Chapter 19 - The Mischievous Three
Hibiki's POV
Earlier this morning, Eve told us about the Night Knights' sudden leave. He led us to the Takishima residence where the landlady of the those guys resides. There we met Tsukiko-san, a friend of Master Bob. We were warmly welcomed into her comfy home. In her living room, she explained exactly what happened last night. Taiyoura and the others woke her up to pay for their rent then quickly left heading to the train station.
I wonder, was I caught last night? I told Jenny about their histories, forgetting that Taiyoura won't be pleased by it. But.. If I were caught, that wouldn't be enough reason to leave without saying anything. Even to Master, they didn't said anything about it. ...
While the others that are gathered in the living room talk about the current situation, I felt something in my chest. Like it just, I don't know, popped up? I touched my chest. Then titled my head, looking at the floor. This must be anxiousness, huh..
"Oi, Hibiki, snap out of it!" Ren snapped his fingers in front of my eyes.
"Huh, what?" I asked, getting my focus on my tan friend.
"We're asking you if you know where on Earth are those guys' clans are located. If possible, we want to gain contact with them and talk for a while."
"Ugh.. well. I have read about it once and unfortunately, no one can go either to the Tsuji clan or the Kudo clan without the permission of the headmasters. So even if we know where it is, we can't meet up with them personally."
"But, where is it exactly?"
"It's on Sole town. An 8-hour travel from here to there."
Everyone went silent. It's probably right to say that they're thinking with their expressions on their faces. Well I should join them.
Then suddenly, Eve exclaimed something, "Ah, that's right!"
"What's right?" I asked him, puzzled.
"In the request board, I think I saw a mission heading to Sole town the other day. We might be able to have a reason to be there."
"But even if we would have a reason to be there, it would just be another work for us to handle. And just like you said, you saw it the other day. It's possible that it was taken and is in the progress already," Ren states his negative view.
"Just saying.." Eve becomes quiet again.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Everyone, including me of course, was surprise to hear it.
"Yes, coming," Tsukiko-san headed for the door.
I heard the door opening and a female voice talking to the landlady.
Then after a few moments, Jenny walked in the living room bringing with her a piece of request sheet. "I heard you guys talking about Sole town and having a reason to get there. Luckily, I haven't answered this one yet," she unroll the paper and showed to us the mission.
Wanted dance instructor for a prom!
As many as possible. Can either be MALE or FEMALE.
Has long patience, polite, and knows how to handle a group of students.
Will be teaching for 2 weeks.
Reward: 250,000 jewels/person
Be at SOLE TOWN around 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm (Anyday)
"Since you guys need it, I guess I could tag along with you, no?"
"No problem with me," I said. To be honest I don't mind a girl tagging along with us but as long as she doesn't get to.. bothersome to our job. But at this situation, everyone will benefit anyway.
"Just like I said, even if we have a reason to be in Sole town, accepting a mission would be bothersome. Especially that-" Ren was cut.
"I heard about this Eri Tsuji person from Hibiki. And you know what? She's the client for this job."
...
...
...
Lenalee's POV
As quietly as we could, we walk our way to the headmistress' office.
There are 3 parts of the school's main building. On the right wing, it's the girls' area. Where only female students are allowed inside. No guy should go there unless there is permission from the headmasters. On the other hand, on the left wing is the area for the guys. Same thing; girls are not allowed to be in the left wing unless they have permission from the headmasters. There are two floors in the building. For the left and right wing, lowercase, consists of training rooms. Like for example; Science Laboratory, Home Economics room, Arts room and Music room. Each wing has equal numbers of rooms in the lowercase. Same goes for the uppercase that consist mostly of classrooms and a single library each wing. Both the wings are only for knowledge and activities normal humans can do everyday. But for the center area, it consists of rooms specialized for wizards of different magic. Usually the rooms are big enough for 10 to 15 students to use. But there are 3 rooms that doesn't have to do with magic enhancement; the faculty and the headmasters' rooms. And these three rooms are only found in the uppercase of the center area.
And right now, we're in the hall way of the center area, carefully heading to the headmistress' office.
I think this should be further explained. We're on the uppercase. The placement of the headmasters' offices are just across each other. The headmistress on the front area and the headmaster on the back area. To help you imagine it, think of a square. In the north, the headmaster's room, in the south, the headmistress' room. And in the east and west part are training rooms.
(A/N: It's really hard to describe things like these x(!)
Taiyoura pushes the big door open. As soon as it was widely opened, the shinning light of the sun blinded the three of us. We blocked the lights' warm shine by placing our hands on our forehead then covered our eyes.
We took a step forward carefully, step-by-step. Finally, securing that we're inside, Taiyoura closed the door gently. The door made noise while it was closing.
"I've been waiting for you," the headmistress, said with a smile.
"It's nice to meet you again, Eri-san, but can you cover the windows please. We can't see anything with our hands blocking our eyes for protection from the sun," I requested politely.
In an instant, the tall windows were covered by violet curtains. Then we removed our hands from our sight.
There she is, wearing a white business attire, hair tied in a bun and with a pair of eyeglasses. Eri Tsuji, founder of the Tsuji clan.
"Long time no see, M3," she greeted us with her warm smile.
