edelweiss - &team

5

When they got to the airport the next morning, the duo spent a minute just staring, dumbfounded, at their friends. Euijoo stood beside four crates of various sizes, one contained a lovely owl, the largest held a gorgeous beagle, one for an albino ball python and a tiny one for a fat sleepy pigeon.

"You're bringing a pigeon?" Yixiang asked, incredulous. Fuma replied tiredly, "Yes, we paid to transport a pigeon." Proud and unfazed, Euijoo added, "I trained him to carry messages. He's sweet."

Unable to conjure a retort to Euijoo's child-like innocence, Yixiang switched topics, "We'll be staying at Yudai's house, aren't we?"

A scoff from Yuma, "We better be. The man stays in a three story house! If he has no beds, the floor will do."

The four, despite how long they've stayed in Korea, struggled immensely with the modern technology and could only truly breathe a sigh of relief when they finally boarded the plane.

A young child was a passenger behind them, making them internally cringe in anticipation for what could come, but she only gestured excitedly out her window and gasped, "The sky! It's so amazing!"

Yixiang gazed out of the window, studying the vast blueness populated with masses of fluffy white clouds. "After seeing this for centuries, it doesn't amaze me anymore," He muttered under his breath, but even as he leaned back in his seat, he still stared out at the endless bright blue.

-

Yudai had arranged for a fleet of taxis to pick them up, knowing his friends all too well. They ended up taking one cab each, for Euijoo's animals to all be comfortable and for Yuma's two suitcases to not weigh down a single vehicle too much. The flight was draining and most fell asleep on the ride.

Euijoo was awakened by a gentle shake, when he blearily cracked open his eyes a familiar face smiled down at him. "Your animals are all safe and sound," The man said warmly as he supported Euijoo out of the taxi and thanked the driver, "And everyone's going in soon."

After he quickly regained his bearing, Euijoo smiled and said, "Thanks Yudai. Is everyone here?"

Yudai only pursed his lips, then said, "Let's get you in first."

As promised, his animals' crates were lined neatly on the front porch of a large, stand-alone house. Along with the luggages were Fuma, Yixiang and Yuma, chatting with another three people. When they caught sight of Yudai and Euijoo approaching, they all broke into bright, excited smiles. As the eight piled into Yudai's spacious, clean home, everyone looking around the well-furnished area, Euijoo paused to count everyone present, before he said, "There's only eight of us. Where is Harua? Didn't he call us here?"

"Yea, actually, where is he?" Another man piped up, in trendy streetwear, rolling two dice in his hand.

"Please don't tell me we flew all the way here for nothing," Fuma groaned, leaning over his suitcase. Yudai cleared his throat to get their attention and replied, "Well, we're gathered here because Harua texted Maki just five days ago." He gestured to Maki to take it from there.

Fuma immediately straightened and Yuma frowned, "What did he say?"

"He asked how I was doing," Maki said, showing no signs of joking, "After I replied, there was no response. That's when I went to alert Yudai. After we contacted all of you, we both tried to reach Harua."

Everyone stayed silent, expecting him to continue, but Maki was done. Baffled and confused, everyone's heads swivelled to look at Yudai again. The actor sighed, then said, "We told Harua everyone would be here tonight. We expect him to come, so for now, you guys should rest up."

As they processed the worrying news, Yuma piped up, "Well, do you have enough rooms or do we have to sleep on the sofa?" He eyed the plush sofas right by their side.

Yudai wrinkled his nose, slightly offended, "My current net worth is in the millions range. Of course I have enough beds. I'll always make sure this house has enough space for all nine of us." Like an excited guide, he led them up the stairs, where they were greeted with a white baby grand piano on a platform that overlooked the first floor.

"You play?" Fuma asked, bemused, as he tapped on a key, then withdrew his dusty finger. Ignoring his remark, Yudai said, "The first room here is for the two rascals." He gave a knowing look to Riki and Maki, then opened the door to reveal a room furnished with bunk beds, bean bags and an empty table.

"Oh, we're gonna have to share rooms huh," Yuma teased, "Where's your millions, Yudai? Why doesn't every room have a swimming pool while you're at it too?"

Yudai raised his eyes to the ceiling, wondering if he'll regret housing his friends. But he continued, assigning rooms to everyone. Yuma summoned their luggages from the first floor and neatly returned them to their owners.

Riki dropped his bag to the ground and darted out of the room to take a look at the house. He looked down at the first floor, where a semicircle of matching white sofas, all differing sizes, beheld a large screen television. He turned to take in the corridor of rooms, doors ivory white, below his feet lay a pale wool carpet.

"Why are you acting like you've never been here before?" Maki asked as he too emerged from their shared room. "Because I've never," Riki replied, without looking back at Maki, his eyes sparkling, completely enamoured.

Maki took a double take, "Really? I get that it's kinda far and secluded, but...not once?"

"Nope," Riki was now looking up, heading towards the staircase, "I never needed to."

-

Most of them were exhausted from their long journey to Yudai's house, and fell asleep easily.

At 3 am, with only pale moonlight streaming through cracks of the curtain, the doorbell rang sharply.

Maki, used to pulling all-nighters, was alert from his spot on the couch and at the door immediately, cracking it open cautiously as he screened the visitor, before throwing the door open with a bright smile.

Grabbing a worn satchel from the other and exchanging soft whispers of greetings, Maki was about to close the door behind him before a dull knock and scuffling was heard above.

"Is that Haura?" Yudai was blearily stumbling down the stairs, an adorable cowlick at the side of his head.

A pale man slipped a hood over his head and sighed, dropping a limp paper to the ground. "I'm alright, go back to sleep," Harua soothingly urged, but Yudai, now at the bottom of the stairs, was wide awake now.

After Yudai, like the anxious father figure he was, checked Harua for any cuts and bruises, over a warm cup of tea, they caught each other up to speed.

"Where have you been?" The statement was less accusatory and more concerned.

"I've been checking on our archives, the vaults, and securing the hearth. I just recieved Maki's message three hours ago," Harua explained, looking more exhausted than ever.

"Is there something wrong?"

Harua bit his lip, "I'd rather tell everyone together. Also, are the rest-" Harua twisted to observe the quiet and seemingly empty house. A gentle bird coo echoed softly in the still air.

"They're all here," Yudai assured, "They just arrived yesterday.

Harua breathed a shakily sigh of relief, "Thank goodness. So we're ready to leave tomorrow?"

Yudai nodded firmly, then chased Harua to wash up and Maki to go to sleep.