Train Ride:
It was still early in the morning and already incredibly crowded – many students were still half-asleep.
There was great excitement, because not just the first class was going to the training camp, but the entire academy.
In the middle of the chaos stood Kaede, annoyed as always.
Why does it have to be so cold? Why so early? Why the train? Everything annoyed him.
Next to him stood Ichigo, Shiro, Riku, and Yuna – all wide awake, all fully motivated.
Why? Kaede asked himself, looking at them with a hopeless expression.
Suddenly, he mumbled quietly. His hands ran through his hair, straightening it.
"Why me... why... why... why me... I... why... me... why me..."
"Alright, Class M2f! It's time. You've got wagons 12 and 13. Please reserve a room for three people each!" said Miss Susuna loudly.
The students entered the wagon one by one.
"This is huge," Kaede muttered, eyeing the beautiful smooth checkered wooden floor.
While walking down the candle-lit hallway with Shiro and Riku, he kept glancing nervously at Shiro.
Still behind him. Still there. He got more and more anxious.
Kaede: "I'll just go to the bathroom real quick, be right back. You two go find a room already, okay? Good."
Hopefully I can shake them off.
I turned quickly.
"Hey, Kaede," Riku said questioningly as I felt his and Shiro's hands on my shoulders.
"You're not trying to sneak off and sleep alone somewhere, are you?" Riku asked.
"Yeah, that's what I was just thinking too," Shiro added with a grin.
Oh no, there's no way I'm sharing a room with these idiots. I need my privacy.
"Uh, no, of course not. I just need to use the toilet," I said quickly, hoping they'd let me go.
"Oh yeah? Then why are you bringing your luggage to the bathroom?"
"Good point, Kaede," Shiro said provocatively.
"Well, um…" I tried to break free from their grips, but they only tightened – but I didn't give up.
"There are important medications in my suitcase for my magic allergy. Otherwise, I can't cast magic."
"Well, that's fine. You never use magic voluntarily anyway – especially not on a train, right?"
He's got me cornered if I don't answer fast.
"Yeah, sure, but just in case—"
"But, but…" Shiro interrupted, squeezing my left shoulder until it went numb.
"You can take them after we've set up our beds. So be nice and come with us now."
"Nope. Not gonna happen."
"Huh? What was that, Kaede?" The grip got even tighter. My shoulder cracked.
Is it broken?
"I said, not gonna happen! I'm not sharing a room with you guys."
I crossed my arms in frustration and looked for an escape route.
"Oh, Kaede, that's cute. Unfortunately, Riku and I disagree. Right, Riku?"
Riku looked at Shiro, nodded, then looked at me.
"I have a bad feeling about this."
Crash!
Before I could react, Riku and Shiro lunged at me.
I tried to run, but Shiro shoved me, and before I knew it, Shiro had my arms, Riku my legs – and they carried me off.
I struggled, but it was no use.
"Are you guys serious? Let me go!"
"So, which room should we take?" Shiro asked.
"Good question," Riku replied.
Unbelievable – they're not even listening. What happened to my human rights?
I gave up and dropped my head.
Next thing I knew, I was in a small triple room with an old bunk bed and a small single bed on the other side.
The room was pretty cramped – in the center stood a tiny nightstand with a light bulb on it.
There was only one small window letting in light – and it even had a crack in it.
"What kind of train is this? Are you kidding me?"
Whatever. Just gonna sleep a bit.
Plop – I let myself fall on the bed, took a deep breath, and closed my eyes.
Suddenly, a cold hand yanked me out of bed.
"No sleeping yet, Kaede," said an annoying voice as she brushed her hair out of her face.
"What are you doing here, Ichigo? How do you even know what room we're in?"
"Riku told me," she said with a smile.
"Oh great, thanks R-I-K-U."
"Come on," she said, grabbing me again.
"I came just for you," she said, forming a heart to make it look convincing.
Shiro looked at me with a death glare.
"No, Shiro, I can expla—OWWWW!"
Why are you like this, Ichigo? Just confess already so I can stop suffering.
"Owww..."
5 minutes later, after the public "execution":
"I didn't want her anyway... I'm so done," I said with bruises, defeated and whiny, hiding under my blanket.
The day passed quickly.
Before I knew it, it was evening.
The day itself was surprisingly chill – the morning sucked, but I got to be lazy, watch movies, and relax the whole time.
That's how it should always be.
Meanwhile, in Yuna's room:
"Boring! There's nothing to do here," Yuna said and sighed deeply.
"The boys don't want to do anything either… ughhh."
She sighed again and buried her face in the pillow.
"My plan for today is falling apart."
My romantic train date is going down the drain, she whined.
"Well, I might know something... As far as I know, the root of this whole bad mood is Mr. Grump himself."
"I know, but forget it. I already asked Riku three times what they wanted to do today, and he kept saying: 'We should rest today for the upcoming training.
It's all his fault!"
Yuna hit the bed in frustration and thought about a grumpy Kaede, lying in bed with full conviction, convincing the others not to do anything today – even promising to try harder during training.
"Yunaaaaa! We need to tackle the problem at its root – so Kaede doesn't ruin tomorrow for us too, Ichigo said."
Kaede's room, a few minutes later:
Munch, munch, munch.
Ding – 1 new message.
Yuna: You guys coming out to the lounge for a card game?
Kaede: Nope. Don't feel like it.
Yuna: Later?
Kaede: I'm currently in deep self-meditation.
Yuna: You're watching trash TV with chips.
Kaede: And you're interrupting my spiritual journey!
Yuna: Please, just a little while. Promise!
Kaede: Nope.
Yuna: We'll stop in an hour anyway, then everyone has to get off the train. Can you come then?
Kaede: Stop nagging! I don't feel like dealing with you all. End of discussion.
Yuna: Fine, if you say so! JERK!
Kaede: Whoa, chill out.
They just can't stop bothering me. Can't she just accept it?
Whatever – as long as I keep an eye on Shiro and Riku, the girls can't convince them to do anything either.
Otherwise, I'd get dragged along too – and I'll be stressed enough over the next two weeks. I deserve a break.
Kaede lay in bed, happily munching his chips.
Yuna's room:
"Told you, Ichigo – it's not gonna work. He's a lazy ass and always will be.
I just wanted some time alone with Riku," Yuna said and rolled around on the bed in frustration.
"Yuna, leave it to me, okay?
Love should never be blocked. Kaede just can't accept it. I've got experience with this.
He'll wish he had agreed to your offer."
Ichigo's face looked annoyed, and Yuna gave her a puzzled look.
"Wait, weren't you and Kaede together?"
"Um, no, not anymore."
Suddenly, she smiled.
Ichigo: Right, I still need to talk to him about that.
Yuna, you're so convenient – now I've got a reason.
Didn't have one before.
But if I don't do this, the other one's gonna lose it again, Ichigo thought with relief.
Ichigo took out her phone and typed something.
Message: "Five minutes – no longer. Got it?"
Unknown: "Yay! Thank you, Ichigo. I owe you one. Thanks thanks!"
"But what will we do?" Yuna asked.
"Trust me I know Kaedes weakness," Ichigo replied with a smile.