魔女の冒険 Majo no Bouken
by kawaii-witch181
Tenisu no Oujisama © Konomi Takeshi
Recap
"We'll meet here in front of the school after dinner," Eiji decided while Kiyomi only nodded.
"So, it's decided. You all will come. You don't have to bring anything, really. Just yourself, oh, and nice meeting you all," the young witch bowed as she and Neko Eiji walked away to go home.
"See you later, minna!" Eiji shouted back at them. In the distance, they saw the two of them talking animatedly.
"They've become so close, haven't they, Fuji?" Taka questioned.
"Yeah, and Satsuki-san finally opened up to us," the tensai smiled.
~End
Chapter Six - Welcome to the Realm!
A young mint green-haired witch sighed as she flipped a page of her manual book. She fought back a yawn when she shifted in her seat. Neko Eiji sat comfortably above the table among the other manual books.
"Yomi-chan, what exactly are you looking for? We have to go to Seigaku now. I'm sure everyone is there already. At this time, they've already finished their dinner nya~," neko Eiji also shifted as he glanced at the wall clock that read 7:30 in the evening.
"Just a minute, Eiji-kun. I'm searching for a spell to open the portal to the Realm. I can't remember how to open it!" Kiyomi panicked.
"Eh? But...I thought...you..." Eiji was cut off by Kiyomi.
"Yay! Finally found it!" The young witch jumped excitedly.
"You did? That was fast ~nya!" She nodded.
"That's good, then. Ikko!"
"Hai! Let's go!"
-Seigaku Grounds
"Ochibi is late again." Eiji whined. They've been waiting for him since ages ago.
"Momo! Why didn't you meet with him?" He asked his dunk smasher kouhai who was wearing an all ocean blue pair of casual jeans and a sleeveless shirt. A pair of kinda traditional Japanese slippers with cream-colored straps served as his footwear.
Momo rubbed the nape of his neck and nervously laughed, "Gomen, gomen, I forgot senpai. I got so excited about coming here immediately."
~oOo~
As for the others' clothes, let's start with buchou, Tezuka Kunimitsu. He wore black jeans, casual shoes of the same color, and a thin purple jacket with a white t-shirt underneath. For our resident tensai, Fuji Syusuke, he wore thin, sapphire blue jacket-like clothing with a t-shirt of a very dark blue color underneath, and casual jeans in a very dark blue color too. Casual shoes similar to Tezuka's, in terms of color, were present. For our fukubuchou, Oishi Shuichiro, a midnight blue t-shirt was present with the word, CLOSE on it. The jeans were the same color as his t-shirt. He wore white rubber shoes for his footwear. As for our power player, Kawamura Takashi, he also wore white, thin jacket-like clothing with a dark, pastel pink shirt underneath. As for our data man, Inui Sadaharu, he wore a white collared V-neck shirt and steel blue jeans. White rubber shoes with a little shade of fire brick red were present as his footwear. Lastly, our Viper, Kaidoh Kaoru, wore a black shooter shirt and simple cerulean blue shorts. Black rubber shoes served as his footwear.
~oOo~
"Uissu."
"Ochibi/Echizen!"
"What took you so long?"
"It was hard to sneak out, senpai. Karupin kept meowing and following me," the tennis prince replied. He wore a simple white shirt with two ultramarine lines in the middle. As usual, he wore his dark, navy blue shorts. His casual shoes were in a cardinal shade with a line of jet black in the middle.
"Oh."
"Anyway…Since all of you are here already, shall we go?"
"Hai!" They all said in unison.
"After you, Satsuki-sama!"
"What's with the honorific? Don't call me that."
"We're just kidding ~nya!" Neko Eiji laughed.
"Anyway...A-anou...W-would you mind turning back for a sec?" The young witch asked nervously.
"I would mind ~nya!"
"Just do it!" She glared and then turned away to hide her blush.
"O-okay nya." Everyone turned back after that.
"Wand: Summon!"
They heard Kiyomi say. When they all faced the young witch again, they saw her holding a wonderful magical wand. The colors of golden yellow, lavender, and pink decorated its handle with different beads at each ending color. It had a circular orb with a beautiful shade of red at its top and wing-like feathers simply surrounding it.
Odd, with a mixture of amused, looks were directed at her.
"You don't want us to see you summoning a wand?"
Kiyomi looked away and blushed, "It's kind of awkward with those stares."
"Saa...Satsuki-san is the type who gets shy easily."
"Sou da, ~nya!"
"U-Urasai! Stop aiding each other, you two!"
"Demo...Yomi-chan's so cute to tease ne, Fujiko?"
Kiyomi just looked the other way. She noticed she'd been blushing so much today.
