Takahiro (5)

We stepped into the rustic, warmly lit interior of the Happy Bull, the scent of sizzling meat and spices filling the air. Yoon and Blade were already seated at a corner booth, Yoon's face lighting up as we approached, Blade keeps her nonchalant attitude. We exchanged quick greetings before sliding into the cushioned seats. The servers promptly arrived, and Yoon and Blade placed their orders. Soon, the table filled with a spread of mouth-watering dishes. I took a bite—it was close to Miss Annette's home cooking, but something was missing, a certain warmth or flair.

Laughter bubbled from Yoon and Blade as they clinked glasses, having ordered some strong liquor. Kenji, ever the wildcard, reached for a glass. I swiftly smacked his hand down.

"Not happening," I said, raising an eyebrow.

Blade leaned back, her cold, calculating gaze fixed on us. "So, why did you three join the Division Knights?" she asked, her voice cutting through the restaurant's hum.

Kenji, always the first to speak up, grinned confidently. "To be the greatest Knight!"

Truth and Blade exchanged puzzled glances. "The greatest Knight?" Truth echoed.

"Yeah," Kenji replied nonchalantly.

Truth tilted his head. "Then why not just join the regular Knight Order?"

Kenji flashed a toothy smile. "Because they don't have dragons."

Their expressions shifted into a familiar one—the same bemused, is-this-guy-for-real look we always saw back home.

Truth forced a strained smile. "What about you?" Blade turned her sharp eyes on me.

I felt the heat rise to my face. "Huh… um, I want to become the strongest swordsman in the world." My voice firmed up. "It's a dream I inherited from Ray."

Blade's eyes flickered with something—curiosity? Amusement? I couldn't tell. Truth, however, clapped a hand on my shoulder and shot me a thumbs-up.

"Good goal," he said, grinning. "But first, you'll need to beat Blade."

"Why?" I asked, genuinely surprised.

Truth smirked. "Because Blade here," he gestured with a casual nod, "is one of the strongest swordswomen in the Empire."

My jaw nearly hit the table. "Wait, what? Seriously?"

"Yup," Truth confirmed, his voice thick with pride.

Yoon, her usual cheerfulness surfacing, wrapped an arm around Blade. "She's the seventh strongest swordswoman in the entire Empire," Yoon chimed in, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

Blade's stern features softened briefly as she patted Yoon's head, a rare glimpse of tenderness in her otherwise steely demeanor.

"And," another voice cut in, "Truth here is ranked twelfth among swordsmen." Senior Marko announced, his tone playful as he clapped Truth on the back.

Truth chuckled, a bit awkward under the attention. "It's not that big a deal," he muttered.

Yoon, however, was having none of his humility. "No, it is special. Out of sixty-eight ranked sword wielders, including those with enchanted weapons, you placed twelfth." She darted forward and hugged him proudly.

Yushiro, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up in his usual laid-back tone. "How do you even know your rank? Is there some tournament?"

Truth's eyes lit up. "Yeah, there is. It's part of the King's Festival. The main event is a tournament for sword-wielders only. Anyone can enter, but it's where the best of the best compete."

Yushiro raised a brow. "But what about those who don't join the tournament? Some could be stronger but just stay in the shadows."

Truth chuckled softly. "True. But the tournament isn't just about ranking. It's a tribute to the Phoenix Royal House and the Sardonyx House. For most, it's about pride, skill, and proving themselves. I joined to test my limits and, well," he glanced at Yoon with a sheepish smile, "to impress someone."

"And got your butt kicked by Lucky," Marko teased with a hearty laugh.

Blade jumped in, grinning mischievously. "Oh, I remember that fight. 'Y-Yoon, don't worry—it's just a scratch. Just the tip,'" she mimicked, her voice high-pitched and dripping with mockery.

Marko howled, adding, "And Yoon panicked, 'The tip? Well, that's a relief!'"

Laughter erupted around the table. Truth and Yoon both flushed red, flustered but clearly enjoying the moment. Kenji and I shared a look, smiling. It was rare to see them this carefree.

As the laughter died down, Blade's gaze flicked toward Yushiro. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him. "What about you?" she asked, her voice returning to its sharp edge. "Why did you join the Division Knights?"

Yushiro didn't look up from the window. "Looked fun," he replied lazily.

I groaned, palm meeting my forehead. Classic Yushiro.

The same, unimpressed, you-can't-be-serious expression crossed our seniors' faces.

Blade's eyes flashed, her voice frosty. "Are you making a joke of this?"

Yushiro met her gaze without flinching, a smirk tugging at his lips. "What's wrong with having fun while chasing a goal? Life's too short not to enjoy it."

Blade studied him for a long moment before snorting and looking away. "Hmph."

The conversation flowed on, with Kenji and me fielding most of the chatter. Yushiro, as usual, stayed half-immersed in his book, but his smirk lingered.

The warmth of the restaurant, the teasing, the stories—for a moment, it felt like we were all exactly where we belonged.