wake up. We need to move fast if we plan to reach Kamiyama.”

Airi only received a low groan.

“Come on, get up.”

This time no response.

Airi sighed out loud, “Shizuku, I ought to drag you up if you do not get up from me this instant—”

“Airi-chan…” Shizuku let out her name quietly before letting out strings of silent coughs, still not opening her eyes.

“Shizuku..?”

Airi grew worried at how weakly the archer responded. Looking at the way Shizuku was at the moment, she quickly assumed the worst. She brought a hand to Shizuku’s forehead and grimaced noticeably at how high the archer’s temperature was.

Guilt suddenly overtook her. She knows the rain was not her fault but if she had not just allowed Shizuku to get tangled up in her journey, the archer could have been well and proper in Miyamasuzaka.

“Shit,” cursed Airi as she withdrew her hand. She leaned to her side to grab the dagger that she left discarded on her satchel before she put the weapon inside its sheath hanging from her belt. She quickly pondered on where the mango she left just next to her satchel was but she figured some wood animal must have stolen it in their sleep. 

“Shizuku,” she whispered. “You are sick. Do you think you can get up?”

Shizuku groaned.

“Love, we need to get you to a healer,” Airi cooed, putting a hand on the archer’s cheek. “I’ll help you up, come. I do not have medicine with me,” she paused and then sighed reluctantly. 

The village she was supposed to stop by does not have any designated healer. Kamiyama was still a day’s journey and Airi feared Shizuku would consume all of her remaining strength and grow weak once they arrived.

“But Miyamasuzaka is only a few hour’s walk. We can go to the healer there and he can take care of you.”

“What about Kamiyama?” Shizuku’s hoarse voice asked her. “We are almost there.”

Airi stilled, processing what she said. Is she actually willing to go back to the kingdom of Miyamasuzaka, after months of planning to leave? She had been writing letters to Ena, to tell her about her inevitable move, and the latter must have finished preparing, patiently waiting for her friend to arrive.

But—

“I do not care about Kamiyama right now,” she responded and Shizuku opened her eyes slightly. Airi could see there were questions swirling in those light blue pools. She simply smiled at her, using a thumb to caress the archer’s face and she continued, “Let’s get you to a healer first.”

Airi withdrew her hand from Shizuku’s face when the archer gave her a drowsy smile, a confusing gesture.

“Thank you, Airi-chan.”

She gave her only a curt nod, mustering up a thin line of a smile as reciprocation.

Airi felt Shizuku shuffle underneath her as she watched the archer slowly stand up, putting a tired hand on her hand. Airi took this opportunity to stand up. She stretched her arms and legs to rid the tension growing in her body before she picked up her satchel and slung it across her shoulder.

Airi picked up the archer’s quiver and put it on her belt, picking up some of the scattered arrows on the ground. She grabbed the archer’s discarded bow and slung it across herself and then she helped Shizuku by wrapping an arm around her waist and gently setting her up, the latter wrapping an arm around her shoulder. She heard Shizuku hum quietly. 

“Do you want me to tie your hair before we leave?” Airi asked her, thinking perhaps Shizuku’s messy strands of hair were uncomfortable on her face.

Airi craned her neck and she saw Shizuku shake her head no, a sleepy smile directed at her. She let go of Shizuku’s waist and retreated a bit, watching intently if the archer could stand on her own.

Once she was sure the archer could, she grabbed one of Shizuku’s hands and internally winced at how hot it felt. She cast her gaze up at Shizuku and an unsuspecting warmth crawled up her neck when she was greeted with Shizuku’s surprised expression, likely from unwittingly holding the latter’s hand. 

“You called me ‘love’ earlier.”

“Let us save that conversation for another day.”

Quickly turning around, she shook her head, and carefully, they walked out of the cave together.

“I should have listened to Haruka,” sighed Airi regretfully as she and Shizuku began walking back in the direction of Miyamasuzaka. “If I just accepted her offer to give me a horse.”

“It is all right,” Shizuku rasped out, a cough followed after. “I suppose it was also my fault for venturing on an unplanned journey.”

Airi frowned a bit and gripped Shizuku’s hand tighter as they continued their walk.

It has been a little over an hour since they started their journey back and the knight kept proposing they take a break in between walks so as to not wear out Shizuku’s remaining strength but the archer was uncompromising, asking Airi to just continue and not worry about her. 

Of course, Airi was worried about her. Airi had always been worried about her.

As Toxophilite, Shizuku had been an important figure in the kingdom, hence the danger she could always be brought about by her position. Her rank nearly matched the Royal Guard’s, the highest-ranking knight in the kingdom. Ever since Shizuku achieved that position, she was constantly absent in Airi’s life, doing what is demanded of her. Airi did not blame her though, it was an important duty to fulfill but every time, she cannot help the immense worry flooding through her whenever news of injury encountered the Toxophilite.

“I am sincerely sorry, Airi-chan,” Shizuku broke the silence once more after a few minutes of walking.

Airi frowned a bit but nevertheless continued walking and she asked, “What for?”

“I disrupted your move to Kamiyama,” she heard Shizuku’s quiet voice follow a sigh. “If I had not come with you and had gotten sick, you might as well be on your way to the kingdom right now. I have been a big disturbance to you.”

Airi promptly stopped walking and turned to face Shizuku, letting go of the latter’s hand. Her eyes widened unnoticeably at the archer’s pale face.

“You are not,” Airi began, scowling at Shizuku. “Or will ever be a disturbance to me.”

“But Airi-chan—”

“I do not want anything right now but for you to get better.”

She thought that the way she said her words could have been improved. But harsh words towards the archer, even if it was Shizuku herself speaking, cause her to react a certain way. It had happened multiple times in the past before but Airi could do well without reminiscing all of those painful memories.

Airi saw Shizuku parting her lips slightly and a calm passed by her. She released a sigh and grabbed the archer’s hand before they resumed walking, Shizuku trailing closely right behind her.

“I apologize for reacting that way,” Airi murmured a few moments later. “I just do not like it when people talk about you negatively, even if the one that talks is you.”

