Maharlika Mahika // undergoing editing

Act VI

Kageyama's POV

I hate myself.

I hate myself for not listening to her. I hate myself for not trusting her. I hate myself for endangering the both of us because I didn't trust her.

I hate myself for putting us in this situation.

For the first time in my life, I hated how I was such an idiot.

Time slowly passes by in the safe room, making half an hour seem like an eternity. The doors are programmed to lock in people during the dispute. The doors open after half an hour.

The agonizing wait put the Mahika to sleep, as she engaged in a deep slumber in my arms.

I never knew she had this kind of side. The side wherein she had a fear. For a girl with a ferocious aura, this seemed nearly impossible.

She stirred, mumbled incoherent words and fell silent once more.

Then, the doors slammed open.

"Oi, wake up." I said, shaking her awake.

Her eyelids fluttered, and slowly opened, revealing the hazel of her contact lenses that mask the iridescence of her violet eyes.

She stood up almost immediately, and I followed, and we went out of the safe room, eyes never meeting.

The base was reduced to rubble, a few soldiers were lying on the floor in a cold, lifeless state as they tried to defend the base against Aoba Johsai. I looked at them with eyes full of pity, pity for their families left behind, and pity for their short-lived lives that served Karasuno to their full extent.

Then, I saw the blur of a turquoise and white uniform.

A soldier of the Aoba Johsai Military Regiment, pointing his rifle at the two of us.

"There's no escape. Surrender, and I shall spare you." he said.

He was a raven-haired man with a menacing stare. I recognized him from the past war. One of the best soldiers of the Military.

Colonel Kindaichi Yuutarou.

"Hold my hand." the Mahika suddenly whispered.

Hesitantly, I did so. I had to trust her, we may be cold corpses once I follow my own will and refuse to trust her.

Tumakas(1), I heard her mumble.

I heard the fire of the rifle and a snap of a finger. On instinct, I closed my eyes, preparing for the cool metal of the bullet to pierce my skin.

But none came.

Instead, the cold liquid precipitate showered over me, the moment I opened my eyes.

"We should find shelter. The rain isn't going to stop anytime soon." I suggested.

We walked, in the pouring rain, in the choking darkness, to shelter. The pitter-patter of the rain against the pavement filled the silence between us.

At last, we found a small house, its porch light lit up, as if it was waiting for us and welcoming us to stay. I managed a small smile, and knocked on the door, half-hoping that someone would open the door and welcome us into his/her humble abode.

"Good even— Your Highness?!" an auburn-haired woman with grey eyes greeted, surprise evident in her expression.

She ushered us in, and instructed us to sit in front of the fireplace to dry ourselves.

"You two are soaked to the bone! I'll get some towels for you, wait here." said the woman and disappeared to the second floor.

The warmth of the fireplace comforted me, as it dried up my soaked being. I look over to her, and saw her, her being seemed to be lost in thought.

The woman came back with fresh towels, and gave them to the two of us.

"Thank you." I heard Jiyuu mumble, and proceeded to dry herself silently.

The woman smiled, a sweet smile.

"My name is Kendou Mirai, by the way. If you need me, just call. I leave you two alone." she said and went on her way.

I turn to Jiyuu once more, and found her asleep, as she lay her head on the carpet, the comfort of the fireplace soothing her as she fell asleep.

I was pushed to the brink of insomnia, by various thoughts.

How can I save Karasuno? What will I do? How can I ensure the safety of my people?

I tried not to succumb to the temptation of insomnia, but, I saw the the sunrise outside the window.
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"Hey, you're holding the knife wrong!" Jiyuu chided.

Currently, we're helping Kendou Mirai make breakfast. And apparently, I do not have sufficient knowledge about cooking.

She took my hand, and guided my fingers to hold to knife properly. She then guided my hand to cut the bell peppers to use for the omelettes.

"Now you cut them yourself." she said, and went to her own workplace to mix the batter for the pancakes.

I cut the peppers like the way she taught me to. Everything went smooth, until—

"Ah!" I yelled, and let go of the knife.

The blood trickled down the cut of my finger, drops falling to stain the ivory of the kitchen tiles.

"What happened?" Jiyuu said, and saw the cut on my finger.

She sighed, and pulled me to the kitchen sink. She cleaned the wound gently, and put a bandage on the cut.

"Be careful, King." she said, cut the rest of the peppers in a blink of an eye.

There are some things I couldn't do, and cooking is one of them.
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Breakfast with the Kendou family was great. Aside from the food, the five-membered family was fun to be with, and they gave off a welcoming aura like Mirai, the mother of the family.

"Your Highness, is Jiyuu your fiancée?" asked Gōshi, the father.

I looked at him, surprised, and blurted out my answer.

"Never in a million years I would make her my fiancée!" I yelled.

The triplets, Hana, Yuko and Kida, laughed at my sudden declaration.

"And I would rather die than become his wife!" Jiyuu shouted.

The Kendous laughed at our statements, and we continued to dine with them, knowing the family that welcomed us more.

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Jiyuu's POV

"Oi, King."

The King turned to me, his normal scowl plastered on his face.

I remembered him saying that I didn't have to be scared. I remembered him saying that he was there with me.

I remembered the warmth of his embrace.

I looked at him, eyes making contact with his, and said two words.

"Thank you."

And, I thought I saw him smile.
••••••••••••

Author's Translation

Tumakas(1)- Filipino, means "flee"

Author's note

OH. MY. GOSH.

WE HAVE DONE IT.

WE HAVE NAILED 100 READS IN 5 DAYS.

thank you so much!!! I never would have achieved this without you.

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