"Functions?" Apollon asked, clearly looking confused.
As planned, Yui called a meeting of the student council with the purpose of planning a school trip. Per her sister's request, Nari joined them, sitting quietly on the arm of a couch at her sister's side. Strangely, Dionysus had decided to join them, sitting similarly on a chair arm beside his own sibling. Tsukito sat beside Balder on an opposite couch, taking notes on the sisters' explanation.
"That's right. Like outside school and seaside school. Both are overnight trips, but outside school is in the forest or mountains. Seaside school is on the beach."
"The beach sounds great," Apollon exclaimed. A level of excitement they hadn't entirely been expecting.
"Do you like the beach, Apollon?" Nari asked, finally deciding to take some part in the conversation.
"Mm-hmm. I like it. I like it a lot. I even borrowed a bunch of books from the library to learn more about humans."
Yui gasped. "Really?" The idea of the students taking such a strong interest lit up her face with a beaming smile. "You studied on your own?"
A proud smile split his face from ear to ear. "Yes! I've been studying all kinds of things. The most useful book of them all…" Apollon began, placing his saucer on the coffee table and digging through his school bag. "… was this one!" Yui took one look at the cover and nearly spat out her tea in surprise. Even Cupid Runs Away Barefoot: 100 Summer Flings. "It was really informative. It's great!"
Nari's eyes blew into big brown spheres and her heart dropped into her stomach. She nearly choked at the sight of it. In Apollon's hands was a magazine. It wasn't atypical; the sort of thing one might find on the shelves of a supermarket. What drew her attention was the tabloid's cover. Standing in the sand beneath the sunset were two models, intended to be lovers, wrapped up in each other's arms. One was wearing a purple one-piece cut entirely out in the back with three diamonds of fabric making up the front, the other wearing a standard pair of navy blue swimming trunks. The woman, with violet hair and deep blue eyes, leaned blissfully into the man's embrace gazing up at him with an alluring smile. And in the bottom left corner were notes on the magazine's contents, including an exclusive with the woman on the cover.
Luna Gets Up Close and Personal with Her New Look!
As if that weren't bad enough, Apollon flipped to a center page, folding back the book, and reading its contents aloud. "At the beach in midsummer, setting sun at your backs, rubbing naked bodies together breeds friendship." While he was reading his excerpts, Yui gaped at him, a furious blush rising to her face at the absurdity of his 'advice.' Nari was no longer listening; eyes glued on the page facing her. She could vaguely see a large image of the aforementioned star — herself — gazing coyly back at her.
Scowling, Nari hopped from the chair arm and moved swiftly forward, putting a stop to Apollon's rant. She snatched the magazine from his grasp, snapping it closed and dropping it face down on the table. Apollon jumped, startled by her aggressive reaction and a little hurt that she had interrupted his romantic spiel.
"Tabloids are a terrible way get advice, Apollon," she muttered, ignoring the look of concern from her younger sister. "Where did you even find that thing anyway?"
"Oh, Loki-Loki recommended it! He said it would be very helpful."
"Of course, he did…" Nari nearly growled. Was this his idea of a joke? Perhaps he needed a tennis ball to the face.
"Erm…" Yui smiled nervously, trying to diffuse the situation. "Nari's right. I'm not sure that particular book is best for our situation. Not the rubbing together… or the naked bodies. But you're not entirely wrong about breeding friendship. I think the beach could be a good idea."
Nari agreed. "So, it's decided then. Now, we need to focus on how we are going to convince the other gods to come along."
Tsukito answered immediately. "I'm sure Takeru Tostuka will come. As a god of the sea, he loves the beach."
"Oh. Well, that works," Yui mumbled.
Apollon smiled, already getting excited for the upcoming trip. "Good idea! Di-Di and I will invite Uncle Hades."
"…Uncle?" Yui asked, blinking as she looked slowly between the two Greeks.
Nari shrugged. "Dionysus and Apollon are brothers. So are Hades and Zeus."
Yui turned, the surprised look on her face mirroring that of the other two gods. "Wow, Nari. You've really have been studying, haven't you?" Again, her sister shrugged before turning her gaze toward the exit. "Okay, let's split up and work on convincing our respective students. I'll work on getting the supplies."
"Wonderful! I'll help you," Balder offered.