"Ne, Eiji. Why didn't you come with Satsuki-san earlier?" Fuji asked. The others' ears perked up. The two mentioned blushed madly as memories of the earlier bath flashed in their minds.
"Ohhhh...Something's suspicious," the second year dunk smasher whispered to his kouhai.
"I think they are hiding something, ne, Echizen?" He added.
"NO! WE'RE NOT!" The two exclaimed instantly.
"It's obvious. They are hiding something," Ryoma mumbled before adjusting his ever-so-present white Fila cap.
"Anyway! Aren't we going to the Realm?" Oishi tried to help his doubles partner since he noticed that Eiji and Kiyomi were fidgeting awkwardly.
"Arigatou, Oishi!" Neko Eiji mouthed and gave him a thumbs up as he stood on two feet. Oishi smiled as he also gave him a thumbs up.
"Senpai?" Kaidoh's voice was heard. All of the regular's eyes looked at where Kiyomi stood. She was tracing a circle-shape type in midair.
"In this place and hour, I call upon the ancient power.
Open the door through time and space.
And create a path to another place."
Few seconds after, a dark blue magic circle appeared. Words in an unrecognizable language occupied its inner secondary layer. Squares in various positions served as the background for its center circle. A single star stood in the middle with a beautiful crescent moon at its very center. Symbols for the four elements and an additional symbol for the Realm were enclosed in separate small circles that also became a part of the magical circle.
"C'mon, we'll be entering the Realm, now. Just follow me, ne," she said before entering the, now animatedly, revolving magic circle.
"Don't worry ~nya! It's safe," neko Eiji assured his teammates before walking into it, disappearing from everyone's sight.
/ How do you even know if it's safe? /
After seeing no one move an inch, Tezuka stepped forward, and also went through it. Soon, everyone followed too.
~oOo~
Ten pairs of eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. They looked around and noticed a grassy, wooden door attached to a hundred-year-old tree. Light seemed to illuminate their spot, for it was kind of dark in the other places. A hanging bridge that only stood half-way was innocently in front of them. The regulars watched Kiyomi walk onto it as it swayed very slowly.
"C-Chotto. You can't possibly cross that bridge," a worried Oishi said.
"Yeah, you will fall, senpai."
"But we have to jump."
"Eh? Why?"
"It's the only way to the Realm," the young witch replied calmly before finally jumping to the deep and dark abyss.
"Wha?"
"Oh! We have to jump too," neko Eiji finally realized.
"You just realized that?" All half-screamed.
"You'll jump?" Ryoma asked his spiky-haired senpai.
"I...I don't...know," Momoshiro answered unsurely.
"Whatever. I'm going to jump too ~nya!" Neko Eiji cheerfully exclaimed before also jumping.
"Eiji!" Oishi half-yelled. In an attempt to calm fukubuchou down, Momo went forward, but unfortunately tripped because of a small rock.
"Hey! That hurts!" The rock said. This made the dunk smasher jolt up in surprise causing him to slip off the cliff. Yeah. Truth be told, he fell into the abyss.
"Momo!" Oishi, once again, screamed worriedly.
"Saa...Stop worrying, will you?" Fuji calmly advised and pushed the vice-captain.
"FUUUJJJIIII!" Fukubuchou's voice echoed loudly.
The said tensai chuckled sadistically. The remaining regulars just looked at him. Seriously, what if... if that happened to them? They inwardly shuddered. Their teammate is such a sadist, doesn't everyone know that?
"Saa...Let's jump too, ne?" He said before jumping to the abyss, too. Soon, everyone followed.
Once, eyes were opened...
"I think we're falling," Fuji said in a monotone voice, smile still in place.
"WE ARE FALLING!" Momo yelled.
"YOMI-CHAN/SATSUKI-SAN/SATSUKI-SENPAI!"
"What?"
"WE ARE FALLING!"
"Iteration much?"
"Do something ~nya!"
"But...I don't know how!"
"Use magic or something ~nya!" Neko Eiji's arms started to flail wildly in the air.
"Demo! I don't know which spell to use!"
Everyone facepalmed.
/ We are so doomed. /
In the distance...
"Oh, something's falling," a young girl said while pointing her index finger to a specific direction. Another girl looked up.
/ They looked like senpai-taichi. /
"I'll help them!" The girl declared to her companion before soaring high up in the sky. The screams got louder as the said girl neared them. She let out her sterling silver wand that featured unique spirit quartz at its tip, and an amethyst and topaz gem for its added decoration. It was accented with a sterling silver faerie and a dark sapphire orb that can be found at its base. This simple, yet magnificent wand seemed so mysterious with just a look at it. But, it still let out an aura that says it is one of the finest wands the Realm ever had.
