Smoke continued to rise from the wreckage of Allie’s UFO. The writhing black line could already be seen for miles, and yet no one seemed to care. Office workers gave it a moment’s glance before returning to their desks, assuming it was already being dealt with. Meanwhile, anyone nearby seemed to be willfully ignorant of the raging inferno. Even at the brink of destruction, the ship’s AD (Attention Diverter) field was running at full blast. It was a technological miracle that slug engineers could have told legends about. Unfortunately, the UFO’s heroic last stand went unnoticed by not only humans but also its own pilot. The slug in question was busy fawning over a handsome boy. The ship would have shed tears if it could.

“It’s great to see you again, Kazama~” Allie’s lofty inflection suggested that it was actually more than ‘great’.

“Y-Yea.” Kazama stammered as he pried his eyes away from Allie’s smiling face.

The blue-haired boy glanced over at his peanut gallery. Daniel’s mouth hung open, probably because he’d just watched his best friend get tackled by a space slug. Lin wore the same austere expression she’d made when Remira was showing off her chest. As for Remira herself, she seemed to be in the process of learning how to shoot lasers with her eyes.

“Allie, I’m really glad to see you and all, but can you get up?”

After pinning Kazama to the ground with her greeting, Allie seemed content to lay on top of him. As a response, Allie folded her arms and placed her entire weight on his chest. It was at this point Kazama learned that Allie’s transformation didn’t reduce her mass.

“Too heavy…” Kazama’s strangled words died in his throat.

“Kazama, I need to ask you something…” Allie trailed off as she fluttered her eyelashes.

Kazama made a gesture that could be interpreted as either a nod or a desperate struggle for breath.

“How would you feel about marrying me?”

“Eh?” The last bit of air fell out of Kazama’s mouth.

After Allie disappeared from his class, Kazama had decided to treat the alien as another strange entity and forget about her. But it wasn’t that easy. After all, the bulk of those memories were with Allie the normal school girl. No matter how strangely their relationship ended, Kazama couldn’t bring himself to see her as some random event. After all, she was his first love.

“I-I…” Kazama strained to speak. He didn’t know what to say, but felt the need to say something regardless.

“Obviously, I’m against it.” Allie said with a huff.

Kazama opened his mouth but nothing came out. Physically, he was already beginning to look like a dried-up corpse. Now his mental attitude fit the part as well.

“But there’s no way around it. So, I need you to come back with me and perform the rite of bonding. There’s-”

Allie stopped as she felt a tap on her shoulder. The slug girl looked up to see a pair of narrowed eyes attached to a petite body.

“Hi, my name’s Lin by the way. I want to bring two things to your attention…”

Allie stiffened at Lin’s terse tone. “Ok, what is it?”

“First, unless you want to marry a corpse, you should probably move.”

Lin pointed down to a corpse-like Kazama.

“Oh my god! I’m so sorry Kazama!” Allie exclaimed while jumping away from him.

“Second, were you planning on taking him home in that?”

Lin swung her finger towards the smoldering UFO. Having run out of parts to burn, the fire had died out naturally. Now the pitch-black hunk of metal stood embedded in the street like a foreboding artifact.

“Oh…OH!” Allie exclaimed as she performed a genuine double-take.

“Yea.” Lin added.

Allie took a tentative step towards her now useless ship before she was pulled aside by another girl.

“Allie, was it? I demand that you tell me exactly what you plan on doing with Kazama.”

Allie struggled under Remira’s vice grip, but the blonde girl’s tenacity won out.

“I plan to marry him.”

“But you don’t actually want to? You don’t love him?” Remira spoke quickly, pressing herself into Allie’s personal space.

“I…” Allie looked away. A telling red appeared on her pale cheeks. “I-It’s not like I want to marry him or anything. I don’t have a choice.”

Remira released her grip. Her lifeless face mirrored a certain corpse on the ground.

