First off, I really do love Sister Princess and wish sometimes wish I could own it. I'm not too experienced with writing and especially with someone else's characters but I hope I was able to successfully capture the characters appropriately. I have attempted to add a little more affection to the siblings though but I hope that the characters will still be carbon copies and feel like the originals regardless of such affection or things I added I found on Wikipedia.
P.S.
Not surprisingly, it was exceedingly difficult to write for so many character so I hope everybody finds that I did a half-way decent job trying to include everybody in some aspect.
Chapter One
It was early morning with the sun peeking through the curtains of the big mansion dubbed, "Welcome House" on the large island called, "Promised Island."
There was a young man, a boy, in bed, awoken by the morning's sunlight. Wataru smiled and tilted his head back to look at sun. He blinked and tried pulling the sleep from his eyes. It's going to be nice out today, he thought. Life on the island was always better when the sun was shining with the weather perfect for outdoor play. Trying to keep fourteen children occupied and cooped up in a house on a rainy day was hardly a easy task.
With a big smile across his face, Wataru tilted his head back down and looked down on his chest and the two heads resting on it. Wataru's smile got bigger at the sight of the two beautiful brunettes on his chest.
Karen, on the right, was the oldest of the thirteen little sisters. Secretly, Wataru always felt a little guilty for liking her the most of all the girls. With her small hand on his stomach, she too smiled, probably dreaming the sweet dreams she is only capable of having.
On the left was the tallest of the younger sisters, a tall lanky beauty curled up with her leg over his and her head and hand over his left chest, Sakuya. Sakuya too was a girl of a sweet nature. Perhaps she was a bit possessive and clingy but it is hard to imagine anyone caring too much about that though not when she, like all of the others, was a ray of sunshine in Wataru's life. He didn't care if she was easily jealous or not, he loved her with all of his heart and nothing could ever change that. It didn't matter how sudden the arrival of thirteen little sisters was or how strange that the girls leapt at the chance of having a older brother but deep down, he could understand. Life now with his little sisters was far better than it ever was when he was alone in Tokyo with Jeeves, his butler and only companion.
Wataru leaned forward and kissed the top of Karen's head, telling her that it was time to get up.
Karen moved and shifted a little. Her hand began creasing up and down. She was like all the her siblings and all kids for that matter, she hated getting up in the mornings. She moved slowly not wanting to get up and part from her big brother.
Wataru moved over to his next little sister and kissed the top of her head. Sakuya smiled even more and as typical of her, only dug deeper into her dear brother's chest.
"Good morning Karen. Good morning Sakuya."
With a mumbled response, Karen pulled back the sheets and finally started sitting up, freeing her brother's arm that was pinned underneath her head. She always felt guilty about that. No matter how uncomfortable he may end up feeling, he never complained about any of his sisters coming to sleep with him. They all have been so lonely, having their big brother finally back with them was too much to handle. They just have to sleep with him every once in a while. But he never said a word, he even enjoyed it, she could tell by the smile on his face.
Looking down at him with her half asleep eyes, she was in heaven. No school. A beautiful day where she can spend all day with her big brother outside, having fun. Sure, sometimes he was a putz but he was her putz.
Karen twisted her body and stretched out her arms, raising them high over her head. Her beautiful, brown bed hair swaying in the morning sun.
After turning back around and giving her big brother the first kiss of the morning, Karen finally pulled herself up and walked to the door, filling the room with the dull thick thuds of pitter-patter.
Just as she was about to reach the door however, she stopped. Karen seemed to give a quick half-asleep look around her as if something was missing.
"Come on Sakuya. You have to get up too."
Karen stared out back to her big brother still lying in bed with their sister tightly entwined with him. Karen could see the smile on Sakuya's face get even bigger.
Karen knew Sakuya was awake and just feigning sleep, so did Wataru. Even Sakuya knew that Wataru and Karen knew she was faking but just didn't care. She liked being huddled up against her dear brother. Nothing was as prefect as the feeling of waking up next to him with her arms around him. It didn't matter if there was another sister there or not. Waking up next to Wataru was the great feeling she has ever experienced in her life.
"Mmmmm, ninety more minutes..."
Karen and Wataru smiled at each other, sharing a laugh while they rolled their eyes together.
"Come on, Onii-chan has to get up too."
Karen marched back over the bed and pulled hard on Wataru's free arm. Wataru slid out of bed and soon found himself halfway on the floor as one little sister continually pulled on him attempting to freeing him from the jaws of another.
