23 - Truth

Earth In Words Institute, Infirmary

As she spots the room's open entrance, Seijuro hesitates. Perhaps she should simply post her public apology and leave it at that?

Would anyone truly care?

"Girl, have you calmed yourself?"

However, Seijuro loses her chance to leave as a short old man carrying an almost ridiculously long beard steps onto the corridor, his black kimono settling softly over his scrawny figure as he crosses his hands at his back.

The man smiles, he's gaze finding Seijuro's without any of the deference or fear she has grown to expect from many of her subjects.

"Master Tian," Seijuro greets, bowing as she meets her fist and palm. "I didn't expect to meet you here."

Hanying Tian clicks his tongue and sighs. "I can see that. When will you understand life isn't a test?"

Seijuro maintains her expression carefully neutral as she straightens herself. "For most people, it doesn't need to be," she agrees, "Must we truly have this discussion again?"

"Bah! Yes, we must! You think yourself special! That's exactly the problem!"

Seijuro averts her eyes toward the infirmary window and sighs.

"You cocky brat! You think I can't tell-"

"Master, please, this is the infirmary," she cuts him off, "And even if we continue, I doubt the result would be any different than last time… If life is a test, I intend to score max grades. And even if it isn't, I'll still do my best."

"Max grades my ass," Tian murmurs, his face heating slightly as he glances around the empty corridor and releases a sigh of relief, "Being stiff as you are, the pressure will eventually break you! You're young and therefore stupid!"

Seijuro frowns. She has many flaws, however, being stupid is not one of them, regardless of her age.

"Heh. Strongly disagree? I don't care. Stupiiiiiiiiiid, that's what you are. And you'll realize as much eventually, but no matter, go and see what your carelessness has caused!"

Hanying Tian waves his long sleeve toward the door he came out of, stepping aside as he does so.

Seijuro hesitates. Was the damage worse than she expected?

As she walks the small distance under Master Tian's gaze, Seijuro finds that her heart thunders against her chest.

This is ridiculous. It's just a broken arm…

Seijuro stops as she is almost able to see inside. Her hand trembles, and she closes it into a fist, before giving one last step.

"…Ah, Miss Aston… You didn't need to bother…"

The boy laying on the bed smiles weekly as he spots Seijuro, his narrowed eyelids making it clear he's barely awake, most likely because of some sort of medication. Considering how loudly he was screaming before… Seijuro doesn't blame the nurses for drugging him.

"I'm sorry for not being able to bow."

Seijuro clears her throat as she steps in, her eyes wandering through the machine covering his arm before settling on his face once more.

"It's okay, I hate it when my classmates do it."

The boy blinks, and Seijuro realizes she'd normally have smiled in what Melinda calls her "PR" personality, rather than being honest.

Well, he'll most likely not remember their conversation regardless. She might as well be honest for once.

"How are you doing?"

The boy glances toward his arm, smiling once more. "…The nurse said it was a clean break… I should be clear by tomorrow…"

So, he'll lose two days of class because of her mistake.

"I'm sorry."

The boy laughs softly, "…Please, Miss Aston, you shouldn't… I am to blame for…"

"We're supposed to have the System on standby during fights and spars. You had no way to know-"

"Please, stop… Miss Aston… I was so nervous… And happy… to fight you… This is nothing…"

As she realizes the boy has closed his eyes and fallen asleep, Seijuro frowns.

So much for her apology. Will he even remember she visited?

"Miss Aston?"

Seijuro glances over her shoulder in time to spot a bowing nurse at the room's entrance before he straightens himself and smiles at her.

"I'm afraid he needs to rest now. If Miss Aston would come back after classes? He should be awake by then…"

And go through this again? No, thank you.

"I see." Seijuro curtsies. "Thank you."

"No problem. Be careful, Miss."

Seijuro contains a sigh as she walks by the nurse and the door slides closed at her back.

Fucking hospitals. She hates them so much…

"Idiot."

Seijuro glances at Master Tian as he stands near the window and stares outside, toward younger kimono-wearing students as they head for their afternoon club activities.

"Wasn't I stupid?"

"Idiot," he repeats.

Seijuro sighs. "Afternoon classes are about to start; I was under the impression you had a job to show up to?"

"Bah! They'll survive without me for a couple more minutes. Go on, take it out of your chest, Kiddo."

"…An acquaintance had the brilliant idea of setting me up as her emergency contact. I couldn't refuse the connection, and ended up committing a stupid mistake from being distracted."

