Chapter 29

THE NEXT DAY
IN HAMANO HOUSEHOLD

Hamano Hikari wipes her mouth with the napkin before standing up from the dining table.

Hikari: jaa, ittekimassu, otousan, okaasan.
Hikari's mom: e? Where r u going, hikari? Ur father is not done eating yet.
Hikari: im going to school with a friend. Otousan, u dont have to drive me to school anymore.

Hikari closes the door of her house. She stops in front of the mirror which hangs on the wall of the outer part of the house. She brushes her hair neatly with her fingers. She walks through the garden of her house, heading towards the side gate. There she could see a shadow of a person leaning on the wall outside. She blushes.

Hikari: o..ohayou, kitayama kun.
Tsuyoshi: un, ohayou hamano.
Hikari: gomen nasai, have u waited for long?
Tsuyoshi: iie, zenzen, i just got here too (looks away)
Hikari: (chuckles)
Tsuyoshi: saa, ikimashou.
Hikari: hai.

Hikari walks beside Kitayama Tsuyoshi, heading towards the school. It was a bright sunny day indeed.

Once theyve reach the school.

Tsuyoshi halts as Hikari continues walking ahead. She sensed it and turns to Tsuyoshi, whos blushing.

Hikari: Kitayama kun?
Tsuyoshi: ano.. go ahead.. i need to go to the cafeteria.. jaa na (runs away)
Hikari: ?? (confused face)

Tsuyoshi: [geeh... i cant let the other know about this or theyll make fun of me]

After a lap of running aimlessly in thr school building, Kitayama Tsuyoshi finally comes in their classroom. There, he sees an irritated Kiryuu Shori sitting in his place. He felt chills down his spine.

Shori: oi, where the hell have u been, aho? The assignment!
Tsuyoshi: (takes out the assignment papers)
Shori: baka!
Tsuyoshi: (fumes) nanda yo sore !! After i finished if off nicely yesterday!!
Shori: hai, hai wakatta ze. Urusei na..
Tsuyoshi: kora!! Wheres my thanks!!
Shori: haa? Is tht something i should give?
Tsuyoshi: kono yaro!
Shori: (smiles) arigatou na.
Tsuyoshi: (smug) heh! Thts more like it.

AFTER SCHOOL

Shinichi: do u have meeting after this?
Shori: no, i dont. Why? Do u want to stop by somewhere today?
Shinichi: yeah, to reject shop.
Shori: now u mention abt that. I need something from there too.

Tsuyoshi: matte matte matte

Shori and Shinichi glanced towards Tsuyoshi who's struggling with his bag. And when finally he settled himself, his phone rang. The three boys jolted. Tsuyoshi rummage through his bag, searching for his phone. Shinichi frowned as he is now irritated with the loud continuous ringing tone. Shori sighed.
Finally Tsuyoshi found his phone and answered it.

Tsuyoshi: hai?

Tsuyoshi's face expression changed. His face turns into a serious expression which grab the two boys' attention. He taps end call and drops his arm. He looks straightly into Shori's eyes then into Shinichi's eyes.

Tsuyoshi: she ran away.. Sabaku Natsuki ...

AT THE GUILD

The group arrives at the guild.

Mai: yo

Cheng Mai Hao suddenly appeared from the front door of the guild, with the usual smiling face. Kitayama Tsuyoshi rushes towards her.

Tsuyoshi: where is she?
Mai: aiya.. like i told u before, she ran away when noone is here to look after her.
Tsuyoshi: and u didnt stop her?
Mai: she was already gone when i came back. Shoganai deshou
Tsuyoshi: so why dont u go after her!!?

Tsuyoshi grabs Mai Hao's collar and lifts her slightly. He has this rage expression and the usual smiling Mai Hao draws a serious glare at him. Hamano Hikari comes forward and calms Tsuyoshi down. He let go of her and clicked his tongue.

