Reiki was near the entrance with Cherry on his shoulder, he thought. Might as well head back home and leech off some food from Kiru. He placed his hand into his pocket and took out a tattered pouch, Reiki glanced at the albino bird and said. “Did you enjoy your flight around the market?” Cherry let out a caw as he placed his hand inside the pouch while something black slowly made its way up the side of Reiki’s forearm. He said. “I’m just asking for clarity. You didn’t steal any seafood and ate it, did you?”
The black entity went into Reiki’s sleeve as it hid in his shirt while Cherry stayed silent, he thought. So she did steal some sea food. Reiki took out one of the brown paper bags that he stole and overfilled with meat skewers, he took one more step as the space around him warped. His surroundings changed into a normal street in Osaka as he placed the tattered pouch in his pocket, he looked behind him and thought. I expected space magic to be a lot more rarer. He took out a meat skewer from the bag as he took a bite out of it and compared the scenery to the magic market.
Reiki thought. Meat is passable quality for a skewer, but the sauce is on the sweeter side and needs a thicker consistency. He quickly ate four of the five chunks of meat on the skewer and moved the last piece closer to Cherry. The albino crow stared at the meat with her blood red-eye as she shook her head sideways, Reiki thought. I wonder if she has a humanoid form but just prefers her current one. He ate the last piece of meat in the skewer, placed it in the paper bag, and took out another one.
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Ketsueki’s House
~One Hour Later~
Ketsueki was sitting on the couch on the right of the couch, she let out one long sigh and said. “Thank god we managed to get away from her.” Sachi was on the left on the couch as she was browsing through the channels, she said. “Ketsueki, would it kill you to buy the latest flatscreen TV so we can use a VPN to watch good shows?” Namida was on the armchair on the side with both her feet on the coffee table with the white indoor slippers still on.
She said. “I think it would be faster if we just ordered a TV and have it delivered here, that’s if her address wasn’t blacklisted.” Ketsueki made herself comfortable on the couch, she said. “I got it off the blacklist.” Namida and Sachi turned their heads to look at her friend. Sachi gave Namida a look she nodded and said. “Ordering the newest one now.” Namida took out her smartphone from her pocket and started tapping on the screen. Sachi turned her head in the direction of the wall, she thought. Reiki’s back. She moved her gaze back to the TV and glanced at Ketsueki from the corner of her eye.
The corner of her lips curled into a slight smile as she quickly suppressed it when she noticed Sachi was staring at her. Ketsueki faked a cough and said. “What did you two buy for my boy? Considering he was nice enough to make you two lunch?” Sachi gave up on searching for something to watch on TV as she casually threw the remote onto the couch, she said. “Since he doesn’t have a sweet tooth, I bought a few large plates of gyoza.” Ketsueki moved her gaze onto Namida who was finalizing an order on her phone.
Namida felt the gaze of her friend and said. “I ordered a few extra large stuffed crust pepperoni pizzas.” Ketsueki raised a brow at her, she said. “I’ve seen the size of pizzas here, and they’re nothing compared to Reiki’s appetite.” Namida waited for the order to load on her phone, she said. “I know a shop in Omori that serves eighteen-inch size pizzas.” Sachi kept her eyes on the TV and said. “How much was the delivery?” Namida saw the order go through as she tapped on the button on the side turning the screen dark.
She said. “They don’t deliver, that's why I had someone come pick it up in person and on our way here. When I went to the bathroom I took the boxes off his hands and put them in my pocket.” Sachi and Ketsueki moved their gazes on her, Namida noticed the stares at her as she turned her head to look at them. She had a clueless look on her face and said. “What?” Ketsueki felt Reiki’s mana was near, she thought. A few more steps and he’s…
The three girls' expressions had a hint of surprise on their faces as they felt his mana going across the street. Ketsueki thought. Where is he going? She turned her upper body on the couch and placed an arm on top of the backrest of the couch. Ketsueki’s pupils faintly glowed as her vision pierced through the wall and saw Reiki making his way to the modern house. Sachi and Namida did the same as they saw him easily vault over the gate which made Namida let out a hearty laugh. Namida said. “Looks like your boy found himself another lover!”
