12 years ter…

  Sea der 1355, Castle of Life

  Guards bck attire streaked with gold, disrupted the ever quiet castle of life, they moved swiftly over the castle garden with some moving outside with urgency.

  In the royal gardeh the cherry blossom trees, a young guard jolted from his nap, which he unsciously did because of night duty, seeing the sun high above, he realized that his shift was over, but then he saw the rushing guards sensing their urgency, he rushed towards his captain.

  "Captain, what happened? What's the otion?"

  The captain, an older man with streaks of silver in his hair, barely spared him a gnce before sighing deeply.

  "Garudan gone missing again."

  "We o find him before Akira es back."

  The young guard hesitated, shifting on his feet before responding.

  "But captain… I saw Akira with Garudan."

  The captain stiffened.

  "...Where did go?"

  …

  In the sky above a bck eagle streaked through the clouds, its massive wings that span over six meters, with its height reag over three meters, it could tower over almost everyone.

  A man id on the back of this monstorisity while humming and watg the clouds above him, with white shirt and a bck jacket over with matg jeanes he closed his eyes while enjoying the ride.

  Seikatsu is one of the fastest growing try in the whole world, they moved from the modest six thousand to being most poputed try in just over hundred years, it current popution just reached the massive milestone of being the first try to host ten million people.

  The ten million popution is divided into six states and in the six states we have over forty cities aproximetly forty six, with four state having a single capital and two having double capital.

  Seikatsu is sists two isnd. Smaller isnd, Minamo is sidered one of the six state but it has barely has any people pared to the bigger isnd and It is sists of the other five states namely Hoshizora, Kibo, Takayama, Shisei and Gekko and It’s size is massive pared to the smaller o around huimes.

  Academies are divided into three tiers, with Miharu being the only city to have a top tier, followed by the remaining capital cities having tier two with the rest having tier three.

  Even though most of the cities have tier three, it doesn’t mean they have lower quality of education, they have better education pared to the rest of the world, it just means the higher tier is that much great.

  And currently, the bck giant eagle flew around Hoshizora admiring his view.

  …

  Blue Rose Mansion, Aokawa.

  Blue Rose Mansion is a mansion with t blue walls enclosing ae filled with life. Lush gardens stretched in every direarble fountains flowed gracefully into crystal-clear basins, and flowerbeds bloomed with tless blue roses.

  The man who owns this house es from a modest background, climed his way to the top on his own, he is one of the few people at the top who didn’t have a noble background or a title.

  Ihe Mansion on the grand hall, an e ceremony was underway. The couple stood at the ter of the ptform, surrounded by family and friends.

  The young man, dressed in a sharp blue suit, carefully took the delicate ring, while the woman, draped in a blue gowended her hand. With a steady breath, he slid the ring onto her finger.

  A moment of silenbsp;Then the ughter, cheers filled the hall as the loved ones gathered to gratute them, Cameras fshed, capturing the moment for eternity.

  …

  The giant eagle streaked through the clouds, with its powerful wings.

  The majestic beast desded rapidly toward the Blue Rose Mansion, slowing as it neared. With one final fp, it nded oop floor with a heavy thud, its talons scraping against the stone.

  The sudden arrival sent guests into a frenzy, their startled cries filling the air as they scattered in fear.

  A figure leaped from the eagle's bading smoothly on the floor. The man wore full bck suit, with an impressive height of standing at 234 cm, with bck smooth hair along his striking red eye.

  "Garuda, stop sg people,"

  Looking around at the y space. Akira's lips curled into a smirk.

  "Are you happy now?"

  The eagle cried with an expression that could only be described as a smug expression.

  "Hey, hero!"

  A voice, ced with both frustration and amusement rang catg their attention.

  Akira turned, reizing the familiar face.

  "Hajime, how've you been?"

  Hajime shook his head while gng at the empty floor, then g the massive eagle.

  "... good, but seriously… 't you make arance less fshy so that it doesn't give people heart attacks?"

  Akira chuckled and said while looking at Garuda.

  "With him? Not happening."

  Hajime sighed.

  "So, when did you get back?"

  "... Just today."

  Akira replied and then added.

  "Yeah, tomorrow is my dad's sixtieth birthday. You have to be there."

  Hajime grinned.

  "Of course. And while we're at it, let's take a group photo with the gang they should be down at the garden."

  Akira turo Garuda.

  "Stay put. And don't scare the guests."

  Garuda gave a slow nod theched as they walked towards the door, after seeing them leave it bowed its head and drifted into the sleep.

  As they walked downstairs, Akira asked.

  "So, did you set the date for the wedding?"

  Hajime smiled.

  "Yeah. It's happening in two days."

  They made their way through the lively hall, where it is filled with musid dance, before stepping out into the gardehe engaged couple was being photographed with the guests.

  Akira's gaze nded on the young woman in the ter. The instant he saw her, the world around him seemed to blur.

