~~~The Room That Observes All~~~
"You allowed them to go into the mainland?!"
Roared silhouette 5, hearing the intensions of 6 and 7
The dark chamber glowed faintly from shifting screens. The Seven Skulls—now complete—sat in their thrones, watching everything like they always did.
Silhouette 7 calmly nods replying to Silhouette 5.
"That's right."
"They're just kids! They don't even have their licenses yet!"
Silhouette 5 argued.
Silhouette 1 chuckled as he shrugged.
"Ain't that what we've always been doing?"
Silhouette 5 was still against the idea.
"You imbecile! How do you think the world will react if they find out UWDS is using children as soldiers?! This is outrageous!"
He shot once more.
Silhouette 6 took a deep breath, arms crossed and calm.
"We need to keep them distracted."
"From what?!"
Silhouette 6 and 7 exchanged a glance.
"Their leader. Ryujin. He's been here far too long... He knows too much about us."
Silhouette 7 stated.
"I'm aware of that, but why does it matter now?!"
"Because he knows how to take us down. If he ever talks..."
Silhouetted 7 pointed out.
The 5th silhouette was speechless, unable to give a reply to Silhouette 7's point.
"Itoshi only seeks blood. So we'll give it to him—before Ryujin decides to open his mouth."
Silhouette 7 continued.
"We'll also hand out "Secret Rewards" after each successful mission."
Silhouette 6 added.
Silhouette 4 joined the argument, one brow raised.
"You're basically spoiling them."
"No. I'm exploiting their immaturity."
Silhouette 4 shrugged as he gave a good point.
"Why not just kill them if you see them as the big of a threat?"
He paused,
"If they can really get us out of our position as the heads, why keep them alive?"
Silhouette 1 joined in, still siding with Itoshi's blue flame.
"We've got The Rhythm. Did you see how WESCU reacted to that?"
Silhouette 4 clicked his tongue, still not convinced on the other skull's decision.
"This is horseshit."
Suddenly, a slow clap echoed through the darkness.
"Hey, hey... languageee."
Silhouette 7 muttered under his breath.
"We need to upgrade our security system."
From the shadows, a man lifted his hand in a slow wave, stepping forward until the glow of the screens revealed his face.
"Yo!"
"What do you want?"
Silhouette 4 asked, looking back.
"Ryujin's known about your bullshit since he was a child. You made him do things no child should ever be forced to do."
The man argued.
"So what?!"
Silhouette 5 hushed.
The man's footsteps echoed as he stepped into the dim light.
"You're the ones being naive."
He grinned.
"We've got the wolves' fangs now. All we need... is prey. And a hungry pack of wolves needs to feed."
~~~Cape Hedo~~~
Back in Cape Hedo, the quiet afternoon was broken by the usual round of complaints.
"HOT!!!"
With tea in hand, Ayro rolled his eyes.
"There he goes again."
Itoshi plopped down on the couch with Kirashi and Kara.
Kirashi leaned a bit to Kara, whispering.
"Hey... Kara-chan... Has he always been like this?"
Kara replied, eye closed and a akward smile.
"Well... not really..."
"Eh?"
Itoshi then turned to Kirashi. He only said his name, but Kirashi already knew what Itoshi wanted.
"Kirashi..."
Kirashi shook his hands.
"I can't use my wind yet."
Itoshi raised a brow, looking at Kirashi in a suspicious way.
"Huh? What do you mean? I wanna ask you something."
Slightly annoyed, but mostly bored, Kirashi replied.
"Oh. What is it?"
"W-What's 9 + 10?"
Silence filled the room.
"What the hell!? What kind of question is that?!"
Kirashi thought to himself as he sweats.
"Umm..."
He hummed.
Itoshi sat down.
"Hm?"
Everyone in the squad stared at Kirashi. Sweat visibly dripped down his forehead.
His voice was shaking and his face screamed out panic as Kirashi answered.
"T-Twenty one?"
Silence again.
Itoshi leaned to his seat, and all that escaped his lips were:
"Not a bad answer."
"Did I get it right?!"
Kirashi thought to himself.
Kirashi glanced at Kara, eyes wide with excitement. Kara just stared back silently.
"I must be a genius!"
There was silence, a pause between them, before Kara had another question.
"Umm..."
Kirashi, Itoshi, and Ayro all looked at her, waiting.
"How do you..."
Silence.
And then finally, the words came out of her lips.
"How do you guys wash your clothes?"
There was another long pause, before Itoshi gave it a thought.
"Hmm... When was the last time I showered...?"
Kirashi leaned towards Itoshi as he asked.
"That involves water, right?"
Kara (in her mind): Are you serious?!
Itoshi pondered.
"Maybe I should go to the beach..."
"Wait, you can shower there?"
