Tiichi

 Okinawa city, Japan, February 25. Near Kurashiki Dam, a girl biked past a museum. It was early in the morning and the sun had yet to fully appear, however the girl still biked on. The cool weather caused dew to appear on everything around. The girl was wearing a simple High School outfit, but also had leggings protecting her from the cold, and a sweater over her. The sweater wore a distinct pattern, a yellow Kasuri, with red diamonds, completing the look. The girl had orange hair, dyed, tied up in a bun, and her eyes, a gentle brown. Alongside that her skin was olive, and wet. A mix of dew and water hugging her face. A school bag hung off the front of the bike. Yet she kept biking, up a trail into the forest, until she reached a cave. She got off the bike, tripped over it, then stood up, and ran into the cave.

At first nothing special stood out in the cave. The girl, out of breath, fell to her knees and placed her hands to the ground. “I’m sorry for being late, Mabui, Kang, and especially you Jiichi. I don’t mean to be late. But I still haven’t found a place closer. Like at all.” the girl said, sitting up, falling onto her legs. The air around her started to glow, and surround her offering her comfort. “Thank you Mabui. Jiichi, you think you can offer some good luck?” the girl asked quietly. She ran her hands through the Mabui. “I guess I shouldn’t ask that. Oh well, thank you all for accepting me. I offer my gratitude to all the Futuchi, not just you Jiichi. I humbly ask for your guidance, and grace once again. And if you wouldn’t mine, throw in some money.” she said, acting calm and composed, until the end, where she laughed at her joke. She stood up, bowed, and clapped three times, followed by another bow. The Mabui around her once blue, shifted to green, and red. The girl backed away. “Everything ok?” the girl asked, confused. The Mabui was always blue, always, even on previous visits, she never saw them as anything else. For a moment the Mabui condensed into a red ball, turned purple and exploded, knocking the girl onto her back. All the air was knocked out of her.

“Why?” the girl asked, her voice strained from the lack of air. She rolled onto her stomach, and tried to stand up. She saw a Shima Banana roll into the cave. “Ok then. I’m sorry for joking.” the girl said, standing up. She looked around, gathering her bearings, as Mabui circled her, becoming blue again. “What was that?” she asked, picking up the banana. Peeling away the peel of the banana the girl bites into it. She looked around and saw a coconut crab at the cave entrance. It caught her attention, and stunned her. She started shaking and backing away deeper into the cave. “Stay away please.” she said, quietly, tearing up. The coconut crab minding its own business explored into the cave. She threw the banana at the crab. The crab recoiled, before noticing the banana, and eating it. “See you tomorrow!" she screamed, running out of the cave, grabbing her bike, and riding off.

The sun was up, and around an hour passed. She was still riding, however she made it back to the city. The scenery changed, trees, grass, and bushes became buildings, fences, trash and pebbles. She continued down the street, now crowded with people, each living their own life. All to reach a place, a school, Unmei High School. She got off the bike, grabbed her schoolbag, and left the bike in a bike rack, before entering the building. At this point she was tired, but she wasn’t ready to give up. She pushed through the ocean of students to get to her locker. She took off her shoes, and replaced them with slippers in her locker. “Yuna, where have you been?” another girl asked, hugging Yuna. Chatan Yuna, the girl who traveled half the city by bike within several hours. “Don’t scare me, Hiroko. Also, really? You know where I've been. I had to say hello to the Kang.” Yuna said. Shaku Hiroko, a girl with short dirty blonde hair, her blue eyes instantly striking. She wore the school uniform. “Never gonna make any sense are you?” Hiroko asked, grabbing Yuna’s shoulders and holding her out, barely paying attention to the given answer. Yuna sighs. “Let’s just get to class.” Yuna said quietly, hiding her annoyance, and walking away. “Good idea.” Hiroko said, following after.

Walking through the hall Yuna notices someone, a guy, someone she has never met. His black hair, long, messy, and uneven. His eyes, green, and calm. He wore a school uniform. He was standing near some teachers, and the head administrator. Hiroko stopped, and looked where Yuna was looking. “You thinking about jumping him?” Hiroko asked. “What do you mean by that?” Yuna asked. “You know what I mean.” Hiroko said. “No I am not going to jump him? Stop being weird.” Yuna said, walking away. “Wow the weirdo calling me weird. But I'll forgive you, me being the bigger person and all.” Hiroko said. Yuna sighed again.

