9 We all are here

It is my third year in Academy. This year is special because Kii is also going to attend. I am waiting for her outside her house. I want to go with her in her first day of School. Luckily Aoi is already going with (read: forcefully taken by) his brother and sister. Even after these years, Aoi still hates me. I've stopped wondering why he does. It doesn't matter he has believed in me or not. I will just show him that I really love Kii and will do my best to make her happy. Kii is my everything after all. No Kii means no me.

When I was reborn into this world, I thought I'll just live my life alone. I'll train to be the strongest and left this kingdom as soon as I can. I never plan to get to know my current family, nor getting attached to anyone. But, look at what I've been doing up to now. I gain another brother and a father, a father, can you believe that? And I also slowly learn to know the feeling of being loved by a mother. Isn't it great? I still miss my family from my past life but now I also have accepted the family that I have now. Live is good. I'm happy. And I have all this because I fall in love with Kii.

Honestly, if it's not for her, I won't be here anymore. Someone like me won't have a patient staying in school for 3 years. It was boring as hell. Come to think about it, I think hell will be more exciting than the Academy. They teach what we already know. It's the same as the classes I took in the Palace. Why the hell we actually need to attend Academy? Oh, pardon me, to look for future underling of course. What? I'm not being rude. It's true! It is basically just placed for nobles brats to meet each other and compete to be a future king underling or if you're female, it's a place for you to show off your worth and beauty to find a powerful husband. Which means it is wasted time for me, as I won't need underling nor I need to look for a future wife. I already have one, mind you. I actually feel reluctant to let Kii attend as well. She doesn't need to find future husbands either. She has me. Huff! Besides I don't want anyone to see how cute, adorable, beautiful, nice, perfect... Okay, I'll stop now. And no. Before you said it. I'm not pouting. Men don't pout. Geez, who I even talking to?

I was about to start daydreaming again when I noticed that Kii is walking towards me with her parents.

"we are sorry to keep you waiting, his highness," they say.

"it's no problem. I was the one that volunteers to be Kii's escort, after all. Waiting is a part of it" I said charmingly.

It seems Kii's relationship with her family is getting better as well. In the past, they won't even bother to give Kii a goodbye hugs and kisses in the temple. I'm glad. Kii's smile is the cutest when she smiles of shyness mixed with happiness.

I soon say my goodbye as well. Following with the promise to escort Kii to the Academy safely.

The road from Kii's house and Academy is not too far but we do need to pass by a mountain and two forests. I held her hand as I help her on the carriage and I might be just not want to let it go again. Kii doesn't look like she minds so it's okay I think. Lexy is in the front so no one gives me a raised eyebrow either. Alone with Kii in a peaceful atmosphere. My life is so perfect. I sigh.

Kii looks at me as I sigh. Eyes full of worry.

"I'm okay. Just happy" I said as I pull her closer for a kiss. Her lips still as soft as the first time I kissed her. God, I've just realized that I missed her so much. When was the last time I kiss Kii? Or hug Kii? It's been too long.

"it's not that long though. It was a few months ago on my birthday. Aoi-nii was super mad at you" Kii giggles in remembrance. Ah, I said it out loud.

"Yeah, he won't let me get too close to you after that" I answer.

We look at each other they can't help but giggles (which I won't ever admit even if you hold a knife to my throat). It was exciting to try to get together behind Aoi's back. I suspect Aoi was noticed after a few tries but decided to pretend he didn't. As much as he hates me, his love for Kii is always winning after all. And if Kii is happy spending time with me, he will let it easily, albeit grudgingly. Since when did I become an Aoi expert again?

It's a rare occurrence being with Kii, alone without Aoi in tows. I should kiss her as much as can. Who knows when I would get chances again. I really should, but somehow, talking with her is far more exciting. I love hearing her voice. She doesn't talk much. When she does I feel like I can listen to her forever.

She likes to listen to my story as well. A story about past me. Not that she knows the boy in the story is past me. Her eyes will lit at every new adventure past me found. She was as excited as me (when I have experienced it) when the boy, me, found the firepower (somehow I can't say it came from a disgusting fruit). At the end of my story, she always asks if the boy was happy. And I will look at her and say he was happy. Because I'm happy. Truly. Thanks to her. She was crying nonstop when I told her that the boy used to wonder whether it was okay for him to be born. If his life was ever worth anything. I'm aware I might be just want to get all my regrets out from my heart when I told her that. She didn't say it was okay or not okay. She doesn't offer kind words for the boy, which I'm glad because even if she did I still would have a hard time believing it. She just cried silently and gave me tight hug and a kiss.

