Solving the Horseshoe Puzzle:
(Andor ischallenged by Amelie's brother to solve a puzzle )
Amelie always had private tutoring session at her parents apartment for a small fee on top of her usual academics. Made her quite popular among the parents to the point she usual got showered with all kinds of gifts. Some of them were expensive chocolates she shared with her friends or allow her brother's friends to have them. A few were imported sweets and items, that one could only get in high end and novelty shops. Others were clothes from top fashion houses in her size and came with endless Omiai candidates. Money that came in decorative boxes and envelopes were an added bonus, she put away for a rainy day. Anything else she gave second thought toward since rarely she got something that challenged her.
Like what Andor started to give her whenever he came over for their own study breaks or plan out lessons. Along with send out rejections notices to the ones that gave her the Omiai candidates about her status. A few were angry that she settled for someone that wasn't native to earth while others were happy for her. Her parents ended up backing their daughter in what was always her choice as a future partner in her life. Just her brother's way of giving his blessing came in the form of series of brain teasers each month. One each more then complex then the last whenever he turned a finished one in to earn another one. Started to gain the attention of his brothers and Amelie's friends when he started to solve. Sometimes they all would help in taking notes and pictures to help better figure out the pieces.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Latest puzzle that was given to Andor was a a dodecahedron-shaped puzzle similar to a Rubik's Cube with 50 movable pieces to rearrange. Along with the promise this was the last difficult task he was ever going to get from Actinolite for his approval. Came with an added reward of advance paid trip to a town in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan for group of their friends. Which became a motivation for Andor to try and solve the advance rubix while without anyone's help. News he was going to break to everyone during a gōkon that Mina planned for eight of them including Derek and Kousagi. Just the place that Mina choice for this group date was the UNKO MUSEUM in Diver City Tokyo Plaza Mall in Odaiba. Standing in front of the building and waiting for everyone to show up since he arrived earlier then anyone. Dressed rather casually then his usual nondescript and tailored trousers with a simple belt buckles. In his hands Starminx could be found within his hands with just two of the sides already already solved.
He sighed at the sides that still needed to sorted out when he had heard his voice being called by Angel and Mina. Under his arm he would tuck the Starminx as he turned to greet the first two to arrive with his best smile. Which he had a hard time mustering when he noticed Mina was carrying a basket on one of her arms. He ended up stiffening up when he was reminded of the last meal she tried to make for him and his brothers. Taste and upset stomach he got alone still lingered in his memory when memories of that played in his mind. Stayed with him when Mina and Angel got near enough to take in his expression and his stance.
"Is he ok?" Mina asked Angel.
"No, he's remembering the last time we were in the ER." Angel explained.
Having to tell the person that caused half his family to become ill after ingesting most of a meal she cooked for them. She knew Dann and Ciprian weather through of upset stomach while everyone else had to be taken to the nearest ER. Which was why she had been trying to improve her skills in a kitchen then hear about how she gave everyone a upset stomach. Her hard work was neatly packed away in a basket she had been carrying since leaving Opal Moon Angel.
"Seems we're first ones here." Angel noticed.
"Everybody else better get here since I didn't spend all that time cooking." Mina huffed.
"I'm very proud of you," Angel looked from her to Andor. "Isn't that a Starminx?"
"A what?" Mina leaned in to notice the Starminx.
Angel ended up explained that the item that Andor had hiding under pit of his arm was a12 faced puzzle called a Dino Dodecahedron. Very last challenge issued to him by Actinolite before his ever got his blessing to court Amelie.
"Here!" Mina reached her hands out to Andor. "Give!"
"Seriously?" Andor looked from Angel to Mina.
"Just so it!" Angel stepped back.
Over to Mina the Starminx was handed over to eager fingers by Andor as he watched her twist and change the rows. Some how as tips of her fingers moved around the pieces a side was slowly coming together for her. This amazed Andor when he saw third side start to become solid each a smaller colored piece was added.
"Yay!" Mina finished a side. "Angel! You do one!"
"What?" He was handed the Starminx.
"You know, he's not one to do something like this." Andor answered her.
That comment was all Angel needed to start moving his finger tips around the unsolved sides in the most careful matter. Not wanting to mess up the work that already done with rows to form the new side when he spins and rotates. Andor and Mina watch with with one of them recording on their phone whole time Angel putting another side together. When the final row was done that Reika and Ciprian came walking up to them with one holding the others' arms. Angel handing the Starminx back to Andor with a fourth side finished and the recording was being done. As Reika pulling a way from Ciprian to see what Angel and why Mina was recording him doing a Starminx.
"Is that what I think it is?" Ciprian asked looking the Starminx over.
"I call next turn." Reika wanted to try and solve.
