Chereads / GINKEN: Sea Storm / Chapter 416 - Rehearsal - Act 01

Chapter 416 - Rehearsal - Act 01

A young boy dashed through the park in a bustling city, with a spirited girl hot on his heels. Nearby, a youthful woman observed them with a gentle smile, her long white hair shimmering in the sunlight, and her blue eyes sparkling.

"Catch me if you can!" the boy teased, giggling as he effortlessly evaded the girl chasing him.

"You're too fast!" the girl called out in frustration, her determination evident in her voice. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't close the gap between them as they circled a tree, the boy always staying just out of reach.

Suddenly, a misstep caused the girl to slip and tumble onto the grass, prompting laughter from the boy. "Stop laughing!" she exclaimed, brushing off dirt from her clothes as she stood up with a pout.

"I'm tired of playing tag... It's not fair," she grumbled, crossing her arms in defiance.

"Aww, come on, we've only been playing for ten minutes," the boy protested, letting out a disappointed sigh.

Just then, the woman approached them, her smile warm and reassuring. "If Chiaki wants to stop playing, let's find something else to do. Or maybe we can grab a bite to eat? There's still plenty of time before Chiaki needs to go home."

"You're lucky big sister suggested food. Otherwise, I would've said no right away," the boy muttered, a hint of irritation in his voice as he looked away.

"Of course she brought up food. You'd eat anything... Remember that time you ate my flower because you thought it was pudding?" Chiaki complained, noticing the boy's flushed face.

"It looked so pretty and squishy! I thought it was pudding shaped like a flower, with a vanilla scent," the boy tried to explain, his defense wavering under Chiaki's disapproving stare.

"That's enough, you two," the older sister intervened, clapping her hands lightly to get their attention. "Temoshí wouldn't have eaten that flower if he hadn't been as silly as he was back then."

The boy scowled, feeling unfairly judged. "Hey, I'm not silly! It was an honest mistake. Besides, if I had wanted to, I could've burnt the flower to ashes!"

Chiaki clenched her fists in frustration. "Don't even say that! If you had burned that spiritual flower, I would've been so mad!" she exclaimed heatedly, but the sister stepped in to diffuse the tension.

"Come on, you two. Let's not argue. And we were fortunate that Temoshí didn't burn the spiritual flower, Chiaki. You know what could've happened if he had."

Temoshí glanced aside, his expression thoughtful. "I know better than to even try to burn that flower. I try to stay away from it as much as I can. I wouldn't want to harm it," he affirmed, looking up at Chiaki with earnest eyes.

"And that's the right decision," the older sister chimed in, smiling warmly as she leaned down to Temoshí's level.

"Now, let's go get something to eat. I'm sure you're both hungry after all that running and shouting," she suggested, her tone gentle and inviting.

Roaming through the city streets and stopping at their favorite restaurant, the day flew by swiftly until it was time for Chiaki to return home.

After bidding each other farewell, Temoshí and his sister made their way back to their house, arriving just before eleven in the morning.

"It was another great day, wasn't it, Temoshí?" his sister remarked, affectionately patting his head.

"Yeah, it was fun until Chiaki got upset she couldn't catch me," Temoshí replied, shaking his head and crossing his arms defiantly, still a bit miffed about the incident.

"She wasn't upset, she just didn't have as much fun chasing you. Next time you play together, maybe consider going a bit easier on her. She's younger than you, after all. You know better," his sister gently advised, sighing with a hint of exasperation.

As Temoshí walked towards the entrance door, he expressed his perspective, "There's no fun in letting her win all the time."

His sister followed him with a gentle admonition, "You don't have to be competitive all the time. Sometimes, it's better to take things lightly. You'll find that everything is more enjoyable that way. Take video games, for instance. If you're overly competitive and end up losing more than winning, you might lose motivation to keep playing. But if you play just for fun, the game stays entertaining, and you won't stress over losing."

Temoshí considered her words thoughtfully as they entered their home, the advice sinking in.

His sister reached out to hold Temoshí's hand, but he pulled away, leaving her momentarily surprised and disheartened. "Think about it," she began softly. "Having fun should be the main goal."

She chuckled lightly, trying to lighten the mood, while Temoshí remained reserved. "Games are often about winning, yes. But losing doesn't have to be unfun," she reasoned. "That's why I struggle with going easy on her. I don't want to feel like I'm weak."

His sister scratched her head, trying to find the right words. "Playing tag with her isn't about being serious. It's just a way to enjoy yourselves and pass the time," she explained honestly, hoping to make him understand.

"I hate giving up," Temoshí replied, his voice tinged with frustration. "How will I ever get better at anything if I just give up?"

His sister sighed softly, realizing the complexity of his feelings. She knew it would take time and patience to help him see the value in both fun and perseverance.

"I appreciate your perspective," his sister responded warmly. "You're right that giving up won't help in achieving your goals. Persistence and effort are crucial to reaching them. But when it comes to a simple game like tag, it's okay to approach it differently."

She continued gently, "For instance, mastering your abilities doesn't mean you should give up once you achieve a level of mastery. It means you continue to improve and build upon what you've learned. Each step forward allows you to grow and progress, while still refining the skills you've already mastered."

Her words carried a sense of encouragement and understanding, hoping to strike a balance between Temoshí's drive to succeed and the enjoyment of simpler pursuits like playing games.

"Alright, let's call it a night," his sister said gently, leading Temoshí towards their sleeping quarters. "Tomorrow is a fresh day, another chance to practice your fire powers. Maybe you'll find that balance between having fun and when to push yourself harder."

She tucked him into bed, her words lingering in the quiet room as Temoshí drifted off to sleep, thoughts of competition and enjoyment mingling in his dreams.