Seihana was glowing as the finishing comments were done.
Next to her, Satori grinned at the score that had been given.
"That was quite lovely. I truly enjoyed watching this. I suppose that is not what a mother should say, but it was truly something to watch."
From next to Satori, Kodera could be seen getting up. It was odd to hear such a thing from a grown woman who had just seen her daughter fight it out against two teams in a team-vs-team match. He said nothing on the matter, but wondered just what was going on in the woman's mind.
"So you enjoyed watching Suzu-chan dance about, Mama Misaki?"
"It was not just her." Seihana smiled as she stood as well. "Everyone was 'blooming' quit beautifully. While I do not know the members of the other two teams, I can tell that there had truly been some realizations there. The girls from the all-girls team have figured something out about themselves. The girls who were dancing with my daughter were truly enjoying themselves."
"Wow! You are really refined, Mama Misaki! Even your vocabulary is great."
"Oh my. You certainly know how to flatter someone, don't you, Satori-kun? I just just speaking truthfully. No need to mind my words. If anything, you and Kodera-kun know far better how much they are 'blooming' than someone like me."
It was strange. The words coming from the woman were strange in the way that she spoke like her daughter, using certain words that only they understood the meaning of yet seemed like general words for everyone.
As they waited for others to walk up the stairs, Kodera could not help but think about how the mother-daughter duo were similar and how different they were from each other.
"You had splendid commentary, Narasaka-kun. Someone like me understood it all, so you truly have a nice talent for teaching others. You seem to be 'blooming' in a lovely manner. You also seemed to understand my daughter very well. Truthfully, I think you all understand her much better than I ever could."
Kodera looked forward to see his upperclassman of the same squad. He seemed to have just gotten up from his seat next to Kitora since she had just walked ahead of them.
"All I can say is that I know her more than I would like to know. But thank you for the compliments. Even with those complement," he continued with furrowed brows, "I know I missed out on a few things. I'm not really 'blooming' at all."
The truthful woman gave a slight laugh towards Narasaka.
"On the contrary, I truly see that you are 'blooming proudly' right now. For you to own up to something as small as that means that you are a mature person who is continuing to grow. Ah, yes. You may just be perfect for my daughter."
A response was immediate.
Having been in dangerous situations before, Kodera was aware that those words were not to be messed with. The proof was right before his eyes.
While Narasaka only gave a deep frown at those words, Satori seemed ready to take some kind of action. Likely directed towards the Miwa Squad Sniper.
Unsure if her words had been intentional or not, Kodera took a step forward, intervening before something really happened between the other two Snipers.
"Um... Misaki-san..."
"Kodera-kun."
He nodded.
"You really like certain phrases, don't you? Misaki... Uh..."
He knew that he had to clarify who he was talking about. Both mother and daughter were "Misaki", meaning his use of their names would be how he chose who he was talking about.
And she had told me to call her that name...
He let out a sigh as he continued.
"Suzume...nee...also likes to speak with certain phrases. Her phrases lean more towards dancing with a few about 'blooming flowers'. Does that mean she gets that from you?"
Kodera chose to ignore the looks from Narasaka and Satori as he spoke the name.
The woman in front of him was going to give her answer, so he wanted to be respectful and listen to what she would say.
But...
"Oh my. I am truly sorry if I have confused you. The reason I keep saying 'blooming' is because that is what I truly see."
The answer made no sense.
"Heh heh heh. Maybe it is best if I say that I see 'blooming' the same way my daughter sees 'rhythm'. Does that make more sense? I believe she has truly explain that to you all if she has done so with me."
The follow-up answer made sense. At the same time, it made even less sense.
Kodera, Satori and Narasaka looked at the older woman as they all climbed the last few steps in the large room.
The match between Kotowari Squad, Tsukiko Squad and Shor Squad had just concluded and the group of four were leaving the large room. The group consisted of Misaki Seihana, Satori Ken, Kodera Shōhei and Narasaka Tōru. A conversation had been going on with them that lead to something interesting.
"Um... Misaki-san..."
"Kodera-kun."
He nodded, knowing that he was allowed to continue.
"The way...Suzume-nee sees 'rhythm' is because of a Side Effect. I don't know if she had told you that. So if you see 'blooming' then..."
Seihana only smiled.
She was glowing after having heard the finish comments in her daughter's latest fight.
"Some people just like being loud, don't they?"
Girikage Kasei huffed as he walked next to an older boy.
