Chapter 16: Life With Cherry Blossoms

During springtime, the cherry blossoms bloomed and were filling in the air. Vicki was wearing her beautiful kimono as she danced around the air with cherry blossom petals. Robert's face was turning bright red as a cherry, and he was holding the box in order to give it to Vicki.

"Good morning, Vicki," said Robert bashfully.

"Ah, good morning, Robert," said Vicki happily, as she was looking at the box Robert was holding. "What's that you got there?"

"Oh, it's the anniversary gift for you. So, here you go!"

"Aw, thanks, Robert...I'll open it up to see what you give me!" Vicki took the present from Robert and opened it up. Inside the present, she saw a pair of fairies flying atop the flower. "Oh my gosh, Robert, this is so adorable! I love it!"

"I'm very glad that you love it, Vicki!"

After Vicki set down the figurine, she and Robert hugged each other and started kissing. Few moments later, Sammy and Jimmy were walking pass by and saw the couple sharing the romantic kiss. Every time they saw them getting lovey-dovey or flirting around, the twins grimaced and rolled their eyes at the same time. Few seconds later, the duo saw their neighbors and quickly broke apart from each other.

"Don't mind us, you two, just keep flirting around with each other so we can leave," said Sammy flatly.

"Yeah, just continue flirting so we can go," said Jimmy abruptly.

"If you guys don't like us being together, then why did you have to show up in such a bad timing like this?" Vicki asked, raising her eyebrow.

"Uh, well..." Sammy stammered, rubbing his chin.

"Um, you see..." Jimmy stammered, snapping his fingers.

"My guess is that they're just jealous?" Robert suggested. "Or maybe they just wanted to interfere us?"

"What? It's not like that at all!" Sammy interjected, being flustered. "It's just that-um, y-you know what? W-We're going! So yeah!"

"Y-Yeah, s-sorry to bother you like that!" said Jimmy, being frustrated.

After the Slapjack brothers walked away from the couple, Vicki and Robert couldn't understand of why their neighbors were acting so strange. They just shrugged it off and headed straight to Vicki's house. Vicki placed the figurine, Robert gave her as a present, on top of her drawer. Suddenly, she heard her smartphone ringing. She grabbed it from her pocket, and it was Claire calling her.

"Hi Claire, what's up?" Vicki answered the phone.

"Hey Vicki, Sonia and I are planning to have a day off from the Paradise Planning to enjoy watching the cherry blossoms bloom," Claire called. "So, I was wondering if you'll join us during the cherry blossom times! What do you say?"

"Yes, I will love to join you both! That will be excellent idea ever!"

"That's great! And perhaps, your fiancé and your neighbors will come along as well?"

"Okay, I'll ask Robert about it for sure. I'm very certain that he will come. And as for my two neighbors...well, I'd rather you'll have to ask Sammy and Jimmy about it. You'll get their response sooner or later. Got it?"

"Yeah, got it... I'll ask them right away."

After Vicki received a call from Claire, she hung up and turned to Robert. She told him about what her friend said to her before asking him to join the girls at Soma.

"Ah, I see, so you all wanted to relax during the cherry blossom view?" Robert asked.

"That's right," Vicki nodded. "Claire wants to know if you want to come along. So, what do you say, Robert?"

"Sure, I will love to come along as long as I'm with you."

"Great! Then, it's all settled! Although, I'm curious if Sammy and Jimmy wanted to tag along since I told Claire to ask them."

Robert shrugged. "Maybe they want to or not. Hey, it depends on their responses while interacting with the girls."

"And I have a hunch feeling that they're going to say 'yes.'"

The next day, Vicki, Robert, and the Slapjack brothers had arrived in Soma. Claire and Sonia waved at them in their kimonos, just like Vicki was wearing. Sammy and Jimmy stared at them in awe and opened their mouths as if they were about to say "Oh!" Vicki joined up with the girls and clamored about their kimonos. Robert glanced at the twins and grimaced as if they were in another world. He brought them back to reality by slapping them on their shoulders and told them to get going and join the girls already.

