Extra Edition: 13 years-old, What a Wonderful, Important Day

 "Adele was amazing the other day."
Ella repeated the same thing again as she picked at the sweets on the table.
Her red hair was usually braided into a bun at the academy, but today it was tied high with her favorite golden ribbon.
“Well, I didn't think he'd stick around that long, so I was kind of impressed.”
Leni also nodded with excitement, holding a cup of tea to her mouth.
She swayed her chin-length hair, which was the same as it was during our early school days.

One day during the weekend.
Leni and I were visiting Ella's mansion, a classmate of ours.
We were surrounded by delicious sweets and tea, I was shocked to hear Adele's name in a chattering atmosphere, so I adjusted my composure so it wouldn’t show.

Three months had passed since we had graduated and entered middle school.
This is a small story from the beginning of summer, when we were thirteen years old. It's a story of a casual day, easily forgotten in the passing days.


Looking at me in silence, Leni and Ella glanced at each other.

“Oh, right, Tiana arrived late that time.”
“Yes. I was cleaning up the classroom with Cornelia-sama and it got late. Was Adele that outnumbered?"

I asked calmly, then hurriedly added, "I guess it's no surprise that Adele was outnumbered.”

It was the day before yesterday.
When I left the classroom with Cornelia-sama, there was a crowd in the courtyard.
The first years of the Knight course were in the middle of practice.
The Knight Course spans six grades from middle school to high school, a meritocracy that also acts as a strict hierarchy.

It was not uncommon for the first-year students of the middle school to practice and play games in places like this, as they were not given a regular training ground.


From the center of the circle of regular students surrounding the commotion, Ella waved her hands at us and jumped up and down.

"Cornelia-sama! Tiana! Julius-sama and Adele are having their final match! This way, this way!!"
What we saw was Julius-sama and Adele facing each other as we got to the front of the crowd, pulled in from her excitement.

Two people holding wooden two-handed swords were facing each other within a predetermined position.
Adele was quite breathless, and Julius-sama had sweat beading on his forehead.

“They've been battling for quite some time, but a winner can’t be determined. We were just talking about how Adele might be reaching his limit."
Ella explains loudly with a bold tone.
As I turned my head, I saw Adele stepping forward and leaping at Julius-sama’s sword.
Julius was cut off guard for a moment, but immediately stepped forward and pressed Adele's sword from above.
Adele pulled the tip of his sword to the other side, stepped back for a moment to get some distance, and then stepped in again.

"Oh my? It's amazing, just a moment ago Adele was on the defensive, and now he's suddenly come back to life!”
Ella claps excitedly.
Desperately pretending to be calm, I was holding my throbbing chest tightly over my uniform.

Come on, Adele. It's time to show them what you've been practicing every day for. Now go! Don't hold back!


Adele slaps away the sweat on his brow.
For a moment, his hazel eyes seem to glance at me, and I almost yell out, "Do your best."

"Julius, Adele, do your best!"
Cornelia-sama’s voice comes out from right next to me, and I snap back to reality.

That's right. Cornelia-sama is watching you, Adele.
It's a cool scenario, you have to show your good side.
After that, I cheered for Adele in my heart, with my lips sealed tight.
By the end of the match, my clenched hands were soaked in sweat.

"In the end, the duel had to finish and the teacher called it a draw, but Adele did his best, didn't he?”
Ella says while adding new piece of the cake to her plate.
“Yes, it looked like he was going to lose the game until about halfway through. It was just when Tiana and the others came to watch that he was suddenly reinvigorated.”

I silently brought the cup to my mouth.
It was because Cornelia-sama arrived.
Adele fought hard to show Cornelia-sama his strength.
I think it's great and I'm happy for him, but … it still makes my heart ache.

It was around the end of elementary school when I noticed that Adele was following Cornelia-sama with his eyes and moving to help her. Now I am almost certain that he has feelings for Cornelia-sama.

-No. I'm sure there will be many things like this from now on. I have to get used to it.
“Even so, the students in the Knight Course look so mature even though they've only recently entered middle school.”
“I know, it's kind of hard to believe that we were in the same classroom in elementary school just a few weeks ago.”
They said with a sigh.

It’s true.
We were all divided into civilian and military officers when we entered middle school.
We went on to the civilian general course, and Adele and Julius-sama went on to the elite knight course, which only a limited number of military officers can advance to.

Ella left the room for a moment and came back with a cake stand full of cakes
While placing more pastries to her plate, she lowered her voice so the women in the next room over wouldn't hear.

"I heard this from my sister, but in the old days, it seems that some men and women would spend time together like lovers starting in middle school."

Ella has three older sisters, and the oldest is thirteen years older than her.
The so-called free love generation … the last generation of young adults in this country who were free to express their feelings to whomever they wanted.

Leni and I held out breaths waiting for Ella to continue.

"When they graduate from middle school, they make their debut at an evening party. The boys ask the girl they want to be their escort there."
"In middle school? Is that allowed? Aren’t delinquents the only ones that do that?"

Leni face flushes red.
Ella shakes her head and sniffs her little nose.

"No, it's something that happens to everyone normally. So by the time you graduate from high school, you'll apply for marriage."

Waah~, said Leni, as if it were coming out of the top of her head.

Our parents' generation seldom talked about these things because they cared about us.
The “coming-of-age ceremony” was brought in by the empire and accepted by our parents after difficult deliberation.
In the spring of our eighteenth year, we are required to have a child with a partner chosen by the Empire's high command, depriving us of the opportunity to fall in love freely forever.

To us, free love is like a fairy tale, but I guess our parents remember it with a sense of apologetic guilt. They rarely talked about those days anymore.

