Rika, unfazed by the chaos she had stirred, remained cool and composed as she sat on her seat, her eyes flicking once more to Kaiser, who still had a small, approving smile on his lips.
As the remaining students whispered among themselves, Rika allowed the murmurs to wash over her. She could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on her—some curious, others envious, and a few who still couldn't quite believe the transformation they had just witnessed. But she didn't care. She had Kaiser's support now, and nothing else mattered.
Kaiser, ever so calm, met her gaze one last time, his eyes warm and filled with something unspoken. It was a silent promise, an understanding between them that they had each other's backs no matter what.
After some few periods of class, the bell rang for break. The first half of school was over, Kaiser, Hinata and Rika stood up and left side by side, they headed straight for the cafeteria, where Sakura and Jin was already waiting for them with seats preserved for them. This time Rika was going to be sitted with them no longer as a nobody whose only purpose was to disturb and annoyed Kaiser, but as one of them.
As they reached the table, she noticed that Jin was already there, his usual composed self, with an open book in front of him. His eyes flicked up to meet hers, and he gave her a polite nod, a small smile gracing his lips.
"Rika," he greeted her warmly. "You've got the eyes of the whole school on you now."
Rika smirked, sitting down next to him. "Doesn't bother me. I've gotten used to being in the spotlight," she replied with a playful glint in her eye.
The others at the table—Kaiser, who sat at the head of the table with his usual confident posture, and the others who were part of the Kaiser's circle—acknowledged her arrival with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. It was clear that Rika's change had everyone intrigued. Kaiser sat beside her, offering a quiet smile that made her feel like she truly belonged here.
"Good to have you with us," Jin commented as he turned a page in his book. "I heard about what happened this morning with those two girls." He said.
Rika chuckled softly, enjoying the fact that she could now talk about it without hesitation. "They learned what happens when you mess with me. I've had enough of being walked over."
Kaiser, who had been listening quietly, reached out and gave Rika's hand a subtle squeeze under the table. "I'm proud of you," he whispered just loud enough for her to hear.
She smiled, appreciating the sentiment. "Thanks. It's nice to have someone on my side for a change."
The conversation flowed smoothly as they ate together, their voices mixing with the ambient noise of the cafeteria. It felt surprisingly comfortable, and Rika realized that, for the first time in a long time, she was enjoying herself, surrounded by people who accepted her.
As lunch came to an end, Rika was gathering her things when she spotted Sakura standing near the door, looking slightly overwhelmed. She was holding a few papers and seemed to be in a rush.
"Hey, need a hand?" Rika called out, already guessing that Sakura might need help with something.
Sakura looked up, surprised but relieved to see Rika. "Oh, Rika! Actually, yeah. I was just about to take these to the council room, but I didn't realize how much stuff I was carrying."
Rika grinned and immediately stood up. "I've got you. Let's go together."
The two of them walked down the hallway side by side, Sakura giving Rika a small smile of gratitude. The atmosphere was light, but there was something about the way Sakura glanced at her that made Rika curious.
"Thanks again for helping me," Sakura said, looking at Rika with a softness in her expression. "You know, I've always admired how strong you are. You really stood your ground this morning with those girls."
Rika chuckled lightly, glancing over at her. "Well, I'm done with being walked all over. I figured it was time to start showing them who I really am."
Sakura smiled, her eyes full of understanding. "You know, I've been where you were. I used to be really shy and let people walk all over me too. But I learned that, if you don't set boundaries, people will just keep pushing. I can see you're really embracing who you are now, and it's amazing to watch."
Rika looked at her, touched by her words. "Thanks, Sakura. It means a lot to hear that."
They reached the council room, and Rika helped her friend with the stack of papers, setting them on the desk. As they finished, the two of them lingered for a moment. The playful energy between them began to shift into something more personal.
"You've really changed," Sakura said quietly, almost to herself. "But… I can't help but wonder—what about you and Kaiser?"
Rika raised an eyebrow, trying to hide her amusement. "What do you mean?"
Sakura leaned in closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "Come on, Rika. You two are practically inseparable now. Have you and Kaiser… you know…" She trailed off with a teasing smile, her eyes glinting with curiosity.
Rika's face flushed slightly at the directness of the question, but she smirked and crossed her arms, pretending to be nonchalant. "What exactly are you asking, Sakura? Are you asking if we've kissed?"
Sakura grinned, clearly enjoying the teasing. "Maybe… or, you know, other stuff?" she added with a playful nudge.
