Kiss! Aurora Star Precure - Chapter 4

At the Precure House

A few days had passed by, since the guys had made their appearance at the Precure House and the first day of school had finally arrived. Jasper had used most of the days on preparing everything and getting all the paperwork done. It wasn’t that easy to get 7 people not from this world signed in for school, but he had managed it.

“I’ll have the cheese omelet, with onion, tomatoes and cucumbers, but please cut the onions in slices and the tomatoes in cubes and I’ll need the cucumbers as small stars, plus a piece of toast, only toasted on one side to perfection and with a light blue cheese on top, cut in a very thin slice. Also don’t forget the side salad and that would be with a light tzaziki dressing, on the side, not directly on the salad. Also 4 perfectly sliced pieces of watermelon, no seeds, remove them. Oh and do remove the crust from my toast as well! And with a sweet cherry jam to go with it and a glass of ice cold milk, freshly pressed apple juice and some sparkling water.”

The group was eating their pre-school breakfast and all dressed up in their new uniforms and André, or rather Hayate as he was supposed to be called from now on, was putting in his usually breakfast order to Jasper.

Jasper as usually just stood there in his frilly pink “Love the cook” apron, with a smug smile and listened to the long and detailed special order.

“Of course, my prince. I got your order in already. Here you have” Jasper took one pan after another and placed the food on his plate. “A small stack of ordinary pancakes, with low budget syrup, 2 small sausages, 1 portion of mediocre scrambled eggs from a normal hen, lightly burned,  and a bowl of fruits that were about to go bad.”

Hayate gave the food on his plate a long look and then turned his gaze back up on Jasper. “Nothing has changed since yesterday, I see. We’ll give it another try tomorrow?”

“You just try all you want, but as long as I’m the one in the apron, I decide what’s on the menu. Eat it or starve… Enjoy your meal~” It was fascinating how easily Jasper could switch between looking almost devilish and then turn into an angel one moment later. Hayate didn’t say anymore to it and just began to eat his meal. The same scenario had been happening every day since they arrived.

“Just eat your food and stop complaining. It’s an honor sir Jasper willingly cooks and cleans for us. Not to forget, some people in this world don’t even have food, so appreciate what you got.” Felipe, aka Kojiro now, added in, while he was eating his own breakfast. He was getting tired of Hayate’s whining. He had to stop acting like a spoiled royal brat.

“Hey, I’m just trying to keep my options open. No need to immediately jump my throat like that, geez…” Hayate grumbled and continued on with his meal. That Kojiro had been all over him since they had arrived in this world. Even more than usually.

“It’s hard to even imagine there should be that many people in this world starving…” Natsumi now joined the conversation, while cutting her small sausage. Since they had to start school, they all had been required to quickly get some basic knowledge of this world, so they wouldn’t make themselves noticed as being ‘weird and different’.

“If they just bothered to care properly for this world given to them, it wouldn’t be a problem. We can’t do all the work for them. They need to do some of the work themselves too.” Now Ayame was the one dropping into the conversation. Calmingly sipping on her tea. “If it weren’t for their bad treatment of not only each other, but also of their entire planet and environment, the people and kingdom of Aurelia would be much stronger and not even be in this mess in the first place.”

“But they can’t know what their behavior and treatment of their nature is doing to our world. They don’t even know it’s there, so we can’t blame them completely…” This time it was Sayuri speaking up, who nibbled on some of her slices of fruit.

“Why don’t we just let them know? If they knew of our world and all the work we do, then maybe it would make them work harder on taking properly care of their nature and that would give is strength… Just a thought.” Mateo, now called Tsubasa, said.

“It’s not that simple, Tsubasa.” Jasper now spoke, with his back turned to the group by the table, since he had begun on the dishes. “First of all, our world probably wouldn’t exist if the people on earth knew of our existence. We need them to simply believe in that there’s something more than just their own world. Fuel on their fantasies. Especially children, who have a great fantasy, give us a lot of the energy we need to do what we do. That fantasy would go away if it became common knowledge that we existed.” He shortly paused to grab some dish soap. “Second of all, it’s doubtful they would even care better for their world, even if they knew what importance it has for us. They are already fully aware of that they’re slowly killing and ruining their own world. That it will someday be the end of their entire race and many others, but still most of them continue on their current path towards damnation. Sure, some do try to care for their world and the species living in it, but it’s a much bigger amount that doesn’t care and are blinded for what they’re doing.”

