It had been a couple of days since Aliester’s group had arrived. Since they were in a different realm with a different culture, they made it a point to learn from the princess anything that caught their attention.
Innocia felt like she was babysitting a set of toddlers because of their questions. It was a good thing that they arrived Friday night, so she was able to spend her time with them during the weekend.
“You guys seriously need to cut your hair and shave your whiskers.” Innocia eyed them with disgust. “You are nobles and yet you look like you came out from the streets.”
Blaze took a few strands of his brown hair which reached his waist. “I could use a few snips.”
“What are the preferences of the males in this realm?” her cousin asked.
“Majority of the males in this realm usually wear their hair short. But there were still few who wear them long. And most of them keep their look neat and tidy by shaving their facial hair.” The girl answered. “Though there were others who still have a mustache and beard.”
With that said, their makeover began. Innocia had even shown them pictures of what they want to look like and had a ball giving them a haircut, which she did quite clumsily.
“Don’t shave all of my hair?” Aliester cried in horror when Innocia tried to use the razor.
At the end of the session, the girl marvelled at her masterpieces. Most of them opted for a shorter hair except for the wizard who had preferred shoulder length cut. With the absence of their mustache and beards, the years that were added to their faces were taken away.
“You now look like the people I know five years ago. Only a bit more mature.” She beamed at the three Verbanians. “You don’t look bad as well, your majesty.” At her compliment, the young monarch blushed.
“Now we are done with your hair. I think I better provide you with normal clothes.” She muttered to herself. “You cannot keep on using the gi from the dojo.” She motioned the uniform they are wearing.
“So what do you suggest we do?” her cousin asked.
“We will be shopping!” she exclaimed in excitement.
“Shopping?” without knowing the foreign word, they were not able to anticipate the activity that they would engage in.
The princess allowed the men to go out of the house for the first time. They were able to sight-see and observe what is like to live in this realm. Then the princess had fun in dragging the four to a nearby mall.
After their escapade, the four males almost regretted having been dragged around to shop for clothes by the girl.
“I am tired.” The blonde complained as he rested his head on the table.
“I am hungry.”Daxton muttered his sentiments as he copied the duke’s son.
The king whined. “I felt like my feet were about to fall off.”
The wizard remained silent as they all groaned from exhaustion.
“You are exaggerating.” The girl muttered as she left to order some food for them all. When she came back, she carried a tray of assorted food.
At the smell of matcha green tea whiffed through their noses, they perked up.
“Finally food!” Daxton almost clapped like a ten year old kid at the smell of food. But when his eye took in the food, he became a bit suspicious. “What is that fish?”
“It is taiyaki, a Japanese fish-shaped cake.” She explained as she put the tray down. “The most common filling is red bean paste that is made from sweetened azuki beans. Just try it.”
Though a bit apprehensive, the boys took the food. Gulping and looking at one another, they waited for the first one to take a bite. Being famished, Daxton could not take the tension any longer so he took a huge bite. His eyes widened as the flavors exploded in his mouth.
He chewed happily before he encouraged the others. “Come on, eat up! It’s good!”
After they finished the taiyaki, Innocia also made them taste test, three balls dipped into different sauces skewered on bamboo sticks.
“These are dango. They are Japanese dumplings and sweets made from mochiko.”
“Mochi?”
“Rice cakes. Try them.”
“These are good!” Conrad exclaimed. “I don’t like sweets but these are great! Chewy and bouncy!”
After their food trip, they enjoyed more sights and entertainment the place could offer. They seemed to have settled in quite well in Innocia’s present residence. However they were not able to go out as often as they please and explore the place. People may wonder about the foreigners who had suddenly turned up in their neighbourhood.
“This is how you search the internet.” She taught Blaze, who was by the far the one who got fascinated with modern technology and gadgets. “type here and then click this button.”
“this is quite easy, arigato.” Blaze had even coaxed her to teach them the language. With which he and Conrad had been excelling so far.
“When are we going to start our combat training?” Daxton asked as he diverted his attention from the action movie he was watching. “Being a shinobi doesn’t seem bad idea especially if we aim to assassinate the old hag.”
“We can begin when you are ready.” The girl answered.
“I’ve picked up a lot of strategies from the movies you made us watch. But I doubt I can use them if I won’t learn some of the moves that those shinobi used.”
While they were planning on their schedule, the doorbell rang. Being the nearest one to the door, Aliester volunteered to answer it.
