Akiara took out the book she hid inside the jacket. She sat on the bed and opened the book. "Arnon's diary." She read the name. "It's a diary. But what was it doing there in the first place?" she found a note on it. She opened the first page. A riddle was written, "He will arrive when the moon will be blood red and pitch black."

"If I read this diary..... maybe I might know something related to asmodians." She started turning pages.

I will introduce myself again. I am Arnon and I am a divine blacksmith.>

"A blacksmith?" she continued reading.

She helps me when interacting with customers. Whenever I talk to her, her speech seems like..... she is from another world. And whenever I ask her->

"Aki?" Mizuki entered her room and she hid the diary under the pillow.

"Yeah?" She turned to face her.

"I want to sleep beside you." She said fiddling her fingers.

"Is that a question to ask? You always come to sleep beside me. Did something happen?"

"Did I disturb you?" She asked looking here and there.

"No. Have a seat." She tapped to sit beside her.

"Thanks." Mizuki sat beside her. She hesitated at first then decided to ask for it. "Umm.... whaaat is your relationship with Suki and the others?"

She flinched hearing it, "Why is she asking so suddenly?" she glanced at her, "Why do you ask? I mean do you really want to know?" there was hesitation in her voice.

She pushed her and pinned her on the bed. Both were staring at each other intensely.

Mizuki's face came closer to hers, "What if I really want to know?"

"B-but.... I don't want you to get involved in this matter."

Mizuki grabbed her hand and placed it on her chest, "I told you to trust me right? I will find a way to fix everything what they did to you in past."

"B-?!!!!!" She got kissed on her lips to make her stop talking. When they break apart she asked, "Do you really not trust me?"

She turned into blushing mess, "I.... I.... I t-trust you." She smiled waiting to tell her. She hesitated then she started telling her about Akane and Itsuki used to bully her in a long story short way.

"I see so they are that kind of people. Then what about that girl named Suki?"

"She used to be my friend. Then she broke our friendship."

"I see." she smiled.

She looked away still blushing, "Can you step aside.... you are invading my personal space."

"Oh?! I'm sorry." She got off her and laid down beside her.

They turned staring each other again, "Hey, I'm sorry for being able to help you."

"It's alright. Don't let it get to you." she smiled. She smiled back. Then she pulled her closer and brought into a hug. They closed their eyes, dozing off to sleep.

____________

One month passed by. Sun was setting when Akiara's party arrived at the guild to collect their reward money. As they were collecting their reward, the lady in reception handed them an invitation card.

"What's this?" Akiara asked.

"It's an invitation to royal banquet for the return of Heroes." The lady replied.

She handed the invitation to Mizuki, "Not interested." she turned around walking away.

The lady replied, "It is an important banquet. His Majesty will announce something. That's why all the adventurers got the invitation."

Akiara froze. She glanced left then right. She noticed adventurers present here got the invitation. She clenched her fist then sighed to calm down. She turned around and gave a reassurance smile to them, "Let's go. Shall we?"

"Yes!" Arrow ran towards her. They also followed her.

They arrived at the Imperial palace. Their eyes were closed seeing too many luxurious and shiny things.

"I have never seen this much expensive things even in my former noble's life." Mizuki spoke.

"This is way too much expensive than the ones I saw in my previous life." Estelle took out a pair of sunglass and wore it.

"From where did you get the sunglass?" Mizuki asked looking shocked.

"I bought it." Estelle replied.

"Let's head to banquet hall." Cordelia grabbed Akiara's hand and taking her away from them.

As they entered the banquet hall, it was even luxurious than entrance hall, hallways and corridors.

"This luxury is in different level compared to Vasilindro empire." Mizuki commented.

Akiara also took out a pair of sunglass from nowhere and wore it, "I'm outta here." she walked away.

"I'm also going for eating snacks." Arrow also walked away.

"A party without wine? Impossible. Se you later!" Cordelia waved her hand walking away.

Only Mizuki and Estelle were left out. They were standing awkwardly. Mizuki started talking, "You must have come from Aki's world."

"Yes." Estelle replied looking serious.

"Well I am going to interact with other adventurers." with that Estelle walked away.

"It's seems I am left out." she took a champagne flute from the tray the butler brought near her. As she took a sip, "Even this wine tastes like juice. Wait.....?!" she called the butler, "Excuse me, is this wine?"

Butler replied, "No, it is juice. If you wish to have wine then it is available at the other section of the banquet hall."

"So it is divided into two groups?"

"Yes. His Majesty know that there are adventurers above the age restriction who likes to have wine and beer so they are stationed at the other side."

"Thank you."

"Your welcome." The butler bowed and walked away. She also walked away to find the other section of the banquet.

___________

Akiara leaned on the wall staring at the party. A server walked towards her holding a tray of drinks with different colors.

"Want a drink miss?" The server asked.

"Is it alcohol?" Akiara asked.

"No. It is fresh juice."

"Thanks." She took the champagne flute which contains light pink flavored juice. She took a sip and twirled the contents inside the glass then staring at the party. She sighed regretting that she shouldn't have come. Arrow came holding a small plate of chocolate pastry.

"Here big sis. I got this after searching the whole desserts table." Arrow showed her the plate.

