delphinium means [bnha]

out of sight, out of mind

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Daiki, Kaede, and Hinata all stood in line as Kichirō fussed over them. If you looked closely, you could see Kichirō holding back tears making you look away in turn. She felt like such a coward. Too scared to do anything, to say anything. Didn't even dare to reach out to them. She had distanced herself from them over the past few days, a silly thought process of "Maybe it would hurt less". She regretted it. She wished she had spent every moment with them, made her time with them longer. Not run away like an idiot.

They were standing tall and proud with the Colosseum's uniform. White pants and a white long-sleeved blouse. They were probably thinking if they win this, they'd be a little more like her. She grits her teeth, ready to walk away. To run away again.

"Onee-san?" Daiki calls out and she stiffens. She hears small steps before a small hand grabbed her own. "Aren't you going to say goodbye to us?"

Her eyes widen and you start taking in shaky breaths. Daiki didn't know that what he just sounded extremely different to Airi. She collapses to her knees and hug Daiki so very tightly as tears threaten to pour out. Her arms grip around him like she might die if she let go. The other children seem taken back, never seeing her like this. She'd like to start bawling but she can't. She had to stay strong. For the other kids. She extends her arm towards the other two in an inviting motion. Kaede immediately joins the hug while Hinata was a little bit more hesitant. With the three in her arms, she tried to convey her love for them. She loved these kids. One of the reasons why she was able to pick herself up.

"Don't worry, onee-san. It's not like this is the first time we had to fight"

Kaede agrees, "We'll come back. Promise"

"Stop looking sad. You look ugly." Hinata adds

She chuckles, waving goodbye as she sees the three follow Kichirō for their fight. Airi stands up, walking to her bedroom. Ready to sink into her sheets and feel empty. She had the choice to come with the other three but she didn't. 'I'm such a coward'

Kids older than ten were allowed a special cell in the Colosseum to watch matches. A privilege so to say. She'd like to protect a bit of her heart and not see their deaths.

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New Year's Party. It was the biggest event at the end of the year. The cruelest. A fight where only one person wins.

"This is a bit different compared to the other arenas we fought in", Hinata notes, sitting down in the chair, sharpening her colored pencils.

"Yup. This is definitely bigger. More people too" Kaede hugs himself to warm himself up, his new coat doing nothing for him.

"Do you think this is why onee-san was sad?" Daiki says as he rocks the teddy bear in his arms. They fall into silence. Forgetting what they were talking about, engrossed in Hinata drawing guns and knives on her notebook. There were about 20 or more kids in the waiting room. It was quiet, only small chatters from the kids that came from the same branch. It was normally like this but abnormal if compared to what a room full of kids is supposed to be like.

A slant-faced man enters with a clipboard and a mouse-like snout with whiskers. "If we call out your branch come forward then raise your hand if we call your name. I will be checking your attendance"

"Tokyo branch" 7 kids stand up, lining up in columns of two. Straight and no one was slouching.

"Hai?" A red-headed kid raises his hand. "Bo? Yu? Shun? Ning? Zhi? Kun?" They all rais their hand when their names were called. After all their names were called they exited through the door behind the mouse-like man. After listing off Kanagawa and Osaka prefecture the Aichi Ken prefecture was called. The three kids line up in front of the man.

"Daiki?" Daiki raises the hand that wasn't holding his teddy bear

"Hinata?" She raises her hand.

"Kaede?" Kaede raises his

The man points toward behind him, "Go through that door"

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a/n: should i put the meaning of the names of the chapters with flowers?