Chapter One Hundred and seventeen: I have Sisters

Christina's Arc: Bend or Break

I sighed at the sound of the bell. JT, Kanna, Mirei, and Tiffany just watched me as if the bell had dismissed only me. Then Kanna packed her bag quickly and rushed over to me.

"I-I'll walk you out if that's okay… Carter—"

I sighed, waving her off.

"Don't call me Carter. That's my dad. Just call me Antwon, okay?"

JT and Tiffany gasped. Mirei, however, just laughed.

"Shut it."

Kanna and I walked through the hallway… mostly in silence. She squeaked every now and then.

"Kanna, where did you learn to draw like that?" I asked.

But when I did, Kanna started lagging behind. I grabbed her wrist to pull her next to me, and she blushed. So I let go, and she grabbed my hand instead.

Oh, boy, I shouldn't let her hold my hand; I've explained this to her, but I don't think she means anything bad by doing so. But after Jenie's bullshit today, I'd rather not take that chance.

"Kanna—"

"I… started drawing when I was five, because I didn't want to learn the sword."

"But why would you learn the sword, Kanna?"

…

"I have to because I'm a Shirogane… we've always been in service to the crown… so I know the sword."

…

"Oh."

The Veil isn't in conflict with anyone. Kanna should be fine.

…

"So, if your queen, which I guess is my queen, too. But if she never calls your family into service, then it's not a big deal, right?"

"Right…"

"But you've learned the sword, and you're still an amazing artist, Kanna. What are you going to do if you're never called to service?"

She squeezed my hand, reminding me that she was still holding it. We stepped out of the building.

"I'll start a family of my own, raise a daughter to fight in service of the queen, and… I'm not sure. Maybe the Ash won't push deeper into the Veil before I grow old, but I sort of want them to."

I ran in front of Kanna and grabbed her by her shoulders.

"You want them to invade? Are you crazy?" I said, shaking her gently.

"B-but what if… they attack, and my daughter has to fight instead of me… I wouldn't want her to die—"

"But what if you die before you have a daughter?"

"I-I have sisters," Kanna whispered.

I hate this country. I hate its rules. I hate that girls are killing other girls. Why does it have to be this way?

"Kanna, promise me that you won't fight no matter—"

Someone or something ripped me away, slinging me to the ground. I fought my way out of a bush, and when I climbed out of it, Ayame was holding Kanna at the point of her naked blade.

"Well, well, well, you can attract more flies with shit after all," Ayame said. "I knew I should have walked into your stupid club and dragged your ass out. Now, I have to kill some stupid girl—"

Kanna clutched her arm, but she didn't back down.

"Cut the crap, Ayame—"

"It's fucking Tetsuzaki!" Ayame screamed, taking a stance.

I screamed and charged Ayame, but someone else pulled me back.

"Stop, stop," Christina said, her voice devoid of enthusiasm or life.

…

"Your Grace, this girl was holding your consort's hand!"

…

Christina looked at Kanna, then me.

"Is this true, hani?"

Christina pulled me back and stared into my face.

"Hani?"

"Yeah, but you better not hurt her."

Christina spat in no particular direction.

"First the orange-haired girl and now some—"

"Look… I don't know what that was with Jenie, and she's weird as hell. But she has to explain herself to Kai—"

"I don't fucking care about any of that anymore, Antwon! I'll—"

I grabbed Christina by the shoulders like I did Kanna, but I shook her as hard as she would let me.

"I blew up on you in the cafeteria because you never listen to me!"

…

Christina moved my hands and stared into my eyes.

"Lower the blade, Tetsuzaki, but don't sheathe it. You may have need of it yet. Speak, Antwon."

"C-can we do it at home?"

Christina frowned, then raised her hand in the air.

"Tetsuzaki!"

Ayame raised her blade.

"Okay, the car ride home!"

Christina's eyelids half-closed.

"Work with me. I don't like talking when that beast is around, especially when she's holding a blade over my friend's life," I said.

Christina walked over to Kanna. She shook her head at Ayame, who sheathed her blade.

"What's your name, girl, so I know who I've marked for death?"

…

"My name is Kanna Shirogane of the Shirogane household, and I do not fear you," she proudly stated.

Where the hell did all this confidence come from?

"Oh," Christina said, smiling. "Such a brave fool." Christina gently pushed Ayame aside. "It seems like she wants to fight me—"

"No!" I shouted, placing myself between Kanna and Christina. "No, no, no one's going to fight today, Christina. Think about the risk assessment. What if you start fighting, Ayame gets too into it, and someone attacks while we're distracted and kills us all?" I asked.

Thank you, Yua, for always being paranoid.

"Well, you do have a point, but it wouldn't take long—"

"Piss on it, Christina."

…

"That's gross," Ayame said.

"What does that mean—"

"Hey, you guys," Sakura said, running up to us. "Can I ride with you?"

"You can piss on it, too!" I said.

Sakura went from a light jog to a full sprint.

I could always count on Sakura to blow up when I needed her to.

"I told you to stop fucking saying that disgusting shit to people!"

I braced myself.

I didn't want Sakura to hit me, but I'd rather be the one to be maimed in this situation. Besides, I'd been treated worse in my past life.

Sakura swung, open-handed, but Christina pushed my head down, causing Sakura to miss. Sakura swung again, and Christina yanked me up, pulling me into her.

"Damn it, sister-in-law, if you're not going to discipline him, let me!"

"Not a chance, sister."

"If you don't do something about his mouth, I'm going to have my hands full when I get him back."

Run, I mouthed to Kanna, but she just stood there.

"Nice try, dumbass, but girls with status can't just run, even if they know they're about to die," Ayame said.

…

"Kill who?" Sakura asked, grimacing.

"Not you, not her, not yet. I need to do some homework on what kind of family raises a brat with so much hubris," Christina said.

I sighed.

Kanna is safe, I guess.

"Come along, Antwon, Ayame. I need to shower."

…

"What about me?" Sakura asked.

"Enjoy your walk, dear sister."