Chapter 14: Chapter 14. A New World, A New Life, A New Love
The piercing sound of an alarm jolted Satria awake. He groaned, glancing at the clock. 6:15 AM.
He rolled over to his right, expecting to see Kiyohime, but her side of the bed was empty. With a sigh, he got up, dragging himself to the bathroom. After a quick shower, he donned the Kuoh Academy uniform. The sight of it in the mirror made him groan again.
"High school... again? And in an anime world, no less. This feels like some cruel cosmic joke." Satria muttered. He had no interest in reliving high school life, but this was his reality now.
Once ready, he descended the stairs. The enticing aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, guiding him to the dining room. There, he stopped in his tracks.
Kiyohime stood by the stove, clad in a white apron. Her elegant movements and serene smile made her look like the perfect housewife. Satria found himself staring.
"Damn, she's adorable," He thought, trying to remain calm but his playful smile could not be hidden. "This is the perfect time!"
As Kiyohime turned to head to the kitchen, Satria suddenly clapped his hands, startling her.
"I feel a song coming on!" he declared dramatically, striking a pose.
Kiyohime blinked, utterly confused. "Eh? Danna-sama?"
Satria grinned. "Hit it, Kiyohime!" He didn't wait for a reply. Instead, he pulled his phone from his pocket, swiped to his playlist, and hit play. The upbeat, jazzy tune of Specialist from Persona 4 burst through the speakers.
Without missing a beat, Satria started moving. His steps were clumsy at first, but then he got into the rhythm, twirling and swaying across the living room like a man possessed. His confident smirk stayed plastered on his face as he added exaggerated arm movements to the mix.
"Danna-sama! What are you doing?" Kiyohime exclaimed, hands covering her mouth in shock. But despite her words, a small giggle escaped her lips as she watched his ridiculous moves.
He snapped his fingers and pointed to her mid-spin. "You, my dear, are my inspiration!" He danced over to her, grabbing her hands and spinning her around in an impromptu waltz.
"Danna-sama, stop! This is embarrassing!" Kiyohime protested, her cheeks flushed, but her smile betrayed her amusement.
As the song reached its climax, Satria dramatically dropped to one knee, the music fading into the background. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, cheap ring—a plain silver band with no embellishments.
Kiyohime froze, her eyes widening as she realized what was happening.
"Kiyohime," Satria began, his voice uncharacteristically serious, "I might be a fool dancing like this, but I know one thing for certain. You're the one I want by my side, now and forever." He held up the ring with a cheeky grin. "It's not much, but after I graduate or perfectly ready, I'll make this official with a real one. Will you be patient with me until then?"
Kiyohime stared at him, her mouth slightly open, utterly speechless. Her face turned crimson as she tried to form a coherent response. "D-Danna-sama... I—what—this is...!" she stammered, her hands fluttering nervously by her sides.
Satria smirked at her reaction, slipping the ring onto her finger before she could protest. "So, what do you say, my lovely housewife-in-training?"
Kiyohime finally found her voice, though it was shaky. "Y-Yes! I'll wait, Danna-sama... but what was all of that?" she asked, still trying to process the whirlwind of events.
Satria stood, dusting off his knees and stretching. "Just adding a bit of flair to our love story," he replied nonchalantly. "Now, how about we eat? All that dancing made me hungry."
Kiyohime could only sigh, a hand pressed to her blushing face. "Stupid Danna-sama..." she muttered, though her smile was one of pure happiness.
As Satria sat down at the dining table, he stared at the meal Kiyohime had prepared. The arrangement was flawless—steaming rice, golden-brown tamagoyaki, grilled fish, and a side of miso soup. Everything looked perfect, but his eyes lingered cautiously over the soup and fish.
He picked up the spoon instead of the chopsticks laid beside his plate. Chopsticks had never been his forte, and he figured he'd focus on surviving breakfast rather than struggling to eat gracefully.
Kiyohime noticed his hesitation and tilted her head, her expression soft but curious. "Is something wrong, Danna-sama? Does the food not suit your taste?"
