Third person POV
As Kiroyuki and prince Neil cheerfully walked down the halls, Kiroyuki was full of excitement for her childhood crush to meet her friends whom she calls family.

"Hey Neil! I think you'll find them all amazing!" Kiroyuki smiled brightly and pulled onto her hood further down just in case.

Blushing at Neil's deep yet husky chuckle, Kiroyuki pulled down onto the hood even more.

"Tell me a bit about them all! I'm intrigued!"

"Shirayuki has beautiful red hair and is a court herbalist! She's really pretty and smart! Plus her and Zen are lovers! Heheh! Zen is easily flustered around Shirayuki and is a clutz around her! He's actually protective, kind, and loyal! Mitsuhide is Zen's attendee with blue-green hair. He's really loyal, strong, stupid yet can be smart, and I believe that he likes Kiki. Oh, Kiki is also Zen's atendee! She's very pretty, strong, and could be the one person to scare Zen and Mitsuhide! She's really nice though! Izana is sly but is actually kind! He's never really seen like a dork as Zen though... Plus, he's the one who brought me here in Clarines!"

"Wow... That's a lot about them all-Wait! What about the kid herbalist?" Smiling even more, Kiroyuki cheered as they took a turn.

"I was about to start talking about him! Well his name is Ryu and he's a few months older than me! He has beautiful aquamarine eyes and really fluffy brown hair! He's actually super smart to be a court herbalist and is surprisingly strong for someone who doesn't train... He may seem emotionless and cold but he is actually super duper shy and cute! It's funny when he gets flustered! Hehe! Memories..." Crossing her arms in a proud way of speaking towards her friends, Kiroyuki quickly noticed that they had arrived at the medical wing.

"Interesting.... Well I can't wait to meet them all!" Punching his arm playfully, she scoffed and knew he was excited yet nervous to gain their opinions of him.

Kiroyuki opened the door with a knock and permission from what sounded like Shirayuki (Oh really Sherlocks?) and smiled brightly as she hid Neil behind the door.

"Hello~! Huh?... You're all here except Ryu?" Questioning out loud, they all looked at Kiroyuki in a confused manner.

"We thought he went to go see you..." Shirayuki tilted her head.

Kiroyuki shook her head in disappointment and sighed.

"Well... I want you guys to meet a great childhood friend of mine! Come on in!"

As the door opened to fully to reveal Prince Neil, Zen's jaw dropped and hanged in shock. Shirayuki, Obi, Mitsuhide, and Kiki were questioning Ryu's absence and how the young Prince and princess knows of each other as childhood friends.

"Greetings! It's wonderful to see you again Prince Zen! Hello Shirayuki, Mitsuhide, Kiki, and Obi! Kiroyuki has told me so much about all of you including Prince Izana and the missing boy Ryu." Smiling, Neil held a sincere like expression.

"It's nice to meet you Prince Neil! I'm Shirayuki, and may I ask about both of your childhood days?" Nodding both of their heads, Kiroyuki started off with their tale of their childhood.

"Although Clarines and H-hyoushou are the closest allies, Neil's kingdom is more like a close family. Since Neil regularly visits my kingdom, we would always play together."

"Kiroyuki was such an adorable baby! She couldn't even speak properly as a toddler, and it was too cute for me to handle!" Blushing, Kiroyuki punched Neil less playfully along with a "shut up".

"Oww! Your punches have gotten stronger too, and we are only three years apart."

Kiroyuki lightly giggled at his statement and proudly smiled.

"He's still a dork all of these years..." Rubbing her temples for a few more seconds, Kiroyuki sighed and looked around the room once more. Her eyes landed on Ryu's desk and looked where the bottom part of the desk had some curtain like drape covering the area. She was curious to the rumored napping spot of Ryu's, so in spite of the conversation everyone was holding, she walked over to his desk in curiosity and crouched down. Slowly yet hastily, Kiroyuki pushed the curtains to the side and sighed in disappointment.

"Hey Kiroyuki..." Neil approached Kiroyuki with mixed feelings shown deep down inside his eyes and crouched down to Kiroyuki's level and ruffled her blue hair. "Why don't we look for your friend?"

