It's been days since they started training together, somehow building up an unseen connection between them. They were in the middle of sword training when Changmin suggested they sparred each other for fun. Everyone collectively agreed.
Juyeon and Hyungseo went first. Haknyeon let out a loud heart hyena-like laugh when Hyungseo failed miserably.
"Don't worry, you did improve a lot. And you're better at archery than me." Juyeon comforted him. Hyungseo pouted.
Then, the others followed. All of them burst out in laughter when Hyunjae knelt down on the ground after Changmin accidentally poked his wooden sword at his groin.
"I...still want babies...." Hyunjae squeaked. Hwall patted his butt hard to help ease the pain. Even Sangyeon couldn't hold in his laughter.
"Sunwoo! Your turn." Youngjae said as he handed him a wooden sword. Sunwoo took it, then hesitated when he saw that Chanhee was his opponent.
Chanhee was smirking at him as he twirled the sword in his hand. Sunwoo grunted. He knew he wasn't the best in sword fights. He was more of a kick and punch guy whereas Chanhee was swift in using his sword.
Sunwoo tried to focus as he positioned himself in front of Chanhee. Keyword: tried.
Sunwoo has been having a hard time suppressing his inner thoughts whenever Chanhee came into view. It was worse because they were roommates, meaning they were together for most of the time. He was fine except for shower time.
Sunwoo gripped his sword hilt hard and steadied himself. Chanhee stood calmly as he wield his sword. Youngjae stood in the middle with his hands out.
"1, 2, 3, and fight!" He yelled out and backed away quick.
Chanhee moved first as he thrusted his sword directly at Sunwoo's chest. Sunwoo dodged it sideways and swayed his sword at Chanhee's legs. Chanhee dodged the attack and the two clashed swords. Chanhee jumped suddenly and hit Sunwoo in the neck with the tip of his sword hilt.
Sunwoo coughed as he managed to push away Chanhee. Chanhee then looked at him worriedly.
"Bro, I didn't know you were that bad at swords." Haknyeon said, pulling Sunwoo up. Sunwoo gave him a glare. Chanhee came near to inspect him.
"Nah, Chanhee just caught me off guard." He said, swallowing hard.
"Whatever you say." Chanhee muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Hello! Good afternoon, how are you all doing!" Namjoon came in unusually more cheerful than usual.
The twelve boys stood in line as they bowed to greet the professor. Hoseok and Jungkook were with him as well.
"So, we have a special guest." Namjoon announced, grinning widely. Everyone looked at each other. Namjoon observed for a while.
"Please do come in!" Namjoon called out. Everyone looked as a man with a straw hat came in, followed by a very tall man dressed neatly.
Chanhee squinted his eyes as he tried to remember where he had seen that hat before. His eyes widened in realization and turned to Youngjae to tell him. Youngjae was already looking at him, nodding his head furiously in acknowledgement. It was the guy who bought the violet flowers from Chanhee, the one with the weird scar across his eye.
The three professors bowed his head to the man which the latter acknowledged with a nod. The twelve boys also followed. The man turned his face to them but his face was concealed with his hat being worn so low.
The man looked at each of them, slowly. His eyes landed on Sangyeon who had his usual calm demeanor.
"How have you been, Sangyeon? Any complaints?" The man asked. Sangyeon lowered his head further.
"None, Your-"
"Sangyeon."
"....."
"Why do I always have to remind you guys?" The man sighed.
"You don't need to worry about that problem with me, Yoongi." Hoseok chimed in. The man, Yoongi, grinned at him.
"I have an entirely different problem with you." He said. Hoseok shrugged.
"So, who's this Yoongi?" Hyunjae whispered to Sangyeon. Sangyeon glanced at him sideways, then he noticed the rest of the boys were already staring at him for an answer. Sangyeon felt a bit flustered at the sudden attention.
"...The Emperor." He whispered in an almost inaudible tone. Hyunjae furrowed his brows, not registering the words at first. Then, his eyes widened.