Satria shook his head quickly. "No, it looks amazing, Kiyohime. It's just..." He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the miso soup. "I just want to make sure there's no... pork or anything like that."
Kiyohime's eyes widened slightly before softening with understanding. "Ah, I see." She walked closer and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Danna-sama. I made sure everything is safe for you to eat. No pork, no alcohol, and nothing else that is prohibited in your beliefs."
Satria exhaled a small sigh of relief, giving her a grateful smile. "Thank you, Kiyohime. It's been... a bit of a struggle here. Everywhere I go, there's always something banned in my religion—pork broth in ramen, bacon on sandwiches, even snacks made with lard. It's hard to adjust sometimes."
Kiyohime's expression turned serious. "I understand, Danna-sama. I will make it my priority to ensure you never have to worry about your meals."
Satria blinked, touched by her dedication. "You really went that far for me?"
"Of course," she said, her voice firm but warm. "You are my Danna-sama, and it's my duty to take care of you. Your happiness and comfort matter to me."
A small chuckle escaped Satria. "You're amazing, Kiyohime. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without you."
Her cheeks flushed a faint pink, but she quickly turned away to hide it. "It's nothing, Danna-sama. Now, eat before your food gets cold."
Satria nodded and dug into the meal with newfound ease. The taste was as incredible as ever, each bite filled with care and love.
As he finished his soup, he looked up at her again. "Seriously, Kiyohime. If you keep treating me like this, I'll have no choice but to keep you by my side forever."
Her blush deepened, and she fidgeted with the edge of her apron. "Danna-sama... you already made that clear with the ring."
"True," he said with a grin. "But you deserve to hear it every day."
Kiyohime covered her face with her hands, her voice muffled. "Stupid Danna-sama..."
After finishing breakfast, he grabbed his bag, ready to leave for school. Before he could step out, Kiyohime approached him, holding out two items: a small piece of paper and a bento box.
"What's this?" he asked, inspecting the paper covered in kanji.
"This is a seal to suppress your energy so the supernatural won't notice you. And this is your bento, Danna-sama," she explained.
He opened the bento box slightly, catching a glimpse of the neatly arranged food. His heart swelled with appreciation.
"Kiyohime," he began, his tone softening. "You know, back in my world, I was popular, but I never found anyone I truly cared about. But with you..." He dropped to one knee, taking her hand in his. "Allow me to become your future husband."
"Y-You've proposed to me before, and you're doing it again?" Kiyohime's face turned red.
Satria smirked. "I'm not your typical man, dear. When I know what I want, I don't waste time."
A voice echoed in his mind.
[Fatalis: You realize this means Kiyohime will never let you go, right? Her lore practically guarantees it]
"I know. I don't regret it. She's perfect for me—someone who loves me without any ulterior motive. Only an idiot would let go of a woman like her."
Kiyohime's eyes shimmered with emotion. "Yes, Danna-sama. Now hurry, or you'll be late for school," she said, trying to mask her embarrassment with practicality.
Satria stood, kissed her hand, and smiled. "Thank you, Kiyohime. I'll see you later."
"Stupid Danna-sama," she whispered with a happy smile as he left.
•
Kuoh Academy
Kuoh, Japan
Satria stood before the legendary high school. His partner's voice sounded in his mind.
[Fatalis: Careful, brother. I sense at least ten beings here that aren't human]
"Noted. But I'll keep my head down. Once I'm graduate from this school, I'm leaving this city." Satria wanted nothing to do with the demons and their twisted methods. Their obsession with pride and power disgusted him.
As he walked closer, he noticed the stares. Students whispered and giggled as he passed.
"Oh no. Please, no fangirls," he groaned internally.
"Who is he?"
"He's so handsome!"
"Is that his natural hair color?"
"Ugh, another pretty boy. Curse you!"
"This world is insane," Satria thought. "I'm not even doing anything, and they're already acting like predators."
The Black Dragon chuckled.
[Fatalis: You're used to this, though. Remember when you won that tournament back in your world?]
"That was different," Satria retorted, quickening his pace.
As he entered the school gates, he sighed. "Here we go... another boring school life."
To be continued.