scintilla | bl | jjk | ✓

3: just the way you are

3: just the way you are

Fifteen year old Toji grumbled under his breath as he sat in front of the table inside his room. Lunch had been served and as always, he ended up eating in his room.

Usually, Hyousuke would be barging in as soon as the food was served. However, today, that guy seemed to be a little late.

Ever since they met, this was the first time Hyousuke didn't arrive on time.

And it unnerved Toji a bit.

Bah, he thought before digging in. Who cares about that guy?

Upon sensing an incoming presence, Toji was about to throw his chopsticks at the trespasser but managed to pull back his arm in time when he realized that it was one of Hyousuke's men.

"What's up?"

"... Lord Hyousuke wanted to tell you that he would be busy for a while. He does not know when he will finish his business so Lord Hyousuke sent me to inform you."

"Go. I don't care what happens to that idiot."

In a blink of an eye, Hyousuke's servant disappeared, leaving Toji absentmindedly staring at his food.

... haven't I wanted him gone in the first place?

The breeze blew by, causing the leaves outside to rustle. Sunlight filtered in through the gaps of the curtain, shining down on the plate across the table.

Hadn't he been hoping for Hyousuke to leave since seven years ago? Now that he was gone, even if it was only temporary, shouldn't he be happy? Shouldn't he be treasuring this time?

It was just that... it somehow felt wrong without Hyousuke by his side.

.

.

"There's only three years left, Hyousuke."

"Father," Hyousuke below the raised podium where his father sat at the meeting hall. "I do not wish to force him."

"You must!" The Danuja Patriarch slammed his palm on the floor, causing a crack to travel from the point of contact to across the hall. "You are the inheritor of Foresight;  that child can afford to sacrifice himself for the greater good but you cannot. Already having wasted seven years, seven years, and you have yet to win over him!"

A jade cup flew in the air, hitting Hyousuke on the forehead. Blood dripped down from the wound, staining his white haori. But his expression remained the same, his ever present smile still painted his lips.

"If only your cousin inherited Foresight instead, I wouldn't have to deal with such disappointment!"

Hyousuke kept smiling.

Like he always have.

"I'm sorry for being a disappointment," said Hyousuke. "I will reflect at the ancestral hall."

"Go!" His father yelled. "Go and reflect!"

Hyousuke pushed himself off the floor, stumbling a few times due to the blow he received, and left the meeting hall with same damn smile.

The elders are getting impatient.

His father didn't use to be like that.

It was obvious someone was messing with his head.

The little lord had always known that the elders disdained him for not forcing his destined one back to the clan. He was unlike his cousins who did every mean to bring back theirs.