A year had passed since the incident on Mount Cresta, and the friendship between Kuragami, Cedric, and Princess Diana had flourished.
Everything was fun for them. Until one day, Cedric saw something that broke his heart forever.
Cedric is walking through the place to meet Kuragami and Diana. That was when from a distance, he saw Diana give Kuragami a kiss in the cheek.
He doesn't know what to do, doesn't know what to say. He just runs out, unseen.
It's been weeks since Cedric has been seen by anyone. His parents are worried.
They storm in the place demanding for the king. Everyone in the palace goes to the main entrance. Kuragami, Diana, Yuma and Ryoma are there too.
"What's the matter?"
"Our son! Cedric! He hasn't been home in weeks. We wondered if you guys seen him?"
Kuragami jumps down.
"Nah. We wondered where he's been all this time too."
"Could it be that, he's missing?"
"Cedric, missing? I can't imagine that. I'll make sure to find him! Don't worry!"
"Please do!"
"Ryoma! Get my guards search team ready!"
"Okay. Yuma come!"
Kuragami runs out. Ryoma and Yuma go gather the guards to get ready to search team out of Cedric.
Kuragami asks the kids around Yotr about where Cedric is. They all have no idea.
"Damn. He couldn't have gone that far. He's only young."
If he doesn't want to be seen, I'll go to the West Island! But all those guards. Ahh whatever."
There's many guard on the bridge. Somehow, Kuragami sneaks past all of them. He searches the whole of the West Island.
There's a little cavern covered by two trees. He sees someone in it.
He walks in. Cedric is there sitting down with his legs crossed. He's looking at some ancient writing. It's only a few tho.
"Cedric! Is this where you've been all this time."
"I always wondered why people aren't allowed in the West Island. Now I know. It's cos of these."
"What do they even say?"
"I overheard some adults saying only followers of some king and the King of Yotr himself can read it."
"Oh. Well that's besides the point. Why have you been gone for so long."
"Hey Kuragami."
"Yes?"
"You've felt a lot of physical pain in your life right? Or am I wrong?"
"You're right."
"What's worse? Physical pain or emotional pain?"
"How am I supposed to answer that."
"Because you gave me both!"
Cedric swiftly stands up.
"What? Are you still mad cos I beat you guys up a year ago? For Diana's sake?"
"Yeah what if I am?! But there's more! You kissed Diana!"
"What?! No I didn't!"
"I saw you. She kissed you on the cheek."
Kuragami stands still for five seconds, staring at Cedric. He face palms.
"Are you listening to yourself? She kissed me and it was just on the cheek. Nothing special."
"So you don't see it from my point of view. The true pain you-"
"True pain? TRUE PAIN?!"
"Kurag-"
"You call that true pain! I'll show you true physical pain!"
Kuragami slaps his hands to the ground and raises his aura. He freezes Cedric to the wall.
"Hey what do you think you're doing? The scriptures!"
"If you think that's true pain, let me show you what it actually is!"
"Wait?! Get this ice off me!"
"You went missing because of a kiss? Why don't you grow up!"
Kuragami thaws the ice.
"You're here, in Yotr a lot. With Diana."
"So?"
"No one wants you here."
Those words hit Kuragami deep.
"Go home Cedric."
"I will. But you go home too."
Cedric walks past Kuragami. He looks back at the scriptures. They're unreadable now. He looks at Kuragami.
Cedric chuckles.
"You're not wanted here Kuragami Nozomi. If I see you again, I'll probably try kill you. Outsider."
Cedric walks off. Kuragami goes to the scriptures.
Tears go down his face.
In the peaceful gardens of the royal palace, Kuragami is sat on a bench looking at the view. Diana notices it and sits down next to him.
"Hello Kuragami Nozomi."
Kuragami chuckles.
"What's with that greeting?"
"You look down. What's up?"
"If I look down, how am I supposed to-"
"Know what's up. Haha very funny. Be serious Kuragami!"
"Ok my bad. It's just, Yotr. No one likes me here. They look down on me and see me as an outsider."
"They're just all jealous. When you first met me the same thing happened. You changed that for me."
"Yeah but you're a princess. Why should you care. I'm just, me."
"You're Kuragami Nozomi! The coolest person in the world."
"You're my best friend. You're supposed to say that."
"But I'm not supposed to mean it. I really do mean it. You know, you're cool because of how fast and strong you are. Your attitude. The way you do things without thinking and not caring about the consequences."
"Yeah I guess I am pretty cool."
Diana punches his arm lightly.
"You idiot!"
"Yeah you won't be saying that when I'm the strongest in the world!"
"Doesn't everyone want to be the strongest in the world."
"Yeah. But I'm different."
"How come?"
"Because many people have been the strongest in the world at one point. Who cares at this point? I want to reach a strength, beyond the strongest in the world."
"Kuragami."
"Mhm."
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know. I will find out one day though."