Under the bright sun yet cold air, Lotus made her way back in preparations for the camping trip. As she did so, she couldn't help but be fascinate at the thought of such an unusual sweet. Is there maybe new food she could try to make from Marshmallows? She's never really took a serious look into cook books before. Should she give it a try and see if she could bring in the plant that makes such delicacies? Still, which plant has roots of sweet sap? Thinking this she muttered to herself, "Maybe I should test out the marshmallows to understand its properties better too…"
"Huh? Angler fish also never had marshmallows?" Floyd looked over in confusion, "But, didn't he also grew up on land?"
"Well, you're not wrong. However, aside from plants, meat and fish, the only sweet things I've tasted before in the wild was fruits. Plants made into sweets are usually many such as sugar beets and sugar canes. But marshmallows…"
Seeing her confusion, Floyd noted curiously, "So,Little angler also don't know a lot of things…"
Hearing this, Lotus laughed a loud, "Of course not. If I had, would there be any fun in the world?"
"Eh?"
She turned to him and continued, "Wouldn't it be fun to know what it would be like in a world where magic stones are like chocolate coins and where there are more strange sweets in the world aside from candies? What a strange life it would be in a world like this! Hm… if marshmallows are already sweet as s'mores… I wonder how sweet it already is by itself…"
As per usual, Lotus continued to mutter in deep thoughts as Floyd simply watched her in confusion and boredom, "Huh? What are you talking about? Hurry up and buy some marshmallows for the camping trip already."
However, Lotus was not paying attention as she continued to ponder how she can make such a popular candy into a profit.
"Hey, Angler fish..." Floyd reached out irritated to have been ignored, "Didn't you hear what I said?"
Despite his words, Lotus was still too busy to notice him as she hurried down the road to the store with her eyes on the ground. It was then that she crashed into someone!
Not again!
Looking up hesitantly, she wore a dry smile on her face, "Ah... R-Ren..."
Seeing the figure standing before him, Ren laughed, "I told you to look ahead when you walk. You bumped into me once again. What would people say if you crashed into the light post next?"
"I haven't crashed into one yet, though." Lotus pouted.
"All right." Ren sighed as he petted her head, "What are you doing out here today? I thought you couldn't handle the cold in the Hall of Mirrors."
"That's right." Lotus huffed, "However, Professor Vargas is starting a camping trip tomorrow and wants all the sports clubs to attend. Mandatory passing too."
"There's such a thing going on?" Ren looked up in confusion.
"That's right." Lotus nodded, "So, Silver and Sebek will be joining us without exceptions."
"Ah, I can hear Sebek's complaints already..." Ren brought a dry smile to his face as he joked.
"Diasomnia won't be a quiet place for the rest of the day." Lotus nodded in agreement as she lamented.
"By the way, aren't you going back to the dorms? Why are you here?" Ren pondered curiously.
"I overheard Ace talking about roasting marshmallows." Lotus spoke up her thoughts bluntly, "By the way, Ren, have you ever had marshmallows? Riddle said that it's soft and fluffy but also made from the roots of a plant."
"Marshmallows?" Ren raised a brow and smiled in nostalgia, "I had it once. I remember it was at Lilia's place back then."
"Really?!" Lotus looked to him eagerly, "Then, can you tell me what it's like?"
"Sure. It's..." He paused before chuckling, "Then, again, it would be better for you to try it out for yourself."
"But, they said it's very sweet." Lotus sighed shaking her head, "I dislike things that are overly sweet."
"Then, bring some coffee or tea." Ren suggested, "Either one would work, would it not?"
"That's true!" Lotus brightened up with a bright smile upon hearing this, "Then, I'll go buy some right now! Whoops-!"
She quickly leaned over as though about to slip before grabbing Ren's wrist and pulling him away with her just in time to dodge Floyd's hands.
"Ah, sorry about that, Ren." Lotus steadied herself with an awkward smile, "It seems I got too excited and tripped."
Ren sighed as he stood up, "So clumsy. Even Floyd-senpai have to come help you. You should be a little more careful and not bring trouble to your friends, like this."
So naive.
It was obvious that Floyd got irritated that he was ignored by her and tried to lash out. However, upon seeing her leap out, Floyd got more curious instead, "Haha! Now, this is fun! Stay still~!"
Lotus huffed, "I don't have time to stay. I need to go buy marshmallows before it's all sold out! See ya, Ren! Floyd!"
"Oh no, you don't!" Floyd ran after her, but she quickly out sped him much to his surprise, "Woah! Angler fish is quick to run!"
"It would seem that Lotus gets along with many people in school. That's good to hear." Ren noted with a soft smile before he pondered in confusion.
"What about yourself?"
