"..."
I have been staring at the wall for a while now when a finger snap got me out of my thoughts.
"Helloo?~ Are you there?"
"Huh? Oh yes sorry, were you saying something?"
I was sitting in a small cafe with my cousins, Daki and Gyuutaro, we were having our weekly get together to catch up.
"I was saying that we should visit the Water Kingdom, they have the best hot springs!"Daki then puts out multiple posters about them.
"I rather head to the Flame Kingdom, I heard that they were hosting a competition to see who gets a spot in their army."
I watch as the two bickers, drawing attention to us in the corner.
"Oi quiet it down please."I sigh as the two lower their volume.
We were deciding where to go for our family trip, it's been a while since our parents said we could leave the kingdom for a bit.
"What do you think Haru?"Daki and Gyuutaro turn to face me for a vote.
I sweatdrop as I drink my coffee, "I think where ever we go doesn't matter, as long as we have a good time with each other."
"Okay sure, but where are we goinggg?"Daki whines as she lays her head on the table.
"I wouldn't mind going to the Flame Kingdom to watch that competition Yuyu was talking about."
"Haru, I told you that nickname sucks, "Gyuutaro mumbles but I could hear him perfectly.
"What else is there at the Flame Kingdom? I don't want to watch people fight over a spot in an army."Daki pouts as she stares at us.
"I heard they have a horse riding competition too, "Gyuutaro replies after thinking for a bit.
"Perfect for you and Haru, I remember how competitive you 2 were when horse riding was introduced in your schedules."He chuckles after remembering us fighting over who rides better.
"That was so old ago."I look away as I feel my face heating up.
"Mm, Alright then! The Flame Kingdom sounds perfect to visit, even though our parents aren't coming with us."Daki cheers.
~Fast forward to visit~
"Daki where's Kokushibo?"I yell as I stuff the luggage onto the carriage.
"He said he's not coming!"
"Why that little..."I can feel a vein pop on my forehead as I smile at Akaza.
"Akaza, weren't you in charge of getting him to come with us?"
"I...May or may not have lost a bet."He looks away as I stare at him.
I sigh deeply before walking into the castle to find him.
"Koko! Come with us, please!~" I was walking around the hallways before hearing something drop behind me.
I whip around to see Kokushibo sneaking away.
"Na uh! Come here!"I quickly dash before he could run away.
"Haru..You know that I hate crowds..."He groans as I drag him outside.
"Too bad, We are spending time together."I huff as I let go of his collar.
"Now that everyone is here, let's get going."
It took 2 hours just to get to the Kingdom and Douma's pestering isn't helping as we stare at him to shut up.
"Oh, sweet air."I got out as we finally reach.
"Never again, am I sitting in the same carriage with him, "Akaza complains as I see his eyelid twitching.
We got past the guards with no problems as we flash a badge, a badge only the royal families have.
"Anywho, where are we staying again?"I ask as we walk around the kingdom.
"Oh, I rented this inn that I saw on a poster," Daki replies as she continues to look at her book.
"Take a left and we should be there."Daki then closes her book.
We make a left to see a 3 story building, pretty flowers under the windows and a lady resting outside on a chair.
"Madam?"I went up and poked her shoulder.
"Mm?"She opens her eyes to see the 6 of us.
"Ah, you must be the lovely group that rented my place for a week."She warmly smiles at us as she gets up.
We head inside to drop off our belongings before we would walk around the Kingdom to sightsee.
"Ooo, Isn't that cute Haru?"Douma points to a pet cafe as we walk.
I hum as Akaza and Kokushibo were walking in front of us, searching for where the competition would take place.
"I wonder where the horse riding would take place?"I turn to Daki who was fangirling over the thing we never had in our kingdom with Gyuutaro.
'I'm ignored aren't I?...'I sigh as Akaza calls out to us.
"Look! The competition is taking place tomorrow!"He points to a poster on a wall.
'Hmm, First place has the decision to join the kingdom's army?'
"Why don't we join for the fun of it?"I joke as we walk towards the building.
"Pfft, You would wreak the building, no way."Kokushibo ruffles my hair.
"Hey! I can control my power."I huff my cheeks.
We all walk over to the person who was taking down the names of the participants.
"So who's joining?"They look at the 6 of us.
"The 3 of us,Akaza,Kokushibo and Haru."Akaza points to us.
"So 2 males and 1 female.."He scribbles it down before giving us a slip of paper.
"Do be on time tomorrow."He waves to us before attending to the next group of people.
I was chatting with Akaza before I could hear some whispering about me, "Dude, A girl fighting? No way. She's gonna get crushed! Haha!", "Pfft, how long do you bet she's gonna last?","2 minutes, tops."
I glance at the males as they were whispering. Before I could do anything, Akaza whispers to me, "Make sure to kick their butts tomorrow and not today."
"Tch, Those men really want to be beaten up."I crack my knuckles as we left.
"As much as I like to see Haru beating up males that deserve it, I want to sign up for the horse riding! Come on!"Daki then drags us to the stables to sign up.
.
.
"Whatever happened to just chilling in one place?"I ask as Daki was finally exhausted to the point where we could finally rest from running all over the place as Daki drags us to shop.
The sun was slowly setting by the time we arrive back at the inn.
"I mean our kingdom never sells these...What were they called again Daki?"Douma was playing with a small paint-like tube as we enter.
"Lotion, our skin always get too dry in our kingdom."Daki sighs as she replies to Douma's question for the 3rd time now.
"Right right, I'll be sure to buy some back for my squad. They always complain when it's time for training."
"Uh-huh...Do sleep early you guys."I cover up a yawn before walking upstairs.
"Night Haru!"Douma waves at me.
"So anyone up for a card game?"He then turns to the rest, holding up a pack of cards.
"Just where did you get that?"Akaza plops down to the sofa as the others gather up.
"One of the stalls caught my eye, so?"
"Yeah sure, just make sure to not wake Haru up."Akaza rolls his eyes as Douma gets the cards out to play.
I heaved a tired sigh as I flop onto the bed.
"Ugh..My feet are sore.."I groan as I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
'...'
'I wonder how's Shinobu doing?'
I close my eyes as my sleepiness kicks in, sending me to dreamland.