The next day in class was a big information dump. I remember only the most important bits. There are five years before our next final examination which will involve students from all the four divisions which is a total of…I’m not sure. Also, everything from here on out would be a test of some sort. I didn’t know what that meant until I sat down in the lunch room that day.

Each class chose a student to cook so WarWolf and some lesser cooks made us this incredible Bambloom soup. You could feel the love in every spoonful, but back to the point. There were these two girls were flattering BunBun, trying to befriend her for some edge in the competition. I had a number of admirers myself, but if they got too close a simple pierce of my fork gave them the message. The peculiar thing is that one of the girls starts vomiting out of nowhere. Turns out some of the meals are given trace amounts of poison after being cooked and it’s our job to detect which ones have them. The poison wasn’t fatal, but we were told the next day that it would become more potent as the months passed by.

Of course BunBun and I had extracurricular training after class. I barely had time to catch my parents up on my legendary status before VirtueVice showed up and took me away. The place was long but narrow, almost like a train. It would even bend, twist and rumble. I’ve read many books about different locations but the DeadWomb, as he called it, was unlike any of them.

BunBun and I really looked out for each other when we trained with the Department Head in the DeadWomb. She’d always tickle me whenever I lacked motivation and I’d give her comforting hugs when she cried. We weren’t just taught advance techniques, but we were given new truths as well. Despite being taught that we’re the arms of Isekai, VirtueVice explained that we are also the heart. A hero’s unique powers aren’t the result of them or of the angel’s who accompany them. I don’t remember the rest of the details but somehow RiftRippers are the actual source. Whenever we were injured, Tempera would heal us. We got hurt a lot, especially when we did the daily throwing knife dodging challenge.

At the end of the week we were taken outside the stuffy classroom. BunBun and I rolled on the grass together until we were called to action. We were paired up with a random student from another class and then had ten minutes to extract information from one another. The students who failed didn’t get to eat lunch that day.

Thankfully BunBun and I both got paired with some fans who talked all about themselves out of pure excitement. WarWolf wrestled her opponent to give up information. BladEagle played a stabbing hand game to gamble personal data. CamOctopus stayed silent and simply observed her partner to secure the win. Only Goopy failed, but even that was a forfeit to get something in return. What that something is I may never know. All the winners had a picnic together. I remember one of the smallest KITs walking up to me after we ate and telling me “I thought you were some perfect hero, but you’re kind of an airhead and a bit of a dork. You’re just another KIT. So maybe I can be like you too.” Inspiring others was my dream. For some reason that was the day I really realized that my dream had been obtained.

The following week was uneventful until BunBun finally convinced her parents to let me come over. Of course we both also convinced VirtueVice to give us a day off. Too bad that day was the fifth of the week.

BunBun’s room has even more stuffed animals than mine and there were clothes all over the place. Everything was coated in her sweet scent. I got a bit dizzy just being in the room.

BunBun grabs my hand and pulls me to the living room. “Come on, I want to introduce you!”

A dangerously attractive woman with bird-feather’s in her hair stops knitting and looks at me. She covers her eyes. “You told me he was handsome, but never this pretty!”

Pretty?

I’m suddenly lifted off the ground into a big hug by the woman.

“I’m Weech. It’s very nice to meet you, BunBun’s momma.”

“So polite too. I see why you chose him. The sweet ones are always the best. I’m Cuckatrice.” She kisses my cheeks repeatedly.

BunBun climbs onto the sofa and kisses my other cheek.

I see where she gets her personality from.

When she sets me down, she drops a basket of flowers to the floor and looks through them.

“BunBun, is your dad home?”

She shakes her head solemnly.

Cuckatrice picks up her daughter and holds her close. “He died to give me this little doll. The day we made hot love in that warzone was the day his life came to end. I’d rather not say more than that.”

I bow repeatedly. “I’m so sorry. I never knew.”

BunBun wipes her eyes. “I should have told you before. I just don’t like sharing the sad stuff.”

Cuckatrice tickles BunBun’s feet. “That’s right. Sadness isn’t cute. And you’re the cutest little doll, aren’t you?”

I join in and tickle BunBun alongside her mother. “Mrs. Cuckatrice, did you hear? BunBun scored the highest in the exam.”

“And to think I get to dress up this little killer every day.” She pokes BunBun’s belly and then she pokes my belly. “I hear you’re quite the hero yourself. Would you have stepped in the way of death’s maw if my doll was in peril as well?”

I nod. “Absolutely.”

“I’m trusting you to look after her. She’s a fragile thing.” Her mother pats my head.”

BunBun pats her cheeks and then pops up. “I’m gonna go shower.”

“Good thinking.” Cuckatrice pinches her daughter’s tummy. “The only good sticky bun is the one in my tum tum.”

BunBun giggles and then leaves.

“Mrs. Cuckatrice. You’re an assassin, right? Is there any wisdom you can pass down to me?”

“Not for free.” Cuckatrice grins and picks up a flower from the floor. “It’s a ClearLily. Invisible to the eye if it is clean.” She blows the orange dust off it and places it in my hair. “You and her are around the same size.”