Rika let out a laugh, feeling a mix of amusement and slight embarrassment. "We haven't done anything too crazy, if that's what you're getting at. But yes, we've kissed," she admitted with a teasing smile of her own.
Sakura's eyes widened in disbelief, but there was no judgment in them—just pure curiosity and excitement. "Wow! You and Kaiser—wow, I never thought I'd hear that from you! I thought you were way too shy for him!"
Rika shook her head, trying to hide her grin. "I can be shy, but... Kaiser's different. He makes me feel like I don't have to hide any part of myself."
Sakura smiled, clearly touched by Rika's words. "That's beautiful, Rika. I'm so happy for you. He really seems like he's been good for you."
Rika's expression softened, her gaze turning a little distant. "He's been more than good for me. He's the one person who's always believed in me—even when I didn't believe in myself. He's shown me what it's like to be truly seen, you know?"
Sakura nodded, her smile fading into something more introspective. "I know exactly what you mean. I've always had trouble with that too. But seeing you two together... it's like you bring out the best in each other."
There was a brief, quiet moment between them. The playful banter had softened into a deep, emotional connection, with both of them sharing a rare vulnerability.
Sakura broke the silence with a light laugh, wiping at her eyes as if to mask her emotions. "Okay, enough of this deep stuff. But seriously, I'm so glad you've found someone like him."
Rika smiled warmly, her heart swelling with affection for her friend. "Thanks, Sakura. That means a lot to me."
Sakura grinned mischievously. "Just one more thing... If you guys keep getting closer, don't forget to tell me all the juicy details next time, okay?"
Rika laughed, her cheeks flushing again at the thought. "I'm not sure how much 'juicy' detail I can give you, but I'll keep you updated."
The two of them shared a lighthearted laugh before heading back toward the main hallway, the bond between them feeling stronger than ever.
After the moment with Sakura, Rika made her way back to class, her thoughts still lingering on their conversation. She entered the room and immediately caught sight of Kaiser, who was sitting at his seat, talking to Hinata. She couldn't help but smile at the sight of him—there was something about him that made her heart flutter every time they crossed paths.
With a playful glance at the room, Rika walked up to Kaiser's desk, her movements graceful as she leaned in. Without saying a word, she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, her lips lingering for a moment before she pulled away.
Kaiser blinked, his eyes widening in surprise. His face flushed slightly, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he glanced up at her, his voice quiet but warm. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
Rika simply grinned, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she moved back to her seat. " yes your highness " she teased, her tone playful as she took her seat.
Hinata, who had been watching the exchange from the side, had a little bit of sadness in her eyes, a curious expression on her face.
" Wow " Hinata whispered in her soft voice tinged with a mix of sadness and disbelief. Her voice, barely above a whisper, caught Rika's sharp ears. "I still can't believe it... Kaiser actually fell in love."
Rika, having grown more aware of her surroundings due to her being a vampire now, immediately caught the words. She turned toward Hinata, her eyes narrowing slightly, her sharp senses picking up the tinge of sadness in Hinata's voice.
"What do you mean?" Rika asked, her tone soft yet direct.
Hinata froze, realizing too late that Rika had heard her. She quickly averted her gaze, flustered and caught off guard. "N-nothing," she stammered. "Forget you heard anything."
Rika studied her for a moment, the silent tension lingering between them. But she didn't press further, sensing that Hinata wasn't ready to talk about it. With a slight nod, she turned her attention back to her desk, though her thoughts remained momentarily on the sadness she had glimpsed in Hinata's eyes.
The bell rang, School was finally over for the day and all the students began to gather their things and leave for the day. Kaiser stood up, straightening his jacket, and walked over to Rika's desk. Without a word, he extended his hand to her, his eyes never leaving hers.
Rika took his hand, a quiet smile tugging at her lips. The two of them walked out of the classroom together, the whispers of their classmates fading behind them.
Hinata watched quietly from her seat as Kaiser and Rika walked out of the classroom, side by side, their hands intertwined. The familiar feeling of warmth spread through her as she recalled the day when Kaiser had reached out to her in the same way—his hand extended, inviting her into a world she thought she would always be a part of.
But now, seeing him with Rika, a sense of jealousy lingered in her chest. It wasn't anger. It wasn't hatred. It was something deeper, something raw. A feeling she hadn't expected to experience. She stayed seated for a moment, watching them leave, before she quietly stood up and followed them.
After they got home, night came.