"Feather Shards!" She chanted.
Just as she said, white velvety feathers began falling. It enveloped the ten falling people and made them land safely on the ground.
"We're saved ~nya. Yokatta!"
"Gomen. I haven't done anything."
"~nya...Daidyoubu, Yomi-chan. At least we're saved, ne."
"I need to practice more spells," the young witch mumbled.
"Yah...Senpai's right Satsuki-senpai. I wonder who saved us, though."
"I'm right. It's really senpai-taichi."
All heads turned to the source of the new, yet familiar, voice.
"Ryuzaki-san/chan?"
The said auburn girl smiled shyly.
"You're the one who saved us?"
"H-hai."
"You're a witch, too?"
"H-hai."
"Oh, so that's why I felt another witch's aura in the school," Kiyomi mumbled.
"Hoi! Ryuzaki-chan's keeping secrets from us! And Ochibi's hurt nya~!" Neko Eiji who was now in Kiyomi's arms pouted. Her chocolate brown orbs curiously stared at him while the tennis prince adjusted his cap on the background while saying something in denial.
"E-Eiji-senpai?"
"Of course it's me, ~nya!"
"But… Secrets are meant to be kept," Kiyomi mumbled.
"No! Secrets should be told ~nya," Eiji argued.
"Secrets won't be called secrets if you told them."
"You're being mean to me, Yomi-chan," Eiji went to sulk in a corner.
"But...I'm just saying the truth," a clueless Kiyomi said.
"Don't worry, Satsuki-san. Eiji just doesn't want his friends to keep anything as a secret from him," Oishi placed a comforting hand on Kiyomi's shoulder.
"Ne...Ryoma-kun..."
"Hm?"
"A-anou...Are you angry with me?"
"Why would I be angry?"
"Iie. N-Nothing much. I just t-thought you were angry."
"Ne, Ryuzaki, why are you wearing all black?"
At this question, all of the other heads shot up. Oh, their kouhai really wore an all-black dress. It was a sleeveless black dress that reached just two inches above her knees to be exact. It puffed out at the lower part that showed a little bit of a red cloth. Red wrist gloves were also present at her hands. Black ballerina-like shoes that had a sharp end served as her footwear. To complete her outfit, a black, stylish witch hat with a crimson ribbon stood on her head. As for her hairstyle, it was beautifully curled up on the sides with some loose hair that cascaded down from it.
/ When did the two of them talk so closely? /
"Black is a color for Goth," Tezuka suddenly said.
"Tezuka! Since when did you know that?" Taka asked as he blinked.
"Masaka! Buchou, you like black?" Kaidoh asked in disbelief.
"Is that why your pants and shirt are all black, buchou?" Momo was the one who asked this time.
"I just read it in my book," Tezuka replied in the same stoic manner.
"So, you admit that you like black huh, Tezuka. You didn't deny it," Fuji chuckled.
"You three, twenty laps around the Realm, now!"
Kiyomi's head shot up, "Around? But, the Realm is so large. They might get lost."
"Hn. Forget it, then."
"You didn't answer my question, Ryuzaki."
"Oh, about that. A-anou, I-I just think this dress is cute. That's why I chose it," Sakuno looked at her dress.
"Yeah, it looks really cute in you."
"Eh? R-Ryoma-kun, did you say something?"
"Betsuni."
"Unfair! Yomi-chan disagrees with me nya!" Neko Eiji yelled out of the blue.
"Oishi-senpai, what's gotten to Eiji-senpai? He looks like a child with a temper tantrum," Momo observed.
"Fssshh...I know Eiji-senpai is childish sometimes...but...isn't this a bit too much?"
They all watched as neko Eiji stomped his furry paws repeatedly. A few seconds after that, he sulked once again. This time, crying his heart out.
"I think you should agree with him?" Taka advised our young witch.
"WHY? Do you really hate me that much because of what I did earlier in the bath?"
Blank and curious stares started to be directed at Eiji and Kiyomi, back and forth.
/ Bath? / They all thought in startle-ish manner. What could have happened between the two of them? The young witch immediately picked Eiji up and hushed him.
"I just told you, I'm not angry anymore."
/ Angry? Seriously, what did Eiji do? /
"But… You still got angry nya!" The neko whined. Kiyomi directed a look that screamed, 'Seriously, you're being childish!' Eiji whined once more.
"Of course, who wouldn't?" The young witch didn't mean for Eiji to hear it, but since he had developed sensitive cat ears, he understood and heard it easily. Waterfall tears started to poor down from his dark blue orbs. Kiyomi was taken aback.