Hikari: ano, gomen nasai desu kedo, why did u let her go, Mai Hao san?
Mai: mou, guys r so impatient. Listen here, even if we keep her here, it doesnt mean tht she'll open her mouth to tell us anything.
Shori: so u let her go back to where she want to go?
Mai: sou yo.
Tsuyoshi: thts just like wasting the effort of keeping her here then!!

Shori hits Tsuyoshi's head.

Tsuyoshi: itte!! Nanda yo kora!
Shori: calm down baka.
Tsuyoshi: demo, shori!
Mai: have u forgotten who am i? Im the earth emperor, basically i can sense people from the surface of the earth. The earth is like my sensory organ, touch.
Yuu: so you can get natsuki san's whereabout?
Mai: fufu, u cant get the cat if its in the bag right? If we want her to spill the milk, it has to be in the cats house. SO lets go!!. Let me lead you guys on!!

Mai Hao walks confidently towards a direction. Kitayama Tsuyoshi, concerned about Sabaku Natsuki, blindly follows behind her. Hamano Hikari too tag along him.

Yuu: (whisper)... ne, kiryuu kun.... does the cat has anything to do with bag or milk..?
Shori: ..... saa... chinese proverbs maybe....
Yuu: ah.. sou ne..
Shori: dont just agree to it.

AN HOUR LATER (in the middle of the forest-like)

Hikari: (sighed) mou konna jikan da wa....
Yuu: sou ne, its already so late. Oniichan will get worried.
Hikari: ne, mai hao san, is there any vending machine or stalls around here...?
Mai: Im not a map or a compass, you know...

Fukushima Shinichi suddenly stops walking. His movement alerts everyone else. The 2 girls put on a worried expression. Tsuyoshi moves slightly in front of Hikari.

Hikari: doshita no, Fukushima kun?
Shori: shh!

Yuu's sight fell on something. She shivers and tugs on Shori's shirt.
Yuu: i...i...is.. it.. tht thing...?

Everyone turns towards where Yuu's finger points and they saw an angered, no, two angry wild boar infront of them. The two boars stares at the group. All of them froze out of fright, except for one person. Cheng mai Hao, further away from the boar, tries to peek at the animals from btween Shori and Tsuyoshi shoulder. When she saw them, her eyes gleams.

Mai: wow! That would be a great dinner if we are camping.

It is as if the boars could understand what Cheng Mai Hao said. The two animals dashes towards the group which makes them scream out of fear and they run as fast as they could to save themselves.

Tsuyoshi: (while running) ba.. baka!! Why did u have to say that, mai Hao!!
Mai: nani yo, im being serious.
Tsuyoshi: but u had just triggered a taboo button on them!!
Hikari: yamate yo!! Keep on running!! Its coming nearer.

Shinichi turns left leaving the others to continue running forward. He focuses his Emperor and stretches his shadow towards the running boar, who are passing infront of him. The boars halt in a suprise as their shadow combine to Shinichi's stretched shadow. The boars, being a creation tht has no brain, unable to understand why did they suddenly stop running. They force their body to go forward and catch their prey. That makes Fukushima Shinichi to stagger. Yuu grasps the current situation, turns and lets out her Emperor magic from both her palms towards the boars, freezing the boars to ice. Kitayama Tsuyoshi then suddenly dashes from the opposite direction, running towards the boars while persevering his clenched right hand.

As he is near the boars,

"Kitayama puuuunchhh!!"

he punches them both with all his might, making them fly towards the sky and vanish from their sight. Everyone are amazed at Tsuyoshi's strength. He smugs and laughes idiotically. Cheng Mai Hao steps forward and smacks behind his head.

Tsuyoshi: (spurts) itteee!!!
Hikari: Kitayama kun!!
Mai: why did u throw our dinner away, kono baka !!
Tsuyoshi: haaa!? Youre the only one who's gonna eat that thing!

While the two are arguing, both Hikari and Yuu imagine themselves eating the boar. They cover their mouth, disgusted with their own imagination. Yuu takes a step back and fell on her back.

Yuu: kyaa!
Hikari: yuu chan? Daijoubu?

