Chapter 72: Summer break home visit
1766 Words
26th of August, The sun is still scourging hot. But thanks to the blessing of technology. The air conditioner was already invented before Kaede woke up in this world. She lays down on the floor as she indulges herself in the cold wind.
The second day of the summer cup is ongoing. But Kaede’s team was an exception and blessed with a break.
“I’m happy that I’m born in this era. Technology makes things easier. Homework is already done with the help of the internet. The summer heat was solved with Air conditioner. Meals can be reheated with a microwave. Entertainment was granted with a press of a bottom…”
Kaede presses the remote of the television and further maximizes the air conditioner. Her favorite anime on television, snack on her side, she lay down on the floor enjoying the bliss.
“… I’m truly happy to be born in this era.”
Kaede is usually diligent, But a diligent person still needs time to rest and act lazily. Enjoy her life for the present. The only thing that trouble Kaede was the high amount of electric bills especially in summer. That’s normal because of the summer heat. Everyone needs the air conditioner to keep running. Money wasn’t a problem because Kaede got lots of inheritance from her parents. But still, there are times she was lonely. Instead of money, she hopes her parents are still here with her.
Reminded by her sadness. She shook her head and try to forget all her problems by rubbing her forehead with her finger. After that, she closed her eyes.
She regained her peace of mind.
But interrupted by a certain someone.
Her doorbell rings rapidly. “Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!”
The sound immediately alarmed the chilling Kaede. Annoyed with the sound she stand up. Stomping footsteps she walked to the main door and opened it.
“Are you planning to break the door?!”
Kaede yelled as she opened the door with a slamming sound.
Upon opening, she saw the four girls. Kase Chiharu (Amber), Kogiyama Yoriko (Nell), Muakami Saki (Mellie), And Hounjo Yuki (Yuki). All in their refreshing summer clothes.
“Sorry, Kaede… But I thought you’re still asleep earlier in the morning. That’s why I pressed the doorbell like an alarm clock.”
Yuki explained.
Kaede let out a sigh and just forgive her but something is odd in the scene. Why Yuki is with Chiharu? Are they really good friends now? Before summer ends. Chiharu and Yuki were barely talking to each other. Kaede stared at them like she’s solving some kind of quiz.
Kaede lowered her vision and saw bags on their arms. Especially school bags. With that information, Kaede solves the puzzle already.
Yuki is with Chiharu because she is an honor student. They come to Kaede’s house with friends with their school bags during summer break. School bags contain notes before the summer break. The notes contain the homework that needs to be done before summer vacation ends.
That means Yuki hasn’t touched her homework ever since the vacation started.
“Sorry, for interrupting Kaede, but Yuki told us that you two both need our help with homework. We pick your house because it's the nearest house in all of our homes. Is it fine to go in?”
Chiharu said politely.
“Sure it's fine… Well, I don’t want to say this to Yuki. But... Um, I already finished my homework. No need for me to study.”
“What?! Kaede, you traitor! I thought we’re together in many hardships.”
Yuki cries comically and kneels on Kaede.
“It's better to eat the frog first… With my homework already done. I don’t need to think about many things and focus on the tournament.”
“Kaede… Please let me copy your notes.”
Kaede smackdown Yuki’s head with her small fist and turned her back away with an angry face.
“No way I’m doing that…”
“Please Kaede!”
“No way.”
Kaede let the girls into her house. Cold wind from the air conditioner is noticeably high. This is the second time Chiharu came to Kaede’s house. The first time was on her tutoring Kaede and Yuki for the supplementary exams. But even thats the case. She’s awe that Kaede was living alone in this house.
Chiharu knew Kaede’s bitter past. But going up to that topic will be disrespectful to Kaede’s feelings. Nell and Mellie were already warmed by Chiharu not to bring it up.
They all go to the living room. Kaede served then drink sand some snacks.
“If Kaede already finished her homework… Then, Kaede will be bored watching us answer our homework.”
Nell said.
“That true.”
“Chiharu and the rest wasn’t finished in their homework yet?”
Asked Kaede.
