Me: Hello everybody and welcome to Chapter 24.
Nagisa *happily*: And it's time to shine again!
Me: Yes. Well...
*I turned around and see Nagisa proudly hold a rose and put one foot on a small table and another foot on the floor.*
Me *a bit of shock*: What are you doing?!
Taoki: That's his style.
*Taoki followed suit. I sighed for a moment before both Taoki and Nagisa laughed.*
Nagisa: Anyway. Where Mom and Hanon?
Voices: We are right here!
*Hanon and Yukito arrived in style, wearing the aqua dresses and jumping around before showing the big words on the poster saying 'The South Atlantic.*
Me *sweatdropping*: What's that about?
Yukito: Not now Mister Author. What you know will appear soon.
Hanon: Everyone hates spoiling surprises right?
*Yukito nodded and both of them squealed.*
Nagisa: Anyway, Zahir890 would like to thank each and every one of you for supporting him by reviewing and liking this and his other stories. He is happy.
Taoki: And he does not own Mermaid Melody. It belongs to its respective owners. Just the OCs he owns.
Me: And now let us begin Chapter 24. Enjoy reading it.
Hanon and Yukito *squealing*: KYAAHH!
*Me, Taoki and Nagisa sweatdropped.*
Chapter 24: Near Shock Moment and Fun at Nagisa's House.
Under the Sea:
The next day, there is no school. So Hanon decide to relax for a while by swimming under the sea. She feels totally relaxed.
"Ah! What a day to swim peacefully." Hanon said to herself and smiled, "No Water Demons. No Kiminu. No trouble at the sea. Just Perfect."
And so she is swimming around and around peacefully until she bumped into someone. She apologized quickly before looking at her in awe. The one who she bumped into is none other than Yukito Shirai, the former mermaid princess of the South Atlantic Ocean!
"Hi." Yukito said happily.
"Yukito!" Hanon said happily as well as she hugged Yukito.
"It's been a while since you saw the baseball duel."
"Yeah. It sure is."
Hanon then touched Yukito's shoulders and asked in excitement:
"Have you heard what happened yesterday?"
"I know." Yukito smiled, "My son told me about it. Setsuki, along with Luna, finished off Kiminu which means..."
"No More Trooooouuuuubbbbllleee!" Hanon and Yukito both sang happily as they hugged each other.
"Were you able to meet him?" Hanon asked.
"I couldn't because I was so busy and so tired yesterday." Yukito said, "I am going to see him right now till I bumped into you."
"Well then. Let's go meet him together."
"Sure."
And so both Hanon and Yukito began swimming together to see Setsuki in the South Atlantic Ocean. Suddenly they bumped into someone again. Hanon and Yukito are rubbing their heads.
"Aren't we bumping a bit too much?" Yukito asked.
"I know. We should be..." Hanon is about to say something.
But when they saw the one whom they bumped into, all they could say is "OMG!".
Who it is? None other than Setsuki, who looked at them in awe and smiled. He then wrote something and showed it to them:
"Well isn't it epic to meet the current and the former mermaid princess of our kingdom?"
"It sure is Setsuki!" Hanon said happily as both she and Yukito hugged Setsuki.
"Well that might save us some swimming energy." Yukito teased in which both she and Hanon laughed a bit.
Hanon and Yukito then looked at Setsuki.
"Setsuki. I heard that you and Luna finished off Kimimu." Yukito smiled in which Setsuki nodded, "For you two to carry out such a daring attack is really amazing. It's because of you two that Kiminu is no more. Thank You."
"Oh Yukito. Have you heard what was Kiminu's plan?" Hanon asked with a gasp.
"Yeah. She wanted to kill all of us and take Kaito back with her in Pearl Piari at night but the question is: How can she kill us?"
"Maybe she doesn't know that you live in different houses."
"But you and others would be in serious danger. That Kiminu was one crazy water demon girl."
"If Setsuki and Luna hadn't heard of it, yesterday might had been the last time that I will ever see you, your son, family and friends."
"Well at least, you don't have to worry now."
They smiled as they patted Setsuki. Suddenly Yukito said:
"Oh Setsuki! Is your sharp teeth okay? My son told me that Kiminu's water demon form's medium length hair got stuck between your two sharp teeth at the corner."
Setsuki nodded and wrote "I'm Fine."
"Luchia was able to pull it off." Hanon said, "Setsuki felt some pain but soon, he was alright."
"I see. I'm glad to hear that." Yukito sighed in relief before asking, "So what should we do?"
"I know! Let's swim around together."
"Great idea. What do you think Setsuki?"
"I would love to join." Setsuki wrote.
So Hanon, Yukito and Setsuki begin to swim around and joyfully till they notice an object.
"What's this?" Hanon asked curiously as she playfully touched it.
"It's a fishing hook." Yukito said.
Silence occurred for a moment in which Hanon playfully touched the hook. Suddenly, Yukito realized it in horror:
"FISHING HOOK?! Hanon, don't..."
Suddenly the fishing hook pulled up, along with Hanon!
"Ahhh!" Hanon screamed as she is pulled up.
"Hanon!" Yukito cried in horror as she and Setsuki are quickly swimming upwards to try and catch Hanon.
"This is bad." Yukito thought and gulped.
Above the Sea:
At a boat, Taoki and his friends are having a happy chat while fishing.
"Wow Taoki. I can't believe that we are seeing each other again after a long time." His friend smiled, "The last time we saw each other was 2 days before we graduated."
"And not only that, your boy is going to that school where we three use to go." Another friend said happily, "What a coincidence!"
"It sure is." Taoki laughed a bit.
"Your wife is doing fine?" His friend asked in which Taoki nodded.
The three of them smiled as they relaxed peacefully while fishing. After many minutes, the man gets up.
"I guess we need to take a break." His friend said.
"Wanna join us Taoki?" Another friend asked.
"I'll join you in a few minutes." Taoki said.
"Okay but don't be late." His friend said.
Taoki nodded as the two men went inside a room and closed the door. There is a silence for a minute before Taoki noticed that his fishing pole is slowly pulling down.
"Could it be..." Taoki said to himself in excitement.
Taoki then stood up and started to circle the reel very quickly. He is almost there.
"Whoo-Hoo!" Taoki said happily.
But then when the hook went up, Taoki is shocked! The one whom Taoki caught is none other than Hanon, in her mermaid form! They stared at each other.
"Hi." Hanon smiled meekly.
"Taoki! Did you catch something?!" The man called in excitement.
Without any hesitation, Taoki immediately lowered the hook down but Hanon jumped anyway. Soon the door opened and his two friends came running with excitement.
"Did you catch anything?!" Another friend asked happily.
"Well I also thought but..." Taoki sighed, "In the end, it's just an empty hook."
"Awww." His two friends said sadly.
"Well better luck next time pal." His friend patted on Taoki's back, "Take a break."
"I'll be joining you in a few minutes." Taoki said.
His two friends nodded as they returned to their room. Taoki put his hands on his face, just too shock to witness what just happened.
"My God. That was freaking close!" Taoki said to himself and thought, "What was she thinking?"
Soon Taoki saw Setsuki arriving near the boat. Setsuki smiled at him.
"Hey Setsuki. What's up?" Taoki asked smiling, "Doing well?"
"Indeed. But what just happened right now, that was really close." Setsuki wrote it on the small signboard and showed it to Setsuki.
"Yeah. Look, I will talk to you later cause my two pals are there. Just tell Yukito and Hanon that they must stay at the beach when this is over. Keep an eye on us and when all is well, I will signal you and you will call them. You can also join us."
"I sure will. See you soon then."
And with that, Setsuki left. Taoki then opened his bag, picked up his mobile phone and started to dial the home number. It rang three times before someone is able to answer the call.
"Hello. Who's there?" The receiver asked.
"It's me. Your Dad."
"Oh Hey Dad. How's your fishing today?"
"That I will tell you about it but can I ask you something?"
"Of course. What is it?"
"Come to the beach son. Not now but when we are returning to the beach in which I will give you a call again."
"But why?"
"You will know once you come."
"Okay Dad but please give me a ring again."
"Sure."
And so Taoki cut the call. He then put the mobile phone in his bag before approaching to the door to join his two friends.
Between Late Morning and Near Afternoon
Beach:
Taoki is standing at the beach, looking at Yukito and Hanon, who are in their human forms and are twitching their fingers. Setsuki is in the water. Soon, Nagisa joined them. There is a silence for a moment before Taoki asked:
"Hanon. Would you kindly tell me that..." Taoki sighed for a moment before exclaiming, "WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE YOU THINKING?!"
"Whoa Dad. Why are you upset?" Nagisa asked in surprise.
Taoki then told his son about what happened under the sea in which Nagisa is in utter shock. He looked at Hanon and said:
"Seriously Hanon?!"
"Well I..." Hanon tried to say something.
"Please. It was my fault." Yukito said pleadingly, "I just told Hanon that it was a fishing hook and by the time I realized it, Hanon got pulled up."
"Near Fatal." Setsuki wrote and showed it to them.
"True. Hanon, you were lucky that my Dad caught you." Nagisa said before asking, "Just think what could have happen if my Dad's other pals would have caught you instead."
"And also think about what situation you would have been into." Taoki said.
