Raiden stopped outside of a less popular more run down sweets shop, the sweet tooth. He entered the building and looked at the pastries and sweets that filled the smaller more tightly packed shop. Raiden waited for Yuki and Mamba as well as Kasaru to show up, saving them a spot in line.
Mamba eventually followed. She was irritated because she hadn't ate since this morning. "This is ridiculous..We should just skip the line."
Kasaru looked around inside of the store, he was a bit marveled by the choices available, he spoke up at the back of the group.
"I dont particularly eat stuff like this, so i'm not to sure whats good here." He flashed a feint smile, looking away from their eyesight as he continued to look at the higher shelves.
Yuki heard Kasaru and pointed at a couple pastries. "Those are really good but I still think Natagami's would be better."
Raiden waited, glancing at Mamba and shaking his head "No! That's not fair to the people that have already been here."
"I should've just went to my house..My mother would've baked me something if I would've just asked.." Arika typically always made sweets for the Zenin family whenever they stopped by. Mamba often brought Yuki and her sister over to play with her when they were younger, and Anilius, her sister loved sweets to the bone. Usually Ashi would cook something off the farm and Arika would make sweets to go with it. "Probably way better than Natagami's."
Yuki nodded her head at the thought of going over to her Uncles property, she had quite fond memories of the times spent with her cousins and how they would play together outside without a care in the world. "Maybe we can go there today if not we should definitely set up a date!"
"I don't know. You have to talk to your sister Yuki. She's pretty busy with the academy." Mamba and the others eventually made it to the front of the line. Mamba looked around and ordered a strawberry cake. Her favorite. So much so that she ordered 2 large pieces. She sat down in the cafe and waited for them to bring it to her.
Raiden hadn't been to Ashi's farm in a few years, since he started training he hadn't had much time and even when he went over it was only when he was with his cousin Yuki. It seemed the two families were only loosely connected through his Aunt and Uncle bringing him and his brother over when they were children. The thought provoked his mind slightly as he thought about it. "Well, we could go over there but then we wouldn't be able to eat for longer."
Raiden ordered a plate full of Dodol, he watched with stars in his eyes as he picked out his option and sat across from Mamba, staring up at the art around the establishment.
Yuki ordered a couple Matcha Swiss Rolls and sat next to Mamba, she turned to Mamba and asked her- "So... You got a boyfriend yet Mamba? I mean you are kinda getting to that age." She asked knowing about her own parents and Ashi and Arika's relationships at such a young age, she had become worried Mamba might be lonely. "I mean you don't really do much outside of school stuff anymore."
"Nope. Most of the boys are kind of..Mediocre to say the least...and i'm to caught up to really get involved in any affairs with anyone..So i haven't really thought about that to be honest." Mamba took the fork and ate a small piece of cake. "I do my work and come home and help my father with the farm. That's about it."
Kasaru was unfamiliar with a majority of the things here, opting on just asking the vendor for a can of iced tea. He sat with the group, staying quiet as he sipped his drink slowly. He rubbed at the back of his neck, irritated by a scratch he had as he watched the group converse.
Raiden's food arrived and he dug in to his plate quickly almost like an animal. He quickly finished off his Dodol in the span of a minute and laid back, closing his eyes satisfied.
Yuki giggled at Mamba's words, she covered her mouth and waved her hand as her food arrive as well. "Well... I've been talking to a couple guys here and there but once they find out who I am they ghost me. A lot of the time I have to use a fake name but most of them are pretty boring not going to lie."
"Find out who you are? You mean that you're a zenin or that you play with weapons?..because the second one is far more intimidating than the first." She yawned as she continued to snack on her cake. "You shouldn't worry about guys anyways. Study and finish school then do whatever you want. What you need to do is join the student council." Mamba advocated because she knew she was graduating soon. That and she didn't want Yuki to always be playing in the streets. If she was to be a marksman, then at least use it for the greater good of her family rather than violence and crime in the local area.
Yuki cringed from embarrassment as Mamba revealed her secret sadistic nature to the other two, something she didn't want to let out. "U-Uh... both I think..." She thought about the student council and what it could mean. Helping her get more information and knowledge on potential oppurtunities, she nodded before continuing. "Maybe I will go for student council, who knows." She started eating her food and finishing up what was left on her plate.