She continued her laugh while Sachi and Ketsueki saw Reiki knock on the door as a man wearing a suit opened it. Namida wiped a tear from the corner of her eye as the other two saw him say something to the man as he nodded and closed the door. Namida said. “What happened?” Ketsueki’s lips curled into a slight frown while Sachi kept her eyes on Reiki and said. “A man answered the door and we’re waiting to see what happens next.” The door opened and they saw the same man give the young boy a pouch, Reiki nodded at him and made his way to his home.
The girls saw a streak of white as Cherry appeared on Reiki’s right shoulder while Sachi quickly tapped on the couch a few times and said. “Quick! Act natural!” All of them moved their gazes on the TV and made themselves comfortable in their seats. They heard the sound of the front door opening and closing after a few seconds, Reiki let out a sigh. He softly spoke to himself and said. “I’m back…” The three girls were oddly silent as they faintly heard the sound of something being slid open.
The sound of footsteps came closer as Reiki reached the living room and saw all three of them watching TV, he said. “Onee-chan, I’m back.” Ketsueki kept her gaze on the show and casually said. “Welcome back.” While gently caressing Cherry’s stomach, Reiki said. “How was lunch?” Namida glanced at him from the corner of her eye and said. “Good.” Sachi turned her upper body on the couch as she gave him a smile, she said. “Fantastic, I enjoyed the grilled saury.” Namida gave her a judging look and spoke in a whisper, she said. “Fantastic?... What is this the early seventies?”
Sachi glared at her while Ketsueki was still pretending to watch the program on TV. Reiki just stood by the side of the couch, he thought. Ender, thanks for telling me they were here. Ender’s voice rang in his head, he said. [As much as I would find it entertaining to see you talk yourself out of the situation… In exchange for helping you, I’ll be adding one small thing to your daily training.] Reiki moved his gaze onto the TV show and thought. You should’ve just told me, I’m doing some light training to make an outline for my body-.
Namida clapped once which got everybody’s attention, she said. “Reiki, to explain the… Palpable atmosphere.” She pointed at Ketsueki and continued. “Your older sister saw you walking toward that fancy house across the street. Putting her mood in a sour state.” Ketsueki glanced at her friend from the corner of her eye while Sachi was shaking her head sideways. Namida had a smile on her face while Reiki pretended to be surprised for a moment, he said. “Oh, when I was doing some shopping I met someone who worked there by chance and I was invited for some tea.”
He glanced at his older sister and waited for a moment to see Ketsueki’s reaction, Reiki continued. “I went over there because during my first visit. I asked if they had an ice cream maker and if I could borrow it.” He took out the pouch the butler gave him while Ketsueki gave Namida a cold stare which she avoided by not making eye contact. Namida thought. Don’t make eye contact, don’t make eye contact, don’t make eye contact. Sachi was pinching the bridge of her nose, she thought. Namida and her impatience to let things play out…
Reiki took out the newest model of an ice cream maker along with the instruction manual, he said. “They said it hadn’t been used in a couple of months so it needed to be cleaned first and the manual was misplaced.” Sachi suddenly stood up from the couch and said. “I need to use the bathroom.” She thought. I wanted to watch a show, not be part of a play. She made her way up the stairs to the second floor and took the ice cream maker from the young boy's hands, Sachi said. “I’ll freeze the mixer for you.”
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Reiki raised a brow at her and said. “The manual said it needs to be chilled in the freezer overnight.” Sachi waved her hand at him while Ketsueki was still staring at her friend. Namida stood up from the armchair, she said. “And I have to work on the request on her laptop.” She retreated to the staircase and while passing by Reiki, Namida said. “Reiki, calm her down for me.” She quickly made her way up the stairs, Reiki thought. This mess is your fault!... Ketsueki had a hint of awkwardness on her face as she pretended not to notice her little brother staring at her.
Reiki said. “Onee-chan… Were you spying on me?” Ketsueki let out a forced laugh, she said. “I didn’t spy on you… We were just… A couple of minutes ahead and I just happen to see you make your way toward the house across the street.” She scratched the side of her head while Reiki stared at her for a moment and said. “Would you agree that the girl who opened the door was cute?” Ketsueki let out a snicker, she said. “As if, it was a guy-.” She stopped herself mid-sentence while avoiding making eye contact with her younger brother.
