Academy's Life 1/2

A 17-year old boy was standing in front of the mirror, taking care of his hair. As he combed through his locks, he couldn't help but reflect on how much time had flown by. He started recounting all the events since his childhood in this alternative world. 

Possession, the creation of the Shadow Garden, recruits, Cult of Diablos and his new contracted partner, the Mist Dragon, Rigel—

'I see you are thinking about me right now?' 

The playful voice echoed softly in his mind. He paused, his fingers momentarily halted. 

'No I wasn't, you old senile dragon' Subaru chuckled, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. 

'Old? Me? Your words wound my heart! I am as ageless as the stars!' Rigel shot back, amusement clear in his voice. 

'Ageless? Sure, whatever you say, you big lizard.' Subaru couldn't help but smile as he continued to style his hair, the banter with Rigel always lightening his mood. 

'You truly have come far, Subaru.' Rigel's voice shifted to something akin to a proud elder's warmth, 'But do not get ahead of yourself.'

'Yeah, I know, I know,' Subaru sighed. 'The Cult, the Shadow Garde , all those lives...ugh, sometimes it feels like the world just won't let me catch a break, y'know?'

Subaru let out a frustrated sigh. 'If only I could just rewind time and fix all the mess-ups… But oh wait, that's not how this world works!'

'By the way, do you like my hair down or up?' Subaru asked, turning his head slightly to check the view from different angles.

'Hair down for sure. It gives you a more relaxed and handsome look,' Rigel replied. 

'Then up it is!' Subaru said as he combed the hair up into a stylish, spiky arrangement that highlighted the angularity of his face. 

'Much better! It gives you that fierce look befitting for the Lord Pleiades,' Rigel added with a hint of mischief. 

Subaru chuckled, shaking his head. 'I can't tell if you're serious or just trying to flatter me.'

'Why do you always comb your hair up?' Rigel asked, curiosity evident in his voice. 

Subaru fell silent, his hands froze mid-air as he stared at the mirror—into his reflection. He glanced at his own eyes—bright and determined, yet shrouded in a hint of sadness. 

'It's… a symbol, I guess,' Subaru finally replied, his tone turning contemplative. 'A symbol of honor to the person I respect the most.'

'The one who didn't stop supporting me when I was lost,' He said, his voice trembling above the whisper. 

'The one whose faith in me never wavered, no matter how many times I stumbled.'

'The one who always believed I could find my own way, even when I doubted myself…' Subaru trailed off, lost in thought as old memories filled his mind. 

'They sound like a remarkable person,' Rigel finally said, his tone solemn yet warm. 

'Yeah, both of them are truly amazing. I don't deserve them. I owe them everything,' Subaru said, a bittersweet smile gracing his lips. He cleared his throat, trying to shake off the emotion. 

'But enough about that, let's focus on today!' 

He finished adjusting his hairstyle and quickly put on his academy uniform. A white shirt paired with a navy blue blazer featuring gold accents, a navy blue tie, navy trousers, and a matching pair of shoes. He took a sword sheath with a sword in it from the corner of his appointment and put it on his waist. 

He took a piece of paper—a test paper to be more specific, in the upper part of the paper there was a score mark of 100—an achievement he was quite proud of. He glanced at it, the bright red mark highlighting his hard work and dedication. 

Subaru looked at the test paper, a grin spreading wide across his face. "Heh, look at this beauty! A perfect score!" He said before shoving the paper into his pocket. 

He exited his room before locking it. As he took a turn he noticed a familiar figure—Cid Kageno, his brother who just locked the door behind him as well. 

"Yo, Cid!" Subaru greeted him, approaching him. "How did your test go? 

"Good morning. All according to my plan, I got the lowest score in the whole class just like I intended," Cid replied with a smirk, his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his own uniform.

"You are so keen on keeping your mob persona intact, huh?" Subaru shook his head. 

Cid shrugged, his expression unchanging. "It's just part of the plan. If I keep my score low, people won't expect anything from me. That makes it easier to operate in the shadows. Being average has its advantages."

"I see…" Subaru awkwardly nodded, trying to wrap his head around Cid's antics. 

As long as Subaru wasn't involved in his brother's strange schemes, he supposed it was all right to let Cid have his fun. They walked side by side down the hallway until they reached the exit. 

"Anyway, what about your score?" 

"A hundred. Again," Subaru said, puffing out his chest just a little, his pride getting the best of him as he spoke.