“Then why do we even care or work this hard for their world, if they don’t care one bit for it anyway??” Hayate asked, with half a pancake in his mouth.

“Because there aren’t only people living in this world. The animals and nature here is also quite alive and needs our care, not to forget, they actually deserve it. Besides, we’re not the ones deciding this. We got a job, bestowed upon our people by the nature spirits and we have to live up to this huge responsibility. It’s the entire purpose of our existence.” Jasper explained and had finished the first dishes.

The young group looked back and forth on each other and understood how much their work actually meant, not only for themselves, but many other creatures in other worlds.

“You’re here on a very special and important mission, but it’s not your only task during your stay.” Jasper turned around and had the group all look at him, with a confused expression. They hadn’t been informed about another task?

“The reason why Aurelia is slowly falling apart is because the kingdom of Toxynion grows in strength, while we lose ours. That’s because this world doesn’t care properly for their nature. Cutting down trees, pollute the oceans and destroys more green areas and rather wants to feed nature with toxic gases and chemicals, which Toxynion strongly feeds on. Your task, besides your special mission, is to spread the word and knowledge of how important it is to properly care for this world. Teach the new people around you and have them open up their eyes and wish to make a difference.”

“Aha. Mhm. BUT!” Natsumi started out. “I read that there so far is 7 billion people in this world… How much influence will it have if we get a couple of classmates to switch over to the nature loving side? I’m afraid it’s naive to think we can make a huge enough impact to change things over for the better.”

“Every bit counts. Even if we only change one person, that one single person and the energy their care for nature will give, might be the tiny last bit we’ll need in the final battle against Toxynion. It could mean the difference between victory or defeat.”

“Sayuriiii-priiiiii!!” Primavera suddenly came beaming into the kitchen, holding a small orb over herself and with Verana and 2 other fairies right behind her. “Invierno is so mean-pri!! He says I can’t have this orb-pri!!”

“That’s because it’s MINE-invi!” The small blue fairy, in the shape of a wolf with a dark blue bandana, protested and quickly took back the orb. His name was Invierno and was the fairy belonging to Mioku. “You already got your own orb given to you-invi. Why do you need mine-invi?”

“Because it’s the prettiest one of them-pri! It’s not fair that you’re getting it just like that-pri!” Primavera didn’t give up without a fight and tried to take back the orb, but Invierno held her back with just one paw.

“Actually, they’re all four completely identical and therefore, none of them prettier than the other-njo” A purple bat, with an ascot, spoke up and separated the two fighting fairies. This was Otonjo, the fairy belonging to Ayame.

“But this one is so much more shinyy-priiiii!” Primavera clinged to the orb, which was still held by Invierno.

“Maybe we can just polish yours some more and it’ll be really shiny too-vera?” Verana laid a paw on Primavera’s shoulder and tried to comfort her upset friend.

“What are those orbs anyway?” Sayuri now asked, since the bickering had caught the attention from everyone in the kitchen.

“It’s some that I made.” Jasper pointed out and now took the orb from Invierno, showing it off to the others. “I created them so you girls can bring your fairies with you everywhere, even to school. With a bit of magic, they can make themselves smaller and hide inside these orbs, which look like ordinary keychains.”

“Oohh that’s pretty neat. Can I see?” Natsumi took the orb from Jasper and studied it on a closer look. “Interesting… This is Aurelian quartz glass, right?”

“That’s correct. Though I think it’s time for you all to finish up and get to school. It won’t do you are late on your first day. Put your plates in the sink. Up up up!” Jasper rushed them all and took out the bento lunch boxes he had made for them. “There’s one for each of you. Take one and then go put your shoes on.”

