Empire 《Mikayuu/YuuMika》

⥈ Chapter Ten ⥈

"Today, instead of practicing by oneself, we will all practice together," Shinya Hiragi, a knight of enormous riches and nobility, announced with the same, enthusiastic smile he gave every day.

Shinya Hiragi was not a detestable person in the slightest. He often lit up the otherwise boring and tedious training sessions. Yuuichirou had once heard from Yoichi, a fellow knight he would consider a friend, that Guren had before instigated the once nonexistent training sessions as an order from the Queen of Sanguinem. It was a result from the recent war that had brung about many casualties, and she believed it could be avoided in the future if the knights would all practice together every day. Guren obeyed. The practices were dull, monotonous, and much too strenuous for new recruits. Shinya assumed the position of initiating the practices, and since then, more men had shown their faces in the grassy field in which the practices were held.

Yuuichirou found Shinya pleasant. He was neither scintillating nor punctual most of the time, but he placed his prowesses elsewhere. He possessed a superlative enthusiasm and the ability to bring everyone together and work as a team. Yuuichirou found that trait interesting at times, even when Shinya made him and the tree trunk he detested work alongside each other in previous practices.

"I will arrange all of you into pairs," Shinya continued. "Those pairs will oppose each other in jousting matches."

A mixture of groans and cheers erupted from the other knights before Shinya began to choose partners.

Yuuichirou felt dread in the pit of his stomach. He hoped with a great intensity that he would be paired with Yoichi, as he felt comfortable with the other male. On the other hand, if he was paired with the tree trunk, he could win against him and wipe that condescending smirk off his face.

As he suspected, he was paired with Kimizuki. Shinya seemed to had set a goal in his mind to have the two of them cooperate with each other without arguing or fighting in any sort. Yuuichirou was not too fond of that goal if the older knight indeed aimed for it.

Watching the other knights was interesting for the most part, but Yuuichirou was more focused on how the winner of each match had maintained form and held their lances. He could taste the victory and see the scornful frown of the bespectacled male already.

He felt confident as he climbed on Asuramaru's back, equipping his lance and preparing for battle. Kimizuki glanced over at him and eyed his weak spots as he adjusted his form, nodding at Shinya to notify him that he was ready.

"Both of you are ready?"

They nodded.

"Begin!"

The two snapped their reins, and the horses began to gallop toward one another. Yuuichirou felt wind from his speed rustle through his untamed hair as he straightened himself and locked his form. Before Yuuichirou acknowledged it, he was flying through the air, and he landed on his rear on the grassy mound.

Kimizuki laughed victoriously at the boy he had shamed as he turned on his horse. Fortunately, for now, he was not going to rub it in. The green-eyed male glared at the retreating tree trunk as he stood, wiping the grass off his rear end and composing himself.

"Are you all right, Yuu-san?" Yoichi asked him.

"Well, my dignity might be slightly bruised, but I believe I am not injured," was his response.