CHAPTER 9
BONDS
December 25, Sunday
Evening
Iwatodai Dorm, Dining Table
"Another round, and this time I'll win!" Junpei is going for another piece of cake.
"No, I'll win!" Yosuke does the same thing.
"I wanna win this one too!" Ken said.
"I'm not backing out on this one too," Kanji hurriedly eats his piece.
"You're all gonna lose to me again!" Teddie raised fork and then started to eat cake.
"I won't be so sure about that!" Ryoji's going in for the win.
"Stop that stomach-churning game of yours, Stupei! You're gonna make Ken sick; and the other three as well!"
"But Ken was the one who wanted to join too."
"Ugh, forget it, there's no use talking through you."
"Join us if you feel left out! C'mon, I know you want to!"
"Thanks but I'd rather not. And it's obvious that I'm not interested. Hey save some for the rest too!"
"But this cake's huuuge!" Teddie's face is filled with icing, "And yummy too!"
"I thought you all wouldn't like it," said Mitsuru. "And I appreciate you for having this party, Akihiko."
"Nah, I did this just for the fun. We all had separate plans yesterday, so this will make it even things out."
"Mitsuru-senpai, Junpei's finishing off the cake!" Ken said.
"Just do as you please," Mitsuru chuckled. "There's still plenty for everyone."
"I'm glad you didn't bake that cake," said Yosuke.
"What's that suppose to mean, huh? Since you like this cake, here's more!" Chie shoved her piece on his face.
"Gyaah?" Yosuke's face is filled with icing.
"And since I've done that, you have to let me eat your piece," Chie took Yosuke's piece and had a small bite.
"What? No fair! Give it back!"
"Too late, I already ate a piece."
xXx
Lounge
"I hope you don't mind if I invited Ryoji, do you?" Minako asked. "The more the merrier; especially when Chidori's here along with those two outside!" Minako placed her left arm over Chidori.
"Hm? Nope, I don't," Shinjiro is busy eating.
"I also wanted to eat your homemade cake, Senpai..." Minako pouts as she ate her slice of the cake. "But this mocha-filled vanilla cake's super! Thanks, Mitsuru-senpai!"
"Stop sulking and eat," Shinjiro ate his, "You'll get to have some on your birthday."
"You mean it? Yay!" she raised both arms up. "Yikes, that was close!" her plate almost fell.
"Sometimes I wonder why you're like a child."
"I'll say the same thing to Rise-san," Souji said.
"Hm?" Rise looked at him confused.
"I hope I'll get to bake a cake when we get back," said Yukiko.
"Ooh, let me taste it when you do!" said Rise.
"Sure!"
"Chidori, don't you like it?" Minako asked Chidori who's sitting beside her.
"It's fine, but I still feel nervous around everyone."
"We're here to have fun! You should thank Akihiko-senpai for the party and Junpei for the invitation."
"Yes, I do want to thank you as well, Minako. But I'm not quite sure with those two outside," she looked outside the open door. "They're not used to being with everyone, y'know."
"Just don't mind us, Chidori, go enjoy yourself," said Jin who's busy eating cake with Takaya.
"Remind me again why we're here, Jin?"
"Chidori; we're convinced because she's persistent and because of this cake," he ate another bite.
"True, this cake's yummy."
"I guess we should hang out with them more often, huh?"
xXx
Since the dining table and the sofas are full, another table is set up in the lounge for the remaining batch.
"How's the cake, Metis?" Minato asked.
"It's delicious."
"That's good. We haven't had cake since the Senior year. Aigis, are you alright?"
"I'm just happy, and the sweetness of this cake reminds me how we all met."
"Was he this kind, Aigis-san?" Naoto asked.
"No, I don't remember him being like this," she chuckled a little.
"Minato-san was always sleeping and staying in before," said Metis.
"That's because there wasn't anything good to play at the arcade," he replied.
"No, you were just not that active," Metis added.
"Since Naoto-san arrived, Minato-san has been smiling always," said Aigis.
"Stop, you're embarrassing me..." Minato looked down while eating. Naoto just laughed.
"Will you be really going back to your town?" Aigis asked.
Naoto nodded, "Yes, because our school year hasn't ended yet, and we'll be in trouble if we delay."
"Will you be visiting us someday?"
"Of course, we will!"
"Then when that comes, we shall have another feast ready," Metis said.
"Why do we always have recent eating and party scenes anyways...?" Minato murmured to himself.
"You're lucky that androids like you don't get fat," said Souji. "It's still amazing to meet real-life androids."
"Yeah, I wish I was an android," Ryoji entered the conversation, "then I wouldn't be always tired! Isn't that right, Aigis-san?"
"It gets tiring too," Aigis looked away from Ryoji.
"Geez, it's Christmas, Aigis-san! At least show me a friendly face and smile!"
"I suppose just this once I will befriend you."
"That's kinda mean," Ryoji pouted. "But it's better than ignoring me! Now I know what to add on my Christmas and New Year's wish."
xXx
"AAAGGHHH!" Junpei yelled. "INCOMING!" he ran to the restroom.
~ SLAM ~
"Hey...!" Yosuke's jumping towards the restroom. "I know there's another seat there so let me in...! C'mon, let me in!" he's jumping up and down while knocking loudly on the door.
"Oooh, Teddie can't hold it...! Don't take too long in there...!" Teddie's pacing back and forth.
"Yes, I won!" Ken raised his plate. "I beat you, Junpei-senpai!"
"Good for you, kid," said Kanji and then burped after drinking soda.
"See, I told you to stop earlier," Yukari's eyes are squinted. "But you deserve that so accept your punishment."
The night continues on with a blast until Ryoji, Chidori, Jin, and Takaya went home since it was already 3AM. The rest returned to their rooms after cleaning up. The Yasogami girls were sharing rooms with the Gekkoukan girls while the same goes for the boys: one Yasogami and one Gekkoukan in each room, except for Metis who's staying in Aigis' room and Koromaru's inside Ken's room by the way.
CHAPTER 9 END
junkosakura01: *sigh* Why do I always want to squeeze in all the characters...? Cake's not the only food there, by the way. There's a variety of choices so it's hard to detail every bit...and why do I always make eating food scenes...? Welp, that's just how it is, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the rest! The final chapter is just ahead! Whoo! Aww, almost the end of this story...? T^T