How ironic, Airi thought, that she felt overprotective of Shizuku when sometimes, she did wish she was in the archer’s position, being seen as someone who wants to help people, the way Shizuku can.

She heard Shizuku release an airy laugh behind her and said, “I think I understand. If anyone will say such demeaning things towards you, I feel like I would react the same way, much worse if I think so.”

Airi smiled to herself as she felt her chest tighten at the archer’s words, gripping Shizuku’s hand tighter. Shizuku is more patient than her so it would be such a sight to see the archer lose her temperance over defending Airi’s name.

For a few minutes or so, they were quietly working towards their way to Miyamasuzaka, encountering only small animals in their walk. Shizuku was mostly the one who kept breaking the silence despite her current state and Airi was more than happy to oblige her. 

The rest of the walk went by in a blur. The two of them continued to chatter about, argue, and debate about nonsensical things, even in Shizuku’s unholy state.

However, about a few moments later, Airi heard heavy footsteps, as well as cracks of twigs, and if she was not mistaken, she heard a horse neigh, followed by sounds of shushing. She quickly ceased their walking and craned her neck back, Shizuku looking at her alertly, albeit her eyes were quite droopy.

“You heard it too?” Shizuku asked her.

She nodded as her brows furrowed, “People are here.”

Airi let go of Shizuku’s hand as it flew to the hilt of her dagger. She pulled her weapon out and prompted Shizuku to be careful when stepping on the fallen branches on the ground. Grabbing the archer’s wrist with her other hand, they carefully stalk forward. 

Airi heard a twang of string in the distance.

“Airi-chan, watch out!”

Having to be friends with the kingdom’s renowned Toxophilite can be a good thing most of the time. Airi felt Shizuku push her away from her as the other woman stumbled backward. Airi’s back hit the ground grimly but she quickly recovered, putting a hand on the back of her head, kneading that painful spot on her head. She leaned up and looked to her side and saw an arrow hit the tree. 

It was the official Miyamasuzaka arrow.

“What on absolute fuck is up with you archers and always targeting me!?”

Airi groaned out loud and stood up, rushing over to Shizuku, panting in her laid-down position.

“You saved my life,” You truly are my hero. “I owe you many thanks.”

“Stop being so formal, Airi-chan,” Shizuku laughed weakly, letting out a cough.

Airi grew more worried. Shizuku reached up with her two hands and Airi dragged her up. There were no bruises or cuts on the archer’s arms, Airi inspected.

“It was your archers,” Airi scoffed, nasty memories rushing back. “You should let them know it was you they almost hit. Princess Asahina will have their heads.”

Shizuku let out a single laugh.

Seconds later, three people holding bows and donning the same clothing as Shizuku without the silver crest, emerge from the trees, one of them seated on an armored brown stallion. Airi scowled at them as her hands balled themselves into a fist, the hand gripping her dagger stiffening every passing second.

It was Shizuku’s archer troops. The same archer troops that were envious of Shizuku and said abhorrent things about her. Airi felt her forehead twinge in pain as she realized she had been frowning deeply.

“There is the fiend that kidnapped the Toxophilite! She has Shizuku with her!”

“What!?” Airi exclaimed, flabbergasted at the accusation. “I did not kidnap Shizuku, you small-brained pieces of—!”

Suddenly, all of the archers were pointing their loaded bows at her. Airi growled lowly and only tightened the grip of her dagger, preparing for an imminent attack. She walked backwards slowly, the archers stalking at her.

“Wait!” Airi’s eyes widened as Shizuku quickly moved right in front of her, stretching her arms as if acting as a shield and she declared, “Do not hurt Airi-chan! She did not hurt me nor kidnap me!”

“Why is she holding your bow and arrows?”

“She is simply carrying it for me,” panted Shizuku. “That is all.”

“Airi-chan was only accompanying me back to Miyamasuzaka,” the Toxophilite continued. “As I have fallen ill.”

“Ill?” One of the archers asked, an eyebrow raised.

“We got caught in the rain yesterday,” Airi answered in a vexed tone, getting intensely irked at how the archers were addressing Shizuku. “As a result, Shizuku got sick. We need to get back to Miyamasuzaka so the healer can treat her.”

Airi heard a low and condescending laugh from one of the archers, possibly from the one who was getting off the horse. She felt one of the veins in her forehead pulsate, her fist growing painfully with every passing minute she clenched her hand.

“Goodness, Shizuku,” she said, followed by a haughty laugh, and Airi never thought she would be so infuriated with someone’s voice. The archer approached them and impulsively, Airi moved closer to Shizuku, eyeing the approaching archer crisply.

“First, you leave the kingdom without notice,” the archer frowned at Shizuku, her voice coming out as a snarl. “Making all of us in the archer troop scramble after your mess. Then, you went missing the entire day. We had to lie to Princess Asahina about your whereabouts. She looks like she does not believe us if you were wondering how that went.”

Airi looked at Shizuku, the latter having an unreadable expression written on her face.

“Now,” Airi groaned internally at that wretched archer’s voice. “You are ill, meaning you will not be able to attend to your duties, leaving the rest of the work that is supposed to be yours to us. Seriously, can you not give us a break?”

She heard a click of a tongue from the archer in front of them, the other two members had their arms crossed or on their hips.

Airi was at her wit’s end as she swallowed a lump in her throat. She glanced over to Shizuku, a sad (or perhaps a forced) smile was etched on her face, and she seemed to be listening intently to what the other archer was telling her.

She had never seen this before. She has only ever heard stories about how Shizuku and her troops often disagree, which Airi thought was not even disagreement, just Shizuku’s troops talking behind her back and surfacing their jealousy over Shizuku’s title. From afar, she sensed some tensions between Shizuku and her troops but she knew it was not her place to intervene. Airi watched Shizuku suffer in silence regarding that, unable to find the perfect words to comfort her. 

Because of that, she had grown to detest Shizuku’s troops and how they treated her. It made her blood boil hotter than the scorching sun besetting her.