Raiden looked confused as he listened to Mamba's explanation about Yuki's other side. He had only really seen her getting spoiled by her parents so that was a shock to him. "I mean yeah Yuki, that'd probably be best anyways... I'm more preoccupied with training and such that I don't have time for weird relationship stuff or the Student council, plus I want to explore and see the world!"
Yuki sighed and looked at her cousin like he was an idiot. "What's the fun in the world if you can't have a little mischief right?"
"This is a bit out of the blue to say but, I'm new to this town. I don't exactly know how to get signed into the school here." Kasaru spoke up when he heard a gap in the conversation, he glanced back away and watched another group of people also in the store.
Mamba turned to Kasaru. "I can help you get signed up and you can start tomorrow actually. I'm not sure if that works for you..You can take as much time as you need." She gave him a friendly smile. "If you want to learn how to control any abilities you have I think it would be best."
"I-I think it would be best to avoid that conversation, but thanks... I would appreciate your help." Kasaru gave a nervous glance at the idea of abilities, sipping his iced tea softly as he stirred it with the straw.
"Alright...Whatever works for you...There's a regular curriculum as well."
"Well...that's good to hear. Can we get going after this?"
Raiden looked around and sighed. "My parents had me in the school system for a little bit now, so I could help show you a little around tomorrow if you'd like? I mean I literally watched the place be built, but I will warn you a lot of the people there have a tendency to want to fight so be prepared if you accidentally bump into someone or something like that."
Yuki peered around the room scanning the register and the pastries themselves, wondering what her next job would be from the very people she was hiding her other side from. Mamba noticed this and did not like it, but she knew Yuki wouldn't try anything stupid in front of her.
"T-That'd work for me, thank you. My name is Kasaru. Kasaru Himura..." He looked quietly at the group, wanting to hear their names.
Raiden chimed in since this was something he didn't get to tell people very often since plenty of people in the kingdom knew who he was. "I'm Raiden Otizawa, son of the King and Queen. Cerī Bloodline Heir, Otizawa Bloodline Heir, Last Dragon Descendant, blah blah blah, just call me Raiden." He stuck his hand out to shake his.
Yuki nodded chiming in after Raiden "I'm Yuki Zenin, I'm a princess and always get what I want..." She smiled and stuck her tongue out. "I'm Raidens cousin, and Mamba is my cousin. We have a big family."
"Everyone here sounds like they came from royalty. I'm just a guy... I live with my mother, don't know who my dad is, that's about it." Kasaru shot a smirk from behind his drink, chuckling quietly to himself as he closed his eyes. He shook Raiden's hand.
Raiden nodded to Kasaru's comment about coming from royalty. "It's the best with some things but some of us have a lot of responsibility to uphold, we are all basically the last of our bloodlines too."
"I'm Mamba. Next in line to be the head of the table of the Zenin clan." She pondered on Raiden and Yuki's approach to their royal status. It's unfortunate at times...I've been in and out of rooms I thought I'd never be in..but it's a responsbility over the people that's wildly important." Mamba ate her last piece of cake and stacked the plates on top of each other.
And just out of the blue, before anyone else could speak suddenly popped out Mambas sister, Mura, she half popped out of a random wall, raising her arms and saying in quite a loud, joyful voice. "Hey sis!"
"H-Hey!" She turned to Mura. "I told you don't scare me like that!" She pouted at her and sighed, waving to Mura. "This is my other sister Murasaki...but we just call her Mura. She likes to phase through walls and scare people." She rolled her eyes at Mura but adored her to death and secretly, Mura was her favorite out of her 3 siblings.
Mura chuckled to herself from her sister's response to the jump scare. "It's just me! How did I scare you?" She almost teased her. Before casually walking out of the wall, revealing she had some candy in her hand, which she started to eat. "So what're you guys doing?"
"Well I wanted cake. You know how much we all love sweets. So I came to get some, they happened to tag along." She reached over and rubbed her younger sister's head. "What if it was an enemy? Or someone trying to get me? Then what?" She laughed with Mura pulling her close and hugging her.
"Pfft- name any person you know that can walk through walls!" She said while chuckling from the head rubbing. She hugged her sister back lovingly. "I'll help you find some cake!"
