The sunlight filtered through the windows casting their sun beams to the room. Zac was the first one to rise, the blonde haired prince opened his eyes blinking hazily as the world came into focus around him. He sat down looking around. Free was still missing from his bed, Shu and Lui still had their curtains drawn. He looked at his side to see Prince Valt. Sleeping soundly not caring about the sunlight directly hitting his face. Zac hopped out from his bed and went to the windows, opening them he took a fresh breath feeling all the pleasant smells catching his nose. Not after long the others also started to wake up, Lui brutally drew away the curtains almost ready to rip them apart. Xander had to dump a water bucket over Valt's head to wake him up from his deep sleep. 

Shu drew away his curtains and stepped out, yesterday incident still fresh inside his mind. But thankfully both of the boys kept ignoring each other the whole morning, the whole room was in chaos because of the morning rush when Free lazily walked in. Lui narrowed his eyes, "Now you come,brat"

Free shrugged laying down on his bed, "I had a pretty good sleep back at the library. So quiet"

Zac frowned at him. "But you have to stay in this room at night. That's the rule. Be glad we're such good friends that we won't report you"

"And I don't belong in that friend part" Lui said walking out of the room. 

Free tilted his head looking at his rival leaving the room. Then he turned to Shu who was putting on his shoes to get ready. "You found your way back safely right?"

Shu blinked looking up to Free. "Yeah, you gave me the instructions pretty clearly"

Free hummed, "I guess I did"

The students walked through the corridors to reach their massive dining hall. Valt squealed as he joined with Honcho and Wakiya. Lui sat down beside Gou giving him a simple nod. Zac sat down right in front of them with Xander and Ruway. Free went to a corner where he can eat peacefully without anyone bothering him with talking. The servants rushed through the tables placing the food and the drinks. The sweet aroma of meat passed through the air making them hungrier and delighted. Shu was the last one to enter the dining hall, he quietly passed through the long tables when one of the servants crashed into him, dropping her water container all over his clothes.

 There was a stunning silence as the aluminum bowl hit the ground with a loud clank. The servant looked utterly terrified, if it was Zac she would've have a bit more relief because everyone knew Prince Zac was a kind person. But the prince standing in front of her was someone completely new to her. She bowed trying to apologize when Shu talked. 

"I'm sorry, are you hurt?"

The servant stood back up, her eyes widening in surprise. "N-no my p-prince, but I'm s-"

Shu cut her off slightly shaking his head. "It's my fault I wasn't looking. I'll go and get change. Sorry again" He said turning around to leave the hall. 

Xander cleared his throat cutting off the silence overtaking the hall. "Well, Prince Shu is a kind person"

Zac smiled. "Shooting star is someone indeed special" Zac turned to Lui who was eating his food silently. "Don't you think Lui?"

"Don't make me start with this shit again" He grumbled poking on his food. Zac didn't say anything. He knew Lui rather well and if Lui wanted to crush anyone he wouldn't stop until he reach his goal. But he knew that Shu would be different from all the opponents Lui faced in his life. And just maybe Shu would be the person who will have the chance to win against Lui one day. His thoughts broke as he recognized the familiar mop of white hair wandering through the tables again. Zac stood up. "Shooting star! here"

Shu looked at him, his gaze shifting to Lui then back to Zac again. He would rather sit with Valt he thought bitterly. But he did not want to be a burden to his best friend. He was taking care of his the other day and now seeing him talking cheerfully with Honcho and Wakiya made him realize that he should also find some friends and Zac was always trying to get along with him and Shu appreciated the blonde prince for his concern. 

He walked to them stepping ever so quietly. His glance shifting toward Lui several times. He took his seat beside Zac when the latter cheerfully said. "You okay there?"

Shu nodded muttering a quiet fine. Ruway smiled looking at the anxious prince. "You handled that situation perfectly earlier"

Shu looked at the boy beside him. He knew that there was another person from Chikara kingdom and that he's the son of a famous commander in that kingdom. Seeing him up close Shu wasn't sure what to say. Maybe hello? No he thought that would be too awkward. Maybe a thank you would  be fine. Oh gosh how should I start the conversation? Shu thought without realizing that he's staring at Ruway like a dork. Ruway frowned and snapped his fingers in front of Shu's face. 

"You okay?"