"Eiji-senpai is being so emotional," Ryoma commented. A lighted bulb suddenly illuminated above a certain auburn girl's head.
"That's right! Keyword is emotional! Eiji-senpai is being so emotional because he'd eaten a flossie berry. I think," Sakuno said.
"Flossie berry? You mean that berry whose main purpose is for dental floss?"
"Yeah, that type senpai. Its main purpose is for dental floss, but its berry-like fruit, when eaten, can cause you to be really emotional all of a sudden."
"But, I didn't see Eiji-senpai eat any," Momo said.
"Maybe we didn't see it," Tezuka said.
"Flossie berries just pop out of nowhere. They really look like normal delicious berries, not to mention their taste, too," Kiyomi explained in addition.
"I saw him eat a blue kind of a berry," the tensai informed.
"Then why didn't you stop him?"
"I was interested to watch what would happen next."
"You're a sadist, you know that?"
"I know," the tensai chuckled.
"Wait, I thought flossie berries were red."
"Yes, but they have blue fruits, too."
"Those reds are the cure if you've eaten a blue one."
"Then let's just wait for it to show up."
"No! If you wait, they won't."
"Tch, how ironic."
"And troublesome."
"Saa, how do we cure Eiji, then?"
All averted their gazes to where Eiji stood. The acrobatic player was now lying on the ground, arms flailing wildly. He could've created a very messy snow angel if snow existed.
"I think it's best for Satsuki-senpai to handle Eiji-senpai," Sakuno said.
"Yeah, he went tantrum-ish because of her," Kaidoh agreed.
"What really happened between the two of you?" Taka was being so nosy this time, too.
"Oh...umm...n-nothing h-happened," Kiyomi answered nervously.
"A plant is running away. And it has a red berry," the tennis prince informed them nonchalantly.
"After it!" Momo yelled as soon as he realized the plant, and began running after that. Soon, everyone followed except Kiyomi and Neko Eiji. The regulars, including Sakuno had a hard time catching it. When their hands were only inches away, the said plant would leap, and they would stumble for balance.
"You know, you don't have to think about it so much, Eiji-kun," Kiyomi started.
"You're still angry at me, I know it," Eiji insisted stubbornly.
"Of course not! Do you think I would talk to you if I was still angry?" The young witch smiled as she bent down to pat Neko Eiji's head.
In the background, we can still see the others desperately trying to catch the running away flossie berry plant. Running and stumbling for balance are still evident, dirt flying here and there. It was a funny scene, indeed.
Neko Eiji laughed as he felt the warmth from Kiyomi's hand,"Sou da, nya."
"Kikumaru-senpai's laughing," said Kaidoh.
The others halted to a stop. Seeing that no one was chasing him, the flossie berry magically vanished then and there.
"Ahhh! The plant vanished into thin air!" Neko Eiji observed.
"He's back to normal," Fuji commented.
"It's good for you to be back, Eiji-senpai! Good for you," Momo said.
"Back?" A giant question mark appeared above the acrobatic player's head.
"Oh, you wouldn't want to know," Oishi sighed.
"Oh, if you say so, Oishi."
"Ne, Ryuzaki-san."
"You used to call me Sakuno-chan, Yomi-senpai. We always played together whenever we got the chance during our young childhood days, don't you remember?" Sakuno asked in a much comfortable voice.
"Childhood days? Oh! So that's why you look oddly familiar. Ehehe! Gomen, Sakuno-chan! You can call me Yomi-chan just as always!" Kiyomi squealed before hugging the auburn girl, finally remembering.
"Of course," Sakuno smiled.
/ Ryuzaki didn't stutter. /
/ Hehe. Yomi-chan will surely agree to help us into matchmaking ~nya. /
"A-anou.. Can I ask why did you a-all came here in the Realm? I-I mean... It's normal for Yomi-chan to be here...d-demo..e-eto...Senpai-taichi and Ryoma-kun are not witches like us..." the auburn girl trailed off.
Kiyomi laughed, "Actually...only Eiji-kun and I were coming here in the first place to get the Animal Potion Reverse Recipe. But, you know, Eiji-kun can't just not show up in their tennis practices, so we didn't have a choice but to tell the other regulars. It went well, but, Momoshiro-kun asked if they could come, too. I asked for Eiji-kun's opinion, of course. And you know what his answer would be. And in the end, I agreed for all of them to come."
"Eiji-senpai drank a potion?" Sakuno asked.
"Yah, he accidentally drank it out of curiosity." Neko Eiji laughed in the background.
"Do you happen to know where Broom-chan is, Sakuno-chan?"
