Act IV. Part IV.

Toshiko rode out of his family estate In one of the many black limousines his family-owned, with a bandage wrapped across his neck with a distasteful expression and a very irritable mood. He blankly stared at the brewing storm clouds.

Toshiko all the sudden had a sudden change in expression, "Stop the car!"

He shouted before he jumped out of the car and started to look around in a panic. He didn't know what he was looking for but he just felt like he had to. He then felt a sharp pain in his neck and staggered.

"Young master!" Shouted the driver who ran to his side.

"Don't worry, I just felt a bit light-headed," Toshiko responded as he grit his teeth.

"Are you okay?" He said with a worried expression as he held Toshiko.

"Yes, just take me back to the car," He said with a faint smile to comfort the driver.

The driver carried him back into the passenger seat and waited there.

"Do you need us to call the doctors to come home or to the school?!"

"No need for that. Let's just get to school as usual."

"As you wish young master. But what were you looking for?" The driver asked with a confused expression.

Toshiko thought about the question and remained silent for a moment, "I don't really know as well." He ended with an equally confused expression as the sound of a large gust of wind filled the silence.

The driver shut the door and ran to his seat and the two drove off.

…

Toshiko got out of the limousine and looked around taken aback. He walked into the school's gates and into the main building. He didn't bother looking for anyone and just went from point A to B as usual. He got into class and threw his bag onto a desk.

"Good morning Toshiko!" Elin said excitedly.

Toshiko forgot that he moved his desk to sit next to her, which was now a decision he regretted.

"Why are you so loud." He said under his breath.

"What was that?" She asked expectantly with a bright smile on her face.

"Oh, nothing! And good morning to you as well." He responded with an even brighter smile.

"How has your week been? And how did you get that bandage?"

"My week's been just fine and as for this," He said as he pointed to his neck. "Shaving accident." He chuckled.

"I didn't even notice any facial hair on you last time we met but I guess that's on me, well sorry about that." She said in an apologetic tone

"Class is starting." Said Mr. Laveda who just walked into the classroom. He took a glance at the room and turned to Mila who sat behind Elin. "Is Ryu still absent?"

"It… seems so sir." She answered defeatedly.

Toshiko didn't look into the rest of the room at all when he had entered so he was shocked to hear Mila's voice.

"I see. Anyway, shall we move on?" Said Laveda.

Toshiko turned to face the back, "Mila," He whispered.

"What?" She whispered back.

"We need to talk."

"The day just started what else could--"

"Speaking of Ryu, have you heard from him of late?" Elin whispered as well.

"Ah!" Toshiko shouted out of shock. "Yes, Elin?" He asked as he turned to her, while Mila backed away out of frustration.

"Oh, I was wondering if-"

"Oh yes, Ryu I was talking to him just yesterday."

"You were?" She said excitedly

"He said he misses us very much and he'll be back as soon as he takes care of his family issue."

"Oh… But Ryu doesn't have any family in Central as far I know."

"You're right." He said feeling slightly irritated but didn't show it on his face. "As a matter of fact, they live on the Southern continent."

"His long break makes sense. With him using public transport and all, one trip there would be two whole days."

Toshiko let out a light chuckle under his breath, "You seem to know a lot about Ryu, how did you two meet?"

"We met at a small bakery where I work." She whispered excitedly.

"I was under the impression the first time you met was your first day of school." He asked curiously.

"Oh yes... Oh yes! We met at the bakery after that incident."

"I see. But I'm still left to wonder what the princess is doing working at a small bakery."

"It was my father's plan. He believes that royalty must work, live and eat with the people we are to rule. It helps create better leaders who know how to help people in a real way." She said warmly with bright twinkling eyes.

"Your father sounds like a wise man." He said with a warm smile.

"Yes… I guess he is." She said hesitantly as she broke eye contact.

Toshiko saw it. A slight smirk curled upon his face.

"Is there something wrong with your father?" He asked with a worried expression as he reached for her shoulder.

"Oh no no no he's perfectly fine." She replied without meeting his eyes. "It's just.." She said as she turned to face him.

"Yes?" Said Toshiko as he leaned in closer. "Oh, I'm sorry for just reaching out if that made you uncomfortable." He said warmly

"Don't worry about it, it's calming actually." She blurted while turning to face Laveda.

"If you don't want to talk about it's okay." He said with that earlier smirk which was almost sinister.

Elin sat facing the front with her pen in hand but didn't take any notes or let alone move except for using her pen which she quietly tapped against the desk. And Toshiko could hear her breathing get more erratic as each second passed.

"As… the grandson of a very important family I'm sure you have some idea of how demanding running this beautiful city and just the overall the other continents." She whispered

"Yes… but what is your point?" Asked Toshiko as he leaned into onto his desk.

"With… with all the insane pressure your grandfather receives and after all this time… has he ever done anything or things that didn't... make sense to you?"

Toshiko knew exactly what she meant… "I'm not exactly sure what you mean, can you be more specific?" He asked with a stern expression.

Elin fell silent. She dropped the pen she held and slowly turned to face Toshiko with eyes that were ready to burst into tears at any moment. "Can we meet after school?"

Immediately after a siren went off signaling the end of the morning period.

"Toshiko!" Mila shouted in his ear. "Let's go."

"Okay. Okay." He grumbled In response. " As for you, I'll find you after the break." Toshiko got up and exited with Mila.

The two walked down their class corridor and into the main building staircase. Mila closed the staircase door and turned to Toshiko, "What the hell's wrong with you?!"

"Learned that from Ryu as well?" He laughed. "And what did I do."

"You know what you did. Your messed up coping mechanism of making other people feel bad so you can feel better."

"I did no such thing."

"You just did it to Elin, her eyes were on the brink of tears. What did you even say to her?"

"I didn't make her cry all I did was talk to the princess because it is a surreal thing to have the princess of the entire world at your school!"

"Please, I'm not buying that. You're the first grandson of the Tokugawa family you've seen plenty of royalty for your lifetime."

"So at one point you hated this girl and now you're trying to protect her?" Huh…"

"I never said I hated her."

"Please, from the first day she came in you hated her. The look was--"

"Toshiko!" She shouted shutting him up. "Toshiko. I know tension is high with Ryu missing but this is no time for internal conflict."

Toshiko let out a sigh, "Agreed. Now, what did you want to talk about?"

"Yes, GETTING back on track… I think I know.."

End.