Shards of War: Eclipsian Secrets

Chapter 52

The next day, the sun streamed gently through the windows, filling the house with warm, golden light. It was Matsu's day off, and the weekend had arrived, bringing with it a sense of calm and anticipation. In the living room, Matsu had set up his tablet for a video call with Calie and Marie. Their faces filled the screen, smiling and full of energy as they helped psych up Yumiko for her big day.

Yumiko was seated on the couch, her cheeks flushed pink with a mix of excitement and nerves. She tried to keep still as Matsu and Khamenei carefully applied her makeup, following the instructions that Calie and Marie were giving from the screen.

"Okay, now just a little bit more blush on her cheeks," Calie said, her voice cheerful and encouraging. "Not too much, though. We want it to look natural."

Marie added, with a touch of her dry humor, "Yeah, no need to make her look like she just ran a marathon. Just enough to bring out her natural glow."

Matsu smiled at their banter, carefully dabbing a bit of blush on Yumiko's cheeks, making sure it was just right. "How's that?"

Marie leaned closer to the screen, scrutinizing his work with a critical eye. "Hmm, not bad, Matsu. You're getting pretty good at this."

Khamenei, who was handling the mascara, laughed softly. "Yeah, maybe you missed your calling as a makeup artist, big bro."

Yumiko giggled, trying to stay still while Khamenei brushed the mascara onto her lashes. "You guys are making me more nervous," she said, her voice tinged with nervous excitement.

"Don't be nervous," Calie chimed in with her usual optimism. "You look amazing, and you're going to have a great time. Just be yourself."

Marie added with a smirk, "And remember, it's just the first date. If he doesn't appreciate how awesome you are, then that's his loss."

Yumiko nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "I'll try to remember that. Thanks, everyone."

Matsu finished the final touches on her makeup and stepped back to admire their work. Yumiko looked radiant, her features enhanced just enough to highlight her natural beauty without overwhelming her.

"You look perfect, Yumi," Matsu said, pride evident in his voice. "Aki won't know what hit him."

Yumiko blushed even harder, but a small, confident smile formed on her lips. "Thanks, Matsu. I really appreciate all of this."

Khamenei grinned, nudging her lightly. "You're going to knock him off his feet, sis."

Iyomei, who had been quietly observing, nodded in agreement. "You've got this, Yumiko. We all believe in you."

Yumiko took another deep breath, feeling the love and support of her family surround her. She looked at the video call screen, where Calie and Marie were giving her thumbs-up and reassuring smiles.

"Thank you, everyone," Yumiko said, her voice soft but filled with gratitude. "I'm ready."

As Yumiko's confidence grew, Marie couldn't resist asking the question that had been on her mind. "So, Matsu, what's this Aki kid like? I mean, he better be something special if our Yumiko is so smitten."

Matsu, ever the protective older brother, didn't miss a beat. "Aki Mori," he began, his tone taking on a more formal quality, "full name: Akihiko Mori. He's fifteen, academically, he's top of his class in science and math, consistently scoring above 95% in his exams. He's involved in a few extracurriculars, particularly the environmental club and the robotics team. Personality-wise, he's known to be kind and patient, often volunteering at the local community center. He's also received a few awards for his contributions to school projects and community service. Overall, he's respectful and well-liked by both his peers and teachers."