Author's note: I'm in the mood for another slice of life! Hope you like slice of life like I do! Slice of life as in nothing too serious happens and the characters just hang out.
Season 3 Episode 55: Peaceful Days are Bravo!
Miss Nina was used to seeing many types of people come to her Underground Fitness Club: tall ones and short ones, fat ones and thin ones. She's seen shy ones and outgoing ones, some that were there for cardio, others for body building. Among her most favorite visitors however were two who today found themselves sitting beside her at the front counter of the club entrance room. The first was a little girl by the name of 'Ebi' who was focusing very hard on assembling a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle set. The second was an older yet still very young girl by the name of 'Tomoka' who was hard at work solving a Sudoku puzzle.
"Oh man, this one's tough" Tomoka said focusing hard on solving the Sudoku before her. "Big Sister Tomo might need to back up on this one" she said fastening her pencil up on her ear. "How's it coming along Little Sister Ebi?" Ebi does not respond, a look of determination on her face as she goes back and forth between the loose puzzle pieces and the reference image on the cover of the puzzle packaging.
"Don't talk to her right now Tomoka" Nina advises. "I think she's very close to a breakthrough."
Just then, lifting a puzzle piece, Ebi secures it in the appropriate place and gets that much closer to finishing the image of the Mosi-oa-Tunya waterfall.
"Alright Ebi! Good job!" Nina praised.
"Nya nyo" Ebi responds.
"Little Sister Ebi says it was nothing" Tomoka interpreted.
"You can tell?" Nina asked surprised.
"Yup! As a big sister, Big Sister Tomo understands" Tomoka said proudly.
"Oh!" Nina let out impressed. "And was it you who got her into jigsaw puzzles too?"
"Yeah! Ebi loves puzzles just like her Big Sister Tomo and Tomo's been teaching her about jigsaw puzzles and even slide puzzles!"
"Slide puzzles? Can she actually do those?"
"Sure! If they're small enough that is" Tomoka clarified. Nina couldn't help but beam at the two.
"Well I think it's wonderful that you're teaching her these things. It's very good to stimulate her young mind" Nina opinionated while she caressed Ebi's hair. "I'm proud of you Tomoka!"
"I-it was nothing really" Tomoka said somewhat flattered. "I-it's a big sister's responsibility after all! Heeheeheehee!" Just then the 'Poyon' theme song plays out of Tomoka's person somewhere. "Oh! That might be Koyo. Excuse Tomo for a sec" Tomoka said as she retrieved her phone. "Wh-what? It's a Poyon ringtone. Nothing wrong with that. It reminds Tomo of her childhood!" Tomoka defended before answering her phone.
"It reminds you of your childhood?" Nina wondered. "Tomoka, you 'are' a child" she was tempted to point out but held back knowing Big Sister Tomoka would probably not appreciate that. Instead, she could only chuckle quietly to herself.
Meanwhile, in the training room, Yukinari was hard at work doing ab crunches hanging upside-down from a horizontal bar. Shirtless, his hair and body were soaked with sweat while he fought gravity itself each and every time he bent skyward.
"72" Yukinari said feeling intense burning in his stomach.
"Yukinari, you've done enough already. You can come down now" Kirie, in a loose white shirt and jogging shorts, standing by Yukinari's side urged worriedly.
"J-just three more" Yukinari said before crunching his 73rd.
"You said you'd only do sixty" Kirie objected. "You're going to hurt yourself at this rate."
"Just... a bit... more..." Yukinari said on his 74th crunch. Finishing it, he feels as though he could go no longer. "It burns! Kirie, it burns! I don't think I can do any more!"
"You can't be serious" Kirie said in disbelief.
"It hurts too much" Yukinari complained.
"Can't believe I'm saying this" Kirie said crossing her arms. "Just get this last one already. You've pushed yourself this far, one more can't make that much of a difference. Get it done and out of your system."
"Seventy... five..!" And with that, Yukinari allows Kirie to help him down.
"You push yourself too hard" Kirie criticized kneeling by Yukinari's side.
"I, I'm fine Kirie" Yukinari said working hard to regain his breath. "I just need... a little rest."
"I remember a Yukinari who was flabbier and could barely do laps in gym class" Kirie recalled.
"..You prefer that Yukinari?" Yukinari asked.
"No, I like this one a little better" Kirie said feeling Yukinari's bicep. "Here" she then said holding out a clean towel.
Accepting it, Yukinari drapes the towel over his head right before, to Kirie's surprise, resting his face atop Kirie's lap. "H-hey! At least dry up!" Kirie protested. "Now my thighs are all sweaty."
