It started innocently enough.
Zen and Daiki were in the Academy's garden courtyard, finishing lunch under the cherryshade tree. Daiki had brought fruit. Zen had brought silence. Nex had brought chaos.
[System Nex: Fruit under a tree? Sharing snacks? Oh no. Oh no. This is romance-coded.]
Zen ignored him.
Daiki casually plucked a slice of plum and held it up to Zen. "Want one?"
Zen blinked. "Are you… feeding me now?"
Daiki shrugged. "What are battle bros for if not vitamin support?"
Zen narrowed his eyes. "This feels illegal."
[System Nex: TREASONOUSLY cute. Confirming: Zen is being hand-fed fruit beneath a petal-falling tree by a mysterious, emotionally repressed boy with tragic eyes. You are officially the love interest now.]
Unbeknownst to them, Kleez and Arisha were walking by—paused—stared.
"...Are they dating?" Kleez whispered, eyes wide. "Did I miss an entire emotional arc?"
Arisa tilted her head. "Honestly? I'm not even surprised anymore."
Zen, catching the look, froze mid-bite.
"What the hell are you staring at?" he asked Kleez.
Kleez smirked. "Nothing. Just… proud of you, man."
Daiki added, deadpan, "It's the fruit, isn't it? Brings out my tender side."
[System Nex: I can't believe I'm witnessing the birth of a new ship. I hereby christen this vessel: ZaiZen. Let the fanfiction commence.]
Zen stared at Daiki.
Daiki stared back.
Then, slowly, he reached over… and tucked a loose strand of Zen's hair behind his ear.
"You had a leaf."
"Stop that."
"You're blushing."
"I'm not."
"You're definitely blushing."
Zen stood up in one swift motion. "We are never doing this again."
Daiki just smiled and followed him, hands in pockets.
[System Nex: You say that… but next thing I know, you two are holding hands during sword drills.]
Kleez called after them. "Don't worry! We support you, you weird dramatic lovebirds!"
Zen didn't even turn around. "I will end you."
Daiki only winked.
• Letter from Kleez
Lyra was relaxing in Celestia Bloom Hall, sipping berry tea and enjoying the rare peace... when a bird landed squarely on her window.
A small courier bird landed on Lyra's window ledge, puffing out its chest with dramatic urgency. Tied to its leg: a scroll with an all-too-familiar messy green ribbon.
"Kleez…" Lyra whispered, eyes narrowing with a hint of dread.
She unrolled it.
And read.
And blinked.
And re-read.
Then—
"HE FEEDED ZEN ?!
She set the teacup down. Calmly. Too calmly.
And then she practically launched out of her chair.
The scroll was riddled with Kleez's usual nonsense, complete with stick figures and "live reaction" drawings:
> "Daiki and Zen—BFFs or... more?"
Dude named Daiki is feeding him rice cakes, fixing his collar, and training like they're in a lovers' montage. "He made Zen laugh. LAUGH, LYRA." I swear if they start sword-dancing under moonlight, I'm done. Attached: sketch.
Lyra's face turned a shade of pink that could legally be declared flammable. She marched back and forth in her room like a general prepping for war.
"No. Nope. I'm not losing him to some... calm, polite mystery boy with perfect hair. I've been with him since Virellia!" she ranted to her reflection.
Then she paused, sighed, and muttered, "I need to get to Vaelstrom."
She scribbled a message to the academy travel clerk, politely requesting an observer's pass to Vaelstrom under the "Visiting Scholar Exchange Program."
Translation: Let me in. I need to make sure my emotionally constipated not-boyfriend doesn't accidentally get married.
She sealed the letter, gave the bird a gentle pat, and whispered, "Fly fast, little spy. Mama's got a mission."
• LYRA'S ENTRY IN VAELSTROM
The towering gates of Vaelstrom Academy stood like ancient fangs, biting the sky with spires etched in runes. Zen gazed up at them, still quietly impressed. Beside him, Daiki was humming softly, utterly unaware that he was walking a little too close.
"Why are you hovering like a shadow with feelings?" Zen muttered, shifting sideways.
"I like shadows," Daiki said innocently. "They're cool. And... quiet. Like you."
Zen side-eyed him. "That's not a compliment."