Wataru squirmed in discomfort for his poor arm but neither sister seemed to mind at all. Instead, the two imoutos stood staring down each other.
"Your so horrible! Onii-sama and I were just fine until you came along!"
Sakuya puffed her face in disapproval towards her older sister.
Ignored, Wataru's leg seemed to be left twitching in the air while Karen lectured on, "You know better. We have a big day today and we need to get all of the chores done before we can play around!"
Sakuya let out a defeated sigh and crawled towards Karen.
"I'm sorry Onii-chan, but I just had to do that!"
Wataru pulled himself up and smiled. In his acquiescent way, he just rubbed the back of his head and said, "Don't worry about it Karen, it's okay."
Karen's heart swelled with joy. Wataru was just the best big brother ever, he was so positive he never let anything get him down.
The two sister turned and was about to leave their older brother to get dressed when Sakuya stopped and turned around.
"Hurry up and get dressed. we should be able to go shopping today if we hurry. Just the two of us, okay?"
Sakuya's smile seemed to radiate the room and before he knew it, Sakuya had leaped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck and giving him a nice little good morning kiss. Wataru returned the kiss and pushed his sister out of the door.
Finally with the girls out of the room and the door finally shut to give him some privacy he took of his pajama bottoms and went looking for what to wear.
Decisions, decisions. He felt inclined to go with his favorite; a pair of dark blue jeans with a just a plain white shirt and his prized brown windbreaker jacket but perhaps today would be nice for a change.
Finally after dressing himself in what he would consider, "dressed to the nines." He was ready to face the rest of the Welcome House.
He stepped out of his room dressed in his boots and typical dark blue jeans but changed slightly and decided to instead wear a nice three button V-neck, blue, his favorite color. It was a nice shirt, it is a shame that he doesn't wear it as often as he should. It would be the least he could do after all, his sisters did decide to get it for him on one of their many outings.
Wataru left his room and almost instantly could smell something wafting through the air. It smelled delicious. Leave it up to Shirayuki to make just the right meal for the day. As he approached closer and closer to the steps the noise of all of his other little sisters seemed to echo louder and louder.
Any many ways it was music to his ears. The sound of thirteen little sister having fun and preparing for another wonderful day on the island. He even began to sing a little. It was a delightful little ditty he had heard Shirayuki sing once while cooking, when she didn't know he was right there. He liked the song, in many ways it kinda grew to become a bit of a theme for them at the house.
As he finally reached the bottom of the stairs, a small yellow blur came rushing towards him yelling, "Onii-tama! Onii-tama!"
Instantly, his perpetual smile grew even wider. It wasn't Welcome House or the start of the morning until the youngest of the little sisters was up and came barreling around.
Wataru bent low and scooped up the littlest girl, "Good morning Hinako!"
The little girl just beamed and hugged his older brother's neck as she sang, "Onii-tama."
The two sibling stood there exchanging the brief pleasantries and kisses before taking back off to dining room with the large round table which they all sit at.
Outside he caught up with a couple more of the sisters. Chikage, Yotsuba and Haruka. Haruka not surprisingly stood there with a nice traditional Japanese gown on. Not what one would expect from such a tall and strong German woman, but absolutely perfect for her.
Chikage stood in the doorway looking in her typical mysterious manner, "Good morning Ani-kun. I see a good day ahead of you today, a good day indeed."
"Good morning Chikage. Thank you but it's you I hope has a wonderful day."
Chikage just sunk back, embarrassed as her brother dear smiled at his well delivered strategic attack.
Past her, he could see more of the sisters.
Rinrin looking hard at work twisting a whatchamacallit at her seat. Aria asleep, as always. Marie was reading another thick book with large golden words that were hard to make out from here. Yotsuba and Haruka walked past Wataru into the dining hall only stopping for excited good mornings. Kaho was off to the side talking with Mamoru as she kicked a soccer ball forwards and back. And finally, Mami talking about curry or something.
WAIT! As she kicked a soccer ball! That's right, Wataru seemed off-guard as he remembered his promise to Mamoru the evening before.
"I swear, that first thing after breakfast, I'll go out with you and practice kicking the ball around with you."
Mamoru bent over and grabbed the ball and rushed towards Wataru at the first sight of him.
She looked so happy.
"Remember Anii, you said we would kick the ball around this morning."