"You shouldn't have to in the first place. Could you promise it won't happen again?"

Faced with Hanying Tian's sidelong glance, Seijuro ends up averting her gaze.

"No. No, I could not."

"I can take I guess as to why your System is never on standby, Girl. Most people might have forgotten, but I still remember the look on your face-"

"I take that back," Seijuro interrupts, this time facing his gaze without flinching, "Next time, I'll fight through an incoming connection if I must, but I won't commit the same mistake twice."

Tian blinks, then sighs. "Stupid, arrogant brat! Bah! Why do I worry so much?! Fine! I should've expected as much from you! You'll get what's coming for you next class, you hear me!?"

Seijuro finds herself smiling as she watches Master Tian go, though she knows he'll most likely put her through hell the next time she steps foot into his dojo.

Well, it won't have been the first time.

A moment goes by, however, and Seijuro glances around the infirmary's empty corridor as she rubs herself, suddenly feeling colder.

She needs to get out of here.

After her visit to her mother last night, her memories and emotions seem to churn below the surface, ready to boil over and screw her; like making her break the arm of her sparring partner, or fight Melinda for no real reason.

No matter, her afternoon classes are about to-

'Miss Aston has received a request to connect from... Mr. Kuro. Would Miss Aston like to accept?'

From Kuro?

"Sure, I accept," Seijuro murmurs as she begins a slow walk toward the infirmary's exit.

'Yo. Are you still on break?'

'I was about to head to class. What do you want?'

'Well… How are you?'

What?

'What?'

'C'mon, it wasn't exactly a hard question. After yesterday, I figured you'd be having a hard time today.'

'I'm fine,' Seijuro lies.

'If it becomes too much, you could take a break,' Kuro continues, as though she has spoken nothing at all, 'I'll pick you up in less than five minutes, and we'll visit somewhere nice, or chill at the apartment, or… I don't know. Watch a movie?'

'…Watch a movie? Seriously?'

Seijuro struggles to smoothen her frown as she walks by a smiling nurse who half curtsies in her direction.

'You know I'm not good at this sort of thing. Point is, you shouldn't burn yourself out. I know you take your duty seriously, but-'

'Stop. Kuro, I can't take a break from being the princess. And besides, this is just the second day of school, in case you have forgotten.'

So much has happened… She could've sworn half a year has passed.

Kuro hums through their connection. 'Well, I don't believe you for a second when you say you're fine, but I know you won't listen… Okay, be there in five. Care to tell me which class I'll have to kidnap you from, or should I…?'

The image of Kuro carrying her over his shoulder out of school flashes through Seijuro's mind as she abruptly coughs, then glances at her surroundings and finds them mercifully empty.

…He's probably one of the few people who could actually pull it off.

'The world wouldn't end if you took a day off, Seijuro.'

'…No. No, it wouldn't. But my reputation would suffer, and I'd be called a slacker. How can I expect my subjects to work hard if they see me as the girl who took the second day of classes off?'

Kuro sighs. 'Seijuro, you're seventeen… Nobody should expect you to be perfect.'

'Thank you for worrying about me, Kuro, but I'll be fine. Bring me coffee when you come, okay? I'll probably need it after the morning I've had.'

'…Fine. Promise me you'll at least connect if it becomes too much?'

Seijuro snorts. 'Since when is being a therapist a part of your job description?'

'Since it put me in the care of a stubborn teenage girl. Until evening?'

Seijuro breathes a sigh of relief as she spots the infirmary's exit. Perhaps a bit of fresh air will do her some good.

'Until evening. Don't be late.'

'When have I ever? Oh, just one more thing. Have you checked the Community lately?'

'Sure. About two hours ago…? Why?'

'I saw something about a girl called Beatrice before connecting with you, and she was with Melinda. Maybe you should take a look?'

Seijuro's hurried steps slowly come to a halt.

'…Was she hurt?'

'Beatrice? Nothing serious, but it was a nice punch.'

…So close, yet so far.

'I'll check it out. Thank you.'

***

Infirmary

"I can't help you if you don't talk to me, Beatrice."

Go away.

"Anabella is in the corridor outside. She wishes to apologize."

Go away.

"Why don't we talk about your parents? How is your mother, even I have heard of her famous garden before."

Go away.

"Anabella, what do you have to say?"

"She hit me first! I-"

"After you threw her food on the ground? And provoked her?"

"She is a bitch and she deserved it! I'm not apologizing!"

The woman sighs. "Take her to class. I'll talk with her later."