"Huh?" Shu said slapping himself inwardly for his stupid reaction. "Y-yeah"

Lui smirked. "Of course he'd be kind. You have to spend your time fruitfully and kindly when you have few more days to live"

Zac sighed, "Lui that's enough"

Shu didn't utter a single word as he turned down to his food. He didn't want another argument as a day starter. Specially on his first day at school. Lui didn't shut up. The very presence of Shu annoyed him for some reason. "No comment? finally at a loss of words?"

Gou elbowed him shaking his head. Lui gave him a blank look, "I'm just stating the truth"

Shu suddenly stood up startling everyone in the table. He bowed slightly. "I'll take my leave now, have a nice meal" he said leaving other behind, his icy cold tone made everyone freeze in their spot. Ruway glared at Lui.

"He didn't even touch his food, nice going Lui"

Lui clicked his tongue. "Not like I care if that idiot starve to death"

Zac sighed shaking his head lightly. Breaking the gloomy atmosphere Valt walked to them. "I thought Shu was with you guys" He asked looking around to see the familiar figure of his friend. 

"He went outside" Zac answered dodging the real reason. 

Valt frowned, "Did he even eat?"

Ruway frowned. "He didn't, I think it would be the best if you asked him to have some"

The Prince grinned, "Oh I will" He said leaving the table with a cheerful goodbye. Ruway watched the brunette leaving the table. He heard about the friendship the two Princes shared, and Valt was the only one who had seen Shu from when he was only five. Most of the Princes thought Valt was not a strong person to begin with because of his cheerful personality. But when he was at the fields all of them knew he is strong. His power relies on his amazing sword skills, in a sword fight everyone knew that he's powerful enough to go head on with Lui and Free. 

Valt went to his three friends waiting for him by the dining hall door. All of them had finished their breakfast, and Valt promised to introduce them to Shu. "Where is he?" Wakiya asked raising his brow. 

Valt smiled sheepishly. "I think I might know where he is, wait a sec here" He said starting going back to talk to one of the servants. When he walked to them again, he had a bag with a simple breakfast. "Let's go" He cheered walking out of the hall. 

"What was that for?" Honcho asked looking at the bag in his arms. 

"I think Shu skipped breakfast" Valt mused turning to face the others,  walking backward. "I'm not going to let him get away with that"

"Sounds scary" Sisco mocked as Valt smiled and turned around. The four reached the garden, the soft morning sun rays shining on the roses which were bloomed in various colours. The birds were chirping their morning songs as their voices echoed through the whole place. Amidst all this, seated down on the wooden bench under the shade of a willow tree was Shu gazing at the clear blue sky. 

Valt grinned. "Called it" He said loudly making the others wince at his sound. Shu snapped out from his trance and looked at the arriving gang. His shoulders slumped in a relieved manner as he spot Valt with them, smiling brightly like he always did. "Hey Shu" He cheered slumping down beside him. 

Shu smiled. "Hey" he said quietly eyeing the other three advancing toward them but before he could ask about them Valt shoved a bag of food to his lap. He blinked, "What's this?"

"Food" Valt said pouting. "It's not good to skip breakfast"

Shu eyed the bag and looked at Valt again. "Uh...I'm not hungry?"

"In the name of this food you have to eat or the food would be disgraced" He said dramatically raising his arms. 

Shu chuckled, "Thanks Valt"

Valt smiled turning to the rest of the gangs. "They are my friends" He said jumping up to stand. "This is Komurasaki Wakiya" He said. Shu looked at the blonde with piercing ocean blue eyes. His royal purple robes with hints of white went perfectly with his pale skin tone.  

Wakiya bowed, "Nice to meet you Prince Shu"

Shu returned the gesture standing up. "Pleasure is all mine"

"This is Rantarou Kiyama" Valt said, Shu chuckled. 

"I know him, he's the son of Minister Rantarou from your kingdom right? and the other one should be Silas Karlisle from Doerin Kingdom" 

Valt hummed. "Yep, they are my friends which means from now on your friends too"

Shu blinked taken aback by the words of his friend but nodded with a small smile. The morning break was longer than the rest of the breaks which gave them more time. The five boy sat down on the grass sharing their stories. Shu nibbled onto his breakfast when Valt asked out of the blue. "Why didn't you come to sit with me at the breakfast today?"

Shu shrugged. "Zac called me, and I thought" he faltered glancing at the others and back at Valt. "Maybe you needed sometime with you friends" Shu admitted. 

Wakiya clicked his tongue. "Well, prince Zac is one of a kind. But from now on you can join with us. We're all friends here"

Honcho gasped beside him looking at him with a horror stricken face.  "Are my ears betraying me or did Wakiya finally accepted our friendship?"

