"Aokigahara Forest?" Mike scratched his head and tried to remember something. He seemed to have heard the name before, but he couldn't remember it.
"Aoki- you mean that Aokigahara Forest, Master Alfred!?" Minako exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Hm, the one I'm talking about is a forest northwest of Mount Fuji, Yamanashi Prefecture. About one hundred and eleven kilometers from here." Alfred replied with a slight nod.
"Alright, we're going to have a training in the forest, right? Is it just you and me going there?" Mike looked to the right and left.
"Of course. However, I, Kisa, Asako, and Isei will catch up with you tomorrow. Once our resource orders arrive, we'll be leaving immediately." Yuna gave a gentle nod in confirmation.
"Mm, Grandpa Alfred and Yukiko-chan will go together with you. We will bring everything you might need tomorrow morning, Mike-sama." Kisa smiled mysteriously, but she immediately covered her mouth before anyone noticed it.
"I see... Thanks for everything. However, you'd better have breakfast before we leave, Sir Alfred." Mike pointed his palm at a box on the sidelines.
"I'll eat it on our way to Aokigahara Forest. If you wish, we can leave as soon as possible, and arrive at the location before noon." Alfred glanced at the box and suggested something else.
"If you say so. Then, fine." Mike didn't mind that.
"Okay then. I'll be ready soon and will wait for you at-" Alfred was about to excuse himself, but a girl suddenly cut him off.
"I, I, I also want to go to Aokigahara Forest! I heard it's a mysterious and mystical place. So, please let me go there. I won't cause any trouble or bother you guys, really." Minako raised her hand high for attention.
Mike, Yuna and everyone felt a bit surprised, including Minako's confidant. They didn't know what this trouble-loving princess had in mind, but it definitely wasn't a good idea.
"Err... Minako-sama, we can't just let you go on this trip because your clan might not allow it. Please understand." Yuna smiled wryly and tried to persuade politely.
"So, if I've asked my clan's permission, will I be able to come to Aokigahara Forest? Well, give me a few seconds and I'll have it." Minako immediately took out her smartphone and tapped the screen with her dexterous finger.
"I've done it! I've got permission! I've already sent a request to join the Kisaragi Clan's party to Aokigahara Forest. I want to see Yuna-chan's secret boyfriend show off his great skills before the golden plaque challenge." Minako showed everyone the contents of her short message.
It was true to what Minako said, but there were lots of cute emotes as if the one who would receive the message was a playmate or friend.
"Err... You just sent that message and your clan's permission isn't listed there, Minako-sama. Can you-" Yuna tried to persuade the trouble-loving princess not to come, but her words were cut off by the approaching girl.
"Do you hate me, Yuna-chan? I won't snatch your boyfriend from you. You see this. Yes, I sent this message to my big sister. She will give her permission to me with one hundred percent chance. She will also pass on my request to my other family members like my father, mother, and grandfather." Minako showed Yuna her smartphone screen once again while pointing at it for emphasis.
"It wasn't because of that, but still it was-" Yuna smiled wryly. She was overwhelmed to hear that ridiculous reason. Yet, the stubborn girl cut her off again before she finished speaking.
"You don't need to worry. I will bear everything and will be at the forefront if anyone from my clan intends to cause trouble to your clan. Oh, some people might follow me there. If that happens, I can ask them to help me with something. Yes, everything is perfect, hum-mm~" Minako wrapped her arms around Yuna's and mumbled cheerfully.
"Even so-" Yuna had just opened her mouth, but a delicate finger was suddenly pressed against her lips.
"Sshhh... I already gave you my guarantee, so please don't make me cry and cause more trouble, Yuna-chan. I want to go there, I want to go there~" Minako spoke with a playful hum and gave a reassuring smile.
"Uuh, I hope you keep your promise to us." Yuna sighed helplessly. The trouble-loving princess had already made up her mind, and she couldn't do much but obey, or other unwanted problems would arise.
"Take it easy~" Minako gave a wink.
"Then please excuse me." Alfred gave a slight bow of respect and left. He took the lunchbox and exited the dojo.
"Looks like I also need to prepare. How about you, Minako-sama? This will probably be a three-day and two-night camp in the forest." Mike looked at Minako and Yura.
"Fret not, Mike-sama. I can borrow some change of clothes from Yuna-chan. She will catch up with us tomorrow, right? Until then, the spare clothes in my bag will come in handy." Minako pointed her palm towards her confidant. Her handbag was there.
"If that's the case, then fine. Allow me to excuse myself then." Mike excused himself and left after receiving a nod from Yuna.
Kisa also immediately followed Mike because of Yuna's orders, and Yukiko also went to prepare.
"Minao-sama, I would like to speak with you in private. Could you spare a minute of your time?" Yura asked politely.
"Sure. Everyone, please allow me to have a little private time with my Yura-chan." Minako waved her hand. She then went to an empty room with her confidant.
"Psst, Yuna-sama... Is that going to be okay? I mean, you let the trouble-loving princess into the mess?" Isei whispered while covering his mouth.
"What can I do in front of her, Isei? If she has already made up her mind, then it's impossible for me to change it. She can even do as she pleases and come out without a hitch even though her father and grandfather often punish her. Yet, oddly enough, the punishment I was referring to was simply lifted the next day. It doesn't matter what kind of trouble she is involved in." Yuna sighed and held her forehead. She seemed to get sudden dizziness.
"O-oh, alright then. She promised us, right? Will the Taira Clan be on our side because of her?" Isei wondered with a mosquito-like voice.
"I don't know, Isei. Mike doesn't have any comments to Minako-sama either. So, I can't do much." Yuna shook her head.
Meanwhile, Mike had just entered his room, and Kisa followed him inside.
"This will be a three-day and two-night practice. You'd better bring six sets of formal wear, three sets of high-durability training clothes, nine sets of underwear, and three sets of emergency attire, Mike-sama. Oh, you also need to bring some things for emergencies. Allow me to help you~" Kisa took out a large backpack from under the bed and stuffed a lot of things into it.
"Eh, wait a minute. Since when did I have those kinds of clothes? As far as I can remember, the closet only had black pants and a white t-shirt." Mike was a bit surprised. Everything seemed to have been prepared beforehand.
"Hehe, you are Yuna-sama's boyfriend, Mike-sama. We won't let you just wear black pants and a white t-shirt all the time, right?" Kisa smiled sweetly and gave a wink.
"Even if that's true, when did you replace all the contents of that wardrobe, Kisa-san?" Mike didn't really mind that, but the change in his wardrobe intrigued him.
"This morning?" Kisa put her finger to her chin.
"Is that an answer or a counter question? Nevermind, thanks for your help." Mike shook his head and put the trivial matter aside.
"With pleasure~" Kisa smiled happily. She took the backpack and handed it to Mike. "Here it is, everything is ready to be brought."