A small smile of satisfaction played on Cid's lips. "I see, so you are living up to my expectations." he murmured to himself. 'A perfect main character'

Subaru raised an eyebrow at that last remark but resisted the urge to question it further. Cid's cryptic comments were best left unexplained. Instead, he brushed it off. 

As they walked towards the train station, they noticed 2 familiar faces there. 

"Cid!" 

They were Cid's friends. Skel and Po. 

Or how Cid refers—background character A and background character B. They were the perfect background characters, average students if not even below average. They were just like Cid, blending in with the background perfectly. 

"So, how was your test, Cid?" A bald guy asked Cid. He closed the distance between them and looked straight into his eyes, as if his answer would depend on his life. 

"Yeah, what score did you get? Both of us got 60s" The second guy joined in, intensely staring at Cid. 

Cid feigned a fake disappointment, fashioning a dramatic sigh. "Oh, you didn't hear? I got a solid 20 this time," he said, feigning an exaggerated look of despair. 

Both of his friends let out a sigh of relief, before their faces brightered. As if they really hoped for him to reach a lower score than them. 

"Phew! That's a relief—" Po coughed and quickly corrected himself. 

"I mean, this sucks! Do you remember the bet we made?" Po said enthusiastically. 

"A bet?" Subaru finally decided to interject, his curiosity piqued. "What kind of bet?"

Both of his friends just seem to notice Subaru's existence. "Ah! S-Subaru Kageno? We didn't expect to meet you here!"

"Yeah, uh, good morning, Subaru Kageno!" Skel managed to stammer out, scratching the back of his head awkwardly

Subaru raised an eyebrow at his reaction as he noticed the way Skel and Po's demeanor changed when they acknowledged him. They looked both starstruck and nervous, as if they were standing before someone far more important than a mere classmate. 

"Yeah, well, here I am," Subaru replied. "What was this bet about?"

"Yeah, so, um, about that bet…" Po continued, his voice suddenly hesitant. 

Skel exchanged glances with Po before glancing back at Subaru. "We bet who will get the lowest score on the test… will have to do something embarrassing."

Subaru gave a side glance to Cid, who was just standing there. "Embarrassing? Like what?" He said, clearly intrigued. 

Po shuffled nervously, glancing at Cid. "The loser will have to… confess his love to the most popular girl in the school."

Subaru choked on his own breath, the surprise causing him to erupt into laughter. "Wait, are you serious? That's the bet? Who came up with that ridiculous idea?"

"Honestly? It was Po's idea!" Skel admitted, pointing at the bald guy. 

Po, defensive now, shot back. "Hey! Don't drag me into this! I just thought it would be funny!"

Subaru shook his head in disbelief. "And the loser gets publicly humiliated? That's… intense for a joke."

The train finally reached their destination—Academy of Dark Knights. The doors slid open with a mechanical hiss, and a flood of students poured out onto the platform, moving with a mix of excitement and fatigue. 

Skel and Po quickly exited the train. "Uh, you know, we have to go or we will be late! Cid! Don't forget about the bet, see you!" both of them quickly walked past them, towards the main entrance. 

"Seriously, those guys are something else," Subaru remarked, shaking his head.

"A perfect background characters." Cid remarked, before both of them arrived to the open place, next to the building. 

For some reason, there were groups of students gathered that piqued Subaru's attention. 

"So, the most popular girl is—" Subaru said, as both of them approached the group of people. In the middle of it were 2 students—a stunning female and a kneeling male. 

Subaru stepped closer to get a better look. He had seen her around campus before—often surrounded by clusters of admirers. She has striking red-black eyes and long platinum white hair styled in pigtails, secured with a large black bow. Her academy uniform features a blazer jacket adorned with gold accents, a crisp white dress shirt, and a navy-blue waist belt. The skirt boasts a plaid pattern, complemented by white thigh-high stockings and knee-high boots laced

In male's hand was a bouquet of flowers, his other hand laid on his heart as he was looking up at the girl. 

"Princess Alexia!" he proclaimed, his voice resonating with a mix of desperation and admiration. 

"Princess Alexia, I…I have admired you from afar, and today I summon the courage to confess my feelings for you!" he declared dramatically, his voice shaky and yet loud enough to draw attention from everyone present. 

"You are the light of this academy, illuminating the path for all of us! Please, accept these flowers as a symbol of my eternal devotion!" 