That's why the stories we hear about the former Principality from Ella's sister in secret are so exciting to us, but also terribly fascinating, like a secret book of immorality.
In short, it's a perfect topic for girls-only tea parties.

"But when we get to high school, we'll have to study a lot for college, not to mention the knight course has a lot of training, and we won't have time for that."
"Oh, no, Tia. I'm sure the noblewomen of that time--love was their career."

Ella's eyes brighten with fascination and she puts her hands on her cheeks.
Her body trembled, and Leni and I looked at each other and sputtered.

"Oh my God, isn't that amazing?"
"It's nice, but don't move like that, Ella.”
"Yes, but …”
With a chuckle, Leni slowly shook her head.
"It's like a story from a … dream. It's a story that’s impossible for us.”
At the sound of her quiet voice, Ella and I both gave a small laugh and brought our cups to our lips.
Yes. That is always the limit for us.


We can secretly listen to Ella's sister's story and swoon at the idea of a free love that once was.
But that's it.

We can't talk about what kind of love we would like to have.
Of course, that includes the kind of person we … imagine ourselves with.
You can't talk about it, no matter how close you are to the other person.

Once we turn eighteen.
We will be forced to pair off with one of our classmates.

It could be the person your best friend has been secretly in love with, or it could be the best friend of the person you have been in love with.

At the age of thirteen, we were finally beginning to understand the horror of this fact, in a realistic sense.

"By the way, these pastries are really good. Your mother taught you how to make them, so why don't Cornelia and I try making them next time?”
I asked in an obvious, cheerful voice, and Ella nodded enthusiastically, as if she knew I was trying to change the topic.
"That sounds great! But my mother says this is a bit difficult.”
Leni, in turn, smiled brightly.
"But I think I can make even the most difficult pastry with Cornelia. Can you write it down on a piece of paper for me?”
We laughed cheerfully and began to make plans for the next weekend with Cornelia.

We were thirteen years old.
Thirteen years old, and we are trying our best to stomp out the seeds of attraction to someone that are naturally born inside of us, and cover the sprouts of feelings that still grow.
In the end, I'm sure I'll hide the flower from the people around me, even if it means covering my body.

In this way, we thirteen-year-olds begin to prepare for the day that will surely come five years later.
Taking deep breaths for that day.
Today, I'm going to put dirt on my little heart again.


*


During the holiday, the stables at the middle school were deserted.

I headed to the sword practice area, and sure enough, most of the people there were seniors from the high school who lived in the dormitory on the grounds.
It was refreshing to see that there were no upperclassmen from the middle school, who always looked down on us freshmen when we tried to practice.


Thinking back to the practice duel from the day before yesterday, I couldn't just sit around at home because it was my day off.

What an ordinary practice duel.
I made it to the finals without any problems, but I had a hard time against Julius, who came out on top, as expected.
He looked cool, and swung his sword down from a higher position than me.

How troublesome.
I was becoming fed up with the increasing number of onlookers as well as Julius' clever sword-handling, and was thinking that I should just end it there.

--Tiana! This way, this way!
I heard someone’s voice from within the crowd, and that familiar dark chestnut hair swayed softly in the corner of my vision.
At that moment, I felt an incredible surge of energy in the pit of my stomach, and I was madly stepping towards Julius.

"Good morning, Adele.”
As I was re-wrapping the bandage around the blister on my palm, I heard a fools voice and turned around in disgust.
Sure enough, Julius stood there, wearing training clothes on a holiday.

"It's rare for you to practice on your own. And on your day off, too.”
"I figured you would be here.”

He laughed as he stretched his shoulder, then looked at me with one eyebrow raised.

"The duel from the other day was a bit of a bust, wasn't it? We didn't get to show off our 'good' side.”

I'm pissed off. His blue eyes seemed to see right through me.
I'm aware, of course, that during the match, Tiana silently put her hand on her chest and stared desperately at this guy.
I was so frustrated that I even felt my concentration sharpening when I crossed a certain point.

"Moreover, sword practice is better than any … other practice alone.”
"It's more efficient with two people."

I pulled out two wooden swords from a case they were kept in for practice and threw one to Julius.

"I'm sure you're right. Next time, let's have a proper and decisive match.”
"Good. I'm going to make you regret ever practicing with me.”
I smiled fearlessly, not letting that annoying smile get the better of me.

For a thirteen year old, the world looks awfully bleak.
I’ve suddenly become unreasonable, feeling like shouting out more and more often at things that I had accepted without thinking just a few months ago. (meaning he’s become more agitated)


I didn't know what to do or where to put this rage for a while.
The repeated devotion to the Empire in the knight's course didn't resonate with me one bit.
I originally decided to protect Cornelia instead of Tiana. That's not enough for me anymore.

But after the last match, I think I finally understand, somewhat.

I want to surpass Julius and be recognized as the last knight of Arita.

That's the only way I can make an impression on Tiana.
In this shitty reality where nothing is guaranteed, this is the only promise for the future that can be certain.

"Can I go easy on you?"
"That's my line. I will never, ever, ever, ever go easy on you.”
"Are you sure? I've been trying to keep a low profile in class, but you' re not going to let me do that with you?”
"Of course not, I won't allow you to go easy on me."

Julius happily brushed the sand from the soles of his feet.
It's fine. I’m never going to throw in the middle of a match with this guy again.

I readied my sword and faced him, breathing hard.

There was no teacher giving the order, no crowd surrounding us. But we looked at our opponent in silence.
When the early summer breeze fluttered through the trees, we stepped forward almost simultaneously.

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