“I sometimes even wonder why you were chosen as the Toxophilite,” Airi heard the other archer scoff, the other two chuckling in the background.

“They must have been out of their mind, those judges that chose you,” the archer continued and Airi gritted her teeth. “You were not even meant to be an archer. You just became one by accident.”

“Why, you—!”

“Airi-chan,” Shizuku weakly raised an arm at her, shaking her head, a desperate look in her eyes, signaling her to stop immediately. Airi started breathing heavily and she worried that if the other archer continued talking, she might be able to do something she would regret.

“You are useless as Toxophilite and you are not deserving of your position.”

Airi felt something snap, like the final nail in the coffin finding its place. A scalding feeling, much rivaling the sun’s rays she deleteriously loathed, rose within her and a solid sense of resentment festered completely, overflowing, its threat to come out now coming into effect. 

“I will show you who’s not deserving of her position!” With a quick step forward, she urgently removed her satchel and the bow that slung across her and she lunged at the archer’s chin with her balled fist, snarling as she did.

She heard Shizuku gasp loudly, as well as the other two archers. She even heard the stallion neigh loudly from the display.

“Airi-chan!”

The archer stumbled back and before she could load and point an arrow at her, Airi used one hand to steal away at her bow forcefully, flinging the weapon away, almost appreciating the way the other archer looked dumbfoundedly at her. 

The archer took an arrow from her quiver and lurched towards Airi but the former knight deflected quite as easily, the archer eventually stumbling to the ground.

Airi quickly grabbed hold of the collar of the archer’s shirt and pinned her to the nearest tree, staring her down.

“How dare you do this to a member of the archer—!” 

The archer stopped yelling as her breath hitched when Airi pointed her dagger dangerously close to her neck, to that specific vein sticking out.

Airi heard a gasp and strings of bows being pulled from behind her and concluded that the other two archers were pointing at her. That only made a fresh swell of rage rose within her.

“If you so much as attempt to shoot an arrow at me, I would not hesitate to slit her throat and be done with it!” She yelled at them as she continued to stare down at the archer she pinned. She was confident enough that they will not point and shoot at Shizuku because as she said earlier, the princess will have their heads.

“Say such degrading things about Shizuku again,” Airi growled quietly, putting the sharp edge of her dagger on the archer’s flesh but not enough to pierce through or draw blood, as she heard a quiet whimper from the other woman.

“And I will make sure I will be the one dragging you to the deepest pits of hell.”

She wished she felt even an ounce of remorse for such a display. She wished that she regretted threatening the archer because, at one point in her life, she did feel the same jealousy she felt towards Shizuku, and perhaps she still does. Only now, it does not matter anymore.

Airi felt a hand on her shoulder, immediately knowing who it was. Her scowl softened and in an instant, all her rage melted. She groaned as she pushed the other woman into the tree, putting her dagger back into its sheath. 

She turned around to find Shizuku’s face worried at her. Giving the archer a small smile, she removed her hand from her shoulder, wincing at how her temperature increased.

Shizuku let out a string of coughs, louder than the earlier ones and Airi could sense that the other woman was getting worse by the second.

“Your temperature is getting higher,” frowned Airi. “We need to get back to Miyamasuzaka as quickly as possible before this gets worse.”

“Take the horse,” she heard the archer she just threatened and she turned around, watching her fix herself, the other two archers accompanying her, sharing the same looks of disfavor directed towards Airi.

“As if I want anything from you,” hissed Airi before walking away from them and picking up her satchel and Shizuku’s bow.

“I know that you want your Shizuku to get better more than anything,” the other archer sneered back at her. “Just take the damned horse and get the hell out of our sights.”

Your Shizuku…

Airi did not spare them a second glance any longer as she dragged Shizuku to where the stallion stood. It was quietly eating grass as if it ignored the entire thing that happened in front of it.

Airi moved in front of the horse and petted it, a thin smile on her face. A few moments later, she heard the animal nicker quietly.

“Do you need help on—” 

Before she could finish the question, Shizuku managed to hop onto the horse’s saddle, releasing a tired grunt afterward. Airi shrugged as she followed, sitting in front of Shizuku. 

Steadying herself, she grabbed the reins and gently whipped it, the horse walking slowly at first so as to not immediately shock both of them. Shizuku immediately wrapped her arms around Airi’s waist, with no intention of letting go.

A few moments later when the stallion increased its pace, Airi felt Shizuku put her head on her shoulder, the latter’s warm but calm breath coming over towards the former knight’s neck. She felt her cheeks starting to flush once again, and she shook her head, focusing on the path in front of them.

Nevertheless, Airi shivered at the new contact and the warm air her exposed skin received as she continued to maneuver the stallion back to the kingdom.

“Are you all right back there?”

She heard Shizuku hum weakly, just below her ear.

“You are incredible, you know,” said Airi, her words grumbled. “Please do not believe anything they said. You are more than worthy and deserving of your position.”

Shizuku did not offer any type of response to what she said. Instead—

“Thank you for saving me,” Shizuku breathed out. “You truly are my hero, Airi.”

How odd, Airi thought, how Shizuku easily voices out her same sentiment. It was the first time Shizuku addressed her without an honorific and it was after a display of loss of control. Not that she regretted it anyway. 

Airi felt Shizuku snuggle closer to her and was only glad that she was facing forward, lest the archer sees how enflamed her face was.

“You are my knight in shining armor,” whispered Shizuku, tenderly against her ear.

Your knight in shining armor…

“What do you mean you quit!?”

“I do not want to do this anymore!” Airi yelled as she threw away her helmet on the floor before pointing at the captain, “I have told you countless times that I want to continue my duties as a knight, helping people, yet you continue to parade me around in these pointless jousts!”

“Do you not see it? The people love you!”

“Those people,” Airi sneered, stressing her words. “Are mindless royals and nobles who have nothing to do with their lives! Even Princess Asahina does not indulge in this colossal waste of time of a show!”

