I am a well excelling student in my school. I’m even a poster child for my freshman peers in my high school. But the activity that I love to do is dance with my teammates. It’s eight of us in a team so it’s me, Lexia, Xion, Mei, Lee, Shai, Mia, and Qia. We call ourselves the Hinoko Sisters. We live in the land of Alpine; home of our power Karyo; the power to control fire. We just got done performing for our school assembly in the evening and we were getting our stuff together so we can go home.

“Good job, girls! Let’s make sure we keep that drive when the competition comes up!” I stated with a smile on my face.

I’m always the one to perk up my friends, always with a positive attitude. I’m the backbone of my team if they need someone to cheer them up. There is never a sad face after I comfort them.

“I’m sure we’ll still have the fire when it does come up.” Mei replied.

“I’m sure of that, too. So, does anybody want to grab something to eat before we all go home?” Qia asked.

All of us raised our hands; we were all hungry.

***

We all went to a food stand eating sushi and ramen together and talking about what we were going to do for the competition that was coming up in a month.

“So, girls, what do you think we can come up with?” I asked as I ate some sushi.

“I was thinking we could start the presentation with a nice Karyo design in the shape of a heart which reveals all of us in some type of pose together. That’s when we start our dance.” Lexia replied.

“Okay. Now we need to choreograph the dance. Whose house will we be going to for rehearsal?” Lee asked.

“How about Xianchi’s house?” Shai suggested.

I heard Mia scoff in annoyance.

“Shai, we always go to Xianchi’s house when we do rehearsals. Can’t we go somewhere else?” She asked sounding annoyed.

That was kind of… unusual for Mia to say. Honestly yes, we have always gone to my house to have rehearsals, but no one has ever objected, and I have no problem for anyone to say different.

“Well, where do you want us to go and have the rehearsal at, Mia?” Xion asked.

“Yeah, Mia. Where?” Qia added.

Mia couldn’t respond for some reason; all the girls were looking at her waiting for an answer. I decided to get up from my seat and walk over to Mia.

“Can we talk?” I asked.

“Yeah. Sure. Let’s talk about it, Xianchi.” She replied in a very sarcastic manner.

Rude, but I need to know why she’s acting like this. We walked from the other girls so we could talk.

“Okay, Mia. What’s the matter?” I asked her.

“I’m wondering why we always have to go to your house to rehearse?” She asked in an annoyed tone.

“It was just a suggestion from Shai. I didn’t say anything about all of us going to my house.” I replied.

“Not only that. Your personality doesn’t sit with me anymore! It makes you sound so prude and sleazy like you’re in charge of everything. Like you’re the leader out of all of us!” She exclaimed.

All she was saying really caught me off guard. She was alright when we were doing our routine and during school. What in Alpha’s name pissed her off?!

“Mimi, what are you talking about?! You don’t like the way I am? I act prude and sleazy?! Since when have I ever acted like that?! You make it sound like I’m a dictator or something. You’ve known me for a long time, and I’ve always been like this and none of the other girls have felt like I’ve been in control of our team! What are you saying?”

Mia scoffed.

“Don’t give me that crap! You got all the other girls convinced but not me!” She exclaimed.

I really could not believe what I was hearing. No one has faulted me for anything, and I have treated my friends the way they would treat me. Everyone is welcome to their suggestions and opinions, but what Mia is saying is farfetched. Have the girls claimed me as the leader of our group? I guess so. If that’s the case, did Mia want to be the so-called leader of our group?

“What is this about? Did you want to be the “leader” of the group or something?” I asked her.

She did not respond to me. She just rolled her eyes in irritation and crossed her arms. Getting no answer from her was actually giving me a migraine which made me hold the left side of my head. There’s no logic in her argument and no point in talking to her anymore.

“You know what, Mia. All of us will have a talk about this another time. As of right now, talking to you is unbearable.” I stated honestly.

I walked away from her to walk back to the girls that were still at the stand. They all looked at me concerned.

“Hey, Xianchi. What’s wrong?” Lexia asked me.

I sat down at my plate of sushi and looked at her with my head hurting.

“We all are going to have a meeting tomorrow.” I replied.

“Is it about Mia?” Shai asked.

“Yeah. She has… a lot of stuff on her mind, but none of it makes sense to me. Also, it’s kind of making me question myself.”

“Making you question yourself? Why? Is it something she doesn’t like about you?” Lee asked.

“It sounds like it.” I replied. “But again, we’ll talk about it tomorrow.” I added.

After the conversation, we see Mia come out from where we talked and just glared at us; mainly at me and walked away from us by herself. Mei decided to get up from her seat and put some money on the counter.

“I’ll go and walk with her. We’re meeting where?” She asked.

“We can meet up at my house.” Lee suggested.

“Sure thing. Meet there at 1:00L?” I asked her.

“Definitely.” Lee replied and caught up with Mia.

Xion also decided to leave, pay for her food, and walked with Lee and Mia. The rest of us decided to leave as well. We paid for our food and left the stand together.

*Next Morning*

That afternoon, all of us were at Lee’s guesthouse sitting in the living room. Shai, Qia, and Lexia were sitting with me on a long couch. Lee, Mei, and Mia were sitting on another couch, and Xion was sitting on a singular couch.

“Okay. Since we’re all here, Mia, we all know that you have an issue with Xianchi. That’s why we’re here. So, Mimi, you know we all love you and we’ve all been friends for an awfully long time. So, what is it about Xianchi that you don’t like?” Lee asked her.

