Sighing, Airi complained. "I'll never get used to this..."
He looked at the others and they seem to be very well at handling these kinds of stuff. They were also very good at dancing, and other formal things, and will be very good if they had the confidence to back it all up. Their actions, their style of clothing, it was all very elegant and perfect. It made him wonder.
"I don't understand why the two of you always act and dress that you'll stand out, when you don't even want the attention of the crowd." He asked.
"It's because they were taught to stand out as the Sacred royals they were. And you'll soon learn those things." Sychi answered for them.
"What do you mean?" Airi asked, not understanding what she meant.
"Didn't you notice?" Sychi asked him. "One standing in society is defined by how well one dress, or perhaps the quality of his or her clothes."
Sychi continues to brush Kira's hair, styling it very beautifully, and adding many jewelries and hair dresses.
"You may not know this, but the disguise you wear by wearing casual clothes are actually useless. People just don't approach you because you placed the effort to blend in the crowd, but it'll never hide your true rank. In fact, it just helps you not to be easily recognize but as I said before, the perspective ones, especially the commoners will easily know how high ranking you were."
"But that doesn't make any sense."
"Perhaps, but that's how it is. And as Sacred royals, you must not blend in in the crowd of high elites of the noble realm. You must stand out better than anyone else that they will not ignore who you are."
"But Kin or the others doesn't stand out. I mean, I never once heard them declare themselves as Sacred royals." Airi stubbornly protested.
Sychi carefully placed a fine tiara on Kira's head before turning to him and replied.
"They don't because it is dangerous. After the great fall, the Sacred realm lost face. As a result, Sacred royals needed to blend in or they might get into unnecessary trouble. It is going on for many generations now. The lower ranked Sacred royals lived their lives like those in the noble realm. But now, I believe that things are about to change. That is why, you'll start learning higher leveled etiquettes than that you already know as well."
"You don't say..."
"Well, Airi, you need to prepare yourself cuz Sychi won't be going easy on you." Kishi sniggered
"No need to tell me that..."
Watching the two of them, Kira can't help but smile. It's been far to long for her. She was so happy that she can't suppress a giggle.
"What's so funny?" Airi questioned
Giggling, she replied. "N-nothing. The two of you are just...so cute."
The boys looked at each other then smiled and laughed. It seems so that there are a lot of good things to come. Perhaps more adventures and experiences that will deepen their bond.
***
"The test is almost over. We'll be returning back to school by tomorrow. What are you going to do Celes?" Airi asked her.
"Me? Well, I guess I'll--"
"I'll be taking her in!" Sychi proclaimed, appearing out of nowhere like usual.
"Wait, what?!"
"You'll be staying at the palace." Sychi told her. "Child, you have so much potential, and so much mystery! We'll do anything to unlock it!!"
"Err..." Celes wasn't sure how to reply. However, what choice does she really have?"
"Don't worry big sister, I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun!" Kira said.
"More like torture." The two boys whispered at each other.
By the next morning, Airi, Kishi, and Kira departed back to Magic high. What happened after their arrival was the least they expect.
"You three are the only ones who failed the test!" Amili shouted at them as she slammed the table.
The three of them were forced to shut their mouth from embarrassment as their other classmates laughed at them.
Being honest with themselves, they found it unreasonable. The test wasn't really that easy, and the reason they failed was also because they chose to help someone out. Are they really expecting them to just sit and watch? But maybe they're just way to nice...
"As punishment, you'll have to do extra assignments from all your teachers for the whole week starting today."
If nothing else, the punishment was a piece of cake. For them at least.
Later that evening before having dinner, Kira spent her time with Mythica and Bubblegum like she always does in their so-called girls' hangout.
The two girls were hugging her so affectionately and she just sat there quietly eating ice cream.
"Kira...you are so adorable...it's so unfair!" Mythica pouted.
"Sister, your pretty too." Kira said to her.
"Thank you, but everyone knows you are cuter than me."
Bubblegum on the other hand, hugged her silently and looked as if she was about to cry.
"Sugar, is there something wrong?" Mythica asked her in concern.
"I'm fine...I just..." Then she really started crying. Her tears welling uncontrollably from her eyes.
"There, there, don't cry." Kira patted her head but it made her cry even more.
"I-I'm so useless! I-I can't b-believe t-that I c-called myself his big s-sister! I hate it!"
Kira and Mythica exchanged glances. It was really rare to see bubblegum cry. Based on Mythica's experience, she only sees Bubblegum cry for Air's sake.
"It's alright Sugar, you can talk to us." Mythica tried to coax her but it took quite some time before Bubblegum actually started talking.
"I may not be that older than him, but Airi's like a hopeless little brother to me. It's just that I always had to look after him, he causes too much trouble, he kinda reminds me of myself when I was younger."
The two of them listened to her silently. Bubblegum hugged Kira that whole time not letting go, or even loosening her embrace.
"So, you feel bad because you weren't able to help him at all?" Mythica said.
Bubblegum shook her head and said, "No, it's because I feel pathetic for partially giving up on him. I actually thought that it is somehow better that way that he became like that. Then Kira and Kishi suddenly returns with him after the test and Airi returned to his usual self. I... I hate it. I feel so pathetic..."
Sighing, Kira suddenly spoke out of the blue. "You hate yourself and use that as a reason to accept that Kin left you and decided to cherish Airi instead."
Bubblegum was dumbfounded and had finally let her go. She looked at Kira and questioned her coldly. "You...How the hell did you know about that?"
Startled and panicking, Mythica felt cold sweat trickling down her skin and hastily pulled Kira to the side.
"Kira, I don't know how you know that, It's a taboo!" She whispered
"Taboo?"
"Yes! A Taboo. You can't speak about parted siblings in our class or you'll get yourself into major trouble!!" She informed her.
Kira titled her head at her before turning to look at Bubblegum who is staring daggers at her. Her eyes cold and empty. She seemed to have hidden a dangerous murderous intent in her calm look.
"Sugar, I know." Kira spoke gently. "Your eyes look the same. So empty and sad. The two of you are so similar, but I haven't seen you look at each other straight in the eyes."
She was completely taken aback. Her secrets were...unraveled.