“I am your captain,” Airi clenched her jaw at the head knight’s condescending tone. “And as a royal knight, you shall do as I say.”

“No,” she seethed, pitching her voice as low as she could, approaching the captain with both of her fists clenched, her resolution stood and she spoke, “You as captain should be taking your knights’ best interest at heart. Instead, you butchered mine with these useless games,” she derided. ”I am finished with all of this and you cannot stop me.”

“You are still a knight of Miyamasuzaka and you are still under my command,” the captain haughtily replied to her.

“Not anymore,” Airi said, with finality in her voice. She turned around and picked up her satchel and dagger before she proceeded to the exit of the room.

“I am done,” Airi looked back at the captain, who seemed to be taken aback by her sudden declaration. “With everything.”

Airi exited the room with nothing but sorrow and rage melting in her heart.

She hated it. She hated it all. She hated allowing herself to believe that her identity as a knight would be defined by her victories in these jousts. She hated being paraded as a mere prize and commodity. She hated not being able to help people the way she used to. It was not supposed to be a fickle affair, it was supposed to be fulfilling, a dream she had been waiting to achieve now coming into reality.

But as the sun begins to set, the moon rises, its light casting the same amount of shadow the star she hates does.

It was all the same, truly, no matter she put it.

Her dream turned into a nightmare.

She hated it. 

She hated it all.

“Airi-chan?”

But at least someone has everything together.

“Shizuku,” breathed Airi. “Minori, Haruka.”

All three of them were outside the shed where the knights prepared for jousts, seemingly waiting for Airi.

“You took a bad fall in the joust earlier, Airi-chan,” said Minori worriedly. “Is your shoulder all right?”

“You watched?” They looked at her guiltily before Airi sighed and shook her head, seeing no point in confronting them with it. “I am fine, everyone. Thank you for asking. The sun caught in my eye,” Airi sneered quietly.

“We heard everything you and the captain talked about,” Haruka told her, a remorseful expression on her face. “Are you really quitting as a knight?”

“Please do not try and stop me,” Airi turned her head, facing away from them. “I have been stuck with this shit for almost two years and I am sick of it. I know all of you tried to help me but clearly, the captain would not see reason.”

“I am not even sure if people see me as a knight anymore,” Airi continued, her voice soft and broken, as if it were her final and dying breath. “I am not even sure if I see myself as a knight anymore.”

Airi felt wetness forming in her eyes, disallowing herself to let those salty tears flow down from her face. She balled her hands into a fist and released a tired groan, no more remorse or rage, just some barrenness that had been accumulating for the last two years.

“I am just a jester in knight’s metal, useless and made fun of.”

“That’s not true,” she heard a strong voice disagree with her. “I still see you as a knight, Airi-chan.”

Airi looked at Shizuku, the archer’s eyes sincere and tired yet festers of certitude residing in them, battling Airi’s crumbling sense of self.

“You have always saved me,” Shizuku continued. “You always help Minori-chan and Haruka-chan when they are in trouble. You are helping Minori-chan become a knight too.”

It was strangely ironic, Airi thought. Her shoulder hurt when Shizuku lodged the arrow into it but it was the day she wanted to become a knight to the fullest but today, her shoulder hurt her once again, putting an end to that now desolate dream.

Airi gave them a sad smile, “You have always been the person that believed in me the most, Shizuku. I cannot thank you enough for that. Minori and Haruka too. Thank you.”

“But I want to be left alone for now,” Airi gripped the strap of her bag tightly. “So I can think properly.”

Without saying anything else, Airi walked past them, hopeful enough that they would not come after her. 

She does not know what fate will bring her now, all she knows is that Miyamasuzaka is a painful place, a constant reminder of what she had lost. Shaking her head, she has a vague idea of what she should do next.

Airi has been sitting in one of the hallways leading to the training yard. She had lost count of how many hours had passed since she and Shizuku had arrived back in Miyamasuzaka. Just as she had suspected, knights were waiting by the gate, their weapons clad and ready in their hands. Fortunately, Haruka was there to aid her, managing to let the rest of the knights to stand down and let her through.

Airi bargained to let her in but the healer refused, saying that he should not be disturbed if he is with a patient. She has been watching the people clamoring on the training grounds, remembering the times she was there. It was bittersweet, more than anything. As much as her time being a knight has made her filled with a sense of purpose, she knew she would never go back.

She cast her gaze back to her hand, playing with her dagger. 

“Is that you, Momoi-san?”

Airi looked up at where the voice came from, a small thin smile gracing her lips at the person.

“Shiho.”

The blacksmith seemed to have finished or was perhaps in the middle of creating a new weapon as she was still wearing her brown worn-out leather apron, her silver hair disheveled, and there were remnants of ash underneath her chin. There was also her hammer that hung on the pockets of her apron.

“Ichika told me my sister followed you on your way to Kamiyama,” Shiho’s gruff voice told her as the blacksmith sat next to her, a small distance between them. 

“Ichika must tell you a lot of things,” replied Airi, continuing to play with her dagger, keeping her gaze locked on the weapon.

Shiho only cleared her throat and let out a cough, which Airi guessed was forced.

“She did follow me,” she sighed. “It was not in my plan to let her come with me but,” she paused and she stilled the hands fondling her weapon, “Fate has always treated me differently when it comes to Shizuku.”

“You came back because she got sick?”

Airi hummed affirmatively, “Kamiyama was still a day away,” she shrugged. “It was too far. Her sickness would have gotten worse if not treated immediately.”

“Momoi-san, you know you did not have to do that…”

Airi swallowed a lump in her throat and she felt Shiho’s piercing eyes at her, glowering with curiosity and intent.

“You know I would do anything for your sister, Shiho.”

Airi faced the younger Hinomori after hearing a quiet scoff, a familiar warmth on her face once she took in the sight of the blacksmith’s disgusted expression, although she knew it was a feigned one.

“Well, at least I know that you two share the same sentiments towards each other,” grumbled Shiho, looking away from her, “Now that I know you almost stabbed a member of her archer troops.”

