"Come on, Kyouko, we're eating outside today, so what do you want to have?" Yuriko Hori, a woman in her mid to late twenties, asked her daughter.
Yuriko was a beautiful young woman with shoulder-length, dark brown hair styled with a portion of her bangs held back with a clip, while the fringes hung loosely on both sides of her face, complementing her olive-colored eyes.
Kyouko, a beautiful girl around nine or ten years old, stood above average height. She had long, wavy chestnut brown hair with bangs that were swept to the right side, and big golden-brown eyes.
"Hmmm... I want to eat cake," Kyouko replied, her eyes lighting up with the thought of a delicious treat.
"Oh, so you want to eat cake?" Yuriko inquired, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Kyouko's face lit up with excitement as she nodded. "Yeah, especially Mikan flavor!"
Yuriko raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued. "Do Mikan flavor cakes even exist?"
Kyouko nodded, recalling her recent experience. "Yeah, the last time I went to a shop, it was there, but there were very few in number." She put on a thinking pose, which made her look even cuter.
Yuriko couldn't help but smile. "Kawaii! You know, Kyouko, you're looking very cute right now."
Kyouko's face turned flushed and embarrassed. "Huh! What!"
Yuriko couldn't contain her laughter. "You're so cute, Kyouko-Chan."
Kyouko pouted and protested, "Mou~ stop teasing me."
Yuriko chuckled. "Right, right. Let's go to the cake shop then."
Kyouko confirmed, "The one near the station, right?"
Yuriko nodded with affection. "Yes, Sweety!"
With that, the mother-daughter duo moved forward, heading to the Miyamura cake shop to satisfy Kyouko's cake craving.
Kyouko couldn't contain her excitement at the thought of indulging in cake, especially her favorite Mikan flavor. Her thoughts revolved around whether the shop would have it.
They arrived at the door of the cake shop, and before Yuriko could react, Kyouko dashed inside, fueled by anticipation.
"Kyouko, slow down... The cake won't run away," Yuriko called after her rushing daughter, trying to keep up.
As they entered the shop, Kyouko's eyes quickly locked onto something. The first thing she noticed was a black-haired boy of her age sitting behind the reception counter.
Their eyes met, and Kyouko's golden-brown eyes locked onto his striking blue ones.
'It's the guy from the last time,' Kyouko thought, her memory recalling their previous encounter.
In that moment, as their eyes connected once more, the same mysterious connection seemed to spark between them, just as it had during their initial meeting.
'That happened again,' Kyouko pondered, not realizing that similar thoughts were racing through the mind of the person standing before her.
'Music~'
As the connection between Kyouko and the boy deepened, a musical trance enveloped them. But the enchanting moment came to an end when a ringtone started to play, jolting them back to reality.
Yuriko, who just entered the shop, reached for her beg, with thought of answering the call, when Kyouko began to hum along with the music of the ringtone.
The tune was the theme song of a popular anime, "Riho's World." It was a catchy melody that resonated with anime enthusiasts, including Kyouko, and it added a touch of whimsy to the cake shop. [1]
Izumi couldn't help but be curious when he noticed Kyouko humming the beats of the "Riho's World" theme song.
"Do you watch Riho's World?" he asked.
Kyouko looked at him with a surprised expression but then smiled. "Oh, don't worry. I was just surprised! Anyway, I do like Riho's World. It's my favorite! By the way, you seem to know about it. Do you watch it too?"
Izumi's smile grew even brighter. "Yeah, I do."
Kyouko's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Then who's your favorite character?"
Izumi didn't hesitate. "Oh, it's Hima."
Kyouko agreed, her excitement showing. "Hima! She's so cute, right? And the way she went *boom* into daft mode, that was so cool!"
Their shared love for the anime quickly turned into a lively conversation, and it was clear that they had found common ground in their appreciation for "Riho's World."
Kyouko asked with curiosity, "Anyway, did you watch the new episode?"
Izumi shook his head. "Nope, I was busy all day. I'll check it out after going home."
Yuriko, who had approached them, interrupted the conversation. "Did you place the order already, Kyouko?"
Kyouko smacked her forehead in realization. "Oh, I forgot about that! Sorry!
"That's because I brought up the Riho's World topic."
Kyouko quickly reassured him, "Don't worry. I had fun talking about it."
Izumi beamed at her understanding. "Oh, great! So, what's your order?"
"A Mikan flavoured cake, please"
"Mikan flavour cake, noted anything else?"
Kyouko turned to her mom. "Mama...what flavor should we get for Souta?"
Yuriko thought for a moment. "For your brother... how about vanilla?"
Kyouko agreed with a nod. "Vanilla! All right, one Vanilla flavored as well," she told Izumi.
Izumi confirmed the order. "Mikan and Vanilla, one each."
He then headed to the kitchen to inform his parents about the order and prepare the cakes.
In just fifteen minutes, the cakes that the Hori duo had ordered were ready. They picked up the delicious treats and prepared to leave the shop. Yet, as they exited, the memory of their lively conversation with Izumi lingered in Kyouko's mind, leaving a sweet aftertaste of their small reunion.
