7 Pendants
(Day two of the trip, 6:13 p.m.)
Len stood still on the ground to catch his breath, not shifting his eyes off the opponent. Nero was exhausted too, panting while fixing his gaze at Len in case there is any surprise attack. After some time, without warning, Nero manoeuvred to the side and accelerated towards Len while charging Dark Electric on his left palm. Len instantly withdrew the electrons in the air, fusing them to enhance his Pure Electric on one hand. The Mikado yellow haired male sent a sidekick but Len evaded it, doing a backflip and dragging Nero up to the air, occasionally sending powerful shock waves. Although they could barely see each other's movement(they had lightning-speed), they could sense the direction of the attack by detecting the swift motions of electrons.
The next moment, they receded a few distances away from each other, regenerating electricity on their palms. Without a doubt, they had decided to end the battle with a final blow. Len spurted forward while creating a magic circle, manipulating arrow-headed chains out of it. The electrified chains twirled between each other, forming a spiral and heading straight at Nero. Spotting a vacant hole in the middle of the electrified chains, the Mikado yellow haired male sparked forward into the spiral while lifting his left hand to prepare for an attack.
'!' when he reached to the centre, Nero felt slight Pure Electric current flowing within his body, affecting his Dark Electric concentration.
'You fell for it.' Len told, releasing Pure Electric from his bright yellow magic circle. The electricity burst forward.
'Tch, so it has come to this.' Realising that he was at a pinch, Nero's eyes flashed with Dark Electric. He summoned electricity and created three-layers magic circles, activating Dark Electric codes to gush forward towards the opponent. The sudden attack overpowered Pure Electric burst, ''devouring it''.
Just when the codes were about to ''devour'' the opponent, a familiar azure blue haired male appeared in front of it and ignited Dark Flames into the codes. There was a moment of struggle between the Dark Flames and the codes. The codes diffused and ''devoured'' the flame, then proceeded attempting to ''devour'' Mikuo.
Instantly, his eyes flashed with Dark Flames while Len's eyes flashed with Pure Electric, each of them released a long range attack which then merged together to form a single shot. The Pure Electric beam neutralised the Dark Electric codes, lowering its energy level while the Dark Flames flared all the way to Nero, ''engulfing'' him. The Mikado yellow haired male nearly withdrew all his power to shield himself, he created a defensive barrier to cancel out the Dark Flames energy and impact, causing immense explosion and smoke.
Immediately, Nero felt his vision blurred and almost lost consciousness.
'Heh? I was this exhausted?' He mumbled to himself, trying to focus his sight but to no avail.
'Tch, looks like our scores are unsettled.' He stated in a unsatisfied tone. Before the smoke cleared, he took the opportunity to retreat. When Len and Mikuo realised that the battle was currently over, they heaved a sigh of relieve.
'Arigatou, Mikuo.' He was grateful for his help, 'that really ended the battle for now.' Len commented. Mikuo blinked then shook his head thoroughly.
'I only aided on the very last moment, I didn't help much...' He felt guilty for not arriving earlier. 'But things are going to be troublesome for you, Len. Nero wanted to settle that score.'
'I know.' Len nodded in response.
'Anyway,' Mikuo's expression changed into a serious one, 'I was late for some reason.' He told, eyes hinted that it was not a small matter. 'It is about Tsubasa's intention in getting us enrolled into Shirokuro Academy.'
'Hn. I also have suspicion about that.' Len then suggested that they discuss about it tomorrow with everyone.
'Uwa!' Mikuo suddenly remembered something. The serious aura immediately vanished.
'?'
'The class is going to have APPLE cream puff in the evening! Let's not miss it!' The azure blue haired male rushed back to Shiana Hotspring.
The yellow haired male sweatdropped.
(Midnight)
Neru sat on the futon and laid her back against a wall, neutralising her injured left arm with Dark Electric. The pain was almost gone and she felt relieved.
'...' A certain Mikado yellow haired male entered the room and sat beside her. 'I'm back.'
'That was long.' She commented. 'Anyway, I got it.' She took out the Pendant of Manipulation and showed him.
He grinned slightly, 'as expected from Neru nee chan.'
The side-ponytailed female realised that there was an air of depression around her brother, even his tone held a hint of dissatisfaction.
