The Lying Cherry Tree

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: This is the System
(Third Person Point of View)

The Fall season was coming to an end, and the Kingdom of Vorona was preparing for the harsh winter season that is to come. If anything, the citizens were well and there was not much problem that is present at the moment, but King Tobio was anxious.

"What if I am not good enough to govern them? Am I a failure as a king?"

The breeze was gradually becoming colder, and King Tobio could feel it brush against his cheeks.

"The kingdom of Rasteniya adores Oikawa-senpai, and the kingdom of Orel looks up to Ushijima-san... But, what about me? I want to be able to reach the great potential they have achieved... Right now, indeed I am king, but at what cost?"

"I will be here!"

Hinata's voice sent King Tobio back to reality. He was wearing the usual sunshine smile that can clear even the most dangerous of storms.

"....Hinata?"

"I will be here, Kageyama! You do not have to be so afraid anymore. I will help you climb up to that potential, that you so desire! I will be there, with you, along the way!"

King Tobio grips Hinata's hands. They were warm. 

"I want to fly higher, will you be there too, flying alongside me? I want to be able to conquer mountains and reach greater heights, will you be there for me, shouting my name? And if my kingdom falls, will you be there to help me stand and rise up again?"

Hinata holds King Tobio's hands tighter.

"Whatever happens, you will have me."

Blush both crept to their faces. Both of them felt warm feelings inside their chests even though the wind was cold.

Do I like Kageyama??? Hinata asks himself. But that is not possible, right? The king has to marry a princess or a queen, and not some knight.

"H-Hinata... Your hands..."

Hinata realized that he had not yet let go of King Tobio's hands. He was still gripping them tightly.

The blush even stuck harder to Hinata's face.

"I-I- I am sorry! I need to get going now! Thank you and good-bye!"

"Hinata! Wait!"

Hinata ran. He was not sure of his feelings around King Tobio anymore, but even if he did like King Tobio, he will be ruining the system. Because he was a knight, and therefore, he and King Tobio cannot be together.

"Hinata!" Yamaguchi Tadashi, his fellow knight, greeted him while he was near the palace library, contemplating about his life decisions and having an existential crisis, with his face still blushing madly as hell.

"Yamaguchi!"

"Thank you for your hard work as always!"

"Happy Birthday!"

Yamaguchi blinks. "Hinata... Are you okay?"

"Thank you!"

Yamaguchi shakes his head. Hinata was obviously not okay. "What happened? Tell me?"

Hinata covers his face. "W-well, what if you like someone but you cannot do something about it because it is against the system?"

"Well..."  Yamaguchi was at a loss of words. He did not expect these kinds of problems from Hinata of all people. "In my honest opinion, if you cannot beat the system, you just have to let go. What if they do not like you back? As you have said, it is against the system right? They cannot like you back."