There was a small chorus of agreement from the gods. With the decisions made, their meeting was adjourned. Once everyone started moving, Nari discreetly collected the magazine from the coffee table and turned toward her sister. Her role in their planning was done. Or so she thought. "It sounds like you guys have everything figured out?"
"Looks that way," Yui affirmed.
"Great. Let me know how it turns out." With a silent wave, Nari spun around and made a beeline for the door.
Yui jumped, leaping from her seat and quickly chasing after her. She caught up to her just before she reached the doorway, stopping her with a hand on her shoulder. "W-Wait, Nari! You're not coming?"
"Am I supposed to?"
"Yes! The whole point of this is to get the gods interested in school…"
"And, assuming it works, the ocean trip will do that. You guys don't need me there."
"Yes, we do!"
"Why? I'm far from a model student, Yui. I have very little to teach them."
"Because we need to lead by example."
"Right. And between the two of us, you're by far the better one."
Yui frowned, a huff of frustration escaping in the form of a sigh. This wasn't good. Her sister was withdrawing again. She wasn't getting through to her. "Nari…" Yui's hand slid downward, following the trail of her uniform sleeve, and taking careful grasp of her own. "Listen… I know you didn't like to attend these sorts of things back home, but this time will be different, I promise. There won't be any other humans there, just all of us."
The elder sister didn't answer; simply held her pleading gaze with a look of apprehension. She still wasn't entirely convinced. Yui had the best of intentions, she knew, but the simple fact was she was making promises she couldn't keep. There was no guarantee that her time with the gods would be any different. Especially if a certain redheaded menace was to be in attendance.
But Yui didn't give in. Instead, she gave her hand a gentle squeeze and tried again, putting on her largest puppy dog eyes. "Nari, please. I need you there. If you don't come on the trip, then the others might think they don't have to. Loki's already a handful as it is —"
Nari let out an aggravated sigh, shaking her head as her eyes fell to the floor. She wanted to argue further, insisting that little good could come of her being along for the ride. But she couldn't deny that her sister had a valid point. She knew as well as she did that Loki would look for any and every excuse possible; if gods possessed them, loophole would be his middle name. It was clear that the success of this function was important to her and much as she hated the idea of the seaside trip, she hated the idea of hurting Yui even more. With a begrudging groan, she finally relented. "Fine."
"Thanks, Nari!" With her sister's agreement, she finally let her go, releasing her hand to let it fall to her side.
"Yeah, yeah… I'll be around. Just come get me when you're ready." Free at last. Returning to her original action, Nari turned and strode through the door and into the hallway, leaving the student council members to go about their activities. At least, for a few moments. Seconds later, she returned with a puzzled expression on her face. Throughout their discussion, she couldn't help but notice the absence of a certain pain in the ass. "Wait a minute. If Balder's going with Yui, who's going to convince the other Norse?"
Her question brought them pause, as though the thought had only suddenly occurred to him. Balder sheepishly chuckled, realizing his folly. His eyes drifted back and forth between the two of them, a look of disappointment slowly dawning on his features. That was, until a look of thoughtfulness took them over. "Actually…" he began, "if you are heading back to the dorms, would you mind speaking to Loki for me?"
"Wha — why? He's not going to listen to me. You're better off asking him yourself."
Balder nodded sadly. "Then… could you let him know I am looking for him?"
Nari sighed. Of course, it would be her, getting stuck with the most troublesome of the students. Of course, it would be locating the biggest thorn in her side since her entrance into the entertainment industry. Of course. Aggravated, she gave up. There was no sense in arguing it further. The crossroads were along the way to her dorms. She would have to pass by their quarters anyway. Shaking her head, she turned and stormed back out into the hall.
. . .
It wasn't long before Nari found herself at the crossroads. Yet another amazing detail of the magical garden. Despite residing on the same campus grounds, the various living quarters were customized; tailored to meet the needs of their respective residents. Each group had a different style of housing that mirrored their home worlds, leaving four distinct spaces that were unique in their own ways.
The Norse dormitories were greener, more forested than the Japanese. That was the first thing Nari noticed making her way down the path. Taking the appropriate fork led her to an area filled with dense brush, massive evergreens, and thick foliage, with even the occasional wildlife roaming around. The second thing she noticed was an acute drop in temperature, the entire area a few degrees cooler than the last. It was a climatological marvel that Nari couldn't even begin to comprehend.