Everyone did as told and first put their dirty dishes by the sink and then grabbed one of the bento’s made for them. Only Hayate looked skeptical. “Is this the special lunch order I put in yesterday? Not to complain, but your rice is often a bit burned and I need something more refined for my sensitive palette.”

“Ohhh I understand that! Let me fix that up for you real quickly, my prince.” Jasper put on a big smile, took the bento out of Hayate’s hands and replaced it with a 1000 yen coin. “Go buy yourself something neat that fits your ‘palette’ more. Yum, free lunch!” Jasper said with a chuckle and put the bento into the fridge, as his own lunch for later.

Hayate stared at the coin for a moment. Why did he always get himself into these sorts of situations? “Hint taken.” He shortly sighed and then went to the others in the hallway.

“Hm. Where is Mioku?” Jasper looked to the one lonely bento left on the counter. She hadn’t showed up for breakfast either. “Is she sick?”

“She went out for hunting Toxitans hours ago.” Mioku said, while putting her shoes on. “She told me she would be there at the school. She wasn’t thrilled about it though.”

“Mioku left without you?” Sayuri looked up, since she was sitting on the floor while putting her shoes on. “You two are usually always out together.

“Well, sometimes Mioku likes to go out on her own as well. It’s her choice if she wants me to come along or not. Sometimes she estimates she won’t need my help and goes on her own.”

“That one-eye sure ain’t much into teamwork, is she?” Hayate commented, soon slapped behind the head by Kojiro. “OW! Dude!!”

“What did I tell you about calling her that? Brother or not, this is your last warning…” Kojiro warned him, with a cold glare, before he went to pick up Mioku’s bento. “I’ll give it to her at school.”

“Okay, off you go! Behave and try not to put too much attention on yourselves. You too, Hayate!” Jasper shooed them out and waved goodbye in the doorway, like the good ‘parent’ he was.

“What’s that supposed to mean? OI! Wait for me!” Hayate had tried to confront Jasper, but seeing as the others already were ahead of him, he had to save it for later and quickly catch up to them.

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At Katsura High School

The group arrived at the school, which was already beaming with life from the many new and older students, all ready for a new school year. It was nowhere as many people as they were used to at the Aurelia Academy, but maybe it was for the better, in case some of the four remaining Precures were at their school. They had to keep their eyes open.

At the school entrance, Mioku were already waiting for them. With her height and eyepatch, she was an easy target to spot in the crowd. “About time you came. I already went to see the boards with the classes on. Ayame, we’re in the same class.”

“Oh? I was hoping for that. On to another good teamwork then.” Ayame smiled and shared a high five with Mioku.

“Mioku, I brought you this too. Here.” Kojiro had a small smile on his lips and offered Mioku first the small orb, with Invierno inside and then her bento.

“Ah… Thanks.” She shortly replied and accepted the items. This making Sayuri and Natsumi throw a confused glance at each other. Mioku said thanks? She can be nice? That’s a new one.

“Wait. We’re not all in the same class??” Tsubasa asked in a nervous manner. He didn’t liked the idea of being separated from the others in this new strange world that fast.

“I don’t quite like the idea of that either. We should stick together.” Sayuri agreed with Tsubasa, but soon enough got stared down at by Mioku.

“You’re even more stupid than I thought. Of course we’re not in the same class. We’re not all the same age, just like at the academy. How about trying to think, for a change?” Mioku rolled her eyes and began to make her way inside the school.

“Hey, what about us? What classes are we in?” Natsumi quickly called out, seeing Mioku and Ayame leaving them.

“Dunno. Don’t care.” Mioku called back and disappeared in behind the doors with Ayame right behind her.

“We’ll just have to look on our own, I suppose.” Sayuri said and the group nodded in agreement, moving on to the large boards placed next to the entrance. 3 large boards with the student names spread out into different classes.

“I hope I’ll be in class with Violeta. It’ll be like kindergarden!” Hayate exclaimed, trying to find his name on the board with great excitement.