Ketsueki thought. I’m going to strangle that girl! Sachi and Namida were watching the two of them by the bottom of the staircase with smiles on their faces. Namida spoke in a soft whisper and said. “See? Just as planned.” Sachi elbowed her friend in the side of her stomach which made Namida place a hand on the spot where she was hit and lean forward from the pain. Sachi whispered. “If you hadn’t said anything we would’ve had a better view!” Namida gently rubbed the spot where she was hit and slowly exhaled using her mouth, she said. “Y-Your sadistic streak is getting worse.”
She let out a soft groan of pain, Namida thought. Fucking bitch aimed for my kidney. Sachi sneakily made her way to the kitchen, she snapped her fingers as the ice cream maker she took from Reiki appeared beside the sink, she thought. Now, let’s freeze that mixer so her boy can make us some ice cream. Namida slowly made her way to the living room while rubbing the spot where Sachi hit her, she thought. Cunt… I’m going to get you back for this. She saw Reiki sitting on Ketsueki’s lap with his head in between her large chest.
Reiki was watching the TV show as two guys were playing janken while the host stood in between them, he said. “... Onee-chan you watch shows like this?...” Ketsueki placed a hand on top of her younger brother’s head and gently caressed it, she said. “I don’t, Sachi was the last one holding the remote.” Namida went behind the couch as she sat back down on the armchair, she thought. At least she’s in a better mood now… She rubbed the spot where Sachi hit her and continued her train of thought. … What should I do to get even?...
She put on a pondering expression while Ketsueki raised her hand as the remote on the couch flew to her palm as she started flipping through the channels.
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Elven Territory
Enora was sitting by the fountain as she had a large brown paper bag on her lap, she took out a custard-filled doughnut covered in powdered sugar, took a bite out of it and thought. I did my good deed for the day… Now what?... She glanced at her doughnut and stared at the filling as she mulled over her thoughts. An elf suddenly appeared beside her on the fountain as she took out a chocolate-covered doughnut from the bag. Enora didn’t even glance at her and said. “A greeting would be nice Mora.”
Moranor used her thumb and index finger to hold the chocolate-covered doughnut, she said. “You already knew it was me from my mana.” A few strings of lightning traveled around her body as she took a bite of her doughnut and looked around the elves in the market. Enora slightly squeezed her doughnut as the custard oozed out, she said. “So now you're incapable of saying a simple greeting?”
She took a bite of her doughnut along with the custard she gently squeezed out while Moranor rolled her eyes at her and said. “How was your day?” She took a bite of her doughnut as Enora used her thumb to wipe some powdered sugar on the corner of her lips, she said. “Slow, but I did help an old lady carry her groceries to her house.” Moranor nodded and said. “I know, she told her nephew who then informed me and gave me a message to pass on to you. He said thank you for helping his grandmother.”
She took a bite of her doughnut while Enora shook her head sideways, she said. “It’s fine, today’s a slow day, and wasting a few minutes on walking won’t make a difference.” A moment of silence passed by the two elves as they ate their snack in silence while enjoying the view and being surrounded by other elves going about their day. Moranor finished off her chocolate-covered doughnut as she took out a silk handkerchief with her other hand and wiped her thumb and index finger clean. She said. “You’re making good progress.”
Enora finished off what was left of the doughnut, she deeply inhaled through her nose, gulped the food in her mouth and said. “Am I?” Moranor nodded as she took out something from the paper bag and took out a bar-shaped doughnut that had a glaze of strawberry jam on top, she firmly said. “Yes… At least no one’s making way for you or intentionally looking the other way.” She took a bite of the doughnut bar and thought. Oh, whipped cream filling? Score. Enora took out a long twisted doughnut that was generously dusted with cinnamon and sugar, she said. “... I had Vera gather all the rumors about me and I wasn’t even responsible for one-sixths of them.”
She took a bite of the twisted doughnut while Moranor glanced at her from the corner of her eye and thought. That’s because Valen loved abusing what little power he had and being close to you made it seem like he had more influence. Moranor said. “You can blame Valen for that.” She took another bite of her bar-shaped doughnut while Enora closed her eyes, she pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a stressed sigh, she said. “Don’t say his name.” She slowly opened her eyes as her pupils gave off an icy glow.
The glow in her pupils slowly faded, Enora continued. “I know he was responsible for all of it.” Moranor stopped herself from taking another bite of her doughnut as she turned her head as her expression had a hint of shock, she said. “You-!” She looked around and spoke in a soft tone and said. “You know what he was doing and didn’t do anything to stop him?!” Enora avoided making eye contact with Moranor and said. “This puts me in a bad spot-.”