Chiharu turned her head away and became silent for a second. Kaede’s point was right on the spot. Chiharu was too consumed in the summer cup and getting stronger she almost forgot the existence of the homework. Embarrassing for an honor student.
Kaede doesn’t mind.
The four girls get their notes.
“Then let's go and do hard things first.”
Yuki said.
“Nope, we should answer the easy one first. This will give you confidence, and it will “prime” your brain – you'll be subconsciously working on the answers you skipped over. Then go back and answer the hard questions. ... This way, if you run out of time, at least you'll have a bunch of questions answered.”
Chiharu told Yuki.
Words expected from an honor student.
Chiharu has her point. But there is too much time because they have the entire day answering the homework. Doing things your way. Doing things with you’re own style might be a great thing to do in this kind of situation.
“It's so nice to live with Kaede’s house. It's so cool here. Kaede marry me please!”
Yuki tried to hug Kaede, but Kaede pushed her back away. After being pushed back Yuki remembers something that happened last night.
“Yuki, did you get the call from Rito?”
“Rito? Who’s that?”
“Eh? You don’t remember… He used to play with us when we're in elementary. He told me that he's playing Fantasy world online. He wanted to see you.”
“That reminds me of a call I get last night. He suddenly call me Kaede and then I got terrified. He sounds like the man who's chasing me before. My stalker.”
Yuki started to feel bad for Rito. Rito is now labeled as a stalker. But it doesn’t matter, Yuki won’t feel good to Rito anymore. If his feelings for Kaede were exposed. The overly protected and possessive Yuki will attack him. The only reason Yuki gave Kaede’s number is that she thought of him as her friend.
Nell started to get dreamy after hearing about a childhood friend.
“So nice having childhood friend… I wish I had one.” Nell said.
“Nell is into that kind of romantic story. Childhood friend falling in love with each other.” Mellie added.
Nell full of enthusiasm goes for Kaede and asked:
“Are you into him? Are feeling the same feelings for him?”
“What are you saying? I’m not ready for relationships. I can't even imagine myself dating.”
Kaede replied.
“Why? Kaede is very cute and pretty. There are many boys attracted to you in school. They called Kaede a pure princess.”
Nell knows lots of things. That’s because she goes to the same school as Kaede.
I never heard anything like that before.
Kaede sure is innocent and pure.
Honestly, that is Kaede's true feeling. She doesn’t have any idea how relationships work or why many girls on her age like dating. She’s not doing it, because she doesn’t get it.
“I see… I understand now… That’s why that rascal contacted me. He has an intention of taking Kaede…”
Yuki is making such intense remarks and her eyes are on fire.
The three girls except Kaede noticed how Yuki like her so much.
The hour passed by, them answering the homework. Kaede to entertain herself. Gets her notebook and homework. She re-check her answers and have Chiharu’s opinion about them. The time goes without the girls noticing. Looking at the clock, It's already 3:00 PM. They decided to have a break.
“It's already afternoon. I can’t believe how time moves so fast.”
Chiharu said.
“That’s true… Time slowly dragging us to our death is scary.” Mellie just said something so depressing.
Chiharu then changes the topic of the tournament.
“I still can’t believe what happened in the tournament. Kaede’s sword cuts the house together with me. Kaede’s playstyle is unpredictable. What’s the secret?”
It's quite frank of a question for Kaede.
“Well, it suddenly pops up while I’m in battle. If there is a reason. I treat the game differently, If I die here, I die in real life. If I die then it's the end. My body was desperately thinking ways to get out of my situation.”
“That kind of mindset sure is nuts.”
Kaede thinks of it as a compliment. She happily scratched the back of her head.
“It's great that you're team is going to the semi-finals.”
“With two-win… the team is going to semi-finals. It's on the 29th of august we still have tomorrow to plan for it. I already changed my build taking Elise's words. Tomorrow was having a meeting I guild for planning. Tomorrow the semi-finalist will be named. We can plan for our strategy tomorrow.”
Yuki said.
“No matter who is it… My sword will cut them down.”
Kaede said.
Amber smiled seeing how optimistic Kaede was.
- Writer