The two reached a classroom, filled with students. One student, being louder than the rest, instantly caught the attention of Hiroko. Fujiwara Yusuke, short and straightened auburn hair, going along with his hazel eyes, reflecting a sense of passion. “Stop being so loud Yuusuke!” Hiroko yelled at the boy. “And look who it is, the woman. Coming to ruin my day. This reminds me of the battle between Susanoo-No-Mikoto and Yamata-No-Orochi. Well guess what snake, you can’t beat me.” Yusuke said. “Stop with your ramblings, we all know that’s just fiction, unlike Bodhisattva.” Hiroko said smugly. Yuna said nothing and gave a blank expression. “Isn’t that right?” Hiroko asked, grabbing Yuna. “Uh, well-” Yuna started quietly before getting cut off.” See, she agrees with me.” Hiroko said. “You aren’t fooling anyone.” Yusuke said, getting on top of his desk. “Shut up and sit down!” a man's voice yelled over the classroom. All the students looked to the door to find their teacher, and the boy from earlier waiting. “Yes Miyagi Sensei.” Hiroko and Yusuke said simultaneously. All the students sat into their chairs, as Miyagi, and the unnamed boy walked into the front of the class. “Class this is Banal Ramon. Why we are taking in a new student a few days before summer is beyond me.” Miyagi said. “It’s Ramon Najera Banal, I’d like it if you didn't say my name backwards.” Ramon said. “Your name sounds like Ramen. Where are you from?” Yusuke asked. “You all can get to know each other later, Mr. Fujiwara.” Miyagi said. “Pilipinas.” Ramon said. “Where?” Hiroko asked. “Just sit down, go back there. Empty seat next to Ms Chatan.” Miyagi said. Ramon listened, and followed direction, sitting in an empty chair next to Yuna. Yuna sat near the back right, next to a window. “Nice to meet you.” Yuna said, quietly to Ramon. “Likewise.” Ramon said.

Time went on, and things calmed down. Miyagi was teaching the class about Japanese history. Mabui from outside the window caught Yuna’s attention. She tried to ignore it, and take notes, but the Mabui went from blue to green, the orange, and purple. It was hard for Yuna to ignore, and she looked over again. Ramon noticed from the corner of his eyes, looking at the Mabui. Yuna sighed, and looked away again, noticing Ramon’s gaze. Yuna tried to act like nothing was happening, but with Ramon noticing the Mabui it felt like a secret that Yuna was keeping to herself vanished. Unsure how to feel something happened. A spark. As Yuna wrote notes something happened, the words she jotted down began to glow, as Mabui hugged her. Nobody noticed the Mabui except for Yuna and Ramon. Before her eyes the Mabui condensed into a ball, and turned into water, dropping onto her paper, ruining her notes. The water dripped onto the floor, and her clothing. Causing Yuna to yelp and stand up, getting everyone’s attention. “What is happening?” Miyagi asked. Yuna, stunned, unable to say anything, couldn’t respond. “Ms Chatan, please answer.” Miyagi said. With everyone gazing upon Yuna, all she could do is whimper, and talk softly, where no one could hear her. Ramon stood up and sighed. “She had a water balloon and was planning on throwing it on someone.” Ramon said. “I don’t believe that.” Hiroko said, standing up. Yusuke scanned the floor for any sign of a water balloon, but couldn’t find any. “Yuna isn’t like that.” Hiroko said. “Well, either I'm a liar, or I threw the balloon at her.” Ramon said, smiling. “If both of you think it's fun playing with water, then both of you can stay after class, and clean my classroom.” Miyagi said. Yuna took a deep breath and ran out the room. She made her way to the girl bathroom, and hid in a stall, until lunch.

During lunch Hiroko found Yuna in the bathroom. “You are still soaked. What actually happened?” Hiroko asked. “I don’t know. One second I’m writing notes, the other water.” Yuna said softly. “I always carry a back up, in case of accidents.” Hiroko said, pulling out a change of clothes from her bag. “What accidents are you prepared for?” Yuna asked. “Well back in Elementary I vomited on myself, ruining my outfit. So I started carrying another outfit.” Hiroko said. Yuna remained quiet. “I don’t believe he threw a balloon at you. I know he didn’t.” Hiroko said, standing up. Yuna stood up, setting the clean clothes on the counter. “Hiroko.” Yuna said. “Yeah?” Hiroko asked, turning around. “I think I created the water.” Yuna said quietly. Hiroko looked at Yuna for a few seconds, before laughing. “What like magic?” Hiroko asked. “Yeah, I think so.” Yuna said. “Fine you’re magic. Hurry up and get dressed.” Hiroko said with a smile. “I know you are making fun of me.” Yuna said. “Hiroko looked back, grabbing the door handle. “We will figure it out later, after school, and after you clean Sensei’s classroom.” Hiroko said, before leaving. Yuna looked at the mirror, and saw an unfamiliar face.