The older boy was Tsukiko Kaede, brother to one of the people who had just fought in the latest match. During said match he had been feeling oddly tense, unsure as to how his sister and her team would do by the end of it.
Now that the match was over, he felt as if his body was just a bit lighter.
I guess that just shows how much that match meant. Especially for the three teams involved. If I felt tense just watching... How did they feel when actually fighting?
There were a lot of unknowns for someone who had not been in a real fight before and who was only watching from a great distance. Those unknowns could eat away at a person, driving their curiosity to the point where they would want to be in loved themselves.
But...
But.
"I guess that won't happen. At least not for a while."
"What will not happen?"
Kaede looked down at the younger male.
He had forgotten for a moment that he had not watched the fight alone. Someone had decided to join him in watching his sister's match. There was someone who had see exactly what he had seen and who felt the same way towards his own older sibling.
"Hello?"
The look he was getting from the younger Girikage brother was that of a young boy as opposed to someone pretending to be an adult.
It made him feel more at ease.
"Sorry. I was thinking about something. Uh. About joining Border, that is."
"Because of your sister. I get it. I completely get it. I want to join at some point too so that I can help my brother. But..."
Kaede nodded.
"Our siblings won't allow it... I mean...I'm probably too young anyway, but you shouldn't be! Those guys... The ones fighting just now are younger than my brother, but older than me, so you should be fine since you are also younger than my brother and older than me."
"I don't think that's how it works... Even so, it's fine. I was only thinking about those who joined Border."
"Oh! You mean like our siblings. Right, right. Those two are great in their own right. Well, I guess there will always be someone better. We saw that today. Your sister was fighting a single person while she had her teammate helping her, yet they lost. Not to say your sister is weak or anything! I'm sure even my dull brother would have trouble. I think..."
Kaede could feel something twitch.
"Kasei, I enjoy your company, I do. But... You have absolutely no tact. You are still a kid, so I can forgive it, even if I am only a bit older. Even so, you really should take a page from your brother and be calm while talking."
"Huh? What did I say wrong? Well, as a mature person I will apologize."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Kaede could feel another twitch.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
A third twitch.
"You said you would apologize!"
"That didn't count?"
Kasei turned his head while mutter under his breath.
"Being an adult really is hard, isn't it?"
Taking three deep breaths, Kaede tried to calm himself down before he really yelled out in frustration. There was no reason to get agitated over something so slight when there were other things to pay attention to at the moment.
Now that the match was over he could go see his sister and talk to her. To better understand what it felt like during the match for someone who was fighting instead of someone watching.
Fixing his mind on what he wanted to know, he started again towards the door.
As he started for it once more, thinking of how he would go through the small crowd in front of him, he felt something tug his arm. Looking down, he saw that Kasei had been the one to do so. The younger boy was looking directly at him, nowhere else.
"Hey Kaede-san, answer me honestly."
"Ask properly and I will."
This time Kasei nodded.
"If we do join Border at some point, would it be fine if I joined a team with you? You are, admittedly and sadly, my only friend. As such, I would like to be on a team with you."
"Oh. That's all? I wouldn't really mind if you did or not."
"Eh? Eh!? That easy! Is being so relaxed something that comes with growing up!? No, no. That shouldn't be right. Hisa is easily disturbed and Taicchi is always bouncing around. I can't rely on Yoshi since he is just a lazy gamer. Too bad I can't call him a NEET."
"For someone who says he is mature, you like to tear through people who are older than you, don't you?"
"Hm? No. Not really. It's just that those guys are as idiotic as my brother. Not as dull, but they mess around as much as he does. I figure that I don't need to view them in a favorable light when I already know what they are like."
"I see..."
It was the only answer Kaede could think of as they walked out of the large seated room.
The difference between older and younger brother is amazing, was all he could think. It was not a statement he thought would ever come to mind, yet there it was.
"Anyway... Who would even be good teammate by that time? Going back in the conversation a bit."
"From what I saw in the fight... A very good balance would be good. Yeah. A nice one-to-two ratio sounds nice."
"What are you even saying at this point...?"
Hoshi could not help but laugh a bit as she overheard a conversation while walking out of the seated room. There had been no reason to interrupt the two who were going in a different direction, so she stuck to herself.
Would it have been childish if she wanted to join them? Was it too odd for someone like her to want to lower herself to that of children?
"I guess that would mean I am simply going three steps back after watching that match."
"That would be something different. Enjoying yourself and taking some steps back don't always go hand-in-hand, Hime. Besides, as long as you make up for any lost steps then you should be fine."