"Most importantly, the others as well." Setsuki wrote and showed it to them.
Hanon shrugged, nodded and looked down in shame. She knew about the dreadful consequences had the others caught her instead of Taoki.
"Everything will be negative." Yukito said.
"True and my Dad will be powerless to stop them cause they are his pals." Nagisa said.
"They would have certainly taken pictures and soon the whole world will know about it." Taoki said, "And once the others find out about it, you and others would just return to the sea world at an instant, never to keep in contact with others again."
"Do you want that to happen ;/?" Setsuki wrote and showed it to them in which Hanon immediately quickly shook her head.
"I was just curious about the fishing hook, that's all." Hanon said meekly, "I didn't know that it would be pulled up along with me."
"Have you heard of this?" Taoki asked, "Curiosity killed the cat?"
Hanon nodded.
"Well in that case, curiosity nearly had you revealed your mermaid form although it was 90%." Nagisa said, "5% left out cause it was my Dad who caught you instead and another 5% because his two pals were on the room at that time."
"True. A really lucky break." Setsuki wrote and showed it to them.
"Please don't blame Hanon." Yukito pleaded, "I am also in fault as well. I could have stopped Hanon from touching it had I realized it earlier."
"I guess you are also a blame as well." Taoki sighed.
There is a silence for a moment before Nagisa asked:
"Dad, Setsuki. What's gonna happen if Pearl Piari finds out about it?" Nagisa asked.
"Detention?" Setsuki wrote and showed it to them.
"Not really detention but she's really going to get a lot of scolding from them." Taoki said.
"Mainly from Nikora and Hippo. Oh boy." Hanon gulped, "They will be super angry, go crazy and bonkers."
"I guess I won't be spared as well." Yukito said.
Hanon nodded. There is a silence for a moment.
"I'm really sorry about what happened at the sea." Hanon apologized before smiling, "Taoki. You are actually the best future father-in-law I have met."
The Shirai family got really surprised a bit, especially Taoki.
"What do you mean?" Taoki asked curiously.
"I'm sure that ever since you discovered Yukito's mermaid form, you are really concerned about her and try to make sure that she doesn't get spotted in her mermaid form. Isn't it Yukito?" Hanon asked in which Yukito nodded, "Not only hers but mine and others as well. What is happening right here and right now, I deserved it cause it taught me a good lesson."
"And what could that be?" Nagisa asked.
"Never touch the fishing hooks while under the sea."
The Shirai family nodded and smiled. Setsuki then wrote:
"Yes. It's true. Never touch the fishing hooks while under the sea for it can lead you to the dreadful consequences like what nearly happened in the morning."
"It's true Setsuki. I was so really lucky to escape the dreadful consequences because it was you, Taoki, who caught me instead and your two friends were in their room." Hanon said before apologizing, "Once again, I'm really sorry what had happened and I promise that I will never ever do that mistake again. That is, touching the fishing hooks while under the sea."
"Glad that you realize your mistake." Taoki said, "You should also tell the girls as well."
"But telling them would mean that telling the whole Pearl Piari as well." Yukito said.
"Uh Oh." Taoki, Nagisa and Hanon gulped.
"Great. Now this is really tricky." Setsuki wrote and showed it to them in which they nodded.
Silence occurred for a moment.
"What should we do regarding Pearl Piari, Dad?" Nagisa asked curiously.
Taoki began to think for a moment before saying this:
"Although what Hanon did was nearly fatal if the others had caught her instead, I really feel bad about Hanon receiving a lot of scolding from others in Pearl Piari, mainly from Hippo and Nikora and they are gonna rant at us as well. Do one thing then, let's keep the incident within ourselves although I feel it might not be good. Hanon, if the other girls touch the fishing hook, pull them and tell them the dreadful consequences about it."
Hanon then hugged Taoki's legs and cried:
"Thank you so much Taoki. You are the best!"
"And Yukito. Next time, please react quickly." Taoki said.
"I will next time." Yukito said.
"And probably as the time flies, we can forget about that incident." Nagisa said in which the others nodded.
"This will certainly not happen again." Hanon said.
The Shirai family nodded with a smile. Setsuki then wrote and showed it to them:
"So I guess problem solved?"
Everyone nodded. Taoki then said to Hanon:
"Something is gonna happen in evening."
"Really? What could it be?" Hanon asked curiously.
"You will find out soon when someone will be coming to Pearl Piari." Yukito smiled.
"Who will be coming to Pearl Piari?"
"Come down Hanon. You will know pretty soon." Nagisa said.
"Moe. Anyway, I'm getting excited for the evening."
The Shirai family and Hanon laughed for a moment before looking at Setsuki.
"So Setsuki. Heard you carried out a daring operation with Luna to finish off Kiminu?" Taoki asked.
"Yes. I didn't know that till Princess Hanon and others told me." Setsuki wrote and showed it to them.
"And not only that, her medium hair got stuck between his two sharp teeth." Hanon said happily.
"Although what he did was a bit...you know what." Yukito said in which everyone nodded.
"Yeah. We all know." Nagisa said.
"So how were you and Luna were able to do it?" Taoki asked curiously.
Setsuki then explained using the drawings. After finishing it and showing it to them, all the Shirai family and Hanon could say is:
"WHOA!"
Evening
Pearl Piari:
"Hanon. What ever happened to you?" Luchia asked.
"What do you mean by that?" Hanon asked.
"Well when you came to Pearl Piari, you were walking like a zombie." Rina said, "Now you are getting all excited in the evening."
"What really happen when you were outside?" Seira asked curiously.
"Well..." Hanon is about to say but then Nikora interrupted.
"Are you suffering from mood swings?" Nikora asked.
"No."
"Are you sick?" Maki asked.
"Do you think I look like?"
"Did you have a fight with Nagisa?" Kaito asked.
"In your dreams that I had a fight with Nagisa."
Everyone laughed.
"Did someone...you know." Hippo said in which Hanon gasped.
"If that had happened, they would have taken pictures of it and spread it all over the media!" Hanon exclaimed.
"Whoa!" Everyone said in surprise.
"Come down Hanon. I know you won't do that silly thing." Sara said.
"We are just checking on you cause you were all gloomy when you arrived and now getting excited as evening approaches." Taki said.
"Speaking about that, what is making you so excited?" Yuri asked.
"You will find out soon." Hanon smiled and winked.
"Gee Hanon. You act really weird sometimes." Gaito sighed.
"There's nothing wrong with acting weird." Sarah said before teasing, "Compared to you laughing like a madman maniac when you attacked our kingdom."
"Hey!"
Gaito whined and everyone laughed for a moment when suddenly there is a door knock in which Nikora went and opened the door. When they saw them, they gasped in awe.
"Well hello you three." Nikora smiled.
It's none other than Saito, Azumi and Suzuka. Upon seeing them, they all excitingly approached them. Kaito and Gaito did a brofist to Saito.
"Hi everyone! It's been a while since I have seen you all." Suzuka said happily.
"It sure is." Yuri said happily as she hugged Seira.
"Well except us." Seira said in which everyone giggled.
"You two really seem to be in a bright mood." Sarah said.
"Yep. Cause we would like to tell you something." Azumi smiled.
Everyone then suddenly got excited.
"Really. What could it be?" Luchia asked in excitement.
"We are going to Shirai's house." Saito smiled, "Taoki invited us."
"WOW!" Everybody cheered.
"Awesome! We are going to Nagisa's house again!" Hanon said happily before thinking, "So that was the Shirai family's surprise."
"It sure is." Rina smiled.
"And not only that, I heard that many celebrities are coming to the house as well." Suzuka said happily.
"Seriously?!" Luchia, Hanon and Seira said in excitement.
There is a silence for a moment in which Suzuka laughed.
"Yeah right. Very funny." Kaito said.
"If that had happened, I don't know how to react." Gaito said.
"Same here." Sara said.
"But is anyone coming seriously?" Hippo asked.
"Yeah. They didn't specify who, but they said that they will be coming." Azumi said.
"A surprise guests." Yuri said in which everyone nodded.
"When is the invitation?" Maki asked.
"Now." Saito said.
"Now?!" Everyone, except Hanon, asked in surprise in which Saito nodded.
"Well what are we waiting for then?" Taki said, "Let's prepare ourselves!"
"Time to get the keys." Nikora said.
"I'll help." Sarah said.
"And so do I." Sara followed suit.
And so everyone is getting ready to go to Shirai's house while Saito and his family waited outside. After sometime, they went outside and Nikora locked the doors. They then hoped into Saito's SUV and off they went to Shirai's house.
Many minutes later
Outside Shirai's house:
Saito then parked his SUV outside Shirai's house. Just when Saito opened the door, Luchia, Hanon, Seira and Yuri jumped outside at once and fell down. The others laughed a bit except Nikora.
"Don't jump all at once!" Nikora said sternly, "It's not like we are getting late for the party or something."
"You might have gotten hurt." Taki said.
"Gomea but we can't help it." Hanon said, "It's Nagisa's house."
"Still...Just because it's your boyfriend's house." Rina sighed.
"Yeah. You could have suffered broken bones you know." Kaito said.
"I guess you are right." Luchia said, "We shouldn't have become over-excited."
"Are you all right then?" Sarah asked curiously.
