The Shards of War: Ascension and Secrets

Chapter 39

The next day, Blaze slowly opened her eyes and found herself in a somewhat unusual situation. She was surrounded by Calie, Marie, and Matsu, all of them sprawled out with colorful marker drawings on their faces and arms. For a moment, she couldn't recall exactly what had transpired the night before, but as she glanced at herself in the mirror across the room, the memories came flooding back. They had all grabbed markers and started to draw funny and whimsical doodles on each other, letting their playful creativity flow freely.

A warm smile crept across Blaze's face as she remembered the laughter and camaraderie they had shared. It was moments like these that made her feel like part of a close-knit family.

Feeling a bit more awake, Blaze reached for one of Matsu's hairbrushes and began to gently comb her hair, her eyes twinkling with contentment. As she did so, she couldn't help but chuckle at the silliness of the previous night and the deep connection she had with her friends.

In the adjacent room, she could hear the gentle stirrings of her friends as they slowly woke up, and she knew that today would bring new adventures, bonding, and, most importantly, more cherished memories.

Blaze then looked at the dresser and seeing a beautiful box of make-up next to make-up wipes, she uses the wipes to clean her face and arms, but she's intrigued by the make up box since she didn't remember Calie or Marie bringing one with them so it had to belong to Matsu.

Blaze froze as she reached for the box of makeup on the dresser, sensing a presence behind her. It was Matsu, his voice a low, almost aggressive whisper, as he instructed her to back away and not touch it.

She turned around, her eyes wide as she looked at Matsu. His expression was stern, and he explained that the box belonged to his mother and he had never opened it. It was a precious item, and only Calie, Marie, and his sisters were allowed to use it.

Blaze felt a mix of surprise and embarrassment. She hadn't known the significance of the box, and she hadn't meant to intrude. "I'm sorry, Matsu," she said softly, her cheeks flushing. "I didn't realize it was so important. I won't touch it."

Matsu's expression softened, and he nodded in understanding. "It's okay, Blaze. I know you didn't know. Just be careful around it. It holds a lot of sentimental value."

Blaze nodded, grateful for his understanding. She decided to give the box a wide berth and focused on finishing cleaning the marker drawings from her arms. It was a reminder that even in their close-knit group, there were still boundaries and personal items that were off-limits. She appreciated Matsu's trust in sharing that with her, and she was determined to respect his family's belongings.

As the day began, they continued to make memories, their bond growing stronger, and Blaze cherished every moment with her friends and the lessons they learned together.

Calie and Marie woke up, their eyes fluttering open as they saw Matsu and Blaze wiping off the marker ink from their skin. The two couldn't help but chuckle as they joined in on the impromptu cleaning session.

Marie nudged Matsu playfully, asking, "Did you tell Blaze about the makeup box?"

Matsu nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I did. She didn't know, but she understands now."

As the morning continued, Matsu handed each of them a hairbrush. Blaze declined, mentioning that she had already used one. The trio then sat in front of the mirror, brushing their hair.

Calie reached over and brushed a stray strand of Matsu's hair. "You missed a spot here, dear." Matsu chuckled, returning the favor by brushing a lock of Calie's hair into place. "And you missed a tiny knot here, Hime."