“Oh by the great nature spirits, please no.” Violeta replied, getting annoyed just by the thought. One thing was having to share a house with him, but classes too? Now that was just too much.

“Hm. I’m in the same class as Mioku and Ayame... She could have told me that.” Kojiro had spotted his name and now wondered why Mioku hadn’t informed him with this. Then he could have gone on ahead with them.

“Just forget about her, Kojiro. She only cares for herself and Ayame on and off.” Natsumi rolled her eyes and instead focused on the boards.

“Ah! I am not in the same class as Hayate!” Sayuri happily exclaimed and did a small victory dance. “In your face!”

“Pfft, so what?” Hayate pretended not to care and instead ruffled her hair. “I’ll just come bother you during recess, so don’t get too excited!”

“Meh! Let me just be happy for a sec. Though I’m in class with Tsubasa instead.” Sayuri turned to the youngest brother and smiled. “I’m sure we’ll have a great time together!”

“Ehm, yea, we’ll try..” Tsubasa slightly blushed, but he was genuine happy to have someone he knew in the same class as him.

“And I’ll then have to try keeping Hayate under control. I’m sure we’ll have a most splendid time together, my prince~” Natsumi smiled and clinged to Hayate’s arm. She had been rather ‘fascinated’ with the princes, since their arrival.

“Then get a move on. We’re already a bit late.” Kojiro were already on his way inside the school and soon had the others follow.

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“Let’s see… 1-B…. 1-B…. Ah! Class 1-B. Here we are.” Sayuri and Tsubasa had wandered the halls, in attempt to find their class, which they had finally succeeded at. Sayuri walking in with a bright smile, followed by Tsubasa, who looked like a scared pup.

The class already was filled with other students, seeing as Sayuri and Tsubasa were a bit late. So most of the seats were already taken. Some of the students seemed to know each other. Probably friends from junior high and others sat silently at their seats, as one often would on the first day, without knowing anyone else.

“Ah, we can take these seats.” Sayuri suggested, pointing to two empty seats, each by the window and one behind the other, on the two rows the furthest back in the class. “Excuse me. Are these seats taken?” Sayuri had aimed her question at the girl sitting on the seat, next to the empty one, on the furthest back row. The girl turned towards Sayuri. She had long loose platinum blonde hair, with a small heart hair clip, fair skin, stunning sky blue eyes and of a normal build. The girl smiled and used her hand to gesture to the free seat next to her.

“Thank you.” Sayuri smiled and took a seat, having Hayate sit on the seat in front of her. “My name is Sayuri. Sayuri Nishida. I’m very glad to meet you.” Sayuri offered her hand to the girl and she accepted it, so they could shake hands. “You’re all new here too, huh?” Sayuri asked which the girl nodded to. “What’s your name?” Sayuri asked, but the girl didn’t say a word.

“Her name is Yue. Yue Hamasaki.” The girl on the seat in front of the blonde turned around and smiled to Sayuri. “Yue is mute, so she can’t answer you, but she can hear just perfectly fine.” This girl looked a bit older than them, despite being in their class. She had dark brown hair, tied up in a side ponytail, ocean green eyes and her body a bit on the chubby side.

Yue suddenly began to make various signs with her hands, while looking at Sayuri and smiling. “She says she’s very happy to meet you and that she hopes you can be friend. Also that you’re very pretty and your friend is cute.” The other girl translated for her. Hayate had frozen in his seat and felt the blush in his cheeks.

“Aww aren’t you the sweetest? Thank you. You’re very pretty too!” Sayuri complimented her back. “This is Tsubasa. A friend of mine.” She introduced Tsubasa to Yue. She happily waved to him, but Tsubasa sunk into his seat out of pure shyness. “He’s a bit shy, hehe… Oh wait a sec! You understand her?” Sayuri now looked to the other girl.

“Yea, Yue and I have been friends since we were small, so I learned it at an early age, so I could help her out. I should really be in the grade above this one, but the teachers have allowed me to be here in class with Yue, so I can help translate what she’s saying.” The girl explained and smiled to Yue, who smiled back and then signed something. “Oh! And she wants me to mention that my name is Kotori. Kotori Yukimura.”

