Lunch was waiting by the time Akane and I stepped into the dining hall. The smell of grilled meat and fresh bread should've been comforting, but the way my chest was still tight, the heat still burning along my skin, it was hard to focus on anything but the memory of her lips on mine.

I'd never thought of Akane like that since I came back—or maybe I had and just buried it deep—but now, walking beside her, I couldn't look at her without seeing it. The sharpness of her eyes when she pinned me. The warmth of her mouth. The way her body felt pressed against mine.

And from the quick, darting glances she kept stealing at me, I knew I wasn't the only one replaying it in my head.

Unfortunately, Mei noticed.

Of course Mei noticed.

The second we sat down, she squinted at us both like a cat watching prey, then leaned across the table with a slow, wicked grin. "Well, well. You two are awfully red in the face. Training, was it?"

Akane stiffened, straightening her back like she'd just been accused of treason. "That's exactly what it was."

"Mm-hmm." Mei tapped her chin, studying me next. "And Ren, you look like you've been through… something. Can't quite put my finger on it. Tell me, did she beat you into the ground again, or did something else happen?"

My fork nearly slipped out of my hand. "It was training," I muttered quickly, avoiding both her eyes and Akane's.

Mei gasped theatrically, clapping a hand over her mouth. "Oh my god, don't tell me you grabbed her somewhere soft!"

I choked on air. "What—?! No!"

Akane's fist hit the table hard enough to rattle the plates. "Absolutely not!"

The rest of the table went quiet, every head turning toward us. Rin's ears perked high, her tail flicking curiously. Elira arched an elegant brow. Even Sora, sweet quiet Sora, looked between us like she wasn't sure if she should intervene.

Mei leaned back, smug, twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers. "Ooooh, I hit a nerve, didn't I? That denial was way too sharp. Which means…" She pointed accusingly at me, grinning ear to ear. "You did touch her, didn't you? Somewhere you shouldn't."

"Mei!" Akane snapped, her face going crimson.

I buried my face in my hands. "For the last time, no!"

Mei tilted her head innocently. "Her behind, then? I bet you did. Akane, I can see it written all over your face. He grabbed you, didn't he?"

Akane looked two seconds from strangling her. "If you don't shut up, I'll—"

"—what? Prove me right?" Mei leaned even closer, her grin impossibly wide now. "Come on, Ren, just admit it. You copped a feel. Don't be shy, we're all family here."

"I didn't!" I slammed my hand against the table in frustration, but that only made Mei's grin grow wider.

"Then what did happen?" she purred, drawing out the question. "You've both got that look—you know the one. All awkward, avoiding each other's eyes, cheeks flushed. Something definitely happened. And if it wasn't you groping her, then…" She gasped again, louder this time, nearly bouncing in her seat. "Wait. Did she grope you?!"

I nearly fell out of my chair. "What the hell, Mei?!"

The table erupted—Rin squeaked into her hands, Elira sighed but couldn't hide the smirk tugging at her lips, and Sora looked so mortified she nearly dropped her spoon. Akane looked like she was about to ignite on the spot.

Mei, though, just sat back, smug as ever, clearly enjoying every bit of the chaos she was stirring. "I'll figure it out eventually," she sang in a teasing voice. "You can't hide it from me. Something happened out there."

Akane glared daggers at her, but said nothing. I kept my head down, desperately trying to focus on my plate, praying the heat in my face would fade.

But the truth was, Mei was right. Something had happened.

Just not the thing she thought.

And that secret sat heavy between Akane and me, every stolen glance across the table making it harder to pretend nothing had changed.

---

I had barely managed to get halfway through my food when Ayame set down her fork with a sharp clink, pushed her chair back, and stood. Her movements were so precise that the scrape of the chair legs against the floor sounded more like a declaration than a noise.

"It's time," she said firmly, her gaze fixed on Rin.

Rin blinked mid-bite, her ears twitching as she looked up, confused. "Time? Time for wha—"

Then realization hit her. She slumped forward with a groan, nearly smacking her forehead against the table. "Ugh. That."

