2- Life in boarding-school
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Kasumi
was very happy. Her new friends were all nice to her, her powers and abilities
fit her personality, and her relationship with Satoshi couldn’t be better.
How many times during their trip did she try to let him know about her feelings?
But since she was impatient, she often got angry, and her indications and
hints would turn into quarrels that Takeshi didn’t even try to stop.
But now, it was different. Satoshi had grown up, and even though he was still
proud and irritating, he had matured. Kasumi had also changed. She wasn’t
the capricious little girl that Satoshi had rescued anymore. She was calmer,
more subdued, and prettier, too. She secretly hoped that Satoshi would take
notice.
- So what, you have your head in the clouds,
Kasumi?
- Oh Deshi, I didn’t hear you coming!
Kasumi liked Deshi a lot. She could trust her with her little secrets, so happy to finally find a girl to talk with.
- Are you thinking about Prince Charming? Deshi asked
mischievously.
- Is it that obvious? Kasumi asked while raising her hands to her pink cheeks.
- I can tell. But don’t worry; like I said, he is much too young to
put forward his feelings. He must be scared.
- Am I scary?
- No, no! Deshi smiled at her. You misunderstood me. What I meant is that
he is very proud, and he won’t tell his feelings if he isn’t sure
that he will succeed.
- Ok, I hope it won’t take too long…
- Naaaah, don’t worry!
- Because something like that can last a long time… Look at Denchu and
Toya. Those two have serious ego problems, don’t they?
Not far from there:
- My ears are whistling…Toya winced.
- So are mine, Denchu said, sitting by his side.
~*~
Training
sessions were intensive, and demons didn’t appear very often, which
annoyed some and relieved others.
Remembering her bitter defeat a few weeks ago, Deshi tried not to draw attention
to herself, but her clumsiness always made her look ridiculous.
She tries to do her best, but something stops her from succeeding every
time, Kasumi thought.
- No way!
It’s Kaho, I swear! She diminishes my abilities!
- Stop blaming Kaho; if you stink, it’s not her fault, Toya replied.
- Oh, shut up! You weren’t invited to join our conversation, retorted
Deshi.
- Yeah, but you’re not very discreet either.
Deshi took a deep breath, a sign that she would soon explode in annoyance.
- Well,
it seems that the conversation is more interesting over there.
- Grmblmblmblmblmblm…
Deshi moaned and grumbled the entire way back to the boarding school. Toya was the only one who succeeded in making her gripe.
- Grmblmblmblmblmblm…
- Deshi, don’t you smell that nice smell? Denchu stopped her.
- Grmblmblmblmblmblm…
- It… It’s pancakes!
- Grmblmblmblmblmblm…
- Ooh man, how annoying you are!
- GRMBLMBLMBLMBLMBLM!
When they arrived at the boarding school, Denchu saw the pile of pancakes that had been placed on the lounge bar. She reached out to take one, but a little tap on her hand dissuaded her.
- Do. Not.
Touch!
- Heeey, that hurts! Denchu squealed.
- Serves you right! The pancakes are for this evening.
- But it is evening.
- For dinner!
- Tsss, you’re not a gentleman…
- Grmblmblmblmblmblm…
When he saw Deshi, Takeshi pounced on the pancakes and protected them with both of his arms, but Deshi walked away, which surprised Takeshi greatly.
- Yeah,
she’s not in a good mood…
- What happened? Normally, she would have attacked me or made puppy dog eyes
or bitten my leg…
- It’s Toya… He dissed her three times in a row…
- Oh... But just between you and me, I don’t know how she manages to
survive with someone like you…
- Hey!
- No really, said Takeshi, letting go of the pancakes. You can’t say
that you’re easy-going!
- I am… Toya is less so, that’s all.
- Well, for me, it’s the contrary: Toya is easy-going, and you…
you… Stop looking at me like that! We can’t say that you’re
very nice to me!
Takeshi looked at his feet and turned to the pancakes that had suddenly disappeared. Whirling around, he saw Denchu rushing toward her bedroom… Bitches!
~*~
- Psst,
Kasumi? Denchu murmured.
- Yes? You can enter; it’s open.
Denchu and Deshi entered quietly while Kasumi watched them with confusion and surprise.
- Today,
we’re having a pancake party for the girls! Deshi said, delighted.
- Ooooh, pancakes!! Did Takeshi agree to give you some before dinner?
- Of course! Female charm always works! Denchu assured her, demonstrating
with a velvety, sensual look.
- Dinner's ready!!
Deshi hadn’t even started to enjoy her meal when her plate began to levitate…
- Holy crap! She whispered.
Toya appeared in the doorway.
- Deshi, you forgot to lock the door! We had a foolproof plan for once! Denchu squeaked.
The pancakes flew all the way to Takeshi, who was standing next to Toya.
- Thanks,
buddy. All that work I did this afternoon would have been wasted otherwise.
- You’re welcome… As for you girls, because of what you did, only
us boys get to eat the pancakes… You get the leftovers from last night.
