Chapter 8:
Love Can't Be Bought!
Kazuki's colorful t-shirt and blue jeans, strikes Toshiko's eyes as he notices a red jacket tied around his waist. "Finally, thought you'd run away or something!" Kazuki shouts. "I'd have to jump out of the window man, I'm not doing that." Toshiko retorts. "Regardless.. I'm glad you're doing better!" Hiroshi says, as his Blue Military Jacket and star necklace also catches Toshiko's eye. "You guys overdressed man, we're just doing nothing all day." He says. "There's no such thing young Toshiko! We're modest in our outfits!" Kazuki shouts.
"That's just SO not true Kazuki, you aren't anyone's mentor." Hiroshi jokes. Toshiko sighs. "Just come inside, we got a lot to do!" Hiroshi and Kazuki head inside and hop on Toshiko's couch. "What're we doin' first? I'm down for anythin'!" Kazuki exclaims. Toshiko leans on the nearby wall. "You sure you wanna start without Emi?" Kazuki shrugs.
"Eh, don't know how long it'll take for her to get here. What games do you got?" Toshiko sets up a small console to the Television. "I just got my SuperShift, we got a few games though! Get on Plumber Party Superstars!" Hiroshi gasps. "Oh, YOU WANNA LOSE THEN?" Kazuki smirks. "You got some CONFIDENCE then! Come on, I'll teach how you to REALLY play!" Toshiko chuckles to himself. "Plumber Party Superstars it is!" Toshiko hops on the couch as they begin the game. About an hour passes, as Hiroshi tosses Kazuki to the floor.
"Okay, you're doing this on PURPOSE! Did you SERIOUSLY steal MY star?!" Hiroshi yells. "Don't blame me man! You just get unlucky with chance time brother!" Kazuki shouts. "Oh PLEASE! I KNOW what you're doing!" Hiroshi continues. "Keep your eye on the game guys, we're in the middle of a minigame!" Toshiko interrupts them. "YOU DIDN'T PAUSE?!" They shout in unison.
"Gotta keep my lead, my bad!" The two of them scramble onto the couch to quickly play the minigame, however the doorbell rings before they start. "Probably Emi, pause it man." Toshiko asks. "Sure man, I'll DEFINITELY pause it!" Kazuki retorts. Toshiko glares at him. "You better pause or I'll take every single star you have. Chance time will be your hell." Kazuki feels a chill up his spine. "Fine, fine.." Toshiko slowly opens the door. "Hey Emi, what's u-" As he opens the door, a bright light blinds Toshiko. "MY EYES!!" Kazuki yells. "Emi, what are you WEARING?!" Toshiko shouts.
"I'm just wearing my best casual outfit!" Emi exclaims. Toshiko looks down and inspects her bright sparkling gown with her hair tied back. "That's CASUAL?" Hiroshi says. "Seriously, how rich are you?" Kazuki responds. "I did this myself! Are we going to have fun or not!" Emi shouts. "...You can have some of my clothes, just please change before I need glasses." Toshiko proclaims. "Fine! Jeez, I put all this effort in to be casual.." She says, heading into the nearby room and shutting the door. Kazuki looks at Toshiko.
"Absolutely not." Toshiko replies. "I was thinkin' that because she's here we should play Plumber Kart instead. What the hell were you thinking?" Kazuki retorts. Toshiko sighs. "Uh, nothing." Kazuki raises an eyebrow. "What a massive misjudgement of character. I'm not even into girls like her, she's too... rich girl for my tastes!" Toshiko shrugs his shoulders. "Eh. I can fix her." Hiroshi fiddles with his hands a bit as they continue their conversation. Kazuki stands on the couch.
"Whatever you say! I'm more into someone with BURING SPIRIT! PASSION DANCING WITH THE FLAMES OF THE DEVIL!" Toshiko hangs his head in his palms. "Just say you don't like rich people." Hiroshi clears his throat. "Kazuki doesn't speak normally, you just kind of know what he means. Also, Haruka's pretty good!" Toshiko and Kazuki glare at him with a mix of confusion and slight disgust. "Seriously? I think she hates us??" Toshiko responds.
"I don't necessarily think so... She's calmed down since the incident.." Hiroshi retorts. "Still, I DON'T like the idea of getting comfy with her." Kazuki groans. "She could be one of us though, we gotta give her a bit of a chance even if she doesn't want it you know?" Toshiko replies. "She's just some girl spoiled by riches that aren't even hers. I don't trust her." Kazuki continues. Toshiko gets noticably more irritated. "Watch how you say that. You're getting awful close to talking about someone else." Kazuki folds his arms.