The room stirred immediately, like she had just spoken the name of some ancient curse. Mei leaned back in her chair, her grin spreading like wildfire. "Finally," she said, stretching out the word like she had been waiting all day. "I thought we'd never get around to it."

Elira, elegant as ever, gave a single nod, her expression calm but her eyes betraying a flicker of interest. "I suppose it is the appointed time. Rin, we did say you would rise to the challenge."

"I didn't agree to a time," Rin shot back, tail flicking with irritation. "You just assumed I'd—"

"You did agree," Mei cut in, voice sweet but sharp, like a blade wrapped in silk. "You're just pretending you forgot because you're scared."

"I'm not scared!" Rin barked, ears flattening against her head.

"Then prove it." Mei's grin widened.

The air thickened as the table split in two—Elira and Mei siding with Rin, their support clear and unwavering, while Akane crossed her arms and leaned back, her nod landing firmly behind Ayame. Sora, though she fidgeted nervously, added her quiet voice too. "Ayame will win. It's written in stone."

"Of course she will," Akane agreed.

Just like that, lines were drawn. Rin versus Ayame. Mei and Elira against Akane and Sora.

And me?

I just sat there, blinking between them all, my fork frozen halfway to my mouth. "Uh… time for what exactly?"

No one answered me.

They were too busy arguing over rules, terms, and whatever this supposed event was. Mei was throwing her hands up dramatically, Elira was sighing at everyone's lack of decorum, and Rin and Ayame were glaring at each other so intensely I half-expected the table to burst into flames.

Finally, Mei slammed her palm against the table, nearly toppling her cup. "Fine. Enough stalling." She rose to her feet, eyes glittering. Then, with a dramatic sweep of her arm, she declared:

"Sunshade Duel!"

The words rang in the air like some kind of festival announcement.

I blinked at her. "…Sun… what now?"

Elira pinched the bridge of her nose. "Do you truly have to name it that?" she asked, her regal tone laced with exasperation.

"What? It's catchy," Mei protested. "It sounds important. Sunshade Duel!"

"No," Elira said flatly.

"Yes," Mei shot back immediately.

While the two of them bickered about branding, I sat there in complete bafflement. Rin was now standing, squaring her shoulders as if bracing herself, while Ayame simply adjusted her gloves like this was the most natural thing in the world.

"Seriously," I tried again, looking between them. "What are we even talking about? What duel? What shade? Why are we suddenly naming things like this is a sporting event?"

No one answered me.

Instead, they were all already heading outside.

I scrambled up, abandoning my plate, and followed.

The walk across the compound only deepened my confusion. The place didn't look the same as I remembered it. Some of the courtyards had new stonework, some buildings I swore hadn't been there before, and the entire stretch felt… bigger, somehow. Like the mansion itself had been growing in my absence.

"Has this always been here?" I muttered under my breath.

No one bothered to explain.

Finally, we passed through a small wooden gate and entered a fenced-off area I'd never seen before.

It wasn't much at first glance—an arena-shaped space, the ground packed dirt, ringed with sturdy posts and a low fence. But the moment we stepped inside, I could feel it. The faint thrum of enchantments woven into the space, buzzing just beneath my skin like static. The air was heavier here, denser. This wasn't just a backyard training pit.

This was Ayame's domain.

She strode straight to the center, Rin matching her step for step until they stood facing each other in the middle of the ring.

The rest of us spread out along the fence line, like spectators at a match I didn't even know I'd signed up to attend.

I leaned in toward Sora, lowering my voice. "What is going on?"

She didn't look at me, her wide eyes locked on the two women in the ring. "They're about to duel," she whispered.

"…Duel," I repeated dumbly.

She nodded. "Ayame and Rin. It's… kind of a thing. They've been circling each other for weeks. Rin wants to prove herself. Ayame won't back down. So… this."

I blinked, staring at the two of them across the arena. Ayame, the ever-disciplined swordswoman, calm and poised. Rin, tail swishing, ears tilted forward, her stance tense but defiant.

A duel.

Just when I thought this place couldn't surprise me anymore.

And yet, somehow, I got the feeling I was about to see something I'd never forget.

---

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