The Unexpected Night

Anin then invites Shizu to go to her house so they could talk about the plan, as it was getting late. As they walk, the conversation flows.

— So? How did you end up here? — she asks curiously.

— Well... basically, I died. Then I ended up here. — he responds, trying not to sound as confused as he really was.

She suddenly stops and looks at him with an incredulous expression.

— Died? What do you mean?

Shizu turns around with a puzzled expression and replies:

— I don't really know. I just died and ended up here.

She starts walking again, reflecting on what he said, finding it all very strange. Shizu nods in agreement.

— Here we are, — says Anin, pointing to a small, cozy house ahead.

— Wow, it's a nice house! — Shizu says, his face filled with amazement.

— It may be nice on the outside, but inside it's quite small, — Anin responds with a sweet smile.

They enter the house, and Shizu starts exploring the environment.

— Wow, it's neither too big nor too small. It's perfect! — he says, his eyes shining with admiration.

— Thank you. — Anin replies. — Go to the second room in the hallway and wait for me there, please.

— Sure.

— And don't touch anything, okay? — she adds with a serious look.

— Y-yeah! — Shizu quickly responds.

Anin goes for a bath while Shizu waits in the room. He observes the small space and thinks to himself:

— It's really small, but cozy. I feel sorry for these people. They suffer so much at the hands of that tyrant. I will free them, for sure!

Later, Anin opens the bathroom door with a towel on her head and asks:

— Did you say something?

— N-No! — Shizu says, startled. He tries to hide his nervousness.

She finishes drying her hair and sits on the chair next to the bed.

— So... about your plan, how will it work? — she asks while still drying her hair.

— My plan isn't perfect, especially since I don't have enough information about the Empire. — Shizu responds, thinking.

Anin starts thinking and says she could provide information about the army and Babadar's castle.

— Really? That would be a huge help! — Shizu says, his eyes sparkling.

— Noticing he was sitting on the floor, she suggests: "You should take a bath too, so you can sit on the bed."

— I'll do that when it's time to leave, — Shizu responds with a shy smile.

— Leave? You're not spending the night here? — Anin asks, confused.

— What? Spend the night here? Uhm... I don't think so, it would be kind of strange...

— Strange? — Anin asks, raising an eyebrow.

— We barely know each other today, and I think inviting a complete stranger to sleep here would be kind of...

— But you're not a stranger. You're Shizu, right? — she interrupts, turning to him with a serious look.

Shizu turns red.

— Of course I am! — he replies, a little irritated.

— Then you're not a stranger! Besides, you're the only one who can bring hope to these people. And you also don't have a place to stay tonight. Am I wrong?

— N-no... — he stammers, unsure of what to say.

— So it's fine! — Anin says, smiling. — Now, go take a bath. I'll be back soon.

Shizu goes to the bathroom, takes his bath, and while rinsing, he thinks about what she said:

— "You're not a stranger... you're the only one who can bring hope to these people..."

He looks at the mirror with a determined look and murmurs to himself:

— Yes! I will... bring peace to this village.

Suddenly, the door opens with a loud noise.

— AAAAAH! — Shizu gets scared and screams.

— Sorry if I scared you! I just came to bring your towel...

— Ah... I-I'm fine... — Shizu responds, still a little nervous.

He finishes his bath, dries himself with the towel on the door handle. When he leaves the bathroom, he heads to the room where Anin was already lying on the bed. He sits in the chair but quickly starts to think.

— C-come on... this isn't the towel she... — his face turns red as he remembers that the towel he was using was the same one she had used to dry herself.

Anin, lying on her back, also has a red face. To change the subject, Shizu asks about Babadar's empire.

— So... the Empire of Babadar is divided into three parts. The first division, led by the first commander, is part of the Empress's guards. The second division, led by the second commander, is part of the castle guards, who patrol the area. The third division, mine, is part of the imperial army, which operates on the front lines and surrounds the city.

— Wow... that's complicated. — Shizu says, tapping his chin thoughtfully. — Do you think we could use your guards to fight against her?

— No, that's not possible. I forgot to mention, but all the Empress's guards have a mark called "the mark of obedience." This mark forces them to obey Babadar, even if they don't want to do something. — she says, looking at the ground.

— You... don't have one, do you? — he asks, worried.

— Don't worry about that. Her commanders don't use the mark because we take an official oath. That way, she trusts us, the commanders, without needing the mark.

— Phew, that's a relief. — Shizu says, sighing in relief.

— Well... I think I have an idea. I'm going to need help from certain people for that... — he says, looking at the ceiling.

— "Certain" people? — Anin asks, confused.

— Yes, I'm talking about the bandits here! — Shizu says with a confident smile.

Anin looks at him, visibly worried.

— What? No, I won't allow it! They are way too dangerous! We've fought against this bandit group before, and they never give up! They're strong, too! — she says, angry.

