I no own, you no sue.
One by one, Team Four arrives at Reika-sensei's apartment. No more than light training for the week, she had said. Try to enjoy your time off, and come to my home for dinner on the seventh day. Walter was surprised to discover that his teacher lived in the same apartment complex as him – only she rented out a set of rooms on the pricier top floor.
The assemble outside her door, first Hiko, who waits silently. Walter shows up, but it's not until Michiyo arrives that they knock on the door. Walter takes her hand and gives it a brief squeeze in greeting (a kiss is too indecent in front of company) and she dimples at him. Hiko's eyebrows raise but he remains quiet for once.
When she answers the door, Reika-sensei is wearing not her typical purple wrap shirt and leggings, but instead a white sweater and jeans. It seems even she is making a concession towards the cooling weather.
"Hey guys." She smiles, letting them in. They assess the smile on her face quickly. It's not as bright as they're used to, but less strained than a week ago.
The main room of her apartment is spacious, with walls painted a calm tea green, brass lamps lighting a squashy grey couch. Several black and white ink paintings hang on the wall, and Walter surmises that she must have done them herself, from what she's spoken of her hobbies, and sure enough, upon closer look he can see her signature squiggled on each one. Reika-sensei ushers them to the kitchen part of the room, which has white Formica counters, beaten up appliances and blonde wood cabinets.
Then a wall of scent hits them, and their well-conditioned stomachs immediately rumble. Garlic, the scent of baked bread, something tangy, and cooked poultry.
"Dinner's ready. We'll eat at the kitchen table."
She plies them with a vinaigrette salad, garlicky buttered bread, freshly cooked green beans, and grilled chicken marinated in something sweet and tangy. They make no sound except to eat, concentrating on the flavors. Reika-sensei does not stock cola in her refrigerator – she can't stand carbonated drinks – but she has a jug of iced green tea that is sweet enough to satisfy even Walter, while Hiko settles for orange juice.
Reika-sensei finishes first, and sits patiently for the three teenagers to eat their fill. Eventually the clink of utensils on ceramic slows, then fades.
"Done? Was it good?"
"Delicious," says Hiko, and Michiyo nods enthusiastically. Walter grunts his agreement.
"Glad you liked it. I've got some good news for you." The trio perks at this. "Team Four has been chosen to participate in the Chuunin Exams, which will be held in Hidden Mist in four months." Michiyo explodes into excited chatter, Hiko grins, and Walter smiles quietly. "Yeah, I thought so. So. We've got three and a half months to get you guys ready. How do you guys propose to go about these preparations?"
"Gather information first." Hiko says promptly, fiddling with his cartilage piercing. "Knowledge is power." Walter nods sharply.
"Should interview Chuunin, and Genin who failed their tests."
"Yeah." Michiyo chips in. "An' if we talk to enough people, we'll find out what a Chuunin Exam typically consists of, and what kind of people pass and don't pass."
"Very good." Reika-sensei approves. "I'll tell you about my own Exam once you've finished compiling information."
"All right." Michiyo says.
"So take… what, perhaps four days to ask around, and on the fifth day we'll put all the information together and devise a training schedule. Sound good to you guys?"
The trio makes noises of agreement. She leans back in her chair, satisfied.
"Now that that's out of the way, I have a proposition for you. Would you like to sign the Summon Contract I own?"
"Cat Summons?" Walter asks in clarification.
"That's right."
"Hnh." He replies. "Yes. Please."
"Sure, why not?" Michiyo says, tilting her head slightly. Hiko just shrugs.
"Of course. Can I get a closer look at the Contract when we are finished signing it?"
"Will you learn from it?" Reika-sensei asks rhetorically, and he smirks back at her. "Then of course you can. I've taught you about Summon Contracts, and Hiko, I expect you've read further on the subject. My contract is different from a Grand Summon Contract, but the same rules apply: once you sign it, you can no longer sign another Contract. I want you to think carefully about my offer, and get back to me tomorrow morning at the usual place. I'll let you meet my Summons before you sign, and they'd have to approve you before you sign as well. We'll gather information about the exam the day after tomorrow. You guys get that all?" The teenagers nod. "Good. Anyways, I made caramel pudding. Anyone up for that? Yeah, I thought so."
I like reviews. I do, I do.