“Nice to meet you as well, Kotori. I think it’s really nice and admirable of you to help out Yue like this.” Sayuri said and looked to Yue signing.

“She thinks so too, hehe.” Kotori could translate. “Though as I have told her, I do it because she’s my dear friend and I want to help.”

“Makes sense. Uhm.. Do you know what we’re exactly going to be doing today?” Tsubasa finally joined in the conversation.

“Well, here on our first day, they usually take things quite calm and easy. We’ll first meet our teacher, afterwards a tour around the school, then later the headmaster is going to have a speech, then lunch and then we’ll finish off with looking at the club stands and sign up for the clubs.” Kotori explained, while Yue nodded.

“Clubs?” Sayuri and Tsubasa asked in complete synchronization.

“Yea, clubs. Ya know... Activity clubs? All students are required to sign up for at least one club activity to take part in after school. So all the clubs will have their stands up out on the court and you can go out and sign up for whichever you would like to join. You can of course join more than one. Didn’t you do activities like that in junior high?” Kotori looked puzzled about this fact.

“Uhhh sure! Hehe of course we do. I just wasn’t sure of what you had meant, but yea, totally!” Sayuri was quick thinking and soon enough came up with an excuse. It would have been ugly if she had blown their cover that early.

Only a few moments later, their teacher entered the class and their first day of school could begin. It was all very basic stuff. Their teacher introduced himself and told them all about the school, since they all were new. Short after, their teacher took them with him out on a tour to see the school. Sayuri thought they maybe would meet the classes of Natsumi and the others, but seeing as they both were in the older grades, there would be no tour for them. She and Tsubasa would just have to show them around later.

After the tour, all the students were gathered and lined up in the gym hall, where the headmaster as promised held her speech and welcomed all the new students. Once the speech was over, everyone was allowed to go eat their lunches and then go sign up for the various club activities.

“Aaaahh finally time for lunch! I have looked forward to this.” Sayuri had joined the others and were now eating their bento boxes together, outside on a grassy area, near the soccer fields.

“I don’t care what Hayate says. I quite enjoy the meals Jasper is making for us.” Natsumi grinned and happily shoved a small sausage into her mouth.

“He probably should have been quiet anyway, considering what he has to go through now, due to his big mouth.” Kojiro hinted with his head to what seemed to be a huge crowd of people, near a small store. Apparently that was supposed to be a spot selling small meals, sandwiches and other snacks to the students, with the big crowd being hungry students, fighting to get through and buy what little food was available.

Inside the crowd was Hayate. Fighting in the best way possible to squeeze himself forward and inside reach to the lunch ladies on the other side of the counter. Though being one used to having his food served on a silver plate, he was out on deep water and quickly got pushed back out of the crowd. “Argh c’mon!! I demand food! I am a pr--…. Pretty hungry guy, so let me through!”

“That’s just pathetic…” Mioku added in, rolling her eye over the embarrassing display Hayate was putting on.

“Hey, Sayuri!” Kotori called out and had Yue following her, as they walked closer to the group.

“Ah, Kotori! Come sit with us.” Sayuri scooted over a bit, to allow some space for Kotori and Yue to sit on, while the rest of the group looked questioning to their teammate on who these new people were.

“Oh! Uh, let me introduce you! Guys, this is Kotori” Sayuri motioned to the dark haired girl, who nodded as a greeting, having Yue shortly wave to them all. “And Yue. They’re both in Tsubasa and my class and both really nice.”

“So you’re all friends with Sayuri and Tsubasa?” Kotori started out and looked at all of them in the group, but blushed the moment she got eye contact with Kojiro. He didn’t seem affected by this though.

“Yup! I’m Natsumi and those two are Ayame and Mioku.” Natsumi hinted to the other two girls. Ayame doing a friendly nod and of course with Mioku completely ignoring the two new girls. “And that guy is Kojiro, the oldest of Tsubasa’s brother’s aaaand that clown over there.” She pointed to the troubled Hayate. “Is his second brother, Hayate.”

