"Hmm there's nothing else to do right now so I'll just continue reading my book." Douma sat back on his bean bag, flipping through the pages of the book he was holding.
"While I need some time on my own because people are just so ungrateful..." The events last night replayed in his head, especially the part where Shinobu scolded him. This diverted him from his thoughts. "If she ever loses control of her powers someone could get hurt! Shinobu better not point a finger at me, I tried my best to help!"
But at the same time Douma was hoping to see her again. There's no way a person could stay mad, right? After all they were a team, a good one in fact so it wouldn't make sense for Shinobu to just push him away.
Furthermore, Douma appreciated this quiet time but he needed to talk with someone, and that was Shinobu. It consists of a purpose that is important for the fate of humanity. At some point Douma will have to get out of the shrine and find Shinobu, but the thought of her furious reaction just by seeing him outside Reiji's doorstep was terrifying.
"Easier said than done." Douma said to himself pathetically. Seems like there was no other solution, he either stays here never hearing from his friends again because they probably hate him now or face the music.
"Hello is anyone there?" A familiar voice called out from the gates.
That voice was Shinobu's. What's she doing here? A smile started forming on Douma's face. Of course she's here to apologize! The shrine leader was just thinking about how she's doing now, about time she showed up! There's some discussing they need to do.
"Douma are you there?"
Shinobu and Reiji were waiting in front of the stairs, calling out to Douma who hurried out of the main hall, a look of skepticism on his face. Even though deep down he was excited to talk with Shinobu again.
"Hey guys. What's up?" Douma said cheerfully.
It's shocking that the shrine leader is still calm at a time like this. Both Shinobu and Reiji couldn't believe it but they weren't taken aback entirely. With what the violette had found, they had to step up their game, not fool around.
"We went to the library today and did some research on the current situation." Shinobu said with a grocery bag held tightly. "There's something we really need to talk about. I don't know how to put it right now the two of us are just speechless."
"And a little anxious too. Not because of how we got the information, but more so how everybody else is going to react to this." Reiji added stepping back from where he was standing. There was a sense of discomfort in the air, Douma could sense it.
"So you guys went without me huh?"
"That's not the point!" In anger Shinobu stomped up the stairs towards her unfazed friend. "Can you please just listen to what we have to say? This is serious act accordingly for once! I'm sorry about what happened last night I was just confused and mad at myself, I didn't mean to lash out at you like that, it won't happen again, but please understand that certain things can be complex and frustrating to digest. It'll take time and I'm sure we'll be able to adjust to this eventually."
I suppose she has a point. Perhaps I shouldn't have scared her like that it probably came off as harsh. To be honest I was worried for her safety and the people around her. Even though she can control it I will still have to watch over her, this is my responsibility whether she likes it or not. Douma narrowed his eyes at her for a while, processing everything she just said. There were two problems colliding at once under a specific outlier. Those last words made him feel a little better though.
Shinobu fumbled through the grocery bag and took out a box. She held it carefully. "This is for you. Since we're visiting your shrine, I thought a little gift would be nice. You've done a lot for people, including me. This is my gratitude."
The shrine leader took the box from her and blushed. There were seven pieces of mochi in the box, each a different flavor. "This is for me? Shinobu you're so kind."
Quietly, Reiji peeped at Douma who was still looking at the box like it was treasure. "Yeah I'm going to leave you two here and say hello to the cherry blossom tree over there!" The teen ran towards the tree in a rush.
It's been a while since I got any gifts from my followers. Douma was still looking at the box and mochis inside it. This gift is special, it's from someone outside the shrine. Someone who appreciates me. There was so much he wanted to say to Shinobu, this was a moment to remember.
"Shinobu, I never got anything from people outside the shrine. It was normally my followers who would bring me gifts and souvenirs. Thank you so much Shinobu. If I could keep these mochis forever I would!" Douma held the box protectively.
"I'm glad you like it Douma. With your powers, the mochis could keep you company at the shrine for as long as you want them to!" After hearing what the blonde said about the other gifts he got from only his followers, Shinobu felt a tinge of pity for him. They treated him as an outcast ever since the storm. Shinobu looked at the box and smiled, now he has something to fill up the missing gap that would've been there for a long time. Even if the interior of the box was soon to be empty.
The same bubbly feeling in his chest erupted again. What is happening to me? This doesn't happen to angels. Douma didn't understand how this was possible. No doubt Shinobu was indeed a special person, her actions proved it. However, the sudden tingles were so abrupt. When the tingles happen, they just do. Sometimes Douma would find himself stealing glances at Shinobu while walking together or searching an area, and he was too afraid to admit it for some reason.
Shinobu raised an eyebrow. "Daydreaming again?"
Immediately, the shrine leader was brought back to reality. "Uhhh no I was just looking at the sky. It's a beautiful day isn't it?" Douma avoided eye contact with Shinobu, clearly embarrassed.
Blinking a few times, Shinobu looked in the direction Douma was facing. It was obvious that the blonde was looking somewhere else but the sky. What a terrible lie.
"Please don't do that anymore, it's very disturbing."
"What? I wasn't looking at your face! Who'd waste their time like that?"
"Aha! So you were looking at me! Like as if I didn't notice!"
Douma took another look at the mochis in the box. Although he was hoping to keep them, his hunger got to him. Now he really wanted to get a bite out of every single one of the mochi in the box. There were different colors in there; blue, yellow, green, and orange to name a few. He couldn't wait to try the ones that caught his attention the most, assuming they are flavors he thinks they are, it was making him crave them even more. If he could, he'd finish the box in one go.
"Yep I can tell you just wanna gobble everything up," Shinobu said confidently.
"That's right so while we discuss about your research, I'll be munching on these. Let's go!" Douma began walking towards the hall of his shrine, getting ready to open the box cradled in his arms.
Wait a minute where's Reiji? He was here just a second ago. There was no way Shinobu was going to lose Reiji like this. Not when they're about to explain everything that happened. Surprisingly, the teen wasn't standing around the cherry blossom tree anymore he was long gone out of plain sight. Shinobu will have to start the discussion without him if he continues hiding like this.
"Alright so we have ten pupas and fifteen caterpillars! We're off to a good start."
Shinobu dreadfully turned to her left and saw Reiji cheering on the fauna in the garden.
"Reiji the meeting's started." Quickly Shinobu rushed into the shrine, leaving Reiji clueless about all the hustle going on.
"Wait for me! I'm part of this too!" Reiji said catching up with them, nearly tripping over a frog in the process.