"Yeah. We are okay." Yuri said.
The four girls then got up and the others stepped outside of the SUV. They then looked at the Shirai's house for a moment.
"Remember when we first came here?" Azumi asked smiling in which everyone nodded.
"Yeah and we discovered many things in that house." Gaito said.
"Soon we will come to know who are the special guests on that house."
"Speaking about that, I wonder about that diary thing." Hippo said.
"Well don't bring that up when we are inside." Maki said.
"Especially in front of Nagisa." Sara said.
"YAHOO!" Some voices could be heard from upstairs.
"Did they see us coming?" Suzuka asked in awe.
"Well maybe not." Saito said, "But it could be also possible."
"Let's go inside then." Hanon said happily.
And so they approached the door in which Nikora rang the bell. The door opened in which Taoki did so. He whistled for a moment.
"Woo! You guys arrived." Taoki said in awe.
"Hi!" Everyone greeted cheerfully.
"How things go man?" Saito said as he high fived Taoki.
"Fine. Perfectly fine." Taoki said, "So. Everyone getting so relaxed and excited since there is no school today."
"Something like that you can say." Sarah said in which everybody laughed.
Soon Yukito arrived and said
"Ah! Good to see all of you here." Yukito smiled.
Everyone smiled and greeted her.
"Yukito. Is there a Grand Party going on around your house?" Azumi asked.
"If it is, there would have been disco balls right now." Yukito teased in which everybody laughed.
"Well it doesn't look like there is a Grand Party going on around here." Hanon said.
"Thanks for inviting us cause we have some things to talk about you." Luchia said happily.
"Really? What could that be?" Taoki asked.
"Not now. Later." Rina said.
"Something that even Saito and his family might hear it for the first time." Seira said which surprised them.
"That seems interesting." Saito said.
"I would love to hear that." Suzuka said.
"Us too." Yukito said before looking at Sarah, "So Sarah. Been a while since that last baseball match."
"Yeah. I still can't get my mind out of it." Sarah smiled.
"Speaking about that, it's time to explore more around this house." Hippo said.
"Eh? I thought you did." Taoki said.
"Oh really? What about the baseball trophies in which Hanon noticed it?" Gaito asked before saying, "In fact, let me challenge you."
"Gaito bro. Your first delivery will be smacked into outer space." Kaito teased.
"Hey!"
Gaito whined and everybody laughed.
"It sure brings us some good moments when we first visited here." Yuri said.
"Mine as well." Taki smiled.
"So what were your favorite moments then?" Taoki asked.
"Oh. It is so many on our heads." Sara teased.
"Yeah. The explanation might be endless." Maki said.
"Maybe we can tell most of it when we are having a chat." Nikora smiled before asking, "Speaking about that, who are your special guests?"
"You told us that we will see them soon enough." Azumi said.
"You will see them now." Yukito smiled, "You all have been standing outside for quite a while now. Come on in!"
Everybody cheered as they soon stepped inside the house. Taoki and Yukito stopped Hanon for a while and whispered:
"Hey...Do they...you know."
Hanon realized what they are talking about and immediately shook her head in which Taoki and Yukito sighed in relief. They soon joined the others.
"Oh Wow!" Hanon said in awe.
When they finally entered the room and saw who the specials guests are, they couldn't believe their eyes and ears. It's none other than their friends from South Atlantic: Mizuru, Yuzuka, Sakura and Meru who are relaxing nicely on the aqua sofas and Koyabasa and Meru's mother who are sitting here. Koyabasa and Meru's mother looked at them in awe.
"Well who do we have here?" Meru's mother asked smiling.
"It's us of course." Hanon said happily, "It's so really great to meet you again. This time in Shirai's house."
"It really is." Koyabasa smiled, "Thanks for inviting them Yukito."
"Me and Taoki did want to invite them." Yukito said happily in which Taoki nodded.
"Meru, Mizuru, Yuzuka and Sakura. They are here." Meru's mother said.
"Hi Hanon-sama and friends." Meru said in a relaxing mood.
Suddenly Mizuru, Yuzuka, Sakura and Meru exclaimed:
"HANON-SAMA AND HER FRIENDS?! WHOA!"
And so they quickly tried to get themselves straight and they fell out of the aqua sofas as a result. There is some laughter as Mizuru, Yuzuka, Sakura and Meru stood up and finally looked at them.
"So now. We all finally meet right here in Shirai's house." Meru said.
"It sure is." Hanon said happily.
"What were you all relaxing for?" Luchia asked curiously.
"These sofas are really nice to relax on." Yuzuka said.
"Besides. This is our first time in this house." Sakura said.
"This is me and my mother's first time that we went to anyone's house in the human world." Meru said happily.
"Yep and we are already enjoying it." Meru's mother smiled.
"Wait. I thought you said it was the second or third time you came here?" Seira asked in surprise only to get a small knock on the head from Rina.
"They never even came here." Rina said, "They went to Shirai's previous house before. Right?"
"Yep correct." Mizuru said.
"When did you girls arrive?" Azumi asked.
"1 hour ago." Koyabasa said.
"Whoa!" Luchia and others said in awe.
"There was traffic on the way to pick Luchia and others up at Pearl Piari." Saito said.
"I see." Taoki said.
"You mean 'We see.'" Yukito teased in which everybody laughed for a moment.
"We came here before." Suzuka said happily in which caught Yukito's friends by surprise.
"You did? What did you do?" Meru asked in surprise.
"We discovered so many things." Yuri said happily.
"Did you know that swordfish Taoki caught was always bugging us so he saved us indirectly?" Hippo asked in which they nodded.
"Yes Yes." Sakura said in excitement, "It's displaying right here on the wall."
"We already saw that." Gaito said.
"Have you watched some movies that made you laugh?" Maki asked in which everyone laughed.
"One but 1/2 of it even though." Mizuru said, "It's so funny that we died of laughter."
"Have you seen the rooms of the Shirai's?" Meru asked in excitement.
"Of course we did." Sarah smiled, "They are beautiful."
"Especially Nagisa's room." Hanon said happily.
"Have you seen the photo albums?" Taki asked in which there is a silence for a moment.
"Do you expect to do all of them in one go in only an hour?" Sara asked before saying, "I'm sure that they were roaming around the house cause this is their first time visiting in this house."
"Oh."
"Have you heard of the Legendary Tree and did you see the portrait of it upstairs?" Meru's mother asked in which everybody cheered.
"Of course! Nagisa first told me about it." Hanon said happily.
"And later, you told that to us about it." Seira said.
"Did you actually see it for real?" Koyabasa asked.
There is a pin drop silence in which Hanon, Saito and Azumi raised her hand.
"Okay. So only Hanon-sama, Saito and Azumi. No one else?" Sakura asked in surprise.
"Well...we want to but..." Rina mumbled up a bit.
"Have you seen it yourself?" Luchia asked.
There is another pin drop silence in which everyone laughed a bit.
"You didn't even visit there and yet you are asking us?" Kaito asked suspiciously, "How clever of you."
Everyone laughed for a moment.
"I really want to take you guys to see it." Hanon said, "But the problem is..."
"Where's the time?" Hanon and Yukito asked and shrugged of their shoulders.
"True. With all the school work, this work and that work, it's a bit difficult to visit some places." Taoki sighed.
"But I did with Masahiro to the Awami Shrine." Rina said.
"You did and we also did with the exception that we never went there after we fully known about it." Luchia said.
"The best day would be the school holidays." Sarah smiled.
"Yes. Once that happens, you can have all the time in the world to visit these two places." Maki said.
"So it's settled. We must go there during holidays." Nikora said.
Everyone nodded with a smile as Hanon and others soon sat on the sofas.
"I still haven't forgotten that one point defeat at the beach, Sarah and Luchia!" Sakura whined in which everybody laughed.
"I had a feeling you would say that." Sarah teased.
"I'm pretty sure you know what happened at the beach." Luchia said in which Yukito and Taoki nodded.
"Oh! What about 'The Book of Mermaid Laws'?" Sara asked.
"The book that changed our lives." Taki said in which everyone nodded.
"Don't worry. It's still in the room. Safe and Sound." Yukito smiled.
Everyone sighed in relief upon hearing that.
"So where's your son?" Hanon asked curiously.
"They are upstairs." Taoki said in which caught everyone by surprised.
"They or He?" Sarah asked in surprise.
"They." Yukito smiled and winked before calling out cheerfully, "Nagisa! Hotoshi! Luchia and others are here!"
"What?! They are here!" A voice asked in shock from upstairs, "How can we not hear the bell ringing?!"
"That's because we are called just as we exited my room." Another voice said from upstairs.
"Oh Yeah."
"Mom! Give us a second. We are coming!"
"That another voice." Luchia gasped.
"So could it be that another special guest could be...?" Hanon also gasped.
And in an instant, the two boys came downstairs. One is Nagisa, who is wearing plain aqua shirt and half pants and another one is Hotoshi, who is wearing yellow shirt and full yellow pants. He is carrying the magic wand in his hand.
"Wow! Even Hotoshi is also the special guest." Seira said happily.
"Hey guys." Hotoshi smiled, "When did you arrive?"
"Just now." Rina smiled, "What about you?"
"I came before Aunt's friends."
