Chapter 13

As I loitered near the school gate, trying to look nonchalant, Sawa's eyes widened in surprise as she approached.

"Will? Is that you?" she exclaimed, clearly caught off guard.

I grinned, "Well, well, look who's here. Just thought I'd welcome you to your new school."

Sawa chuckled, "Welcome, huh? You're the only one who waits for someone early in the morning to welcome someone. What are you up to?"

"Waiting for a friend, also waiting for the future captain of the kyudo club." I replied with a playful wink.

She smirked, "You're such a dork, Will. I hope you can take care of me senpai."

And with that, we ventured into the school together, giving her a tour of the facilities before we entered the gym for the opening remarks of the principal.

After school was done I quickly went to the the Kyudo club to shoot some arrows.

It was during one of my focused practice sessions that the tranquil atmosphere was shattered by a sudden presence.

I drew my bowstring, aiming at the target with utmost concentration, only to be startled by Sawa's voice behind me.

"Hey, Will, mind if I join the party?"

I flinched, releasing the arrow prematurely and missing the target by a mile. "Sawa! You scared the bullseye out of me!"

She laughed, "Well, that's what friends are for, right? Mind if I borrow a bow?"

I sighed, "Why not? Just promise not to outshine me too much."

She smirked, grabbing a bow and effortlessly hitting a bullseye on her first try. "Too late for that, Will. Looks like you've got some competition now."

And after getting outshined by this archer prodigy we then went our separate ways.

I then decided to visit the nearby bookstore to pick up some study materials. As I looked at the shelves, a familiar voice reached my ears. Turning around, I spotted Saya, engaged in animated conversation with a guy, both sharing laughter and smiles.

Feeling a sudden pang of loneliness, I hesitated for a moment. Deciding not to intrude on their moment, I decided to give them their space but ended up wandering into the "Self-Help" section. Well, what better place to figure out how not to feel awkward?

As I gathered an armful of books with titles like "Survival for dummies", "Blacksmithing 101", "The Art of Social Grace" and "Confidence for Dummies," I imagined myself becoming a prodigy. With my newfound books, I walked towards the cashier to pay for the books.

Exiting the store, my imagination went wild with visions of confidently strolling down street, books in hand.

Strolling away from the bookstore, my mind played tricks on me. There she was, Saya, chatting animatedly with Takashi, and it hit me—maybe I'm the awkward third wheel in her revamped social circle.

In a bout of melodrama, I pictured myself as an unemployed knight, a relic of her past adventures. Was Takashi the new hero in her story? The thoughtful gifts in the mail were nice, but where was she in person?

Yet, no need for a pity party. Unemployment had a certain comedic charm when you wore the imaginary armor of a self-proclaimed knight. Maybe I could explore new job opportunities, like becoming a part-time wizard or a professional daydreamer. Who needs a knight when you've got a wizard in the making, right?

My phone rang, and Riri's name lit up the screen, interrupting my melancholic musings. I hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Hey, Will! What's up?" Riri's voice came through, lively and curious.

"Oh, just the usual existential crisis, you know," I replied, trying to inject a bit of humor.

"Seriously, what's going on? You sound all gloomy," she insisted.

Before I could respond, Ruu's voice joined the conversation. "Riri, let me talk to him!"

"Hey, no! It's my call!" Riri protested.

Ignoring their playful squabble, I sighed, "Guys, seriously, it's nothing. Just a bit of mid-life crisis at the ripe old age of fourteen"

Riri managed to grab the phone back, determined to continue our conversation. "Mid-life crisis? You're too young for that! Anyway, don't worry, we're here to lighten your mood. Ruu, give me back the phone!"

Ruu's laughter echoed through the call as they playfully bickered. In the midst of their banter, a sense of warmth enveloped me, and I couldn't help but join in the laughter.

I then explained to her that I apparently lost my job as a knight (playmate) for a certain pink haired princess.

Riri's laughter echoed through the phone, and she teased, "Come on, Will, being a pink-haired knight doesn't pay the bills, but I have an idea! Why not go back to being a hunter?"