She looked at the blacksmith, a smile overtaking her face, “You would have done the same.”

“No, I would not ,” Shiho scoffed, and then, “I would have done worse .”

Airi smiled in amusement before shaking her head, strings of laughter tumbling out of her lips.

She turned to the view in front of her, the sight of knights sparring and training enveloping her vision. She remembers when she was in that very field, as a trainee. She scoffed bitterly at the memory.

Thinking about it properly, Airi knew Miyamasuzaka was not good for her and Shizuku. Her perception of herself deeply warped when her being as a knight was taken away from her, slowly. Shizuku was not respected as the Toxophilite by her peers. No wonder why the archer wanted to go with her. 

Her brooding was interrupted by Shiho.

“Momoi-san, would it be all right if you do one thing for me?”

With a curt nod, she answered, “What is it?”

“Can you tell onee-chan that she does not need to worry about me?” The younger Hinomori murmured. “That I would still be well if she were ever to leave?” Shiho paused, clicking her tongue quietly, and she continued, “Even if she goes far from this kingdom?”

Her conversation with Shizuku the previous day came flooding right back at her.

“What brought this on?” She raised an eyebrow at Shiho as the blacksmith pursed her lips, furrowing her eyebrows together.

“I have something to tell you,” Shiho told her and Airi saw a cloud of worry looming over the blacksmith’s face. “Princess Asahina came by the forge yesterday by herself and told me an important piece of information.”

She raised both of her eyebrows in surprise. She could not recall any time the princess had stopped by the forge herself. It was usually one of the castle caretakers or royal knights. She figured it must be a grave and pressing issue if the princess personally sought out the blacksmith.

“What did she tell you?”

A mellowed sigh came tumbling out of Shiho’s lips and she pursed her lips once more and she replied, “She was looking for onee-chan.”

“Why?”

Airi could not stop the curiosity and concern rising in her. Shiho looked at her, her face almost devoid of any emotions as her lips pursed but Airi saw right through her, an immense amount of concern pooling in the blacksmith’s eyes.

“Princess Asahina told me that she accepted onee-chan’s request,” the blacksmith paused, her voice dropping.

“Request…?”

Airi was more than perturbed. Shizuku failed to mention any of this when they were together, and the archer was usually not secretive when it comes to her.

With a heavy sigh, Shiho finally said, “Onee-chan’s request to relinquish her position as Toxophilite.”

There was a beat that skipped, a quick moment of silence, barely even a second’s worth, that surrounded them like a stratus cloud stretching over the blue horizon but she felt the entire weight of it, not heavy but somehow, it was also not light. It was only there, making its presence known.

A measly “oh” was her only response, quiet and final, devoid of any intent to argue back or object.

Airi wondered why she was even surprised. It was not like she had not seen this coming.

She knew how being Miyamasuzaka’s Toxophilite brought Shizuku more pain than it did any positive emotions. She knew how Shizuku was constantly devalued by her peers who refuse to even recognize even the smallest amount of effort the archer puts into her craft.

“Have you told Shizuku?” Airi asked, voice reticent.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the blacksmith nod curtly, “The healer gave us time to talk.”

“What did she say?”

“Nothing,” Shiho replied flatly.

She only pursed her lips together before nodding, unable to conjure up the proper response to this sudden news.

“Did you know about this?” Asked Airi, her voice quiet. “About Shizuku letting go of the Toxophilite’s mantle?”

Shiho only shook her head no.

“I know my sister is not happy here,” the blacksmith continued as if she were reading her thoughts, a frown gracing the blacksmith’s face, “Princess Asahina also mentioned that to me,” the blacksmith murmured.

Of course, the princess has noticed.

“I think she has been unhappy for a long time,” said Shiho, a hint of sadness in her voice. “I just did not know how to confront her with it.”

She knew how a lot of people see Shiho, misinterpreting how the younger Hinomori shows her affection. But Airi sees firsthand how the blacksmith deeply cares for her sister and her happiness.

Airi let out a quiet and empty laugh, “Me as well.”

Airi was never sure how to address Shizuku with those sentiments. She was gravely aware of the fact that Shizuku was merely making appearances, putting herself on a pedestal, as people have done to her, to not disappoint them or let them down in any way or form. Hell, Shizuku did not even want to become an archer in the first place.

It hurt and embarrassed Airi, that she was even envious of Shizuku in many periods of knowing her when in reality, the archer was just suffering as well — unable to escape the expectations of people around her, unable to escape the clouds of insecurities that lurk around and flies over her

“Momoi-san,” she heard Shiho call out to her, hints of melancholy and despondency echoed within her tone. 

“You make onee-chan happy.”

Airi’s heart wrestled in her chest, its hammering unable to silence itself at Shizuku’s younger sister’s declaration.

“I hope you can continue doing it,” Shiho paused and Airi sensed a tense apprehension.

“In whatever way you both choose.”

Shiho’s last words confused her, her forehead creasing slightly, however, she did not dwell on it, fully knowing that Shiho only wishes good intent on her sister.

“She makes me happier,” chuckled Airi, putting a hand on her covered shoulder, the same one Shizuku’s arrow hit on that fateful day, “Happier than I could have ever imagined.”

It was a constant reminder of how their meeting must have been set in stone by some higher being. Airi was apprehensive towards intangible things at best but Shizuku was not someone who could not sway her beliefs.

“You two are somehow worse than Kohane and her lover from Kamiyama,” Shiho groaned at her, causing Airi to let out a lighthearted laugh.

“You would understand it one day once you grow older.”

“You are only a year older than me.”

Airi laughed, “A year makes a full difference.”

She should know. She quit being a knight a year ago, but the downward spiral of it still haunts her.

“I am quite curious,” Shiho began, and Airi stilled the dagger in her hand. “If you and onee-chan were ever to fight, who do you think would win?”

“Interesting question,” Airi crooned, her thoughts dancing around different scenarios of what Shiho just asked her. 