"Whoa!" Everyone said in awe.
"And when did you come Nagisa-kun?" Luchia asked cheerfully.
"Uh...This is my house you know." Nagisa said.
There is a silence for a moment before everyone roared in laughter except Luchia, who is a bit embarrassed.
"Wow Luchia. You are a bit baka sometimes." Kaito teased.
"Hey!" Luchia whined in which everybody laughed.
"Well anywhere. Welcome back to my house." Nagisa smiled.
"We came here before." Hanon said happily in which Nagisa nodded, "And I stayed here."
Yukito's friends gasped.
"You stayed here?" Yuzuka asked in awe.
"Well she wanted to. So we allowed her." Yukito smiled.
"And I accepted it." Nikora said.
"Then I'm staying here as well!" Meru said proudfully in which everyone giggled.
"Oh Meru." Meru's mother laughed a bit.
"Hey Hotoshi. What's wrong?" Nagisa asked, "You look a bit shock."
Silence occurred for a while before Hotoshi jumped in joy as he ran to Saito.
"OMG! It's you Uncle Saito! The hero!" Hotoshi said happily before asking, "How can I notice you right now? I should have noticed you when we were going downstairs!"
"Well...thanks." Saito couldn't help but smile.
"The hero?" Mizuru asked in surprise.
"How did he become a hero?" Sakura also asked in surprise.
"It's a long story, girls." Taoki said.
"Hey Nagisa. Why aren't you so excited?" Hotoshi asked in surprise.
"That's because I saw him before." Nagisa smiled.
"Oh."
Everyone laughed for a moment.
"It's good to see both of you kids as well." Azumi smiled.
"Were you two the ones who said 'Yahoo!'?" Suzuka asked happily in which both Hotoshi and Nagisa nodded in surprise.
"How did you know that?" Hotoshi asked.
"We heard it from the outside." Yuri said.
"How clever of you all." Nagisa said.
Everyone laughed for a moment.
"So you still have that magic wand?" Gaito asked in which Hotoshi nodded.
"Does it even work?" Meru asked.
"Nope. Tried but failed." Hotoshi sighed, "Let's try it again though."
Hotoshi then spun the magic wand around for a moment before saying:
"Abracadabra! Hocus Pocus! Turn the displayed swordfish into a statue!"
But nothing happened and everyone sweatdropped.
"I guess it doesn't really work." Hippo said.
"Why not you throw it away?" Taki asked which shocked Hotoshi.
"Never! My mom gave me this and I'm not gonna throw it away!" Hotoshi exclaimed.
"Have you tried it then Nagisa?" Sara asked.
"Tried but failed." Nagisa sighed.
"What about the rest of you who came before us?" Sarah asked curiously, "Yukito? Taoki?"
"To make it simple: It was a fluke." Koyabasa said.
"Oh Well Hotoshi. If it's precious to you, then better keep it safe." Sara said.
"Don't worry. I will." Hotoshi said.
Everyone smiled for a moment.
"So you two. What were you doing?" Hanon asked.
"Well we were hanging on my room and by the time we exited, My Mom called us and here we are." Nagisa showed off a bit in which everyone laughed.
"Well...uh...anyone wants to play some games?" Hotoshi asked in which everyone cheered.
"Alright! Let's go then!" Kaito said.
"Me too!" Meru said happily.
"Well. We would like to stay here cause we really want to talk a lot of things to Yukito and Taoki." Nikora said.
"Sure." Taoki said.
"We will join you upstairs soon." Yukito said sweetly.
"Sure thing Mom." Nagisa said happily.
And so Luchia, Hanon, Rina, Kaito, Seira, Nagisa, Hotoshi (who put the magic wand on the table), Mizuru, Yuzuka, Sakura, Meru and Suzuka excitingly went upstairs while the others sat on the aqua sofas.
"Oh No! We forgot to ask this!" Koyabasa said before asking, "Do you know that..."
"We know. Yukito is a fashion designer and she has her own fashion designing room." Maki said.
"Did you put any orders?" Meru's mother asked.
Pin drop silence.
"No?" Taki asked meekly in which everybody laughed.
"So what do you want to talk to us about?" Yukito asked curiously.
"Well the thing is..." Nikora begin the conversation.
Upstairs:
Nagisa and Hotoshi are playing another racing game and the others are watching, Meru realized something and asked:
"OMG! We totally forgotten to ask you one thing! Do you know that Yukito is a fashion designer?"
"We knew it before." Hanon said happily.
"And not only that, she sells it to the shop where we often go." Luchia said happily.
"Wow! What a coincidence!" Sakura said in awe.
"Did you go to her fashion designing room?" Rina asked.
"Yeah. We sure did and we even tried some of it." Mizuru said.
"We did the same as well." Suzuka said happily.
"Oh No!" Hotoshi cried.
Everyone then looked at the screen. What happened is that Hotoshi's car went for a spin and Nagisa's car just zoomed to the finish line. Hotoshi put his head down.
"Yet another close loss." Hotoshi sighed.
"There There." Nagisa said as he comforted him.
"Don't worry Hotoshi. The same thing happened to me." Kaito said, "I was leading until I crashed into some stupid lamp post and Taoki won as a result."
"And now Hotoshi joins the close loss list." Seira said.
"What do you mean?" Nagisa asked.
"At the beach, Kazama lost to Kaito on surfing by 0.25 points, Sakura and Natsumi lost to Sarah and Luchia by 1 point and now Hotoshi lost to Nagisa by a spin." Yuzuka said.
"Gee. When I play against others, I beat them." Hotoshi said.
"Oh Really. How about you play against me then?" Kaito challenged him in which Hotoshi accepted.
"In fact, I would like to try it to." Rina smiled.
"And Me! And Me!" Meru said in excitement.
"Me too!" Luchia said happily.
Everyone is jumping in excitement.
"Alright. Come down everybody." Nagisa said, "Everyone will get a chance and take turns. Kaito said it first so he's gonna get it."
"Aye Mister Host." Hanon teased happily.
Everybody laughed upon hearing what Hanon just said, including Nagisa. Then soon Kaito and Hotoshi began playing the racing game and everyone is watching it in excitement.
Downstairs:
"So do you know anything about the mysterious person that gave Kazama and, possibly, Masahiro the jersey?" Nikora asked curiously.
"Well we were curious as well." Yukito said, "But we thought it's best for us to leave that topic along with them since they claimed that they don't even know the mysterious person's figure."
"But why are you so interested in it?" Taoki asked.
"Well it's just our curiosity." Taki said.
"Wow. Is it a sea mystery?" Koyabasa asked curiously.
"Nah. A human world mystery looks like." Gaito said.
"Wow. That's really interesting." Meru's mother said in awe before asking, "Did you make any progress so far?"
"I don't think so but the main answers we might get are from the Hamasaki family." Sarah said.
"But please. I beg you. Don't look at his private things." Yukito pleaded, "What if Masahiro finds out?"
"Don't worry. We won't do these things if Masahiro is around." Maki said.
"Just be careful what you wish for." Taoki said.
"Of course. If Hamasaki-san finds out, he might..." Yuri gulped, "Blind us."
"Or maybe Kazama-san just simply cutting ties with us." Hippo said.
"There There." Sara said.
"Wow. That's one thing we never heard off from Masahiro and Kazama." Azumi said.
"It's because they are keeping it as a secret." Saito said before teasing, "And we would love to take part of it."
Everyone nodded and laughed a bit before looking at the portrait of Kandou Shirai. Koyabasa realized something and sighed:
"Oh No. We even forgot to ask that have you seen that portrait."
"Don't worry. We did." Nikora said.
Taki stood up, looked at the portrait and bowed. Everyone laughed a bit on Taki acting like that.
"Oh Kandou Shirai, savior of the mermaid race." Taki said.
"Do you even think that he, in the portrait, will hear you?" Gaito asked sweatdropping.
"I believe so."
Everyone laughed for a moment.
"I had never thought that your son could be his descendant. It really left me in awe." Meru's mother said.
"Thank you." Yukito smiled before sadly saying, "But I remember poor Hanon was crying after she heard that."
"Well that's because her relationship with your son was strained at the start." Maki said.
"It had really left all of us in awe." Hippo said, "Hanon-san and Nagisa had even met him."
"Wow!" Koyabasa and Meru's mother said in awe.
"Why can't we meet him?" Yuri asked.
"If you meet him, you can say your last prayers." Sara teased in which everybody giggled a bit.
"True. Remember what Yukito told us what he did with the Sea Goddess' Staff?" Sarah asked.
"Uh...Yeah." Yuri gulped.
"It's been remaining there since we last arrived here." Saito said.
"It will always remain here." Azumi smiled.
"Folks. We have been really chatting a lot. You need to drink something." Taoki said in which everyone nodded.
"You are right Taoki." Yukito said before asking, "What would you guys want?"
"Tea." Everybody said.
Yukito nodded as she went to serve them the tea.
20 minutes later:
Nikora and others thanked Yukito as they drank the tea. They then heard some laughing and whining upstairs.
"Looks like they are enjoying themselves." Yukito smiled.
"It sure is." Nikora said, "Let's go and check them out."
The others nodded as they went upstairs to see what they are doing. There they have found out Luchia jumping up and down happily while Hanon is whining.
