Shinkai - The Eyes That Shouldn't Exist

She moved with the elegance of practiced royalty — every step deliberate, light as silk — but her eyes, a sharp and deep blue, locked directly onto Kazuo.

They both froze.

At the exact same moment, they spoke.

"It's you?!"

Sora's jaw dropped. "Wait—you two know each other?!"

Kazuo took a step forward, stunned. "You were the girl… in that carriage. That day in the Lower Crescent."

Elyria blinked once, cool and composed. "And you… the one with mismatched eyes. I remember now."

Her gaze dropped — just slightly — and focused.One green. One black.

Sora whispered, "HUUUUUUUUUUUUH?"

Even Tetsus left eye was twitching from disbelief.

Elyria reached into her sleeve and pulled out a dark envelope, sealed with the black royal sigil — the wax shaped like a serpent coiled around a crown.

But she hesitated.

Her voice dropped to something quieter. Almost personal.

"I was instructed to give this to Setsuna."

She held the envelope out — but her gaze didn't leave Kazuo.

"But it seems… you are part of this now."

Kazuo took it, but his fingers trembled slightly.

I am trembling?

Elyria studied him — not with disgust, but with cold calculation. The kind that hides too much behind too little.

"How can it be," she murmured, voice just above the wind, "that someone with eyes like yours is still alive?"

Then her face twitched, just enough to reveal guilt.

"I… apologize. That wasn't what I meant."

Kazuo didn't answer. He was just staring at her elven ears, her beautiful eyes and silver hair

She glanced at Setsuna. "You're watching him?"

Setsuna gave a lazy shrug. "Training him. He's one of mine now."

She exhaled slowly. "Of course. You had your fingers in play."

Kazuo clutched the envelope tighter.

Elyria's mask shifted — from royal decorum to something stranger. Almost conflicted. Her voice was neutral again, but the silence around her seemed to bend.

She turned to leave — heels silent against the stone floor. Her flower Crown was shimmering.

But Kazuo called out:

"Wait… what's your name?"

She paused beneath the tall stone archway, the sun tracing the edge of her silver braid. She looked back — just slightly — eyes unreadable.

"Elyria," she said simply. "Lady Elyria."

Her eyes lingered a moment longer, and something flickered in them — recognition? Worry? Pity? Her mind raced

What is Father planning?

He told me to avoid this boy — so why summon him like this?

Then she added softly, almost gently — like it wasn't meant to be heard:

"Good luck."

And she vanished beyond the arch, her footsteps swallowed by the wind.

And then… she was gone.

Only silence remained.

Then—

"Okay," Sora whispered. "What the hell is going on?"

Tetsu picked up his pen again — only to snap it clean in half.

Their voices now fading into the background

Kazuo stared at the archway long after Elyria disappeared.

Her name echoed in his head.

"Elyria…"

Setsuna strolled past him casually, cracking his neck as if none of it mattered. But his voice was different — quieter. Controlled.

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

Kazuo didn't blink. "She didn't even ask my name."

Setsuna paused. "Didn't have to."

Kazuo turned to him, brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Setsuna's eyes narrowed — all trace of humor gone.

His voice dropped to something flat and unshakable.

"Stay away from her."

Kazuo blinked. "What? Why?"

Setsuna looked him dead in the eye.

"Because she's King Cedric's daughter."

Silence. It hit like a dropped blade.

The envelope in Kazuo's hand suddenly felt twice as heavy.

Setsuna stepped past him and kept walking, his tone colder than usual.

"This was a warning from King Cedric to you. You do understand right?"

Kazuo nodded.

And with that The first day of training ended.

The next morning…

Kazuo stepped out of the steam-filled bathroom, towel slung low around his hips, hair dripping, muscles still sore, eyes foggy from sleep.

He stretched with a quiet sigh, relishing the silence.

Finally. A moment of—

BANG.

His door exploded open.

"KAZUO!!"

A red-haired missile launched across the room and slammed straight into him.

"WHAT THE—?!"

Kazuo staggered back, barely keeping his towel on as Rei tackled him in a full-body hug, arms clamped tight like he hadn't seen him in ten years.

"You're alive!! I thought you were dead, man! I mourned you!"

Kazuo slipped on the wet floor, struggling to stay upright. "I'm naked, you idiot! Get off!"

"You're WET!" Rei screamed. "Why are you WET?!"

"I JUST SHOWERED!"

Kazuo grabbed Rei by the shoulders and tried to shove him off — towel now barely hanging by a thread.

Rei was laughing like a madman. "This is just like when we were kids! Naked wrestling and all—"

"SHUT UP AND GET OUT!"

"Never! You must let me emotionally decompress through physical contact!"