Go away.

"Beatrice, can you hear me, darling?"

Go away.

"She… Only hurt her nose, right?"

Go away.

"Her vital signs are stable. There's nothing wrong with her… At least not physically."

Go away.

"Have we called her family?"

"Her father refused to come. Neither her mother nor sister could be contacted. And her emergency contact… Happens to be Princess Seijuro Aston…"

"Princess Aston…? I understand. Beatrice, darling, can you hear me?"

Go away.

Go away.

Go away.

Go away.

Go away.

Go away.

Go away.

Go away.

Go away.

Go away.

Go away.

Go away.

Go away.

…

A sense of déjà vu strikes Seijuro as she approaches the infirmary room, though for once, she refuses to allow herself to waver, and maintains a firm pace as the room's occupants enter her vision.

Beatrice lies on the bed, her eyes empty as she gazes toward the ceiling. A machine is attached to her nose, but she seems unaware of its existence; In fact, if not for her eyes being open, Seijuro would have bet a large amount of her considerable heritage on the girl being asleep.

"Beatrice?" she calls, attracting the eyes of a woman sitting near the bed with a concerned look.

"Miss Aston!" the woman exclaims as she quickly rises and curtsies, "Thank the Gods you are here! Maybe she will talk to you… I tried, but it is as if she doesn't even listen to my voice…"

Seijuro enters the room, ordering the System to close the door behind herself as she meets the second woman's eyes, the nurse, who stands near the machine, seemingly setting it up.

"What is wrong with her? Is she sedated?"

"Her nose is broken," the woman explains as she gives Beatrice a slightly concerned glance, "Nothing that can't be fixed, and I've clarified as much to her…"

"She isn't sedated?" Seijuro insists.

The woman gives Beatrice a meaningful look, before meeting Seijuro's eyes again. "…No. We haven't given her anything strong enough to create this sort of response."

Seijuro stares between the two women, reaching a conclusion. "In that case, I wish to speak with my friend alone, if possible."

The nurse curtsies, nodding. "The nanomachines have been set on their task. I'll come back to check on her soon."

The second woman, whom Seijuro assumes is one of the school counselors, hesitates briefly as she glances toward Beatrice, then sighs.

"As you wish, Miss Aston. I'd be waiting outside."

Seijuro hears the door closing as they exit, though she doesn't turn. Instead, she stares at the chair the woman occupied, heading towards it.

Eventually, after sitting and staring at Beatrice for a moment, the princess sighs. "Stupid girl. Why didn't you tell me?"

Slowly, Beatrice's red, heart-shaped lips move slightly, her voice surprisingly calm as she whispers, "You don't care. Please stop pretending you do."

"Does it hurt?" Seijuro continues, ignoring the jab.

"…Only my pride. Why are you here?"

"I was about finished with the video when they contacted me. I mean, you did set me up as your emergency contact, remember?"

"Stop. Stop that."

"What?"

Finally, Beatrice moves her gaze to find Seijuro's, her face furrowed with rage as she clenches her hands into fists at her sides.

"That. Being nice to me. You think I'm stupid?"

"…Sometimes."

Beatrice blinks, surprised, then immediately averts her gaze to stare at the room's opposite wall.

"W-what do you want?!"

"To see how you're doing. Why else would I-"

"Stop! You've never cared before today! And b-besides… You should break ties with me. Make sure they k-know we have nothing to do with each other anymore."

"Is that what you want? Or is that what you're scared of?"

"Princesses shouldn't be seen mixing with losers. It'll hurt your reputation."

"Beatrice," Seijuro calls, and then once more, once it becomes clear it was not enough, "Beatrice, look at me."

Slowly, begrudgingly, Beatrice does so. Seijuro is not surprised to find her cheeks wet.

"Do you wish for me to leave?"

For a long moment, Beatrice doesn't speak. Her lips tremble, and her eyes show her fear – in fact, terror – clear as day.

"No…"

"In that case, could you tell me what you want instead?"

"Nothing… There's nothing else… It's over… I'll never be able to walk in public again…"

Seijuro breathes deeply as she releases a sigh. "It's not over, Beatrice. Your life has barely begun."

"What do you know?! I hate them all! They all hate me!" After screaming, Beatrice's petite face distorts onto a horrible mask of hatred as she glares at Seijuro. "And don't even try to pretend you aren't just like the rest of them. You never cared about me, you just couldn't bring yourself to kick me away because I was useful to you, wasn't it? Wasn't it?!"