'What happened?' Neru inquired, despite hanging an expression of I-don't-care.
Can't hide anything from you, Nero thought, sighing.
'That was so uncool.' He sulked, being straight-forward.
'?' She tilted her head.
'...' He hesitated on speaking. After awhile, he told. 'I escaped halfway during the fight, maybe I should have just-'
'Baka!' She snapped, having an anger mark on her forehead. 'Don't be depress for something like that, your well-being is definitely more important.' Soon, her stern expression changed into a sheepish one because she realised what she had just said. 'I-I mean I don't care whether you are alive or not, so even if you are dead...' She felt awkward for saying that. 'N-no, I mean-'
'I get it. You just care about me, that's all.' Nero grinned, 'you are the same as always, Tsundere.' He hid a smirking expression.
'Shut up! Stop calling me that.' she snapped again. 'I'm going to bed.' An anger mark appeared on her head, but she was glad that Nero was not depressed anymore.
'Oyasumi.' He whispered.
'Hn.'
(Day three of the trip, 7:56 a.m.)
The next morning, both of them changed into the kimonos that were prepared for them, heading towards the hotspring.
At the other side of the wall, Mikuo and his friends were strolling straight while trying to snap out of their sleepiness. Only Teto was full of energy and vigour.
'Hah~ today is a great day! I don't think anything unpleasant is going to happen.' They took a left turn.
BAM!
'Ouch...' The pigtailed female touched her head gently, 'aww, something unpleasant happened.' she whined in a childish tone.
'Did I bang into a wall or something?' Recovering from the fall, Neru stared ahead. Instantly, she and her brother had a posture as though they were prepared to fight. The initial sleepiness that was dwelling within Len, Rin and Kiku immediately disppeared, they were now wide awake and alert.
They had been staying for two nights in Shiana Hotspring and their rooms were next to each other!
'Good morning.' Mikuo greeted, the atmosphere around him was sparkling and light-hearted.
'Bad morning.' Neru responded in an uninterested tone.
'Don't steal my line.' The crimson haired female told.
Neru narrowed her eyes at her and Kiku glared, there seemed to be electricity producing out of their eyes as the atmosphere between the both of them became tense.
'The Yandere and Tsundere are having a war.' Rin and Teto commented in an amused tone.
'I'm not a Yandere!'
'I'm not a Tsundere.'
They snapped at the same time. Their reaction made the twins and even Nero, chuckled.
'Well, the more the merrier! Let's go to the hotspring together!' Teto beamed, punching a fist into the air and decided on that decision. Somehow, the situation was proceeding at her pace and everyone headed to one of the hotsprings.
.
.
.
An hour had passed since they had been into the hotspring and Mikuo regretted entering. ''Conflict'' began once they stepped into the water as blitz of Dark Electric sparked everywhere while Pure Flames almost engulfed the whole area, Rin and Len foresee the situation and had already sneaked off from the start, enjoying a soak somewhere else, Teto was munching onto a french bread while watching(and cheering).
The azure blue haired male sighed. Although the hotspring-conflict-incident was over and Nero and Neru left, the weird situations had not ended because in front of him right now was one of the events that Teto had created with her mischief.
'...Teto...' The yellow haired female had whirls spinning in her eyes as she was petrified. 'W-Why would you do this?' Rin stuttered, trying her best not to look down. The pigtailed female wanted to help Rin to overcome acrophobia.
'Well, I decided to do it the unique way!' She gave herself two thumbs-up.
(Teto's unique way)
She placed oranges and bananas all the way to the top of a building near Shiana hotspring to bait the twins. The only way to get down was to cross the bridge which was attached to a sight-seeing tower.
Rin was still stunned by the height, her soul came out from her mouth while Len sulked silently for being so easily tricked.
'Eh...' She pouted, 'how did they know that I fear height?' She did not remember telling her friends about her having acrophobia.
'That was obvious.' The crimson haired female mumbled in a matter-of-fact tone, wondering off somewhere else to explore as she was not interested. Mikuo and Teto returned back to their room as they were getting dizzy(they soaked too much in the hotspring).
Which means...the twins were alone.
But most importantly...Len thought halfway, looking at Rin.
'Everyone is worried about you...you were so depressed yesterday, that's not like you at all.' He told.