Moranor accidentally added some pressure on her doughnut bar as some of the whipped cream leaked out, she said. “A bad spot?! If others learned about this you’ll be lucky if they only gave you side glares! Not to mention your mother, the queen whose first priority is to protect the elves!” Enora used her left hand to massage her left temple, she said. “... I know…” She let out a stressed sigh while Moranor looked around and continued. “This is serious Nora! If you didn’t have a past of your little pranks at best you’d get confined! You could get exiled for all the things Valen did!”
Enora stared at her twisted doughnut for a couple of seconds as she let out a sigh while Moranor had a slightly uneasy expression on her face. Moranor said. “Enora?” Enora let out a sharp exhale and said. “And I trust that you’ll keep this a secret.” Moranor stared at her for a moment as Enora took a bite of her twisted doughnut, Moranor said. “What?” Enora gulped down a mouthful of food and said. “I thought despite our previous conflicts in the past since we’ve known each other for years I figured you could listen to me talk about the weight on my chest?...”
Moranor watched Enora casually take a bite of her twisted doughnut, she thought for a moment. Moranor said. “If you give up Reiki I might think about our current friendship.” Enora finished chewing, she gulped a mouthful of food and said. “I will stab you with an icicle.” Moranor took a bite of her bar-shaped doughnut, she thought. Worth a shot… Enora used the twisted doughnut to point at some whipped cream on the corner of Moranor’s mouth.
Enora said. “In my defense, since no one brought anything regarding Valen. I thought the rumors were all exaggerated…” Moranor used her thumb to wipe the cream on the corner of her mouth, she said. “You have all the resources everyone could imagine and didn’t bother to use one thing?” She licked the whipped cream off her thumb while Enora gently scratched her cheek, she said. “When you put it like that you make it sound-.” Moranor raised a brow at her and said. “Like?” Enora let out a sigh, she said. “I had no intention of learning how to be a proper ruler…”
Moranor stared at her doughnut-shaped bar that was roughly one-third left, she said. “I’m telling Reiki.” Enora used her twisted doughnut as a dagger as she quickly placed it near Moranor’s face, she spoke in a slightly cold tone and said. “You. Will. Not.” Some cinnamon and sugar flew at Moranor’s green dress as she took a bite of Enora’s twisted doughnut, she thought. Fried. Enora pulled her twisted doughnut back as Moranor dusted off some cinnamon and sugar on her shoulder, she gulped and said. “Why not? I think he’ll be more than willing to listen to you.”
Moranor patted more sugar and cinnamon on her lap while Enora had a hint of nervousness on her expression, she said. “On the off chance, that Reiki reacts negatively to it?” Moranor gently wagged her bar-shaped doughnut sideways, she said. “No, right now the moment the two of us are alone I’m going to slap the back of your head and steal whatever's left in the paper bag.” She finished off the bar-shaped doughnut while Enora just stared at her and said. “Really? I’m voicing my heart out and all you can think about is my bag of doughnuts?”
Moranor’s arm was enveloped with some strings of lightning as she took out something from the paper bag, she thought. … Apple fritter?... She said. “All I’m doing is the responsible thing, scolding someone who's done something terrible. Reiki will be the one to comfort you when I finish talking both of your ears off.” Enora finished off her twisted doughnut, she thought. I wouldn’t mind listening to his heartbeat again… It was… Oddly calming… Moranor saw that Enora was thinking and said. “Reiki is only going to comfort you for half an hour at most.” She took a bite of her apple fritter.
Enora raised a brow as she turned her head at Moranor and said. “But what about my emotional state after your scolding?” Moranor was in the middle of chewing as she rolled her eyes at her, she swallowed and said. “You're a big girl, you can handle someone telling you what you should and shouldn’t.” The two of them notice a small elf making their way toward them. Enora smiled at the young elf and said. “Hi, Eril.” Moranor nodded at Eril and said. “How’s it going little one?”
Eril sat in between Moranor and Enora as she looked inside the paper bag and took out an oddly large glazed doughnut, she looked up at them and gave her best puppy dog eyes. Eril said. “Pretty sisters, time to tell me the one you like.” Moranor and Enora had awkward expressions on their faces while Eril continued. “You promised you’d tell me the next time we meet.”