PROBLEM - AKIHIRO

Naru sat at the table, but he couldn't relax. Even though he tried to ignore the topic about Akihiro from this morning, he could still feel the blood boiling in his veins. Leyla, on the other hand, seemed completely calm, even carelessly spreading jam on her toast as if she hadn't just said something that could easily throw him off balance.

"I don't understand how you can eat so calmly after dropping a bomb like that on me this morning," he grumbled, leaning on his hand.

Leyla looked at him from under her lashes and shrugged. "What can I say? I digest stress well."

Naru shook his head. "I don't. I still think that fox shouldn't be anywhere near you."

"Akihiro doesn't look at me that way, Naru," she repeated for the umpteenth time. "Seriously, I think he's more interested in books than women."

"That doesn't mean he can't change his mind," Naru cut off her attempt to calm him down.

"Oh, please. If he hasn't liked me by now, he won't start," she said sarcastically. "And honestly, would you believe me if I told you he's never even tried to flirt with me?"

Naru just mumbled something unintelligible and stabbed his fork into the plate.

Just as Leyla was about to give him another lecture about trust, the doors to the hall suddenly opened, and a court messenger entered, looking visibly upset.

"Your Highness!" he said quickly, bowing. "We've received news from the ruins. They've found traces of magical activity – it's possible someone else got in before us."

Leyla raised an eyebrow. "I suppose we can't ignore this?"

Naru immediately stood up. "No, we need to leave right away."

Leyla stood as well. "Then I'm coming with you."

Naru flinched and shook his head. "Not a chance."

"Excuse me?" Leyla said, crossing her arms. "Why not?"

"Because it's dangerous, Leyla. This time, I'm not letting you get caught up in something that could be a trap."

Leyla rolled her eyes. "Oh, please! As if I've been sitting around with my hands folded, waiting for someone to save me."

"That's not the point. I'm responsible for you."

Leyla leaned toward him, lowering her voice. "Naru, we're partners. You can't keep protecting me like I'm some porcelain doll. You know I can take care of myself."

"I can protect you, and that's what I'm going to do," he said stubbornly, looking her straight in the eye.

"Protection and over-control aren't the same thing, you know that, right?" she said dryly.

"Leyla—"

"Sorry to interrupt, but I think I might have something that could help," a calm, familiar voice came from the door.

They both turned around and saw Akihiro standing in the doorway, arms crossed, wearing his usual expression of bored self-confidence.

Naru immediately snarled. "What are YOU doing here?"

Akihiro laughed. "Don't worry, Prince. I'm not trying to steal your woman. Though, with your attitude, you might want to consider how long she'll be patient with you."

Naru flinched forward, but Leyla quickly grabbed his hand before he could lunge at Akihiro.

"Come on, calm down," she said. "Maybe he actually has something useful to say."

Akihiro nodded. "How do you always know how to keep him under control?" he asked, amused.

Leyla laughed. "Practice."

Naru rolled his eyes. "Say what you've got to say and leave."

Akihiro shrugged and pulled out an old parchment map from his sleeve. "I found this last night in the library. I think it marks hidden passages inside the ruins. It might help you find the entrance before someone else does."

Leyla took the map and studied it. "This could really be useful…"

Naru shook his head. "Where did you get this?"

"Well, you know, a little research, a little luck, a little…" Akihiro twirled his fingers in the air theatrically. "Genius."

Leyla rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you're a wonder, fox. Thanks."

Akihiro bowed. "Always at your service, dear Leyla."

Naru snarled again, but Leyla quickly slapped him on the shoulder.

"Anyway," she said. "We're going to the ruins, Naru. And I'm not accepting 'no' as an answer."

Naru sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I knew it would end like this."

Leyla smiled at him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I know you love it when I'm stubborn."

Naru just sighed, realizing the fight was lost.

Akihiro laughed. "See you later, Prince. And I believe Leyla is in safe hands."

Leyla and Naru walked through the narrow halls of the palace, their footsteps echoing in the silence. After a tense morning and a heated argument, they had finally made a decision – it was time to find Kaito and head to the temple.

"He'll come with us, right?" Leyla raised an eyebrow as they turned down the hall.

"This is for him too," Naru shook his head with a hint of irritation. "But given the situation last time, I don't know how he'll react when I tell him we're going to the same temple."