She took a moment to enjoy the sights, looking around the space and taking it all in. The towering tree line, the bristly brush. A single deep breath filled her lungs with cool spring air. The thick smell of pine filled her nostrils and calmed her. Nari had always enjoyed wandering the forests. It was refreshing and somehow nostalgic. If only she could spend a bit more time here. Perhaps she would at a later time, when not embarking on an important mission. For now, she had to remain focused. Knowing her quarry, he could be literally anywhere.
The sound of rustling leaves drew her attention, earning a tiny scowl. 'As expected...' Shaking her head, Nari wandered toward the direction of the noise, gently pushing branches from her way. "Loki, I know you're out there. Please, just come out here and make this —"
Her words froze, collecting into a lump in her throat as every muscle in her body went stiff. What stood before her was indeed a native to the Nordic realm, but it was not the person she had been looking for. In fact, it wasn't a person at all. Stomping through the bushes was what appeared to be a large pig with a big brown head and even larger curved tusks. A creature far worse than that which she sought. Though she had never encountered one personally, Nari knew well enough a wild boar when she saw one. And if they were anything like they were depicted in media, she had stumbled into a very dangerous situation.
By some stroke of luck, it didn't seem to have noticed her. Its head was angled downward, sniffing around in the dirt below its feet and scraping its hoofs across the ground. If she could move away without being noticed, she would be safe. Slowly, she began to move backward, eyes facing forward so as not to let it out of her sight. Each foot fell with purpose as she allowed the foliage to fall gently back into place. So close. She was almost —
Crack!
She flinched at the harsh sound of a branch snapping beneath her weight. The moment she pressed on the loose wood she knew she was done for. The animal looked up from its foraging and took notice of her standing there. And, as she feared, the creature did not take her presence well. A loud huff escaped its nose, sharp hooves thumping into the forest floor. She knew exactly what that meant. With a yelp, Nari turned and bolted into the trees at the sound of a loud grunt, signaling its charge. The heavy hoofbeats grew louder, drawing closer and closer from behind. Turning, she threw herself to the side, narrowly avoiding impalement as a tusk passed her by. Scrambling to her feet, she darted off in a different direction, doing her best not to think about the loud crunching echoing behind her.
How had she managed to end up in this situation again? What was it with her and angry forest dwellers in this magical new world? It was starting to feel like every living creature was out to get her, either through trampling or some form of skewer. Either way, they were no good for her health. Looking back and forth, Nari tried to look for a way out, noting the trees. The path was nowhere in sight. She had lost track of it, following the noise, and fleeing the bloodthirsty boar. Now, she was lost and alone with a furious bovine on her tail. Hopefully, it wouldn't be too vicious with her; get bored if she stopped moving and played dead. Eir would certainly have her work cut out for her this time. Assuming she made it out alive at all.
Slipping to the side, she managed to dodge yet another toss of its head before changing direction, hoping to find her way back to the main pathway. Maybe if she could escape back to the fork, it would leave her alone. It was wishful thinking and currently her only hope. Even years of training and physical conditioning did not prepare her for this. Steeling herself, she rushed forward, pushing her legs as fast as they could go. And then...
"Hmph!"
Suddenly, Nari was off her feet, airborne and making her way backward. She could feel a pair of arms restraining her, one around her waist and the other wrapped tightly over her mouth. Startled, she did the first thing she could think of. Gripping the fingers on her face, she pulled at the thumb, trying with all her might to pry them open. Her body flailed, back thumping against a warm chest, thrashing against her captor with every fiber of her being.
"Shh."
The sound of a hushed whisper halted her movements. Her eyes shifted downward, catching a glimpse of the hand covering her mouth. Pale skin, black painted nails. Shifting her gaze to the right, she could see a tuft of crimson dangling over her shoulder where he leaned forward, looking around the trunk of the tree. He was both the first and last person she wanted to see, but at the moment she couldn't really complain. Anywhere was better than being gored.