Ren turned around with a look of surprise, "M-Malleus-sama!"
The figure raised a brow before speaking, "You're not going with them to camping as well?"
Ren shook his head, "Well, I'm in a cultural club with you. So, if I'm going you and Lilia-Sendai would be going too. Since you're the leader of the club, they'd tell you to gather the members. Though I think Silver and Sebek would be upset that you won't be going with them this time, especially Sebek. He seemed really bummed out that you and Lilia wouldn't be joining them this time."
"It is unfortunate." Malleus shook his head sadly, "However, I believe there is always another day. It is quite fortunate Lotus attends both types of clubs. What about you, Ren? Do you plan to join horse-riding club with the three?"
"Um, I don't think I can. Everyone knows how I'm not very good at time management. I'd be busy trying to juggle two at once." Ren responded hesitantly.
Not even once?
Malleus stopped himself from asking him this as he thought to himself quietly in deep thoughts. He stared at Ren fumbling over his books before heaving a soft sigh inside and said, "Well, then… I have decided to go see the headmaster for a short while. Would you like to come with me or go back to stay with Lilia?"
"Um…"
…..
It was the next day as Lotus arrived at the mirror chamber while the magic mirror resides in. Everyone was walking in with their PE uniform or camping gears. The room itself is terribly sweltering as they trudged forward. Lotus walked in with ease as the temperature was perfect for her condition earning her the confused expression of her peers or a discontented one from her rivals.
"Lotus!" Riddle called over to her as she looked up with a bright smile and stepped forward, "Am I last?"
"You're not."Silver responded earning him a huff from her.
Seeing her behavior so early in the morning, Riddle shook his head in dismay and looked around, "Have all the horse-riding club members gathered?"
"Actually, Sebek hasn't came yet." Silver spoke up nervously, "We planned to go together but he said he wants to stay near Malleus-sama as much as he can so… hmm?"
He breathed a sigh of relief and noted, "I see he's here now."
Sure enough, Sebek appeared in his green camping gears and jacket, albeit a little discontent and lamented in tears, "'Living in the nature, that would be easy for you who lived in The Valley of Thorns. Horse-riding club sounds peaceful enough….' I can't forget Young Master's words he said so nonchalantly! Just you wait, Young Master! This Sebek will surely… surely!!!!!!!! I'll make this the perfect camp for the Horse-riding Club, more than those weak humans! I'll make sure to not bring shame to you as your escort!!!!!"
Hearing this, Silver and Riddle were silent in disbelief and confusion as Lotus spoke up hesitantly, "Will he be okay during the entirety of this camping trip?"
"He will." Silver nodded without hesitation, "We've done this before. Even now, Sebek would be better at this than me."
"If you say so..."
"Is it all right for him to wear camping gears, though?" Riddle spoke up hesitantly.
"Well, they never said that it was against the rules, so what's wrong with Sebek wearing it?" Lotus spoke up in confusion, "Besides, I thought that, at least, half of us would be in it."
"So annoying… why can't I skip this camp?" Leona yawned loudly as he walked in with his yellow camping jacket followed by Ruggie carrying a large bag of camping gears and also in his own yellow camping clothings.
"Don't complain so much, Leona-san." Ruggie scowled irritatingly, "They said "all members must join", and "you'll be disbanded if you don't"!"
"Sea Snake-kun, Crab-chan, morning~!"
Running into the room, Floyd lept over to Ace and Jamil with a wide smile on his face in what looks like a green, blue and white hiking jacket and a visor similar to Ruggie's but lighter blue.
"Eh? Floyd-senpai, that clothes…" Ace noted with a look of surprise.
"This? It's nice, don't you think? I bought it for the camp." Floyd smiled wide and spung around excitedly, "It's easy to move and it's durable, I've been liking this brand lately!"
"…hmm?" Floyd peered over to Ruggie and Leona curiously before beginning to talk with Leona, "Isn't that from that popular brand, Sea Lion-senpai?"
He turned to Ruggie and laughed, "I know Remora-chan's too! You sure worked your fir for this~!"
"Shishishi," Ruggie snickered as he boasted, "You look good too, Floyd-kun. Actually, he bought mine for extra when he bought his wear."
"How carefree…" Leona grumbled before he grumbled, "For that, I'll have you work hard in the camp, for my part too."
"Of course!" Ruggie smiled against the irritation of his dorm leader as he was completely prepared for it regardless, "…actually, I knew you'd say that with or without buying me this clothes."
"Hmph, your down jacket will get stuck on branches and tear once you get in the Mines!" Sebek declared rather disgruntled, "If you're going to the camp seriously, you should at least put something on like mine. It's Lilia-sama's recommendation, durable, waterproof, and breathable rainwear!"