The morning streets of Mizuhara thrummed with energy as Renjiro and Haruto wove through the bustling crowd. Vendors shouted over one another, their voices a lively chorus—ripe apples for sale, the clink of hammered metal, the sizzle of grilled meat wafting from a stall. The air buzzed with the chatter of villagers haggling and laughing, their daily rhythm unbroken. Yet, as the two boys passed, heads turned. Renjiro's silver-white hair, now swept into a neat topknot, gleamed like a beacon in the sunlight, and whispers rippled through the onlookers.
"Who is that handsome boy?" a woman murmured, clutching her basket as she stared.
Before Renjiro could shrug it off, a trio of girls stepped into their path, their eyes wide with fascination. One, bolder than the rest, tilted her head and smiled. "I never saw you before here. What is your name?"
Renjiro blinked, caught off guard. "I am Renjiro. Did you all forget me?"
The girls froze, recognition dawning like a thunderclap. Haruto's jaw dropped beside him, equally stunned, as the trio retreated in a flurry of giggles. "Damn, he is so hot," one whispered, her voice carrying back. "I never thought it was Renjiro." The boys stood rooted for a moment, the absurdity sinking in, before shaking it off and continuing toward the eastern gate.
As they walked, Renjiro's brow furrowed, picking up their earlier thread. "I don't understand what you are talking about?"
Haruto grinned, a teasing edge to his voice. "You don't even have common sense, and I will tell you again."
Renjiro's patience frayed, his tone sharp. "Just tell an idiot."
Haruto's grin widened, unfazed. "I ask if you have romantic feelings for Himari?"
Renjiro stopped mid-step, his dark grey eyes narrowing as he mulled it over. The question hung heavy, and he felt a flicker of heat in his chest—annoyance, maybe, or something else he couldn't name. After a beat, he straightened and said firmly, "No, I don't have romantic feelings for Himari, and I always see her best friend and beautiful girl."
Haruto wasn't letting it go. "Then why do you stare at her sometimes?"
Renjiro waved a hand, dismissive. "That doesn't mean I love her, she 's just beautiful."
Haruto laughed, a bright, mocking sound. "You idiot, that's called love."
Renjiro's scowl deepened, his voice resolute. "Love means you always want her by your side, and but don't have that kind of feelings for Himari, and also never want her as my girlfriend, and I don't have interest in dating anyone."
Haruto shrugged, relenting with a smirk. "Fine, doesn't matter for me, but what will you do if Himari confesses to you?"
Renjiro's answer came swift and sure. "I will reject her in some ways so she doesn't get hurt." He paused, then turned the tables, his smirk sharpening. "You asking me too much—what are your feelings for Reina?"
Haruto's bravado faltered, a blush creeping up his cheeks as a soft smile broke through. "I love her, and I want to live with her forever, and but fear me is—"
Renjiro cut in, reading him easily. "You don't know how she feels about you?"
Haruto nodded, his blue eyes clouding with doubt. "Yeah."
Renjiro's smirk softened into something rare—a genuine, steady smile. "You're a good person, and don't think too much, just your love for her before it's too late—nobody knows what will happen in future."
Haruto's voice trembled slightly. "What if she reject me?"
Renjiro's grin returned, brimming with confidence. "I don't think she will reject you, and just tell her your love, and she definitely will accept you."
Both boys exchanged smiles, a quiet strength passing between them as the village faded behind them, the eastern gate drawing near.
At the gate, Selena leaned against the weathered stone arch, her red hair catching the morning light. Yuki paced nearby, her black eyes scanning the path, while Reina, Takeshi, and Himari stood in a loose circle, their breath fogging in the crisp air.
Yuki glanced at Selena. "Where is that two?"
Selena shrugged, casual. "They are on the way."
Takeshi sighed, kicking a pebble. "They will definitely come late," he muttered, just as a breeze swept through, tugging golden leaves from the trees and scattering them across the ground in a fleeting spiral.
Himari's gaze lifted, and her breath hitched. Down the path, Renjiro and Haruto emerged, and the sight stole the air from the group. Renjiro's tied hair framed his sharp features in a way that transformed him—his dark grey eyes seemed deeper, his presence sharper. Yuki, Reina, Himari, Takeshi, even Selena—everyone stood stunned, mouths agape.