"I'm sorry Kirie. I'm just so spent" Yukinari said. Grabbing the towel, Kirie begins to wipe down Yukinari's forehead, face, body, and arms. "Ow! Kirie, be careful there. It's sore right now" Yukinari said referring to his abdomen.
"Sorry" Kirie said wiping down Yukinari's arms. "You know you're going to wake up sore tomorrow morning, right?"
"All I need is.. a nice, cold shower... That always helps" Yukinari said.
"Those are nice after a heavy workout" Kirie agreed. With her index, she begins to move aside the wet strands of hair covering Yukinari's eyes.
"Kirie, can I shower at your house again? Your shower's nicer."
"You can't" Kirie said. "Dad's back from his business trip."
"Really?" Yukinari asked disappointed. "Damn."
"Don't worry, not for too long. We'll still get to spend 'quality time' together" Kirie assured. "We'll just have to get sneaky about it."
"Sure" Yukinari agreed.
"We should get up now. We're not the only ones who'd like to use the equipment" Kirie reminded. "We're in the way here."
"But I'm still in pain" Yukinari complained as he turned in his spot. "Just a little longer Kirie" he said stroking Kirie's thighs. Kirie sighs. "...Your legs are so soft Kirie" Yukinari complimented burying his face into the brunette's thighs.
"I'm glad you think that Yukinari" Kirie replied with slight red on her cheeks before reaching for a water bottle. "Still need you to get up. Here, you should keep your liquids u- Yu-Yukinari!" Kirie gasps reacting to Yukinari reaching around with both hands and groping her butt. "A-alright wise guy! Now I know you're not in 'that' much pain!" Kirie chastised getting on her feet and pulling Yukinari up with her.
"Kirie~" Yukinari moaned.
"Don't give me that. Besides, we were supposed to go to the creek today" Kirie reminded.
"We were?" Yukinari thought for a moment. "...Oh, that's right. Sorry, just help me walk for a little bit."
"Sure. Let's go" Kirie said helping Yukinari walk off and toward the entrance room.
"Hey there you two" Nina greeted upon their entrance.
"Hey Big Sister Kirie!" Tomoka greeted similarly.
"Hello Nina, Tomoka" Kirie greeted back.
"Done for the day?" Nina asked.
"Yeah, pretty much" Kirie answered.
"He overdo it today?" Nina asked looking over a tired Yukinari.
"No" Yukinari was quick to claim. "Just tried to beat my personal best."
"You did but continued beyond it" Kirie criticized. "You can hurt yourself that way Yukinari. Here" Kirie said handing over the top of Yukinari's club outfit.
"Yukinari, you and Kirie go to Mizuno High right?" Nina asked.
"Yeah" Yukinari confirms putting the top of his uniform back on.
"So that's why you two aren't at school" Nina said holding up a copy of that morning's newspaper. "Your school's been closed. Structural concerns right?"
"Yep" Kirie confirms. "We're without a school now 'til they can iron out all the wrinkles left by the shoddy construction."
"Such a shame. And right after an earthquake hit it too" Nina recalled. "At least no one was hurt. That's the important part."
"An earthquake?" Kirie asked. "Oh no, that wasn't an earthquake. That was actually from a fight that broke out."
"A fight!? A fight did that!?" Nina gasped.
"Yeah, it's a bit of a long story" Yukinari then said.
"Oh, well you guys gotta fill me in later. That sounds like a good story" Nina said.
"Sure" Yukinari answered.
"Tomoka, Ebi, ready to go?" Kirie asked.
"Just putting things away" Tomoka said helping Ebi store her puzzle being very careful with pieces already assembled.
"Where you guys headed?" Nina asked.
"First we're going to go check up on Koyomi who took Hebi to the vet" Kirie revealed.
"And then we're going to the creek!" Tomoka was quick to add. "Where there's a bunch of clear water, a small waterfall you can stand under, and we'll get to see Little Sister Ebi swim too!"
"She swims!?" Nina asked surprised.
"Like a pro!" Tomoka squeaked with pride.
"It surprised all of us actually" Kirie added. "The instant she got in a body of water, she was speeding all over the place. It was incredible!"
"Now that's something I 'have' to see" Nina said helping Ebi down from her seat.
"You could come with us" Tomoka said excitedly. "It'll be so much fun!"
Nina stared deep in thought. "Usually, I'd say no but now I just NEED to see this little one swim!" she said holding Ebi close, her hands on Ebi's shoulders. "Okay, I'm going if that's okay with you guys."
"Of course!" Yukinari agrees with Kirie nodding.
"Yay! Can't wait!" Tomoka celebrated.
"Alright. I'll drive" Nina offered as the party made its way out.