"I guess you're right. Nobody can do what you do." She smiled. "I already had some..but I can buy some more for us if you want?..have a seat with us and chat for a bit."
"Oh yeah sure!" She quickly responded, sitting down next to her sister. She looked around the table and ate some more candy.
Mamba signaled one of the waitresses to bring Mura some cake. "What flavor do you want?"
"Well...chocolate please!" She said to the waitress.
Raiden had also been jump scared by Mura's sudden appearance, he stacked his plate on Mambas and twiddled his thumbs as if to hide the fact he was scared for a second, going back to the talk about bloodlines. "I just get stuck with work... saying we get to make our own paths but have to stay strong and what not."
Mamba gave Raiden a look. He knew training was important. They had lived in a time of peace, but they both knew that would end soon. That's the way the world worked. That's the way humans worked.
The waitress left as Mamba looked back down at Mura. "I was just talking to our cousin about this..You've been training hard. I think it's time that you join the student council."
"The student council? Why?" Mura asked, looking slightly up at her taller sister.
Yuki's focus quickly shifted back to the conversation. The chaotic visions no longer interested her at the moment. She nodded knowing that she was gonna take advantage of being a student council member if she ever got the chance.
Raiden shook his head to the mention of student council. "I'm good. I just want to graduate and do what I can for the kingdom."
"Well..if we're going to be going to school. I feel like you need to be responsible, and help the school become a better environment for everybody. Plus you can hang out with me all day." She smiled, almost ignoring Raiden. It annoyed her that he wouldn't even consider the opportunity, but at least Yuki did.
"Hm I guess that is true." Mura ponder for a moment, trying to think of reasons why she should and shouldn't join. "Hmm..ok. So am I in? Or do I have to sign up or something?"
"I can sign you up myself and get you in. You'll be golden from there. Speaking of which there is something that's coming up that will require the student councils participation."
"I guess we're all going to be heading over to the school then, it would seem." Kasaru finished his drink and sat it down, looking at the rest of the group as he waited.
"Anddddd? What is ittt?" Mura asked, rolling her hand in a 'continue' motion.
Raiden stood up getting the motion that they should be moving here soon to the school, he also was intrigued with the event mamba was mentioning "Yeah... What is it?"
Yuki stood up and continued staring at the cash register as it opened and closed for customers, tuning out as soon as she heard anything about any work involving the school.
Mamba reached into her purse and slid a paper on to the table. "School dodgeball game. The year just started..they want to break us in with competition against another school." Mamba stood up brushing herself off. "So we have to pick eight contestants or so to participate."
"A..dodgeball game?-" Murasaki asked, slightly confused about the seriousness about this. "Is that it?- you made it seem like we would be in a fight or something.."
"It sort of is because it's dodgeball with the use of spells and mana. It won't be just a normal game. The winner will get home advantage in an upcoming tournament we're having..The Mana Exams…Which is crucial.." One of the waitresses left the check with a small note on their table. Mamba rolled her eyes because she knew she was probably going to be the one paying. As much money as she had this didn't please her.
"I see..well I guess it's important then." The chocolate cakeless woman said, while resting her head on her hand.
The waitress brought over a piece of cake putting it down in front of Mura. Mamba looked to her, realizing she wouldn't participate most likely. "You better do well in school this year Mura. If you don't, no more chocolate cake."
Kasaru kept quiet at the mention of usage of abilities and spells, he glanced away and rested his head down with his hands crossed infront of his nose, remaining quiet as he just listened.
Raiden watched mamba get the check and raised his hand. "I can chip in for myself and Kasaru if you're okay with that Mamba?" He thought about the dodgeball game and what he would essentially use to win. "Also I'm okay with dodgeball, I think we'd win if you're on my team."
"I won't be on the team. It'll be harder for us to win the exams if we don't have home territory because of the judges involved..I know a dodgeball game doesn't really sound important, but the exams will be ten times harder. If you fail the exam not only will you not get your Mana License, but you'll fail the semester as well which will mean Ashina won't be taken as seriously." Mamba's eyes panned to his hand. "Yeah go ahead..I don't see a problem with that." She smiled. She was glad Raiden had manners like this.