Shori rushes towards the fallen Yuu and helps her get up. As he bends down, something caught his eyesight and he stops moving, staring.

Tsuyoshi: what r u peeking at, Shori? Girls bathing?
Hikari: (blushes) baka! What r u saying!?
Shori: mite yo sore.

Shori points forwards, still slightly bending. Everyone comes towards him and bends down, peeking through the branches n bushes. In front of them, they saw a big old house. Everyone gulps. Tsuyoshi flinches. Shori took a slight step forward but he was stopped by Tsuyoshi who grabbed his shirt.

Tsuyoshi: iya iya iya iya.. dont even think about it, Shori.. (frightened)
Shori: (smirks) heeeh. Does this reminds u of something, Shin?
Shinichi: maa na.
Tsuyoshi :aaahhh!! Stoopppu! Its almost late, l..lets go home!
Shori: eh? Demo....
Mai: sou yo! (sternly) its better if we go home now. Ive lost contact of her kehai, so its no use continuing now.

Everyone silently agrees to Cheng Mai Hao. They return back to the guild and part ways at the Helencia Central Town.

posted from Bloggeroid

Chapter 28

The clock strike 9 o'clock at night. Kitayama Tsuyoshi has just returned from Helencia City sending his crush, Hamano Hikari home, straight to her doorstep. Though he had a fun day, he came back to the guild with a soulless face.

Tsuyoshi: ta.. tadai..ma....

In a sudden, Cheng Mai Hao comes out of the room, running towards him. As she comes nearer, she grabs his collar.

Mai: where's the first aid kit that u used yesterdayy!!!?
Tsuyoshi: oii! What the hell r u doing, mai? Cant u ask more nicer, u tomboy!
Mai: stupiid!! We're having a patient that needs treatment now!
Tsuyoshi: then tell me so earlier! Dont just go grabbing ppl's collar!!
Mai: (runs into the infirmary) come with the kit quickly!

Tsuyoshi grabs the kit under the table and brings it to the room where Cheng Mai Hao headed. As he enters, he looks at the patient. He gasped out of shock.

Mai : what are u standing there for? Hurry up and hand over the kit!

Tsuyoshi snaps and hands the kit over to Mai. He quickly comes out of the room, takes out his phone and search for the name 'Shori' in his contact list. Once he finds it, he taps call. Once its connected.

Tsuyoshi: shori, where r u?
Shori : huh? At home?
Tsuyoshi: guess who's in the guild?
Shori: hamano san?
Tsuyoshi: chige yo!
Shori: hm, the earth emperor, cheng mai hao or whatsoever her name is?
Tsuyoshi: noo!! Its Sabaku Natsuki!!
Shori: (sits up) what?
Tsuyoshi: she's seriously injured. Bruises and cut marks everywhere.
Shori: where did u find her?
Tsuyoshi: i didnt. I just saw her now in the infirmary of the guild.
Shori: (thinks) hmm.... tomorrow ill head to the guild. Just keep an eye on her so she wont disappear again.
Tsuyoshi: okay.

Both of them taps the end call. Tsuyoshi sighed and leans on the wall to support his weakened back. At that moment, cheng mai hao comes out of the room.

Tsuyoshi: mai hao san!
Mai: hm? Ure worried about the girl? Dont worry, she's just fine. No major wounds on her. Its just scrapes and bruises.
Tsuyoshi: but still she's injured! (concerned)
Mai: (sighed) when i was on my back from my mission, i found her unconcious amongst the bushes. Thts all i know. Reason or who, i dont know.
Tsuyoshi: (grits his teeth)
Mai: (pats on his shoulder) she'll be fine by tomorrow. And one more thing, she doesnt look like a normal person to me.
Tsuyoshi: ah, well... she's an emperor. A metal emperor.
Mai: now that explains it. U can go and rest. U had a long day today, right? Come back and see her tomorrow morning.
Tsuyoshi: arigatou, mai hao san.
Mai: no worries.

NEXT DAY

Shori and Shinichi arrives late at the guild. When he gets there, he found Tsuyoshi and Koizumi Yuu sitting on the chair, depressed.

