"It's been a while, Ryuji"
Ryuji stops his movement. Ryuji didn't understand the princess's words.
— A while? What did she mean?
"I'm sorry for being rude, princess. But, what do you mean by it's been a while, have we ever met somewhere? " ask Ryuji.
"Did you forget it? " asked the princess.
Ryuji tried to remember if he has ever met the princess.
⎯ Have I ever met this princess? Wait, that's hairpin...
Riss suddenly spoke.
"Ryuji, who is this princess? have you ever met her " Rissa started to curious.
⎯ I have seen it before...
"Could it be..." muttered Ryuji.
11 years ago...
"Did you... have to leave?" ask Ryuji to the girl in front of him.
"Yes, I had to. Because I have to follow my parents. So, I'm sorry..." replied the girl.
"You don't have to apologize, it is not your fault," said Ryuji.
"But, " the girl spoke.
Tears started to flow from her eyes.
"But...but, I always want to be with you, always..." said the girl while crying.
"Don't cry, " persuade Ryuji.
Ryuji pulls the girl's hand while taking something out from his pocket and gives it to her.
"Here, take it. "
It was a hairpin.
"Take this hairpin. Well... this is the only things that I can give you before you leave, "
The girl stopped crying.
"Thank you, Ryuji. I will cherish it forever! " said the girl.
— Ah, I remember it now!
Ryuji finally remembers who is the princess.
"Luna? "
"Jeez, it took you so long to remember it," said the princess.
"Sorry, I haven't seen you for 11 years. And...you looked so different, " said Ryuji.
"Of course I looked different! Did you still think that I'm a child? "
Rissa suddenly interrupt their conversation.
"Ryuji..., may I know who she is? " ask Rissa with an angry face.
"Um...she is—,"
"It's okay Ryuji, let me introduce myself. I'm Luna Astertina von Crissfade, Princess of Revided Kingdom. "
"The person beside me is my assistant, Claire Reno, " continued Luna.
"And what is your relationship with Ryuji? " asked Rissa again.
"I am his childhood friend, " answered Luna.
"C-C-Childhood friend? " Rissa was shocked after hearing it.
"Ryuji..." Rissa said it with a loud tone.
"Y-Y-Yes? " Ryuji stuttered to say it.
"And you, " Luna points his finger at Rissa.
"What? "
"You seems close to Ryuji, who are you, and what is your relationship with him? "asked Luna.
"Hey Riss, don't tell her that you were a spirit, " whisper Ryuji.
"My name is Rissa and Ryuji is my master. "
"Master!?— " shocked Luna.
"Wait Riss, what are you babbling about? " said Ryuji.
"Isn't it right? " spoke Rissa.
"Ryuji... Since when did you? " said Luna with a fierce face.
"No, it's all a misunderstanding! "explains Ryuji.
The atmosphere in the restaurant once again begin to noise after they heard about the conversation.
"The three of you, can we have this conversation somewhere else? " said Claire.
Both of them have realized the atmosphere in the restaurant.
"Yeah, I agree, " said three of them.
Luna Astertina von Crossfade. She is the long-lost princess of the Revided Kingdom and the daughter of King Crossfade. She is also Ryuji's childhood friend.
They continued their conversation earlier while walking down the street.
"So Ryuji, are you going to join the tournament too? " asked Luna.
"Yes. Wait, too? That means you also join the tournament? " answered Ryuji.
"Yeah. "
Ryuji fell silent after hearing it.
"What, are you underestimating me? "asked Luna.
"No, it just..."
"Luna-sama is the second-ranked in her middle school. When in high school, she was a first-ranked, " said Claire.
"Wow, first-ranked. That was pretty amazing! impressed Ryuji.
"T-Thank you, " said Luna.
"Um, about what we talked about earlier..."
"Oh, actually Rissa is my partner for the tournament, " answered Ryuji.
"Partner? Didn't this tournament is solo?"