-transition-
The creek streams flowing a 30 minute drive outside Mizuno flowed crystal clear, waterfalls lending gentle waves to otherwise peaceful and steady waters. These soothing waters flowed between moderately-populated forest providing decent shade without denying too much sunshine. The creek Yukinari, Kirie, Tomoka, Ebi, Koyomi, and Nina had arrived at was plenty wide and seemed shallow enough for safe recreation.
"Can't believe this spot's not taken!" Kirie said.
"Lucky us!" Yukinari celebrates. Tomoka meanwhile looked ready to just hop in.
"I'm going in!" Tomoka announces shedding her clothes to reveal a swimsuit underneath.
"Tomoka" Kirie said holding up a bottle of sunblock.
"Tomo knows" Tomoka surrenders. "Hit Tomo up!" Tomoka raises her arms and Kirie begins to apply sunblock on exposed flesh. Ebi meanwhile approached the creek.
"You wait Ebi" Kirie said. "You're getting sunblock too."
"I think Ebi is just feeling the water" Tomoka said.
"...Okay, done. Just let it dry before hopping into the water" Kirie instructs.
"Thanks Kirie" Tomoka says.
"Sure" Kirie responds before approaching Ebi. "Ebi, your turn... How's the water?" the brunette asks before dipping her fingers into the water. "Ooh, it's not too cold. Excellent!"
"Nya" Ebi said in agreement.
"Okay, now for sunblock" Kirie says getting started on covering Ebi up. Nearby, Nina, Yukinari, and Koyomi were finishing setting up portable tables and chairs.
"These were easy enough to set up" Nina said. "Now for the fun part!" She heads back to her SUV and returns wheeling along a large and wide grill equipped with a stocked spice rack and spacious side tables. "You guys got it?"
"Yes Miss Nina" Yukinari said carrying, with Koyomi's help, large coolers retrieved from the SUV. "Not too heavy I hope."
"N-no" Koyomi said. "I wanted to challenge myself."
"Oh, good for you" Yukinari said. The coolers were set atop one of the tables.
"You guys thirsty?" Nina said opening a cooler and pulling out ice-cold water bottles.
"Yes please" Koyomi said accepting a bottle. "Thank you very much!"
"Thanks Miss Nina" Yukinari thanked accepting a bottle similarly.
"Thirsty Kirie?" Nina directed at the brunette not too far away.
"Sure!" Kirie answers and Nina tosses her a bottle.
"Tomo's thirsty too" Tomoka spoke up.
"Nyah" Ebi let out with hands up and ready to catch.
"Two more coming up!" Nina said tossing two more. Tomoka catches hers and Ebi manages to haul in a gentler toss.
Almost as if synchronized, all six open up their bottles and drink heartily exhaling in satisfaction right after.
"Pwah! Ice cold! Quenches thirst like no other" Nina praises dragging a wrist across her wet lips.
"Oh yeah! Tomo was definitely thirsty!" Tomoka exclaims exhaling after a good drink.
"Alright! I'm on cooking detail!" Nina said.
"Cool" Kirie said, "Tomoka, Ebi, ready to go in?"
"Definitely!" Tomoka confirms. Ebi nods agreeing.
"I'll be on lifeguard duty to look after the girls" a now-shirtless Yukinari said ready with swim trunks on.
"Let me hit ya up" Kirie said readying another application of sunblock. While Kirie busied herself with covering Yukinari up, Koyomi approached Nina to help with cooking.
"Let's heat this baby up!" Nina said igniting the grill. "Koyomi, not gonna swim?"
"I may but I want to help with the food first" Koyomi said looking over the food in one of the coolers.
"If you insist" Nina said. "Thanks for the help. I appreciate it" Nina thanked while the two began to pull out various meats and grillable vegetables from the coolers.
"It's not really much trouble. Good chance to listen to my book while I help" Koyomi said indicating an earbud in her ear.
"Oh? You read?" Nina asked intrigued while readying turkey patties for grilling.
"Yes, I do!" Koyomi answers. "If not, I sometimes try to listen to one."
"Oh! Hope I'm not distracting you from your reading then."
"Not at all, this is a re-read. I like it as background noise" Koyomi clarified while preparing ears of corn for grilling and cut up burger toppings like tomatoes, pickles, and onions.
"What are you listening to now?" Nina questioned.
"A book on the philosophical understanding of science" Koyomi answers hoping not to sound too geeky.
"Ooh! Sounds brainy" Nina said arranging several metal skewers for shish kebab. "Ever read 'The Illustrious Path'?"
"I'm currently reading that!" Koyomi said excitedly. "It's very good!"