Before the awkward energy could build, a sudden, theatrical cough broke through the air like a thunderclap.
"Bonding indeed," Kleez declared, striding toward them with arms spread wide, a huge grin on his face. "Oh, and Zen, I may or may not have... told Lyra everything. Including that part where Daiki tried to braid your hair while you were asleep."
Zen froze. "...He what now?"
"He's joking," Daiki said quickly, then blinked. "Wait. Did I?"
[System Nex: Incoming side-quest: Survive Lyra's Wrath. Success rate: 4%. Recommend evasive maneuver – dive into nearest bush.]
At that moment, Lyra stormed in like a tiny blue-haired thunderstorm, dragging a travel clerk behind her, a Visitor's Pass swinging from her neck like a badge of wrath.
"You—" she pointed at Zen with an expression that could fry a phoenix. "—have five seconds to explain why you were letting some weirdo —uh, person—cuddle you on a bench like a romance.
Zen glanced at her. "How did you even get permission to come?"
Lyra crossed her arms, an annoyed glint in her eye. "I requested observation rights. Told them someone had to make sure you weren't getting yourself falling in love with some weirdo, and forgetting about your challenge."
Lyra turned slowly to Kleez. "You. Sent. That."
Zen blinked. "Wait, you came all the way here because of that letter?!"
Kleez coughed dramatically and added with fake line "Bonding, indeed. Lyra said some heartfelt things— 'I will obliterate that suspicious new student if he lays even one pinky on Zen.'"
"WHAT?!" Lyra's voice reached a register that made even the travel clerk take cover.
Lyra turned slowly. "I didn't write that."
"I know," Kleez winked. "But the passion in your aura inspired me."
Sylvia appeared beside Elvren, both of them watching with amused detachment.
"I was wondering why she crashed through the courtyard like a possessed wind elemental," Elvren muttered.
"Romantic rage," Sylvia said, sipping something cold. "Always fun to watch."
Zen rubbed his face. "Okay, nothing happened. Daiki just... sticks too close. He's like a clingy scarf."
Daiki looked confused. "What's wrong with scarves?"
Lyra, fuming, turned on Daiki. "And you! Why are you touching my Zen?!"
Daiki blinked innocently. "Your Zen?"
Everyone froze.
Lyra realized what she said and turned beet red. "I-I mean—not like that—I—Kleez!!"
"Don't look at me, you did say it." Kleez casually summoned a windbird and whispered, "She said my Zen, make sure the entire dorm hears it."
"Don't you DARE—!"
While Lyra chased Kleez across the courtyard with a glowstick someone handed her, Daiki looked genuinely baffled.
"I don't understand. Wasn't it normal to hold someone's hand while exploring new places?"
Zen groaned. "Where did you learn your social behavior?"
Daiki thought for a moment. "From an ancient tome called 'A Hundred Ways to Bond with Your Fellow Traveler'."
"Burn it," Lyra hissed.
After the chaos finally settled and Kleez returned with slightly singed hair, Daiki, out of the blue, Daiki gently patted Zen's head and smiled softly. "Zen feels like a little brother to me," he said. "Feels like having one again. I enjoy his presence. That's all."
Silence.
Even Lyra blinked, caught off-guard. Zen raised an eyebrow.
Kleez tilted his head. "Wait, was that... genuine emotion?"
[System Nex… Processing emotional turbulence… loading sarcasm.exe.]
Daiki tilted his head right back. "Should it not be?"
Elvren smirked. "Well, it ruined the comedic tension, but it's kind of sweet, I guess."
Lyra turned her face away, her voice quieter now. "Hmph. Well, as long as you're not trying to steal him."
Daiki paused. "Steal? Oh. I wouldn't. Zen's already stolen by someone else... right?"
Zen stared at him.
Daiki stared back.
Kleez grinned like a devil.
Lyra exploded. "WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!"
[System: ALERT—Love Triangle Detected. Deploying popcorn and judgment.]
Zen: "shut up, Nex—"
Lyra: "ZEN?!"
[System: Girl, claim your man or I will ship him myself.]
Zen buried his face in his hands. "…Kill me."
[System: Too late. You're already dying of emotional damage.]