  Hinata, Hinata Higurashi.

  She stood with a quiet elegance, her blue gown shimmering uhe lights. Her soft features, framed by dark flowing hair, she looked stunning.

  When her eyes met him, it was only for a brief moment before she turned back to the camera.

  Beside her, her mother observed the silent exge, before looking at the photographer.

  Akira exhaled slowly and turned away, he walked back to the grand hall where the party tinued.

  He reached the ter of the room and strode towards the piano then stopped the music, pulled a microphone close to the piano.

  With a pyful smirk, he called out.

  "Guys, let's sing the academy song together."

  A chorus of chuckles echoed through the hall.

  "No one remembers it, dude!"

  Hajime's amused tone echoed through the hall, who came back to find Akira.

  Akira cracked his knuckles, settling at the piano.

  "The me take you on a trip down memory ne."

  As his fingers danced across the keys, a familiar melody filled the hall.

  One by one, voices joined in, their nostalgia-ced harmony filling the spabsp;

  'We are children full of light.

  Walking together hands held tight

  Joyous song we now recite

  Believing that our dreams are bright

  Helping giving back

  All because you showed the way

  Holding hands, we'll build together'

  …

  In the garden, the couple rested from the stant photographs, Hinata's ears caught the distant melody. Her expression softened as she turo her fiancé, whispering something before exg herself.

  She stepped into the hall, drawn to the familiar song.

  When Akira saw her approag, his fingers faltered for just a sed before he regained his rhythm.

  The song carried on, the chorus ringing through the air,

  'A better brighter tomorrow!'

  Hinata joihe singling as she stepped closer and then turo Akira.

  "Brother, when did you get back from Dressrosa?"

  Then gng at the singing group she added.

  "And, Thank you for pying the song. It brought back all those childhood memories."

  "You have taught us well"

  "e here."

  Akira motioned for her to e closer.

  She hesitated.

  He repeated,

  "e."

  "… in you ride"

  Hinata moved closer to Akira.

  "You know… when you have a beautiful girl in the family”

  “And she has a brother with a bunch of friends, the dies in the family choose one of them as her honorary brother. Do you know why?"

  Hinata looked at him, not answering.

  "We stand like rocks like family!"

  "I have my sisters. I know that feeling. I don't have sisterly feelings for you. Do you feel the same way about me as you feel about Hajime?"

  Hajime interjected sharply,

  "Akira, What are you saying?"

  Akira pressed,

  "Tell me. It brought back all those childhood memories, right?"

  Hinata silently watched.

  Then, without a word, she turned and walked away.

  Akira watched her go, while Hajime's gaze lingered on him.

  …

  Sometime ter…

  Celebration died down and guests have started leaving and then es the time for the lead of the show, the e boy to excuse himself.

  He walked to the entrance where his carriage waited for him along with the four horses.

  He moved to the carriage and turned back, looking up at Hinata, who stood on the first-floor terrabsp;

  "Hina, I'll pick you up for diomorrow."

  He smiled and blew her a kiss before stepping ihe carriage.

  "Let's go."

  Hinata watched the carriage for some time and then moved her gaze from that to her left.

  Akira sat against the terrace wall, holding a bottle of alcohol by his side. He looked up at her and asked.

  "Didn't you want to go to Dressrosa? What happened?"

  Hinata held his gaze for a moment before replying.

  "Yeah, I wao learn about their culture and perfume. Akio, my fiancee also works there. And Dad said he was a good mate."

  "And you said yes?"

  "I said yes to the e."

  Akira turned from her and asked.

  "So, you said yes to the wedding too."

  "...Yes."

  Akira asked immediately

  "Were you guys having an affair?"

  "..."

  Getting no response, Akira turowards her and asked,

  "Do you love him?"

  "No!"

  "I just spoke to him st week. He came back from Dressrosa just two days ago. A eoday."

  Akira leaned ba the wall and turowards Hinata.

  "... Do you knoomeo choose their husbands ba the day?"

  “What do you mean”

  Akira then tinued.

  "Let's go ba time. turies ago, there were two types of men…"

  "... the alphas and the rest. Alphas were the tough ones, who would go into the juo hunt, while the others, the weaker ones, would divide the hunted food among themselves."

  "Women would skillfully cook. They were responsible for nourishing the children and the unity. That's how unities operated."

  Akira stopped for a moment and tinued.

  "However, their influeended beyond the kit. They also possessed the authority to choose, which hunter would bee their partner in parenthood."

  "They held the power to desighe guardians… who would shield them and their offspring, from the rival hunters and wild creatures."

  "It was the women who held the reins of these crucial determinations. Back then, it wasn't about father, mother, caste, regiion, or a job"

  He locked eyes with her and asked.

  "If you lived back then… who would you choose? A bunbsp;of Akio?"

  His voice was quiet,

  "Or an alpha?"