Sorry, for the really late update, but I thought that I lost this arc of this fanfic and have been writing another arc for this story, but I found it , so I'll updating the whole arc at once! I really apologise to keep you waiting!
Disclaimer: I don't own Super Sentai.
Chiaki walked out of his lecture hall and went to the bus stop where he was on his way to meet Genta and Ryunosuke for lunch. Ryunosuke had returned a few days ago, and Genta called him for a meal and to discuss Takeru's birthday. Kaoru and Jii let Genta and Chiaki take over planning for Takeru's birthday, in case Takeru overheard about their plans.
Chiaki hopped off the bus and headed to Genta's cart. Chiaki set down his bag and help Genta set up his cart. Ryunosuke arrived a few minutes later, with a few shopping bags in hand.
"Where did you go?" Asked Chiaki, eyeing Ryunosuke's bags.
"I went to stock up on supplies, I'll be staying in Tokyo for the next few months. My troupe is on break, we have only have performance scheduled for late next year, so rehearsals will start a few months earlier." Spoke Ryunosuke.
Genta got to work preparing sushi for the three of them, and Chiaki turned to Ryunosuke.
"We got Kotoha to check out Kyoto Hall, where we planned to hold Takeru's birthday. And Jii booked the venue for Takeru's birthday yesterday." Said Chiaki.
"Tono deserves a proper birthday celebration, he was the only member of our team who didn't celebrate his birthday with us." Said Ryunosuke, nodding his head.
Genta placed two plates of sushi in front of Chiaki and Ryunosuke. Chiaki and Ryunosuke poured themselves some soy sauce. Genta grabbed a stool for himself and joined his two friends in eating lunch.
Chiaki swallowed his sushi just as his Shodophone rang. He set down his chopsticks and pulled out his Shodophone. He picked it up and nodded a few times before frowning. Chiaki sighed as he put down his Shodophone.
"What happened?" Asked Genta?
"That was Kotoha, apparently nee-san called her. It seems that she won't be able to make it to the dinner that the hime planned this weekend." Said Chiaki.
"Was her flight cancelled or something?" Asked Ryunosuke.
"Something like that, it's currently the rainy season in Hawaii. Her flight was cancelled due to the heavy rainstorms, which caused the airport to close for now. She also said that she might not be able catch another flight in time, even if the airport opens by Friday." Replied Chiaki.
"Has Kotoha called the Hime or Tono about this?" Asked Ryunosuke?
"She never mentioned about calling either of them. I'll call Takeru now." Replied Chiaki.
Chiaki punched Takeru's number into his Shodophone. Chiaki brought it to his ear and spoke to Takeru briefly, which the other two assumed to be that Kotoha had already informed them about Mako's situation.
"Kotoha's already called them, they'll continue with the dinner. But they are hoping that nee-san will be able to make it." Said Chiaki.
"It's not really a real gathering if one of our members isn't here." Said Genta.
Ryunosuke and Chiaki nodded in agreement. After lunch, Chiaki and Ryunosuke bid farewell to Genta who headed to another part of the city to set up his cart. Chiaki made his way to the Shiba Mansion, while stopping at Ryunosuke's apartment along the way. Chiaki and Ryunosuke were greeted by the Kuroko and Jii. Chiaki was a frequent visitor to the Shiba Mansion these days, while Ryunosuke was a new but familiar face in the Shiba Mansion these days.
"Tono! Hime! I, Ikenami Ryunosuke, have returned to the Shiba Mansion!" Cried Ryunosuke.
Chiaki face palmed, Ryunosuke was up to his old antics of being over emotional. Kaoru smiled and Takeru too let out a small smile, upon seeing Ryunosuke. Truthfully, Takeru had missed his vassals. Slowly, each of their personal traits or antics had grown on him. Not seeing them or even their antics made him miss them. Ryunosuke getting over emotional over almost everything. Mako attempting to cook. Kotoha playing her flute. Chiaki playing pranks on others and Genta's energetic personality. Sure, Genta stopped by almost every day, but it wasn't the same as when they were active as Shinkengers.
"Has Mako mentioned anything?" Asked Jii?
Chiaki shook his head, "She said that she would try her best to catch the earliest flight to Tokyo."