"I won!" Luchia said happily.
"That's awesome Luchia!" Kaito said happily as he happily patted in Luchia's back.
"No fair!" Hanon cried.
"There There." Nagisa said as she comforted Hanon.
"I'm really surprised. How were you able to win so easily?" Hotoshi asked in awe.
"During my date with Kazama-san, he played that type of game in the arcade." Luchia said happily.
"Wow! What a joyful mood we are having here." Yukito said happily.
Everyone then looked at Yukito and others and got a bit surprised for a moment.
"When did you come?" Nagisa asked in surprise.
"Just now." Taoki said in which everyone laughed a bit.
"So I see that you are enjoying yourself." Nikora said.
"Yeah. We truly enjoyed it." Rina smiled.
"At least even though some of us struggled to win, we still were able to have our turns." Seira said happily.
"Winning doesn't matter. The thing is that we had fun." Suzuka said happily in which everyone nodded.
"So what are your favorite moments just now?" Taki asked.
"Beating Kaito twice." Hotoshi teased.
"Wow Kaito bro. You maybe good at surfing but you sure do suck at racing." Gaito said.
"I will come prepare next time!" Kaito proclaimed in which everybody laughed.
"Sending Meru for a spin." Yuzuka smiled.
"You tickled me and I got distracted!" Meru whined in which everybody laughed.
"But the race between Sakura and Mizuru was so tensed." Rina said.
"Yeah. Bad luck Mizuru but it was a really close finish." Sakura said.
"Thanks. If only I hadn't break." Mizuru sighed.
"And I won against Hanon!" Luchia said happily.
"I have failed you Nagisa!" Hanon cried.
"It doesn't matter. Why so upset?" Nagisa asked in a bit of surprise.
"Well it looks like all of you had a good time playing it." Saito said.
"So. What did you talk about downstairs?" Seira asked.
"Oh. Some things." Azumi said.
"We just sat down and chatted as if we are in the cafe." Maki said.
"This is not cafe. This is house." Yuri said.
"I said as if!"
Everyone laughed.
"By the way, what did you do Nagisa?" Sarah asked.
"I just played once, beat Hotoshi and let them play their own way." Nagisa said.
"I swear that I will find your weak spot." Hotoshi proclaimed in which everyone chuckled.
"Isn't it weird to see that some people go crazy in upstairs and downstairs so quite?" Koyabasa asked.
"It may be unless you have tons of more guests." Meru's mother said.
"Oh don't worry. In Pearl Piari, when there is a show, there are tons of guests and audiences." Taki said.
"I'm pretty sure that you, Nagisa, were one of them." Hippo said before asking, "Remember the Pearl Piari Live Party?"
"Yep. I remember." Nagisa smiled.
"It was really hectic at that time right?" Sara asked in which everyone nodded.
"Aw man. If only I had known you Pearl Piari folks, I could have come as well." Hotoshi sighed.
Nagisa patting Hotoshi's back. There is a silence for a moment.
"So Taoki. Since we are all silent here, why not you show us your baseball life?" Gaito asked.
"Baseball life?" Taoki asked.
"You know. Photos and Trophies." Sara said.
"Oh that. It's in our room. You need to wait for a few minutes though."
"I'm coming with you." Yukito said.
"And so am I." Nagisa said
"Okay then." Taoki agreed.
And so the Shirai family went to Yukito's and Taoki's room and closed the door. Everyone is really getting excited.
"Have you notice this big picture frame on the right side of the wall?" Hotoshi asked smiling.
Everyone looked at it and smiled.
"Ah Yes. It is the..." Luchia is about to say but Hotoshi interrupted happily.
"It's the best and the most awesome tree!" Hotoshi said happily as he bowed at it.
"Why are you even bowing at the picture frame?" Gaito asked.
"Because this tree is the best of all the trees." Hotoshi said.
"You love it right?" Meru asked.
"Absolutely!"
"Ah yes. That picture frame is really lively and lovely." Koyabasa smiled.
"What about you all? Have you visited there?"
There is a pin drop silence in which Hanon, Azumi and Saito raised their hands. Hotoshi gasped in shock and asked:
"Except Hanon, Uncle Saito and Aunt Azumi, none of you went there?! Jeepers!"
"What about you Hotoshi?" Kaito asked.
"I did."
"Have you ever climbed on it?" Seira asked.
"Do you think I'm like Nagisa, who can climb trees?"
"Nope. Not really." Rina said, "And speaking about that, we haven't seen Nagisa climbing on a tree."
"I did." Hanon said happily before pointing on the picture frame, "Right on this tree!"
"Whoa!" Everyone said in awe.
"So Saito and Azumi. What memories did you have under it?" Sakura asked.
"Well we had a picnic there." Azumi smiled.
"Ah! The good times." Saito smiled.
"Wow!" Mizuru said in awe.
"That's really amazing." Yuzuka said in awe.
"But I wasn't there. I wasn't even born at that time." Suzuka cried.
"I know." Azumi sadly sighed.
"We can go there during school holidays." Sarah said in which everybody cheered.
"How true. During school holidays, we won't sit around in Pearl Piari." Taki said, "We will go exploring!"
"Yeah but what about the beach cafe?" Maki asked.
"That huge number of customers happen in only one day or two." Hippo said.
"That's not gonna deter us from going around." Yuri said.
"Ah! So you have become determined all off a sudden." Sara said.
"So. Any information as to when there will be school holidays?" Gaito asked.
"No idea on that bro." Kaito sighed.
"But don't worry. Once the school holiday starts, we will go around this tree." Hanon said in excitement.
"As well as the Awami Shrine." Rina smiled in which everyone nodded.
"So it's settled then." Meru's mother said.
"Time to put that on the reminder list." Luchia said happily.
"Are you sure that will work?" Nikora asked, "You wrote and still have forgotten to give Kazuki the present."
"I swear that, in your own eyes, I will give it to her!"
Everyone laughed for a moment. Then there is some silence.
"Got any idea what the Shirais are doing?" Hotoshi asked.
Everyone sadly shook their heads. Suddenly, they saw a door opened which is none other than Nagisa Shirai.
"Come on in!" Nagisa called happily.
"We are coming!" Hanon said happily.
Everybody cheered as they went. inside Nagisa's parents room. When they went inside, they are in super awe and their mouths are open.
"Oh My God!"
On the bed, there are some trophies like 'Best Batter', 'MVP Player of the Year' and some other trophies. There are also some photos lying on the bed and a baseball bat being taped. Everyone is excited.
"Can we have a look at it?" Saito asked in awe.
"After you my friends." Taoki smiled.
Everyone then started looking at it in excitement. Hanon then saw the trophy labelling 'Winner.'
"That's the trophy I saw before." Hanon jumped happily.
"I see." Taoki said.
"But why didn't we see that before when we first came here?" Azumi asked.
"Lack of space. So we had to keep those at the top since there was plenty of space there." Yukito said.
"And these are some of the photos that was on the photo album." Nagisa said.
"Arigato!" Suzuka said happily, "We are so excited."
"They sure have gone bonkers right?"
"Yep. There's no denying that." Yukito smiled.
Some of them checked the trophies while the others checked the photos which shows Taoki carrying his baseball bat, His team photos as well as its celebration, A few pictures of himself and etc.
"Just look at those trophies!" Luchia said in awe.
"So shiny and beautiful!" Seira said in awe, "Even after so many years!"
"Well it got a bit dusty so I cleaned it to make it look shiny." Taoki said.
"Just look at the photos!" Rina said in awe.
"Is that really you?" Kaito asked in excitement.
"Of course it's him." Gaito said, "Taoki. I think you look a bit same still right now when seeing this photo."
"Is that so?" Taoki asked in which everybody laughed a bit.
"But what about pitching?" Maki asked.
"Well I did do some pitching but I'm not really known for that."
"Just like my Mom said, if you could have been in MLB, you would have been one of the legendary batters." Hotoshi said.
"What's MLB?" Meru asked curiously.
"Major League Baseball."
"It's true. You sure had plenty of baseball memories right?" Meru's mother asked.
"Yep. Loads of." Taoki said.
"When did all of these happen? Before meeting Yukito or after that?" Koyabasa asked curiously.
"Mostly before and some after."
"But why is your baseball bat taped?" Sakura asked.
"That's because it got broken in half after hitting one of the fast balls."
"How many do you actually have?" Yuzuka asked.
"Plenty but it would take a lot of time to put it all on the bed."
"That's fine." Mizuru said happily, "Yukito. Were you aware of all those?"
"Of course!" Yukito said happily.
"Maybe if the all rounder and his three friends had seen those before, they won't have even dared to challenge you, Taoki." Sarah said in which everyone nodded.
"Can I try swinging the bat once?" Taki asked.
"Please. If you try to, you might break your back." Sara said.
"Yeah. In fact, I even tried to play once but I totally failed." Maki said which surprised everyone.
"Now that's one thing we didn't hear from you." Nikora said.
"Well Hanon-san was able to do so." Hippo said.
"Yeah. Hitting a home run despite playing for the first time." Yuri said.
Everyone nodded.
"You really did?" Suzuka asked in awe, "Awesome Hanon!"