A fight with Shizuku? Despite knowing Shizuku throughout the years, Airi could not recall a time they had a big fallout with each other. There were the occasional major arguments that seldom lead to no contact expanding through days but it was not like the other did not apologize after a week or so, mostly it was she who approached the archer first but—

Airi whispered out strings of annoyed incoherence and put a free hand on her face, feeling her face slowly getting flushed at the realization.

“Shizuku would win,” grumbled Airi, looking away from Shiho. “I do not think I stand a chance against her.”

“Is that true?” Shiho’s overly surprised voice asked her. “I would think you would hold yourself in a higher regard than that.”

“Shizuku is everything good in the world,” sighed Airi before she looked at her dagger, remembering what transpired earlier. “She is skilled, brave, and incredibly loyal. She is more than persistent and hardworking. She is someone I aspire to be like. And she is,” Airi paused, her heart pounding within her chest once again, momentarily forgetting where she was.

“Breathtakingly dazzling,” she smiled and all of a sudden, a blade sharper than her dagger pierced her heart, imagining Shizuku’s smile, “She makes me feel many things that my feeble mind cannot possibly comprehend, with just a smile or a stretch of her bow.”

“I mean an actual fight, Momoi-san. A duel. With weapons. And you know, blood.”

She remembered that she was not alone. Looking at the person next to her, Shiho was wearing a gobsmacked expression, and she could not help the flush she feels rising on her neck as she wanted to internally slap herself for saying all of that in front of Shizuku’s younger sister.

She chuckled embarrassingly, “Ah, so that was what you mean.”

“You put our resident love poet to shame with that type of talk,” Shiho deadpanned, causing her to laugh disconcertingly. “What would you even do if you and onee-chan were forced into a duel together?”

Without hesitating, she replied, “Surrender.”

She heard a gagging sound later on.

“I have a feeling she would do the same,” it was a quiet murmur but Airi caught it, the words reverberating right through her, the thought of it spilling into the interstices of Airi’s heart.

A moment of silence inundated them, the crisp clashing of swords of knights training in the yard and the sharp twangs of strings of archers flinging their arrows were the only sounds accompanying them.

Airi enjoyed talking with Shiho. Somehow, talking with the archer’s younger sister brought about a profound sense of understanding between her and the blacksmith. They had a rocky relationship at the start, with Shiho suspecting Airi using Shizuku for her own gain (which Airi still could not comprehend why Shiho would think that), but they understood each other eventually, even if it did take some time. Airi even offered Shiho sword lessons but the latter refused, saying that she was more skilled with a mace.

“Whatever you do next,” Shiho broke the silence moments later and she felt the blacksmith shuffle next to her, likely standing up. “Just know that you can always receive a sword from my forge with a discount.”

Airi chuckled, “I shall keep that in mind.”

Airi watched as Shiho slowly walked away from her but some of the blacksmith’s words still rang in her ears, unable to decipher what they meant.

In whatever way you both decide.

What did Shiho mean by those words?

Shiho came to her — declaring Shizuku is no longer than the Toxophilite, requesting she tells the archer that Shiho would be all right if Shizuku is to leave, apprising Airi that she hopes to continue making Shizuku happy, in whatever way they both decide.

Airi put her dagger back in its sheath as she slumped against the bench, sighing in exhaustion.

She wanted to go to the healer’s quarters already, to see how Shizuku is doing and ask her why she did not tell her of the hefty decision she had to make by herself. Airi knew Shizuku made that decision as a long time coming result of what she had to endure. Shizuku suffered in silence, putting up appearances, as people’s expectations of her zoomed higher than the sparrows invading the skies. Airi understood it. She understands it all.

 Of course, Airi understands. She was treated all the same, just from a different lens.

The people they had to work with treated them terribly. Airi’s viewed her as a commodity they could sell off, ruining her dream, and Shizuku’s viewed her as inadequate, the thing she grew to love doing slowly fading. 

That was why Airi had to leave. To leave the people who hurt her. To start anew. To try and forget her dead dream.

Because even if it was short, even if it was taken away from her, Airi did love being a knight.

And she knew, that deep down, Shizuku loved being an archer.

But it did not make her happy anymore. Not when she’s here, surrounded by people who do not even appreciate her.

Which is why—

“Shiho!”

She stood up from the bench and ran towards Shiho’s retreating figure. She ran passed the knights who were training, hearing their complaints of distraction but she did not bring herself to care at that moment. Shiho looked over to her shoulder and she stopped, a confused expression on her face.

What the blacksmith earlier, it made sense now. Clarity came rushing right through her as the sun’s light shone on land, and for the first time in the longest time, she did not mind the sun’s rays shining on the edge of her vision.

As Airi panted, Shiho asked, “Momoi-san, what is it?”

“When will Shizuku be released from the healer’s quarters?”

“The healer said hopefully tomorrow before sundown,” answered Shiho before crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at her. “Why?”

With a deep breath, Airi asked, her voice strong, “How do you feel about Shizuku leaving Miyamasuzaka?”

Airi has never made a single impulsive decision in her life. All of them were confined by reason and proper deliberation, that much she can guarantee.

Except for now.

The door opened.

“Airi-chan?”

She stood up and released a breath that was clogging up her lungs. 

“Hi.”

Shizuku looked better than yesterday, Airi noted. The exhausted sheen in the archer’s eyes was long gone as the same lackluster gloom was more evident in them once more, the one Airi wanted to expel every time she gazes into them. Her fingers were fidgeting and she can feel her hands starting to feel clammy by the second.

“You look well.”

Shizuku looked at her confusedly, tilting her head.

“What are you doing in my quarters? I thought you would be on your way to Kamiyama by now,” Airi heard the hushed shake in Shizuku’s voice.

“I am,” she answered, looking away. “Tonight. So as to not cause a mess once I depart.”

“Oh,” the former Toxophilite exclaimed softly. “Good luck on your journey then. I wish you only safe travels.”

There was an uncomfortable pause that awashed over them. As much as Airi wanted to bring up the elephant in the room, she knew Shizuku would not want to talk about it right now. As for Airi, she did not know how to bring up this newly risen decision she had just made. She was still bridging what Shizuku’s reaction would be and she knew there was bound to be some resistance.

