WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT YUMI?

"You know my roommate is coming, right?" Leyla said as she took some snacks out of the fridge and placed them on the table.

Akihiro crossed his arms and leaned against the kitchen counter. "And? What about it?"

"Well, we need to come up with some explanation for why a stunning stranger suddenly appeared in our apartment."

Akihiro smirked. "Sounds like your problem."

"We'll say you're my boyfriend."

Akihiro nearly choked from laughter. "Excuse me? Princess, you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend?"

"Yes. Problem?"

"Ha! Problem?! For me? I'm a top-tier actor!" He dramatically placed a hand on his chest. "You're about to witness an award-worthy performance!"

Leyla rolled her eyes and was about to clear the glasses off the table when they heard the door unlocking.

Yumi stepped into the apartment—and froze.

She stared at the tall, elegant man lounging on the couch, sipping juice and watching TV.

Then she slowly turned to Leyla, then back to Akihiro.

"Who… is… THIS?"

Leyla swallowed hard, but before she could answer, Akihiro stood up and approached Yumi with a dazzling toothpaste-commercial smile.

"Hello! Nice to meet you. I'm Leyla's boyfriend."

Silence.

Yumi blinked.

Then blinked again.

Then all hell broke loose.

"WHAT?!"

Yumi grabbed Layla's hand and dragged her to the side.

"You. Kitchen. NOW."

Leyla sighed and followed.

As soon as they entered the kitchen, Yumi peeked behind the corner, then turned back to Layla.

"How did you NOT tell me you have a boyfriend?!"

"Well… it happened fast."

"Clearly! Wait, is that why you've been moody these days? Fighting? Relationship drama?"

Leyla chuckled. "Something like that…"

Yumi peeked at Akihiro again, who was cheerfully waving from the couch.

"He looks like a character from a drama. Is he rich? Maybe the heir to some company?"

Leyla barely held back a laugh. "Something like that…"

Yumi sighed. "Whatever! As long as you're happy, I can finally relax. Movie night?"

Two hours later…

The living room floor was covered with drinks, snacks, and a pile of board games.

Yumi had a serious expression as she stared at Akihiro.

"So, you say you're good at cards?"

"I can play with my eyes closed."

"Alright. See you on the battlefield."

They played Uno, and Akihiro was winning… (because Leyla was giving him hints behind Yumi's back; the guy had no clue about modern games) until he underestimated Yumi.

"HA! +FOUR!" she shouted, slamming the card on the table.

Akihiro stared in horror at the pile he now had to draw from.

"You… little witch."

Yumi grinned triumphantly. "Haha! And you thought you were unbeatable?"

Leyla was laughing her heart out from the side.

"He thought he'd win easily. No one beats Yumi at cards!"

Akihiro raised his hands in defeat. "Alright, alright! I admit it, tonight you've shown me true strength."

Yumi leaned back into the pillows. "So, how long are you staying?"

"Well…" Akihiro glanced at Leyla. "Not long. Just until we finish some things, then I'll be gone."

Yumi pretended not to notice, but Leyla caught it—that subtle sadness in her eyes.

Still, she didn't say anything.

Leyla rested her head on Akihiro's shoulder, fully playing the role of the lovestruck girlfriend.

"Can't you stay a little longer, darling?"

Akihiro stiffened.

This…

This he did not expect.

Leyla was enjoying herself.

"We have to go home, princess," he said, a little too dramatically.

Yumi looked at them with tears in her eyes.

"You two are like a couple from a movie…"

Leyla and Akihiro exchanged a secret glance.

This was the BEST performance ever.

Yumi sighed.

"Alright… but until then, you're playing games with ME! Because you're not sleeping tonight!"

Akihiro groaned.

"Princess… your roommate is small but evil."

"I know," she whispered through laughter. "That's why I adore her."

And so, they continued their night—with laughter, games, and the illusion of a normal life…

At least until tomorrow.

____

A rarity.

Usually, the room would echo with the shouts of advisors, the sounds of servants bringing tea, and Naru's incoherent mumbling as he balanced a parchment on his fingertip out of boredom.

But now…

Silence.

Because everyone was too shocked by the sight before them.

Naru was sitting.

Working.

Reading.

Writing.

"Something is wrong," one advisor whispered to another.

"Yes. This isn't normal."

"Maybe he's possessed?"

"Maybe he's planning a murder?"

"Maybe he's just…"

They all turned to the last advisor, who grimly said:

"…grown up?"

A chilling silence followed.

Then they all shook their heads.

No, Naru would never grow up.

At that moment, Naru looked up.

"Could you stop staring like I've grown a third eye on my forehead?"

The advisors snapped out of it and quickly pretended to be busy.

But Naru saw through them.

It had been a few days since Akihiro left.

And since he stopped breaking things.

Not that the thought hadn't crossed his mind.

But in the meantime, he had decided to calm down.

He ate in the grand dining hall with everyone else.

He organized the royal library.

And—most shockingly of all—he fulfilled his royal duties.

Of course, only until Leyla came back.

Then he could abandon responsibility again and enjoy her frustrated scolding.

"Naru, you can't ignore your duties!"

"Watch me."

Ah, he missed that.

At that moment, the hall doors swung open.

Kaito walked in.

"I hear you've gotten serious?"

Naru rolled his eyes. "Don't spread rumors. It'll cause problems."

"There's already a problem. Everyone's wondering what happened to you."

