The Floating World

Three.

Yet another day at the royal library, Hirate had her palm on her face, slouching with her left elbow on the table. She's learning about clans in Keyaki kingdom, there are only two clans, Kanji and Hiragana. The royal family is from Kanji while the princess, the King's only sister, is in Hiragana ever since she married Lord Kosaka. Hirate learnt that both clans had a long history, even though they still belong to one kingdom their opinion differs.

The hiragana clan doesn't believe in the merge instead, they wanted their king to reclaim the lands as Keyaki. Hirate thought those people were impractical since the king had to rule the size of three kingdoms, it's going to be a hassle and this means going to war, an idea which she detests.

Throughout Hirate's schedules there were times where she gets some time off for self-study in her room, she would always get her trusty guard Ozeki Rika to cover her as she sneaks out of the palace for a breather. Today was no exception, Hirate had managed to slip out of the palace now heading towards the streets with a task to complete. She had promised the old granny two days ago that she would come by to help her in her mochi store.

"Granny I'm here! Should I help you with this?"

"Oh Techi, it's fine! The boys did a great job and they've managed to produce 500 mochi balls today! We have extras and you should have some"

"It's okay granny, you should be selling them off for profit", Hirate rejected politely but a bag of mochi balls was presented in front of her instead.

"Take itchild, you have been helping me with the store ever since I've sprained my back and even on those days when you couldn't appear you've specially instructed these kids here to help."

Techi had no choice but to accept granny's gift, she was about to pay the homeless boys in coins when they rejected her. "Neechan, you don't have to pay us today. We came here on our record to help and granny had kindly given us some mochi balls to snack on." Techi nodded silently while she scratched her nape, confused yet happy that the boys were kind.

With that Hirate found herself venturing through the streets hoping to find someone she knows to share the bag of mochi balls with.

"Yurina sama?!", Hirate shrieked at the endearment and had one of her hands covering the mouth of the girl

"Call me Techi, no one knows my identity here"

"And why are you even here Sugai, aren't you supposed to be practising for the upcoming polo match against hiragana?", Hirate questioned the girl. Sugai Yuuka, the daughter of the highest-ranking official in the Kanji clan, well known for being an equine trainer. Techi knew her since she was introduced to her by general Nagahama who had instructed her to be Techi's personal riding instructor. "I'm here to speculate a performance at the r-"

"E-eh? There will be a horse performance in town?!"

"No you idiot, I'm here to watch the girl perform at the restaurant. Do you want to join me? " Sugai offered with a smile which Techi agreed, she had no reasons to reject anyway since she was curious about the girl Sugai had mentioned earlier.

....

Sugai had made reservations two weeks in advance to get the best views for the performance, with that she's hopeful that this time she would be able to impress the girl of her dreams.

"Yuuka what is this all about? Why the place filled with ojisans and you know I am not supposed to drink, wh- ughh"

With that, a huge piece of drumstick was shoved into Techi's mouth. "Shut it Techi, if I knew you will this noisy I wouldn't have ask you along"

Hirate was about to protest when a lady in blue yutaka and a biwa (a traditional musical instrument) appeared on the terrace. The crowd cheered as the bishojo sat in the middle on a wooden stool with her legs crossed. "Wooooo~ yay! It's really her!!"

As soon as the lady held her bachi (part of a biwa equipment that works like a guitar pick), the cheering stops, a string of unpleasant notes were echoed through the restaurant, it sounded like a mixture of loose strings vibrating on a wooden plank but with every strum the bishojo made it creates an unusual tension. Having her eyes closed the entire time, Hirate had allowed her to fall deeply in the dissonance. The tension began to rise when the strums became aggressive and it felt like a never-ending battle. In an instant, the bachi hit the thinnest string of the biwa absurdly breaking the mood, Hirate looked up and observed the bishojo as the crowd continued to clap, she knew that it wasn't the end of the performance but the audiences were ignorant. "Yuuka" The girl elbowed her friend on her ribs, "She's looking at you."

"What's wrong?" A concern was raised when Techi saw her friend flinch, Yuuka has always been the most attentive person. She had noticed every mistake Techi made when she taught her how to ride a horse even though Techi was faking it.

"No nothing, nevermind..."

"You know Yuuka, I have never seen you this starstruck before and I could tell there is something going on between you and her. She seems troubled and I could feel it from her performance."

"It's impossible Techi, me and Akanen are from two different worlds. She's always out in the woods, free while I'm stuck here in this town with responsibilities, I don't want to hold her back. I don't want to be selfish."

"If I am one of the responsibilities, go ahead and spend time with her.", Techi smiled as she pats Sugai on her shoulder. Techi knows how hard it is for Yuuka to be the next in line as the leader of the Kanji clan and instead of wasting her time on useless horse riding lessons which Techi is already good at, she should be spending it with the Akanen.

"I can't disobey"

"It's an order from me to you", Hirate said sternly and lets out a laugh after seeing how her friend's expression changed.

"E-ehhh?! Are you sure we can do it without general Nagahama notice?"

"Mhmm, I was supposed to be in my room studying but I'm here now witnessing something spectacular. Don't tell me you are that timid, even for love?", Hirate giggled.

"I..."

"Don't worry about me! Go ahead and make up with her and don't let this affect your game tomorrow! Oh and I'll be taking this with me."Techi gave Yuuka a playful wink before grabbing a bottle of sake as she took her to leave to allow her friend to spend time with the girl she likes.

What should I do now? She's still mad at me for giving up on the love we shared. Techi's right I was too timid...Yuuka you BAKA!

Without having second thoughts, Yuuka stood up and sprinted to the back alley hoping to catch up with the girl.

A/N: Just a short update ;A;