Subaru leaned slightly forward, an eyebrow arched in both amusement and disbelief. "Oh man, looks like someone went all out."

As the male student finished his confession, the gathered crowd held their breath in anticipation of Princess Alexia's response. Subaru, too, was intrigued, his eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before him. Cid, standing beside him, seemed more interested in observing the male's expression than the confession itself. 

"Not interested." Her expression was unreadable, neither kind nor harsh, simply a reflection of indifference. 

"What?" the kneeling boy stammered, his face falling as the shock of her words sank in. "B-but I–"

"I am sorry." Alexia replied, before turning away from him and walking past him. 

The crowd parted, whispers buzzing among them as many exchanged glances, some snorting in laughter, some looking in pity at the rejected boy. 

"Wow, that was brutal." Subaru couldn't help but shake his head, genuinely astonished at Alexia's coldness. "I mean, it's probably common to her, people confessing to her daily, right, Cid? Cid?" He expected some sort of reaction from Cid, however he was just smiling in satisfaction. 

"This is just what I need!" Cid said, a grin plastered on his face. "This is one of the events on my to-do-list! 'Getting rejected by a cold Queen of the school'."

Subaru couldn't help but give Cid a sidelong glance, his expression a mix of skepticism and confusion. His brother's peculiar obsession with "mob character" experiences was something he still struggled to fully understand. "Getting rejected is something you actually want on your to-do-list?"

"It's very common for mobs to confess their love to a popular girl and get brutally rejected," Cid replied with a sense of conviction, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. 

"I've been practicing this all nights."

Memories flooded Subaru's mind as he remembered Cid practicing his "confession" In front of the mirror. At one time, he even practiced it in front of Subaru and asked him to rate it. 

"I guess I will be rooting for your… Failure?" Subaru offered, a faint smile creeping onto his face as he shook his head. 

"Just don't go complaining to me when your so-called 'mob character' persona ends up a disaster, alright?"

"Don't worry, Subaru," Cid said with a dismissive wave. "I've got this under control. This evening. Just sit back, watch and learn."

"Subaru-san!" A group of students called out Subaru at the front of the main entrance of the academy. He flashed a brief smile, acknowledging their greetings before turning back to Cid.

"Looks like I'm being summoned," Subaru said with a chuckle, nodding towards the group. "I'll catch up with you later, Cid."

As Subaru turned to leave, Cid grinned maniacally to himself, the excitement of his upcoming plan already getting the better of him.

Subaru walked away to greet his classmates, he couldn't help but feel a little grateful for the mundane moments like these. It felt good to be surrounded by the familiar faces of friendship. 

"Subaru-san!" a guy with short brown hair waved enthusiastically. "We heard you got another perfect score! How do you manage it?"

"It's nothing special, really," Subaru replied, brushing off the praise with a modest smile. "Just studying hard and doing my best."

"Yeah, right! You make it look easy!" his friend joined in, rolling her eyes playfully. 

"Dude, it's a hundred!" another friend interjected, shaking his head. "You've got to admit that's pretty awesome! I got only 78!"

Meanwhile, Cid remained behind, watching the interactions unfold. He felt a swell of satisfaction wash over him. This was what he craved—seeing his brother shine while he blended into the background, just as he wanted it. 

"Speaking of which," a new girl chimed in, remembering the commotion a few moments ago, "Wasn't that Alexia? What happened there? She looked kinda cold, right?"

"Yeah, you could say that," one of them said, glancing back to where the scene played out. "Guy was all dramatic about confessing, but she didn't even blink. Just walked off! Ouch." 

They kept chatting as they were walking down the hallways of the academy. Memories flooded Subaru's mind as he remembered his first days in this academy. 

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Flashback:

'Subaru spun on spot, striking finger up in the air as he exclaimed. "My name is Subaru Kageno, clueless, unremarkable and newly admitted student! Nice to meetcha!"

The students in the classroom were taken aback by the sudden declaration. Some chuckled while others exchanged puzzled glances, unsure whether Subaru was serious or simply playing around. 

"Is this guy for real?" one student murmured to another, stifling a laugh. 

"I dunno," his friend replied, clearly amused. "But he's certainly got guts!"

To say Subaru was nervous was understatement. He remembers how he messed up his first day in high-school in his old life. He feared that he would fail here as well. But he could not let the fear of the past control him. This time he will succeed. 