“I theorized that it was possible, but this is beyond my wildest dreams…” Daniel muttered to himself. “She doesn’t mind close contact or acts of affection, but still denies her feelings. A flirty tsundere? Plus, she seems to be a clumsy character as well. Aliens truly are the next frontier in moe…”

Fortunately, no one else heard or acknowledged him.

- - -

A tall and thin girl slumped forward in her seat. She nervously ran a hand through her bright blue hair, brushing it back behind her shoulders. Unsatisfied, she began to fidget with the sleeves on her black skin-tight suit. The girl’s fair white skin seemed to glow even in the midday light. Her unusual, almost otherworldly features would normally make her the center of attention. However, the regulars in The Nood were used to strange sights.

Oh, she’s with those weirdos. They thought, brushing off her appearance without a second glance.

Seeing their dismissive stares, Kazama silently resolved to visit The Nood more often. Then, he turned back to Allie and nearly stood up out of shock. Her pilot’s suit was gone. The clingy black fabric had been replaced with a soothing yellow sundress. Kazama looked her up and down, searching for any trace her speedy change, but found nothing out of the ordinary. Allie met his gaze and he flinched.

“This form is something of an illusion anyway.” She smirked. “If there’s anything you’d like to see me wear, just ask.”

“Ugh, she’s already threating my position as the group’s pervert…” Remira muttered.

“Don’t worry, you’ll always hold that crown.” Lin and Kazama retorted in unison. Though, Lin was the only one to add princess after it.

After Allie’s botched landing, Kazama’s group had decided to return to The Nood and talk things over. Remira and Lin introduced themselves aggressively, but Allie simply smiled and said;

“Sorry, but I’ll be taking him back with me~”

“Do I get a say in this?” Kazama asked weakly.

“No.” Allie replied with a smile.

“Do I get a say in this?” Daniel asked. Mainly because he felt left out.

“This is bigger than both of us.” Allie ignored him. “Have any of you heard about The Legend of the Moon King?”

Everyone shook their heads, except for Daniel who hung his.

“There’s a legend among my race that speaks of a blue-haired warrior.” Allie lowered her voice to a theatrical tone. “His aura will be beyond anything my people have ever seen. This warrior shall vanquish our centuries-long enemy and take his place on our throne, along with a wife chosen by the people.”

Kazama raised an eyebrow. “So, he’ll kill your enemies in exchange for power and a wife? That seems kind of barbaric for a race that builds UFOs.”

“It’s an old legend.” Allie shrugged. “But it has evolved over time. Apparently, the warrior used to have blonde hair, until they realized that blue was way stronger.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask about that. Why is your hair blue now? Can you change it just like your clothes?”

Allie raised an enthusiastic fist. “It’s because I’m stronger now.”

The other members of the table tilted their heads.

“The length and color of your hair is determined by power level.” Allie tilted her head to match them. “Isn’t that common sense?”

“Only on planet V-” Daniel started to speak but Kazama quickly cut him off.

“-So, you think I’m this warrior, right? Well, whether I am or not, I have no intention of travelling to your planet, slaying another race, or becoming your king.”

After feeling some intense glares from Lin and Remira, he added; “-Or marrying you.”

“I-It’s not like I want to marry you either!” Allie shot back.

The desire behind that statement was plain to see. For everyone other than Kazama, that is. The blue-haired boy received her message like a ship receiving a cannonball.

“Yea…It looks like we’re on the same page.” He mumbled in a tired voice.

“But it took a lot of work, er, I mean luck.” Allie waved her hands emphatically. “It took a lot of luck to be selected for this role, so I intend to see it through.”

“And how are you going to do that without a ship?” Remira’s chilling voice brought Allie out of her flustered state.

“I can have someone pick me up within the week.” Allie nodded. “In the meantime, I’ll convince Kazama to come with me.”

“And when he doesn’t?” Remira narrowed her eyes.

“If he doesn’t…” Allie matched her gaze. “Then it will be because he chose you or Lin. Is that what you’re saying?”

“And if it is?”

“Then bring it on.”

Allie stood up and a wave of pressure surged through the room. The alien’s hair and skin seemed to glow with a blueish light as she stared down her competition.