"You're in for a great ending too!" Nina reveals.
"Oh now I can't wait to get back to reading it!.. But now is the time for cooking" Koyomi finishes.
"Miss Nina, Ebi's swimming now" Yukinari calls out.
"This I have to see. Excuse me" Nina says stepping away from the grill to catch sight of Ebi swimming about peacefully. "..I have to take pictures now" she says pulling out a smart phone. "I need her to smile for the picture! But I don't want to bother her, she looks so relaxed! What should I do!?"
"I'm sure it's not asking much for her to just smile for a picture" Yukinari said amused by Nina's fidgeting.
"Tomo will help!" Tomoka said jumping off a nearby ledge. Landing in the water with a splash, Tomoka draws Ebi's attention.
"Nyah nya!" Ebi says wanting to hop off the ledge as well.
"Come on Little Sister Ebi! Let's do jumps off of there" Tomoka says pointing at the ledge. Ebi nods in agreement.
"I gotta go in there with 'em" Nina announces. Shedding her clothes as well, she reveals a purple two-piece swimsuit. "Sunblock."
"Here you go" Kirie says tossing the tube of sunblock. "S-shall I help Koyomi with cooking?"
"That would be helpful, thanks" Nina said. "Texting ya cooking instructions by the way. Some of those meats are a bit complicated" she went on tapping at her phone.
"Oh! Got it!" she said tapping at her own phone. "Koyomi, ready?"
"Ready!" Koyomi answered eager to test her cooking ability.
"Not hopping in Kirie?" Yukinari asked.
"Gonna help with food first" Kirie answers. "Ya just wanna see me in bikini, don't ya?"
"...Yeah" Yukinari confesses. Taking her clothes off, Kirie reveals a dark blue bikini underneath.
"You like it?" Kirie asked.
"S-seems a little daring" Yukinari comments feeling a nosebleed coming on.
"It doesn't show too much, I hope" Kirie says spinning once.
"No, it's perfect! I really like it!" Yukinari assures.
"Glad to hear it" Kirie says, "but since I'm cooking" she goes on while fetching an apron and tying it on. "Ready to cook or what?.. Eyes up here."
"S-sorry" Yukinari apologizes. Kirie grins playfully.
"Almost forgot: you're into aprons aren't ya?"
"Excuse me Kirie" Yukinari says trying to hide a bloody nose.
Moments later, kebabs sizzled away, grill marks seared themselves on the patties, carrots and broccoli were getting steamed, and juicy ears of corn were hot and ready for nibbling.
"Oh man! This is coming along great!" Kirie said surprised by progress so far.
"Smells delicious!" Koyomi says. "Fish fillets almost ready for grilling!"
"Excellent!" Kirie says giving a thumbs up.
Meanwhile, Nina lifts Ebi up onto her own shoulders at a deeper part of the creek stream before Ebi hops off and takes a dive.
"Pwah!" Ebi lets out surfacing moments later, a big smile on her face.
"You adorable little thing you!" Nina says kissing Ebi's forehead.
"Tomo next! Tomo next!" Tomoka said beside Nina.
"Alright. Up you go" Nina says lifting Tomoka up similarly.
"Cannonball!" Tomoka yelled before hitting the water.
"I'm next Miss Nina" Yukinari joked standing beside the gym owner.
"Good one" Nina said patting Yukinari's shoulder. "Maybe if you were cuter like these cute little girls here."
"You calling me ugly?" Yukinari challenged as he climbed a nearby ledge.
"What if I am?" Nina challenged back.
"My girlfriend doesn't think I am" Yukinari said readying for a dive.
"Girls, keep clear" Nina said ensuring Tomoka or Ebi did not get in Yukinari's way. Yukinari cannonballs into the water before surfacing shortly after.
"Big splash wasn't it?" Yukinari asked, his hair soaked.
"Terrible" Nina dismissed. "Watch and learn. Girls, stay back" Nina says approaching the ledge.
"Stay back girls" Yukinari reinforces ensuring Tomoka and Ebi keep clear. Nina dives, arms stretched out before her. She swims under the surface for a moment before surfacing.
"Now 'that' was beautiful form" Nina boasts.
"Where's the fun if there's no big splash?" Yukinari challenges.
"There's greater challenge in diving while disturbing the water as little as possible" Nina counters. "Isn't that right you adorable little thing you?" she continues picking Ebi up and hugging her.
"Nyah" Ebi let out simply.
"See? Even Ebi agrees" Nina concludes.
"Oh yeah? Well Tomoka-" Yukinari started to look around for Tomoka only to spot her on the ledge.
"My choice? Cannonball!" Tomoka bellows before crashing into the water again.