Shori: koizumi san? Why....?
Tsuyoshi: i phoned hamano to come here.
Shori: what happened? Where is she?
Tsuyoshi: this morning when i came to the guild, sabaku is not here in the room. Mai Hao san went out to search for her. So i phoned hamano san if she could help since she's a wind emperor.
Yuu: and she bring me along.
Shori: gomen, koizumi san, involving you too.
Yuu: its okay. Its about the emperor deshou? Im somewhat related.

IN THE MEAN TIME WITHIN THE FOREST

Natsuki: leave me alone!!
Mai: no, we cant do that. We want to know what happened to you!
Natsuki: this has nothing to do with you people. Stop interfering!

Natsuki grabs a metal from her bangle and forms a spear from it. She attacks Cheng Mai Hao whom in return dodges it. She places her both palms on the ground and two large rocks grow from the ground, making 2 big walls, protecting her from Sabaku Natsuki's attack. Natsuki landed safely on a branch and jumps off it, aiming her long spear towards Mai.

On the other hand, Hamano Hikari could feel a weird wind movement from a place and heads towards it. There, she found two girls clashing one another.

Hikari: matte, mai hao san!!

Mai places one palm on the ground, making a thick sand rod appears from the ground, aiming towards Natsuki. It hits Natsuki and she falls down from the mid air. Before she could fall on the ground, Hamano Hikari manages to use her wind magic to lessen the imfact of falling, making her to drop on the ground safely.

Mai: why did u stop us, wind emperor?
Hikari: she's not an enemy!! (turns towards Natsuki) Sabaku san?

Hikari held her palm towards her but Natsuki slaps her hand away. Hikari sees the fierce face made by Natsuki.

Natsuki: i dont need ur help! Dont interfere.
Hikari: listen here, we dont mean any harm, we just want to protect you.
Natsuki: who r u protecting me from?
Hikari: eh? Well, sono..
Natsuki: see u dont even know. So just dont interfere with people's life if u dont know anything!

Natsuki forces herself to stand up.by herself despite the pain that she's feeling.

Natsuki: just mind ur own business, wind emperor.

As Natsuki turns towards the opposite direction, Hamano Hikari grabs her arm.

Hikari: ......
Mai: wind emperor san!
Natsuki: tch! Ure persistant arent you?
Hikari: (smiles) heh, thts one of my bad quality tht i have. And by the way, my name is Hamano Hikari. I take pride on my name rather than on my title.

AT THE GUILD

The three boys and two girls and a man waited patiently in front of the guild.

Mary: there! (points at one direction)

Everyone focus their gaze on one direction. Three girls appear from that direction, one helping another one to walk while another one walks ahead of them.

Ganz: u can bring them inside, mary san. (walks away)
Mary: hai, guild master ganz.
Tsuyoshi: hamano!! Are u okay? Ano, Sabaku Natsuki too? Etto.. Mai san also?

The three girls ignore him and walks past him, leaving him dumbfounded n confused.

Shori: looks like he has become a popular guy eh, shinichi?
Shinichi :u think so?

AFTER A MOMENT OF WOUND TREATMENT

Mai : sou sou! We havent know each other yet. Lets do ice breaking.
All: haaa?
Mai: lemme start lemme start!! Im cheng mai hao. U can call me mai. Im an earth emperor. Next (points to Yuu)
Yuu: eh? Um... Koizumi Yuu desu. Im an ice emperor...
Hikari: hamano hikari, a wind emperor.
Tsuyoshi: im kitayama tsuyoshi and im-pffhhh
Shori: (closes tsuyoshi's mouth) im kiryuu shori, the fire emperor.
Natsuki: eh?

Everyone looks at natsuki who attracts their attention.