"Fine by me." Kasaru relaxed himself a bit after hearing he didn't have to pay, closing his eyes and sighing as he adjusted in his seat.
Raiden pulled out the cost for both his and Kasaru's food and drinks. "Well we should be able to win this. Ashina will show its prowess in that dodgeball game." He stood up quickly. "So when is it??"
Yuki sighed from annoyance. "Do I have to play this stupid game??"
Mamba furrowed her brow at Yuki. "Yes and so does your sister and if you don't play i'm getting a travel restriction put on you for the next six months. No traveling to get the pieces for your weapons or items."
Yuki pouted at Mamba basically forcing her to join this dodgeball game. "That's not fair Mamba! Stop exposing me!"
Raiden pushed his seat in and looked to Mamba for an answer to his former question. "So does this start tomorrow?"
Mura just giggled at the exchange and pouting. "I think it'll be fun..then when we win we can get some more cake!" She said while almost having finished her slice. She wasn't going to play anyways but it would be broadcasted and she would most likely be watching in her room.
"You sure like sweet treats." Kasaru smirked a little at Mura, leaning forwards in his seat as he eyed the cake she was eating. "I'm not a fan personally, tastes weird to me."
"Well..." She started before finishing her mouthful. "I feel bad for you. You're happy to try some of hers..I'm kind of eating mine."
"Why don't you try a bite?..It won't hurt you I promise." Mamba smiled at Kasaru before looking toward Raiden. "We need to pick a team by tomorrow night."
Raiden jumped back "A team by tomorrow...?!" He quickly thought and pointed to himself. "AM I TEAM CAPTAIN?"
"Sure. I can't participate. Only ages 15-17 can. So I guess you are team captain."
His jaw dropped as he looked around. "Uhh... who all wants to be on the team?" He asked quietly as he had been astonished at this sudden task placed onto him.
Kasaru sighed and took a fork, attacking Mambas cake with it as he took a piece and ate it slowly, Kasaru raised his eyebrows. "Not too bad, still a little too sweet." He looked at Raiden as he asked if anyone wanted to be on his team. "I don't think I'd be much use but sure."
"Alright. That's three. Yuki, Kasura and Raiden..." Mamba wrote their names down. "Mura..can you be on the team? I'll buy you a bunch of cake."
"I..thought I was taking part anyways..since I'm apart of the council now?"
"Yeah but I wanted to hear if you wanted to do it..I don't want you to participate if you don't want to compete..You can sit in the stands with me."
"That sounds nice..but I also kind of want to help out, responsibility you know?" She said while looking up at her with a smile. "Do you even know four more people Mamba?"
"I know two more. I'm stuck on the remaining two. If you look around town you can find somebody?" She laughed a bit, rubbing Mura's head again. "Alright then..that makes four. You're going to need four more. What about your brother Raiden?"
Raiden nodded thinking about his brother. "Maybe. I'd have to see if he wants to when I get home but if not then I think we might have to find some more at school."
"It's getting late anyways. Why don't you head home and see if he'll say yes? And Yuki..Please ask your sister. Okay?"
Yuki sighed and stood up, preparing herself to leave. "Fine. Raiden owes me one for this."
Raiden nodded to Mamba's question. "Alright, I'll see how he feels about it."
"Very well then..I expect you lot to be at school tomorrow..Later." Mamba left the store as the bell went off.
"Well, she's certainly cheery." Kasaru looked at the people who were left at the table as he got up, fixing his coat as he stared at them blankly. "I'm likely going to head home now, it was nice meeting all of you though."
Raiden nodded to Kasaru and left the store. Yuki had split off with everyone to head back home to discuss with her sister.
Mura finished her cake as everyone left. Then went to catch up with Mamba.
Mamba walked out and stood on the street. She looked at Mura. "Maybe we can go see our parents. Does that sound good?"
"Huh? Oh yeah sure!" She said with a bright smile at the thought of seeing their parents.
"I mean only if you want to come back home. We can always stay here and see the city."
"Ermm...I don't know. What is there to see here?"
"Not much. I prefer our father's kingdom to this one. There isn't many attractions as much as we're told there are."
"Then let's go back to see them!" Murasaki happily strolled down the street with her sister, a bright soul that shined in the late evening.