When they arrived at Kaito's room, the door was ajar, but he wasn't inside. Only a messy bed and a half-empty bottle of sake on the table.

"Lovely," Leyla crossed her arms. "So, where is he now?"

Naru sighed, rubbed his face, then closed his eyes and focused. He used his ability "Echo of Souls" to listen for the traces Kaito had left behind. Moments later, he smiled.

"Of course, he's in the garden."

Leyla frowned. "Let's drag him out of his hole."

When they reached the garden, Kaito was lying on the branch of a tree, his head thrown back and eyes closed, as if enjoying the morning breeze.

"No, no, no," he said before either of them could speak. "If you're looking for me because of what I think you're looking for – the answer is no."

"You don't even know what we want," Leyla leaned against her hip.

"Of course I do. You want me to go with you to the temple, don't you?" Kaito opened one eye, glanced at them, and immediately closed it again. "I don't care. When you go somewhere else, call me."

"Kaito, get up before I pull you down from there," Naru rubbed his temples.

"That would be interesting to see," Kaito stretched his arms. "But no."

Leyla leaned closer to Naru and whispered, "Let me handle this."

Naru gave her a skeptical look but immediately recognized the mischievous smile on her face.

Leyla raised her voice. "Alright, fine. You're right. You're too busy. Besides, the temple is full of challenges and dangers; you probably wouldn't even be able to solve them, even if you came."

Kaito opened both eyes.

"What did you say?"

Leyla shrugged. "Never mind. We've already figured out how to get through all the obstacles. With or without you."

Kaito jumped from the tree and landed in front of her. "You think I'm scared?"

Naru laughed. "Don't do that, Leyla, he's too easy."

"If there's a challenge, I'm in!" Kaito proudly raised his chin. "Give me five minutes to grab my stuff."

Leyla turned to Naru and winked. "Easy as a feather."

The journey to the temple wasn't peaceful. From the moment they stepped into the forest, something felt off. The air was thick, as if they were being watched.

"This smells like trouble," Kaito whispered as they passed through the dense vegetation.

Naru nodded. "Keep her close."

Leyla immediately rolled her eyes. "You know I have a name?"

Just as they stepped onto the stairs leading to the temple, guards appeared.

"This is private property, leave!"

Naru was about to challenge them, but Leyla grabbed his hand. "Give me a minute."

Naru and Kaito exchanged looks.

Leyla placed her hand on her hip and stepped forward with a serious expression. "Excuse me, but we have official permission to access. You don't want to break the temple law, do you?"

The guards exchanged glances. "Permission?"

Leyla theatrically pretended to pull out a document from her sleeve. "Oh, of course. But, you know, if you refuse us – which is your right – we'll have to report your superior for non-cooperation in an official investigation. That could be a problem, don't you think?"

The guards froze.

Naru kept his smile as the guards gave up and let them in.

"You have to teach me how you do that," Kaito whispered to Leyla.

She smiled at him. "It's called the power of logic. Try it sometime."

Once inside the temple, the atmosphere changed. The walls were adorned with ancient writings, and the candlelight cast long shadows.

"Okay, where now?" Leyla whispered.

Naru closed his eyes, listening to the space around them. "The trail is here. But someone doesn't want us to find it."

At that moment, the door behind them slammed shut.

"Is it ever easy?" Leyla sighed.

From the shadows, yokai-like warrior beings stepped forward, armed with spears. Without a word, they surrounded them.

"Lovely," Kaito drew his weapon. "About time we had some fun."

Naru positioned himself in front of Leyla. "Don't stray from me."

Leyla stepped back behind them as they fought the strange warriors. Kaito was fast, Naru strong, but the enemies kept coming in waves.

In that moment, Leyla spotted something on the wall – a small symbol glowing.

"Naru! It's a symbol!"

Naru turned just as an opponent swung at him. At the last second, he dodged the strike and charged toward the symbol. He struck it with his hand, and the ground beneath them suddenly shifted.

The floor opened up, and they fell into a dark chamber beneath the temple. When they regained their senses, an ancient scroll lay on a stone slab in front of them.

Leyla slowly approached and picked it up.

"Is that..." Kaito asked.

"We won't open it yet," Naru said, breathing heavily.