"The what!?" He hissed. Sangyeon glared at him to shut up.
"Aw, Sangyeon, I didn't think you liked telling people secrets now." Yoongi said. Sangyeon kept his head down as Hyunjae stared at Yoongi incredulously. The rest of the boys were still confused.
"Everyone, give respect to him. He is the country's Emperor." Namjoon announced. One by one, the came to sense and bowed down to Yoongi.
"Enough. I didn't come here to do this." Yoongi waved them off.
"So you actually have stuff to do?" Hoseok asked. Yoongi gave him a deadpanned look.
"Well, I hear you all have been training for a couple of weeks now. I expect you've all improved?" Yoongi asked, expectantly.
The twelve looked at each other not knowing what to answer back.
"If you're not, you better be. Cause I'm putting you guys in a little competition."
"A competition?" Joonyoung wondered out loud. He glanced at Sangyeon who had the same confused look.
"A competition against others. I don't want to burden you but I hope you guys don't lose." Yoongi said.
"They are more than capable." Namjoon assured.
"I hope so. This competition will take place in five days. Prepare your best." Yoongi's gaze lingered on Chanhee for a few seconds then left followed by his bodyguard.
Right after he left, a bunch of noises erupted. Questions from left and right attacked the three professors.
"Silence!" Jungkook shouted. The twelve boys looked at him with unintentional doe eyes.
"Don't worry too much." Namjoon reassured them.
"What competition is it? What do we have to do? Who are the opponents?" Haknyeon shot out questions.
"A hunting competition. You will have a designated hunting area and one group at a time will go hunting. You will meet your opponents in five days." Namjoon replied calmly.
"This is so sudden." Younghoon said, worriedly.
"You have five days. Nothing to worry about." Hoseok said, swigging his teapot.
"Will there be other gumihos as well?" Youngjae asked. The three professors glanced at each other and shrugged.
"So, there will be." Juyeon said, his shoulders slumping down.
"As I said, you've got five days." Hoseok said.
"I know you don't particularly like us, but to put up against others right away? You must really hate us." Yuta crossed his arms, staring hard at Minister Lee. Doyoung gripped Yuta's arms slightly and shook his head when Yuta turned to him. Yuta grumbled.
"This is the reason why you are here. So you carry out what you have to." Minister Lee replied, not once turning back to look at the three gumihos.
"Of course. When is this competition?" Taeyong asked, keeping calm.
"In five days."
"We'll be ready." Taeyong said and left. Doyoung and Yuta followed, the latter not forgetting to glare daggers at Minister Lee's back.
"You aren't actually thinking of letting Jeno and Renjun in on this fight, are you?" Doyoung asked Taeyong. Taeyong shook his head.
"Of course not. I can't let them yet."
"Then, we'll be two members short. And I'm sure Minister Ass in there wouldn't like it." Yuta said.
"We can just recruit someone else." Doyoung said.
"No, you're not." The three adults turned their heads to Jeno and Renjun.
"Since when have you been eavesdropping?" Taeyong narrowed his eyes at them.
"Since the part we needed to hear." Renjun said. Taeyong frowned.
"Whatever, we are joining with you guys in this fight, competition, whatever it is. We are adults, too, if you didn't notice." Renjun said, Jeno nodding his head in agreement.
"But-"
"No buts! You promised you would let us join your missions once we are of age. We are now over a hundred years old. So there's no reason you can't let us join." Renjun said firmly.
Doyoung and Taeyong looked at each other. They did not know who their opponents were gonna be. They did not know what other intentions lied behind this simple hunting competition. But they did know it was not going to be simple, considering Minister Lee called them.
"Let them. It's about time they know about these things too." Yuta said. Renjun and Jeno grinned at Yuta then, turned to Doyoung and Taeyong.
The two of them hesitated, then sighed and nodded. Renjun and Jeno high-fived each other victoriously with wide smiles on their face.
The three adults looked at each other in uncertainty.