Naru shrugged. "Let them wonder."

Kaito sat on the table and snatched the parchment from Naru's hands.

"Agricultural reforms? Seriously?"

"I don't know, people were complaining that the rice wasn't sweet enough, so I told them to sweeten it with the tears of their enemies."

Kaito groaned. "Oh yeah, they're definitely going to love you."

"They already love me."

"Not in the way you think."

At that moment, the doors burst open again.

Servants rushed in, eyes wide.

"Your Highness! There's trouble at the kingdom's border!"

Naru straightened up.

"Trouble?"

"Wandering demons. We don't recognize them. They're coming from the north."

Naru leaned toward Kaito. "Tell me I don't have to go."

Kaito patted his shoulder. "I don't have to. But you will."

Naru sighed.

"Fine. Then let's go."

A FEW HOURS LATER…

They stood at the kingdom's border, watching the dark silhouettes in the distance.

"This isn't good," Kaito said.

"No sh*t," Naru replied.

Strange creatures emerged ahead.

Half-transparent, cloaked in dark flames.

Unnatural voices echoed through the air.

Naru drew his sword.

"You know, I was wondering when something like this would happen. I was getting bored without breaking things."

Kaito sighed. "Yeah, fantastic. Go on, Prince of Battle, lead us to our deaths."

They charged in.

The fight was fierce—but the demons didn't stand a chance against Naru.

With every swing of his sword, the faded figures vanished.

In the end, only silence remained.

Naru lowered his weapon.

"Well. That was refreshing."

"Yeah. Like an ice bath in December." Kaito stretched. "Let's go back, Prince."

"Fine. But first—one stop."

LATER THAT EVENING…

"You came to have tea with me?" Naru's mother raised an eyebrow.

"Sounds unbelievable, I know."

"Sounds like you want something."

Naru grinned. "Can't I just visit?"

"No."

Kaito cleared his throat. "I'll… take a walk."

He left them alone.

Naru poured himself some tea and looked at his mother.

"I need to tell you something."

She groaned. "If this is about Kaito and that maid… don't start."

Naru sipped his tea with a smirk. "You noticed, huh?"

"Everyone noticed. They just think they're subtle."

"I give them three more days before they start whispering in corners."

His mother sighed.

"And you? How are you?"

Naru was silent for a moment.

"Waiting."

"Do you trust him?"

"I have to."

Silence.

Then she said:

"Leyla will return. Find a way to survive until then."

Naru nodded.

He drank the rest of his tea.

Then stood up.

"Well, Mother, this has been lovely. I'm leaving now."

"Tell Kaito to stop staring at Mayu in secret. Or at least do it more discreetly."

Naru laughed.

And walked away.

Just a little longer.

Just a little more.

And everything would be right again.

____

Akihiro Loved the Morning Silence.

But this morning…

This morning had no silence.

Leyla was humming. But not just any humming.

She was singing off-key.

On purpose.

"Gooooood morniiiiiing, good morniiiiiing, Akihirooooo, are you aaaawaaaaake—"

"I am, I am! I beg you, stop!"

He stumbled out of bed, his hair a mess, staring at her like she had just unleashed an ancient evil from some forbidden scroll.

"How can you be this happy?"

Leyla beamed. "I'm seeing Naru today."

Akihiro rolled his eyes and dragged himself toward the bathroom.

The sound of running water followed.

"ARE YOU SHOWERING?!" Yumi yelled from the living room.

"What else should I do? Bathe in tea?" Akihiro shouted back.

Leyla burst into laughter as Yumi furiously stuffed her things into a bag.

"I'm leaving."

"So soon?"

"Yes, because if I don't, I'll see more than I ever wanted to."

Yumi pointed at the door.

"Act like I was never here."

The door slammed shut.

Leyla chuckled.

Akihiro walked out of the bathroom, towel-drying his long hair.

"So… today's the big day."

"Yes."

"And that's why you're dressing like you're attending a royal ball?"

Leyla checked her reflection in the mirror.

"Of course."

Akihiro leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

"You know, I could tease you about this…"

"You could, but you won't, because you know how much this means to me."

Akihiro smirked. "Alright, princess. Let's go see your prince."

The road to the temple was short.

But the air was… tense.

When they arrived, the monk was already waiting for them.

He was old, but his eyes were sharp and piercing.

"There is nothing here for you."

Lejla stepped forward.

"Please."

"No."

"Why are you so stubborn?"

"Why are you so stubborn?"

"Because I love Naru."

Silence.

Akihiro cleared his throat.

The monk stared at Lejla.

"Love is not strong enough to overcome all obstacles."

"But it's strong enough to make me try."

The monk sighed.

Leyla stepped closer and—before anyone could process what was happening—she hugged him.

Akihiro raised his eyebrows in shock.

The monk froze.

"What… are you doing?"

"Hugging you."

"Why?"

"Because you feel like someone who could be my father."

Silence.

The monk let out the deepest sigh yet.

"Fine."

"Really?!"

"On one condition."

Leyla pulled back, her eyes sparkling with hope.

"What condition?"

The monk leaned in.

"When you find Naru… tell him he owes me sake. The best he can find."

Akihiro burst out laughing.

Leyla stood there, stunned.

"Wait… that's it?!"

"Young man, take this stubborn girl home."

Leyla and Akihiro exchanged glances.

And then—at the exact same time—they started laughing.

This was a good sign.

This meant that the road back—finally—was open.