Anger is good. Anger is better than despair.

Seijuro rises, quickly pacing in front of the bed as her mind races for the right thing to say. Beatrice's eyes follow her through the room, burning. She is right; Seijuro never cared about her, and she used Beatrice to do her dirty work when it was convenient.

Seijuro stops, meeting the girl's eyes once more. "I believe… I believe I've recently come to the realization I've misjudged you, Beatrice. But I won't hide from my mistakes, nor shall I tell you empty lies; I did think of you as somebody to use and keep at a distance."

"Then why are you here?!"

"Because I want to! Because you put me as your emergency contact! Because I know nobody else would come!"

"It's always about what you want, isn't it?!"

"Why do you have to be so difficult?!"

"Sorry for not being as perfect as you are!"

"I'm not perfect!"

Both girls breathe heavily, staring at each other, until, slowly, Seijuro walks back to her chair, being the first one to avert her gaze, and Beatrice turns to face the other side of the room, apparently deciding to pretend Seijuro doesn't exist once more.

"I-I d-don't understand you… F-first, you ignore my m-messages for months, and t-then… T-then y-you start being nice to me… W-why? Why did you tell me the t-truth?"

Affected by the girl's sobs, Seijuro finds herself blinking rapidly. On an impulse, she slowly leans over, awkwardly pressing her hand over Beatrice's trembling shoulder. "I don't know for sure," she whispers, "I'm trying to… Change, I suppose. I've always thought you intended on using me, and I used you in return. But…"

Beatrice sobs once more, and Seijuro stops, sighing. "It's okay to cry. I won't make fun of you," she murmurs, repeating something she heard long, long before her life became a gray shadow of what it once was.

"I-I d-don't u-understand…" Beatrice repeats, "I don't understand what you want from m-me!"

Seijuro glances towards the ceiling and closes her eyes briefly, breathing deeply. Oh, how she missed her mother during these years. And today, more than never, she…

"I can't believe I'm about to say this, but… Beatrice, would you like to become my friend?"

After a moment of lingering silence, Seijuro opens her eyes to find a red, wide-eyed Beatrice staring at her, mouth hanging slightly open.

Seijuro tilts her head. "…Is that a no?"

"W-w-w-what… Did you just…?"

"Aren't you tired of pretending all the time? Because I… I am. And… If we are going to continue speaking with each other, I'd like for us to be able to speak and act honestly. I'm sorry if… I'm being pushy, or inappropriate, considering current circumstances."

Beatrice laughs; a short, incredulous sound. "I guess Anabella hit my face harder than I thought."

In an impulse, Seijuro flickers the petite's girl forehead. "I'm pouring my heart over here; Would it kill you to give me an answer?"

Pouting, Beatrice rubs against her forehead, though she then smiles. "You know, I was about to drop out of school… I thought my life was over. Seijuro… I-"

"Stop," Seijuro interrupts, shaking her head. "As I've said, I didn't do it because of current circumstances, it was something I had on mind these past days. I thought… I thought being your friend might not be the worst."

"I… I see. But I… I still think your reputation would suffer from continuing to be associated with somebody like me, and I know how much you care about it… How much work you put into maintaining it. Is this really…" Beatrice shakes her head as she averts her gaze. "I couldn't live with myself knowing I'm just a weight dragging you down."

"I could speak with your father. This situation is ridiculous. Even if you weren't the perfect daughter-"

"No," Beatrice interrupts softly, "I'm glad you care enough to, but if he doesn't want me in the family, then I'm better off on my own. I mean… You're Seijuro, you could probably convince him… But…"

"I understand."

"Seijuro, I… This… This is so sudden. I… I think I need some time to think and… Put myself together… Or something like that…"

Breatrice blushes as she meets the princess's gaze, who nods.

"Don't worry, things like these take time… Or so I'm told. If you're feeling better now, I should probably head to class."

"I know we agreed to meet after class today, but I… I have some things to sort through… Would it be too late if we did it tomorrow?"

"I suppose not." Seijuro rises, her movements followed by Beatrice's blue eyes as she sighs and heads for the door. "Should I ask them to leave you alone?"

Beatrice nods. "Y-yes. Thank you… For showing up, and… For being honest with me. Can I… Could I… Connect later? I promise I'll have an answer for you then…"

Seijuro smiles. "Of course. I'll be waiting, so don't leave me hanging, okay?"

Seeing Beatrice's surprised nod, the princess steps onto the corridor outside, ordering the door closed behind her. The nurse is nowhere to be seen, but the counselor woman immediately raises from a chair nearby, her eyes somewhat anxious.

