Good news came to Hina during her leisure time. To fill in the boring days, she had decided to take up a new hobby that was very unlikely of her- knitting.
According to Suki, it was a very popular skill that every woman learnt from a very young age. She had cajoled Hina into giving it a try, explaining that it was a relaxing hobby to help pass time.
After a few days of going back and forth, Hina decided to try it out. How bad could it be? Besides, she was good at learning new skills so she was certain it would only take a few days to master it. However, a few days passed and she was shocked at her poor skills.
Hina stared at her sloppily knitted muffler; the red yarn had been snapped in several areas and it looked all crumpled up. She couldn't believe how terrible she was at something so easy.
"You have a letter from the academy, my lady!" Aoi announced as she rushed into the room with some other maids following behind her.
"Really? It came earlier than I anticipated" Hina stated, pushing off the ugly muffler and yarn away from her.
The burgundy envelope had been closed with a gold monogram wax seal.
Hina opened the seal, sliding out the thick letter as she read the gold foil printing on it.
"Dear Hina Kudo, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted!" She read aloud, her excitement increasing with each word.
"Congratulations, lady Hina!"
"I can't believe our beautiful lady is now a scholar at the most pristine academy!"
"The definition of brains and beauty!" Hina's cheeks crimson with embarrassment at their sweet words.
"Thank you all!" She glanced at them, not knowing how to contain her joy. She was finally not going to be listless.
"But I heard that one usually has to sit through an interview before getting in" Aoi mentioned.
"Not everyone. Especially if someone notable sends a recommendation letter to the academy, then an interview won't be required" Suki replied.
"Ah! Does that mean that our lady was recommended by one of her tutors?"
"It's possible" Suki replied.
Although she wasn't sure, Hina couldn't help but be grateful at the mere possibility that one or both of her tutors could have somehow helped with her entry.
_____
The dining room scented like heaven as Hina wended her way in. She plopped on the seat beside the merchant's, noticing Kai's absence at dinner once again.
"I heard the maids whispering about some good news related to you, my dear Hina," the merchant said, obviously knowing what the news was but wanting to hear it from her lips.
"Yes, I was just about to inform you. I received an acceptance letter into the academy today" she told him with that straightforward way he was getting used to.
"That's excellent! I guess congratulations are in order. I'm very proud of you" he smiled widely, truly happy about the good news.
"Thank you"
"So, what do you plan to focus on? Although you'll be taught a few general courses, you will need to choose a specific course after six months. What will you like to learn as your main focus?" He asked her, his eyes peering at her for her reply as he sipped from his glass.
"What about business administration?"
"Really?"
"Yes. I feel like it will be something that'll benefit me in the long run"
"True. It's a fitting course for the lady of this household" he said with a smile, quite satisfied with her choice.
"Congratulations," Tanaka said primly, her eyes focused on her meal.
"Thank you," Hina said, mentally taking note of how nice Tanaka was being.
The usual heavy tensions were absent throughout the mealtime and Hina stuffed herself, realising how hungry she had been from all that useless knitting.
_____
The summer night sky was clear but there were a few faint stars insight.
Hina had been lying sleepless In bed for some time, her mind floating with thoughts of how her academy life would be. Would she be good at making friends? Since she was already married, was the idea of dating entirely out the window? These were some of her weaknesses; she had never dated anyone in her past life, turning down whoever asked her out and she had very few friends too. She had just assumed that she still had enough time for dating and socializing. Later on when she was less busy. Later on when the time was right. Sadly, those times never came and she was now married to some old man who bought her like a scarf at the flea market.
A subtle knock from her balcony brought her mind back as she jolted up.
"Who's there?" She asked, her voice barely making a loud enough sound.
There was no response. Why?
She laid back on the bed, planning to ignore whoever it was until she heard another knock within seconds. A little bit startled by the sound, she jumped out of bed, approaching the balcony as she tiptoed.
"Who is it?" She asked again, standing a few feet away from the darkness.
"It's me, Kai" he finally answered.
Hina sighed as she unbolted the glass door, letting him into the room.
"This is becoming a bad habit" she told him.
"What is?" He asked innocently, moving closer to her as he spoke.
"Coming to my room at night through the balcony like a thief. You have to stop it"
"I'll try" he said dismissively, standing before her with his hands behind him. Hina had noticed that his hands had been hidden behind him since she caught him standing outside her balcony.
"Fine. Why are you here at this time? And what are you hiding behind you?" She asked him, her eyes still gazing at his hidden hands.
"You ask too many questions" he said,
"Here. Congrats on getting into the academy" he stretched out one hand, handing her a small white teddy bear with golden eyes.
Hina collected the doll, her expression blank as she asked, "what's this?"
"What do you mean? It's a gift to congratulate you"
"What kind of childish gift is this?" she complained, staring at the teddy bear.
"You're technically still a child though" he retorted with a smile.
Hina wanted to argue back, telling him that she was actually older than him, but imagined how stupid she would sound.