“Thanks for the gift and thanks for making BunBun.”

“Assassins often trade in secrets, but honestly that just means they trade in lies. Not many remember her, but the second principal of this school - oh my, it must have been several hundred years ago - she only used one weapon.” Cuckatrice takes out a needle. “As long as the needle can pierce the skin, even the strongest warrior can be weakened.”

“Is that what she believed?”

“It’s what she proved. She didn’t have the best scores either. In fact, she barely passed. One thing she mastered was pity. Those who took pity on her brought her close. And once she was close enough.” Cuckatrice stabs the pink dress she is knitting with the needle. “The principal was dead.”

“And she got away with it?”

“Back then nobody really knew who the principal was. It was a time before RiftRippers too. So much simpler. When it was discovered who she was and what she had done, the entire school tore her to pieces. Discovery means death. It’s what I’ve taught my daughter and I hope you will think about it too.”

“That’s an incredible story.”

“Shush. Not another word. It’s your turn to repay me. Take off your clothes.”

What? Did I just fall into some sort of trap? VirtueVice told me to be wary. Either her mother is trying to romance me or she’s trying to kill me. Both are unsettling.

I reach for my knife but my hand freezes up.

BunBun comes out from the shower in just a towel.

Wow. What was I thinking about again?

“Are you sure you cleaned yourself thoroughly enough?” asks Cuckatrice.

“Yep! As clean as a BunBun’s conscience.”

Her legs are so soft and cute. Wait…there are scars on her thighs. But teacher wouldn’t do that. And she never mentioned any wounds from the test.

I look back at the mother and see her smile in a new light.

I think I just discovered something. And if discovery means death, I must plan my next move very carefully.

I smile at BunBun. “Can you take me to the kitchen? I’m hungry.”

“Sure thing!” BunBun grabs my hand and we rush to the kitchen.

VirtueVice is sitting, pouring all his focus into slicing bread.

“Why are you in my kitchen?” asks BunBun with a raised eyebrow.

“I’ve taken you two under my care. I was simply making sure you are safe.”

“And the bread thing?”

“Memories. Oh, but not mine.” He waves his bladed tendril, nearly cutting me. “Apologies.”

BunBun’s mother nearly faints when she sees the Department Head and then cleans the kitchen in a hurry. After dinner she thanks him for letting us visit and then we follow him back to the secret training center. I had trouble sleeping that night. Wasn’t sure if I should ask BunBun about the scars, confront the mother or try to avoid the mother entirely.

The day when a KIT learns their parent is an assassin is known as First Truth. When BunBun’s First Truth came, well, I had to follow her home to celebrate. Danger or not I wasn’t going to fail as her boyfriend.

The mother won’t make a move as long as I am near BunBun. Without the option to kill though, it’s a matter of surviving the night.

I refused the Plumpkin pie offered to me by Cuckatrice and always kept a respectful distance from her though out the celebration. I must have been rather obvious because BunBun knew something was wrong.

“You’re bothered by something. Let me rub those worries away.” She puts her hand on my cheeks and rubs them.

“Here’s my truth.”

She holds the letter to her heart and then reads it.

Now she’ll know that I never meant to save StarBorne.

BunBun looks up and pats me.

Space distorts before my eyes and teacher, with a party hat and streamers, forms from the distortion.

BunBun’s eyes shimmer. “You knew it was my birthday?”

Teacher spits out a note. “No day is etched deeper into my memory.” He removes his hood and shows the glowing date on his head before making it vanish.

BunBun reads the note and cries. She leaps into him and is greeted by his multi-appendaged embrace. They then sob together.

Teacher pets her lovingly. “Wherever you want to go, just let me know.”

“A secret date on Truth Day. So scandalous,” says the mother, slicing vegetables with absolute accuracy while looking at him.

“I assure you maam it’s nothing vulgar. Why it’s as platonic as a father treating his daughter to a night of theatre!” Teacher’s blank face grows a drama mask. “And the boy will come along too, of course.”

The mother grabs a lovely pink bonnet and puts it on her daughter. “There. Now my doll is ready for her big night. My apologies about the boy though. He’s staying with me.”

“You mean I get to be with teacher, alone.” Her cheeks flare up and she starts snuggling his tentacles.

I should be upset that Teacher stole my flair and is getting a date with my girlfriend but I can’t be…BunBun looks so happy. I don’t care if it makes me a bad partner, I’d rather her be with the one she loves most tonight.

“You two have fun. I promised I’d help Miss Cuckatrice with something anyway.”

BunBun waves me kisses. “Aww, you’re the best Weech.” She then leaves with him through a portal.

The mother stops cutting vegetables immediately. She moans and licks her lips. “It was torture waiting for them to leave wasn’t it? Naughty toy, I can’t get you out of my mind even on my doll’s Truth Day.”

I put my hand to my knife and step back with each step forward she takes toward me.

“Oh, you’re going to put up a fight I see.”

“Nope. I’ve already won.” I pull out a BlasToad from my pack.