Silas shrugged. "That guy is a softie from the inside"

Wakiya snarled at them. "Forget what I just said, you two are complete strangers to me"

"That hurt more than it should" Honcho said dramatically falling back clutching to his heart when Wakiya kicked him on the side. 

Shu furrowed his brows. He really didn't understand this concept of friendship. They were just like Zac and Lui insulting each other and fighting but still friends. He thought about his and Valt's friendship which was based upon understanding, sure there were times that both of them fought, like for the last cookie in the plate but those were silly things and Shu gave up easily not wanting to get angry with all. "Oi" Silas called him, "Don't think too much, you'll get wrinkles"

The others stopped their commotions and turned to Shu. Valt elbowed him playfully. "He's new to everything, but you'll fit with us just fine"

"I hope so" Shu muttered as the sound of the bell rang through the grounds. They all got up dusting off the stray grass from their clothes. Everyone gathered to the main ground in front of the main office of their headmaster. His overwhelming presence was enough to silence all the mutterings sprouting from the students. The man cleared his throat taking everyone's attention. "Today you will start with an individual challenge to test one of the most important aspects when you're fighting with a team. I'm not going to reveal the aspect, you'll have to learn it on your own. Well then, everyone will be going on different routes in the forests. Good luck" 

The students scattered in the school  grounds walking to their assigned routes. Soon, each and every student was walking along the gloomy forest. Lui groaned in dissatisfaction, the whole thing was stupid he thought walking along the forest which got thicker and thicker with every step. Lui had always been an observant person, so, the rustle in the bush next to him didn't go unnoticed by the Prince. He quietly advanced toward it. "Who's there?"

A guy jumped out from the bush skillfully landing in front of him. "You got me" He said in a cheerful tone doing jazz hands. Lui observed him, his slightly curly pink hair was bouncing as he rocked on his heel. The guy looked at him narrowing his rosy colour eyes slightly. 

"I don't like your judgmental face"

"My face always look like that" He hissed walking along in the path. The guy muttered how rude under his breath as he quickly jogged to catch up with Lui. 

"Akira is the name, nice to meet you too" He said sarcastically as they reached a quite complicated place. The road divided into two paths, Lui sighed looking at the roads. Just what the hell their headmaster want? 

"Well" Akira piped up from behind him. "I can help you with the directions if you want" 

Lui turned on his heel. "And why should I trust a stranger like you?"

Akira smiled snapping his fingers. "Good point, but sometimes strangers can be your strongest ally"

"And sometimes they can be your strongest enemy"

"Smartass" Akira grumbled under his breath. Lui observed the paths silently looking at both of the paths. But they looked identical, almost impossible to find a correct one. Behind him, Akira fished out a card from his pocket. "Here, I'm not a stranger, I know the headmaster well"

Lui turned around and snatched the card. From the first touch he could feel the faint magic aura coming out from it. He knew that their headmaster used to practice war magic when he was young. And the seal was there in the corner of the card. Proof, that this guy was telling the truth. "No, thanks" Lui said handing back the card. He knew that this stranger or the ally was telling the truth. The seal was hard to copy and the faint magic aura was no lie, but trusting people was never something that he was fond of. Betrayal was something he was familiar with. The day his cousin betrayed him, he stopped trusting people except for his own family. Because in the end as he believed those people will only be a pain in the back.

Ignoring Akira's protests he turned right and walked along the path, he heard the other letting out an exasperated sigh starting to follow him. 

In another route Shu was also having the same problem. He stood in front of the road divided into two parts, he frowned turning around to look at Orochi, the guy he met along the way. Sure, he knew that Orochi was a stranger and had no proof to prove who he was but betrayal was not a word Shu was familiar with. He trusted everyone around him with all his heart. Living inside, trapped between four walls he was never betrayed by anyone. The servants and the butlers were loyal to him that he didn't have to be scared to trust anyone. So, without an evidence itself he trusted Orochi. 

Shu turned to Orochi, "Well?" He asked from the boy behind him, his hands stuffed inside his pockets as he nonchalantly stared at him. 

"That way" he said shrugging toward the right, Shu nodded quietly walking along the path with Orochi following close by. Shu clasped his hands behind his back wondering their headmaster's motive, he was sure that it had something to do with Orochi but he could not quite place his finger how. His thoughts were broke by a sound of footsteps coming from the opposite side of the road. Soon, a mop of light blue hair caught his eyes making his own blood boil in anger. 

