Let’s Enjoy This Meal

"Cheers!" Uncle Huang's voice boomed across Ten's hut, sloshing rice wine everywhere as he thrust his cup up in the air. "To our hero!"

The other adults roared their approval, already three cups deep and showing no signs of slowing. Someone had dragged out every jar of rice wine in the village, and the smell of alcohol was filling the room.

I slouched lower in my seat, right in the middle of the celebration table where Qing Qing had nailed me down despite my protests. Peng dozed in my lap, occasionally murmuring a sleepy "peng" before it stirred from the loud noise.

"Did you see her out there?" A farmer slapped his knee. "Ridin' that fish like a horse!"

"The way those roots skewered all of 'em!" Another villager swept his arms wide, nearly knocking over Gran Gran's cup.

"Watch it, you oaf!" Gran Gran smacked him with her cane but even she had a slight flush to her cheeks.

God, please make it stop. I fidgeted with Peng's flipper, heat crawling up my neck.

Someone started singing an off-key song about fish and trees. I groaned, now pulling Peng up to hide my face behind its round body.

"Alright, alright, give her some space!" Qing Qing appeared like my guardian angel, shooing away the crowd with exaggerated arm movements. "Can't you see you're embarrassing the hero of the hour?"

She plopped down beside me, her drink sloshing dangerously. Before I could thank her, she threw an arm around my shoulder and pulled me close.

"But seriously though," she slurred, breath warm with alcohol, "you were so cool out there! Like- like when you jumped off Peng and did that magic thing with the roots and-"

"They're not really magic-"

"Shhh." She pressed a finger to my lips, missing and poking my cheek instead. "Let me compliment your, ehhh, what do you call it? Punch-punch-tree-powers?"

A giggle bubbled out of me at Qing Qing's name for my Lobak. She blinked at me, then burst into her own fit just because I was laughing. We leaned against each other, shaking with laughter over absolutely nothing.

When I finally caught my breath, I scanned the chaos around us. Uncle Huang had recruited a few other villagers in what looked like an attempt to coax Gran Gran onto a makeshift dance floor. But the old woman sat firm on her cushion, wiggling one finger at them.

"You want me to throw out my back?"

"Come on, Gran Gran!" Uncle Huang swayed. "Just one dance!"

That's when Kanon glided over, her pink dress bright against the dim lighting. She extended one hand to Gran Gran. "Would you honor me?"

Gran Gran's grinned before taking Kanon's hand without a second's hesitation.

Uncle Huang's jaw dropped. The other men froze as well, their faces cycling through confusion and betrayal.

As she swayed with Gran Gran, Kanon closed her eyes. Blue petals materialized in the air - combers, those rare carnations that only grew in the ruins. They spiraled around the two women like a gentle snowflake.

"For Jiko," Kanon said softly, but her voice carried through the celebration.

The room quieted for just a second, raising cups in a silent tribute before the chaos resumed tenfold.

Movement across the table caught my eye. Ten held a clump of rice between her chopsticks, extending it toward Sumi like she was trying to fed a stubborn cat.

"Open up~"

Sumi's red eyes narrowed. She inched sideways on her cushion. Ten matched the movement, chopsticks still extended.

"This is my way of saying no hard feelings. For dismembering me into forty-eight pieces, mind you."

"You're only being nice so I'll find those talismans faster." Sumi used her oversized brush like a shield.

"Would I do that?"

"Yes!"

Sumi's brush whipped through the air. The rice clump launched off Ten's chopsticks in a perfect arc.

SPLAT

Rice hit my face like a wet slap. The grains stuck to my cheek, my nose, and one ambitious grain landed on my eyelid. I sat frozen, processing what just happened.

"WHAT THE HELL?" Qing Qing shot up so fast she knocked over her cup. Her wings burst from her back. "How DARE you assault my precious Kuroha!"

Sumi threw both hands up, pointing her brush at Ten. "She started it!"

"Oh, so another one of you Heavenly Generals wanna fight, huh?" Qing Qing's voice dropped to a growl I never heard before. Her wings spread wider, casting shadow across the walls. "Nobody. Touches. My. Kuroha!"

"Wait, Qing Qing-"

She wasn't listening. With a war cry, Qing Qing launched herself at Ten.

Ten's chopsticks clattered to the floor as Qing Qing tackled her backwards. They rolled across the floor in a heap, Qing Qing's wings batting everything with reach.

"Apologize to Kuroha's face!"

"It wasn't even me!"

I scrambled to my feet. Someone had to stop this before-

Sumi's hand shot out, grabbing my wrist. "Sit."

"But they're-"

"I said I've got this." She pulled out a talisman, scribbling characters with practiced strokes. The paper glowed white as she slapped it against the floor.

A translucent barrier shimmered into existence around Qing Qing and Ten. Their shouts cut off mid-syllable, though I could still see Qing Qing trying to wrangle Ten's neck while Ten somehow gotten hold of one of Qing Qing's wings.

"There." Sumi dusted off her hands. "Problem solved."

I stared at the silent chaos bubble. Ten now had Qing Qing in a headlock while Qing Qing appeared to be biting Ten's sleeve.

"Did you really handle it though?"

Sumi waved her hand dismissively. "Those two idiots will be fine. Ten's just playing along to wear Qing Qing out."

Her sharp red eyes then fixed onto my hands, still absently playing with Peng's flippers. "So, what're you going to do now?"

The question hung between us. My yellow progress bar had filled completely after mowing down those Yang. One thought, one decision, and I'd ascend. Find the next realm. Get closer to Inorin.

Every second I wasted here was another second she remained lost. Another second she might be suffering, or worse.

So why was I still here?

The sounds of celebration washed over me. Uncle Huang's bellowing laugh, Gran Gran's cackles as Kanon twirled her, the muffled thumps of Ten and Qing Qing's "fight." Even Peng seemed content, sprawling across my lap.

My gaze drifted to the rice bowl in front of us. Simple white rice, nothing fancy. But surrounded by all these people...

This - all of this noise and warmth and ridiculous fighting - this was what I always wanted when I was younger. Our apartment bursting with friends. A real family meal.

"Hey? You alright there?"

Sumi's voice cut through my thoughts. The room had gone fuzzy, and I realized tears were building up, blurring everything into a mess.

I scrubbed at my eyes with my sleeve - Inorin's jacket sleeve.

"I'm going to search for Inorin. But first, let's enjoy this meal with everyone."

-END OF VOLUME 1-