- Well, I won’t eat this evening.
Deshi’s and Kasumi’s bellies rumbled, but in order to uphold the bonds of sisterhood, they went along with Denchu’s decision.
- Neither
will I, they sighed in unison.
- So, then, good night.
~*~
An hour later, someone knocked on the girls’ door.
- Go away,
we aren’t hungry! Deshi barked, trying to hide, though with difficulty,
the sound of her stomach.
- It’s Satoshi! Open, please!
Deshi awaited Kasumi’s approval, and when she saw her blush, she whispered, I’ll take that as a yes…
- Ok, come
in!
- Tadaaaaa!!
- Ooooh, my charming prince!!! Deshi exclaimed, hugging Satoshi and cuddling
with him like someone cuddling with her teddy bear.
Deshi didn’t
take notice of Kasumi’s jealousy.
Deshi’s faithful servant – of whom she decided not to let go –
brought about ten pancakes for the girls which meant up to three pancakes
per person plus a fourth for Deshi. What they didn’t know was that Toya
and Takeshi had agreed to let Satoshi give them some… Their stubbornness
likely would have led them to starve themselves for a week, though Deshi surely
would have found a way to eat while the other girls weren’t around.
After this frugal meal, Deshi and Denchu decided to return to their bedroom to finish their homework, leaving Satoshi and Kasumi alone.
~*~
The boarding
school wasn’t far from the main school, but it was hidden from prying
eyes. The way of life in the boarding school consisted of the sharing of chores
and self-mastery.
Luckily, there were only six members living in this boarding school, and they
all got along together.
Kaho didn’t live in the boarding school. It was a test that she had
set for them. She wanted them to get used to living in a group and to learn
to self-manage and be independent.
- Why is
the boarding school hidden from the main school? Kasumi asked.
- So that we will not be disturbed by any inquiring, prying minds.
Kasumi blushed, embarrassed that she hadn’t thought of that already.
- In addition,
if we are close to the school, not only do we save time, but demons are attracted
to this place, Kaho added.
- Why would they be attracted to the school? Because of the “fresh meat”?
- It’s possible, but I think it is because the little Monarchs, whom
you protect, are close to us, even if their divine forms have not yet been
revealed to us. It seems that their human forms have an influence on the demons.
That’s why you have to find them: to reduce the demoniac influences
and unveil their actual forms.
- And how are we supposed to recognize them? Satoshi asked.
- You’ve just pointed out the problem. I would say that the demons know
where they are and that we just have to follow them, but your mission is also
to stop them from reaching the Monarchs. I do think that your powers will
help you discover their true identities… However, this power isn’t
innate for you. You’ll have to train hard to feel any such aura.
- I see… Could Toya help us in this field? Kasumi inquired.
- I could, Toya answered, but I don’t have enough experience. Kaho is
helping me to focus… I’m working overtime, in a sense.
After escorting her students back to the boarding school, Kaho left, though not without wishing them a good evening.
- By the
way, Toya, remember my advice if you want to make progress in this mission.
- Sure…
The scent
that emanated from the kitchen announced a great vegetable garnish. Since
Takeshi was doing the cooking, the little gang didn’t have to worry
about making sure they got the right amount of food and energy intake.
Satoshi, being a good assistant, set the table and talked about his video
game with Kasumi, who struggled to find any interest in the topic.
- But the
hardest part is finding the Gold Skulltulas; they are everywhere night and
day, but they aren’t that easy to find, and you need to find all one
hundred of them if you want to save the whole family from the curse.
- Oh… yeah, ok! Kasumi answered evasively.
- Are you talking about “Ocarina of Time”, Satoshi? Denchu
inquired.
Satoshi, happy to share his passion, switched to his new interlocutor.
- You know that game?!!
- Of course! Deshi and I played it together, and we had to restart it three
times – at the least – to defeat Ganondorf.
Satoshi’s eyes started to sparkle…
- C-could
you help me??
- No problem! Just help us with some chores in return, and we will help you!
Deshi added.
- AWESOOOOOOME!! What do I have to do? Tell me, tell me!! Well, sorry, let
me explain: I’m stuck at the water temple, and I don’t know what
to do, there are so many doors and time signs…
- There’s a water temple in your game? Kasumi started to be interested.
- Well, yeah, I told you that two minutes ago… Satoshi reminded her,
crushed by her lack of interest.
- Oh yeah! I’m so dumb, Kasumi quickly answered. So, are we gonna visit
this water temple?
- Let’s go! Deshi and Denchu said together.
And so they all left to find the Zelda video game.
- B-but… how bold they are!! Takeshi shouted, outraged, dropping his spatula to join them.
Toya, who
had just repaired some patch for his motorcycle, noticed that the kitchen
had been deserted.
After calling twice, all he heard in return was the tiring music of Satoshi’s
video game, so he decided to switch off the console in order to lower the
electricity bill which was already expensive, according to Kaho.
As he approached, a spark crackled near the console, and there was a total blackout.