"Really? Thanks." she accepted it but she replied not hurting his feelings, "But you know I don't like sweet things?"

"Big sis you like chocolate the most than any other sweets. And I know that very well."

She flinched hearing his response. She looked at him, "How did you-?"

He winked and placed a finger on his lips, "I have my ways. Oh by the way, be careful when you are sneaking around eating milk chocolate slab." he stick out his tongue walking away.

"You little!" She smiled as she took a bite of the chocolate pastry.

After sometime she was wondering around the party, a guy approached towards her.

The guy spoke, "Um hello, are you lost?"

She turned around, "No. I'm not."

"Umm if you don't mind-"

"Not interested." she walked away. His friends patted his back to avoid him getting depressed.

She sighed again and walked towards the balcony to get some fresh air. She closed her eyes to let the cold breeze touch her face. Moonlight glimmered from the clouds revealing her face and ocean eyes. Suki-san was walking around the corridor. She noticed Akiara standing in the balcony. As the moonlight showed her face, She got mesmerized seeing her fluttering black jet hair and gleaming ocean eyes. She decided to surprise her.

She shouted with her arms open, "Aki-chan!"

Akiara immediately recognized Suki-san's voice. She smiled and turned around, "Suki-!!" she immediately changed her tone and spoke in formal way with a small smile, "Minamoto-san?"

Suki-san looked quite disappointed seeing her reaction. She sighed, "Tsk seriously? We are best friends."

"You mean former best friend?" She replied in monotone voice.

"Oh come on, you are still clinging into past?" She raised her eyebrows hearing it. she turned away looking at the sky.

She smiled and took a step forward, "You know only an immature person would cling into past whereas a mature person heals all the wounds of the past and moves forward."

"......" She looked down.

She again takes another step, "Can we start over again.... as friends?"

She remembered what Mitsuko said. "Silly me. I am still clinging into past like an immature brat. I even forgot the resolution I made. This time I promise Mitsuko.... I will let go off the past." she turned around and smiled brightly showing her hand, "Friends?"

Her smile enchanted her making her fall for her all over again, "Friends." she shakes her hand and pulled her to a hug. She hugged her back. She smiled wholeheartedly. They let go off each other.

Just then an attendant arrived and and spoke, "Excuse me ladies, His Majesty has arrived and is about to make an important announcement."

"O-oh yeah how can I forget that." Akiara replied. She started walking towards the hall.

Suki-san grabbed her wrist, "How about we go together?"

"Sure I don't mind it." They walked towards the banquet hall.

All the adventurers and heroes gathered around the center of the hall. Akiara was glancing here and there searching for other friends. Suki-san's grip got tighter and was blushing but she kept her composure fixed, "Keep it together. You are just holding hands."

Cordelia noticed Akiara and called her waving hey hand, "Here Akiara! Here!"

Akiara walked towards them. Arrow noticed Suki-san. He asked, "Big sis, who is she with you?"

Akiara replied with a smile, "She is my friend. Her name is Suki."

"I'm Cordelia. Nice to meet you." Cordelia shook hands with her.

"I'm Arrow." Arrow looked away with his arms crossed.

"Where's Mizuki?" Akiara asked glancing here and there.

"Don't know." Estelle shrugged. She saw Suki-san, "Oh.... I didn't expect to meet you here."

"Uh... do I know you?" Suki-san asked.

"No. You don't." Estelle replied.

"Ahem.... Attention please." Emperor Aidan spoke getting everyone's attention.

Everyone bowed and greeted, "We greet Kemburg empire's shining sun, His Majesty the Emperor."

He nodded, "Raise your heads. As you all know, I have invited you to royal banquet for announcing something very important. Heroes of Kemburg empire and other nations..... you all are finally prepared for your journey to save the world from asmodians. You will be accompanied with fellow adventurers since they have experience in facing danger while you are fighting against them. You can chose the adventurers or parties to accompany you in journey."

Someone raised his hand and asked, "Can we heroes go in groups?"

"Sure no problem. As long as the world is safe that is what it matters the most." Aidan replied. "Please continue the party." Aidan left the banquet hall and headed to other side of the hall.

Suddenly someone hugged Akiara from behind. It startled her. She glanced over her shoulder to see who it was. To her surprise, it was Mizuki.

"Mizuki?! Why do you reek of alcohol? Are you drunk?"

"Aki.... can we go..... somewhere private?"

"You never drank alcohol in your life."

"I don't feel good can we go home?"

"Sure." She called Cordelia, "I'm heading out first. I need to drop her off to home."

"Yeah. Go ahead don't worry about us." Cordelia waved it off.

Akiara wrapped Mizuki's arm around her neck and walked out of the banquet hall. Once they left the gates of the palace, her eyes gleamed and picked her up in her arms walking towards the house. When they reached the house, she took her to her bedroom. She laid her down on the bed but Mizuki grabbed her wrist.

"Don't..... go." She mumbled.

"Mizu let go." she spoke holding her hands.

"No...." She suddenly pulled her and hugged her from behind. Her action startled her so glanced at her over her shoulder.

"Mi-Mizu?" She noticed her breathing got heavier and hug got tighter.

Her eyes filled with tears, "Please.... don't go..... please....... if you leave me....... I'll become lonely..."