Kazuo finally managed to twist and body-pivot, throwing Rei off balance and shoving him out the door in one last powerful push.

SLAM.

Silence.

Kazuo stood there in the hallway light, dripping wet, panting, towel almost gone.

Then from behind the door:

"By the way," Rei called, voice muffled, "I've seen your dick, like, a thousand times already."

Kazuo shouted back, "That was when we were STILL KIDS, you lunatic!"

"Oh right! Then just to be fair… you can see mine now!"

"REI!!"

"Okay, okay, calm down!"

Kazuo stood fully dressed now, hair still damp, tying the last strap of his uniform.

Rei was sprawled across the bed like a man who had just delivered a sacred message.

He popped a rice cracker into his mouth and spoke through the crunch.

"So. that Setsuna guy told me everything."

Kazuo raised a brow. "Everything?"

Rei wiggled his eyebrows. "The kidnapping. The fancy envelope. The whole Noble Tournament thing. THe Hollow Veins. I gotta say—classic you."

Kazuo grunted. "Glad to know my suffering is entertaining."

Rei sat up, grinning. "But seriously… how the hell are you still alive, man?"

Kazuo shrugged. "Ask the king. Or fate. Or whatever god has a weird sense of humor."

There was a beat of silence, then Kazuo looked over.

"…Wait. Why are you even here? How are you allowed in the Upper Crescent?"

Rei scratched his head, sheepishly. "Technically? I'm not."

Rei raised a finger. "I'm only allowed up here to exchange intel for the job you got me."

Kazuo narrowed his eyes. "So you snuck in early?"

Rei grinned. "Had to make sure you weren't dead. And deliver Lady Nekomaru's tribute."

Kazuo sighed. "Idiot."

Kazuo rolled his eyes. "Tell Gramps I'm fine. Hopefully I'll be allowed out of this gilded cage soon."

here was a pause, then Kazuo reached into a small pouch and tossed something at him — a neatly wrapped bundle of dried fish and herbs.

"Here," he said. "For the cat."

Rei caught it midair, blinking in surprise.

"You still had her treats with you all the time?"

Kazuo smiled faintly. "She tried to follow me the day I left."

"Yeah…" Rei said, voice softening. "After you vanished, she didn't eat for three days. Just stared at the street."

Kazuo looked away, his jaw tightening.

"I took her in," Rei continued. "At first she hated me. Clawed my face. Knocked over every cup I owned."

"Sounds like her."

"But eventually she warmed up. So, uh… I named her."

Kazuo raised an eyebrow. "You named her?"

Rei nodded solemnly. "Yeah. Figured someone had to."

He held up the treat bundle like an offering to a goddess.

"Lady Nekomaru."

Kazuo stared. Then blinked. Then burst out laughing. "You named her Nekomaru?"

"She earned it," Rei said proudly. "Terror of the alley. Protector of the roof tiles. She chose me, Kazu."

"Right. I'm sure she loves you purely for your personality."

"Obviously," Rei said with mock seriousness. "Also I bribe her with fish."

Kazuo chuckled, then asked more quietly, "Did Gramps say anything?"

Rei's voice dropped too. "Yeah. Said: 'Tell that idiot not to die before he visits me again.'"

Kazuo's smile faded to something smaller. "That old man…"

He opened the door, then turned back dramatically.

"Boi… you realize what this means, right?"

Kazuo narrowed his eyes. "I swear, if this is another—"

"You can date noble girls now." Rei grinned. "Even if you're awful with women — you've officially got 'forbidden mystery boy' energy. You're exotic now."

Kazuo facepalmed. "Why is that your takeaway?"

"Next time, we're going to a hot spring," Rei declared. "The ones with the fancy monkey towels and that steamed egg smell."

"You hate hot water."

"I suffer for the vibe."

There was a pause. Then Rei blinked.

"…Wait. Why do you even take showers? Can't you just, like, Water Magic yourself clean?"

Kazuo stared flatly. "That's not how it works. That's just… wet."

Rei nodded, thoughtful. "Missed opportunity."

Kazuo laughed — actually laughed — shoulders shaking.

Rei smiled, then suddenly pulled him into a tight hug.

They stood there a moment, silent.

Then Rei whispered:

"I'm glad you're alive."

Kazuo's voice was quiet. "Me too."

Rei clapped him on the back, stepping away.

"Get through that stupid tournament," he said. "Then next time we meet — no nobles, no secrecy. Just you, me, and food."

Kazuo gave a small nod. "See you soon."

Rei saluted.

"Survive, buddy."

Door clicked shut behind him.

Kazuo stared at the envelope on his desk.

Tournament of Nobles.

He exhaled. Holding his Medaillon around his neck

"It's getting serious now"