"Yo! My name is Maya!" a lively girl with black hair, brown eyes and a wide grin interrupted, stepping forward. 

"You've got some serious confidence to introduce yourself like that. I like it!" 

"Thanks, Maya!" Subaru replied, feeling a warm sense of acceptance wash over him. 

"Now come here! Gotta introduce you to my other friends!" She grabbed his hand and forcefully dragged him to the group of the students in the corner. 

All of them looked at Subaru with curiosity in their eyes. 

"Alright, rest of you! What about you?!" Maya exclaimed, looking around at their classmates. 

"Uh, I'm Riku," a boy with tousled dark hair muttered from the corner, his voice barely audible. 

"Look at you, Riku! Don't be shy!" Maya encouraged. "You gotta own your introduction! We're all friends here!"

"Name's Hataro, nice to meet you, Subaru-san." a more boisterous guy with blonde hair and blue eyesjoined in, pushing his way to the front with an eager smile. 

"I'm Ayari!" a girl with silver hair spoke up enthusiastically, twirling a lock of her hair with her finger. "Welcome to the Academy! You're going to love it here!"

"Nice to meet you, everyone!" Subaru replied brightly, his earlier unease dissipating. "I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you better."

"Don't worry, Subaru-kun! We'll make sure you have the best time here!"

End of the Flashback

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This is how Subaru's first day in the academy went.'

"Hey, Subaru! You're still with us?" Hataro called out, waving a hand in front of his face. 

Snapping back to reality, he grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, just lost in thought for a moment." 

Hataro clapped Subaru on the back. "You've got that look, you know? The one where you're off in your own little world. What's got you so deep in thought?"

"Nah, it's just… you know, I keep thinking about how much has happened since I started here. It's kind of wild."

"Wild, indeed!" Maya replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You went from the guy who called himself 'clueless and unremarkable' to the one everyone looks up to!"

Subaru felt a flush of embarrassment creep up his cheeks. "Come on, that's too much praise! I'm just doing what I can." 

Due to Cid's training he blasted through most of the sword practice classes, securing himself a spot in an expert class. Because of this, he was a little well-known among the students. It doesn't help that his prodigy sister also attends this school and having 'Kageno' as his last name, people pretty much expected this. 

"So what's our first class, it's professor Lathins again?"

"Ugh… his classes are lame and dull…"

"More like an endurance test," Hataro grumbled. "I swear, if he says 'And thus, we shall transcend the mundane' one more time, I'm going to lose it."

Laughter erupted among the group. "Alright, let's just get over it." Atari noted, before all of them entered the classroom. 

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In the expert class training grounds, Subaru was seen sparring with other student. He stood in the center of the training yard, sword in hand. He focused on his opponent, sensing their intent as they rushed forward, swinging their sword

With a quick sidestep, Subaru avoided the strike and countered, bringing his blade around to catch the opponent off-guard. The clash of steel resonated in the yard as the two swords met, creating a sharp sound that echoed around the training ground.

Instructor Zenon stood observing the practice sessions, particularly on the performance of Subaru Kageno, who had emerged as a standout student. "Excellent footwork, Subaru Kageno!" Zenon called out, his voice resonating across the yard.

His opponent made another reckless attack, but Subaru remained composed. He sidestepped gracefully and used their momentum against them, executing a swift maneuver that sent their sword up to the air and then tumbling on the ground. 

"Victory!" Subaru shouted, raising his sword in triumph as Professor Zenon nodded approvingly. 

'Victory!' Along with Subaru, Rigel exclaimed the word in unison.

"This guy has been making remarkable progress," Zenon announced to the rest of the class, garnering nods from students who had gathered to watch. "Don't let this be a one-off; consistency is key in swordsmanship."

However, the training ground door swung open, the principal along with a 40s middle aged man walked in, their footsteps echoing against the stone floor.

"Attention, students!" The principal's voice boomed, drawing everyone's focus. "I hope you all are making excellent progress in your training. I have an important announcement to make."

Subaru exchanged glances with his classmates, curiosity piquing as the principal continued.

"This is," He said as he jestured towards the man. "Will be your second instructor, Lord Lapis. He has extensive experience in advanced swordsmanship and is renowned across several regions for his expertise. We are honored to have him here at the Academy of Dark Knights"

As the introduction wrapped, Lord Lapis stepped forward, his demeanor calm yet authoritative.