The dinner table was filled with the usual chatter, but there was an underlying tension in the air as Hinata absentmindedly pushed her food around her plate. She didn't have much of an appetite tonight. The Queen, noticing her daughter's distracted behavior, gently set down her glass and looked at Hinata with concern.
"Hinata, what's wrong?" she asked softly.
Hinata didn't look up. She remained silent for a long moment before standing up abruptly. "Thanks for the meal," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, before walking away from the table without touching a single bite of food.
The room fell silent. The Queen, Sora, and Hana exchanged uneasy glances. It was clear something was bothering her. The Queen's gaze shifted to Kaiser and Rika.
"Do you know what's going on with Hinata?" she asked, her voice gentle yet filled with concern.
Rika, who had been quiet throughout dinner, nodded slowly, her mind replaying the moment from earlier in school when she noticed Hinata's sad expression. "I saw her at school… she was sad. And when I passed by her, I overheard her saying, 'I can't believe Kaiser actually fell in love.'"
The silence in the room deepened. The Family's faces softened with understanding. Their sharp instincts honed from years of experience of always being together could already see the weight of what was going through Hinata's mind. The air felt heavy, and Kaiser, who had been watching Rika carefully, finally spoke.
"I'll go talk to her," Kaiser said, his voice firm yet gentle. He stood up, not waiting for a response, but his eyes were filled with uncertainty. He had never seen Hinata like this before.
The King who had been quiet nodded , and so did the queen and Kaisers, their expressions serious yet encouraging. The Queen spoke gently, but there was a firmness in her words. "Go to her, Kaiser. You need to understand what's going on inside her heart."
Kaiser stepped out into the cool evening air, his heart racing. He found Hinata standing under a tree in the garden, her back turned toward him, her posture stiff. She hadn't heard him approach. He took a step closer, his voice gentle.
"Hinata," he called softly.
She turned, her eyes red and puffy, her usual composure now shattered. She had been trying to hold it together, but the jealousy and confusion had overwhelmed her. Seeing Kaiser with Rika, seeing him fall in love with someone else, had shaken her to her core.
"Hinata…" Kaiser began again, but she cut him off.
"I never expected this," she said quietly, her voice cracking. "I never expected you to fall in love with someone. I thought… I thought you would only ever love me and our siblings. We've always been enough for you, haven't we?"
Kaiser stood still, his heart sinking at the words. "Hinata… I never meant to make you feel this way," he said softly, his eyes searching hers.
She stepped back, a few tears slipping from her eyes. "We… we've always avoided getting close to anyone else. We stayed distant from the world, kept everything within our family, so that we could protect it. So we could protect what we had. But now, you…" She choked on her words, the pain in her chest unbearable. "It feels like you're betraying us. You're not just ours anymore. You're hers now."
Kaiser's heart broke at her words. She had always been the one who was so strong, so composed, but in this moment, all he could see was the hurt in her eyes. The pain she had been hiding.
"I'm so sorry, Hinata," Kaiser said, his voice filled with regret. "I never meant to hurt you. I never meant for it to feel like I was betraying you. I…" He reached out, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know how to make this right, but I want to."
Hinata shook her head, tears now freely falling down her face. "I never wanted to feel like this. I never wanted to be jealous. But you… you're the one we've always depended on. You're the one we've always loved. And now it feels like I'm losing you."
Kaiser stepped forward, closing the distance between them. He reached out and pulled her into a tight hug. She stiffened at first, but then melted into his embrace, her sobs quiet but heart-wrenching.
"I'll never leave you, Hinata," he whispered, his voice filled with raw emotion. "You and our siblings are my family. I love you all. But if you want to love someone, too—if you want to find someone to care about—you can. You deserve that, Hinata. You deserve to feel love, too."
Hinata clung to him, the weight of his words washing over her. The jealousy, the fear, the confusion—it was all melting away. For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to feel something other than worry. Something lighter. She cried harder, the tears soaking his shirt, but it wasn't just sadness anymore. It was relief.
"I don't know if I can," she whispered through her tears.
Kaiser pulled back slightly, his hands resting on her shoulders as he looked into her eyes. "You can. You'll know when the time is right. And when that time comes, I'll be here. I'll always be here."
They stood there for a long time, the night air cold but comforting, as they shared a quiet moment of understanding. Kaiser's arms were wrapped tightly around her, offering a sense of security, while Hinata slowly started to let go of the fear and doubt that had held her captive for so long, he gave her a kiss on her forehead as a sign of his love.