Natsuki: ano... im sabaku natsuki.. and im a metal emperor..
Shinichi: ......
Shori: he's fukushima shinichi. A shadow emperor.
Mai: so basically we're the emperors for this era ka? Lets get along with each other okay na?
Hikari :arent u being too friendly and easy on this?
Mai: isnt it supposed to be like that? Thts why we are gathered in one place, so we can meet another fellow Emperors.
Shori: u sure know much about Emperors do u, mai hao san?
Mai: well, not that much though. Hehe.
Yuu: ano minna. Can i have a moment with Sabaku san please? Theres something i would like to speak to her abt privately. (seriously)
Shori: koizumi.....?
Hikari: yuu chan, u sound serious.. whats wrong?

Fukushima Shinichi stands up in such a way tht attracts everyone attention away from Koizumi Yuu. Seeing that, Kiryuu Shori too stands up and goes out of the room with Shinichi. The others too follow their lead, leaving Yuu and Sabaku Natsuki alone in the room. Hikari glanced at Yuu with a very worried face but Yuu sends her a smile, ensuring her. When Hikari closes the door behind her, Yuu turns towards Natsuki with a smile. Natsuki gulps.

Yuu: daijoubu, sabaku san. I just want to ask few questions.
Natsuki: un.. yeah..?
Yuu :remember when u attacked me the last time?
Natsuki: (remembers the day when she fought with Kiryuu Shori in Helencia Central Town)
Yuu: Ur friends
Natsuki: theyre not my friends.
Yuu: hai, gomen nasai. But those girls said something about Kiryuu kun interfering with ur matters. May i know in detail about it..?
Natsuki: (hesitates)... ano... i think... its a mistake.
Yuu: mistake? U mean?
Natsuki: kiryuu shori looks like Tht Person. So i attacked u two. Im very sorry.
Yuu: someone that looks like Kiryuu kun?
Natsuki: it was my mistake. Sumi masen.

Yuu looks like she wants to ask more question but her instincts stops her. She stood up.

Yuu: u can rest, Sabaku san. If u have any problems, u can tell us (smiles) we're fellow comrades deshou?

Yuu goes out of the room still feeling unrelieved. Even though she knows that there's something that she needs and wants to know.

"I can still ask her again later"

Is what she thought. She knows not what future lies ahead.

posted from Bloggeroid

Chapter 27

IN THE CLASSROOM

Narumi: Now ure in groups, one person from ur group please come here to pick a topic.

6 students went towards the Ohno Narumi sensei and take a slip of folded paper from the box that is on the teacher's table. They returned to their group and open the slip to see what topic do they get. Some cheered happily and some sighed in disappointment.

Narumi: thts all for today. U have till the next tuesday to submit ur assignment. so u have the weekends n monday to do it.

As the teacher steps out of the classroom, the classroom is filled with noise. Coincidently, Kiryuu Shori and Koizumi Yuu sighed loudly next to each other. They looked at each other in a shock expression.

Shori: (laughs) why r u sighing like tht?
Yuu: the same goes for u too.
Shori: tell me what topic did u get?
Yuu: u tell me first.
Shori: okay okay fine. (shows her the paper) here, give me urs too.

Yuu took his paper and in return gives him her paper. When they read the content, they both exclaim!!

"Thts easy!"

Yuu: eh?
Shori: seriously. I wish i got tht one.
Yuu: why? Urs is much easier.
Shori: well, its not tht i dont know abt it, its just tht i have a lot to say abt the topic u got.
Yuu: then, u have no luck on ur side.
Shori: same goes to u.
Yuu: sou ne.
Shori: wanna do together? Its Tsuyoshi, um, i mean Kitayama and Shinichi in my group.
Yuu: im with Hikari chan only.
Shori: good then. Lets meet up tomorrow.
Yuu: eh? Ii desu ka?
Shori: yeah. The more the merri.. i mean easier. Haha.
Yuu: ill let hikari chan know then.
Shori: okay. Whatever it is, message me by tonight. U have my numbr right?
Yuu: ano... i dont...
Shori: eh? Really? (takes out his phone) lets exchange email then.
Yuu: (blushes) umm.. okay.. (takes out her phone)

Hikari: yuu chan, lets go home.
Yuu: ah, haii! One minute.
Shori: yoshi. Done. Anything just (shows his phone)
Yuu: hai! Mata ne, kiryuu kun.