Loki shifted behind her, placing his free hand into his coat pocket, and pulling out a familiar treat. A small candy-like object with bright pink wrapper. With careful precision, he gave it a toss, and sent it soaring in between the brush and across the ground. The boar snorted, lifting its head in fascination at the strange new sound. Nari held completely still, waiting as the hoofbeats moved farther away. She could hear it pawing at the ground, nostrils taking loud whiffs of the unfamiliar object.
Then, her sight was obstructed. Just before the detonation, she was spun. Loki turned them around, facing the trunk of another large tree and shielding them from the purple blast. The woosh of wind blowing past them blew her hair and the sound of loud squeals reached her ears. Huffing and puffing, loud hooves stomping at the ground and angry grunts. After a few moments, the sounds grew softer as the creature turned and fled through the brush, vanishing into the thicket.
When Loki's hand moved, Nari let out a sigh of relief. Spinning around, she found herself gazing at his signature purple tie. Lifting her eyes, she was surprised to see him staring back at her with what appeared to be a look of genuine concern. She wondered if such a thing were even possible. The two remained silent, each standing still as they sized up the other. After a few moments, Nari finally came to her senses, tearing herself away from his enrapturing silver gaze. "Um… thanks for that. Really wasn't looking to get trampled today."
At the sound of her voice, Loki backed away from her, placing some distance between them. With a nonchalant shrug, he averted his eyes. "Eh, don't mention it. Now we're even, you know?"
"Even…?" Nari blinked, unsure of what he was referring to. Why were they even? What about? Her eyes followed his, watching as they drifted downward toward her bruised neckline. When realization hit, she found herself even more surprised. Had Loki saved her because of her injury? Was this his way of apologizing for the mishap? She didn't know. And right now, she didn't have time to care. Not when she had been so graciously presented with an opportunity.
"Almost… There is one other thing you can do for me. Then, we can pretend it never happened."
"Oh? Bartering, are we?" Loki asked. Though it was clear to her that he had little intention of following through with whatever she requested, at the very least, she had his attention. "Do tell."
Leaning back against the tree, Nari crossed her arms. "The student council is planning a school trip. We'd like everyone to —"
"Not interested." As expected, Loki rejected her offer, spinning on his heel and strolling away into the brush.
Sighing, Nari chased after him, stepping nimbly over bushes as she went. "You didn't even let me finish."
"You said the word 'school', that's enough for me," he shot back, waving a flippant hand over his shoulder. He had no intention of cooperating. Surprise of the century.
But she wasn't willing to give up, not just yet. Picking up the pace, she rushed forward, overtaking and cutting him off with a stern glare. Lifting her hands, she placed them against his chest, stopping his retreat. "Just listen. This isn't going to be a class with lectures and schoolbooks. We'll be going to the beach. Dicking off, having fun, and learning about humans through interaction." Nari paused to make sure she still had his attention, continuing when she saw eye contact. "Think of it more like a vacation. It'll be fun."
Loki considered her offer. His eyes bored into her own, sizing up her expression for any hint of deceit. He found none. Unsurprising — in his experience, the sisters were open books. Still, he said nothing, curious to see just how far she was willing to go. When she hung her head, he lifted his brow.
"Loki… please." Nari slowly lifted her gaze, fixing him with tired eyes. In his eyes, she could see the conflict. A torrent raging, pulling back and forth as he considered her offer.
He felt his lips slowly pull into a frown. His first instinct was to brush her off. Spin around, maneuver past her, and leave her to wallow in her own defeat. But something stopped him. Something about her exhausted gaze and deflated expression. Her pleading eyes filled with such sincerity, staring back into his very soul. There was something drawing him into those brown irises, steadfast, stern, unblinking. When he felt his shoulders sag, he knew she had won. For now.
Shaking his head, he laced his fingers behind his head and sighed. "Fiiine. If it will get you off my back, I guess I can tag along. But only because you promised it'll be fun."
Her eyes lit up like festival lights. For the first time, she felt herself facing him with a relieved grin. Looks like she wouldn't need to trouble Balder after all. "Don't worry. It will be."
Shrugging, Loki started walking, wrapping a playful arm around her shoulders. "It better be, puppy. Now, run along before you get yourself into any more trouble. Trail's that way." Leading her back toward the path, Loki sent her on her way. He watched her go, an unreadable expression resting on his face. He remained there as her silhouette grew smaller and smaller until finally, it disappeared.