𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚 | 𝐓𝐨𝐣𝐢 𝐅𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐨

- Chapter 26 -

It has been a month since this training where they had yelled at each other, and tensions between Helia and Toji haven't cooled down.

The training sessions continue, but there's a certain distance between the two of them that wasn't there before.

Toji appears more distant, his interactions with her limited to giving commands and criticizing her technique.

As the day of the annual party approaches, the atmosphere within the Zenin clan is brimming with anticipation.

The occasion marks the birthday of the head of the clan, Naobito, and the entire clan is preparing to celebrate the event with their leader.

Over the last week, Helia has been working tirelessly preparing for the upcoming party.

Alongside other maids, her duties have been numerous, from cleaning and decorating the venue to preparing food and making sure everything is in order for the big event.

As a maid, Helia will be attending the party, but her role will be that of attendant, there to assist and ensure the festivities run smoothly.

Wearing the same dress as the other maids, she'll be expected to wait on the guests and cater to their needs as necessary.

But attending the party, even in a working capacity, will offer her the opportunity to be a part of the occasion.

She'll have the chance to see all the influential figures from the Zenin clan and the sorcerer world as a whole gathered together, creating a unique experience

As the night descends, she retires to her room, the excitement of the upcoming party fueling her anticipation. She lies down on her bed, her mind filled with eager anticipation for the next day.

[...]

The day of the party has arrived, and the atmosphere within the clan's compound is electric with excitement. The entire place is bustling with activity as final preparations are made for the grand occasion.

The maids, Helia included, have all received their identical dress for the party. Once they finish their duties in the morning, they'll have the opportunity to change into their attire in the afternoon.

[...]

After completing her tasks for the day, Helia follows Anna into her room, eager to see the dress that has been prepared for them.

They went to Anna's room because it was closer to them, and they couldn't hold back their excitement any longer.

As they enter the room, their eyes fall on the outfit spread out on the bed. It's a beautiful dress, carefully designed specifically for the maidens of the party.

"It's beautiful!" Helia exclaims.

They admire the dress more closely, and they notice its sophisticated design. It's primarily black, a color that exudes mystery and elegance.

The dress also features an open back, that will reveal a significant portion of their back.

A thought flickers through Helia's mind as she continues to admire the dress-the open back will leave a significant portion of her scarred back exposed.

Concern wells up within her, reminding her of the scars that are on her skin and the potential attention they might draw at the party.

But all the maids are expected to wear this specific outfit for the party, leaving her with no choice but to wear the dress, scars and all.

The thought of having her scars exposed makes her feel uncomfortable.

She extracted from her thoughts with the sound of the head maid's voice resonating through the corridors, summoning all the maids to the common room.