Shori glanced around the class.

Shori: oi, tsuyoshi!

Kitayama Tsuyoshi packs his bag quickly and dashes out of the room.

Shori: tsuyoshi!!
Tsuyoshi: sorry shori! In a hurry.
Shori: Tomorrow.....
Tsuyoshi: (out of sight)
Shori: (sighed)

Shinichi appears next to Shori and hands over his bag.

Shori: ah.. arigatou shin.
Shinichi: (yawns) kaero ze.
Shori: yeah.

NEXT DAY

The two girls, Koizumi Yuu and Hamano Hikari arrived at the train station and saw Kiryuu Shori and Fukushima Shinichi leaning on a pillar.

Yuu: gomen nasai, we're late.
Shori :iie. Dont worry, koizumi.
Hikari: sorry for asking but... why train station..? Arent we doing it at ur house, kiryuu kun?
Shori: ive never intend to do it at my place, did i, Koizumi?
Yuu: eh... ahahaha... gomen nasai, hikari chan..
Hikari: mou.... then i shouldnt have made the bento...
Shori: bento? For all 5 of us?
Hikari: sou yo.
Shori: so why waste? We will eat ur bento.
Hikari: arent we not allowed to eat in the library...?
Shori: (laughs) hamano san, ure funny. Always saying strange things.
Hikari: (reds) mouuu. Fine! Just take us anywhere then!
Shori :(laughs) jodan jodan. Dont be so serious.
Hikari: ure so acting strange, kiryuu kun...
SHori: (averts eyesight) eh, u think so? Its just ur imagination.

The group ride the train and off to their destination lead by Kiryuu Shori. As they arrived at the other station, they get off of the train. The signboard says "Central Town Helencia Kingdom".
Kiryuu Shori leads them to a guild name Silverlake.

Yuu: a guild?
Shori: yeah, is there any problem?

The two girls gulped while looking at each other in a confused expression.

Shori: (enters the guild) Tsuyoshi, we're here!

Kitayama Tsuyoshi heard his name being called and answered.

Tsuyoshi: Shori!! Shinichi!! Come in.

As the group of high school students enter the guild, everyone in the guild stares at them. Since its a rare sight to see youngsters entering the guild. Their staring are making the two city girls uncomfortable.

Tsuyoshi: guildmaster!! I hope u dont mind! Im going to do my homework here with my friends.
Ganz: yeah! Im not tht old tht i cant see tht, dammit.

Tsuyoshi: mary san, can u please bring water n snacks for us? Itll be for 3 of.. wait.. 5... eh? (shocked) aaahhhhhh!!

Tsuyoshi screams out of shock when he saw Hamano Hikari and Koizumi Yuu sitting in front of him. He rubs both his eyes in case he's day dreaming or still dreaming but the figure of the girls still remain there.

Shori: (taps Tsuyoshi's) relax, tsuyoshi. I invited them to do the project together with us. This is what i actually wanna tell u when u ran off yestrday after class (smirks)
Tsuyoshi: (grabs shori's collar and shakes him) why the hell didnt u tell me earlierrrr!!! I could have decorate the place or wear anything niceeee!!
Shori: oi oi.... this is not a goukon.... this is a study group...

Tsuyoshi glanced at Hamano Hikari who in turn smiles at him. His face reddens and he gulps.

Mary san, the manager of guild Silverlake, appears with a tray of juice and snacks and places it on the table. She greets the girls and they return her greetings. The time flies as they were doing their assignments. At times, they would ask each other for help if they dont understand anything. Hikari glances at Tsuyoshi who is busy making notes from a reference book. He has his glasses on.