"Don't worry Mamoru, I haven't forgotten. Let's just eat breakfast and afterwords I'll go and change and we will. I swear."
"Okay, Big bro, just don't forget."
Mamoru smiled and twirled back around and ran to her seat.
Just at that moment, Karen and Sakuya started descending the stairs together. They stopped briefly at the doorway with Wataru, Chikage and Hinako.
"Good morning Hinako. I hope your not going to hog Onii-chan all to yourself today," said Karen in a joking tease. Hinako just giggled and tightened his grip around her bro-bro, smooching her little lips against his cheek.
"I'm sorry Karen but I forgot that I told Mamoru that I play soccer with her right after breakfast today. You don't think you could manage without me for a bit, do you? I swear I'll make it up."
"We will need everyone... but don't worry, I'll just have Sakuya and the others to help me until your free. If we all work together we might even finish before you!"
Karen smiled and laughed as she walked off ignoring Sakuya's protests.
After Wataru placed Hinako down at her seat and got himself seated and ready, Shirayuki came out with breakfast. With a, "Good morning Nii-sama!" she placed the food out and the siblings dug in. It was wonderful, perfect even. Nothing beat a Shirayuki Special. Sure, Shirayuki had a tendency to sometimes make some stranger and more off-beat meals but they were always wonderful. Shirayuki was a world class chef no matter how young she was.
After breakfast was all finished up and the dishes put away, Wataru dashed upstairs to change and get on a better pair of shoes and shorts, cursing himself the whole way up. Outside, he ran back into a excited Mamoru.
Not having to go back and change, Mamoru had already set up the regulation net and warming herself up with a simple juggling act.
She smiled and waved to Wataru, "Are you ready Anii?"
Wataru smiled and shouted back, "Gimme your best shot!"
Mamoru smiled and delivered a hard kick. Wataru stood in front of the net and hopped excitedly.
He watched and concentrated on that small traditional soccer ball with all of his might. He cleared his mind and watched it come nearer and nearer.
Finally as the ball came just where he wanted it, Wataru braced himself for the ball. His arms wrapped around it as it hit him square in the chest.
!
Wataru was beyond happy. He had finally caught one of Mamoru's kicks but something was wrong. He was no longer looking at his little sister. No, he was now looking up to the sky. Furthermore, had it always been so hard for him to breathe?
Mamoru rushed to Wataru as he laid on his back. He looked a bit like a dog, she thought. His legs stuck straight up with still a firm grip on the soccer ball.
"Anii! Anii! Are you okay?"
The words escaped Wataru's grasp he wanted to say yes but his body wouldn't let him.
"Y-yes. I'm fine Mamoru."
He was a horrible liar. Mamoru could tell that he must of been in great pain. He laid there looking up not speaking a word and when he does speak, what does he say? He says he is fine. Fine in broken up talky speech. She knew she shouldn't of kicked that ball that hard...
Wataru finally let go of the soccer ball as Mamoru tried peeling it away from his tight death grasp.
She grabbed his arm and lifted him up.
"I'll bring you inside. It's okay, you should strain yourself."
Wataru perked up like a dog at this and immediately pushed himself away from his sporty younger sister.
"No, really Mamoru, I'm fine. Just give me a second and I'll be fine."
Mamoru just stood there looking at Wataru. All the siblings seemed so different from each other but sometimes it seemed like she and Wataru were the most different. He would often trip over himself and she, here with her perfect hand-eye coordination and balance loved sports and excelled at all of them that she tried. Perhaps trying to spend some time by kicking a ball around was the wrong idea. Maybe they should of done something he was good at. Something like...
Wataru jogged over to the where Mamoru had placed a couple of water bottles and took one. He gulped down a nice portion of one and placed it back down.
He had a bad habit, a tick, of rubbing the back of his head when he was embarrassed about something but he found himself doing it again now.
"I mean it Mamoru, I really want to play with you know. I'm fine you shouldn't worry about me."
Mamoru shifted in place a little and was hesitant. She really did love her big bro and didn't want to do anything that would be too hard on him. But that's what made this so hard, nothing made her happier than when she was with him.
"Come on, here!"
Wataru kicked the ball on the ground in front of him and delivered it perfectly to her. She smiled at noticing that as typical of her big bro it may have taken far too long but he was finally learning something. Something that only she could of taught him. He finally learned how to kick a soccer ball at the right angle, at the right speed and deliver a nice kick to her.
