KOF Extras

Athena's White Birthday

13th March, night
White Day, Athena's Birthday, which one to celebrate first? Kensou still didn't know. After all, both occasions fell on the same day.
"Master, what should I do?" Kensou whined to Chin. "What should I do?"
"I don't know, Ken, she's your girlfriend," Chin simply shrugged, smirking.
"Master!"
"Just go do something nice for her."
Kensou sighed and returned to his room. He tried calling Iori, but the call wouldn't go for some reason. So he tried giving him an online call instead.
"Hello?" Iori answered.
"Iori, I need your help!" Kensou said as soon as the other man picked up.
"What is it?" Iori sighed. "Also, I'm not home since I'm in Hebei now."
"Hebei...?" Kensou repeated, surprise. "As in China? We're in Japan now, Hiroshima."
"Did we like switch countries or something?" Iori sounded amused. "Whatever, what do you need?"
"It's White Day tomorrow, and Athena's birthday," Kensou sighed. "I don't know what to do for her..."
"Another one?" Iori groaned. "This is like the third one this week!"
"What do you mean?"
"This is the third birthday in the last three days, Kensou. First Duo Lon, then Rose, now Athena."
"Oh wow, really?" Kensou was surprised. "Well, yours is next week too, isn't it?"
Iori sighed. "Yes... so is my mother's death anniversary."
"Sorry..." Kensou gulped.
"Don't even think about it," Iori growled. "The last thing I need now is more pity."
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry for that, but I need an idea for Athena!" Kensou quickly said. "Can you help me? Please please?"
There was a sigh on the other end, then a long pause. "Where did you say you were?"
"Hiroshima."
"Which part?"
"Naka Ward?"
"Great, then you can go to Miyajima by ferry. Just go to the Peace Memorial Park and take a ferry there. There's a lot of stuff in Miyajima, handicraft things too."
"Yeah... wait... Miyajima is Itsukushima, right?"
"Yeah?"
"That means they have the Momiji Manju, right?" 
"Yeah, it's a souvenir there."
"GREAT!" Kensou screamed, much to Iori's surprise. "Oh, thanks, Yagami. You're the best."
"Sure, I guess..." Iori snorted. "Also, get some sleep. It's like eleven there..."
"I know..." Kensou chuckled. "Night."
He hung up and laid on his bed, smiling as a plan started forming in his head.

14th March
"Let's go to the Peace Memorial Park," Kensou suddenly announced during breakfast. "How about it, Athena?"
"Sure," Athena smiled. "I'd like that."
"Hey, what about us?" Momoko suddenly piped. "I wanna go too!"
"Momo!" Kaoru hissed in a low voice.
"What? I wanna go!" Momoko whined.
"I wanna come too!" Bao chimed in excitedly.
Kensou quickly thought of a way to escape. He looked over at Chin who gave him a curt nod and turned to the rest.
"No, students, we're going to train today," Chin informed. "Especially Momoko."
"What?!" Momoko exclaimed dismally. "Why?"
"Because you need some training," Chin smirked. "You too, Bao."
Bao shrugged and continued eating his wonton noodles. Kensou gave his master a grateful smile and finished his food.

"Where are we going, Kensou?" Athena asked when Kensou skipped all of the ruins and monuments that honoured the suffering during World War II. "I thought we were here to look at the exhibits?"
"Says who?" Kensou smirked. "Come on, let's take a ferry to Miyajima."
"Oh," Athena relaxed. "Yeah, the ruins are scaring me a little..."
"Tell me about it," Kensou admitted. "To think that so many people died here because of that bomb..."
They went straight to the ferry terminal and took a ferry directly to Miyajima.

It took nearly two hours before Athena and Kensou touched solid ground again. Athena enjoyed the ferry ride, but Kensou certainly didn't. He was impatiently awaiting Miyajima to arrive, making the trip seem even slower.
But at last, they arrived.
"Wanna have lunch first?" Kensou asked when they walked out.
"Sure," Athena agreed.
They had Onomichi Ramen for lunch in one of the restaurants and then went to a handicraft shop to get some souvenirs. Athena decided on a nicely decorated wooden rice scoop paddle. Kensou surprised her by paying for it when they got to the counter.
"Ken, why?" Athena asked as the cashier casually dealt with the payment.
"No reason," Kensou simply shrugged. "Or maybe there is?"
Athena just looked at him in confusion as he handed her the bag with the plastic bag with the scoop paddle and started leaving the shop. She followed him, rather confused.
"Wanna go to the Itsukushima Shrine?" Kensou grinned.
Athena lit up, images of Momiji Manju filling her mind. Momiji Manju was one of the most iconic souvenirs sold there.
And her favourite too.
She quickly nodded and started running towards the shrine, which stood not far off. Kensou went after her with a smile.