"Well, she was like...my special partner, "
"S-S-Special, what are you saying so suddenly! " Rissa was blushing.
"Special..." muttered Luna.
"Oh, when will your match start Luna? "
" I think it starts in the afternoon, what about yours? "
"In the morning,"
"Luna-sama, it's time, ' said Claire.
"Alright, I shall take my leave now. Ryuji, I will be looking forward to tomorrow's match " said Luna.
"Oh no, It's already this late! We should hurry and go back now, Riss, " said Ryuji.
"Yeah," answered Riss.
While on the way back to their room, Rissa starts to ask Ryuji about Luna.
"Ryuji, can I ask you something? "
"Sure, what is it? "
"How did you and Luna become childhood? Not to mention that she was a princess from the other Kingdom, "
Rissa started to curious about Luna.
"Luna didn't bear in the Akane Kingdom. She was taken away from the Revided Kingdom due to the enemy's attack, " answered Ryuji.
"She was raised by Uncle Raijin who was once the kingdom's knight. We always played and learn sword skills together. We also go to the same elementary school. Well, you could say that she was better than me in sword playing, "
"But, when she was 9 years old, both the King and Queen of Revided Kingdom comes to take her back. That was when she knew the truth about herself. I haven't seen her since that day and until today, I was relieved that she was alright, " continued Ryuji.
"But did you just said that her sword playing was better than you, that's mean she was stronger than you? " ask Rissa.
"I don't know, maybe? " answered Ryuji.
Without realizing it, they have arrived at their room. Ryuji was the first to take the bath.
"Riss, I'm going to go out for a moment, "
"Eh, where? " asked Rissa.
"I want to have a little chat with Forster, " answered Ryuji.
"Okay, don't take it so long. "
Ryuji goes to the mansion's fountain to meet Forster. At the fountain, he saw Forster that already arrive before him.
"Sorry for my late, " said Ryuji.
"You don't have to apologize, I just got here, " said Forster.
"What are you want to ask about, Ryuji? ' ask Forster.
"I just want to ask if you know Shiro Kuroyami, "
"Yes, I know. He was the representative from the Renesis Kingdom, why do you ask? " answered Forster.
"He was my father's opponent 20 years ago, I just want to know when is his match, "
"If I remember correctly, his match will begin on the day after tomorrow. "
"Have you ever heard about the skill of <
"<
"Um, thanks, Forster. That's all I need to ask you, see you tomorrow. "
Ryuji went back to his room. They have a little chat before they go to sleep.
"Um, Riss, for tomorrow's match..."
"Yes?"
"I'm going to use <
"What!—But why?" Rissa shocked.
"Because I think that if I use the <
"Then, when will you use it? "
"Maybe when the opponent is too powerful, I might have to use it. "
"Did you angry? "ask Ryuji.
"No, I'm not. If that what you want, I will not object to it, " answered Rissa.
"Anyway, you must win the match. If anything happens, I will help you, " said Rissa with pride.
"Thanks, Riss."
Ryuji was staring at Rissa.
—Had she ever been this cute?
"Hey, Ryuji!"
"Ryuji!"
Ryuji finally returned to his consciousness.
"Yes?" answered Ryuji.
"Why did you stare at me? " ask Rissa.
"Oh, it's nothing..." muttered Ryuji.
"Come on, just tell me."
Rissa suddenly jumps into Ryuji's back.
"Wait, Riss! What are you...suddenly. "
"If you're not going to tell me, I'm going to keep clinging on your back, " said Rissa.
Ryuji had no choice but to tell her.
"Okay...I'm just thinking...that how cute were you!"
Rissa's face suddenly turns red.
"C-C-C-C-Cute?"
"W-What are you saying suddenly, " said Rissa while slapping Ryuji's face.
Ryuji fell after being slapped by Rissa.
"Hey Riss, what was that for?" said Ryuji with an angry face.
"N-N-Nothing! Now let's go to sleep," said Rissa while covering herself with blanket.
"Ah, what a pain, muttered Ryuji.