"Vicki, your kimono looks so cute, and it even matches the cherry blossoms!" said Claire gleefully.

"Yeah, and so does your hairpin," said Sonia smilingly.

"Thanks, girls!" said Vicki, being bashful. "They are pretty in pink, just like the cherry blossoms! And you two look beautiful in your kimonos!"

"Thank you, but unlike yours, our kimonos had different colors... Mine is light blue and Claire's red."

"Sonia, it doesn't really matter about the color of our kimonos," said Claire. "What really matter is that we need to relax and enjoy the view of cherry blossoms!"

"You're right, Claire!" Vicki agreed. "So, what are we planning to do first?"

"Eh, whatever's on your mind, Vicki. Besides, you and Robert can enjoy your time together as much as you want. Sonia and I can take our time with Sammy and Jimmy. Sounds good to you?"

"Yes, please!" Robert answered eagerly, after he listened the whole thing and made Claire and Sonia jumped in surprise.

"And where on earth did you come from?"

"Isn't that necessary? I've been hearing this in a few minutes ago."

Claire sighed. "Whatever, man... But anyways, let's go have some fun!"

Vicki and Robert were standing by the bridge, and they noticed the ostrich named Gladys was crossing it. She told them there's a legend that if you crossed the bridge two times in a row, your wish came true. The duo looked at each other in amazement whether they believed her or not. So, they gave it a try and find out if their wishes came true.

Sammy, Jimmy, Claire, and Sonia were having a photoshoot by the red and yellow ostrich named Phoebe. They were standing behind the shrine in order to take a good picture. As soon as they turned around, they saw the male ostrich who was writing his haiku. He cleared his throat and began his presentation in front of everyone.

"'When the cherry blossoms bloom, their petals are starting to fall off from the tree,'" the white ostrich read, as he continued to read his poem.

"Uh, does it really make sense at all?" Sammy asked quietly.

"Whenever Cranston comes up with the haiku, that'll make perfect sense," Sonia explained quietly.

"Uh, right, right..." Jimmy nodded, while he was uncertain about the situation.

Meanwhile, Vicki and Robert were drinking the milk tea that has boba in it. Vicki gave the tip to the white bear cub with black bangs and jade-green eyes. Her name was Pekoe, and she was working very hard making the boba milk tea.

As soon as the show began, everyone gathered around, including the humans. The white cat with the brown bangs named Merry who was playing the music. The white anteater with black hair named Annalisa started singing the song. After the song concluded, everyone gave her a round of applause. When Annalisa departed the stage, Merry began to play the upbeat music. There was a dark pink rabbit who wore a ninja outfit, and his name was Snake. He was showing off his ninja skills and aimed at the dummy with his ninja weapons, like katana, naginata, and kunai. Everyone was very impressed when he made his ninja moves.

After the performance ended, all six humans were taking a dip of hot springs so they could have their relaxation. Although, the hot springs were divided into two sides; one was for the boys and another was for the girls. Robert and the Slapjack brothers were heading to the left while Vicki, Claire, and Sonia were heading to the right. When they took off their clothes and wrapped around their bodies with their towels, they entered the hot springs to soothe their bodies from exhaustion and stress.

"Ah, it feels so great..." Vicki sighed. "This is the first time I tried this..."

"Same here..." Claire sighed peacefully.

"That makes all of us, that's for sure..." said Sonia calmly.

"I'm glad that you, girls love it, la baa!" said the female white goat, who was also enjoying the hot springs.

"Wow, Chevre, I didn't realize you were here," said Claire. "But anyways, your idea, about the hot springs, is so amazing! We can't thank you enough!"

"Don't mention it, Claire, that is my dream after all, la baa."

On the other side of the hot springs, Robert was relaxing all by himself while he was in the nice, refreshing water. Sammy and Jimmy, on the other hand, were fooling around. He didn't seem to mind them, but all he needed was to make his mind in peace. All of the sudden, the twins passed out and got overheated after they dived into the water. Robert quickly helped them out of the water and noticed that they were out cold.