“It must be the sushi platter we ordered.” He grinned as he thought about the food.
When he opened the door, he was taken aback to see a teenaged girl at their doorstep. She was wearing the same strange clothing that they had seen on Innocia when they had reunited. They later on learn that it was called a school uniform.
“Ohayo!” he greeted with a bit of an accent.
The girl’s brown eyes widened at the sight of him. “Have I come to the right house?” she asked herself as she checked the place. “this is Datura’s house, but…”
Before Aliester could invite her in, Innocia came. “Kira-chan!”
“Datura!” she greeted but eyed the blonde suspiciously. “dare desu ka?”
“watashi no itoko desu, Aliester-kun.” Innocia motioned her hand to her cousin. “Aliester, this is my friend, Kira.”
“Yoroshikuonegaishimasu!” the girl bowed.
“kochira kozu dozo yoroshikuonegaishimasu!” Aliester gave a bow. “Eigo wa wakarimasu ka?” he asked.
“Yes, I can understand, English.” Kira replied.
Innocia invited her inside. When Aliester entered, Kira pulled her friend and fired questions in rapid succession. “Innocia, who is he? Is he really your cousin? Where is he from? I though you lost your family-”
She would have continued but Innocia stopped her.
“He is my cousin. I was actually surprised he had found me a few days later. “ Innocia began and tried to give as little of the truth as possible. “I thought I was the lone survivor but it seemed that he got adopted by a foreign couple and was raised in US.”
“Innocia, there is a problem in the internet connection.” The wizard came out and informed the girl. “the problem loading page appears.”
Kira was puzzled. “who is he?”
“He is my cousin too?” Innocia replied while sweat coated her forehead. Though Kuroe was not able to a grill her about her cosplaying friends, Innocia did have difficulty explaining about her guests to her best friend.
When Blaze left after the short introduction, Kira grabbed Innocia’s shoulder and shook her.
“You must be lying!” the girl cried out. “how could you be related to such bishounen? I mean they really look handsome, especially the blond one.” Blushing, she gushed.
“I am so sorry. I don’t look like anyone from my family.” Innocia seemed depressed as that certain fact was pointed out.
Just when Kira accepted Innocia’s statement, Daxton and Conrad came out.
“Innocia who are they?” the girl asked as she eyed the two newcomers with suspicion. “Don’t tell me they are your cousins too…”
Slightly panicking, she had introduced the king. “This is Conrad, the adoptive brother of Ali-nichan. His parents were the ones who found my cousin. The other one is Daxton, the bestfriend of Aliester.”
Though the two were a bit puzzled of the way they were introduced, they decided to go with the flow.
“I can’t seem to keep up with this.” Kira held her forehead. “I am going to school. I have student council duties. Since you have guests, you don’t come with me.” The girl then left.
When Kira was out of ear shot, the four males came out.
“bishounen… handsome especially the blonde one…” Daxton snickered as he teased the duke’s son.
“Shut up.” Aliester shoved the red head as response. The two of them seemed to have teased one another after a few minutes.
“Innocia, why did you introduce us that way?” Conrad asked the girl as they entered the house.
“Sorry. I panicked and just made a story.” She sighed. “I cannot exactly tell her that we came from a different realm.”
“Which reminds me…” the wizard began. “What shall we tell Kuroe san?”
Upon hearing the name mentioned, both Aliester and Daxton pretend to cough while giving the wizard a meaningful smile. Conrad was also grinning at the caster but Innocia seemed clueless.
“What?” Blaze hissed as blood marred his cheeks.
“nothing…” the knight’s grin turned more irksome.
Ignoring the teasing triad, Blaze queried. “So what are you going to tell her?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.” She sighed. Taking note of the time, the girl’s eyes widened. ”oh crap! I need to get ready for school!”
After she donned her black buttoned down and red skirt, she took her bento. “I am sorry I cannot take you to school.” Sitting on the genkan, she laced up her shoes. “Behave, okay?
“don’t worry, we will not set the place on fire.” Blaze reassured.
“Itekimasu” Innocia took off.
“Iterashai!” the men chorused.
After the princess disappeared around the corner, the wizard said aloud. “I am quite interested on how the princess is at school.”
Aliester grinned as an idea crossed his mind. “I am more curious at what school is like. Most of us nobles were tutored and home schooled.”
The king seemed to have a similar idea as well. “We do not have schools in our country. Most nobles were taught by governess and tutors.”
“How about, we check it out?’” Daxton asked with a devious grin.
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