It was the first time she kisses me. I cross my heart that it wouldn't be the last time either. It was always me who kiss her so getting a kiss from her makes my heart soar. I even think that my heartbeats were dancing at that time. When I ask why she said it was because my expression looks so sad when I was talking about it, it makes her want to make me feel better. It was successful of course. I did feel great after that.

Holding her and talking to her like this makes me wish that the time will stop so this moment will never end.

Time, of course, didn't stop. We reach Academy in the blink of eyes. Aoi greets us (me, with a glare; Kii, with a smile)as soon as we arrived. I noticed that Akai and Midori (or is it Hisui? I still don't remember Kii's sister name only that it has an I in the end and also can mean green)are also waiting, they stick to Aoi as always it seems. I don't get the deal of Kii's family. They're a bunch of weirdos, except Kii. Well, even if Kii is also a bit weird, she still will be an adorable weirdo that I love.

"Kii, you alright? He didn't do anything weird to you, did he?" Aoi voice said.

"Aoi!" both Akai and Midori (I'll call her Midori) reprimand him at the same time.

"You're being unrespectful. Please apologize to Arzen-sama!" continued Akai in which Aoi answer with a scoff.

"We apologize for Aoi's behavior, his highness. I'm sure he doesn't mean to be unrespectful towards his highness." Midori said with a bow.

I waved my hand in a placing manner. It doesn't bother me. I already used to it. Besides who cares about how he talks? As long as he's not taking Kii away from me, he can talk in any way he wants to me. They wouldn't understand, so I just said "it's okay. I understand that Aoi-chan is worry about his little sister?"

Aoi's shout of "Who the hell are you calling Aoi-chan?" went unheard by their "we're grateful for his highness understanding" voice. Akai went so far as to cover Aoi's mouth with his hand. Midori plants herself beside Aoi and holds onto his arm firmly while Akai leads us to the gathering room.

Kii seems to amuse by their antics. I take her hand as we followed them.

"you're siblings are interesting, ne?" I tell her.

"they're fine," she said with a soft smile.

I knew that their relationship is not all sunshine and daisies. At least now they include her. Not all warm and cuddly of course and neither they show that they care for her but them being there is already enough for Kii, or so she told me.

I escort her to her seat beside an impatient Aoi, glare already in place.

"You know Aoi-chan, if you keep frowning and glaring like that, your face will stay like that permanently. It would be such a waste for such a cute face like yours" I tell him as I give Kii a kiss in her hand.

"Don't call me Aoi-Chan" he hissed. If glare can kill, I would have died thousands of time. Kii places her hand on his arm and like magic, he soon calms down then proceeds to ignore me. I roll my eyes.

"see you later Kii," I say, patting her head.

"Emm, see you later Ace-kun" Kii replied.

I smile to myself as I went to my seat. Why do we have to sit in a different place again?

"it's because you're a third year and Kii-chan is a first year. Isn't it obvious?" my brother's voice startled me. I said it loud again.

"why are you here, Nii-Sama?" I ask instead, choosing to ignore his previous statement.

"The welcoming speech..."

"will be delivered by Nii-Sama" I cut him

"it supposed to be..."

"will be delivered by Nii-Sama" I cut him again

"Arzen..."

"Arren-Nii"

We stare at each other. Then he sighed. I knew I've won. It's nice to be a little brother, ne? I learned it from Luffy. Thanks, Lu!

"and the reason is?"

"I have a sore throat?"

"the real reasons"

"I hate speech" he rolls his eyes at my answer but didn't lecture me for neglecting my duties or something. That's why I like my Nii-Sama. I beam at him as he rubs my head and left.

My life is good. Very good. I'm the happiest person alive. I have a nice family, an okay companions and Kii. I have Kii. The sun in my world, the breath in my life. My reason for being happy. My everything. I should thank Ether again for giving me this chance. This life is perfect. I couldn't think of anything that can take this happiness from me.

I should have not jinxed it.

In the middle of Nii-Sama speech, the door burst open. A girl with a pink shoulder length hair stumbles in. As every eye found her, breathlessly she said "I'm sorry I'm late, I was lost..." she trailed as she noticed Nii-Sama in the podium. She looks around as Nii-Sama excuses her and tells her to find her seat. It is only me or does her eyes stare intently into Kii's and Aoi's direction? then widened when she found me?

I didn't care much about her. I thought she just some random unimportant girl. I shouldn't let my guard down. I should have known she was bad news. I got too comfortable living my life here, with everything being perfect up to now. I thought it's impossible for something bad to happen. I should have known. It's me after all, my life is never easy. I shouldn't forget what Ether told me.

The one with a past life that makes ripples in this world. The one that reset time. The pure being that becomes a victim. And me, the result of the ripples. We're now all gathered here. We just don't know who is which.