'...' Rin avoided his gaze, her pouted expression changed into a solemn one. 'I know...but it's my fault that the-'
'We do not care about that,' He affirmed, 'you forced yourself to smile today right? You can't hide it from me.' He placed his hand on her head and shuffled her hair. Rin felt her view getting blurred, thus she tried to control her tears.
As expected of you to know me inside-out, she thought. However, she refused to admit it.
'I did not.' She denied, causing Len to smirk slightly. He then offered out one hand towards her.
'I promised you that I will help you overcome your fear(chapter 9), right? Let's take this opportunity.' He hanged that usual smile which caused her to blush slightly.
Rin reached out her right hand reluctantly, before she could hold onto his hand, Len grabbed hers and pulled her towards him.
'Uwa,' she was startled by his sudden action. Once they stepped onto the stone bridge, Rin couldn't help but kept her eyes tightly shut, tugging onto Len's shirt.
'Relax...slowly open your eyes and fix your view at that mountain peak.'
'No way, this is ten kilometers high.'
'It's ten meters.' He sweatdropped at her over exaggeration.
'...Look! An orange is waving at you.' He told her in a tone full of enthusiasm and sarcasm. Despite that, Rin immediately opened her eyes wide.
'Where?! Where?!' She looked across the green landscape, hills, peered down at the woods, basically everywhere in search for her beloved orange.
'You had overcame acrophobia,' Len smirked. There was a few seconds of silence before she started to panic again. Immediately, she followed Len's instruction and fixed her view at the mountain top.
'Yosh, lower your sight gradually. You actually peered down at the woods just now, didn't you?'
Rin bit her lower lip, attempting to lower her view. Due to her fear, her body stiffened and her hands gripped tighter onto Len's shirt. He moved closer to Rin, putting an arm around her to assure her that she was safe. Somehow, her uncertainty began to diminish as though it was absorbed into Len's warm embrace, there was a sudden confidence within her. As she lowered down her view, the picturesque beauty of the green scenery bestow upon her sight. The brilliance of the pastures and forest were enhanced with the azure blue sky.
'...' Rin was awe-struck for a few moments before Len spoke.
'It would be great if we could stay like this.'
Rin nodded. after awhile, she spoke. 'Arigatou, Len.' She felt like thanking him.
'You should thank Teto too, for her innovative mind.'
'Hah~ today is full of pleasant events...hmm, if only we could have some high quality snacks.' The pigtail haired girl told, imagining different kninds of French bread.
'I saw ''you-definitely-will-love-it French bread'' on advertisement recently.' She added, craving for it.
'I saw ''you-definitely-will-love-it orange'' on television recently.' Rin joined.
'I heard ''you-definitely-will-love-it banana'' on radio recently.' Len commented.
'I saw ''you-definitely-will-love-it apple'' somewhere recently.' Mikuo added.
'I saw ''you-definitely-will-kill-someone cookies'' nowhere recently.' Kiku told.
'Aww, but we don't have the money.' Teto pouted.
'No worries,' Kiku had a devilish expression, 'we always have a sponsor anywhere and anytime.'
'?' Everyone had a questioning look.
'Baka-Sensei's profile include his bank account password and credit card number.' She flashed a grin.
Note: She researched on all the students' and teachers' profiles in the clock tower, remember?
The devil within her had awaken again...she's definitely someone not to mess-
WHAM!
'I sensed that you thought bad about me.' She glowered.
Soon, the snacks that they ordered from ''you-definitely'' company had arrived and everyone savoured them.
'Eating oranges after that scary event is definitely deserving.' the yellow haired female commented.
'Let's try ten kilometres high next time.' Teto suggested, racking her brain in mischief.
'No way.'
At night, there was a knock at the door when Sensei was writing a document. Putting down his pen, he got up and slid open the door.
'This is your bill.' A postman delivered the bill and left. Puzzled, Sensei skimmed at the long bill.
'What?!' When had I ever bought such expensive goods from ''you-definitely'' company?!' He looked at the price and almost ''died''.
'300 million yen?!' A soul came out of his mouth and he fainted.
Ayano: I almost ''died'' when I write about that Rin-and-Len moment.
Tonikaku, arigatou to otanoshimini.