"So it's a tie, looks like" Nina said. Simultaneously, her and Yukinari's gaze shift towards Koyomi and Kirie at the grill.
"Tiebreakers" Nina and Yukinari say at the same time. Pulling Koyomi in first, Nina and Yukinari display their dives in turn.
"I think Nina's dive was more graceful" Koyomi opined. "I prefer hers."
"One point for me" Nina said satisfied. Kirie was then called to watch Nina and Yukinari dive again.
"The cannonball" Kirie said. "I like a good, loud splash."
"We're tied again" Yukinari observes.
"She's your girlfriend, of course she likes yours" Nina criticized. "And it ends in a tie. How boring!" Nina gets out of the water and after drying off with a towel, returns to the grill. "How's the cooking coming along?"
"I'd like to say we've been taking care of business" Kirie said.
"Let's see... Absolutely delicious!" Nina said after tasting a kebab. "Very good work girls but I'd like to take back my grill if you don't mind."
"It was an honor to commandeer your grill" Kirie said surrendering the apron.
"Are you sure you won't need any more help?" Koyomi asked.
"No, you girls have done an excellent job. Should be easy from here on out" Nina said tying the apron on.
Kirie and Koyomi head to the water and a friendly game of beach volleyball breaks out between Koyomi, Ebi, and Tomoka.
"Heads up!" Koyomi says hitting the beach ball Tomoka's way.
"This one's yours Ebi" Tomoka says hitting the ball towards the young girl.
"Nya!" Ebi emits hitting the ball with her head. Meanwhile, Kirie and Yukinari stand under the waterfall and feel the stream land on their bodies.
"This stream feels like a massage" Kirie said feeling the waterfall fall on her head and shoulders.
"Yeah, this feels nice. Especially after the work out earlier" Yukinari agrees before Kirie starts to press up against him. The two share a kiss. "Wanna cuddle?"
"I wanna do more than cuddle but with kids here, I gotta settle for cuddling for now" Kirie reveals before Yukinari wraps his arms around her from behind. The two begin a rest atop a very smooth rock underneath a moderate waterfall. "These are the days you live for... I'm gonna sleep atop you for a bit."
"Only if you don't mind me napping under you for that time."
"In that case, hold me nice and tight" Kirie instructs. "I wanna hug your arms."
"Really?"
"Really. Makes it easier to sleep" Kirie says.
"Is this like hugging a pillow?" Yukinari questions.
"Exactly, you do it too?"
"Sometimes" Yukinari answers. "I got big, warm pillows atop me right now actually" he says with adventurous hands.
"Yu-Yukinari! Pervert!" Kirie condemns with a giggle. "You gonna fondle me, make sure Ebi and Tomoka aren't looking."
"They're distracted by their beach ball, I'm sure."
"I sure hope so" Kirie says.
"...Meanwhile, your beach balls are distracting me" Yukinari jokes.
"Hahahaha! Oh god, now you sound like Fukuyama!"
"Oh no! I'm gonna shut up now" Yukinari said with alarm.
"It's more funny than annoying when you say it so don't feel too bad" Kirie assures. "...God, I hope school stays closed for a little longer" Kirie sighs.
"Definitely" Yukinari agrees.
After a light nap, Kirie awakens to find Ebi looking down at her curiously.
"Hello Ebi" Kirie greets.
"Nya nya" Ebi emits pointing towards the grill before diving back into the water. With perfect timing, Yukinari's stomach growls.
"Yukinari, ya hungry?" Kirie asks an awakening Yukinari.
"..You read my mind" Yukinari answers.
"More like I heard your gut" Kirie laughed. "Let's go eat."
"Race ya" Yukinari challenges as both ready a dive.
"You're on!" Kirie accepts and the two dive to swim in Nina's direction.
"I win!" Yukinari declares reaching Nina first.
"I went easy on ya!" Kirie excused.
"And we're here for grub!" Yukinari announces at Nina's grill. "Burgers look like they'll hit the spot!"
"Grab a plate and some buns. I'll hit ya with a patty" Nina said indicating the table where plates, burger buns, and burger toppings sat. "Girls, foods nearly ready. Get here now to eat it at its freshest" Nina directs at Koyomi, Ebi, and Tomoka.
"Food!" a soaked Tomoka exclaims getting out of the water ahead of Koyomi and Ebi.
"Nyah!" Ebi lets out tailing Tomoka. Koyomi meanwhile wrung her long hair and toweled off before approaching the grill.
The party all share the same table after Nina insists that Ebi eat from her own plate.
"Itadakimasu!" the table sings; plates of turkey burgers, kebabs, grilled corn, and steamed veggies populated the table.