"How is she?"

"She wants to be left alone. But… She'll get better. Just give her some time to rest."

The woman nods, relieved. "Is Miss Seijuro heading back to class?"

"Something like that."

***

Melinda stares towards the infirmary's door as she releases a sigh.

She doesn't remember the last time she felt truly anxious; Before a fight, her adrenaline usually keeps her from actually freaking out, and her absolute faith in her own training does the rest.

And yet, now her stomach seems to grow colder by the second as her mind wonders through what Seijuro might say or do…

'I saw the video. Meet me at the infirmary.'

Seijuro's message was short, but Melinda was clever enough to recognize the command within; and the anger.

They have been fighting so much lately, and things were bad enough already…

Seijuro did ask her to treat Beatrice better. Could she be upset about what happened at the cafeteria…?

…Will her image suffer from it?

Melinda groans out loud as throws her head back and stares toward the sky.

Politics has never been her thing. Seijuro is right in that she'll need to behave differently as the queen's right hand; At the very least, she should be able to protect an ally from a dangerous situation, regardless of her feelings, lest the crown might lose face and power.

And she was right there, staring like an idiot just like the rest of them; No wonder Seijuro is upset with her.

She'll probably have to clean after Beatrice now, and maybe even cut ties with the girl… A useful asset, lost, and for what?

…Is that how Seijuro sees it?

Melinda lowers her gaze abruptly as she hears the infirmary's door, though she half expects a nurse or student… Instead, she finds Seijuro's walking out with a look of relief on her face, though such look disappears as her eyes happen to land on Melinda.

The princess does not smile.

Containing a sigh as she leaves the bench she was resting against, Melinda walks up to Seijuro. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I didn't realize things would escalate so quickly-"

"Stop. Even if I am disappointed, this is not about Beatrice."

Melinda blinks. "It's not? You know I was in the middle of class, right?"

Seijuro stares Melinda up and down for a moment, her expression unreadable. "You pity me, don't you?"

"What? Where did-"

Seijuro tilts her head, and Melinda abruptly steps back, barely stopping herself from taking a fighting stance. Staring into the princess's eyes, electricity runs down her spine, and it is only the knowledge of the fact Seijuro hasn't at all moved, which stops her from doing so.

What is happening?! Her heart seems about to explode!

Seijuro smiles. "They say a true master is able to exert their bloodlust so though even the most unaware may feel it. In practice, it is often a technique used to avoid bloodshed, or create a sense of hesitation upon an opponent."

Melinda clenches her teeth as she fights against the most primitive fight or flight response she has ever felt, her fists closing even as she forces herself to avert her eyes from Seijuro's gaze.

"Have you lost your fucking mind?!"

"Far from it."

And, as suddenly as it began, the feeling disappears, leaving Melinda to slowly regain her wits as she raises her gaze toward Seijuro once more.

"I thought it might be unfair if the first time you felt it was during our fight… Though I'm surprised it affected you so much. You might be more perceptive than most."

Seeing Seijuro scan their surroundings calmly, Melinda straightens herself as she frowns. "I could've attacked you!"

"You could've tried," Seijuro corrects, her daring sidelong glance drawing a sigh out of Melinda.

"Wait. Our fight? What does that mean?"

Seijuro sighs. "I've recently realized our relationship cannot continue for as long as you continue to see me as your rival. But seeing as you're unwilling to put the matter to rest… I see no other choice other than to entertain you."

"You… Seijuro, are you serious?"

"Of course. I wouldn't joke over something like this."

Melinda can scarcely believe her ears. "And you're saying… You and me. On a ring. In an official match?"

"Yes. As long as you feel prepared, I'll accept your challenge."

"I… I don't know what to say."

"You don't need to say anything. Show me your determination, and remember what you've just experienced. Once the match has started… Things aren't the same as when we were children, Melinda. I might not be able to go easy on you."

Her heart now beating fast for a different reason altogether, Melinda smiles. "I never asked you to, you damn bleeding heart."

Seijuro snorts softly. "Don't make me regret this. And once it's over, regardless of the result, promise me you'll let it go?"

Melinda curtsies. "…On the name of my family, I promise I'll be ready to devote my life to you after I've beaten your ass, Milady Aston."

"I'm glad to see you're still confident," Seijuro murmurs as she walks past Melinda, waving over her shoulder. "See you at the gym after class?"

Finally… Finally, she'll have a chance at it.