"Those two shouldn't dive into the water like this more than five seconds..." Robert mumbled under his breath, as he dragged Sammy and Jimmy to the changing room.

After the hot springs treatment was done, the girls changed back into their kimonos and left the changing room. The boys changed back into their normal clothes and left the room as well. They all felt refresh after enjoying the hot springs. Sammy and Jimmy's faces were all flushed red while the rest of their faces were normal as ever.

"Say, what's wrong with Sammy and Jimmy?" Claire asked, as she glanced at Robert. "How come their faces are red and yours aren't? Did something happen, Robert?"

"Well, about that, they dived into the hot springs more than five seconds," Robert explained, as he gave everyone a rundown. "...I quickly got them out of there just in time."

"It's a very good thing we're still alive, Robert," said Sammy. "So, there's no need for you to give us an ear load anymore..."

"Yeah, we get it now, okay?" said Jimmy.

"That will be a lesson to you both!" Robert pointed out. "If this happens again, then that'll be your fault, alright?"

"Oh, alright..." said the Slapjack twins with the dissatisfied tone.

Vicki, Robert, and the others were planning to get something to eat. When they heard someone screaming, they froze in place and looked around to see of what's going on. They saw the bobcat demon, Dalilah taking away the dream life forces from eight animals. They all transformed into the nightmare monsters and had gone berserk. The four normal humans started to scream and run away in panic. Vicki and Robert, on the other hand, went to the opposite direction and began their transformations.

Sammy, Jimmy, Claire, and Sonia continued to scream and run away from the nightmare monsters. Until their escape was cut off by the monsters, they had nowhere to run and got surrounded. Dalilah ordered them to kill the humans off right away and the monsters were ready to eliminate them. Four innocent humans were about to beg for mercy until the magic barrier protected them from monsters' vicious attacks. Dalilah wouldn't believe her eyes that she found out of who's doing that. Right in front of the humans, there was a brown-haired angel holding her staff to protect them. Next to her, there was a purple-haired knight pointing his sword at the nightmare monsters.

"Alright, it's the Duo of Justice!" said Claire happily.

"Finally, they're here to save us all!" said Sammy excitedly.

"Are you all alright?" Masked Swordmaster asked, looking at the four humans behind him.

"Yeah, we're still in one piece though," Jimmy nodded, while Sonia nodded in agreement.

"Good, you guys now run along, Masked Swordmaster and I will take care of those villains," said Phantom Angel, while her eyes were focusing on Dalilah and the nightmare monsters.

"S-Sure, just be careful..." said Sonia hesitantly.

While Sammy, Jimmy, Claire, and Sonia were running away from the danger zone, Phantom Angel and Masked Swordmaster were ready to stop Dalilah and the nightmare monsters. The demon ordered the monsters to attack the dynamic duo. When they charged at the heroes, Masked Swordmaster used his cannon to spray the gas at them. The monsters choked up and coughed after they inhaled it. Even Dalilah coughed so hard, she could barely get away. Then, one of the monsters blew away the gas with the huge fan. After the gas subsided, Phantom Angel used her staff to summon the vines to tie the nightmare monsters up. Dalilah quickly got away from the vines and made her escape with the stolen dream life forces.

"Dream healing refresh!" Phantom Angel shouted, as she turned the nightmare monsters back to normal animals again.

After the threat was over in Soma, six humans were ready to grab a bite to eat. Vicki and Robert were eating sashimi and sushi by using their chopsticks to pick them up perfectly. Sammy, Jimmy, Claire, and Sonia, on the other hand, were having a hard time using them when they tried to pick the sashimi and sushi up. So, they gave up on chopsticks and used the spoon or fork instead. The duo shrugged and didn't seem to care at all because they were now eating mochi as their desserts after they ate their main course. Everyone had a great time during the cherry blossom festivities that they wished it would stay like this forever.