"Mmm, great kebabs!" Yukinari praises biting off meat and bellpepper off a skewer.
"Good to hear" Nina replies.
"Whole grain buns?" Kirie asked seated next to Yukinari and while looking at the burger bun bag.
"Of course!" Nina said proudly. "Fiber is good for you." Sitting on Nina's lap was Ebi eating a portion of a burger.
"Miss Nina, you're talking my fiber language!" Kirie praises before biting into her burger.
"This is all very lovely. Thank you Miss Nina" Koyomi made sure to say before nibbling at her grilled corn.
"Yeah, thanks a lot!" a Tomoka seated next to Koyomi spoke up ready to bite into her burger.
"Thank you very much Miss Nina!" Yukinari says. "Delicious burgers by the way!"
"Thank you!" Kirie contributes before slipping broccoli into her mouth.
"Don't mention it. You live your best life when you please others" Nina responds.
"Now then, as we eat, Tomo has an idea" Tomoka suddenly spoke up revealing a deck of what looked like playing cards in her hand.
"What are those?" Kirie asks.
"Trivia cards" Tomoka reveals. "Big Sister Tomo figures it'd be fun to go through trivia while eating. You guys up for it?"
"I'm game" Kirie accepts.
"Let's do it, sounds like a cute challenge!" Koyomi agreed. The rest of the table agreed similarly.
"Good! First one!" Tomoka said drawing a card. "..How much does an average elephant weigh?"
"Good question" Kirie says. "5500 kilos."
"4000 kilos" Yukinari guesses.
"5000 kilos" was Nina's guess.
"4800" Koyomi said.
"5400 kilos, average! Big Sister Kirie got closest!" Tomoka reveals.
"Cool! I win!" Kirie remarks.
"Next one! I'll get the next one!" Yukinari said eagerly.
"Alright!" Tomoka says drawing the next card. "How tall do giraffes grow?"
"Trying to think back to when mom and dad took me to the zoo" Yukinari says.
"How long ago was that?" Kirie asks.
"Too long ago, gonna have to guess: 550 centimeters?"
"500 is my guess" Kirie answers.
"Going big: 700 centimeters" Nina answers.
"650" Koyomi answers.
"Yukinari, Koyo, you guys were closest. 610 centimeters. Koyo wins!" Tomoka announces.
"Oh yay!" Koyomi celebrated.
"Congrats Koyomi!" Yukinari says.
"Well done Koyo! Next one!" Tomoka says drawing another card. "How fast are fast balls in baseball?"
"Oh! Pfft! Easy one!" Kirie boasts. "I'll wait for everyone else to answer though."
"Just give it to Kirie, she'll get this one" Yukinari requests.
"100 kilometers per hour?" Koyomi answers with a shrug.
"125?" Nina guesses.
"I'm just giving this one to Kirie" Yukinari surrenders before biting into his burger.
"155 kilometers per hour. Average, of course" Kirie answers confidently.
"153! Big Sister Kirie almost nailed it!" was Tomoka's response.
"Baseball is my thing, you can't get one past me" Kirie challenges.
"Oh yeah! Is that a challenge?" Tomoka questioned.
"Give me your best!" Kirie accepted. Tomoka began to search through her trivia cards and extracted a neat bundle.
"Alright! Tomo gathered up some baseball questions, hope the boob monster is ready!"
"Insult away, I'm still crushing whatever you can serve!" Kirie countered.
"..Against what team did Yasuhiro Matsumoto hit his first homer?"
"Easy! The Nishin Lions!" Kirie answers confidently.
"Alright, what team won the fifth championship series ever?"
"Tokyo Titans" Kirie answers smoothly before biting into her burger.
"What player was the first to pitch a perfect game?" Tomoka asked.
"Another easy one: Kisuke Kurumada" Kirie answered. Tomoka seemed to grow irritated before relaxing entirely.
"This game is boring!" she condemns tossing her cards aside. "We'll just call this a draw."
"A draw!?" Kirie protested. "I aced your questions!"
"You didn't ace the other questions I had" Tomoka reasoned while biting at her burger.
"You didn't ask them!" Kirie protested further.
"Just a game, Kirie" Yukinari says rubbing the brunette's back hoping she wouldn't get too worked up.
"You're right. It's just a game" Kirie agrees relaxing and slipping a carrot slice into her mouth.
"I was enjoying them though" Yukinari admits.
"Here's one I think pertains to you" Koyomi says lifting a card. "What sort of fish is most commonly fished in Japan?"
"The sea perch" Yukinari answers.
"Well done!" Koyomi congratulates. "Fishing is your thing I understand."