"Okay, but if you get the wind knocked out of you again, we will call it a day."
"Fine, fine."
And that is how the two siblings spent the next few hours. Wataru and his beautiful little imouto, Mamoru, spent the day kicking the ball back and forth. They practiced their long kicks and passes, if was a wonderful time for just the two of them. They were far too involved to even notice that they weren't even alone anymore. That far off, watching the two siblings enjoying a morning of soccer was a couple of their other siblings. Siblings with large smiles rooting for their big brother.
"Look, remember how I showed you how to get your foot underneath the ball to get it higher? I want you to that again and I'll show you my header."
Wataru started off on a little pace and gently loft the ball at Mamoru standing a few feet from him. Mamoru had to take a few steps forward, but never took her eyes off the ball before she lunged herself forward knocking the ball with her head.
It went in the net and was a perfect header. The sisters hidden away from Wataru and Mamoru as they spied on their playing, clapped and cheered happily.
"That was perfect, Mamoru. You are a natural!"
Mamoru smiled at her brother's compliment and blushed.
"It's a real shame you won't be playing in the big game tomorrow. Any team with you on it would surely win!"
Mamoru's face was now turning bright red at her embarrassment, "You really think so Anii?"
"Sure I do, you're the best player on the island. Probably all of Japan."
"I wish we all were, like when we were in the talent competition but this time we would win for sure Anii. You're getting better and if you were I goalie we would surely win."
"Oh, I don't know about that, but what do you say we call it a day? We can see if there are any chores around the house than maybe go for a swim in the pool."
"Okay Anii."
The two walked backed to the house together. They swayed and pushed each other in a merry way.
When the two finally reached the front of Welcome House, they found themselves bumped into Sakuya, Yotsuka, Hinako and Kaho.
"Look it's Ani-chama!" said the girl with pigtailed blonde hair and a strange pronunciation of words courtesy of her English accent.
"Hello, Yotsuba! We didn't miss all of the work did we?"
Sakuya swayed and fell forward grabbing her Onii-sama's arm, "It just so happens you did!"
Mamoru feeling a little guilty for shouldering all the work on her sisters while she played and felt compelled to throw herself in and apologize, "I'm sorry you guys, I'll make it up to you, I swear."
"Eerm, Let's so shopping Onii-sama!"
"No! Kaho wants to go swimming!"
"Swimming! Swimming!"
Wataru looked over to Mamoru as the three argued for swimming to the one for shopping and just smiled.
Rinrin and Marie hearing the noise came over to investigate.
"What's going on Aniue-sama?"
"Yeah, what going on Aniki?"
Hinako jumped up and down, "We're going swimming!"
Most of the surrounding siblings smiled at how cute Hinako was being. You could always count on Hinako on winning a argument with a deadly case of cuteness.
Marie bent over and took Hinako's hand and said in her light voice, "Alright Hinako, let's go and change. I bet Michael would love to go spend time outside with us at the pool."
"Yay!"
Wataru, Mamoru and Rinrin all just looked at each other and smiled. They didn't have to say it. They all liked the idea of going swimming altogether again and knew they all ought to rush off as soon as possible.
Sakuya still looked a bit sulky. She had really been looking towards shopping this weekend and now it was looking like she wouldn't be able too.
Wataru looked over at Sakuya and grasped her hand, "Come on, Sakuya. We can still go shopping later but how about we just go for a swim for a couple of hours? Didn't you get a new swimsuit? I bet it looks amazing. Why don't we all go swimming and you can show me that lovely new swimsuit?"
Sakuya bit her bottom lip as she thought this over. While she really wanted to go shopping, she did like the idea of going swimming, especially if it meant that her dear brother was going swimming with her. She finally nodded and looked up to see her older brother smiling and still holding her hand. That made her much more comfortable. She loved it when he held her hand like that.
The siblings that were still there at the door all looked at each other, smiled and started to run upstairs. Each of them making as much noise as possible to alert the others and tell them that it was time again for a nice swimming session.
Wataru changed into trunks and went outside. Not surprisingly, he wasn't the first one out. Hinako was already jumping around excitedly in her orange two piece. Wataru smiled and walked over to the edge of the shallow end and easily wadded in.
Kaho in a white one piece swam over to him as he was doggy paddling his way deeper into the pool.