— I know you're worried, but we need their help. After all, we all have the same goal. — Shizu responds, smiling optimistically.

— But...

— Don't worry! I'll make it work, trust me! — he says, confidently.

— Fine, I'll allow it. But make sure you're not reckless! — she replies with a serious look.

— Alright, Captain! — he says, smiling and placing his hand on his head.

She starts laughing at his reaction.

AFTER A WHILE...

— Alright, you can go to bed first. I'll organize my things for tomorrow's work. — Anin says, standing up.

— Understood. — Shizu says, lying on the floor with a pillow to sleep.

A few seconds later, Anin returns to the room, remembering something.

— Excuse me, I forgot something... — she says, entering the room again.

Shizu is lying on the floor with the pillow over him, using it as a blanket.

— What are you doing on the floor? — Anin asks, confused.

— I'm... sleeping? — he says awkwardly.

— No, you're not! Get in bed! — she says, already angry.

— I don't think it's a good idea... after all, it's your bed. — Shizu tries to protest, embarrassed.

— It's no problem! — Anin replies with a determined expression.

— But... where will you sleep? — he asks, embarrassed.

Turning red, Anin responds:

— We can share the bed, and it'll be fine.

Shizu explodes in embarrassment.

— N-N-NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID!! I just think it's a bad idea... — he stammers.

— Why? Are you going to attack me at night? — Anin asks, still looking at the ground.

— W-What?? N-Never!! I just think it's weird... but, if you insist... fine... — he replies, even more embarrassed.

— Alright! — Anin says, smiling.

— I'll keep organizing my equipment. Goodnight! — she says, leaving the room and closing the door.

Shizu lies down and moves closer to the wall, thinking:

— She... is so cute...

He puts the pillow over his face, trying to relax.

An hour passes, and Anin enters the room again, hesitating.

— Is he awake? — she wonders, remembering what she had said. Her face turns bright red with embarrassment.

— What... what was I thinking when I said that?! Oh, how embarrassing! — she says, holding her face.

She looks at Shizu, who was really asleep, and lies down next to him, staring at his face.

— You were really tired, huh? — she murmurs before closing her eyes and falling asleep.

THE NEXT DAY...

— GOOD MORNING, SISTER! — says a little boy, opening the door to the room quickly. Shizu and Anin jump up in shock.

— W-Who is this boy? — Shizu asks, still groggy.

— G-Gab, I already told you not to open my bedroom door like that! — Anin responds, furious.

— Sorry, sister. Uhm... who is he? Your boyfriend? — Gab asks, looking at the unfamiliar figure.

— N-N-Not a boyfriend! — Shizu stammers, blushing.

— W-What?! No! He's a friend! — Anin answers quickly.

— Friend? — Gab asks, tilting his head.

— Yes, a friend! Go ahead, introduce yourself! — Anin says, looking at Shizu.

Shizu smiles shyly and introduces himself.

— Nice to meet you, I'm Shizu Mark. What's your name?

— Gab's name is Gab! — the little boy says with a big smile.

— Cool name, Gab. — Shizu responds, ruffling the boy's hair.

— Thanks, big bro! — Gab replies, jumping with joy.

After a while, Anin prepares a snack for them and gets ready to leave for the Empire.

— Bye, I'll be back later! — Anin says.

— Alright, I'll go out later to do that. — Shizu responds, with a determined look.

She watches him, worried.

— I see... just be careful, okay?

— Okay! — Shizu says, with a confident smile.

Anin leaves, and Shizu prepares for the mission, wearing a cloak so no one would recognize his face.

— Wow, I really look unrecognizable. — he says, looking in the mirror.

He says goodbye to Gab and tries to leave, but ends up bumping into someone at the door. He rubs his nose in pain, looks up, and sees a person with blonde hair and brown eyes, wearing blue armor. The person immediately asks:

— Who are you, and what are you doing in this residence?

Just as Shizu was about to respond, a sharp pain in his chest made him fall to his knees. He looked at his stomach: it was bleeding with a huge cut. Vomiting blood, he collapsed on the ground as he saw the individual putting the sword back in its sheath.

— Someone like you... I won't allow you into my beloved's house! — The man said disdainfully before walking away.

Shizu closed his eyes and died.

Everything went dark, and then voices began to be heard.

— Hey... Shizu?... Can you hear me?...

— Agh... — Shizu mumbled, still dizzy.

— Hey... — the voice grew louder, as if calling out to him.

With a sudden jolt, Shizu woke up abruptly, breathing heavily.

— HEY, SHIZU! — a voice called, now clearer.

Shizu opened his eyes quickly, shocked, trying to control his breathing.

— Shizu... are you okay? — Gab asked, holding his pants, looking worried.

Still shocked and staring at his abdomen, Shizu responded, confused:

— I think... I think so.