"Greetings, students," he began, his voice smooth yet firm. "I am here to help elevate your abilities. I will ensure that every one of you uncovers your potential and pushes past your limits."

Lord Lapis calm gaze swept across the group of students, pausing as he met Subaru's focused eyes. Subaru felt a very strange feeling when he met his gaze. There was something off about him but Subaru couldn't quite place it. Like he has seen this man before. He recognised those piercing eyes but couldn't remember whose were that. Subaru's mind raced as he tried to recall where he might have seen Lord Lapis before. However, his mind finally clicked and he knew who it was.

'Grease?' His eyes widened as he finally recognized the figure before him.

"Yes, what a pleasure it is to have Lord Lapis here with us," the principal continuedl. "We expect everyone to give their utmost in this training. Do seize this opportunity to learn from the best."

Subaru stole another glance at Grease as he addressed the class. In return, Grease nodded his head to achknowledge Subaru's gaze, a smirk lingering on his lips.

A few students were already gossiping about Lord Lapis and his reputation. Subaru leaned in as he heard snippets of their conversation.

"Did you hear about the last academy he was at? Apparently, he was involved in some underground tournament!" one student remarked, eyes wide with thrill.

"I wonder what he'll teach us…" another added, his voice bubbling with anticipation.

"Zenon is way more handsome thay this old man..."

As the announcement wrapped up, Subaru watched the students disperse, murmurs spreading, as they spoke about their newfound instructor. 

"Alright, gather 'round!" Professor Zenon called, breaking Subaru out of his thoughts. "Let's get started with your first training session with Instructor Lapis! Pair up and show me what you've got!"

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The class was finally over. As the training session concluded, the students began to gather their belongings.

"Great job out there, Subaru!" One of the students called out, approaching him with an excited grin. "You really showed that new instructor what you're made of!"

"Thanks! But it's not just me," Subaru replied, chuckling as he sheathed his sword. "We all pushed ourselves today."

As Subaru watched students slowly dispersing from the training ground, he noticed Lapis- No, Grease standing at the corner of the yard, all this time he was looking at Subaru, as if waiting for him to approach him.

Subaru approached him. "Grease? Is that you?" His voice was laced with both disbelief and intrigue. 

"Yes, it's me," Grease replied smoothly, his demeanor calm and collected as he crossed his arms. "Surprised to see me here?"

Subaru nodded, "I didn't expect to see you as an instructor here."

"I actually have a purpose for being at this academy," Grease said, his tone shifting to a more serious note.

Subaru raised an eybrow in confusion. "What do you mean, a purpose? Are you here for the academy, or is there something else going on?"

Grease leaned against the wall, his calm demeanor unwavering. "I have been sent here by the order of Rounds of the Knights." 

Grease was still an agent of a Cult of Diablos and was acting as a spy to gather information on high-ranking Cult's members and their future plans and send it to Subaru.

"What is it that they want from the academy?" Subaru inquired, the weight of the conversation heavy in the air. 

Grease's expression hardened slightly. "I am not so sure of myself, I have been told that I will be working with someone here to help them achieve their goals."

Subaru furrowed his brow, feeling a mix of concern and curiosity. "Working with someone? Do you know who it is?"

"Not exactly," Grease replied, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "I only know that they're someone quite influential within the academy."

"I need you to keep an eye on anyone who seems suspicious—students, teachers, professors. Anyone," Grease replied, his tone serious. "Trust your instincts. You've developed a keen sense for trouble."

Subaru nodded, still processing the informating he has been told just now.

"And Subaru," He continued. "Be careful with who you are talking with and avoid sensetive topics. The moment I learn about the mission, I will come rushing to you."

"Got it," Subaru replied, determination in his voice as he watched Grease walk away.

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"Jeez, when will this day finally be over…" Subaru was seen tiredly walking down the academy's hallway alone, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the polished floors. 

"For some reason, this day felt going on forever—"

"Subaru Kageno, It is nice to meet you in person." A female voice interrupted his thoughts, causing Subaru to halt mid-step. He turned around and saw a quite familiar face, the first princess of the Kingdom of Midgar—Iris Midgar. 

She is a stunning woman with delicate features, fiery straight hair that falls to her back, and striking red eyes. Her outfit consists of knight's uniform without the cape—a deep violet outfit with light trim, black shoulder straps, and cuffs rolled up a bit from her wrists, including white gloves, knee-high heeled boosts and with sword hanging at her side on her waist belt.