[Let's just ignore it. I'll probably use the teddy bear as a pillow]
"Fine. I'll take it"
"Also this" he handed her another gift. It was a small red gift box wrapped neatly with ribbons
"Ohh~ another gift?"
"Yes, but it's not from me"
"..really? Who is it from?"
"It's from Tanaka. She asked me to pass it on to you 'cause she's a bit shy"
"Ah..from Tanaka.."
Suprised, Hina squeezed onto the teddy with her arm, loosening the ribbons as she opened up the small box.
"It's beautiful!" She exclaimed, staring at the perfection within. It was a pair of ruby red butterfly shaped earrings.
"I helped her to pick that out, you know"
"Yes, yes, I see" Hina teased him
"I'm serious"
"Fine, thank you," she said.
"But really, thanks. I love it. Both of it"
Kai watched as a smile spread across her beautiful lips.
"Sure, whatever. I'll let Tanaka know that you're pleased with it. I bet she'll be ecstatic"
"Tanaka?!" Hina said in disbelief.
"Yes, she might not know how to show it but she seems to like you a lot"
Hina caught herself smiling at the thought. To think that she and Tanaka would be on such good terms.
"That's nice to know" Hina mumbled in relief.
"Well, I've done what I came to do so I better be going"
"Ah, sure. Goodnight, Kai"
He stared at her...a bit stunned. It was the first time she called him by his name. She normally referred to him as 'you' or 'young lord' ...
"You too. Goodnight, Hina"
These were some of the most peaceful days Hina had had in a while and she found herself already craving for more days like this.
_____
epilogue|
Kai walked along the commercial districts, searching through the stores for a suitable gift for Hina. He had heard the giggling maids praising the young lady for getting into the academy, as they walked along the corridors. It was in a spur of the moment but he had decided to get her a gift to congratulate her, a smile tugging on the side of his lips as he imagined all her possible reactions.
"Can you please stop smiling like a weirdo, young master? People will think you're a freak" Enji, his personal guard and closest friend, warned him.
"What do you mean? I wasn't smiling" he strongly denied his friend's claim as he walked ahead.
"Yes, you were," Enji said dryly, dismissing his master with a bored tone.
His master was changing. No, he had changed. The two had first met five years ago. Kai's face was always blank, his eyes seeming distant and he never smiled. Yet over these few months, since he returned to Asahi, he was becoming different. Enji had noticed that his expressionless boring master had emotions. He would sometimes smile to himself while lost in thoughts. Although he now seemed more like a human being, Enji didn't know how to feel about the sudden change.
Kai said nothing, walking along the pavements until he came to a stop at a storefront that had a display of eye-catching teddy bears behind the stained glass.
"What do you think about this one?" Kai pointed at the biggest teddy bear on display.
"It's not my spec" Enji said.
"Not for you, you idiot" Kai replied in an annoyed fit.
The store's bell chimed as the door opened and a woman peered through the glass.
"Good day! Welcome to Mei's Store!"
"Good day"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb but I noticed you staring at our display items. Is there one you would like to get, young Sir?" She asked in a chummy manner.
"Umm, I'm not sure. I'm looking for a gift for a friend but I'm not sure if she'll like it.." Kai informed her.
"Ah~ for your girlfriend? That's so cute!"
"N-no! She's not my girlfriend! Just a friend."
"I see! So you've not yet confessed to her? Then are you looking for a gift to use for a love confession?"
"It's not that either. I just need a suitable gift for a friend who happens to be a girl" Kai said, trying to correct the situation.
"Okay! Please come in!" The woman said, unconvinced by his statement.
They both walked into the store, following behind the small middle-aged woman. She led them to the stall racks, showing off the latest items they had.
"These are some of our most popular items right now. They're made with the finest silk and wool which makes them lighter than the usual teddy bears sold in other stores..." she chattered on.
"I see.."
Kai eyed the roll of toys, his gaze stopping on a small white one with a dark brown ribbon around its neck.
"Do you like that one?" The storekeeper asked, her tiny eyes quickly catching onto his preference.
"Yes, it's nice" he told her, staring at the golden eyes of the teddy bear that reminded him of Hina's.
"It's one of our newest brands so it's a bit expensive. The eyes are-"
"I'll take it"
"What?" She swallowed, surprised that he was willing to spend that much for a teddy, "I mean- Okay! I'll pack it up for you, Sir!" She said, rushing to pack up the teddy before the young man changed his mind.
"Thank you for patronizing us! Come again soon!" She waved at him, truly hoping he would come again.
As the two men walked out of the store, Enji watched his master's expression as he walked a few steps behind him. Kai was smiling again. Enji sighed tiredly as he shook his head. What was he going to do with his master? All these changes began after he met his supposed new stepmother, a young girl by the name of Hina Kudo. Enji mentally noted the cause of the sudden change and sighed again, hoping that the reason for Kai's changes was not because of what he was thinking.
[Life is so complicated]