"It is but I haven't fished for a while now. Kinda falling out of love with it" Yukinari confessed.
"Really? Is something wrong?" Koyomi questions.
"Well, I'm less fond of how the fish must feel getting a hook in their mouth" Yukinari explains. "Must be painful."
"I see" Koyomi replies.
"How humanitarian of you" Nina compliments, Ebi still seated on her lap.
"Humanitarian indeed!" Koyomi agreed.
"Thanks" Yukinari said.
"I could go for seconds. Show of hands for anyone who'd like more?" Nina then asked getting up after gently sitting Ebi beside her. All at the table raise a hand.
"Your burgers are great!" Tomoka exclaimed.
"Whole wheat buns is how you win me over" Kirie said.
"I need my protein" Yukinari explains.
"Too delicious to pass up" Koyomi says, a napkin neatly up to her mouth.
"Very well then!" Nina says placing more patties on the grill. "Dessert after?"
"Totally!" Tomoka made sure to answer before anyone else.
Once seconds had been eaten, Nina brought out a plate of sliced watermelon.
"Nice and cold watermelon for dessert" Nina said before lifting a slice and biting. Tomoka came very close to protesting fruit for dessert but stopped herself noting Nina's generosity.
"Watermelon for dessert?" Kirie said in surprise. "Miss Nina, I am loving your style!"
"Please, help yourselves" Nina said before the table grabbed slices of watermelon.
"Mmmm!" Ebi emits after biting into a slice.
"Did you hear that?" Nina asked. "My little Ebi loves it!"
"I agree with Ebi, this is the perfect amount of sweet!.." Koyomi said. Once she had tasted it, even Tomoka found watermelon to make for an excellent dessert.
"Hey, don't keep Ebi all to yourself!" Kirie protests while Nina sits Ebi on her lap once more.
"She's too cute to share" Nina declares holding Ebi tightly.
"On a warm day like today, watermelon really hits the spot!" Yukinari adds and soon, the watermelon had been consumed.
"Tomo is stuffed!" Tomoka celebrates. Everyone else felt similarly, relaxing at the table to allow digestion.
"A shame Miharu wasn't here" Kirie said.
"We'd run out of food a lot quicker then" Tomoka joked eliciting chuckles around the table.
After neatly dabbing at her lips with a napkin, Koyomi lifts up the beach ball. "You know what helps digestion?"
"What?" Tomoka asks.
"A little exercise" Koyomi answers tapping the ball Kirie's way. Reflexively, Kirie taps it back.
"Helps get the blood flowing, definitely" Kirie informs, "but I think swimming is bad for you after eating."
"It could be" Nina said. "No reason we can't soak our feet a little."
A brief game of beach volleyball broke out at the shallow part of the creek. Forming a wide circle, the group tapped the ball back and forth with satisfied stomachs.
"Heads up Tomoka" Kirie announces.
"Got it!" Tomoka answers tapping the ball towards Ebi who headbutts the ball Nina's way. Nina hits it sending it high up before descending on Yukinari who then punches the ball. It heads Koyomi's way who hits the ball with the top of her wrists.
"Don't let it touch the water!" Yukinari warned.
"I won't!" Kirie assures kicking the ball and sending it up into some tree branches. Luckily, the ball did not get stuck and Kirie resolved never to hit the ball so forcefully again.
The game didn't go on for too long with the sun starting its descent. After drying off and getting dressed, everyone helped load Nina's spacious SUV with the portable tables and chairs, among other things. The disassembled grill was tied up atop the vehicle. Koyomi rode shotgun while Yukinari, Kirie, Ebi, and Tomoka sat in the second row.
"Who's got dibs on first song?" Nina, the driver, asked as the return home began. Kirie and Tomoka answer simultaneously.
"Midnight Dancer by The Rumiko Five" was Kirie's answer.
"Singer Ladies!" was Tomoka's more loud reply.
"Play for it you two" Nina instructed.
"Rock, paper, scissors?" Tomoka suggests.
"You're on" Kirie accepts.
"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!"
"Rock beats scissors!" Tomoka celebrates.
"Urgh!.. Whatever" Kirie said shrugging it off. "I'm getting next."
"Sure, sure" Tomoka agrees. 'Singer Ladies', an upbeat and cheery song, began to play. Ebi began to nod her head to the rhythm sitting on Kirie's lap and fastened to Kirie's belt as well as snug in Kirie's embrace.
"You like this song Ebi?" Kirie asked.
"Nyah~" Ebi let out softly.
"Little Sister Ebi has good taste in music!" Tomoka praises. The song played on and was eventually over.
"My turn now" Kirie said and 'Midnight Dancer' played, an energetic dance song with a strong beat.