Subaru blinked a couple of times, momentarily stunned by the unexpected encounter. 

"Uh… Princess Iris, right?" he stammered, feeling a mix of awe and disbelief. "Uh, it's an honor. Yeah, for sure! Nice to meet you!"

Iris smiled gracefully, the corners of her lips curving into a friendly yet regal expression. "The honor is mine, Subaru."

"Your reputation certainly precedes you, Subaru Kageno," Iris said with a graceful smile. "I've heard quite a lot about you and your excelling in swordsmanship—as expected from one related to the esteemed Kageno family."

"Oh, uh, thanks!" Subaru rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, "I, uh, just study hard and try my best. It's really nothing special."

"Really?" Iris raised an eyebrow. "Your sister has been telling me all about you. She speaks very fondly of you, implying that one day you might surprass her."

"Of course she would boast about that! That just sounds like her. The moment I actually surpass her, she will beat my ass till she manages to win a spar with me." Subaru exclaimed rolling his eyes 

Iris blinked, taken aback by Subaru's unexpected outburst. "It's refreshing to see someone so unafraid to speak their mind. Most people are typically too intimidated to be honest around royalty."

"I mean, you're a princess, but at the end of the day, we're all just people, right? Like, what's the point of acting all stiff and formal?"

Iris couldn't help but smile wider. "You're quite different from the typical noble I meet, Subaru. I appreciate that."

"Yeah, well, the whole noble act is just…ugh, I don't get it," Subaru replied, crossing his arms in mild frustration. "Pretending to be all refined and proper while people are struggling outside with real problems? It feels so disconnected. It's like wearing a mask, and honestly, I'm not really a fan of masks. They make it hard to breathe, you know?"

"I can see why people are drawn to you. You speak your mind, even in the presence of royalty."

"Yeah, well, don't go getting too used to it! I can be pretty annoying, too. Ask my friends; they'll tell you I have a talent for talking too much," he added with a sheepish grin. 

"Anyway." Subaru tried to composure himself. "What brings you here?

"Well, I was actually looking for you. Your sister mentioned that you've been doing exceptionally well in your training. I figured I'd take the opportunity to see for myself what all the fuss is about."

"I mean, i just try my best. There are plenty of students who does the same! If you're looking to be impressed, you might be better off checking out someone else," Subaru replied, waving a dismissive hand.

"You're being modest, Subaru. I want to see you," Iris replied, her tone firm but friendly. "Besides, it's not every day I get to observe someone I hear such great things about. And whether you like it or not, you have made quite an impression."

Subaru shifted uncomfortably under her gaze and compliments, his cheeks flushed red in embarassment. "What exactly do you want to see, though? How well do I swing my sword?

"I'd like to see how you handle yourself in practice. How about a friendly spar?"

Subaru's eyes widened at the proposition. A friendly spar with a princess? That was definitely not how he envisioned his afternoon. "You want to spar with me? A regular dude against a princess knight? Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Iris's expression turned serious. "I might be a princess, but I enjoy a good challenge, and I've sparred with many skilled opponents. I'm curious to see how someone like you will fare. Besides, it'll be an excellent way to gauge your abilities directly."

"Yeah, right! Gauge my abilities? You're going to demolish me," Subaru blurted out. "I mean, you're a princess! Wouldn't it be like— I don't know —squashing a bug?"

Iris raised an eyebrow, her amusement evident. "You underestimate yourself. If I didn't think you were capable, I wouldn't propose it."

Subaru sighed. "Well, I guess there's no backing out now, is there?" 

"Exactly. Let's meet in the training grounds in a few days. I'll make sure not to go easy on you."

"Great! So I get to take a beatdown from a princess, just what I always wanted!" He threw his hands up in the air, half-joking, half-exasperated.

"You're a lot more entertaining than the usual noble types. Just promise me, that you won't forget about spar."

"I can't make any promises; I might get emotional when your sword comes swinging at me!" he shot back. 

"Just be ready, Subaru Kageno. I have high hopes for you."

Iris gave a slight nod, and as she turned to leave, Subaru couldn't help but feel an odd mix of admiration and annoyance. "Why does everyone expect so much from me?"

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It was late afternoon, Subaru was seen eating his dinner at the table when loud knocks echoed from the entrance of the appointment. Subaru paused mid-bite, glancing up from his meal. The knocking continued, louder and more insistent.

