Fires And Family | Paradox Live

15

"Ze~n. It's almost our turn you know? Stop with the push-ups already!"

Himari giggled. Iori looked over at her, indicating with his expression that she shouldn't encourage Zen. Himari shrugged. Zen didn't need any encouragement.

" - 1070!" Zen said. "No can do, Waka. We're going up first and it won't do if my muscles are anything less than perfect."

Iori smiled in defeat. There was no stopping Zen when he got into his exercise zone. He sighed.

"Himari," Iori said softly, getting her attention nonetheless. "Will you find the kids? Tell them to head back so we can do one last rehearsal."

Himari glanced at the clock on the wall. There was still time before she would have to go to her seat in the auditorium. There was plenty of time for a last rehearsal, if that was what Iori wanted. He was just trying to get her out of the room so he could have one of his secret talks with Zen again.

Himari raised an eyebrow at Iori, challenging him. He smiled, leaned over and gripped her knee. There was something meaningful in that grip. 'Not this time,' it seemed to say.

Himari stood, a little annoyed. Without acknowledging either Iori's request or Zen's curious look, she made her way out of the dressing room.

'It's never the right time. He never gives me a chance. Well not this time.'

Outside, Himari made a show of walking away down the corridor, but after a short distance she slipped off her shoes and padded back to the door. Sliding up next to it, Himari pressed her ear against the side close to the hinge, careful to stay at an angle that would minimise her shadow falling across the door.

" - in contact with Alter Trigger." Himari heard Iori's muffled voice from inside. Zen made some kind of response that she couldn't make out. And then Iori spoke again.

" - that company.... is a safe bet...."

Company? That had to be Alter Trigger. So what was the safe bet? Himari pressed her ear closer and held her breath.

"... stage battles were also organised by Alter Trigger after all," Zen was saying. He was easier to hear. Meanwhile Iori could barely be made out over Zen's exercise music.

"... planning to do... not sure of it all yet, but... our position as well the goal..."

"Then facing it fair and square, head on will be the right thing to do!"

Himari nearly jumped at Zen's sudden increase in volume.

"That's why we're here, after all. Not for what's going on in the underworld, but to prove ourselves as phantom rappers!"

Himari was suddenly distracted by the sound of Satsuki's voice in the distance. She tore herself away from the door and ran back to her shoes, sliping them on just before the boys turned the corner.

"Oh, you three," she said, her voice higher than normal and breathless. "I was just coming to get you. Iori-san said he wanted to do one more rehearsal."

"Ah, sure," Satsuki said, smiling. The boys walked past Himari and opened the door. Himari took a deep breath and followed them into the room. Iori fixed his gaze on her as he listened to the kids enthuse about the crowd. Himari kept her eyes averted from his and stayed by the door. When everyone's attention had turned to Zen and his muscles, Iori walked over to her.

"Your nose is good, Himari, but you know you can't get past me," he muttered close to her ear. Himari shivered from how smooth his voice was. There was no anger, though.

"Oh, I know," Himari whispered back, breathless. A mix of anger and frustration was building up in her lungs. "I've failed plenty of times already. You'd think we'd both have learned something by now."