"Y-yeah... I just really want you to meet him... Ryu's my best f-friend here in Clarines..." Lowering her head down with her pink dusted cheeks, Kiroyuki felt her heart stir when she said "friend".

"May I get everyone's attention! Please help me find this young herbalist Ryu! I shall meet him and make Kiroyuki happy!"

Kiroyuki feeling amazed and joy, she smiled at how much Neil cared for her happiness. Even if it was trivial to call attention for such. Plus, she feels weird being with the gang without Ryu being here by her side.

"Shirayuki and I will check the library! Everyone would meet back in this room in about forty-five!" Zen immediately took action as everyone decided on their search areas.

"I wonder why you chose Shirayuki~!" Mitsuhide lowly chuckled with Obi as they both tried to muffle out their voices from their glaring master.

"I guess Mitsuhide and I will check the courtyard." Kiki said, which Obi whistled to in a teasing manner and got slapped by Kiki in return.

"I will check from the tops of the castle roofs then..." Obi still taken a toll from the slap, had immediately climb out of the window and dashed away.

"I guess Neil and I will check the herb garden! Come on Neil! Let's go find Ryu!" As Kiroyuki grabbed Neil's collar, she quickly reminded herself to put on her hood since she's not supposed to be roaming around the castle grounds.

"Be careful Kiroyuki! Don't let Izana know that I let you do this!" Kiroyuki gave a thumbs up to Zen without looking back and continued running with Neil for a short while until it was the point where they had to walk without being suspicious on castle grounds.

"Hey Kiroyuki?" As Neil curiously called out, Kiroyuki hummed in response. "... Do you have feelings for Ryu?"

"E-eh?!" Blushing madly, Kiroyuki was at a loss for words. She honestly didn't know if she had feelings for Ryu as a frined or more than a... friend. After all, Kiroyuki still has longing feelings for Neil, but she felt weird and warm around Ryu. She felt conflicted when this question was brought up to her mind.

"I-I don't k-know..." As Neil looked at Kiroyuki's flushed and troubled face, he knew she was struggling with mixed emotions. Somewhere deep inside, half of Neil wants Kiroyuki to be his, but the other half is unsure if he is suited for her. He too is conflicted.

"Then... Do you like someone else?" As Neil questions Kiroyuki even more, Kiroyuki felt like her heart would burst and not in the delightful way. She felt like bursting with conflicted agony of love. Kiroyuki really wanted to say that she loves and always have love Neil, but she felt like some thing was stopping her from confessing her long lasting love for Neil.

"I don't know... Sorry..." Neil nodded his head in understanding and ruffled Kiroyuki's hair with a gentle smile.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have asked. Let's find Ryu." They walked in silence along the path they will last have.

Ryu's POV
"Hey kid! Are you deaf?"

"Rona! That's rude!"

Rona...? Eugena...?

"Huh? Oh. H-hello.... What are you doing here?" I sat up properly and saw the concern look on Prince Eugena's face.

"We were walking around the castle in boredom and found you here lying in a field of flowers! I won't complain since it's beautiful, but why are your eyes red?"

Gasping slightly, I touched the sides of my eyes and felt them to still be the slightest bit of being dampen. I placed my hands back at my sides and shook my head in dismissal.

"It's nothing... I'm fine..." Lowering my head, I can feel the intense and uncomfortable stares from the twins.

"Its about Kiroyuki, right?" Flinching in place, I still kept my head down and spoke in silence.

"If it's about her and Prince Neil of Utopian, then wouldn't it be best to show her that you're a worthy rival for her love!" Rising up my head to Eugnea's loud yet desperate statement, I blinked in surprise and questioned him.

"... Don't you like Kiroyuki?" I saw the flustered look on his face as Rona looked expected of this.

"I knew it all along! You just kept denying with a red face and still even now! Pfft!" Sweat dropping, I turned back to Eugnea for his response.

" ... I do l-like her..." I nodded my head slowly and was about to speak until he spoke once more. "I like her! But, I don't think I'm right for her..."

"What?! Eugnea my dear brother... What are you saying?" I tilted my head along as Rona furiously interrogated Eugnea.