“I know what you are going to say to me,” Shizuku sighed. “About me being weak and a coward for quitting my position because of what other people said about me—”

“You are sorely mistaken if you think you are weak.”

“Airi…”

“You do not deserve to be disrespected the way those imbeciles did you,” she was surprised at how her voice dipped, gentle, knowing she still has a lot of pent-up anger towards those who wronged Shizuku. “It was courageous,” Shizuku did not look convinced. “I am very happy you got to walk away from it but…”

“I know you are still upset,”

Airi saw how crestfallen Shizuku became moments later after she uttered those words. She wanted nothing more but to expunge that sadness, rid it to the flames of wherever damned souls burn and suffer, and replace it with the bliss and contentment she so woefully deserves. Or, at least, the bliss and contentment Airi so woefully, so desperately wanted to give her. 

Despite it being an impulsive decision, it was an easy decision to make.

It was for Shizuku’s happiness after all.

And what she would do for Shizuku to smile widely and truly once again.

“That’s why I want you to come with me— No. Run away with me. To Kamiyama.”

Airi’s lips curled upwards as she took in Shizuku’s surprised face, the most obvious twitch of her eyebrows to her mouth hanging open at Airi’s sudden proposal. She approached the stunned archer, impotent to break eye contact with her. It was a small distance, barely even a meter, but each step rendered her heart to continue hammering in her chest. Frankly, she does not even know why she was surprised at this point.

“Why stop at Kamiyama?” Airi continued, “We could go far away, and venture into a world unknown, where no one can find us, where no monarch nor any type of hierarchy can dictate what we should do. We can live in the woods and we can build a cabin ourselves. It would be just us.”

She stopped right in front of her and slowly, she took both of Shizuku’s hands in her own, casting her gaze down at the bruised and scarred knuckles, caressing them with her thumb.

“Remember two summers ago, in one of my first jousts,” she paused, quailing at the memory. “It was one of my first losses. My opponent hit my shoulder rather harshly and I fell to the ground from my horse roughly. My hands were quite impacted. They were bruised.”

“I remember,” Airi heard the smile in Shizuku’s voice. “You said that if you cannot lift a lance with your hands, then you were not worthy of using a sword, not worthy of being a knight. You were angry at yourself.”

“I did,” chuckled Airi. “You got mad at me that night as well.” Airi sighed, her grip on Shizuku’s hands tightening, a reminder that she does not want to let her go, yet remained somehow gentle, to remind Shizuku that Airi was just there. 

“You said that my hands were pillars that guide and help you whenever you feel trouble,” Airi smiled. “That they were something that you rely on for support.”

“That they were something you want to hold whenever you feel sadness or fear washing over you,” Airi’s voice trembled and she was painfully aware of it.

“I remember,” Shizuku breathed. “I remember all of it.”

Airi smiled inwardly. Of course, Shizuku remembered.

Shizuku’s hands felt warm in her own. It always had. 

“You have always been my hero, Shizuku.”

Why did it take me so long to say it?

She shuddered. No, not the similar one she had to endure in that brumal cave and in that cold storm. It was different. It provided a warmth so familiar to her that it brought limitless illumination, much more than the star she loathed.

“I love your hands in mine.”

I love you.

“I want to keep holding them.”

I want to be with you, now until time chooses to end itself.

“If you allow me to.”

Please.

Frustratingly, slowly, maddeningly , torturously , Airi cast her eyes up, meeting Shizuku’s tearful gaze boring through her own. Swallowing a breath, Airi raised one of her hands to the former archer’s face, wiping a tear from Shizuku’s eye with her thumb, softly. She heard Shizuku release a ragged breath as she leaned her cheek into Airi’s hand, and Airi felt Shizuku melting to her touch.

“I want to,” Shizuku whispered, and Airi’s heart skipped a beat. “Believe me, my love, I truly want to. I want nothing more than to be with you and live a life outside of these walls.”

Shizuku sighed.

“But I do not want to leave Shii-chan behind.”

Airi knew Shiho was the most important person in Shizuku’s life. She knew Shizuku could not bear the thought of leaving the blacksmith behind. If only the archer was present the day before, to hear her little sister speak about her happiness with utmost selflessness. 

“Shiho gave us her blessing.”

Another surprised expression nestled on Shizuku’s face.

“She did?” Shizuku looked at her with expectant eyes, her tears shimmering from their corners, and Airi wanted nothing more but to wipe them away.

“She knows you are not happy here,” Airi caressed Shizuku’s face with her thumb. “I know you are not happy here,” Airi heaved a deep sigh. “I am not happy here.”

“Airi…”

The second time Shizuku addressed her without an honorific. Airi was supposed to feel thrilled, or at least, shaken by it. Instead, all she felt was disdain. Because of the anguish she caught in the crack of Shizuku’s voice.

“I am not forcing you to come with me,” Airi regretfully pulled her hand away from Shizuku’s face and let go of the one holding her hands. Shizuku merely stared at her with saddened eyes as Airi furthered their distance. “The last thing I would want is to cause any more suffering for you.”

Airi balled her hands into fists tightly before releasing them, followed by a quiet sigh, as if to express one last act of defiance before eventually surrendering. She looked up into Shizuku’s eyes again, her lips pursed into a straight line before their corners curled up ever so faintly, the gust of the wind in between them being their only link at that moment. Airi longed to move closer to her again, it was evident, she knew that much, but if Shizuku asked her to stay…

Who was she to say no?

“I will, however, wait for you.”

That will suffice, Airi thought.

“What?”

Another surprised expression.

“After dusk,” her voice trembled slightly. “I will be outside these walls, by the gate, carrying only my satchel.” 

“I will be there, waiting for you and if you choose not to come,” Airi paused and smiled widely at her, feeling her own tears well up in the corner of her eyes, her breath hitched and quivered as if this were her final farewell. 