Kaho and Wataru played and splashed and yelled at each other and generally had fun before they were interrupted. It was Sakuya and sure enough she wasn't in her purple swimsuit, the one with the flowers but something altogether different.
Wataru tried to keep his mouth from falling open and tried to just compliment her accordingly. Karen and Chikage was following behind.
He had to force his eyes shut and count backwards to himself. These girls are his sisters, it is completely inappropriate for him to ogle them in their swimsuits, it's just plain wrong.
But Wataru couldn't help himself. Seeing Chikage in her outfit with that thin piece of cloth tied around her waist dropping down to make that long skirt. She looked absolutely breathtaking but so did Karen in her little pink bikini with yellow lines... and not forget about Sakuya.
Wataru, fed up with his own imagination dropped down and submerged his head underwater, hoping that it would help him get rid of the images.
The three sisters were startled by sudden odd behavior of there older brother but still couldn't help themselves from laughing and going on their way.
Wataru threw himself back up and gasped for air but did find that he did feel a little better. The sisters were still there but it didn't seem to matter anymore.
Soon, all the siblings would scattered as Mamoru took a running charge and whisked by her sisters, jumping in the pool and causing Wataru to go back down. This time, involuntarily.
All the surrounding sisters laughed and decided to follow suit. One after another, the sisters decided to jump in. The sisters, minus Marie and Chikage, all devoured themselves into frolicking in the pool. Splashing and having fun and even knocking the occasional beach ball back and forth.
Wataru enjoyed himself immensely. Swimming with all of his sisters and relaxing was the perfect thing after playing soccer with Mamoru for so long. But there was still one thing sitting there in the back of his mind, eating away at him. The image of Mamoru standing there depressed at not participating in the Island wide soccer team. Wataru hated himself. It wasn't for anything particular but he just hated himself. Perhaps if he was a better player, the sisters would of organized a team and they all could of played and won that mysterious grand prize being waved around in everyone's face for Mamoru.
"I sense there's something wrong with ani-chama! This may need some looking into? Yotsuba is on the case!"
Wataru sat there at the edge of the pool relaxing, not even noticing that Yotsuba was there next to him, worried over his worried expression.
"Is anything wrong?"
After some time, he finally snapped back to the real world as simply shrugged it off, "Hmm? Oh, nothing."
But Yotsuba could tell that there was still something bothering her brother dearest. So could Karen, who found herself wadding towards Yotsuba and Wataru.
"What's wrong Yotsuba? Why does onii-chan look so mad?"
"He says nothing is wrong, but Yotsuba can tell that there is something. And with my great detective skills, I'll get to the bottom of this!"
Karen smiled at Yotsuba as she pulled out her magnifying glass and seems to be probing their older brother but quickly frowned again when she saw past to her big brother.
There was something wrong but she knew he would never purposely burden any of his little sisters with a problem. But his problem was her problem, she loved her onii-chan more than anything in the world and to see him troubled even the slightest was so unbearable she felt like she was starting to drown, just completely unable to breathe.
It was time to get creative. She knew that if she was only to surround him and take him by surprised, they would surely be able to make him cough it what whatever it was.
Quietly, Karen signaled over two sisters to her side and told them her plan. Rinrin and Sakuya were only too willing to help their distressed brother.
Sakuya swam to Wataru's other side, no doubt to be able to cling to her dear brother's arm while Rinrin took the front.
"Hey aniki! What's wrong?"
Wataru was shocked and snapped back into the sudden realization that he was being confronted again. He hated the idea of burdening his imouto and decided to just shrug it off again as he did with Yotsuba. But he didn't have time. Before he could say anything he found Sakuya leaping forward and grasping onto his arm.
"What's wrong, onii-sama? Did you get water into your eyes?"
"Yeah onii-chan, you look troubled."
Sakuya was now holding his arm in a tight embrace making cooing noises.
"Come on, brother dearest! What's wrong don't just keep it to yourself!"
"Oh, nothing is wrong, I was just thinking back to something..."
"Is there something wrong onii-chan? Maybe we can help!"
"No, I was just thinking about earlier when I was playing with Mamoru. She looked so down because she couldn't play in that big island-wide soccer tournament tomorrow. That's all."
"Ah! Yotsuba gets to it after all!"
"I just couldn't stop thinking about it that's all. Nothing you four need to worry about."
"I know! Maybe we can find one of the teams and convince them to swap one of their players out. Mamoru is the best soccer player on the island, there is no way they can refuse!"
