After some time Mizuki get courage to ask ks.
Mizuki stand and
Mizuki looked toward KS with visible worry in her eyes.
"…KS."
"Why haven't you come to school for the last few days?"
KS stopped for a moment.
Then smiled casually.
"I was just trying to spend some quality time with myself…"
A small pause followed.
"…and Dragoon."
Inside his mind, Dragoon smiled slightly but stayed silent.
An awkward silence filled the room for a few seconds.
Then KS suddenly spoke again.
"I'm going downstairs to prepare snacks."
"You can wait in my room until then."
Mizuki nodded lightly.
"…Alright."
She slowly walked upstairs toward KS's room.
Meanwhile
KS unconsciously smiled a little while watching her leave.
Even he didn't notice it himself.
Downstairs, KS poured juice into two glasses and placed snacks onto plates.
All of the snacks
were actually the ones Mizuki brought for him earlier.
A few minutes later
KS entered the room carrying the snacks.
He placed them on the desk and sat beside her.
"So…"
"What's happening at school these days?"
Mizuki shrugged slightly.
"Nothing special."
"The classes are still boring."
KS laughed faintly.
"…Sounds normal."
After a short pause, Mizuki suddenly asked:
"By the way…"
"Do you really live alone here?"
KS leaned back slightly.
"…Yeah."
"Mostly."
Then he looked toward her.
"What about you, Mizuki?"
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"My mother died from cancer when I was seven."
"My father is almost always outside the country because of work."
A small pause followed.
"He only comes home once a year."
Her smile became weaker.
"So…"
"I basically live alone too."
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Ks thought in his mind
" How can see stay so much postive after all these things , she live in different universe tham me."
Not awkward this time.
Just quiet.
Like both of them understood each other without saying much more.
While talking, Mizuki accidentally spilled a little juice onto her shirt.
"…Ah."
"Sorry."
"Can you pass me a tissue?"
KS nodded.
"Yeah."
He handed her one casually.
Mizuki cleaned the stain quickly.
Then leaned slightly to throw the tissue into the dustbin nearby.
But the moment she looked inside
her eyes widened slightly.
The dustbin was filled with blood-covered tissues.
Empty painkiller packets.
Medicine wrappers.
Sleeping pills .
For a moment
she froze.
Her eyes slowly moved toward KS.
But she didn't ask anything.
Didn't pressure him.
Didn't force concern onto him.
Instead
she quietly threw her tissue away and stood up slowly.
"…Okay."
"I should probably leave now."
"I still have work to do at home."
KS looked at her quietly.
"…Alright."
Mizuki picked her bag and start to leaving.
Ks suddenly added:
"Mizuki…"
Mizuki turn towards him
"If you ever want to meet me…"
A small pause
"…you can come here anytime."
Mizuki smiled softly.
"…Thanks for you offer "
Then she quietly left the room.
On the way home
As Mizuki slowly walked through the streets during sun set.
she finally spoke inside her mind.
"…Aqualith."
"Do you know what's wrong with him?"
The giant turtle answered calmly.
"…I do."
Mizuki immediately looked hopeful.
"Then tell me."
But Aqualith's voice remained calm.
"I cannot."
"He gave me order ."
A flash of memory crossed Mizuki's mind.
Back when Aqualith first appeared after the battle
KS had forced order to Aqualith not to reveal anything about his condition with Mizuki.
Back in the present
Mizuki frowned slightly.
"Come on…"
"Please tell me.
This is question about his life "
Aqualith answered softly:
"I am sorry."
"But I cannot break the Dragon Warrior's order.
Meanwhile...
Back at the mansion
KS sat quietly at his desk.
Lost in thought.
Dragoon's voice echoed inside his mind.
"What are you thinking about now?"
KS stared silently toward the ring resting on his table.
Then answered quietly:
"…I was just thinking…"
"She's just like my mom ."
Dragoon stayed silent.
Listening carefully.
KS smiled faintly.
"She always stays positive no matter what happens."
"She treats everyone equally."
"And somehow…"
"…she still cares about me."
A small pause followed.
"Even after the way I treated her in the past."
The next morning.
KS stood in front of the mirror while getting ready for school.
For the first time in days
his body felt somewhat stable again.
Not fully recovered.
But capable to fight.
While adjusting his uniform, KS breath out quietly.
I just hope nobody causes headache at school today…
Inside his mind, Dragoon immediately laughed.
"Oh really, KS?"
"That sounds impossible."
KS ignored him and grabbed his bag.
Then quietly left the mansion.
On the way to school
he suddenly noticed someone familiar
voice from back .
Tejas.
Tejas looked toward him and smirked slightly.
"Long time no see, KS."
KS laughed faintly.
"Come on."
"It's only been three days."
Tejas placed his hands in his pockets.
"Maybe for you."
A small pause followed.
"But for me, it felt longer."
KS looked at him for a second.
Then smiled slightly.
"…Yeah."
After walking quietly for a while
Tejas suddenly smirked again.
"Though honestly…"
"I beat you so badly that you needed three whole days of rest."
KS laughed softly.
"If it helps to satisfy your ego…"
"…then sure, you're right."
Tejas shook his head while smiling.
"You seriously never gonna change."
KS smirked slightly.
"And also you not going to change ."
After some time
both of them finally reached the school gate.
Mizuki was already standing there waiting quietly.
Tejas casually greeted her first.
"Morning, Mizuki."
Mizuki nodded lightly.
"Good morning."
Then her eyes briefly shifted toward KS.
But this time
she didn't say anything to him.
KS noticed it immediately.
But stayed silent.
The three of them entered the school together.
The day passed normally.
Classes.
Practice.
Teachers talking endlessly.
Nothing unusual happened.
But even during the normal routine
KS noticed something strange.
Mizuki barely talked to him the entire day.
And for some reason
that silence bothered him more than he expected.
After school ended
Ks started to walk back to home quietly.
Then suddenly, Tejas come from back .
His expression became unusually serious.
"We need an emergency meeting."
KS frowned slightly.
"What happened?"
But Tejas only looked toward KS calmly.
"Get to the base as soon as possible."
And without saying anything else
he started walking ahead.
Chapter end