Location: DownGolden High School / SilverUp Academy
Date: 27th May 2035
Time: 12:40 p.m.

"Wanna bet how many losers are there gonna be in the festival?"

"Afuru, for the last time," I stopped myself from letting out an exasperated sigh when I heard my very own helper just give out one of her thoughts, "Those are competitors, they'll be a loser when they're lost."

"You sound so confident, my prince." Afuru said, then she turned to me and crossed her arm, "Do you think you're gonna lose?"

"...No."

"Hesitation isn't a good look on you." Afuru said and let out a disappointed sigh. Why does she have to let out that sigh when I'm supposed to be the one to do that to her?

Afuru and I are tasked to set up the poster for the festival that's gonna be held for the DownGolden High School and SilverUp Academy. It's a so-called Friendship Game between the two schools. Basically, we have this Friendship Game once in every year and to make up a truce. But they, the teachers, don't know how much the students took advantage of this game.

If one of the schools wins in the said Friendship Game, they will try to demand or command the students to do the task that is set for them... It's a bit childish in my opinion.

"Glad we're on the same page," suddenly Afuru said out of nowhere. I look at her and give her a look, while she raises her brows at me. Sometimes I swear she might have mind reading curses...

Oh who am I kidding. She might have cursed more than one cursed...

... I am not Phoenix. My name is Ray Ashton, I'm the current President of the Students Council. But that's not important right now. I have done my introduction and you will not mistake me for another person.

Just as Afuru and I had done our task to put the game's poster on the announcement board, I saw someone that I wished to just go in the other direction. Anywhere but here...

"Ray," I hear my voice being called, "Just as I expected, I've been looking for you now that you're here with..."

"Hello, Mr. Ashton." Afuru said in her polite attitude.

"Hey, dad." I said, no holds of affection or longing for the man I called my father.

"Hello, Miss Inkuro." Dad said, politely greeting Afuru but I know he held back his distastement towards her, "It is time we have a talk with the Friendship Games that's gonna be held later."

Dad started to walk away, probably going to the Students Council's room, where we list off many contestants that are willing to join some certain games. Before I could follow him, I felt something hold me back by my hand.

I turn to my back and realise Afuru is still her and she's the one who held me back by holding my hand.

"Listen, I don't care what your fuck up relationship with your dad, but I know for sure you dislike it." She said it, oh so casually and hold no interest but to me, it shows a bit of her care and concern, even if it didn't show it on her face nor her tone, "I have no clue how parents should show their care and love for their kids but your father does not show a bit care. And all of that was coming from me..."

...That's nice, even coming from her. I sigh, "It wouldn't matter a single thing for him if I dislike it or not." I say, and slowly pull my hand away from her hold, "Besides, I think he might drag Colby into this as well. Whether he likes it or not."

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"I think I didn't have to explain the rule for you, correct?" Dad says, after finally discussing the game.

"Yes, dad." I say, and look back at the game list and who's the contestants...

"Is that all you are here for Mr. Ashton?"

Suddenly I saw my dad flinched a little by Afuru, who's behind him and the fact he didn't hear her footsteps behind him. To be fair, none of us hear her footsteps at all.

"Yes, that... that is all..." seeing my dad said that while trying to make himself seem representable is something I didn't think I'd see him doing but here we are.

He started to walk towards the door and finally left the room. I sigh as I look back at the list of contestants that my dad has put.

"Guess it really is a tradition, huh?" I hear Afuru's voice and as she says that, she took a peak at the list, "If you weren't Ashton, would the competition still be held?"

"If there's only one child from the Ashton family, a relative of them that was once an Ashton has to participate as well..." I sigh, knowing that won't ever come now that I am part of the family despite not really blood related, "Unfortunately, none of my cousins wants to volunteer..."

"Ah, them..." I can hear Afuru saying, "They're cool."

"You think Diana and Margarita are cool. I still can't believe you have a beef with the boys."

"Correction I have a beef with the boys AND the woman on your side of the family, it's pretty funny watching them getting the taste of their own medicine."

