Akame shrank back, embarrassed. It was understandable that everyone recoiled from her hideous face, especially Hanabi, who was, if not the most beautiful, certainly among the most stunning girls in the village. Hanabi had her long black hair braided to one side, resting delicately on her petite shoulder. Noticing Akame's discomfort, Hanabi let out a scoffing breath and plopped down next to her brother in the back row. Akame, feeling dejected, shook her hand dismissively and sat back down, but she could feel Hanabi's sharp gaze piercing through her. Hanabi stared with disgust at the hunched-over Akame:
- "I dunno why they don't just toss her (Akame) over the border. It'd be a relief for the tribe leader and everyone else."
Ranmaru, who had his head resting on the back of the chair in front of him, grumbled with a hoarse, scratchy voice:
- "They'll dump the trash when it's time, so don't get too caught up in it."
Akame bit her lower lip in shame, trying to distract herself with her book, but the words blurred into nothingness, replaced by her troubled thoughts. She couldn't blame her classmates for hating and despising her. After all, she had failed at her ancestral profession.
She was a huge embarrassment to her father, the chief of the Himura tribe. Despite being considered a disgrace, her father had never complained about her. He always greeted Akame with kindness. Hanabi's high-pitched voice snapped her out of her reverie:
- "Wonder what's on the agenda today!"
Ranmaru ran his fingers through his short front hair, pushing it back, and stared at the old wooden ceiling:
- "Same old stuff! A general training session in the courtyard and a few duels chosen by the elders."
Upon hearing the word 'duel', Akame quickly turned towards Ranmaru:
- "Why haven't I heard anything about this?"
Ranmaru lifted his head lazily, raising his scarred eyebrow meaningfully. Akame realized her mistake; she should address him with respect:
- "Ranmaru-senpai! How do you know?"
A look of satisfaction crossed Ranmaru's sleep-deprived face. Hanabi curled her lips in disgust at Akame's very existence. Ranmaru's dark eyes scanned Akame from head to toe, lingering for a moment:
- "Got it from a reliable source, Strawberry Girl!"
Hearing that nickname, Hanabi covered her mouth with her hand, laughing genuinely in a girlish manner. Akame turned beet red. She slightly bowed her head to Ranmaru:
- "Sorry."
One side of Ranmaru's face twisted into a mocking smirk. Hanabi dabbed at the corner of her eye with her fingertip:
- "It's been a while since I've laughed like that."