After praying at the shrine, they went to the shrine's gift shop to get some souvenirs. Kensou decided to get himself a nice miniature of the Torii gate of Itsukushima, some postcards, and a cute figurine. Of course, a few of the Momiji Manju were taken too, especially by Athena.
"I'll pay for the Manju," Athena said, taking her purse out.
But to her dismay, Kensou handed his card to the cashier before she could even open the purse.
"Ken!" Athena groaned again.
"My treat," Kensou smirked, taking the bag of stuff and leaving the shop. "Today is special."
"What is it with today?!" Athena sighed and followed him out of the shrine.
Kensou decided to take her to the Public Aquarian.

"This place is really nice..." Athena smiled as she sat down on the bench among the maple trees of Momijidani Park, eating a Momiji Manju. "Don't you think so, Ken?"
Kensou nodded, eating his Manju. "Yep! Really nice."
Athena chuckled and looked at the time, instantly frowning. "Ken, I think we better leave. The ferry ride's two hours. It's almost five..."
"Yeah..." Kensou nodded. "Let's finish our Manju first."
They finished eating and started going back to the ferry terminal to go back to the Peace Memorial Park. Kensou decided to take her to Central Park to admire the night.
"Wait here, I need... go to the gents for a moment," Kensou said, nervously scratching the back of his neck. "Sorry..."
"Oh come on, don't be," Athena smiled. "Go right ahead, I'll wait here."
Kensou ran off, leaning Athena to look at the lake. The Sakura trees weren't in bloom yet since it wasn't even spring yet.
Yet, they still looked really pretty.

Athena waited and waited, even resorting to use the bathroom herself. But no Kensou came. Athena was slightly impatient, even taking her phone out to call Kensou.
But before that,
"Athena!" She looked up from her phone, looking around for the voice. To her surprise, Kensou came running back to her, breathless. He stopped in front of her and panted, a large bouquet of pink and red roses.
"What happened?" Athena asked. "Where did you go?"
Kensou smiled and handed the flowers to her. "Happy Birthday, Athena."
"What?" Athena said in surprise.
"Oh, and Happy White Day too," Kensou chuckled sheepishly. "Almost forgot about that..."
Athena sighed. "Oh, Ken..."
To his surprise, she hugged him. Kensou let out a soft sigh and patted her back with his free hand.
"Happy Birthday, Athena," Kensou smiled when Athena looked up at him, her violet eyes shining.
"Thank you, Kensou," Athena smiled, releasing him from the hug.
Kensou chuckled and handed the large bouquet to her. Athena took it with a smile.
To Kensou's surprise, she suddenly pulled him towards the lake to take pictures. They enjoyed a stroll around the park, admiring the beautiful scenery.

Iori relaxed on his bed, swiping through his phone. He stopped scrolling when he saw a picture of Kensou and Athena with a lake as a backdrop. He chuckled and liked the picture, seeing how he even stated that it was taken at Central Park.
He swiped further and saw a picture of Athena, watching fish in a large aquarium. Swiped right through the series of pictures she posted in one post and saw various pictures of her in differing parts of Miyajima. Iori snorted when he saw how the location was stated as Itsukushima.
'So he brought her there after all...' Iori smirked. 'Well, that's another birthday down.'
He was suddenly interrupted when the door adjoining his room with another suddenly opened. Iori looked at the doorway to see Rock standing there.
"Our plan's set, right?" Rock asked.
"Yes, it is," Iori nodded, sitting up on his bed. "All set. Get some sleep, we've got some work to do tomorrow."
Rock smiled and closed the door, retreating back into his room.
"One more to go," Iori smirked to himself. Then he started looking for his sister. "Now where did Aiko go?"
Turns out, she was Kula and Isolde's room, chatting with them.