"Broom-chan? You mean, Ramifiée de Neige Beauté du Genêt?"
"Yup, that's her."
"Say what?" Kaidoh asked in disbelief. Tezuka's, Fuji's, and Taka's eyebrows all knitted in confusion and puzzlement.
"Rami...Ra...Ra...Fi...What?" Momo stuttered.
"Can we even consider it as a name?" Ryoma asked.
"It's in French, Ryoma-kun. That's the real name of our young witches' tutors here," Sakuno explained.
"That's why we prefer to call them Broom-chan and other nicknames for short," Kiyomi elaborated.
"Interesting," Inui simply said as he took notes, as usual.
"The name's weird, I prefer the nickname. It seems more normal."
"We're not normal beings, Momoshiro-kun. We're witches, that's why."
"Momo is just fine, Satsuki-senpai."
"Momo-kun then," the young witch smiled. Oh, how good it feels when you developed new friends.
"Just drop the kun, senpai. It feels weird."
"Oh, really? O-Okay, then."
"A-anou..I think...Broom-chan's in the Palace with Usagi-chan. There's a meeting there. Now that I think about it, it has been going on lately," Sakuno answered Kiyomi's earlier question.
"Palace? You mean Château la Royaume, as in the Queen's Palace? The very Palace of the Realm?"
"Uh, hai," Sakuno answered.
"Satsuki-san's so excited," Fuji said.
"We're going there? That's the very first place I wanted to visit when I finally got back here! Lucky!" Kiyomi cheerfully exclaimed.
"Listen up, everyone! We'll be visiting the Palace! Yay! Oh! Normal humans are allowed in the Realm, right?" She announced.
"Of course, at least, that's what I know. Her majesty already informed us that we can bring any normal humans here, as long as they won't cause any trouble."
"Just behave properly, minna," Oishi advised.
"And don't let your guard down."
"And Eiji-kun, don't just go wandering around."
"Catch, Taka-san."
"BURNING! WE'LL SURELY HAVE FUN IN THE PALACE, GREAT-O!"
"Fuji-senpai. Since when did you bring a racket here? Fsshhh.."
"20 laps when we get back, Fuji."
"Not in the Realm?" The tensai chuckled.
"50 laps."
"Hai, hai."
"Shall we go then, nya?"
"Hai!" Several voices echoed in enthusiastic replies.
"C-Chotto, senpai-taichi." Sakuno halted.
"What is it, Ryuzaki-san?" Tezuka asked.
"A-anou. Yomi-senpai...Y-You have to change first. We have to wear our normal Realm clothes, not our h-human clothes."
"Oh,...ahahha... Gomen, I forgot. It's really been awhile since I last visited the Realm. My bad. My bad. It's a policy, right?" Kiyomi winked.
Eiji's dark blue orbs blinked, "You're going to transform into something similar with Ryuzaki-chan's clothes ~nya?"
"Something like that," The young witch grinned.
"Magical Efficacy: Unlock!"
"Heeh. It's been a while since I last wore these clothes. Kinda feels nostalgic," Kiyomi grinned as she touched her new clothing. A tube type of dress reached her knees. The lower half of it was black with inverted red triangles at the very low end. A single black line ran across the middle of the inverted triangles. While the upper half of the dress was in candy apple red with angelic white ruffles at the top of it, a simple yellow-orange ribbon stood in its center and slightly large, circular orbs decorated its two ends. Simple raspberry red-laced shoes served as her footwear. Kiyomi's mint green hair was tied up elegantly like a natural ribbon on her head while the rest of her hair was just let down.
"Yomi-chan's so adorable ~nya!" Eiji commented as he grinned.
The young witch's cheeks were decorated with pink hues,"A-Arigatou, Eiji-kun."
"May I ask, Satsuki-san, why don't you have a hat like Ryuzaki-san's?" Inui asked.
"Ehehehe… I don't want one. This outfit looks more adorable without the hat, right? But if situation's gonna call for it, I can wear one," Kiyomi answered as she twirled.
"Sou, Sou," Momoshiro agreed.
"Saa.. I have a question, Ryuzaki-san," said Fuji.
"What would i-it be, F-Fuji-senpai?"
"Hmmm, what would happen if you didn't change into your Realm clothes? Satsuki-san said it's a policy, right?"
"Yes, it is, but only when you enter the Palace. Otherwise, you won't be allowed to enter at all. But, if you're outside the Palace, it's your choice whether you want to wear it or not. Any clothing would be fine," Sakuno explained.
"Why is that?" Inui interrogated.