Taiyoura and I couldn't stop it. It's been a year since we saw each other personally and.. We're just so happy to see her again! We burst into tears and ran to our headmistress saying, "MOTHER~!"
Okay this one should be explained. A lot of girls, and several boys, call the headmistress "mother" because she was always the one who was there are us in our times of need in guidance. She treats us calmly and kindly, and she doesn't just scold us angrily if what we did was totally wrong. And, the most important part, even if we would lose a friend, headmistress Eri would always be the one to be there for us and become not just our mother but also our friend.
"You too are always so childish," headmistress Eri giggled. "Well good, aren't we now Kaede-kun?"
"Yo, mother~" Kaede responded to her greeting in his own cool way. "As always I'm cool."
"As always, you say? I can't argue with that, now can I? By the way, children, did you prepare something for your friends here?"
"Huh?" I asked, looking at her blue eyes. "What do you mean?"
"You mean you haven't? That's too bad. I was expecting the Mischievous Three of the clans to have ready something for the others. Guess there is nothing, huh."
"Of course we have one!" Taiyoura told Mother Eri with desperate eyes.
"Ah le le~ So, let me hear it."
The three of us smirked. "This is going be fun~" I thought.
Actually, the three of us visited Mother Eri first because we know that she'd support us in our group activity; just like our homecoming prank. She also has her playful side too.
So, we ended up explaining our plan. We planned that by later evening, while the others are going to have their fine-dinning meal at the ballroom, we'll go and attack their dorms, taking only one thing from each students' property. The three of us would stay in the custody of a close friend of ours in town. And, by morning, we'd go back here and make an appearance. We expect SOME friends of ours would be shock and all but we also expect that most of them would be panicking from losing their things. A little after we've arrived, our headmistress would announce to everyone a way on how to gain their things back. They'd have to answer a riddle and if they get correct, they would get their "thing-napped" objects. Each student would have to consult the headmistress one by one to avoid cheating. But we haven't thought of a better way of not making them cheat. Because the riddle would be the same, it'd be easy to spread the answer.
The main school building is U-shaped. And between the wings, behind the center area, is a small building for the ballroom. Here we practice prom dancing and fine dinning.
"Interesting~ I like that," Mother Eri told us. "But, the cheating part is what I'm concerned about. There is a high chance that a student would spread the answer and it wouldn't be as you want it to be."
"We know but, what would be a better idea?" Kaede asked the headmistress for a suggestion.
"Well, how about we change that? Like somewhat of a test."
"Like what for instance?" Taiyoura arched an eyebrow.
"Let's see. How about a test about 'friendship'. For example like this; they would have to give their roommate's most important belonging to swap for their things. But the catch here is that their friend mustn't know that they took their belonging. It would really show who are, you know.."
"That's a nice idea!" I remarked. "But.. if some does that, when will their friend get their things back again?"
"You guys would return it to them secretly. As the mastermind for this activity, I guess it's right for you to do that, no?"
"Hmm.. Fine by us. We'll go with that."
"Great. I'll do some adjustments their schedules so that no one would really see you later. Oh yes, you have to consult Mao about this. The Kudo clan is involve in the game."
"We'll be sure to tell him and ask his positive answer," Kaede assured her. "Don't worry."
"Then we shall take our leave now, mother," Taiyoura slightly bowed before her as a sign of respect.
"Wait, Taiyoura. Stay. We need to discuss something. It's about Toki-kun."
My friend paused in silence. And I know why..
She turned to us and said, "You guys go ahead. I'll catch up with you later, I promise."
"I'd be expecting that," I crossed my arms before turning around and giving them some privacy.
Kaede gently closed the door behind me and whispered, "Toki.. huh?"
Taiyoura's POV
I sat in front of Mother Eri's table, nervously. She said she wanted to talk about Toki and when it comes to that guy, I'd always feel nervous and awkward around him.. He is after all, my crush since 2 years ago.
"You know very well on how people changes after a huge span of time, right?" she asked me carefully.
"Y-Yeah," I answered nervously.
This conversation is giving me a very nervous feeling. I'm getting the feeling that I'm about to hear something not pleasing to my ears.
"And you guys left this place for a year. Meaning to say, you lost a lot of time to making him fall for you."
"I understand.."
"Taiyoura, um, I don't know how to explain this but please don't be sad. I'm not going to blame you that you choose a year freedom from this place, okay? I just want to let you know that Toki had a talk with Mao and confessed.."
"Confess." That one word gave me two feelings that made a big impact on me; nervousness and excitement. What if Toki fell in love with another girl? I-It'd really be..! But also, I had this sudden hope that it would be me but I know to myself that there is just a very small amount that is true.
"... That he is in love with Luna."
A/N: So tired~! It's tiring to describe something that is imaginable and has the same thought as the author. Ahai.. Well anyway, it's worth it.
I've wanted to make something like this! I read a lot of stories that has POVs and I kinda like it so.. yeah. Hope it doesn't bother you.
And! Trivia: Eri Tsuji is inspired from Eri Kisaki from Detective Conan and Toki is from Toki Fujiwara of Code:Breaker~ You can search for them if you want to know what they actually look like.
(Updated: March 10,2013)