I chuckled, the memories flooding back. "Yeah, the good ol' days in that shack in the mountains. But, you know, my dad got swamped with work, especially since Saya's dad hired him for security during his political campaign."

The nostalgia mixed with a tinge of longing lingered in the air as I reminisced about the simpler times we spent in the mountains, oblivious to the whirlwind of changes that awaited us.

Riri's laughter danced through the phone, a melody of familiarity. "Well, it'll get better for you soon. Are you available this summer? You're not going back to the US?"

"Nah, not this time. I've had enough of the military camps my grandpa dumps me into. Seriously, couldn't he just tell me he wants grandma all to himself? That selfish prick," I replied, a hint of irritation in my tone.

Riri chuckled, "Will, that's not nice, but I guess me and Ruu could go back to your shack and see how our plants are doing. You are taking care of them, right?"

"Of course, I am! I even installed this automatic sprinkler feature. The shack runs on solar panels, so our little green friends won't wither away too soon." The thought of revisiting the mountain shack with Riri and Ruu brought a comforting warmth, a silver lining amid the uncertainties.

As the conversation unfolded, a familiar ache settled in my chest. The comfort of Riri's laughter and Ruu's playful banter only intensified the void that had grown in the space between us. With each step towards home, the words slipped out, unfiltered and raw.

"I miss you guys," I confessed, the weight of the admission hanging in the evening air. The silence on the other end spoke volumes, a shared sentiment echoing across the digital connection.

As the evening sun cast its warm glow, I found solace in the familiar voices of Riri and Ruu through the crackling connection of a phone call. The artificial glow of my phone screen painted a scene of laughter and sibling rivalry.

Riri's laughter echoed, a comforting melody that transcended the miles between us. "Will, we miss you. Ruu here insists she misses you more, but don't let her fool you."

Ruu's voice chimed in eagerly, "Nii-chan, promise you'll come visit soon! I miss you the most."

Their banter, a dance of affectionate arguments, played out in the background. Amidst the playful exchanges, Riri's words reached me, "We both miss you a lot, Will. Can't wait to see you again."

Ruu, persistent in his claim, added, "And don't forget your promise, Nii-chan!"

Riri, attempting to downplay Ruu's teasing, chimed in, "Oh, don't pay any attention to her, Will. She's just being silly."

Ruu's mischievous laughter erupted in the background, "But Nii-chan, we're going to get married, right? You promised!"

Riri sighed, her tone playful yet exasperated, "Ruu, stop teasing. Will's probably rolling his eyes at your antics right now."

I chuckled on the other end of the line, appreciating the familiar dynamic that transcended the physical distance. "Well, I did promise to marry both of you, didn't I? Just make sure to prepare a grand wedding," I teased back.

I could almost picture Riri's indignant expression as she stammered, "W-Will, quit joking around. Marriage isn't something to joke about!"

Grinning on my end, I playfully continued, "Come on, Riri, Ruu seems pretty serious about it. Shouldn't we start planning the wedding? I'm thinking a beach ceremony with a zombie-themed reception—what do you think?"

Riri's exasperation was palpable through the phone as she retorted, "You're impossible, Will. Ruu, stop filling his head with nonsense."

Ruu, undeterred, added fuel to the fire, "But Nii-chan, we promised each other we'd have a grand wedding. Riri can be the flower girl!"

Laughter echoed in the background as the playful banter continued, a lighthearted exchange that transcended the miles that separated us.

Amidst the laughter, Riri's voice softened, "But seriously, Will, we do miss you. When are you visiting?"

I sighed, my tone more contemplative, "I wish I could, but things are a bit complicated here. Dad's tied up with work, and well, you know how it is."

Ruu, ever the optimist, chimed in, "Nii-chan, don't worry. We'll come visit you during the break. Maybe we can bring some of those plants from the shack and start our zombie-themed garden."

The mental image of a zombie-themed garden made me chuckle. "Sounds like a plan, Ruu. Just make sure the zombies are plant-friendly."

As I hung up the call, a sense of warmth enveloped me, knowing that, no matter the distance, true connections endure.