Jii sighed while Chiaki patted Kaoru, reassuring her that Mako will try her best to make it in time for the dinner. Even if she couldn't make it, she would send a video chat to them. Mako had communicated with Chiaki this way while she was overseas.
Kaoru motioned for Chiaki to follow her. Takeru watched on curiously, but shook his head afterwards. Kaoru went into her room and brought out a brown bag and handed it to Chiaki.
"Eh?" Spoke Chiaki, utterly confused.
"Open it." Said Kaoru shyly.
Chiaki nodded unsurely and opened the bag. He blinked when he saw what was in the bag. Chiaki pulled out a white beanie with a brown bear sewn on it.
"I thought that it would look good on you, when I decided to get some gifts for the rest of the team." Said Kaoru, embarrassed.
Chiaki chuckled and ruffled Kaoru's hair, "Arigato, I'll wear it during winter."
Kaoru blushed slightly went back into her room and brought out a white bag, "This is for Ryunosuke-kun."
"I'll get him." Said Chiaki, knowing that Ryunosuke was speaking with Ryunosuke.
Chiaki headed to the living room and found Ryunosuke chatting with Takeru and Jii. Takeru wasn't surprised when Chiaki told Ryunosuke that Kaoru wanted to see him. Takeru knew that Kaoru wanted to give him his gift. Kaoru had gotten him a shirt.
"Hime wants to see you." Said Chiaki, walking into the room.
Ryunosuke nodded and left the room. Chiaki sat down on the floor and placed the hat into his backpack.
"I have to leave for my next class. I'll pop by again tomorrow I suppose." Spoke Chiaki, getting up.
"Will you be staying for the night tomorrow?" Asked Jii?
"I suppose so." Said Chiaki.
After Chiaki had left, Ryunosuke joined them for dinner. The three Shinkengers chatted about their current lives and Jii brought up the two Shiba Heads' college education.
"Chiaki brought over a bunch of pamphlets and brochures, when I asked him to bring some over for you to look at." Spoke Jii.
"That's a good idea for Tono. But doesn't hime need to attend high school first?" Asked Ryunosuke.
"Well she was sort of home-schooled by Tanba, but nothing like a high school type of education." Spoke Jii.
"Maybe, she should attend high school first. I mean, hime is pretty smart but she could use some experience attending school first. Tono did attend school when he was younger, so he shouldn't have any problems in college." Said Ryunosuke.
"Well, I suppose Tanba and I could could check out some schools that the hime could enter. While Tono prepares to enter college." Said Jii.
"But people who are of hime's age are already in college, it would be strange if she attends high school right now." Said Chiaki.
"College will probably be the best, after all Chiaki and Saki-chan will be there to help them!" Said Genta.
Neither Takeru nor Kaoru spoke much during dinner. After defeating the Gedoushu, their lives had been pretty quiet. Other than fighting the Zangyack and the occasional Nanashi Renjuu, there hadn't been any other more threats that required the Shinkengers to keep fighting. Kaoru didn't mind going to school, but if she could attend school with someone she knew like Kotoha, she would feel safe and relived. Takeru on the other hand, was kind of put off by the fact that he would be attending college soon. He didn't really plan on what to do after defeating the Gedoushu. Sure, he did teach teenagers on calligraphy these days. But that was only a temporary way to pass time, perhaps attending college would help him pass the time.
After dinner, Kaoru and Takeru retreated to their own rooms. Ryunosuke pulled Jii and Tanba aside.
"Maybe we can get Kotoha to transfer to Kaoru's future school. I know that it's a little selfish, but at least Kaoru will have a friend there." Said Ryunosuke.
"I was thinking that too, but that's only possible if Kotoha agrees to it. But Kotoha is already in her last year of high school and it's already four months into the start of the school year, she probably wouldn't want to transfer schools at this point." Said Jii.
"Although it is the best for hime, but I agree with you." Said Tanba.
"It would be the best if hime registers for high school by next month. She can still catch up on her school work." Said Ryunosuke.
"Tanba and I will finalise the details by next week, hopefully." Said Jii.
Ryunosuke nodded and went to pick up his stuff and bid Kaoru and Takeru farewell.