"Is that so? I believe I understand that. Thank you for the offhanded advice. I will make sure to remember it."
She looked up to see Minoru nod towards her. His approval of her understanding was nice.
"Minoru-senpai, you are quite use to handling those younger than you, aren't you? The way you have spoken to me is simple to understand, yet it is not demeaning in any way."
"I just...know how to handle certain subjects. That is all. Fuzzy... No. Huh. I guess at this point Toby deserves a better name than that. It would actually be a bit insulting if I called him by a name that referred to a him that no longer exists."
Hoshi smiled at hearing the kind words.
He really does care for those younger than him. Thoughts like those are not ones I could imagine thinking of. I would have to be told to not call someone something. He is here, thinking get about Awdry-kun and who he really is as a person.
"And I gave him that name because of his trapper hat."
"..."
"He still wears it, but it just doesn't feel the same anymore. As odd as that sounds."
"From what I know about Awdry-kun, odd stuff just attaches itself to him. I believe it is fine to say that about him."
"Oh yeah. You two are classmates."
It was a simple fact that was easily forgotten.
Hoshi was quick to forgive him.
Her classmate was far more connected to Minoru than she was, so there was no reason for her to have any sort of negative feelings towards him.
"Well I guess that can be out on hold for the moment. We're almost to their room and you have been looking at me like you want to ask something. No need to hold back. Ask about anything on your mind. I will answer to the best of my ability."
He is a really nice person! That is very unfair to someone like me!
.
Hoshi placed a hand in her chest while giving three deep breathes.
Calm down, Hoshi. There is no need to be so amazed by something so simple. Although these kinds of people are not as prominent as the other kind...
The amount of honest and kind people she could think of was enough to count on both of her hands.
Status was something that was important to a lot of people. Inside of and outside of school, it was evident to even her. She stood out among a crowd and her family name was not to be taken lightly by those people who really knew about it. This was how the space between her and most people had been created.
Her elder siblings had always watched out for her whenever they could, but that died out the moment they had left. One had been disowned while the other two had moved away until just recently.
Kō-nii-san has been watching over me during the time they have been gone. I have even been able to make some nice and real friends in Awdry-kun, Kotowari-kun and Mikumo-kun. Oh! Kodera-senpai and Usami-san have been very kind to me as well, so they are very much welcomed.
A space that had been created by selfish people had started to fill up at some point by people who could only be described as "selfless" while still caring about themselves. It became a nice feeling that started to overflow beyond the hole that was created.
The thought of adding anyone else made her feel excitement that rarely came to her. It created a bubble that continued to grow until it burst and started filling the hole back up.
Minoru-senpai would be a nice person to be friends with. But if I go through with my plan and they allow it...I will have at least one other person who I may be able to talk to naturally.
A elegant dancer appeared in her mind.
She had created a large stage out of a forest and performed for everyone watching. A smile had been on her face as she was joined on the stage by others who wanted to find out what it had been like to dance with her.
She was so beautiful too. I am unsure if I can ever reach that kind of beauty, but that does not matter. Comparing myself to someone like that will create a new hole in me. Yes. I should only see her as the beautiful upperclassman who shines. Besides, I do not to be beautiful as long as I am useful.
Clenching her fists, Hoshi puffed out her cheeks while steeling herself.
As she solidified her thoughts, a laugh could be heard next to her.
It was the kind person who had sat with her during the match.
.
"You are a good girl. I can see why Loki brags about you."
"Huh?"
Minoru shook his head with a smile.
He remembered everything that Yuki had said about his younger sister. The amount of gushing from the boy had not been something Minoru had expected from him. At some point it had even extended to Murakami who, shockingly enough, also started going on about the girl.
Now I see why.
The girl was like how everyone spoke of her, yet nothing like it at all. Another perfect person who had so many flaws that it shows just how imperfect they were.
His cousin quickly flashed in his mind.
"So about that question."
"Oh! Yes! My apologies."
"No need."
Hoshi gave another smile.
Minoru was unsure if he was hearing it right or not, but there was a small tapping noise that seemed to be getting closer. It made him lose some focus for a moment and so gave his own smile back as his own inner apology.
"Minoru-senpai, this is an important question, so please answer it very seriously."
"Um... Sure... I mean. Yes."
He suddenly felt nervous under the hard stare.
The tapping was becoming louder.
"May I... Minoru-senpai, may I examine your body thoroughly!?"
.
"Eh...?"
Minoru froze for a second.
The tapping came to a sudden stop.
The hallway was quickly filled by a loud chorus.
"EEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHH!?"