Hikari: kitayama kun, r u short sighted?
Tsuyoshi: huh? Not really but glasses makes u smarter when u use them.
Hikari: ....... aa... eh?..
Shori: dont mind his stupid jokes, hamano san. He is short sighted.
Tsuyoshi: shut up, shori. Dont just butt in whenever u feel like it.
Shori: (shoves a book on his face) here, u can take few notes from this book too, megane kun. (stands up) Im going to go order green tea.
Tsuyoshi: urussseee!!
Hikari: (chuckles) coz u look nice with glasses kitayama kun.
Tsuyoshi: eh? Really? (blushes)
Hikari: un.
Tsuyoshi: well... its not tht i cant see anyway.. its just small words tht i cant see.
Yuu: eh? WHere did kiryuu kun go?
Shinichi: to buy green tea.
Yuu: aah... i wanna ask him about this...
Tsuyoshi: which one?
Yuu: (shows) this one.
Tsuyoshi: oh this one (explains)

The two girls were shocked when they listen to tsuyoshi's explanation.

Tsuyoshi: did u get it?
Yuu: eh eh ah... sorry u were too fast...
Tsuyoshi: (took out a high lighter and high light few lines in the book) here. This is the main point tht u need to understand.
Shori: (comes back with his green tea) shocked?
Yuu + Hikari: !!
Shori: this guy is actually pretty intelligent. Though not any better than me.
tsuyoshi: shu-shut it up, shori (modest)
Shori: (laughs)

The group continues doing their project. Suddenly a girl approaches their table and greets Koizumi Yuu.

Yuu: ahhh!! You! From that day!

Yuu stood up out of shock to see the girl whom she met during the Torunament appearing in front of her.

Mai: its fate to see u here, Ice san, koizumi yuu chan. (winks)
Yuu: yes now i remember, cheng mai hao!! The earth emperor!!
Shori: the what?
Yuu: remember when i told u abt the girl who i think is the earth emperor? Its this girl!
Mai: cheng mai hao desu. Yoroshiku.
Tsuyoshi: wait wait... u knew each other?
Yuu: sou yo. She was the one who made tht big sand barrier trapping the terrorist at the tournament.
Mai: sou. Thts me. ANyway just call me mai, yuu chan. Im off for a mission. Catch u guys later! (waves)
Hikari: (looks at Tsuyoshi suspiciously)
Tsuyoshi: (realized) ahh!! No hamano san. Dont think something weird. I only know her as a guild member. Not more, im serious!
Hikari: (looks away) what r u saying? I dont understand at all.
Tsuyoshi: (fearful face) ha..ma..no sa.....n...
Shori: okay guys. Lets hurry up and finish this up. U can have ur lovers quarrel later.
Hikari + Tsuyoshi: (speechless)
Yuu: oh my... so blunt..

The time passes as they are doing their assignments. At times they stops and chat amongst themselves. It was a good way of spending the time with friends at an unfamiliar place. Tsuyoshi would crack such a spontaneous jokes which ends up with laughter. Even hikari laugh though she was pouting earlier.

At one point, Koizumi Yuu's phone rang. She immediately picks it up as she sees her brother's name on the phone screen.

Yuu: hai, oniichan.
Kyoya: yuu, r u with ur friends?
Yuu: hai, at a guild.
Kyoya: (shock) g...guild??!!
Yuu: doing our project, mou... one of my friend stays here... i think..
Kyoya: [must be that friend of Shori who's always wearing a headband] oh okay. Is Shori kun there?
Yuu: (looks at shori) iru yo.
Kyoya: can i speak to him?

Yuu hands over her phone to Shori who receives the phone with such a confused face. He excused himself from the gathering.

Shori: hai, kyoya san?
Kyoya: shori, is yuu okay?
Shori: yeah..?
Kyoya: (sigh) yokatta...
Shori: (laughs) u worry too much, kyoya san.
Kyoya: Of coz im her brother. Anyway, r u done with ur projects?
Shori: nande?
Kyoya: if possible, i want u to send yuu home as earliest as possible. I want yo take her somewhere by the evening.
Shori: um.. why me?
Kyoya: onegai shori kun. I can only count on u.
Shori: etto.. wakatta yo, kyoya san..
Kyoya: arigatou shori kun.

Shori let a sigh as he puts down the phone. He comes back to his seat. He coughs and he slides the phone on the table towards Yuu's direction. Everyone look at him.