“Gladly~” Remira replied, donning a terrifying smile.

Remira stood up, followed by Lin. The two boys watched invisible sparks fly from their seats. Daniel was silently wishing that he had more of a presence, meanwhile Kazama was cursing god for the opposite reason.

- - -

“Where are you going so early?” Kazama’s father, Adam, asked him sleepily.

Kazama froze, his hand reaching towards the front door.

“Ah, um, it’s really urgent business.”

Adam narrowed his tired eyes as he studied Kazama curiously. After what felt like an eternity for Kazama, Adam relented.

“Fine…” He said with a sigh. “But if you need help, don’t hesitate to give me a call.”

“Got it, thanks” Kazama nodded as he hurried out the door.

The day after Allie’s crash landing, Kazama woke up and left his house at an ungodly hour. He walked through the silent streets until Pritchard’s, his high school, came into view. Kazama used a suspiciously well-trodden path through some hedges and entered the building from an unlocked window. He made his way to an empty classroom, took a deep breath, and then opened the door.

“Welcome, burdened one.” A deep and wizened voice greeted him, or at least that’s what its owner was going for. “Today is the trial that will decide your fate.”

“Morning’ Daniel.” Kazama replied nonchalantly. “The others aren’t here yet?”

Daniel sat behind a desk in the middle of the classroom. There were three other sets of desks and chairs facing him. Those desks, and a single chair that sat between them, were the only objects of note in the room. The entire setup gave off a ‘trial-like’ vibe, which was only intensified by Daniel’s interlocking fingers and stern expression.

“They must still be preparing their arguments.” Daniel reported, shaking his head.

Kazama sighed. “Remind me how this became a trial, again? I’m pretty sure I just asked to have a civil discussion. Which was a lot better than the ideas that those three came up with.”

“Well…A martial arts tournament and, I quote, settling it in bed, were both ideas with potential.” Daniel ignored Kazama’s glowering face and continued. “But why did Lin want to do something called a quiz bowl?”

“Her IQ is over 200. She just wanted a rigged competition.”

“They’re all shameless in their own way, aren’t they?”

Kazama nodded solemnly.

“But if you want a fair discussion, then there’s no better format than a trial.”

“That…that does make sense.”

“Plus, becoming a judge is the only way I’m going to stay relevant here.” Daniel raised his tone. “This is the closest I’ll ever get to a harem, so don’t ruin this for me!”

“You’re pretty shameless as well…”

Kazama turned around as the classroom door opened. Remira and Allie entered together while glaring at each other like a pair of alley cats. Lin stumbled in behind them with baggy eyes.

“They’ve been like this all night.” She lamented. “I didn’t want to leave them alone together, but…ugh, forget it.”

Lin swung her tired gaze towards Kazama.

“Oh yea, the head of the Fae household had a message for you.”

Kazama stiffened at the mention of Remira’s father.

“You can send us as many cute daughters as you want, but it won’t make up for ruining our first one.”

“I keep telling him, I never touched Remira…”

“That really sounds like the argument a scumbag would make.” Lin smirked. “But at least he agreed to house Allie.”

“Lin, get over here!” Remira barked. “Are we doing this or what?”

“You’re taking this way too seriously.” Kazama muttered under his breath.

“Am I?” The heated blonde retorted. “We’ve been stuck in a stalemate for ages. I’ll say something and you’ll dismiss me or run away. Now you’re finally going to sit here and listen to three girls who are seriously vying for your affection. Maybe you’re not taking this seriously enough.”

Kazama stood there, unable to reply, as Allie, Lin and Remira took their seats. With a nervous sigh, Kazama strode between them and took the empty seat at the center of the room.

“All rise.” Daniel’s serious voice drifted across the courtroom.

The three girls stood up, followed by Kazama.

“We will begin with your opening statements.”

The girls each pulled out a stack of notes. Kazama blinked.

Wait, this was an actual trial!? He screamed in his head. The mood was too heavy for him to retort out loud.