“I would take immense pleasure and jubilation that I have known you in this life,” a beat passed. 

“For you have changed mine.”

The moon’s glorious form has taken over the night sky, accompanied by a blanket of stars to accompany it in its rule. It was quiet and the sparrows chirping were replaced by owls cooing from the trees that surrounded the walls of the kingdom. Airi liked the night sky better. It held a promise. A promise that another day would come to embrace her, to renew oneself, to begin again. 

That’s her current plan.

To begin again.

She promised Shizuku dusk yet she stayed for much longer, hoping. The sun was about to rise in a few hours and she felt like it was no use.

Airi watched as the candlelights lit from within the windows of the castles get put out, one by one, as the hours passed by. Her satchel contained few yet it laid heavy on her shoulders. She hummed noncommittedly as the brown horse accompanying her neighed quietly. She put her hand on the side of the horse’s face as she petted it, the animal relaxing into her touch.

“I know,” murmured Airi. “I know we have been waiting long.”

The horse nickered.

She sighed.

“You are right. She would not be coming with us, I am afraid.”

It was now or never.

“Perhaps it’s the time we leave.”

She gazed upon the walls and castle of Miyamasuzaka one final time before letting out a bitter smile. She closed her eyes tightly and she hopped on the horse, with much grace and poise. The saddle felt comfortable, much more comfortable than those she used in the damned jousts. Grabbing the bridle, she felt hesitant to whip it, as to move forward. She turned her head back to the kingdom and released a disgruntled sigh.

“Let’s go.”

They moved forward.

As the moonlight gleamed from the corner of her eye, she knew of one thing.

She would never look back anymore.

It was somewhat of a relief, however. There was that happiness that comes with leaving those that had pained you behind. No more people who look down on her, no more forcing her to do what she dislikes.

But still, she felt empty. 

No, not empty. Half of a whole . As if a part of her was missing. And what was worse is that she knew perfectly what it was. The only thing was she cannot do absolutely anything about it now. Not when she was walking away from it.

It did not matter.

The horse was taking slow walks, painfully slow walks, as if it knew it was still expecting someone else to follow them, to chase after them but Airi knew better. Airi looked back a bit, the view of the kingdom furthering ever so slightly with each step. She looked ahead again. 

She shook every waking thought of that person out of her head, knowing she cannot move forward if she continues to see that blinding smile, to endure that melodious laugh, to hear the intently unique sound of a bow when she was about to release another arrow to fly up into the target. 

But Airi heard it.

She heard it so clearly. Even if the loud night winds blew cold and the owls coo drowned the silence of the night, she heard that twang of string.

Someone was out to get her again. She groaned to herself when she realized that another archer was attacking her.

Her horse stopped abruptly as it neighed loudly, panicking at the sudden intrusion. Airi immediately tried to calm the animal down, and once she did, she craned her head to the side, to the ground. 

An arrow.

“I swear to every existing deity up there, I will murder whoever tries to shoot another arrow at me again!”

She scrambled to get off the horse. She bent down to pick it up, and her heart simmered in her chest once she realizes it was not just any arrow. 

It was the arrow of the Toxophilite of Miyamasuzaka.

“Airi-chan! Wait for me!”

Her voice.

It couldn’t be.

Airi stood up immediately, arrow tight and longing in her hand, and she turned her head to the direction of the kingdom she grew to loathe, a figure emerged from the horizon with a bow in her hand, rushing to her.

“Shizuku,” Airi breathed as she watched Shizuku close the distance between them.

Airi stood still, feeling as if her entire world came to a sudden and imploding halt as if there was nothing else coming tomorrow. Her heart beat tirelessly in her chest with every distance Shizuku closes. She came. She followed her. Shizuku followed her.

She was entranced.

“Hi.”

She did not realize Shizuku was in front of her, gleaming so brightly under the moonlight and the stars, overpowering their shine, dull in comparison compared to the archer standing before her.

“You came.”

Airi still could not believe it.

“I did.”

“Why?”

Shizuku giggled.

“Shii-chan managed to convince me.”

Of course, Airi remarked. She giggled quietly.

“But mostly,” Shizuku paused, biting her lower lip, trying to conceal a smile.

Airi felt the weight of every staggering second that had passed, waiting for Shizuku to continue, to help her calm whatever storm was raging storm inside of her.

“I want to be with you, Airi. I cannot bear the thought of not seeing you again.”

The third time without an honorific and this was the most she felt from it.

“I am so sorry for making you wait.”

Airi shook her head, smiling at the taller woman, some tears forming in the corners of her eye started to fall down freely.

“No,” breathed Airi. “You came just in time.”

She kept her gaze on the archer. Shizuku smiled at her. She felt momentarily shocked as she felt Shizuku’s hand settle on the other side of her cheek, the care and tenderness resonating from its gentleness.

And Airi.

Airi could not take it anymore.

She stood on her toes, cursed whatever gene made the archer this tall, and took delight in Shizuku’s bewildered response before her own eyes fluttered themselves shut and lips parted slightly. After such a long time of yearning, doubting, and running away, Shizuku’s lips met hers, her mind unfolding and wavering at the same time.

She feels Shizuku’s hand slipping to the back of her neck, gently tugging her closer. Airi pulled her head back to look at the other woman, who was breathing quietly and eyes slightly opened, only to connect their lips once more. She smiled in their kiss, and Airi felt the corner of Shizuku’s lips twitch upwards lightly.

Airi felt overwhelmed but strangely, she mostly felt at peace. She felt faint chasing right after her because this, this is something stripping her of her lucidity but at the same time, creating a plethora of feelings clear as the moon shining down at them, bearing witness.

Airi finally pulled back, watching Shizuku’s flutter open, looking down at her, with utmost adoration and admiration.

“I cannot wait to explore the world with you, Airi.”

Perhaps the day Shizuku hit her shoulder was fated, written in the stars, to allow them to take on a path of unknown struggles and keen victories because it would eventually lead them to this path of today, where they venture out together.

But if one must truly ask her,

Airi would not have it any other way.