"I u-um... Well, I wouldn't be able to stand by her side constantly because I haven't so far. I d-don't m-mean that I w-wouldn't, but it's just that you and Neil had been by h-her side m-more and it makes m-more sense! Plus, she barely even knows me, and I would like to know more about her and for her to know more about me in order for me to be a rival... S-s-sorry!"

I shook my head and patted his shoulder. "You reminded me to always be by her side even if she has someone else. I'll just be the white knight that rivals for love."

"That actually sounded cool..." Rona with sparkling eyes lit up as if she began to create her own fantasy in her mind. Eugnea and I sweat dropped and sighed in unison.

"RYU!" Flinching in surprise, I turned to see a blur of blue run towards me with full speed, which the twins panicked to in surprise. I immediately knew that it was Kiroyuki and felt happy yet shaken of her arrival.

"K-kiroyuki?!" Blushing at the sudden contact of an embrace, Kiroyuki immediately let go of my torso and slapped my cheek less painfully than what she would do.

"WHERE WERE YOU?! The gang said that you came to see me yet you never came!" Kiroyuki pouted in anger and concern as she let out a long sigh.

"Oh! So you're Ryu! I'm Prince Neil of Utopian! Nice to finally meet you!" I immediately felt surprised and unsure, but I nodded my head in discomfort.

"Hello. I'm Ryu. Court herbalist of Clarines castle." Bowing towards a Neil, I brought my head back up to see the twins in the corner of my eyes. Rona was fangirling while Eugnea was dying in embarrassment of his sister.

"Ryu, this is an amazing childhood friend of mines, and I would like for him to meet you since you're my best friend here in Clarines!" Deep down inside, I felt lightning strike me when she said "best friend".

"Oh. Well-wait. Kiroyuki?"

"Yes?"

"Aren't you not suppose to be out here. I mean your hair stands out and you're out in the open..."

"Gah! I forgot!" Scrambling to stuff her hair into her hoodie, Rona quickly objected as she helped Kiroyuki.

"Don't ruin such lovely hair! I'll help you! Sit over there!" Winking towards us three boys, she led Kiroyuki further away from us as they chatted.

"So, I assume you're the lovely Ryu who gave her the snowflake pendant and comfort. And you're Prince Eugnea of Tanbarun. I bet you both fancy Kiroyuki!"

"Eh?! H-how..." As Eugnea and I gasped in shocked and stared at Neil in shock, he let out a short chuckle. My face flushed in embarrassment.

"It's plain obvious! Plus... Who wouldn't fall for her." Neil held this dreamy and unknown expression that held a hint of bitterness in his eyes.

"Y-you're my rival!" Blurting out in a flustered voice, I felt my face heat up like a forest fire! I didn't expect myself to blurt out my love confession to a rival! IM SO SPEECHLESS AT HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW!

"Oh~! I'll also be your rival! I wish you luck Ryu!" Grinning-smirking-, Neil shook hands with me as I noticed Eugnea trembling next to us.

"I-I'll also t-try my best when m-my t-time comes!" Sweat dropping at his attempt, I myslef took that as a serious confession.

"Yeah. Let's fight for Kiroyuki's love!" As I announced that out loud, both Neil and Eugnea nodded their heads and grunted in agreement.

"I'm back! Thank you again Rona! Now let's go back to the medical wing! I can't wait! The ball is tomorrow! Let's go!"

"YEAH!" All together, we all raised our fists and walked forth in smiles.

The gang's POV
"Awww! They're all so cute and young!" Mitsuhide, Shirayuki, and Obi all awed in adoration and had tears at the corner of their eyes.

"I certainly do look forward to this." Kiki chuckled lightly as Zen nodded his head with a smirk.

"Well, tomorrow's the big day. Let's go back to our meeting place."

"Yeah!"

A/N
Sorry for not publishing... Depression, career day, school, and life is a pain. Plus, today was my final track meet at the championships. I'm kinda sad since its the end with my team. Personal issues goes into track... May never do it again sadly.... ANYWAYS! I hope you all like this chapter and I made it longer to hopefully make up! I have spring break in a day so ...yay...

(Edited: 7/3/2020)

Thank you and sorry