"If the shoe fits." Hiroshi pushes them away. "Hey, hey! Stop with all the fighting! I know you hate wealth Kazuki, but if they're cool people regardless does that make them worthless to you? I don't like reminding you, but you're wealthy too! And you're our friend! Give people a chance to earn your trust!" Hiroshi advises. Kazuki mumbles to himself before sighing heavily.
"Fine, but so help me if I'm right-" Toshiko shushes him quickly. "Just don't stress yourself out about it, eh? Enjoy yourself! Until I beat you at Plumber Kart at least.." Kazuki gains a fire in his heart as his burning spirit unleashes. "Those are fighting words! Come on then!" At that moment, Emi slowly opens the door. "Why do you have so much junk?? It is was so hard to find clothes.."
She steps out wearing a loose shirt depicting two girls, one covered by flame and one covered by light, with the text "Sides of Aegis" on it. Her hair comes down as she rubs the back of her neck. Toshiko stretches out his shirt collar. "T-thats a lot better! A-anyway, c'mon we're playing Plumber Kart now!" Emi looks confused as a visible question mark appears above her. "What's Plumber Kart?" The trio stare at her blankly. "SERIOUSLY???? No, we have to teach you now. How do you not know who Super Plumber is??" Hiroshi yells.
"w-well.. I've never really... done stuff on my own.. so.." Emi responds, twiddling her thumbs. "...Okay, I guess we're teaching you basic life skills. I had a feeling not gonna lie. C'mon, get on the couch!" Toshiko exclaims. She gets on the couch as they hand her an extra controller. "I won Plumber Party by the way!" Hiroshi says. "I had the most stars before the minigame, get out." Toshiko responds. "I would've won if I could've kept stealing Hiroshi's stars.." Kazuki adds. In the middle of race, Toshiko nudges Emi.
"Aw C'MON! That shell was so BS! That's the only reason you won!" Emi smirks triumphantly. "They just call me the Drift King! Nothing special, hehe!" Kazuki cracks a bit of a smile. "Whatever! We'll get you next time!" Hiroshi smiles widely. "Startin' to warm up to her?" Kazuki nods. "It takes a man to admit when he's wrong. And I'll admit, she'll alright in my books. For now at at least!" Hiroshi looks surprised.
"Huh! Well, better than nothing I guess!" Toshiko stands up and stretches a bit. "I'm gonna go make something. Come with me, Emi! I'll teach you how to be a functioning human!" Emi nods diligently. "Eh, whatever. They got it. Hiroshi, we're starting up again you and me! You really sniped me with that bomb RIGHT at the finish line?! I'm getting you back for that!" Kazuki yells. "C'mon then, try and outpace me!" Hiroshi responds. Toshiko and Emi stand in the kitchen.
"Okay, here's a Kimura family favorite! First, I just need you to cut this chicken into bite-sized bits! That possible for ya?" Toshiko asks. "Yup, just leave it to me!" Emi responds. Toshiko turns his back. "Okay good, let me just find the-" he immediately hears a loud splat. "Toshiko.... I think I messed up.." Emi says, on the verge of tears. "Ah, it happens! Just a bit of a mista-" As he turns around, he finds the chicken stuck to the ceiling and Emi on the ground with a bowl on her head.
"...How the HELL did you manage to do that?? This is gonna be a long day.." He says. "Strap in man, we're gonna be busy!" Hiroshi shouts. "Maybe we should stop and do this later.. I'm still down for another round of Plumber Kart though. And after that, I need to decorate my room still. Whaddya guys say to a shopping trip?" Toshiko says, removing the bowl from Emi's head. "Oh, sick! I know just the place!" Kazuki shouts.
"Alright then, it's a plan!" Toshiko exclaims, lifting Emi to her feet. "You in?" He asks her. She sighs. "Sure, why not?" Toshiko smiles a bit. "Then it's almost time for the Hakuryu Hangout Gang! Trademark." Hiroshi, Kazuki and Emi stare at him. "Wow, that's a terrible name." Kazuki laughs, almost crying. "WOW, that's REALLY bad man! Is that our group name?" Hiroshi punches Kazuki on the shoulder.
"Hey! That's rude! Even though it is not a great name.." Toshiko pauses from disappointment. "Okay, we'll work on that! C'mon, I'm gonna win this one!" He shouts, jumping back onto the couch as Emi joins them.
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