"A long, long time ago, when the Realm only half-existed, inhabitants from the other dimension suddenly appeared here. They caused a never-ending chaos here, and soon, their main target was the Realm's Palace. Of course, in the end, the ancient witches finally succeeded in driving them away and they managed to seal the entrance the other dimension used. The Palace took safety measures after that, including the policy for the Realm clothes. The Realm Clothes served as the identification card for the witches that really lived here. If you don't have one, you might be thought of as one of those from the other dimension. The elders, as well as the Queen still remain alert if anyone has the intention to cause destruction to the Realm. That's what Usagi-chan told me."
"Usagi-chan?" Oishi questioned.
"Similar with Yomi-chan's Broom-chan, she's my tutor too," the auburn girl answered.
"Why does the Realm Clothes' Policy only apply inside the Palace? Isn't it also dangerous outside?" Tezuka couldn't help but be curious, too.
"G-Gomen, senpai. Demo, I-I don't know the answer for that. But, I think it is because the Royaume is the one who balances all the magic here. If it were destroyed, the whole Realm would be destroyed, too," Sakuno replied.
"Ah."
"About what you said with the policy, wouldn't we be mistaken as one of the inhabitants of the other dimension? We don't have any of your Realm clothes," Inui interrogated once more.
Sakuno shook her head, "Of course not, Inui-senpai. The Palace can immediately detect those from the other dimension. Her majesty already casted a powerful spell for that. And besides, you're humans. The magic can detect that, too.
"You're extra talkative today, Ryuzaki," Ryoma commented out of the blue.
The said auburn girl blushed as usual, "E-Eh?... G-Gomen."
"Ochibi! That's rude ~nya!" Neko Eiji yelled as he poked Ryoma's leg.
"Kikumaru-senpai! That hurts!"
"Echizen, apologize to Ryuzaki-san. Look! She looks like she's about to cry any second now. You can't just say something so rude like that. You just can't!" Momoshiro dragged Ryoma within a Ryuzaki-far-away-earshot. The tennis prince glanced at the auburn girl. She was biting her lower lip and her eyes looked a little watery. He noticed she wore a sad frown.
/ I didn't mean it the wrong way. /
"What are you waiting for? Go apologize!" Momoshiro pushed Ryoma to Sakuno's direction.
/ There's no nearby Ponta. /
Fortunately, a can of Cherry Ponta materialized on his hands at that very moment.
/ Ponta? / Ryoma thought quizzically.
/ I figured you needed some extra help. / A voice answered on his head.
/ Who are you? / The tennis prince asked.
/ Satsuki-senpai /
/ You read minds, senpai? /
/ Of course not. That's invasion of privacy. It's obvious you needed something to give her. And no, this is not reading minds. It's telepathy. Just for this time, I'm going to use it. Now, go give that to Sakuno-chan. /
/ Arigatou, senpai. /
"Want some?" A can of pink-colored Ponta was offered in front of Sakuno's face.
"E-eh? A-Arigatou, Ryoma-kun," The auburn girl's frown finally turned into a smile.
"Betsuni."
"Echizen even brought a can of Ponta here."
"I bet he placed it in his pocket."
"Tsk. That Echizen, sneaky brat."
"Saa.. At least he didn't made Ryuzaki-san cry,"
"You did something, didn't you ~nya?" Neko Eiji whispered to Kiyomi.
"What are you talking about, Eiji-kun?" The young witch asked innocently.
"You don't have to lie, nya. I know you did something."
"Okay. Okay. I'm the one who gave him the Ponta."
"I figured there would be no vending machines here in the Realm. That's why I brought one," the two heard Ryoma say.
"Oh, but there are vending machines here in the Realm, too," Sakuno clarified.
All the regulars shuddered at the thought of the drinks. Who knows what they would taste like, maybe worse than Inui juice.
"Why are you shuddering? The drinks are not that disgusting, if that's what you're thinking. We drink it too, you know," Kiyomi informed.
"Y-you should try one, senpai-taichi," Sakuno smiled.
"Ah...M-maybe later," Oishi replied, unsurely.
"Maybe we should go the Palace now," Eiji said.
"Oh! I forgot about that! Let's go now, ne?" Kiyomi's light tangerine orbs sparkled in excitement.
"Hai," Sakuno said before soaring high up in the pale pink-lavender sky.
"Remember, you can fly too, Yomichan-senpai. You are in the Realm now, not the Human World," the auburn girl reminded Kiyomi.
"Of course, I didn't forget that. Oh, Yomi-chan's fine," Kiyomi said as she flew up to the sky, too.
Sakuno shook her head. "You are my senpai."
Kiyomi giggled. "Suite yourself, then."
"Oi! How about us ~nya? We can't fly," Neko Eiji pouted.
The young witch laughed. "Gomen. I forgot about that, Eiji-kun."