Subaru set down his fork, brow furrowing. "What on earth could that be?" he muttered under his breath, a mix of curiosity and annoyance swirling in his mind.

He unlocked the door and immediately Cid rushed in, panic and desperation clearly visible in his eyes.

"Subaru! It's over! My career, my persona, my everything. Just gone." Cid paced back and forth, his hands tugging at his messy hair, his face a mask of distress.

Subaru's heart raced as he took in Cid's frantic expression. "What happened? Did you get caught up in something?" 

"It's worse than that!" Cid exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air. "You know the bet? The one about confessing to the most popular girl? Well—"

"You really did it? And how did it go?"

Cid paused mid-pace, his expression dropping as he dropped into a chair. "It was a disaster!"

A mix of pity and amusement swirled within Subaru. "Well, that's not too surprising considering how she acted earlier today. You kind of do expect a little rejection-"

"No! The rejection wasn't even the worst part!" Cid interrupted, his voice rising in frustration. 

"I was prepared to confess to Princess Alexia. It was supposed to be my big moment—my masterful mob character act! But then—"

Subaru couldn't help but lean in, eager to hear how it all had unfolded. "But then what?"

"She accepted my confession, Subaru. She actually accepted it!" Cid's face was a mix of disbelief and horror. "I was prepared for the embarrassing rejection, but now I have no idea what to do!"

Subaru blinked in surprise, trying to process the wild turn of events. "Wait, she accepted your confession? Are you serious?"

"Dead serious!" Cid threw his hands up in exasperation. "I thought I was going to get laughed at or ignored, but she was actually—it's like she believed me! Now, I'm stuck in this position where I have to act like I'm interested in her, and I don't even know why she accepted me in the first place!"

Instead of answering, Subaru reassuringly put his hand on his shoulder, chuckling softly.

"Eh?" Cid looked up at him, confusion written on his face.

"You've come far, Cid Kageno. Every obstacle, every challenge you faced has led you to this moment." Subaru continued, a grin breaking out on his face.

"What are you talking about?..." Cid gazed at Subaru incredulously, a mixture of horror and uncertainty in his eyes.

"It's time for your character development, embrace the role of romcom protagonist." Subaru continued, laughter bubbling up as he watched Cid's expression shift from panic to exasperation.

"Are you nuts?" Cid retorted, pushing Subaru's hand off his shoulder. "This is a nightmare! I was meant to be the perfect background character, blending into the shadows, not thrust into a romantic subplot! What sort of romcom manga are we living in?"

Subaru couldn't help but laugh as Cid continued to spiral into a panic. "Come on, Cid! It's not the end of the world! This could be your chance to experience something different, to break out of that 'mob character' role you've created for yourself."

"ABSOLUTELY No way!" Cid shot him a look of pure disbelief, shaking his head. "I refuse to fall into your cliché nonsense!"

"Alright, alright..." Subaru's laugh subsided, and he leaned back in his chair, trying to regain his composure.

"Now on a serious note, I believe there may be three reasons of why she accepted your confession."

"Three reasons?" Cid echoed, looking skeptical yet intrigued.

"First reason, Princess Alexia has a thing for mobs characters like you or she is bored of the same old suitors who chase after her because of her title. Sometimes, someone unexpected catches their attention, and in this case, it might just be you."

Cid blinked, taking a moment to digest Subaru's words. "That's... a possibility. But does it even make sense?"

"The second reason," Subaru said, leaning forward, "is that she might genuinely find you interesting. Maybe she saw something in your act that intrigued her."

Cid pondered this. "I did put a lot of effort into that act…"

"And the third reason, she might use you to chase away all of her admirers who have been constantly bombarding her with confessions. Perhaps she noticed your low profile and thought having you around would deter the more persistent suitors," Subaru suggested

"Just being near her already drags unnecessary attention my way!" Cid exclaimed, his voice filled with frustration.

"Alright, I know what to do," Cid replied with determination. "I'll have her dump me, I'll become the worst boyfriend and she will have no chance but to dump me!"

"Thank you, Subaru. I shall procceed with my plan now."

"Okay, okay. Can you let me eat in peace now?" Subaru said as he saw Cid storming out of his room with a confident expression. 

"You gotta admit, it's entertaining to see him in a situation he can't control." Rigel voice echoed, his tone filled with amusement

Subaru chuckled at Rigel's comment as he returned to his meal, the image of Cid's panicked face fresh in his mind. "Yeah, it is."