Kirashi asked.
"How long have you been alone? Oh well, wanna go for a swim?"
Deadpan, Kirashi replied.
"I'm still healing though."
Itoshi stood up.
"We won't go deep, don't worry."
"Are they really gonna ignore the fact they ran out of clean clothes?"
Kara thought to herself.
Note: Yes, they did.
Itoshi and Kirashi asked Ryujin and Ayro to swim with them in the sea. Both declined, saying, "You guys can enjoy." The two went for a swim, even though the waves were rough.
[Beach]
Itoshi: Maybe.. the waves are too strong for your wound.
Kirashi: Nah, I can manage it now I think.
The two went for a step in the sea.
Itoshi: Ok.. Watch out for the rocks.
The duo stepped into the water wearing only shorts.
"COLDD!!!!"
[Cafe]
Their shout was so loud, even Ayro could hear it from the cafe.
"So loud.."
[Beach]
The two walked slowly deeper and deeper until it reach their waist. They both shivered as the get "the feeling".
Itoshi: That's good isn't it?
Kirashi: Not too bad.
[Cafe]
Ryujin and Ayro watched the two in the distance, ready in case something happened. Kara approached them.
"Aren't you guys gonna go for it too?"
She asked.
Ryujin quickly replied.
"Maybe later."
Ayro softly muttered.
"That's new."
"It seems... fun..."
Ryujin thought.
Ayro then snickered as he smiled.
"Why not go now then?"
"Someone has to stay here."
Ayro suggested.
"I'll do it, don't worry."
Then, Kara decided to stay back as well.
"Me too!"
Ayro raised a brow, surprised on what Kara decided to do.
"Why don't you go too, Kara?"
She looked down, flustered.
"T-They're... all boys..."
"Ah, that's a good point."
Ryujin then stretched before he said.
"Alright. Imma go for a bit of a swim."
Ryujin slowly walked toward the two in the water. Ayro and Kara smiled behind him. Itoshi and Kirashi noticed him coming.
"Oi!! Ryujin!!"
"Come!!"
Ryujin took off his clothes and joined them.
Ayro and Kara were left behind to guard the café, the wind of Cape Hedo blowing behind them.
"Um?.. Ayro-san?.."
"Hm?"
"Do you always wear that hat?"
"Pretty much."
"Ah..."
"Why did you ask?"
"Nothing in particular."
"Ah, I see."
"I'll go back to the café!"
" Ok, watch your step."
As Kara walked back to the café, she suddenly tripped.
"Wah!!"
Ayro: Are you okay?
Kara: I'm fine...
[Beach]
Ryujin took off his shirt.
Itoshi and Kirashi: Oh!! Look at those details.
"How did you get that?"
Itoshi asked.
"Years of horror... I guess."
Face cold, Ryujin replied.
Itoshi pointed to a noticeable streak on Ryujin's abdomen.
"Is that a scar?"
"Yeah, got it when I was younger."
Itoshi: Ah... sorry.
Ryujin: Nah, don't worry about it.
Fingers under his chin, Kirashi wondered.
"How did you get that physique?"
"Well... I trained a lot when I was younger... I guess."
Ryujin simply replied.
Kirashi: I thought I had a lot of training.
Itoshi: Same...
Ryujin: You guys have a good physique already too though.
Itoshi: Not as good as yours! Surely you pull girls.
Ryujin: Hmm... nah.
Kirashi: There's no way!
Itoshi: Right!!
Kirashi: This might be an odd question to ask but... what does a girl's touch feel like?
Ayro patted Kirashi from a distance using his shadow.
Kirashi: Ayro-san! What the hell!!
Itoshi: HAHAHAHAHA!
Kirashi: Itoshi!
Itoshi: W-What!
Kirashi looked intensely into Itoshi's eyes.
"Kara does not count!"
Kirashi: Wahh!! Ryujin-san?
Ryujin: Well... I can't recall.
Kirashi: Jeez! Well... Windgott-sama said they're very soft when I was younger.
Itoshi: What kind of other things did he teach you?
Kirashi: Well, ## #### ### ## ### and some other things.
Itoshi: Ah... he's a crazy man.
Ryujin: Agreed.
The two suddenly burst into laughter while Ryujin smiled alongside them.
[Cafe]
Kara joined in Ayro once more.
"They seem to be having fun!"
Ayro: Indeed. What did you do?
Kara: Ah.. I cleaned my clothes..
Ayro: I see.
Kara: Um?..
Ayro: Yeah?
Kara: Do you guys get changed?
Ayro simply looked at Kara.
"I do, but I can't tell you how. Ryujin definitely does."
Kara: Oh.. I see.
Ayro: You're curious one aren't yah?
Kara: I guess so xD
~~~To be Continued~~~