"We can make them stay in a flying cloud, senpai." Sakuno suggested.
"Hmm.. That will do," Kiyomi nodded.
"Wand: Summon!"
The two of them said in unison. As they got their hands on their respective magical wands, they created a fluffy cloud in a soft spring green color and settled it just beside the Regulars.
"Feels like a fluffy cotton candy," Fuji commented as he touched the floating cloud.
"Can I eat it, ~nya?" Neko Eiji enthusiastically asked.
"Oi...C-Chotto, Eiji-kun!" Kiyomi halted but it was too late, the pink cat already ate a portion of the cloud.
"Yuck! It tastes so bitter ~nya! I thought clouds here tasted like cotton candy," Neko Eiji stuck his tongue out in a disgusted manner.
Kiyomi giggled because of Neko Eiji's antics, "Yes it is. But, only those made by the official cloud makers of the Realm. If it's not, it will taste horrible."
She heard Sakuno and the others gasp all of a sudden, "Eh? What's the matter?"
When our resident young witch averted her gaze to Tezuka-buchou, she saw a few scratches on the captain's face (left cheek mainly). She couldn't help but also gasp.
"Eiji-kun...You...?"
The sane regulars just gulped as they saw Tezuka's eye glasses flash in a threatening manner. Fuji kept his eyes closed and smiled as he said,
"Maa, Tezuka. I bet that hurts."
"Eiji, why did you do that?" The mother hen questioned.
"G-Gomenasai ~nya. I-I didn't mean it, Tezuka! I promise!"
"Then why?" Taka asked.
"I-It's because of the...a-anou... portion of the cloud Eiji-senpai ate. The magic on it has some undesirable effects," Sakuno tried to explain.
"That's why I attempted to stop you," Kiyomi sighed.
A drop of blood slowly trickled down Tezuka's cheek.
"Buchou's bleeding," Ryoma stated.
"Here, Tezuka-san," Kiyomi offered a yellow handkerchief in front of the captain.
"I put a healing spell on it. Your wound will heal in no time," she smiled.
"Arigatou," Tezuka thanked her in a firm voice. The young witch now floated in front of Neko Eiji.
"Hmmm.. Want to come with me during the trip? Who knows what side effects will arise for you," she playfully smiled.
"Mou. Yomi-chan's being mean."
"Hai. Hai. Whatever you say," Kiyomi laughed as she picked the pink cat up. Cat-like amber orbs stared at them.
"You want to be treated like that by Ryuzaki-san, right?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, Fuji-senpai."
The tensai just chuckled. "If you keep on denying like that, Echizen, nothing will happen."
"Che."
"Oh, and Tezuka. Does Satsuki-san like you now?" Fuji teased.
"Huh?" Kiyomi reacted.
"Fuji-senpai, just because you lent a someone a handkerchief doesn't mean you like him/her already," Momo said in confusion.
"Sou da ~nya," Eiji suddenly agreed.
"Just because I lent a handkerchief, it doesn't mean I like Tezuka-san already," Kiyomi mimicked Momoshiro's statement.
"So, you hate him?" Fuji interrogated.
"Of course not."
"Then, you like him."
"You're being pushy, Fuji-kun. I don't like nor hate Tezuka-san," Kiyomi clarified.
"Fuji, that's enough," Tezuka said as he pressed the handkerchief to his cheek.
"Oh, but I'm just clarifying it, Tezuka."
"THAT'S ENOUGH NYA!" Neko Eiji crossed his arms. All heads turned to him.
"Yomi-chan doesn't like Tezuka-buchou," He added, seriously.
"What's gotten to Eiji-senpai?" Momoshiro whispered to his kouhai. Ryoma just gave him a shrug as an answer.
"Ii data. Kikumaru seems to be jealous," the data man mumbled to himself.
"Maybe it's the hidden effects of the flossie berry?" Taka laughed nervously.
"Why don't we go to the Palace now, ne?" The acrobatic player suggested cheerfully like he didn't say any serious stuff at all. The young witch just nodded. The tennis prince, without saying anything, just sat on the edge of the cloud. Soon, the others followed. Just like Ryoma, they also sat on the cloud. Since all are now ready, both young witches finally flew to the sky, followed by the floating cloud behind.
"We'll be able to view the Realm from up here," Sakuno informed them.
"Ryuzaki-chan's like our tour guide ~nya!" Neko Eiji said.
The rest of the regulars watched in awe as the two witches flew expertly in mid-air. Sakuno seemed to be enjoying it, for she would change courses after some time. Unable to keep it in, she took a playful circular flip just like an expert gymnast in the human world, except, she was doing it in mid-air.