"You do know this is not a game?" Andor told Ciprian and her.
He ended up being zoned out when Reika and Ciprian together ended up working together to solve about two sides each. Each time their hands met or brushed against each other for just a second when they were shifting a piece or row. Reika ended up blushing with a small smile on her face while pulling her hand a way from Ciprian's as she moved. Pulling completely a when just done a few seconds after him with more of the sides figured out that seem to surprise Andor.
"This day is turning out to be a different one." Andor was handed by the Starminx.
"We going to be excepting this every time we meet like this?" Ciprian looked among everyone.
"Better then you two playing kissy face with each other." Mina pointed out their making out.
"I always wondered how much can a guy make out with someone?" Reika looked to Andor.
"Matty Daley and Bobby Canciello made the record in 2010 in the United States for 33 hours," He answered. "They awarded awarded cash, two diamond rings and immortality in the Guinness Book of World Records."
Everyone went quiet at the answer for a few minutes while Angel mouthed the single word 'WOW' without saying a thing. Brought into question when he arm ended up getting taken by Mako gently placing her around one of his free arms. Controlled and pleasant tone her voice took on when she asked what everyone was in surprised about as she looked around. What she found was basket in Mina's hands and half solved Starminx in Andor's hands were first things noticed.
"You actually made something without burning or messing up?" She wondered what inside the basket.
"Try at your own risk," Dann came from behind Mako. "Again!"
Mina was the one that turned away from them to open the basket and pull something out and turn back around to face the two. Presented to them was one Sicilian and one Japanese Rice Ball wrapped in a single piece of plastic wrap.
"Tell me this isn't a challenge?" Dann looked at Mako.
"Seems like it." She rested her head on Angel's shoulder.
Two ended up giving each other a high five before one took on the rice balls and other wanted a go at the Starminx in Andor's hands. Meaning Mako took the food and Dann started flipping the countless rows of unsorted pieces in careful manner. He only stopped for a second when he heard the snap of a camera being used and had to look who was taking pictures. Which he found was Mina while Andor was recording him solve the Starminx when he got back to work.
"We're missing someone." Angel noticed Amelie was missing.
"She had some family function with her grandmother." Mako remembered.
"Isn't both Amelie's grandma and mother a Healer? Or as you call them Physician." Andor looked to Reika and Mina.
"Pretty much." Both nods their head.
"I have to ask, what were healers like on your world?" Mako looked at Ciprian.
Talking about the white robe wearing male or female that practice the art of healing magic was always hard for Ciprian. They were completely celibate, unless they were experts in Chi raising and draining techniques through sensual acts. Kept their faces or facial features behind hoods from eyes of who ever had a wound or injury that needed their treatment. Worked for temple of De Lellis all their lives until there are called back to the Galaxy Cauldron to be reincarnated.
"..." Mako went quiet when she pictures Amelie dressed as a healer.
"Imagining Amelie dressed in white robes with aqua crest?" Angel came to ask Mako
When she nodded her head that had everyone start to picture Amelie in those white robes with aqua crest as a group. Mina was already thinking that as a costume idea with Reika giving Ciprian definite NO when he made a cosplay request. Dann and Andor were explaining that their houses as a exclusive set of healers that tended to their family or clansman. Angel pocketed his hands into back of his jeans worried Mako was also stuck with food poisoning from Mina's riceballs. Mako just stayed quiet the whole time with that image of healer Amelie with her eyes wide open at the thought rotated. She then shook her head and snatched the Starminx from Dann to finish a side with everyone staring.
"I think those riceballs mess with her." Ciprian whispered to Reika and Mina.
"You follow the recipes I gave you?" Angel asked her Mina.
"I even had your scary dog watch me the whole time." She mentioned Il-Seong.
"His name is Il-Seong," Dann corrected Mina. "He's more like a advisor and our respected Guardian animal."
"I am still learning." She flailed one of her arms at him.
Dann ended up getting the cold shoulder while only telling him to get her one young adult ticket for the museum from the ticket office. Where he paid for eight high school students out of his own pocket before returning everyone. Where he was paid back 1800 yen from each person in exchange for a single ticket from him. Left Mina to still give him the cold shoulder when she used her phone to send him the yen. Where she ended up turning her back to him once more with her eyes barely take in the Starminx in Dann's hands. Seeing as he was in middle of finishing the side since he had to take a break to get tickets for everyone. Just the one extra he had for Amelie when ever she showed up.
"So how long we waiting?" Ciprian was already getting patience. "What the heck is so important with Amelie's family? We're stuck around waiting to her."
