CALAMITY CORE : FREE THE WORLD

CH.9 'SISTER'

Saionji Akoto offered a hand to a brewing fight in front of a bar in the Guild settlement, splitting tensions with her rapier as though they were physically there. As the intended participants dissipated, she made for her residence, her leathers scorched after a close call on yet another excursion... With a moment of peace, she stopped to breathe, realizing now that it seemed there were more Chimera even more riled up than ever outside of the walls that protected the town.

Continuing her way home, her striped brown and blonde hair blew in the wind, and her rapier patted at her side in its slender sheath. When she came to the three-story home, it was Andrei's bare foot that kicked the ladder down for her, and as Saionji made her way up to their mutual room, she noticed just how ragged and bruised Andrei had become. Looking down at him, it was obvious that he had worn himself out training and his regenerative factor hadn't quite done it's work just yet, and even then, his clothes were growing more torn by the day. Closing her eyes and sighing, she stuck out a hand for him to grab and pull himself up with. "Alright Andrei, enough of the rags, we're getting you those clothes Ban had fixed up for you, ya' hear?" She spoke with a firmness to her voice that whipped Andrei into shape.

Jolting upright, he noticed the hand and pulled himself up, nearly pulling Saionji over before his chain rattled and he was at his feet. Meeting Saionji's eyes, there was a faint glow in them... it was obvious that he had sorely missed his more comfortable attire. Finding his glasses, he donned them, and Phanes leapt onto his shoulder, intent on accompanying them on this excursion. "Right, then let's get a move on..." He muttered, practically scrambling to get to the ladder and down on the ground.

Pursing her lips, Saionji raised a brow at Andrei's sudden timidity... was she really that intimidating? Her emerald green eyes were sharp, then she blinked, and they softened. After hearing Andrei hit the ground with a grunt and a yelp from Phanes, she began to clamber down, glaring at the boy she shared a room with for a moment before jumping halfway down the ladder. "You remember the place he took you... right?" She asked, aware of a few places that could've done the job for them. Everyone owed something to Ban, one way or another.

Nodding and sighing, Andrei began to walk down the streets of the Guild village, eyes averting their gazes as Saionji tailed behind him. Phanes walked between the boy and the girl, now having found his own footing on the ground after Andrei had nearly fallen on him after tumbling down the ladder. For a majority of the trip, they walked in complete and utter silence, not much to talk about between them. Eventually, they reached the tailors which had been employed to repair Andrei's clothing.

Welcoming the half-Chimera with a lukewarm greeting, the particularly elderly woman who had given Andrei the spare clothes he currently wore was the only earnest welcome they got that time. Saionji threw out her arms in greeting, jogging over to see the old lady. Andrei watched in confusion, then picked up on their conversation between a hug. "Grandma Akoto! It's so good to see you... I'm sorry I haven't been around much, scouting keeps me busy..."

The old lady looked past her granddaughter for a moment, then remembered Andrei's face from those few nights ago. Smiling, she patted Saionji on the shoulder and released her before hobbling over to a fresh set of attire and looking back at the two. "Right... then I need to get your little boy friend's attire so you can both go out in style... I see!" Cackling to herself, she hoisted the sturdy-looking uniform over her shoulder, offering it to Andrei, who stood well over her by nearly twice her height.

Saionji gasped and outraged at her grandmother, and Andrei blinked awkwardly, remaining silent as per usual. Accepting the clothes with a grateful bow, he made his way to a changing room in the back of the open-fronted store, leaving Saionji to speak to the elderly Akoto alone. "That- Andrei is not-!" She huffed and puffed to herself once she realized that the old lady had only been teasing her, and the two sat down next to one another. "Sorry, you were only teasing, but..."