Yue began to sign, which caught the attention of all of them, even Mioku.

“Yue says she’s very happy to meet you all and that a friend of Sayuri is her friends too.” Kotori translated.

“Oh yea. Forgot to mention that Yue is mute, but Kotori helps her talk with others. Pretty neat, right?”

“Mute?” For some reason, this somehow caught Mioku’s attention and she looked to Yue, who just smiled friendly in return.

“URGH! I officially give up!” Hayate had returned to the group and sat down in defeat.

“Maybe that’ll teach you not to provoke and criticize Jasper’s food in the future.” Kojiro added in and continued on with his own meal.

“C’mon, you guys! Give me some of your food too. Just a bit from each of you!” Hayate begged for his poor hungry stomach, but none of them showed him any mercy. He had brought this upon himself.

“You can have some of mine?” Kotori offered and held out a rice ball for him.

“HA! Thank you thank you!!” Hayate quickly accepted the humble meal and ate like he had never seen food before.

“You really don’t need to give up your food for him, miss... Though it’s kind of you.” Kojiro said while looking at Kotori, who quickly blushed, trying to hide this by looking down in her lap.

“Ehm i-it’s okay. I got plenty of it anyway, so it’s fine…” She said and shortly looked up at him with a smile.

“That reminds me. Kotori told us we’ll need to sign up for those club thingies.” Sayuri spoke, with some beans hanging out her mouth.

“We heard of this, yes.” Ayame replied. “Something you have been thinking about yet? You need to have decided soon.”

“I know Yue will join the music club. She is really got at playing the harp.” Kotori said, having Yue blush a bit and signing something. “She says that, since she cannot speak, playing the harp is a way of her to express herself.”

“That’s beautiful…” Tsubasa said while staring at Yue, not really seeming to consider his actions.

“Ya sure that’s the only thing you find beautiful?” Hayate grinned and wiggled his eyebrows in Tsubasa’s direction. This caught his attention and he quickly looked somewhere else.

“Then what about you, Kotori? What sort of clubs do you want to be in?” Natsumi asked out of pure curiosity.

“Well, I have always loved painting, so I’ll probably join the art club… And you guys?”

The group all looked to each other. They hadn’t given the idea of clubs any thought at all, seeing as this was a new thing to them. They didn’t have these clubs at the academy and all were expected to focus on their classes and warrior training instead.

“Well I’m out. Just sign me up for whatever.” Mioku had finished her bento and now stood up and dusted off her skirt. Looking like one about to take her leave.

“Wait, you’re going? The school day isn’t over yet.” Kojiro said and quickly stood up.

“So? I got more important things to do than looking at silly club stands. Unless you all already forgot. Ayame, you coming?” She looked to her partner and awaited an answer.

“Actually, I think I’ll stay here for the club stands. I’ll sign us up for something and then catch up with you later, okay?”

“As you wish.” Mioku were about to leave, when Kojiro suddenly grabbed her hand and stopped her.

“You can’t just leave like that. I know you got good intentions, but this is important for us as well.” He had to choose his words carefully, to not blow their cover in front of the two new girls.

Mioku glared cold at him and quickly pulled her hand away. “Stay away from me…!” She hissed at him and then took her leave.

“Haaah… Why is she like that…” Kojiro sighed, unknowing of how to handle Mioku when she acted up like that.

“Uhm… Is she always like that?” Kotori asked and looked at the rest of the group, who had all silently watched the scene. They had gotten used to it by now and didn’t dare to interfere with Mioku most of the time.

“Yeaaa actually pretty much.” Sayuri laughed a bit nervously. Not wanting to have Kotori and Yue dragged into the chaos that was Mioku.

“Well, speaking of clubs, we should probably start to get going over there. If we want some good spots, that is.” Kotori suggested and packed up her bento.

“Good spots?” Natsumi asked.

“Some clubs are more popular than others and some will have a limited number of sports. For something like the sports clubs, you’ll often have to take part in a selection, so they only get the best players. So sign up fast, to get a bigger chance of getting in.”

