Shards of War: Eclipsian Secrets

Chapter 29

The morning sun filtered through the windows of Matsu's home in Eclipse City, casting a warm glow over the dining table where he sat with his sisters, Yumiko, Iyomei, and Kamenei. The usual morning routine was underway—breakfast was served, and the sisters were engaged in their usual banter.

Matsu, still dressed in his comfortable pajamas, was enjoying a rare peaceful moment. His sisters were discussing their plans for the day, with Iyomei teasing Yumiko about her tendency to overpack for even the shortest trips. Matsu, meanwhile, was enjoying his breakfast, only half-listening, when his phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at it casually, but the moment he saw the notification from the first checkpoint to Eclipse City, his calm demeanor shattered.

The message was simple, but it was enough to make Matsu choke on his food.

"Calie, Marie, and Yuki approaching Eclipse City. ETA: 30 minutes."

He coughed violently, startling his sisters. Iyomei immediately reached out, concern etched on her face. "Matsu! Are you okay?"

Kamenei, ever the sharp one, noticed the sudden alarm in his expression and asked, "What's wrong?"

Matsu finally managed to swallow the food, albeit with great difficulty, and blurted out, "Calie and Marie are coming!"

Yumiko, who had been halfway through a bite of toast, paused, her eyes widening in surprise. "Wait, what? They're here already?"

Matsu shot up from his chair, nearly knocking it over in his haste. "Yeah! And Yuki's with them!" His voice was filled with both excitement and a hint of panic as he bolted toward his room. "I've gotta look good!"

His sisters exchanged amused glances, watching their normally composed brother spiral into a frenzy. Yumiko called after him, "Matsu, calm down! It's been what, three days? Four max since you left Ironhaven? They said they'd be visiting soon, remember?"

Matsu's voice came back, slightly muffled as he rummaged through his wardrobe. "Yeah, but... Yuki's coming with them! She's going to be judgmental as hell since I'm supposed to be a leader here in Eclipsia!"

Kamenei couldn't help but laugh. "Yuki's not that bad. She's probably just coming to see how you're doing. Besides, do you really think she'll care that much about what you're wearing?"

But Matsu wasn't hearing it. He was in full-on panic mode, pulling out various outfits and discarding them as quickly as he found them. "It's not just about the clothes! It's about the whole appearance! I've got to make a good impression!"

Iyomei, who had always been the more pragmatic of the three, got up from the table and walked over to his room. "Matsu, seriously, they're not coming here to judge you. They're coming because they care about you. Just be yourself."

Matsu paused, holding a button-up shirt in one hand and a pair of slacks in the other. He looked at Iyomei, his expression softening slightly. "You think so?"

Iyomei smiled reassuringly. "I know so. Calie and Marie wouldn't care if you met them in your pajamas. And as for Yuki, she might be a bit sharp-tongued, but she respects you. Just don't try too hard."

Matsu exhaled, his shoulders relaxing a bit. "You're right. I'm probably overthinking this." He glanced down at his pajamas, then back at his wardrobe. "Maybe I'll just go with something casual. Comfortable, but not too sloppy."

"Good call," Kamenei called out from the dining room, still clearly amused. "You don't need to impress them with clothes. They already know you're a good leader."

Yumiko chimed in as well, "And hey, if you need a little extra help, we can always give you a quick touch-up before they get here. You know, make sure you're looking sharp but not like you tried too hard."