"Hellooooo my cute little sisters! And how are you?"
Suddenly and without warning as per his usual entrances, the little powwow between Sakuya, Rinrin, Yotsuba, Karen and Wataru was intruded upon a short male with brown hair and a fairly flamboyant personality, Taro Yamada. Wataru had known Yamada since the first day here on the island. He had met Yamada on the boat ride over here, the same boat ride he would end up meeting one of his other little sisters, Mami.
"Hello Yamada. How are you?"
"Fine, fine, I'm just off to Tokyo for the weekend. You know they just had a Garban installation put in and I just have to see it. I just thought you would want to say goodbye before I left."
"You have been talking about it all week, we hope have a nice time."
"Ah, what's wrong little sisters. You look so down."
Wataru looked a little irked but tried to make it not show. He liked Yamada but this was his problem. He had to be the one to try to get Mamoru in that tournament tomorrow.
Sakuya looked back but in a shrugged off matter simply said, "Oh nothing, we were just talking about the soccer tournament, that's all."
"Oh! It is a shame isn't it? Who would of thought they had to cancel it because of illness."
The last exclamation seemed to catch everyone off guard, even the ones not in the four.
"What do you mean? They canceled it?"
"You mean you didn't hear? Three of the teams had to drop out so with only one team available to play the tournament was canceled."
All of the siblings were now clambering around Yamada and by default, Wataru. They were all shocked and wanted to know more.
Karen lowered her head and felt almost embarrassed that seconds prior they had talked about the tournament and scheming to try to get Mamoru to play. That's when it hit her. What if...
"... so naturally, they didn't want to cancel it but they had to. They were practically begging for more players so they could have one more team but nothing."
Karen was practically ready to jump out of her skin, "What if we played?"
All of the girls, Wataru and Yamada looked at Karen with a sudden shock and wondered if they could pull it off. If accepted, they would only have half a day if that to practice and get ready. It would be hard work but if they could just get Mamoru to play, she would no doubt be happy again...
Kaho started splashing around excited with the idea, "Let's do it! Let's get in the tournament and win!"
Chatter began to spread amongst the siblings like wildfire, could they? If they had Mamoru leading them there was no way they could lose.
Sakuya smiled and finally decided to decide for the whole house, "Alright, let go win this soccer game for onii-sama!"
"No, let's go win this Mamoru!"
"Yeah! For Mamoru!"
Karen seemed to stop though and reconsider, "But won't we need a team? How can we decide who will play and what?"
"Well, I can be a forward and Anii can be our goalkeeper," said Mamoru in a slightly reserved tone.
"Then I volunteer to protect anigimi-sama!" said the tall little sister with the long flowing purple hair and the thick German accent."
"You can count me in to, an-chan," said Mami.
Wataru was taken back at the sudden exclamations to join the team. Even Mami was ready to play for him so they could get Mamoru into the tournament.
Eventually, the team sort of fell together. Marie was too sick to play so she would be out and Hinako is too young, so all they had left was Aria or Kaho available for the last slot. While neither may be the ideal choice but would have to do.
"What about you Mr. Yamada, would you mind helping us win the tournament for Mamoru?" said Karen in a sheepish tone.
"I would love too! I could also be the captain and coach. With me, we're sure to win!"
Wataru was taken back, what about the Garban installation? He really had been talking nonstop for the last two weeks about it. This week was almost unbearable because of it.
"Aren't you forgetting about the Garban statue?" said Wataru.
"Oh, that can wait. Who can go see some some statue when such a cute little sister is in need!"
Wataru just lowered his eyes at Yamada. Yamada was a decent guy but Wataru really did wish he would stop trying to stop stealing his little sisters.
Mamoru was smiling and excited, "Come on, since we have your line-up let's hurry up and get dressed! The faster we get dressed, the faster we can see if we can save the match."
"But nii-ya, what will Aria do?"
Karen proceeded to take the motherly road again and intervened for her onii-chan, "Kaho will be in charge of cheering on Onii-chan and I want you, Marie and Hinako to make sure to cheer him on all game too."
Aria nodded her head in acceptance and proceeded to begin practicing her cheers while getting out of the pool as the rest of her siblings.
Wataru looked down and stretched out his hand for her. Pulling her up, Aria smiled and got close to her mon frère.
"Do you think Aria could have a parfait tomorrow if she does well, nii-ya?"