“What I’ve said to her, I don’t like how she is. I feel you guys treat her like she’s the leader; like she’s in control of our group. Her words are always final; she acts sleazy and prude to me, and every time we have a rehearsal, we always go to her house. Why can’t we go to someone else’s house?” she stated.

“Well, jeez, Mia. I only suggested that we go to her house. It’s not like Xianchi said it or has said it multiple times.” Shai stated.

“Also, none of us ever objected; nor had Xianchi.” Qia added.

“So why now is this a big deal, Mia?” Xion asked her.

Mia did not respond which annoyed the girls. So, I decided to say something.

“Did you want us to rehearse at your house?” I asked her.

She, again, did not answer which annoyed the girls more.

“Well, is that it, Mia? Is that what you wanted?” Lee asked.

“Wait. Not just that, Lee.” Lexia interrupted. “Mia. Are you jealous of Xianchi?” she asked.

Mia did not respond for the third time, but her expression changed by her look.

“She is. I can tell by her face.” I replied to the question.

Mia then growled in annoyance.

“You don’t know a damn thing, Xianchi!” She yelled.

That response was uncalled for. It made the other girls get upset and I felt kind of hurt. Why does she really think of me this way? Is she jealous of me like Lexia said? Also, this has now become a fracture in our group.

“Are you serious, Mia?! You don’t have to bite her head off!” Mei exclaimed.

“Also, you’re calling her sleazy and a prude, but she hasn’t called you out of your name! What is wrong with you?!” Lee exclaimed.

“See?! That’s another thing! You all would defend her because she never does anything wrong!” Mia exclaimed.

“No! it’s because she wouldn’t do what you’re doing! This is absolutely stupid of you to cause drama like this for no reason. We’ve all been friends since elementary; never had a problem. The only thing we can all concur is that you’re jealous of Xianchi. You’re mad because she speaks out more? That she cheers us up? She’s more inviting? We all don’t have a problem going to someone else’s house. Xianchi’s house is just the usual spot. And please, do not make it sound like we’re sheep standing up for her. She’s our friend and has never betrayed us or stirred us wrong. This can’t be tolerated; not at all since we’re in a dance group.” Lexia explained.

It became quiet for a couple of minutes.

“We all need to decide. If anyone wants Mia out of Hinoko Sisters group, show of hands.” Xion stated.

Xion raised her hand, so did Lexia, Mei, Qia, Lee, and Shai. The girls were waiting on me, but I did not raise my hand.

“In favor, 6 to 1. You gave us no choice, Mia. I always thought of you as a sister. We all did.” I stated feeling hurt.

Mia just looked at us and yelled out of annoyance and got up from her spot and walked to the front then looked to us.

“I can’t believe how blind you all are with her.” She stated sounding disappointed.

 She then left out the house leaving all of us bewildered at what we heard from her.

“It really sounded like she lost her mind. Jeez, Xianchi didn’t even vote for her.” Xion stated.

“I guess she’s been holding it in for a very long time and didn’t know how to say it.” Qia inquired.

“Well, that wasn’t the best way. She pretty much blew it with all of us.” Lee added.

I sadly could not say anything as the girls spoke. I was just wondering… why. But I must understand that I can’t make everyone happy, and Mia is one of those people. I can only say I tried…

*One Month Later*

The seven of us had performed our routine with the same drive we had during every time we dance, and we were waiting on who would win first place. It was 15 teams that performed. 12 teams were already given their certificates, so we were waiting on the trophies. The third place was now given, now we’re waiting on who’s first. The announcer took out the paper.

“Now, the winner of Alpine team dancing competition is…”

All of us were holding hands tightly.

“The Hinoko Sisters!”

We all squealed and screamed in joy. We won; our second time winning, I can’t believe it! The announcer gave us the first-place trophy. We all hugged each other and lifted the trophy in victory. After our celebration, we saw the other team get their trophy with Mia being on the other team. The month before. She left out our school and transferred to another school in Alpine after our decision. She glared at us with malice; not surprised. An alarm caught everyone’s attention. It was an announcement. It was the Safekeep of Fire who lives in Temple of Alpine, Terri Hale.

“Ladies and gentlemen. People of Alpine. I am sad to inform you all that our queen in the land of all Elem, Askari Kida has passed away at the age of 72. Her memorial will be a week from today in Nora, Elienta. What is also news is since Queen Askari is gone, I and other Safekeeps will renounce our positions so the Safekeep position is now open, and the new queen will be anointed within two weeks from now. The tournament for the Safekeep position in Alpine will take place at the temple in a matter of three weeks. So, whoever of the 128 Alpies wish to participate, the lists to apply will be in the local market. Ages 15 and up can participate in the tournament. That is the news, but before I leave, let us all have a moment of silence for our late queen.”

The entire stadium was quiet. The girls and I held hands tightly. Hearing this news is sad. She has been the queen longer than I’ve been alive. It’s surreal and also, our Safekeep is retiring from being Safekeep of Fire. Hmm… maybe… I could participate. Before I ever did dance, I also learned how to fight from my father, and skilled in swords from my mother. I’m sure I can be able to finish school too as long as I’m not called much if I do. Also, I could continue the work that Ms. Hale had done. Wow… I guess… my priorities are starting to change. I actually want to step up to the plate for my land.

“Thank you, people of Alpine. It’s been an honor being your safekeep for all these years. You all have a good afternoon.” She stated.