"Thanks Suzuka." Hanon said happily as she and Suzuka slapped high fives.
"We were there." Nagisa said.
"Now that all this has been brought up, you never showed us earlier those trophies when we were teens." Saito said.
"Yeah. What happened?" Azumi asked.
"Well he showed me those." Yukito smiled.
"Now what can you say about that?"
"Well...I..." Taoki tried to say something but failed.
Everyone laughed for a moment before looking at it for sometime.
"I guess we should finish it by now." Kaito said.
"Shirais. Thank you so much for allowing us to see those." Hanon said happily, "Especially to you Taoki."
"You're welcome." Taoki smiled.
"But what are you going to do now?" Rina asked.
"We will keep it back to where it was." Yukito said.
"You guys wait outside while we keep all of these." Nagisa said.
"Got it." Hotoshi said.
And so the others went outside the room and the Shirais soon close the door.
"Now it was really awesome seeing those trophies and photos." Seira said happily.
"It really is." Suzuka said happily.
"Well at least we had seen those. Taoki might have forgotten to show us, except Yukito, when we were teens." Saito said.
"Well better late than never." Azumi smiled.
Everyone nodded before Luchia asked:
"So. What should we do next?"
"I better go to the bathroom. I'll be back in a five." Hotoshi said as he made a rush to the bathroom.
"I know. How about we go to Nagisa's room and check on some new stuffs we have missed?" Hanon asked in excitement.
"Are you sure? He might not like it." Azumi said.
"Unless it's a quick checking." Saito said.
"Something like that." Luchia said.
Everyone laughed a bit as they went to Nagisa's room.
5 minutes later:
The Shirai family opened the door only to find out that no one is there.
"Eh? Where did they go?" Yukito asked being in puzzlement.
"Beats me." Taoki said, "Oh Look! Hotoshi is here!"
Hotoshi soon arrived and he himself is surprised.
"Got any idea where they are?" Nagisa asked.
"I just came from the bathroom." Hotoshi said.
Suddenly they heard some squealing voices:
"Oh Wow!"
"It is so kawaii!"
"Where in the world did he get it?"
"That's coming from my room!" Nagisa gasped, "Could it be that...?"
"Let's check it out." Taoki said.
So the Shirai family and Hotoshi ran to Nagisa's room and opened it. There they found that Hanon is hugging an aqua plush doll with most of them looking at it. Luchia, Hanon, Rina, Seira and Suzuka are on the bed. They looked at the Shirais and Hotoshi.
"Hi! Isn't that plush doll of yours so cute?" Hanon asked in excitement.
"I think you just did one terrible mistake." Yukito said.
"What could it be?"
"Hanon! You could have simply asked me for permission rather than snoop around and finding some new stuffs in my room!" Nagisa said sternly, being pretty upset.
Everyone then gasped a bit.
"But I wasn't the one who found it! It was Luchia." Hanon said in a nervous way.
"Hanon! You didn't have to..." Luchia is about to say something only to cover her mouth.
"See. There's the proof."
"Busted." Kaito teased.
"Anyways, we are really sorry for not asking you for permission and taking it all off a sudden." Rina apologized.
"It just got our curiosity." Suzuka said.
"We are sorry." Seira said sadly and bowed.
"It's fine." Nagisa sighed before saying, "You know what? Maybe I guess that's why Masahiro and Kazama doesn't want to tell us about the 'mysterious figure'."
"Eh?" Everyone asked in a bit of confusion.
"You are right. They might have been willing to tell us." Hotoshi said, "But no. Either you, Luchia, or any one of you might find it out and spread happily all around the world."
"My thoughts exactly." Nikora said in which Luchia and Hanon whined.
"And after today, maybe they will hide it in such a way that you won't find it." Yukito teased.
"Yeah. And we might never find who it is." Taoki said.
"Lesson learned. Never take things without permission." Azumi said.
"Indeed." Saito said.
"Noooo!" Luchia, Hanon and Seira whined for a moment.
Everyone laughed. There is a silence for a moment.
"Well what happened has happened." Nagisa said before asking, "So what do you want to know about this plush doll?"
"When did you get this cute plush doll?" Hanon asked in excitement.
"When I was 9 years old."
Everyone is in awe.
"Wow Nagisa-kun! You must be a shy little boy at that time." Luchia teased happily in which everyone giggled for a moment.
"Is it available here?" Seira asked.
"No. It's available on another city." Nagisa said.
"Before anyone of you ask, I also have that." Hotosh said happily, "In yellow color. Whoo-Hoo!"
"Really? Who gave it to you?" Rina asked.
Nagisa and Hotoshi both said it together, leading them to mumble up for a moment. They then looked at themselves and sighed.
"I guess one shall be alright." Suzuka said.
"Red-ashed hair's daughter." Yukito smiled.
"You know her?" Kaito asked.
"Yeah. Very well." Taoki said, "If we know him, how can we not know her daughter?"
"And besides, they have a grand daughter." Nagisa said.
"You mean the daughter is married?" Sara asked in awe.
"Yep and I even met her."
"And before Hanon came, that grand daughter had a crush on you." Hotoshi teased and sang a bit.
"She wanted to be friends! And besides love with 4 years of age difference? Please!"
Everyone laughed upon hearing what Nagisa said.
"Well I would like to meet her someday." Hanon smiled.
"Could you tell us more about them?" Maki asked, "I'm interested."
"Well the plush doll Hanon is holding right now, she has large collection of those in variety of colors." Nagisa said which left everyone in awe.
"She even gave our son this one as a present." Yukito smiled.
"Whoa!" Everyone is in awe.
"So she is a super fan of those." Saito said in which the Shirais nodded.
"How were you able to get that one in yellow color?" Azumi asked.
"You will find out soon enough." Hotoshi said.
"She even makes them." Taoki said in which everyone gasped.
"She even makes them?" Taki gasped.
"That is amazing!" Hippo said in awe.
"Can I have one?" Yuri asked in excitement.
"Interesting." Gaito said.
"I think you two look a bit devilish to have one of those." Hotoshi teased.
"Hey!" Gaito and Yuri whined in which everyone nodded.
Sarah then looked at the aqua plush doll and said:
"It's really amazing that she is able to make them as she is a super fan of them."
"Like what my son said, they have a whole bunch of it." Taoki said.
"This is awesome! We must order those!" Meru said in excitement.
"First we meet them. Then we can order it." Meru's mother said.
"True. The Shirai family and Hotoshi knows them but we don't." Koyabasa said.
"We must see them and get to know them." Yuzuka said in excitement.
"I'm so pumped up." Sakura said.
"Come down you two. It's not that they are coming tomorrow." Mizuru said.
Sakura and Yuzuka realized it and gave a sigh.
"It's pretty surprising that we hadn't seen that aqua plush doll on our first visit to this house." Nikora said in which everyone nodded.
"You know something? These plush dolls are so popular on another city that..." Yukito said.
"They have a song of it!" Yukito and Nagisa said happily.
Everyone gasped in shock and are mouth opened.
"A song?!" Everyone gasped in shock.
"Yep. Two versions of it." Taoki said.
"Can you sing it if you don't mind?" Luchia asked in excitement.
"Sing?" Hotoshi gulped before turning to Nagisa, "Uh Nagisa? Know the lyrics of it?"
Nagisa tried to remember but he is scratching his head in frustration. Hotoshi is also doing the same. Both boys cried in frustration:
"Gah! Why can't we remember?!"
"Come down you two. Music?" Yukito asked.
Nagisa suddenly jumped up.
"Music! Yes! I remember the music!" Nagisa said happily.
"I remember too." Hotoshi said, "Come on Nagisa. Let's play that music. Hope you don't mind if I can take those two pencils from the table."
Nagisa nodded as he grabbed the Mermaid Flute while Hotoshi grabbed the two pencils and sat on a chair.
"Here's the first version of it." Nagisa said, "You ready?"
Hotoshi nodded before beginning the countup.
"And a 1...And a 2...And a 3!"
And so Nagisa began playing the music with his Mermaid Flute while Hotoshi is playing the table with his two pencils as if he is playing a drum. Everyone is in awe with the music. After playing it for sometime, they then finished and Nagisa said:
"And now for the second one."
Hotoshi nodded as he begin the countdown this time:
"And a 3...And a 2...And a 1!"
So Nagisa and Hotoshi are playing another music in which everyone is in awe like the first one. After playing it for something, they finished it and both of the boys fell down on the floor with a huge sigh that they finished it.
"That was great right." Hotoshi said.
"It sure is." Nagisa said.
There is a silence for a moment before Luchia and others exclaimed in joy.
"Oh Wow! This music is beautiful!" Luchia said happily.
"Thanks for that." Hanon said in awe.
"It would have been better if you two could have remember the lyrics." Rina said.
"Anyway, both of them are really great." Kaito said.
"I had never thought that this and other plush dolls could be so popular." Suzuka said.
"Me neither." Seira said.
"So it's settled then. Lets hope that we can see them." Saito said.
"True." Azumi said.
"Those two musics are really pleasant to hear." Maki said.
"From the flute and..." Taki said before teasing, "From the table."
Everyone chuckled a bit.
"Have you totally forgotten the song lyrics?" Meru asked.
"I should have remembered. Somehow it slipped out of our heads." Nagisa said.