"That's awesome, Ryuzaki-san," Taka commented.
"Hehe. Arigatou, senpai," she thanked him.
"Ne, can you flip like that too, Yomi-chan?" Eiji asked.
"Oh? But, you might get dizzy," Kiyomi said
"Try it ~nya." He pursuaded.
"Okay, then."
After it was said, Kiyomi also did a playful circular flip in mid-air. A strong breeze suddenly blew by that made the two of them unbalanced for a while.
"Whew. That was close. I almost lost my grip on you." Kiyomi said.
"But! It's fun ~nya."
"Fssshhh.. The sun's almost set." Kaidoh suddenly said as he looked up.
"We're finally here," Sakuno announced before she landed on the Palace's front green meadow.
"The Realm's Palace!" Kiyomi squealed as she also landed and immediately loosened her grip to Neko Eiji, who just inhaled the calm breeze of the meadow.
"Whoa, this Palace is floating," Ryoma said in awe.
"That's expected in a Magical World, Echizen," Inui said to him.
"I bet you didn't expect this either, Inui-senpai."
"Look, there's a miniature waterfall here," Taka said as he bent down to plunge a hand in the flowing water in front of him.
"Oh, so a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow really exists. How fascinating!" Oishi said in delight after he noticed the bows of colors nearby the waterfall. Sure thing, a pot of gold existed at the end of the colorful and transparent stripes.
"Isn't it cute? A cactus here already bloomed," Fuji stated as he examined the said plant beside a bunch of flowers.
"That's too large for a normal cactus, senpai," Ryoma whispered.
"There's a burger-shaped plant here," Momoshiro laughed.
The tennis prince turned to the dunk smasher and sighed, "You're being hungry again, Momo-senpai."
"And, there's a painting of a mountain here. It seems to be moving as if it's real." Tezuka stated.
"Seriously, buchou?" Ryoma questioned before taking a peek.
"There really is," Buchou said.
"C-Chotto. Tezuka-buchou, Ryoma-kun. That's a portal to the Cascade de Glace Mountain. It is winter there now. You'll freeze to death if you enter that!" Sakuno exclaimed.
"Oh, thanks for detaining us, Ryuzaki-san," Tezuka said.
"You're fit for a tour guide, Ryuzaki," Ryoma smirked.
"A-Arigatou, Ryoma-kun," The auburn girl looked down as she blushed.
"Fssshh... Here," Kaidoh held out some meadow grass to a light lavender blue rabbit similar to the Beveren breed. It happily nibbled on the offered grass as Viper formed a small smile, watching the fur of white eat.
"How cute, Kaidoh-kun. You love animals, don't you?" The young witch asked him as she observed.
"Fsshh..." The Viper just hissed as an answer.
"Matte ~nya!" Neko Eiji yelled as he chased a small, lilac-blue butterfly with a paler underside. He desperately reached for it but still failed. Finally, the winged insect settled on a white clover flower with cerise pink on its edges.
"Oh, you're hungry ~nya?" The pink cat asked to no one in particular as he cat-like sat on the grassy ground, watching the Summer Azure Butterfly sip the honey-sweet nectar.
"They seem to be enjoying themselves," Kiyomi settled beside Sakuno under a magnificently large Rainbow-colored Sakura tree. Both of them eyed each of the Seigaku Regulars.
"I'm glad they tagged along," The mint green-haired young witch added with a bright smile.
"Hai. I actually didn't expect them to come here. But you know, I got the feeling senpai-taichi would make this trip like a very exciting adventure. And that includes you too, Yomi-chan-senpai," Sakuno formed a closed-eye smile.
"You bet, Sakuno-chan!" Kiyomi beamed.
"Shall we go inside now?" The auburn girl asked.
"Hai! I can't wait!" The young witch giggled.
"Minna! Let's go inside the Palace now. The evening breeze is finally coming up," she announced to the regulars who soon gathered around the two of them.
"I wonder how the Palace looks like," Fuji smiled.
"I want to have a tour inside ~nya!"
"We'll be walking on foot. It's more fun that way, ne?" Kiyomi finally said with a grin.
.Tsuzuku.
A/N: Everyone, I'm sorry for the LONG wait! The new chapter should have been posted weeks ago..but...we didn't have any internet connection for almost two weeks... I have no choice but to wait patiently..and at that time, I took the time to write the two new chapters to make it up to you readers...Oh! And by the way, for visual representation for chapter six, I posted up links in my profile..just visit it there. I hope you'll find the pictures cute! Oh, and special thanks to 32692010 for becoming my beta reader! I appreciate your help..Thank you very much! Thank you for reading, minna!