Reika ended up walking toward with a request of one of her rice balls to be handed to her like she wanted before over to Ciprian. Not given a chance to talk to her when she rushly lifted one of her hands toward his mouth and shoved. Passed his lips a rice ball was jammed before he by her as she spoke it was award banquet honoring her grandmother and her hardwork. She would have invited them all if her brother wasn't still being against her choice of romantic partners. Had Dann handing Andor the Starminx back with only a few sides left for him to solve thanks to everyone.
"Finish these up and show Actinolite you aren't someone to be handled very lately." Dann pulled away from him.
Andor would end up thanking everyone for their aid in solving this current puzzle in order for him to be with someone like Amelie. Calm and level-headed bookworm was a slight rebel strike since she hadn't given up on Andor. Finding out they had so much in common besides the books and attending college level education lectures about Math and science. Stirred something in Andor to the point when he started rotating pieces along with the rows with Amelie in mind. Not knowing that in a Prominence Ballroom of a luxury hotel with Japanese accents blended into elegant function hall. Where a tables for chosen few of the Mizuno family, co- workers of Saeko Mizuno, and close friends. Were all attending a post- celebration in Minato City, Tokyo after an award ceremony that gave Saeko Mizuno, a Medal of Honor with Green Ribbon. All for her active role in Juuban Second General Hospital and Meiwa University Hospital. Where she worked as a active doctor and medical consultant to the local law enforcement at one hospital. Before current Chief of Internal Medicine at another when asked if she wanted to take over the role from her former professor.
Even with everyone dressed in their finest and standing around after the speeches were made about Saeko's dedication to her cities. How each person she worked with was inspired by her how she always out her heart and into her work. Speaking about how she found funding for Prenatal Mobile Unit for young mothers and yearly health fare for the elderly citizens. Always making time to help a officer when a case needed a medical perspective from a trained eye. Volunteering at the community clinic when during the flu and cold season when nobody was available on any shift. Works with the Honorary Physician of Commonwealth as an extra member of his staff whenever a medical crisis happens. What got her recognized for the Medal of Honor with Green Ribbon by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. She thought all members of her family were finding enjoyment in since she found her granddaughter sneezing.
"Your not one to hide in the corner." She addressed Amelie.
In a slate blue, flutter sleeve, lace up, maxi dress with matching flats with a bow at the toe and basic sapphire necklace and bracelet. Her hair a slight style of with a barrette that held the symbol of Asclepius pinned into her hair. Her painted nails and lip gloss with slight blue tint were only signs of make up she wore since she refuse to wear any more. Could be found in a corner of this decorated ball room refusing appetizers and glasses of drinks being brought to her. Ended up being approached by her grandmother about her sudden fit of sniffles without a napkin in sight.
"Want to share?" Saeko asked her granddaughter.
"The fact I don't want to be here and rather be with my friends." Amelie whispered.
"Which one of them wanted you to come?" Saeko looked among her family.
She knew Ami wouldn't pressure her daughter into attending as eyes stopped on Zoisite and Actinolite with her eyes brows lowering. Idea of two telling her to be here instead of attending some pop up museum about poop with her friends.
"Go!" Saeko whispered to her granddaughter. "You finally made friends. You should be hanging out with that handsome man. Not here being shown off like a prized object."
"So?" Amelie took a few steps toward her grandmother.
"Go on, my driver is out front. Go and have fun." She shooed away her granddaughter. "Ahenobarbus and I will handle the others."
Hug she gave her grandmother ended up being caught on film as comparative photo from a passing photographer. Who was shooed away from the pair by Saeko before she sent Amelie on her way out a side door of the ball room. Making sure her brother and father didn't stop her when the two noticed Amelie went missing when lunch was announced. As promised, Ahenobarbus ended up jumping down Actinolite's throat when he tried to debate his own grandmother. Informing him his stupid little challenges toward dear Andor had to come to a stop before she ripped him in two. Ami just stayed out of her husband and son getting disciplined about inferring with her daughter's social life.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Entering the museum was quite a eye opener for the eight of them upon being greeted by a cheerful worker. Who welcomed them to the museum before she separated them into two groups. To only be shown to a colorful line of rainbow pastel-colored toilets. Reika grabbed Ciprian and headed toward orange latrine. Angel and Mako somehow ended up near the green latrine. Dann and Mina stood on either side of the yellow- orange latrine just staring at the lid. Andor stood between the light blue and navy blue latrines feeling a little let out among everyone. They were told to figure out who was going to be the first to seat down before the countdown began. Hard for Andor since he a mixture of silly about pretending he was going to take a number two. Made him ready to come up with an excuse about not wanting to continue with everyone.
"May I join you?" He was silenced by Amelie.
"I thought..." Andor found her standing before him.
She ended up stepping forward enough to take the Starminx from under his arm and seat on the navy blue latrine. Ignoring when the timer dinged a she ended up solving the rest of the Starminx within her hands.