"Yeah. Don't know how." Hotoshi said.
"Maybe both of you hit your heads on the wall or something?" Gaito asked.
"Hey!" Nagisa and Hotoshi whined.
"Anyways, there were really good musics to hear." Hippo smiled.
"Thanks."
"Anyway, it was amazing so..." Koyabasa is about to thank them.
"Arigato Nagisa and Hotoshi!" Sakura, Yuzuka, Meru, Mizuru and Yuri thanked them cheerfully.
"Yeah. Thank you." Meru's mother smiled.
"Your welcome again." Nagisa and Hotoshi said.
Everyone smiled at them as Nagisa put his Mermaid Flute back to where it is while Hotoshi put the two pencils back. Then both of them lied on the bed for a while with Hanon and Seira taking care of them.
"Say. Where's Yukito?" Hanon asked curiously.
"Oh. She just went downstairs to get two glasses of water." Taoki said.
"I'm here Taoki." Yukito said.
Yukito arrived with two glasses of water and approached Nagisa and Hotoshi.
"Here you go you two." Yukito said as she gave Hotoshi and Nagisa two glasses of water.
"Thanks Mom." Both Nagisa and Hotoshi said.
"Mom?! I was suppose to call your Mom 'Aunt'!" Hotoshi gasped.
"Whoops. We said it together then." Nagisa said.
And so everybody laughed a bit. Meru pointed out at the open air balcony and said happily:
"Let's go there."
"There will be lack of space." Hanon said, "You guys go ahead."
"You have seen it right?" Seira said in which Hotoshi nodded.
"You better hurry then. Night is approaching." Taoki said, "You won't be able to see it properly at night."
"I guess I will lead you there." Yukito said, "The rest of you stay here."
Everyone nodded as they chatted happily while Yukito and her friends went to the open air balcony where there is a telescope.
"Okay. One by one, you can get to see it." Yukito smiled.
Everyone cheered. Meru went first. Since this is her first time in Nagisa's house, she doesn't know how to use the telescope properly. Yukito helped her. After seeing it, Meru is totally in awe.
"OMG!"
"What is it?" Meru's mother asked curiously.
"I can see it. I can see the tree!"
"Really? Let me see."
Meru's mother then looked at it and she squealed upon seeing it. Then Sakura, Yuzuka, Mizuru and finally Koyabasa. All of them are able to see the Legendary Tree before the night approaches. They jumped in joy and celebrated for a while.
"We are able to see the tree. We are able to see the Legendary Tree." Meru and Yuzuka sang happily.
"Well at least we were able to see it before the night approaches." Koyabasa smiled.
"It's really awesome and huge tree." Meru's mother said.
"Man. I will never forget that moment." Sakura said happily.
"Thank you so much for allowing us to see it." Mizuru said happily.
"You are very much welcome. All of you. Glad that you all are able to see the Legendary Tree." Yukito smiled, "So. Shall we return to my son's room?"
Her friends nodded with a smile as they went inside Nagisa's room. They are then surprised as they saw only Hanon, Nagisa and Taoki.
"Where are the others?" Yukito asked in a bit of surprise.
"Oh. They went downstairs cause I want to show them something." Taoki said.
"Really?"
"Yeah. The moment he said that, they all went zoom!" Hanon giggled in which everyone laughed a bit.
There is a silence for a moment before Nagisa asked:
"So. Were you able to see it?" Nagisa asked.
"Yep. It was amazing!" Meru said happily.
"It was awesome!" Yuzuka said happily.
"Weren't you able to see it?" Meru's mother asked.
"Well I was able to but before that, we couldn't get to see it during our first visit because night had approached by that time." Hanon said.
"How was it?" Koyabasa asked.
"Just like you all. It was special and amazing."
"Night has approached already but we were lucky enough to see it." Sakura said.
"Yeah. I feel great. That's the moment I will not forget." Mizuru said.
"You will not forget the moment you see the Legendary Tree with your very own eyes." Taoki said.
Yukito's friends cheered. Everyone smiled at them.
"Now then. Let's go downstairs." Yukito said, "Everyone is waiting for us."
"I kept the plush toy where it was." Hanon said.
"Fine with that." Nagisa said.
"Alright then. Let's not wait any longer." Taoki said.
Yukito and others nodded as they happily went downstairs where the others are waiting.
Downstairs:
Luchia and others are chatting happily downstairs when The Shirai Family, Hanon and Yukito's friends arrived.
"Ah! You are finally here!" Luchia said happily.
"Yeah. You seem to be all pretty excited." Hanon said.
"Of course we are." Seira said.
"Well Taoki. What do you want to show us?" Rina asked curiously.
"When I insert this, everyone of you will be in awe." Taoki said.
"Please insert it." Suzuka pleaded.
And so Taoki then put the disc in the DVD player and closed it. After a few seconds, it begin to play. What they will see next will totally leave them in awe.
There it shows a baseball match between one team with the blue baseball cap and white baseball uniform and another team with red baseball cap and red baseball uniform. The one on the batter side is none other than Taoki Shirai! As soon as the pitcher threw the ball, Taoki swings his bat, connected it and it went for a home run. It then went on to show that Taoki's team are enjoying every bit of moment. There is some funny moment such as the opposition fielder accidentally threw the ball on the pitcher's foot. Everyone laughed a bit and cheered. Finally after sometime, it shows Taoki's team celebrating the win.
1 hour and 45 minutes later:
After watching it, Taoki then switched off the T.V at Yukito's request upon seeing everyone becoming silent.
"So. What do you think?" Taoki asked.
There is still some silence before everyone exclaimed:
"IT...IS...AWESOME!"
Taoki shook a bit in surprise.
"It really is awesome!" Luchia said happily, "You showed us one of your baseball matches."
"Was it before meeting Yukito or after?" Rina asked curiously.
"Before." Taoki said.
"No need to ask you Yukito and Nagisa cause I'm sure that you have seen it." Hanon said in which Yukito and Nagisa nodded.
"Hotoshi?" Seira asked.
"Yep. I have seen it as well." Hotoshi said.
"I never thought you can play that good as a batter, Taoki." Kaito said in awe.
"Yeah like seriously. You hit many home runs." Saito said.
"We have seen it ourselves as to how good Taoki is as a batter right?" Sarah asked smiling.
Luchia, Hanon, Rina and Seira nodded with a smile.
"Well I loved that part where the opposition player just made himself out when he tripped while running to the base." Maki laughed a bit.
"There are so many parts that we like." Nikora said, "It will be impossible to tell all of it."
"Can I challenge you do a baseball match?" Gaito asked.
"Like Kaito said, your ball will be send flying to outer space." Azumi teased.
"Hey!" Gaito whined and everyone laughed.
"No wonder that you have the 'Best Batter' trophy." Hippo said in awe.
"Yeah. No one could get him out." Yuri said.
"That is really amazing. Normally, batters can get out many times." Suzuka said.
"It looks like the all rounder never knew whom he was facing with." Taki said, "I can give him credit though for daring to challenge him again."
"He and his friends came from another city." Hanon said.
"I wonder if Taro plays baseball." Sara said in which everybody laughed.
"He never ever ever played baseball in his whole life." Hanon said before jumping happily, "I know! You can challenge him to a baseball match!"
"True. You will be able to forget about that piano match defeat." Yuri said.
"Great idea! I will do that!" Taoki said happily in which everybody laughed.
"I think it's really fun to play when we play ourselves." Meru said happily.
"Yeah. It would be awesome." Yuzuka said happily.
"But we can't do it unless we have the 'Master Batter' on our side." Sakura said.
"Whose the 'Master Batter' may I ask?" Taoki asked curiously.
"You of course." Mizuru said.
"Oh."
Everyone laughed.
"Glad that you enjoyed it." Nagisa smiled.
"Same here." Yukito smiled.
Suddenly, some rumbling sounds can be heard from someone's stomach.
"Um. I guess I am hungry." Koyabasa said.
"We all are." Meru's mother sighed.
"Well I guess this means it's time to have dinner." Yukito said happily.
Everyone nodded as Taoki and Yukito went to the dining and kitchen room to prepare dinner. There is a silence for a moment. Hanon then turned to Yukito's friends, Meru and her mother and asked:
"So. Did you see the photos? Especially Nagisa ones?"
"Hanon!" Nagisa whined in which everybody laughed.
"We did see it." Koyabasa smiled, "Though not all of it."
45 minutes ago
Dining Room:
Everyone is having the dinner, enjoying it. While most of them are able to sit on the chairs, some of them sat on floor with their legs crossed and one of them is Nagisa.
"Sorry that you have to sit on the floor." Yukito said sadly.
"It's alright Mom." Nagisa smiled, "I'm okay with it."
"But still...Oh Well."
Everyone sighed for a moment before Taoki said:
"And now. Luchia and Kaito, we would like to tell you something."
Everyone looked at them curiously.
"Really? What is it?" Luchia asked.
"Luchia, Kaito. Congratulations on getting married and we hope that we can see your baby." Yukito smiled.
"Thank..." Kaito is about to say something.
Suddenly, there is a silence for a moment before Luchia and Kaito fell down from their chairs in anime style, totally shocked. Some of them roared in laughter while the others got a bit shock.