“That makes sense. We shouldn’t just sit around here for too long. Let’s go!” Hayate encouraged them all and quickly got up, followed by the others, making their way to the school court, where the club stands were.

The place was already filled with many students, looking at all the different stands. Some clearly more popular than others. From what they had heard, many of their sports clubs did very well at tournaments and had a good long tradition of strong representation each year for the sports section.

The group had slowly dissolved, as they all had been drawn to different stands, according to their own interest.

Sayuri had an extremely hard time do decide on which club to join. It had to be something she could actually have interest in doing after school. It would e no fun if she had to go there several times a week, but without actually having genuine interest in being there.

“Aahhh why does it have to be this hard…” So many options, so little time to decide. If she had just been informed of these clubs earlier on, she could have looked more into it and made a plan on who to join right from the start. A few of the sports clubs tried to lure her into joining them, but knowing how much she lacked in physical subjects, it was for the better to just decline right away.

“I hope the others got an easier time with choosing than me… Hm…”

“Why not an art club, just like Kotori said-pri??”

“AH! P-Primavera!?” Sayuri turned her head, trying to look at the small orb keychain on her backpack. “You shouldn’t speak while we’re in public…!”

“Don’t worry about that-pri. As long as I am inside the orb, only you can hear me-pri.”

“Hah, well that’s a relief… Though still. I can’t speak with you here. I’ll look like a lunatic talking to myself.”

“I just tried to help-pri. Hmm… Ah! That’s just something for you-pri! A garden club-pri!”

“Garden club…??” Sayuri looked around and then spotted the stand the fairy had spoken of. It was indeed a garden club and she immediately stepped closer to take a look.

“Welcome to the Garden Club! You got an interest in flowers?? We’re in charge of the school garden on the rooftop and we also got a lot of tours out to the newest plant facilities!” The girl sitting behind the stand tried to lure Sayuri into signing up. Sayuri looked on their signup sheet and saw not many had put their name on the paper yet.

“That’s just the thing for you-pri! You’re after all from Spring Valley-pri. You’re born with green fingers-pri.”

“Well I do very much enjoy gardening. Oh these are beautiful.” Sayuri had eyed the pretty hibiscus flower pot that stood on the stall counter. Carefully picking it up.

“You got a fine taste in flowers. I like hibiscus a lot too.” The guy next to the girl said, but then dropped his jaw, seeing as the two large flower buds suddenly bloomed from one moment to the next. “W-Wha…”

“Watch out with showing off your powers like that-pri! Didn’t you receive proper training back home-pri?”

“E-Ehm sorry about that. Funny flower, huh? Ehehe…” Sayuri quickly put the pot back down, before it would start growing out of its pot. She couldn’t tell them how people from Spring Valley had been given the ability to make flowers and plants grow. Especially not when she still had to learn how to fully control this ability. That’s why all the young people in Aurelia went to the academy in the first place. To learn how to use their abilities, so they later could help out with the changing of the seasons, along with the adults.

“Wow… You need to join our club! Please sign up! You can always quit later if it doesn’t quite fit you.” The girl eagerly said and pushed the signup sheet closer to Sayuri.

“Well… Alright. I can always give it a try, right?” Sayuri shrugged and then grabbed the pen, so she could sign her name on the sheet.

“Is this really a good idea-pri? I know I suggested it, but I thought you had full control of your ability already-pri.”

“It’s fine. I just need to do some more practice, that’s all. I’ll be careful.” Sayuri replied, once she had made a bit of distance between her and the stand.

“Sayuri!” Natsumi called out and came over to her friend. “Guess what club I just signed up for.”

“Uhhmmmm… Mmm maybe it’s the—“

“The science club!” Natsumi interrupted, with no real patience for guessing games. “I think it’ll be just me with all the experiments.”

“Huh, I didn’t know you were into stuff like science? I thought you were more a math girl?”

“Science and math do share a lot in common. Besides, it would be fun to try out something else than math, math, math and math.” Natsumi was tired of being ‘the genius girl’ from the academy and somehow wanted to get a fresh new start and reputation at this school.