"Why him all the time?" He muttered under his breath. 

Lui had a similar reaction. "Oh gods why?"

Shu clicked his tongue, but his face drew into a confused expression when he noticed the boy behind him. The pink haired boy waved at Orochi. "Hey Orochi, guess he failed too?"

Orochi nodded, "Headmaster was right, these two are the complete opposites of each other"

Lui groaned. "What the hell is going on? Why the hell is this brat here?"

"Not like my eyes are all pleasured by your presence either. Thank you very much" Shu said rolling his eyes. 

Akira placed his hands on his hips looking at them. "Well, listen to me. The lesson today was trust and headmaster assigned one of us to each route everyone took. Half of you all failed including you two, Prince Free passed. He is a considerate person and uses his head but Prince Lui here don't trust anyone. Too much mistrust and trust can be both dangerous."

Lui shook his head. "Too much trust is dangerous and not trusting anyone is better if you don't want to be betrayed."

"There are some people in the world whom can be your strongest allies, and in the battlefield the one with the most allies will always win, for loyal friendship trust is the foundation." Orochi said looking at him apathetically.

"Loyal friendship my foot" Lui grumbled, Shu stood in the middle of the conversation, his eyes narrowed. 

"Why does anyone betray another person?"

Akira cooed, "Awe, they were right! You don't know much about the outer world. But the truth is Shu this world is dangerous. It's the most brutal place you'll ever see. The most loyal friends turn against each other in the name of power. That's how this world is. You can't trust everyone, you have to chose wisely and let the people who are there for you in your darkest times"

"You can trust whomever you want, besides not like you're going to live enough years to let them betray you" Lui said smirking. 

Shu gritted his teeth holding back the urge to punch him in the face. Akira and Orochi stared at each other as the tension rose in the air around them. "It's not my fault" Shu said, his voice was faint barely audible. 

"What?" Lui asked raising his brow. 

Shu turned on his heel looking at Lui's face, staring deep into his violet eyes. "It's not my fault" He said raising his voice. "I did not want to be born like this. I didn't wish to be like this. You think it's a joke that I live my life in the constant fear that I could die at any minute? It's not my goddamn fault I'm like this. So stop blaming me for something I can't control" He stopped, breathing hardly. 

"Shu.." Akira muttered almost trying to reach to him when Lui grabbed him by his collar slamming him to a tree. Angry would be a let down to describe his expression, he was beyond furious. 

"You're pathetic, so pathetic" He hissed. "People like you piss me off, trying so hard even though you know you would gain nothing from it. Just go back to that little castle of yours and live the rest of your life. Stop being a pain to everyone here. None of them need a friend like you, it's just pity that drive them toward you" Lui released him pushing him away. 

Shu bit his lip keeping silent, his bangs casting a shadow over his red eyes. Lui looked at the other two. "Just show me the way to get back to the school" 

"This way" Akira said, his voice filled with tension and desperation. Orochi and Akira kept silent, knowing that it was not their place to talk. Judging by the reaction of the Princes, they needed to be silent they thought. 

The whole journey was in complete silent, the only sound was the sounds of birds chirping was heard from the whole area. The tension was thick that someone could cut through it. Both of them stuck in their own worlds of thoughts. Lui clenched his fist, Shu's voice echoing inside his mind. 

It's not my fault

Of course he knew, Lui knew that it was not Shu's fault. He knew Shu could not control it but seeing Shu trying to push through all this annoyed him. There was a time Lui thought trying was the only option that no matter what happened you have to try and there was a time he believed in friendship and loyalty but unlike Shu he know about the world. He had been a victim of life itself. He knew the brutality, he saw the way a friend could throw friendship so easily like a piece of trash. And he saw how people tried for gain nothing in the end. So, Lui stopped trying, he didn't try to make friends. He stopped trying to go with a team. He stopped trying to help others. Overall he stopped believing in love and friendship because those things did not exist. 

On the other hand Shu thought about the words Lui said, 

Only pity drive them toward you

Shu could not believe it. One thing he hated most of his life was those pitying glances others gave him when he realized his condition. He was strong, he knew it. He stole a glance at Lui, did really everyone pitied him that they wanted to be friends with him. Don't they see him as an equal? Is he just a pathetic little creature who goes around drawing out nothing but pity from others? Shu gritted his teeth in frustration. His mind circling in a certain question, what did he do to deserve this hatred?