"What was that just now?!" Kaito asked in shock.
"Forget about that? Are you really married?" Saito asked in shock.
"Even though you two are lovers, you are still young to get married." Azumi said.
"No. It's not that. It's a bit different. It happened one and a half month before Hanon first met Yukito." Nikora sighed.
"No Please! Don't tell!" Kaito and Luchia cried and pleaded.
But their pleading has fallen into deaf ears as Nikora told everyone about the pregnant joke. After finishing it, the ones who are hearing it for the first time could say "OHHHHHH!" and everyone roared in laughter with Luchia and Kaito getting flustered with embarrassment.
"Wow! Seriously?" Suzuka asked in awe.
"Oh Luchia and Kaito! It looks like the whole guests and hosts now knows about it." Hanon laughed and teased, "Get ready to face the media."
"Why are you guys getting flustered?" Seira asked teasingly.
"Yeah. It's not that the public knows about it." Rina smiled.
"But it's still embarrassing!" Kaito whined in which everyone laughed.
"Bro. You are exposed." Gaito laughed a bit as he patted on Kaito's back.
"But how did you Shirais know about it?" Luchia asked in a mumbled way.
"Make a guess." Yukito giggled a bit.
"Taki, Maki and others? Did you tell them about it when we were upstairs?" Kaito asked sternly.
"I swear that I didn't say anything about it." Taki proclaimed.
"Yeah. We were having different conversation." Maki said.
"And besides, this is our first time hearing about it." Koyabasa said.
"Right here. Right now." Maki's mother said.
"You heard it for the first time?" Luchia gasped in which they nodded.
"You two were in downstairs." Kaito said before gasping, "So if you two heard it for the first time right now, then that means..."
"Nagisa-kun!"
Everyone looked at Hotoshi and Nagisa who are still having their dinner.
"Yeah?" Nagisa asked.
"Did you tell your Mummy and Daddy about that?" Luchia asked whining.
"About what?"
"That joke?" Kaito asked.
Nagisa thought for a moment before he said:
"I never about that until now. This is our first time hearing it. Right Hotoshi?"
"Yeah. Never heard of it till now." Hotoshi said before smiling, "When did you get married?"
"Don't lie you two. You were there in the cafe when Nikora told about it." Kaito said sternly.
"Well..." Nagisa and Hotoshi are about to say something.
"WHY?!" Luchia and Kaito cried and whined in which everybody laughed.
Sakura, Yuzuka, Mizuru and Meru jumped up.
"Well then. Let's give our biggest cheers to Luchia and Kaito as their baby will be coming soon." Meru said happily.
"Whoo-Hoo!" Yuzuka cheered happily, "Let's sing then."
"But shall we sing?" Mizuru asked.
"I know." Sakura said happily before singing, "Luchia and Kaito are gonna have a baby soon."
"Whoo Hoo Hoo Hoo." Meru, Mizuru and Yuzuka followed suit.
Everyone laughed a bit while Luchia and Kaito whined. Pretty soon, Hanon joined them and started singing.
"Oh Dear. Looks like Hanon is joining the fun." Sarah said.
"Wow. Look who else is joining." Hippo said in awe.
Everyone then saw Yuri joining them and started to sing.
"Even Yuri is joining the fun? Amazing." Sara said in awe.
"It looks like as if this has become the national headlines." Gaito said before teasing, "Congrats bro. You will be in the headlines."
"We are gonna see their cute baby." Yuri sang.
"Whoo Hoo Hoo Hoo." Meru, Mizuru, Yuzuka and Hanon followed suit.
"Not cool bro. Not cool!" Kaito whined.
"Seriously. I'm not pregnant!" Luchia protested, "It was just a joke!"
The laughing, whining and singing continued like this for a few minutes before Taoki said:
"Okay. Enough for now or else it might come to a point where Kaito and Luchia will explode in anger."
Everyone nodded as the singing stopped and they returned to their original positions.
"At least someone understands." Kaito sighed in relief.
"I still expect to see your child soon." Taoki said in which Kaito and Luchia are again in shock.
"Yeah. You could have called us before your marriage took place." Saito said.
"Nikora said before Hanon met Yukito." Azumi said before asking curiously, "Speaking about that, when did you get married?"
"We need to go there on a time travel!" Suzuka said in excitement.
"Call us if the baby is born." Yukito said happily.
"Booo!" Luchia and Kaito whined.
Everybody laughed and then begin to have their dinner again.
"That was some nice singing." Nagisa smiled.
"Thanks." Hanon smiled back.
50 minutes later:
"We had so much fun in here but we better leave now." Nikora said, "It's getting late."
"I wish I could have stayed with you again Shirais again but I didn't bring anything with me." Hanon said sadly.
"It's okay." Nagisa said, "You can come here anytime."
"You can even come for an overnight stay if you want." Yukito smiled.
"Really? Thank you so much!" Hanon cried happily.
"What about you Hotoshi?" Seira asked.
"I'm staying here cause my parents are going to pick me up pretty soon." Hotoshi said.
Everyone nodded.
"Girls. You are all Yukito's friends. You can stay here if you want." Taoki said.
"Thank you for your kind offer." Koyabasa said, "But we feel that we should return to our home."
"But at least now we know where you live." Sakura said, "So we can come here and party all day long."
"Yipee." Yuzuka and Meru jumped happily in which everybody laughed.
"Partying all day long is not possible you know." Meru's mother said.
"Maybe on most days?" Mizuru asked in which everyone laughed a bit.
"They have stuffs to do you know." Sarah said.
"How about you girls can hope into the SUV?" Saito said, "You can get home quickly."
"Really? Thank you so much!" Yukito's friends said happily.
There is a silence for a moment.
"Luchia and Kaito. Come again soon next time with your baby." Yukito teased.
"Yeah. Right!" Luchia and Kaito cried in which everybody laughed.
"Well this is then. Glad that we could enjoy our time in your house." Azumi said.
"We should be the ones grateful for coming to our house." Yukito smiled.
"We discovered some new stuffs." Rina smiled.
"Especially watching that baseball match." Suzuka said happily.
"I really like that dinner moment." Yuri smiled.
"I would rather forget about that." Kaito sighed in which everybody laughed.
"Hopefully, we can to visit again." Gaito said.
"And so do I." Sara said.
"Thank You very much." Hippo bowed.
"Say hi from us to your parents when they arrive." Maki said.
"Will sure do." Hotoshi said.
"I guess off we go then?" Taki asked.
"Definitely." Nikora said.
Everyone nodded, except The Shirais and Hotoshi, as they got into the SUV. Before Saito started the SUV, a few of them waved their hands.
"Bye Bye Shirais!" Hanon waved.
"See you later!" Luchia called.
"Come anytime to Pearl Piari!" Rina called.
"Say hi to your Mummy, Hotoshi!" Seira called.
"I will!" Hotoshi called back.
"Come and visit us someday!" Saito called.
"If you have time I mean!" Azumi called in which everyone laughed a bit.
"Bye Bye!" Suzuka called.
"Yeah! Thanks for coming to our house!" Taoki called.
"Please come again. We will certainly visit you again!" Yukito called happily.
"See you later!" Nagisa called.
"Goodbye! Farewell!" Everyone called and waved happily.
And so Saito started the SUV and off they went. The Shirais and Hotoshi waved for sometime until they are no longer seen. They went back inside the house.
A few minutes later though, the Shidous arrived and chatted with the Shirais for sometime before thanking them and picked up Hotoshi, who grabbed the magic wand from the table. After doing that, they waved and left.
"Man! What a day that was." Taoki said in which Yukito nodded happily.
"I'm tired. I'm really tired." Nagisa yawned.
"We are tired as well." Yukito said and yawned.
Taoki then closed and locked the door with the keys.
Me: The End of Chapter 24. What else to say?
Yukito *happily*: And now 3!
Hanon *happily*: 2!
Yukito and Hanon *happily*: 1!
Voices *screaming happily*: ANNNNDDDD ENTER!
*Meru, Sakura, Mizuru, Yuzuka, Koyabasa and Meru's mother entered happily.*
Taoki: Whao! What a surprise appearance.
Meru *jumping happily*: Hello Everybody! It's time to take a group photo!
Sakura: Name 'The South Atlantics.'
Nagisa *surprised*: We are taking a group photo?
Koyabasa *smiling and teasing*: Of course! We are going to add it on our memory list.
*Everyone laughed a bit.*
Yukito: But have you brought the camera?
Mizuru: Yep! The Ocean Proof Camera right on our hands.
Yuzuka *happily*: Gather Up Everybody! Photo time!
Hanon: Gather Up! Gather Up!
Meru's mother: Will it be okay if you take the picture?
Me *smiling*: Sure.
*And so Hanon, Nagisa, Yukito, Taoki, Meru, Sakura, Mizuru, Yuzuka, Koyabasa and Meru's mother all gathered up, holding the banner 'South Atlantic'.*
Me: Before I take the picture, I just want to say that Chapter 25 will be coming up next time so stay tune.
And also until the next chapter arrives, please review and like this and my other stories. See ya later then. Cheers.
And now everyone! Say Cheese!
Everyone *cheerfully*: Cheese!
*I waited for a few seconds before I clicked the camera as the camera flashed.*