After a few hours of work at the cake shop, the entire Miyamura family gathered at one of the tables for their well-deserved dinner.
"Finally, today's work is over," Nozumi, Izumi's father, remarked with a satisfied smile.
Iori praised her husband, "Good work out there."
Nozumi expressed his gratitude to his family, saying, "And thanks to you two for helping me today."
Iori chimed in, directing her words to Izumi, "No worries. You can ask us for help anytime you want, isn't that right, Izumi?"
Izumi nodded in agreement, responding, "Yes, Mom."
Nozumi shifted the conversation to Izumi's schoolwork. "By the way, Izumi, how far did your project work go?"
Izumi replied, "The project is about to be finished! Only some small details remain."
Nozumi was pleased with the response. "It's good that you're managing everything on time"
"Right, We should make the most of the time we have. After all, time doesn't wait for anyone." Iori advised
Izumi said with an understanding nod "I understand."
Setting schoolwork aside for a moment, Nozumi asked about the presentation date. "Leaving that aside, when is the presentation date for your project?"
Izumi answered, "My project... it's at the end of the month."
Iori couldn't hide her excitement. "Oh, I can't wait to see how it will turn out."
With this discussion, the Miyamura family continued to enjoy their dinner, relishing their time together.
—————
It was the following day, a bright and sunny Sunday. Izumi decided to take a leisurely walk through the neighborhood, enjoying the pleasant weather.
After about five minutes of walking, he entered an area with a bit more people around, and he continued his stroll.
Soon, he arrived at the designated meeting spot, where he, Rin, and Aki had agreed to gather for their outing. The chosen location was a cafe nearby.
"IZUMIII"
Just as he was making his way toward the cafe, a familiar voice called out.
Izumi turned in the direction of the voice and spotted his best friend, Rin, standing nearby, ready for their day of adventure.
"Izumi! Good morning," Rin greeted with a cheerful smile, her sundress swaying gently with her every step.
The dress was a vision of summer, adorned with a delicate floral pattern. Its pastel colors, with shades of pink, white, and light blue, seemed to blend seamlessly with the sunny day.
"Morning!!" Izumi replied warmly, his eyes appreciatively scanning Rin's outfit. "You look amazing in that sundress. It's perfect for today's weather."
Rin's cheeks tinged with a rosy blush, and she twirled slightly to showcase the dress's flowy design. "Thank you, Izumi. I thought it would be a great choice for our outing. It's so comfortable and light, hopefully I'm looking good"
Listening that Izumi declared, "Don't worry about it, you are looking like an angel in this outfit"
Rin beamed at the compliment. "Oh, thank you! I like your outfit too." She glanced at Izumi's attire, his light blue short-sleeved shirt and well-fitted jeans.
Izumi returned her grin, appreciating her observation.
Izumi continued the conversation, "So, are you ready for the day?"
Rin's eyes sparkled with excitement, and her sundress danced in the breeze. "Yeah! I can't wait to surprise Aki!"
Izumi was curious, his gaze briefly shifting to their attire. "Speaking of which, where is Aki?"
Rin's smile remained, and she explained, "She called me around 10 minutes ago, saying she was just leaving her house to come here. So she should be here anytime now!"
Their anticipation for Aki's arrival added to the already lively atmosphere as they prepared for a day of surprises and adventure, looking stylish and comfortable in their carefully chosen outfits.
"Hey! IZUMI!!! RIN!!!"
Their anticipation was met with Aki's enthusiastic voice calling them.
Izumi, and Rin turned around to see their friend Aki, who was wearing a stunning white and blue dress that perfectly matched the vibrant day.
The dress was a testament to her style, with a sleeveless design that allowed her to stay cool in the warm weather.
The white fabric was adorned with intricate, delicate patterns in shades of light blue and royal blue, creating a beautiful contrast.
Aki's dress cinched at the waist with a thin white belt, accentuating her slender figure. It flowed gracefully as she moved, giving her an air of elegance and charm.
Her outfit was completed with white sandals that added a touch of sophistication, making her not only stunning but also ready for a day of surprises and fun.
"Good morning," Aki greeted with a bright smile, her energy matching the sunny day and her outfit adding to her radiance.
"Morning!" Izumi and Rin replied in unison, their voices filled with warmth and excitement.
Rin was the first to compliment Aki's outfit, her eyes filled with admiration. "Girl, you're looking absolutely gorgeous in this outfit"
Izumi nodded in agreement. "Rin is a thousand percent correct. You look stunning, Aki."
Aki blushed at their compliments and bowed slightly. "Thank you, both of you, for your kind words."
Rin was eager to get the day started. "Now, how about we begin our outing then?"
Aki and Izumi were ready to embrace the day's adventures. "Let's go!" they replied in unison, their spirits high and their outfits perfectly suited for a fun-filled day.
[A/N— what will be the surprise Aki gonna get? To know that stay tuned for the next chapter (￣ヘ￣;)]
{As for the power stones, we failed in the 150 target, so let's work hard and smash that target this week! Let's GOOO!!]