“Already gathered up here, ladies??” Hayate and Tsubasa came over and Hayate immediately jumped at Sayuri and put her into a head lock. “Ya found something good??”

“dfglhæa s-stop that, you idiot!!” Sayuri wiggled in his grip and somehow managed to get free. “Jerk. And yes. I actually did find something. I have signed up for the garden club.”

“Pffttt gardening?? How dull, but that fits you so well anyway.” Hayate waved a hand in a dismissive manner.

“Oh yea? Then what did you join then, if you’re that cool??”

“As a matter of fact, I have already signed up for 2 clubs! HA! I shall soon be in both the martial arts club and the soccer club.”

“Tss. Show off… How about you, Tsubasa? You found something good?” Natsumi asked the second brother.

“Eh? Uhm yea, actually…” He rubbed his neck in a nervous manner. “I decided to join up with the baking club…”

“Baking?” The two girls said and looked at each other. Tsubasa had seemed to show a genuine interest in cooking and often were out in the kitchen helping out Jasper with preparing meals. At least the few times Jasper had allowed it, since he took pride in his cooking, even if Hayate were of a different opinion.

“I just thought it could be fun… Maybe… “ The girls reaction made him question himself and his decision.

“Sounds like you all found something?” Finally it was Ayame and Kojiro joining their group and seemed curious to hear of the others choices on club activities.

“We heard you signed up for the baking club, Tsubasa?” Ayame asked.

“Yea, I did…” He shortly replied.

“Sounds very fitting for you, brother. I know you enjoy baking.” Even if their parents didn’t quite approved of a prince picking baking over warrior training.  

“How about you guys??” Sayuri now were curious to hear what Kojiro and Ayame had come up with.

“I actually had a bit of a hard time to decide, but I ended up in 3 clubs.” Kojiro had to admit. There had simply been too many good options to miss out on.

“3? What a show off.” Hayate concluded with an annoyed grunt.

“Might be… In the end I went for the fencing club, book club and the archery club.”

“Wow, 3 clubs at the same time. I’m very impressed. You’re sure something special, Kojiro.” Natsumi smiled and threw him a wink, again with no shown effect from his side.

“I went ahead and signed up for archery club too, along with gymnastics and the music club.” Ayame continued on, since they all were sharing.

“Music?” Sayuri asked. She could easily see Ayame in the athletics and gymnastic club, but music?

“Sure. I play the flute, so it fits well.”

“I didn’t know you could play an instrument… Huh. The more you know.”

“Then what about Mioku?” Natsumi now asked. “She told you to sign her up for something.”

“Oh yes. I put her in the archery club with Kojiro and I and then also added her to the swimming club and gymnastics” Ayame revealed. They would find out sooner or later anyway.

“You think those will be good enough for someone as picky as her?” Hayate was skeptical, seeing how Mioku was negative about most everything 90% of the time.

“Ayame and I discussed it carefully and came to the agreement these were the activities that would fit Mioku the best and be of her taste.” Kojiro explained.

“Well, then it seems we have all been covered and signed up for at least one thing?” Sayuri felt great, knowing they had managed to get through the first day with little trouble following. Though she might have said that too early.

“I feel something-pri!! A Toxitan! Maybe even two!” The small deer fairy called.

“Toxitan??” Sayuri said out loud and the others immediately were on alert.

“There is the bad energy somewhere close by- vera! We need to go there quick-vera!” Verana exclaimed from her orb on Natsumi’s backpack.

“In that case, we need to take our leave and investigate, before it can make trouble. Might be Mioku is already there. Come!” Kojiro immediately took on the leader role and leaded the group of people out the school entrance and towards the direction given to them by the fairies.

“And I who thought we could get through this day without any trouble.” Sayuri sighed and suddenly felt sick by the thought of going into battle. She hadn’t been out in the field, since her small accident during her first fight. She was afraid to get in the way and end up harming someone again. Hopefully things would go a little more smoothly this time, with the support of her friends.

End of chapter 4