Next Morning.
There was a large three-floor building in an Irio.
That house itself looked like a house that belonged to a family that was on Upper Level in society. Still, the family living in that house was relatively ordinary, except for certain someone from that family.
A person that managed to make headlines all around the Continent of Arya.
Pride of Irio.
Currently, in the building.
Two youthful and cute-looking girls were giggling while looking at the pictures on the phone.
They were Ayako Kurogami and Leia Quinthold.
''Ah, no fair!'' Leia pouted and tried to grab the phone, but Ayako only giggled and dodged.
''Hehe, nope!'' She raised her hand, which was holding the phone.
''Mouuu!'' Leia tried to jump and get the phone, but to no avail.
''Hehe.'' Ayako giggled and jumped on top of the sofa, ''Leia-chan, you small stupid!''
''Don't call me that!'' Leia's face became red as she started swinging her arms around, trying to hit Ayako and even managed to hit her several times.
But, Ayako only felt like a wind was brushing past her.
''Weak too!'' She grinned and started running around the living room while Leia ran after her but was way slower.
Two beautiful middle-aged women were cooking while wry smiles were on their faces.
''Ayako, stop bullying her.'' Azumi shook her head after seeing her daughter's antics.
''Mouu… Lame.'' Ayako pouted and gave the phone back to Leia.
''Hehe.'' Leia hugged the phone and showed her tiny tongue.
Ayako's cheeks became inflated, ''Baka!''
''Hehe.'' Leia sat down on the sofa and started scrolling through the phone, while Ayako unwillingly sat next to her and continued to watch.
A muscular young man with short black hair sat on another sofa while scrolling through the messages with a smile.
''Lucas, can you help with the plates?'' Iris shouted from the kitchen towards her son, Lucas.
''Sure, one moment,'' Lucas replied and looked at the name of the person he had chatted with.
[Noelle]
She was why Lucas stayed in Irio and went to the ordinary High School.
It was all to capture her heart, and so far, Lucas has done a magnificent job and had become her only male friend, which was quite an achievement, knowing that she rarely talks with anyone of the opposite gender.
He closed the phone after re-reading the hundreds of messages they had sent to each other.
He went to the kitchen and helped to put the plates and food on the table.
Soon, the door opened with a creak, and two middle-aged men entered.
Eiji, Ichiro's father, and Luke, Lucas' father, entered the house with greasy faces.
They worked with Eiji's car, which hasn't been working as smoothly as before.
They tried to fix it, but only time tells if they managed to do anything with it.
''Sigh, go wash your faces,'' Azumi said while shaking her head.
Eiji saluted and rushed towards upstairs, quickly followed by Luke.
Shortly afterwards, they returned with cleaner faces.
''Food is ready!'' Iris shouted towards the two little girls.
''Yay!'' Leia closed her phone and smugly smiled at Ayako.
''Hmph.'' Ayako humphed and stood up while waving her head around, making her pigtails float around her.
Leia grabbed her soft hand and grinned, ''Still mad?''
''Hmph.'' Ayako pouted, ''No!''
''Hehe, you are!'' Leia shouted with a grin.
They had a bet; the winner would be allowed to order the other one.
The one who got the best grades on the math test was the winner, and Leia managed to win with one point difference.
''Smile, that is an order!'' Leia said while tapping Ayako's pointy nose.
Ayako forcefully smiled with her inflated cheeks, ''Happy?''
''Yay!'' Leia giggled and dragged the adorable little girl behind her.
They sat down next to each other and started gobbling down the food.
Azumi sat down and, by coincidence, saw a picture of black-haired youth on the fridge door.
''Eiji… Do you remember?'' She asked with a serious look, ''This is the first time Ichiro isn't with us during Christmas.''
Lucas stopped eating after his rival's name was said.
Even though he knows that he is nothing compared to Ichiro anymore, he still wants to have that mindset that he was still his rival, just like in the past.
Ayako also froze and lowered her fork.
Leia rubbed her cheek and saw how everyone at the table became quiet.
''Well…'' Eiji ate a piece of the steak and said, ''He is busy… After he is done with school, maybe he can revisit us.''
Azumi sighed and nodded.
Only a month ago, they received news about the death of Abyss, like everyone else did.
She tried to contact Ichiro, wanting to know if he was fine, but he only gave short replies, which assured Azumi that he was in pain.
In great pain.
He might not show it, but he must be suffering as much as others, if not more.
Lucas continued eating and kept thinking about how strong he might be.
He was an Ace of Irio's High School, which gave him great status and was a target of admiration for everyone, but he knew that he was a frog in the well.
There was a bigger world out there.
A world where his rival was already making a name for himself.
Azumi continued eating, unable to forget his son, who was alone suffering somewhere.
*Knock* *Knock*
Suddenly, a sound of knocking came from the front door.
''Who could it be?'' Azumi was about to stand up, but Ayako already had stood up.
''Hehe!'' She ran towards the door before they could do anything.
Leia pouted, ''Mou, not fair.''
Ayako showed her tongue and, with a giggle, opened the door.
Soon, her smiling face disappeared, and her face became shocked.
''Honey, who is it?'' Azumi looked towards her daughter, that looked like a statue.
''B-B-B-B…'' Her voice trembled as she started pointing forwards.
The wide-open door was still blocking the view of everyone in the dining room.
But then, they noticed how a hand appeared from the outside that started patting Ayako's soft hair.
''Dummy.'' A masculine voice that oozed with power echoed in the room.
Lucas widened his eyes in shock, and it was like a natural instinct.
His face turned serious, and he knew that voice belonged to someone that was way above him.
''Brother!'' Ayako suddenly screamed and attacked with a hug.
From the door, a black-haired youth appeared, while a cute black-haired girl was hugging his leg, like a koala hugging a tree.
''Yo,'' Ichiro said while everyone in the dining room had their eyes wide open in shock.
Outside the building, Azura looked at the little girl with curiosity.