Wataru laughed and told her yes. He would make sure Shirayuki whipped up a extra special parfait no matter what.
After everybody got dressed they met again at the front doors of the Welcome House and set out into town hoping to find whoever it was that was in charge of the soccer tournament.
Karen shuffled with her clothes and looked apologetic, "Sorry, it took so long. I wanted to make sure I fed Vanilla before we left."
"It's okay Karen, there's no problem at all. Come on."
"Did Mr. Yamada leave already?"
Wataru smiled and stretched out a bit as if in pride, "Yes, he went back to his apartment to put his bags back since he is staying for the game."
Mamoru rolled forward on her roller blades. She got some of her energy back with the decision to try to get in the tournament that she couldn't wait. With roller blades, she was bound to find the coordinator even quicker now.
"Come on, first to find the coordinator is excused from the mandatory ten warm up laps!"
Kaho looked worried and glanced around at the other sisters before charging forward with Yotsuba and Hinako.
"I hope I find him, I would hate to run and ruin my hair. I just had it done!"
Wataru, with Aria on one side, moved closer to Sakuya and put his arm around her, "Don't worry about laps, I'm sure you will still look fantastic. I haven't seen you otherwise yet!"
Sakuya blushed and hugged her dear brother letting out only a small squeal of delight. She leaned upwards and kissed Wataru on the cheek, "You always know what to say don't you?"
The rest of the sisters looked at Wataru, again, rubbing the back of his head. He didn't say the right thing all of the time but they all agreed in silence that he always did have a way of comforting them all.
And it was here on the long strip leading from Welcome House with the lines of trees on both side that they finally did run into the event coordinator. Not that Wataru was paying attention. He was instead too busy looking off to the side past the trees where the ocean crashed against the shore. So beautiful.
Wataru couldn't quite make it out but heard something out ahead of him. He was taken back and decided to start paying attention to the road since soon they would soon find themselves at the large escalator in town.
Wataru turned his head and suddenly found himself nose to nose with a small elderly man with a hunch. He stood in front of Wataru and was tall or short as he was and with a large bushy white mustache and instantly greeted Wataru, "Hello there young fellow!"
Wataru was shocked beyond imagination and leapt backwards. He was only capable of saying one thing. Actually, make that shriek one thing, not say.
"Jeeves!"
"Sorry, young fellow. I'm just a old man who is just trying to coordinate a soccer game. Say, do you know anywhere I could find people interested? I would hate to cancel it."
"You mean you haven't already?"
"No, no, I still may yet but I'm trying to find a substitute team first. I only have one remaining team, if I can enough players we still may be able to have at least one match."
The siblings huddled around Wataru and started to grow excited. They will be able to play in the tournament after-all, hooray! They could make sure Mamoru walked home with that grand prize no matter what.
Wataru stepped forward and stuck out his chest, "We at Welcome House would be proud to play in tomorrow's match. We were just on our way to find you actually, Here, this will be our team."
Wataru pushed forward a small sheet of paper that he had scribbled the names and positions of each player on it as decided upon in the pool.
Wataru felt pride swell up in his bosom. He and his little sisters were going to be entering a soccer competition and unlike the talent show he knew, he just knew that there was no way for them to lose.
"Come on girls! We have some practicing to do!"
There is a room of a solid black void. Light is rare and with the exception of the few solitary flickers of burning candles, the void is almost completely devoid of life. The blackness is thick and heavy like sludge, the weight unbearable for any mortal soul. No light is capable of intruding on it's stillness and no light is free to escape it.
But this void is not alone. There are the candles and the table. There is also the shadow. The shadow sits at the end of the long table of dark mahogany wood with the blood red inlays. It does not move at all but instead, just sits there in the dark. The candles flicker and cast the shadows aside revealing, for only a brief moment, a beautiful and delicate face. The face is stern but carries with it a sense on undeniable femininity to it. Beautiful and delicate with strong unblinking eyes.
The beautiful girl with the beautiful face sits alone with a single arm reached out in front of her. She holds a card. The lights flicker and sway as she sits staring at the card. She needs this card but only because he needs the card.
And without betraying itself, the girl continues to show no emotion whatsoever as the turns the card over to reveal itself. Whether it is good or bad is unknown and with the heavy weight of nothingness on it it seems that it may forever be hidden... before a small voice breaks through the darkness.
"It looks ani-kun, that our challenges may just yet be beginning..."