Takeshi rubbed his eyes, bewildered. "What happens to Renjiro, and who is this boy?"
Yuki smirked, crossing her arms. "I think someone kidnapped Renjiro."
Renjiro scowled, stepping into the circle. "Stop teasing me, what's wrong with you all?"
Yuki grinned. "I never see you tie your hair."
Renjiro ran a hand over the topknot, grumbling. "If you don't tie my hair, my mom says you can't leave, that's why I tied my hair."
Yuki's grin widened. "Your mom has more fashion sense than you."
"Shut up, Yuki," Renjiro snapped, though his lips twitched upward.
Selena leaned close, whispering, "Do you have an idea about your look?"
Renjiro frowned, earnest. "I think I have an average look."
Selena's mind raced, a mix of exasperation and amusement. He has no idea about how handsome he is, and every girl falls for him, what a waste. She kept it to herself, biting back a laugh.
Himari, meanwhile, stood frozen, her heart thudding as she took in Renjiro's new look. He was striking—beyond words—and a flush crept up her cheeks. Renjiro caught the stares and thought, Why is everyone overreacting? The attention prickled at him, unfamiliar and odd.
Reina clapped her hands, breaking the spell. "We need to go Kagetsura, and now beginning our new journey."
The group set off, the 8-kilometer path to Kagetsura stretching ahead. The dirt trail wound through gentle hills, flanked by rustling trees and patches of wild grass. The air carried the sharp cries of distant animals, the trill of birds weaving through the branches—a peaceful symphony that wrapped around them as they walked. Dust kicked up under their boots, and the sun climbed higher, warming their backs.
Haruto fell into step beside Reina, his curiosity sparking. "How do they give ranks to us?"
Reina adjusted her stride, her voice steady. "First they will measure divine energy using a divine energy measurement machine."
Haruto tilted his head. "That it, will they only measure divine energy?"
Reina shot him a look. "Just don't talk, there are two more things—second is they will check how many elements we have, third they will conduct a battle by using all three data they will give ranks to us."
Haruto puffed out his chest. "Then I will get an S rank."
Renjiro snorted, cutting him down. "You only ember core, you think you will get S rank, at least you need to reach celestial core only, and at least best rank will get among you all is Selena, and D+ rank."
Yuki perked up, smirking. "Maybe she will get a C rank, and also she reached the arcanist level yesterday, and plus she has six elements."
Selena's eyes lit with anticipation. "It will be interesting, and gain some real battle experience before taking the Tenshou academy entrance exam."
Takeshi asked, "Is Tenshou academy the best academy in the continent?"
Selena nodded. "Yes, but there also many academy like Raiko academy and Kageyami academy, still more some great academy, but among all best Tenshou, they produced many great mages, healer, summoner, swordsman, and maybe you all should take exam, you all get more exposure."
Himari fidgeted, her voice soft. "I am also thinking, but the exam will be more difficult."
Selena agreed. "Yeahh, it's definitely difficult."
Renjiro glanced at his sister. "I don't think you have difficulty since you are a prodigy, and you also have six elements at age of 13, and you mock battles against Himari parents, and Yuki dad himself is S rank."
Selena considered it. "Maybe true, I don't have difficulty passing the entrance exam, but I don't have real battle experience, I have a long way to go, and I am lacking in element variation."
Renjiro said, "It's not your mistake, because no one in our family mage or something, in the village everyone mostly has fire and wind element, and if you got the same train as nobles, now you will get at least B rank or B+ rank."
Selena smiled, surprised. "It's very unusual for you to say good things about me."
Renjiro grinned. "Then you want me to tease you?"
Selena laughed. "No, it's better than you teasing me."
Their chatter flowed as the kilometers ticked by. Himari leaned toward Reina, whispering, "Hey, don't you think Renjiro was more handsome today?" Reina nodded absently, but her gaze drifted to Haruto—his blond hair glinting, his blue eyes catching the light—and she thought Haruto also looked very good.
At last, the wooden gates of Kagetsura rose ahead, sturdy and weathered, marking the village's edge. Renjiro stretched his arms, exhaling. "So finally we reached the Kagetsura village, and asked Reina, do you know where the adventure guild is?"
Reina replied, "I know."
Haruto raised an eyebrow. "Did you come before?"
Reina said, "Yes, last year I came with my dad, that's how I know, and let's go to the adventure guild."