"... Tienes suerte de que mi mamá y mis tías te quieran." I muttered but I know she can hear me with how she glances at me. Looking at me with no emotions in her eyes and yet, a heartless Vice-president she is, giving me nothing but a company...

"Can't believe your mom married that old man in the first place." She said and went to her work seat.

Despite there's no paperwork on her table and a full free time schedule currently, she still stays here unlike before we met.

Before I could say anything to her, suddenly the sound of the door open was heard across the room. I looked up and saw Colby, Phoenix and Alexis from the opened door. One thing I noticed is Colby's face, showing nothing but rage as he walks towards me.

"What the fuck is that man doing here?" Colby said as he was already in front of my work desk and slammed his hand down on it. Before I could say anything, I could see his eyes suddenly glance down on my desk.

Staring at the contestants list, that has my and his name on it. His enraged eyes suddenly shifted to confusion but still there's a spark of anger. We all know that he knows it.

"What the fuck..." I can hear he say those exact word quietly as he hold the list, "What the fuck does this mean?!"

"You know what this means as much as I do." I sigh and stand up from my seat as I look down at him, "This is a tradition for every Ashton child that will reach the age of 17."

"Well yeah, but he already threatened me that he will just pass his company onto you and I don't care. You can have that goddamn company for all I care but what in the flying fuck does the tradition have to continue?!" Colby shouted.

"Colby, you are my step-brother and that goes for me being your step-brother as well. I am now part of the Ashton family and no matter what, father-"

"That old man will never be your father and you know it." He interrupted me.

I didn't say anything but I knew what he said was true...

"Um... I am sorry for intruding but I'm confused..." I can hear a voice at the door, it was one of Colby's friends, Phoenix Saxon wasn't it?

"Fun fact; The Ashton was actually the founder of DownGolden High School and SilverUp Academy." Alexis explained to Phoenix as he looked at Alexis in surprise and back at me and Colby, "Two brothers of the Ashton have a fight over this land that they want to build for their school, which almost led to massacre. However, their fianceé had enough of the two brothers' constant fighting and threatened them that they would break off their engagement with them if they didn't solve the issues calmly."

"And in the end, both of them have a truce and agree to have friendly-family competition that only have their children fighting with each other and the prize will be something only one of them can achieve." Afuru continue the explanation and how it ended, "In conclusion, the two brothers are nothing but a simp-"

"Don't try to twist the history, Afuru." I said.

"Tell that to the other coloniser that twists the truth and covers it with a lying blanket."

... I'm not going to argue that...

"Well, the points still stand as I said, father has already signed our name and wants us to settle the score once and for all when the game starts." I said to Colby with a firm and strict tone.

"Let's see if you can play the game now-"

"Colby!?"

He raises his hand and shifts it to his fist, he never go violence on me, only barks and no bite. But this time, he tried, oh he so try as I didn't feel any pain on me. Because in front of me is Afuru, looking at her holding Colby's wrist and almost trying to twist it.

Between her and Colby, I know she's stronger than I ever was... Stronger than I ever was to Colby...

Just before Afuru could twist Colby's wrist, I already put a halt on it, "That's enough, Afuru." As I said that, Afuru let go of his wrist, I looked back at Colby, "No retreat, no resign. Be an Ashton and take action or be a coward and get crushed by it..."

I knew that line would make him stop and make a moment of progress to look at me... This line or rather I say, a motto, was the Ashton's family's motto and motivational word to keep their spirit up. After being in this family, those tutors keep on saying it to me, to the point that it was the only thing I should think about as an Ashton, despite I am not their flesh and blood...

I saw Colby stand up and walk away from me, dragging his friends along with him to get out of the room... And they're gone...

I sigh, as I can feel Afuru staring at me. I look back at her, "Let's continue our work."

"...Yes, my prince."

"Please stop..."

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Translation:
Tienes suerte de que mi mamá y mis tías te quieran. = You're lucky that my mom and my aunts love you.