6 Stars Shine Brightest in Astrum

In his waiting, Hinata falls asleep with his head to the wall, snoring softly away while Mizuki attempts to perfect her hits. She can barely hit criticals, praising herself softly every time she does, attempting to keep herself on her feet. Her limbs grow dreary after a pathetic few rounds and with just a few gashes, she finds herself overwhelmed with an unfamiliar agony.

Hitting the last cultist down, she falls to her knees, taking a heavy few breaths. A panel marking her accomplishment flashes, chiming happily.

[Achievement Unlocked: Fight for my Way - Clear five battles in Training Mode]

[x30000 gold coins and 300 EXP received]

She unlocks another achievement but really, Mizuki's mind is too hazy for her to celebrate. "This is hard", she coughs, chest tight from all the activity.

"Are you done?" a groggy, deep-throated voice calls out to her from behind. She clenches her fists, forcing herself to look up regardless of how tired she is. "I am." 'Not with any of your help', she adds mentally in distaste. Swallowing, she stands, hoping her knees won't buckle and make her fall. It would be too many embarrassments for one day.

"Come on, I'll bring you to a place," Hinata grunts as he stands, holding the door open for himself. Mizuki massages her temples, walking unevenly behind him. On the way out, Ingrid waves enthusiastically in farewell. Hinata flashes a polite smile and Mizuki nods sluggishly, combing her fingers through her hair in an attempt to make herself look less like a mess. She sulks behind Hinata, tugging at his sleeve.

He retracts his arm, frowning at her, "What'd you think you're doing?"

"Can I go home? I feel faint."

"There's one thing else you need to do," Hinata sighs. Mizuki frowns. When she looks up, she finds her gaze blinded by a bright light above. It's night, and the full moon is high in the sky. It's cloudless and the stars are crystalline; Mizuki hasn't seen this in a long time. Downtown, he leads her to a restaurant. "It's just so this location is marked on your map and you can get here easily if you're tired."

"What next?" Mizuki rubs her eyes.

"Buy mushrooms and potatoes, just five of each, it won't cost too much."

Mizuki finds that she's too lazy to argue. She trudges up to the person working, flashing a tired but awkward smile. A young girl with mint green hair tied back into pigtails greets her with welcoming eyes. "How may I help you?" she exclaims enthusiastically. She's no less exhausted than Mizuki. Mizuki can tell from the way eye bags sag under her eyes.

"Er, five mushrooms and potatoes?" Mizuki lists.

"Right up—" The girl then turns, screaming to the back, where a boy peers out from behind the counter. He's identical to the one at the counter but he's a lot more sullen. Pulling out a couple of vegetables, he dumps them in front of Mizuki, giving her a silent look.

[x5 Wild Mushrooms and x5 Potatoes received]

He nods once. Mizuki waves politely, only for him to slink away. His sister doesn't seem to make much note of it, asking for gold coins in payment. Mizuki offers her the payment, thanking her politely. "I'm Garden, I look forward to seeing you again!" Pushing Mizuki by her shoulders, she waves enthusiastically, then calling out to other customers.

"Olive and Garden, they're fraternal twins," Hinata explains. "Let's go home."

"Oh? They run the restaurant? Those are some… Interesting names, I must say," Mizuki muffles a chuckle.

Hinata shrugs, "I heard they're the children of a palace maid. They were found under an olive tree in the castle garden. I've known them since they were children."

"Why didn't you greet them?"

"I'm not much of a talker when I don't need to," Hinata digs his hand in his pocket. Mizuki shrugs, turning her neck to look at them one last time. 'Children forsaken by the world', she thinks and it reminds her a lot about herself.

Mizuki has the liberty to stargaze while she's walking since the dusk roads of Ocantis are much more silent. She has no estimate of the time but she can guess it's past dinner from the way the pubs are filled to the brim. When she looks up to the blanket of stars, she realises how Astrum must have the prettiest view compared to any country that the real world has.

The sky is not dull, nor is it a single colour, it's blues and purples and even colours she might not even know of. It's a detail she'll remember from this place when she's back home.

The door creaks open when Hinata pushes it, the interiors completely dark. He has to light up oil lanterns for there to be any light, something Mizuki doesn't mind because of how fragrant the oil he uses is. "I'm going to clean up first," she announces.

"Yeah, you're filthy," Hinata adds.

"Good to know," she makes a face, holding out her palm in waiting for him to pass her a fresh set of clothes. Off the top of one of the drawers, he flings her a ruffled dress. Mizuki catches it this time, pointing at her hip.

"You can't always depend on me for help," Hinata slides down the staircase, helping Mizuki loosen the strings on her corset.

"You talk like I'm willingly taking your help," she clicks her tongue, and then Hinata pauses. She angles her jaw towards him, only enough to shoot an obvious glare.

"What are you doing?"

"You should be more polite," he jests.

"Hurry up, you're annoying," Mizuki huffs, holding her breath. "You've got the ego of a prince and here you are living in a hut."

Hinata loosens the strings abruptly, leaving Mizuki's hip with a brief discomfort. The corset falls to the ground and Hinata steps away, strolling off without another word.

'What a brat', Mizuki rages in her mind, trying to regain a rhythm with her breathing. As she washes off the drying blood on her limbs, she recalls the previous events of the day. It went by in such a blur that she's forgotten how different it is from her real life.

So many unfamiliar feelings, realms of emotion she hasn't touched in years once again returning to her. For the first time in a while, she wishes she could be back home, back with her horrible father and jealous sisters but in a lavish home where she wouldn't have to fight for her way. I wish I was around better people, a disappointed scoff slips out of Mizuki's lips. Maybe then I'd be a better person.

She pulls the dress over her head, turning to the mirror beside her. She smiles, but her eyes contradict any feigned happiness. She poses, flipping her hair around and making faces for herself. Mizuki decides she likes this loose dress, a frilly pyjama. Dunking her dirty clothes in a water bucket, she steps out of the bathroom, treading back to the bed.

She glances once at Hinata who's engrossed with numerous possible things strewn over his desk, none of which Mizuki would understand. He doesn't notice her gaze and even if he does, he doesn't respond. She drags her feet up the ladder, only now realising how achy her feet are from shuffling around all day.

With an exhausted sigh, she falls on her chest, staring out at the view of the house while she's lulled to sleep by fatigue.

[Hirashi Mizuki has hit the sack]