“That seems a bit extreme.” She tosses a needle, knocking out the creature instantly.

Not good.

Cuckatrice throws the kitchen table cloth into the air.

I see where she is and stab it with my knife.

A hand comes out from the left-side and pierces my neck.

She pulls the cloth down and I see that I only cut into her hand.

“That was thrilling. Now, give in to the toxins. Enjoy your weakness.” She pokes my neck in various places.

My legs don’t collapse but it takes all my strength just to stand.

“If an angel uses the power of emotion, a hero uses the power of the elements, then an assassin uses the power of nature. With a single peck, a Cuckatrice can defeat even the mightiest of predators.” She removes my clothes as she speaks.

My body feels so weak, but my awareness has been heightened. I can feel the brush of my clothes against my skin with such detail.

“How did you fail? Or were you a traitor?” My eyes stare into her, making her freeze.

My only option now is to scare her off with my intensity.

“Neither. I simply wanted a daughter so I quit. I accepted the risk and the sacrifice. And just like me she’s a girl who desires what she can’t have.” She unfastens my pants, leaving me in my underwear.

Why strip me just to kill me?

“And you punish her for that? For wanting what you want? Is that why she has those scars?”

Pain explodes through my arm as her needle pierces me.

My eyes explode with tears.

Breathing through this agony is unbearable.

“Never mention those ugly scars ever again.” She removes my underwear and smiles. “Such a cute body. I always wanted a cute son, but it just wasn’t in the cards. I’ll be right back.” She walks out of the kitchen, leaving the needle in my arm.

Gotta focus on breathing or I will die. In and out. In. Breathe in! It’s not working. I can’t die here. If I do then, my dream will…die with me.

Things start to go hazy.

I want to see her one last time. That smile. No. Not her. Why does WarWolf keep showing up. BunBun is the one I love.

“BunBun is the one I love!” I yell out.

My eyesight comes back into focus and I find myself in the mother’s bedroom.

“I’m not trying to steal you from her. But I can’t resist such a golden opportunity either.” She puts a blindfold over my eyes.

I can’t feel anything now. She could be cutting me open and I wouldn’t even know.

She takes off the blindfolds.

I’m in front a massive mirror and I’m wearing a frilly pink dress. I even have a matching bonnet like BunBun.

I look adorable. I was so cautious that I failed to see the option that she just wanted to dress me up.

“You look even more precious than my doll.” Cuckatrice takes my hands and dances with me as I drowsily follow along.

I’m unable to speak as I’m put in so many different dresses, all of which smell like BunBun.

The door suddenly opens and BunBun looks at me nervously. “I’m sorry. I knew she’d do this, but I…I wanted someone to understand me.”

No idea what she’s talking about but girls underwear is so much softer than boys.

Cuckatrice hands her a letter.

BunBun reads it and tries to keep a stoic face. “May I have my boyfriend back?”

“Of course. It’s your special day, after all.”

BunBun takes me to her room and hands me my clothes. “I won’t look. You can put them on.”

“Who cares about that. I know it’s your First Truth, but I have to know the truth about something.”

BunBun gulps. “We didn’t kiss. Teacher and I just went to his home. We shared stories and snuggled a bit, that’s all.”

“Why are there scars on your thighs? Does your mother punish you for being a girl?”

“Mother loves me. It’s…I’m just weak.”

“Is that what she told you?”

“Stop. You don’t understand.”

I grab her hands. “I want to understand.”

“I barely made it through the year. You weren’t my first kiss. Goopy was. But that was before we got together. It’s not easy for me.”

I hug her as she tries to push me away. “Just calm down and tell me.”

“I do this to myself. I just feel sad sometimes. I don’t even know why. Mom makes medicine but my body because more and more resistant. It won’t be long before the darkness takes me.” She cries on my shoulder. “This might be my last First Truth.”

“You hurt yourself because you’re sad?”

She nods.

“Am I not enough?”

BunBun leans in and kisses my lips. “You’re plenty. It’s nothing that makes sense. It’s just me. They say BunBuns cry because their mothers never wanted them.”

“But all mothers love their children.”

“My mom loves me and she hates that I hurt myself. Weech if I get taken in by the darkness, will you promise me you’ll still go on?”

I firmly shake my head. “The moment you go, I go. That’s my promise to you.”

BunBun slams her tiny fists against me. “That’s no fair.”

“If you have a problem with it, then do everything you can to not hurt yourself.”

“I’ve tried but it’s hard.”

“You just need a goal.” I pick up a pencil from her desk. “We’re hero’s right? Inspirations to KITs everywhere. Let’s write a book together. You can’t die before it finishes because then I wouldn’t just kill myself but I’d be heartbroken too.”

“I don’t know how to write stories.”

I grab her hand. “Then I’ll help you.”

“Weech…if I ever feel like that, can I ummm give you a signal and you hug me? I don’t think I can ever hurt myself if you’re holding me.”

“Anytime. Anywhere.” I hold her hands and smile.

That night I didn’t dream of WarWolf. I dreamt of me and BunBun raising our own KITs and growing old together.