"Haha! Look at Ebi!" Yukinari laughed. Ebi was swaying her head to the song.
"Dance on Ebi!" Kirie cheers joining Ebi in swaying to the music.
"I can't look at Ebi! I'm driving!" Nina growls through gritted teeth.
"I'll record this for ya Miss Nina" Yukinari said pulling out a smart phone.
"Thanks" Nina says.
"I gotta record this too!" Kirie said pulling out her own phone.
"Koyomi, please record this for me!" Nina asked handing Koyomi her smart phone.
"Ah! O-okay" Koyomi replied accepting the task.
Once Kirie's choice of song was over, it was Yukinari's turn and he decided on a classical piece.
"Perfect meditation music" Yukinari said. "Really relaxes you" he said as stringed instruments kicked in.
"Lovely piece Yukinari, I must say" Nina commented.
"Yeah, when things get hectic at home or school, this sort of music always helps relax me at day's end" Yukinari said.
"Hectic huh? How hectic we talking here?" Nina questioned further.
"Hectic enough" Yukinari said recalling events like Lisa summoning a monster to slap him down, Miharu cloning herself and consuming all in her path, and Fukuyama taking over Mizuno High after Lisa and Yukina battled it out in the same school. "Rather not talk about it actually" Yukinari concludes.
"Have it your way then" Nina says.
"..Ebi's nodding off" Kirie observes. "Yukinari, your relaxing music works."
"Glad I could help" Yukinari says.
"Well we're home so perfect timing" Nina says at song's end and with the SUV sitting by the Sasaki and Kojima homes. Watering plants before the Kojima residence was Misuzu Kojima, Kirie's mother.
"Miss Nina, thanks for today" Kirie said before exiting the vehicle.
"Yes! Thanks Miss Nina" Yukinari joined in.
"Don't mention it, thanks for inviting me! It was fun!" Nina responds.
"My Ebi's home!" Misuzu let out seeing the sleeping Ebi in Kirie's arm. She was quick to receive the sleeping child.
"Hello!" Nina directed at Misuzu.
"Hello to you too!" Misuzu responds mindful of a sleeping Ebi in her arms.
"Mom! This is Miss Nina, Yukinari's gym trainer. Miss Nina, this is my mom" Kirie introduces.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance" Nina says.
"Misuzu's the name. A pleasure meeting you too" Misuzu responds. "Hope the kids didn't give you too much trouble."
"Not at all" Nina answers. "Especially that little one in your arms."
"I didn't think so" Misuzu replies. "Especially the little one..."
"...Don't keep her all to yourself now" Nina says sounding a little colder.
"Little Ebi lives and sleeps here, I'm not hogging her" Misuzu says sounding even slightly colder.
A silence ensues, Yukinari and Kirie almost able to see poisonous auras growing around Nina and Misuzu.
"...You can borrow her from time to time" Misuzu then adds. "Whenever I can't take care of her."
"Fair enough" Nina says. "I should get going now. Gotta take these two home" Nina goes on referring to Koyomi and Tomoka.
"Thanks again for watching the kids!" Misuzu thanks.
"Sure thing!" Nina says waving. "Goodbye Yukinari, Kirie."
"Bye!" Yukinari and Kirie respond waving back.
"See ya later!" Tomoka returns.
"Good bye!" Koyomi joins in before the SUV takes off.
"Why didn't your friends stay over?" Misuzu asked once the SUV was gone.
"They're staying over at Miharu's" Kirie answers.
"Oh, Miharu has a place?"
"Her and her brother Seiichirou along with their sister Maharu, yeah" Kirie informs. "They say they don't like to impose on Yukinari too much so they sometimes stay over at Miharu's."
"Oh, good for them then, that's very considerate" Misuzu compliments. "Gonna go put this little one to bed now. Are you staying over at Yukinari's?"
"Yeah, I might" was Kirie's answer.
"Don't worry Miss Kojima. I promise to take good care of her" Yukinari said.
"Haha! Okay, very good!" Misuzu said heading to her own front door. "Have fun you two!" she adds before finally disappearing into the Kojima residence.
"Well you heard your mom. There's still fun to be had" Yukinari says heading to his own front door.
"You bet! New episode of 'Forensic Investigators' in some 45 minutes!" Kirie urges following while looking at her phone.
"We should prepare some of Koyomi's tea until then" Yukinari says opening his front door.
"That and 'quality time' too, right?" Kirie asked entering Yukinari's home.
"Y-yes, of course" was Yukinari's reply.
"Good! We wanna end the day just right."
"Yes, yes" Yukinari acknowledges before finally closing his front door.