Shori: gomen guys, kyoya senpai asked me to take koizumi san home.
Hikari: eh now?
Shori: r u done? Ive done most of my part. So i think i can excuse myself. So too Shinichi's.
Yuu: lets wait for a little bit, kiryuu kun. At least till hikari finish with hers.. (concern)
Shori: well, i dont really mind but...
Hikari: its okay yuu chan. I can finish this up myself. U wouldnt want to make ur brother worry, dont u?
Yuu: demo.. how r u going home?
Hikari : dont worry. I still want to hang out in this place for a little bit after this.
Shori: ill leave her in ur hands Tsuyoshi.
Tsuyoshi: makasete!! (hits his chest with his clenched fist)
Hikari: mata ne, yuu chan. Be careful and dont let that guy do anything weird to u.
Shori: oi, what do u mean by 'that guy' haa?
Hikari: teehee (tongue out)
Yuu: mata ne, hikari chan. Arigatou.

Shori, shinichi and yuu left the guild building leaving only hikari and tsuyoshi finishing up their work. The atmosphere between wasnt tense at all. Both of them are good as conversing so they had a fun time finishing their project.

FINALLY

Hikari: (stretches) yatto owatta!
Tsuyoshi: (keeps the project papers in the file) Do u wanna walk around here? I can take u a very nice crepe shop.
Hikari: honto ni?
Tsuyoshi: yeah. Ikou ka?
Hikari: hai!

That afternoon the two spend time together roaming around aimlessly from one place to another. At one time, they even entered a cosplay costume shop whereby they change their attire and snap pictures together. They spend about an hour there. Entry fee paid by Kitayama Tsuyoshi, the gentleman. After they got tired walking, he took her to a very fancy yet simple restaurant for them to have their lunch. They joke around and laugh happily. The clock had just strike 4 o'clock. They ride the train together and take a stop at Helencia City.

Hikari: arigatou, kitayama kun. I had fun today.
Tsuyoshi: im glad that u enjoy urself today.
Hikari : kitayam kun, ure actually a nice guy. My first impression of u is so different of what im seeing now.
Tsuyoshi: may i ask whats ur first impression of me?
Hikari :well, i always though that ure a problematic child, a delinquent. Always involving in useless fight and stuff.
Tsuyoshi: (sweatdrop) aahaha... and now?
Hikari: i think ure reliable enough. Gomen ne, for having a bad impression on u.
Tsuyoshi: its okay. Im glad i can be seen as a different person in ur eyes.

For a moment, Hikari's heart skips a beat and for a moment the breeze plays its role on Tsuyoshi's hair, making it sways gently ultimately making Hikari, for a moment, thinks that he's charming. Tsuyoshi noticed that Hikari has been staring at him for quite a while. He gulped and his moves towards Hikari's hair, brushing it backwards, not realizing it. Both of them snapped as their eyes met each other and immediately both turns their gazes away.

Tsuyoshi: go..gomen.. my hand just... ano... reacts...
Hikari: i...iie....

They finally arrived in front of Hamano's residence.

Hikari: a..arigatou ne, kitayama kun.. for accompanying me home.
Tsuyoshi: well, i cant let a young girl to walk home alone, even though its still day, can i?
Hikari: um... jaa.. mata ne.
Tsuyoshi: ah, mata na.

Hikari closes the gate and walks towards her house. Tsuyoshi clenched his fist and lastly,

Tsuyoshi: hamano san!!!

Hikari: (turns) eh?
Tsuyoshi: ca..can i come and fetch u every morning to school?
Hikari: eehh??

AT NIGHT

Cheng Mai Hao enters the guild with a girl in her arms. The girl is badly injured. Bruises can be seen all over her body.

Mai: Guild masterr!! Help!! I found this girl lying amongst the bushes outside the Central Town.
Ganz: take her to mary's room for first aid treatment!!

The girl flinched in pain and the last word that she utters before she collapse is

"Fu.... fub...bu...ki.........."

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