The courtyard echoed with hurried footsteps.
"Daita!" Akira called, weaving through startled attendants and hopping over a low hedge. "Daita, wait! I need your help with this one thing!"
Daita didn't break stride. "Your Highness," he said flatly, "your one thing always ends with a death sentence!"
Akira caught up, panting. "That's not true—!"
"Oh no?" Daita halted and spun around, exasperation written all over his face. "Last time, your one thing was 'Let's steal the Seifuin Mirror for just a night.' I snuck into the Bureau, bypassed six sealing glyphs, nearly got skewered by a spirit blade trap and then you brought it back in pieces!"
Akira coughed. "It slipped. And it was just one crack—"
"Sixteen cracks and a missing corner!" Daita snapped, throwing his arms up. "I still get nightmares about that mirror humming at me in rage."
Akira scratched the back of his head, sheepish. "Okay, okay… but that was also one time."
Daita let out a humorless laugh. "One time? Your Highness…" He stepped forward and began to slowly circle Akira, hands behind his back like a ghost of judgment. "From childhood till now, your 'one things' could fill a library of scrolls and still it wouldn't be enough. Want me to review them? Maybe you've forgotten. But I remember every single one." He began ticking them off on his fingers.
"At the age of ten, your one thing was: 'Let's sneak into the Imperial Mausoleum to see if the 5th Dragon Emperor's tomb really glows at night.' I had to lie to five elders, fake a divine blessing, and fight off a corpse-guarding owl with a broom."
"Oh, that owl was your fault," Akira muttered.
Daita ignored him. "Then came: 'Help me escape through the west palace wall, I can't stand one more meeting with the advisors!' You got stuck halfway through the stone and I had to push you out like a melon."
Akira let out a nervous chuckle. "That was kind of heroic, wasn't it?"
"And let's not forget the time I had to forge your seal, lie to your tutor, and pretend you were dying of Moon Fever just so you could sneak off to that underground sword tournament disguised as a peasant named… 'Xiao Dandan.'"
Akira looked almost proud. "I did almost win that tournament."
"You lost in the first round."
"I tripped!"
Daita stopped circling and whirled on him, eyes wide with disbelief. He dragged a hand down his face. "Your childhood," he said slowly, "was barely bearable for me. But once we joined the sect—that's when your 'one things' turned into crimes that should've gotten me publicly exiled." He threw his arms out. "These last six years, I've lived in constant fear. One wrong slip, and I'll be thrown into external exile. No—worse. Probably beheaded! Actually, no, that's not what I'm afraid of!" He pointed a finger at Akira, accusing. "I'm afraid of Master Ginkgo-mira, and Jiejie finding out all the things I've done because of you!"
Akira shrank back a little. "Oh…"
Daita didn't stop. "Let me remind you of your greatest hits." He jabbed his index finger into Akira's chest, forcing him to take a step back.
"Number one! Breaking into the Celestial Archives during the eclipse to retrieve a forbidden scroll sealed by the First Sect Leader himself."
"Number two!" he snapped. Stealing the Flame Vault's key from the Elders' archives—just so you could peek inside and see if the ancient sword hummed when you touched it."
Akira muttered, "It did hum though…"
"And number three—" Daita's voice dropped to a hiss, "—the worst of them all…" He leaned in, each word heavy.
"You freed the Nine-Tailed Demon," Daita hissed, eyes wide with the memory. "From a prison sealed with thirteen sacred talismans and a divine flame barrier—and I was the one who unwittingly broke the final seal because you told me it was an incense urn!"
Akira raised a finger. "That was one—"
"Shhh—!"
Akira's back hit the wall with a soft thump. He raised both hands in surrender, whispering quickly, "Understood, understood! You don't have to say that out loud—we'll both be in danger if someone hears!"
Daita leaned in close, eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of righteous vengeance.
"Don't worry," he said, voice low and ominously sweet. "I'll make sure to cover for you—just like always."
Then he groaned and collapsed against a pillar. "I've covered for you. Lied for you. Bleached your robes after every Blood Duel Incident between you and her. Shielded you when she tried to stab you with her hairpin." He rubbed his shoulder with a wince. "It still aches."
Akira crossed his arms, unfazed. "Your sister just has poor aim. Not my fault you came in between."
Daita stared at him like the heavens had wronged him. "You should be grateful, you walking catastrophe."
Akira grinned. "I am. You're the best partner-in-crime a Crown Prince could ever ask for."
Daita muttered under his breath, turning away, "Don't flatter me with your sweet-talking nonsense, I'm not agreeing to do your one thing again…"
Akira didn't argue. He just stood there, arms folded, expression solemn.
"You're right," he said softly. "I should stop asking. One of these days, someone might actually catch you. Maybe then, they'll exile you. Or worse assign you to Master's lectures for a year."
Daita paused mid-step, stiffening.
Akira continued, calm as moonlight. "You've already done more for me than I deserve. Honestly, it's probably time I stopped dragging you down."
"…You're guilt-tripping me now?" Daita shot him a look.
Akira shook his head. "No. I'm just saying—this time, I'll find someone else. Someone who doesn't value their life as much. I'll take care of it alone."
Daita's jaw tightened. He stood there for a moment, glaring at the floor. Then he let out the longest sigh known to man.
"Your wish is my command, Your Highness," he muttered, turning back.
Akira leaned in and whispered something quickly in his ear.
Daita blinked. "You want me to do that?"
Akira nodded once.
Daita stared at him like he was insane. Then, with a resigned grunt, he turned and strode off.
As his boots echoed down the corridor, Akira called after him with a grin—
"Oh, and Daita… one day if I die, make sure they build my statue taller than my uncle's. Especially—!"
Daita didn't even turn. He just muttered under his breath, exasperated—
"Shut up! You're absolutely insane…"
Daita's footsteps faded down the corridor. Akira waited until the echoes died, then straightened his collar, rolling his shoulders with quiet resolve.
A faint, mischievous smile returned to his lips.
"Right," he whispered to himself. "The Time to become Xiao Dandan is coming soon."
The sun blazed mercilessly above. Astra slumped forward, leaning against Seirou's shoulder with a groan. "Ugh… It's so hot," she mumbled.
After a beat, she shifted and draped herself onto Seiya instead. "Ahhh… too hot,"
Seiya stiffened, glaring down at her. "Get off," he snapped, fuming. "This is your fault anyway."
Astra blinked at him, offended. "Excuse me? She provoked me first!"
"Where were your manners?" Seiya growled. "You two looked like wild beasts brawling in the street. In front of everyone. Passersby were literally crossing the road to avoid you!" He turned sharply to Ryoma and Kaen, exasperated. "And you two—why are you so quiet? You haven't said a single word about it!"
From high above, a scoffing voice cut in lazily.
"What would they even say?" Shion called from the top of a tree. He lay across a thick branch, arms behind his head. "Everyone here wanted to do exactly what Astra did. Don't act like you all weren't furious at Lady Mogane—"
"IT'S KOGANE!!! UTA RIN!!"