KOF Extras

Christmas Vacation in Cannes (Part 1)

15 December
This time, Shingo wasn't allowed to travel alone. It was Christmas and he apparently wanted to go to Cannes this time. Benimaru helped him arrange everything, a little confused at the fact that Shingo wanted to celebrate alone and not with his family.
"They're ungrateful, they doubted the fact that I actually prepared everything," Shingo frowned. "I did better last year, and they were nonchalant about it just the next day."
Benimaru sighed. "If I weren't visiting my parents, I'd be with you, man. You sure Kanako can't come with you?"
Shingo shook his head, poking his finger at the top of his coffee cup. "She's going to her parents home too."
"Come on, man," Benimaru groaned, leaning back in his chair. "Why Cannes of all places? You can just go to Paris and stay with Ash or something, right? Celebrate with him, get your nails done, sleepover with him, maybe visit La Chapelle?"
"No, I wanna go to Cannes," Shingo adamantly said. "I already made my plans." He gave the blond a reassuring look. "Don't worry about me, Beni. You know I can take care of myself."
Benimaru frowned and took a sip of his hot creamy coffee before speaking. "I know that, but after Yagami's recollection of what you did in Yokohama... I'm a bit concerned."
"That was just bad luck," Shingo insisted. "It's not my fault those oysters were bad."
"But it was still your fault that you didn't realise it, Shingo," Benimaru pointed out. "You didn't even taste anything strange? Yagami told me they smelt horrible!"
Shingo was silent at that.
"You better take someone with you, Shingo," Benimaru added. "I'm scared for you."
Shingo sighed. "I'll think of something."
Benimaru nodded. "You better. Otherwise, you're coming with me. Celebrate with my family."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Shingo added. "I don't know much of your family."
"You will," Benimaru said. "Soon."
The two men sat quietly for a few moments before Shingo spoke again.
"I can't think of anyone I should go with, and I don't wanna invade your time with your family. I'll just go to Cannes alone."
Benimaru frowned. "No, you are not." He sighed. "Tell you what, I have a few friends that are free for the holidays. I just realised that they don't really have anywhere to go for the holidays as well. They are technically kids, so you'd have to chaperone them and be the adult in the situation. Can you handle that?"
Shingo smirked. "How young are we talking? I've cared for babies, Beni. And I did a good job with Saiki's child as well."
"You're right, even he abandoned that poor little thing in that kiddie ride," Benimaru couldn't help but laugh. "But nom they aren't that young. They're teens."
"Oh, all the more better," Shingo smiled. "Do I know these kids?"
Benimaru nodded. "You do."

17 December
Shingo was summoned to Benimaru's home a few days later. He parked near the Nikaido mansion and spotted Iori's Subaru in the driveway. That made Shingo wonder. Why was the redhead here as well? Was it something important?
Benimaru was waiting for him Ian's quickly let him in. The Yagamis and Honoka were in the living room, seemingly waiting for him, and so were a few other familiar faces.
It was Shun'ei and Meitenkun.
"Shingo, meet the kids that you'll be chaperoning to France," Benimaru announced with flair. "You remember them?"
Shingo nodded as he scanned the two of them. "I do. So... they'll be coming with me?"
"In a way, you'll be babysitting them, and they'll be babysitting you," Iori said, placing his cup of tea down on the sleek marble coffee table. "You'll be looking out for each other."
Shingo was slightly offended by the fact that he's being babysat by a pair of kids, with one of them even running about with a bolster so that he can sleep while standing. But then he sighed, seeing how they were the best bet. Who knows, maybe they'll even be fun to hang out with.
"Fine," Shingo said. He took his phone out and frowned at it. "Shall I book an apartment or a triple hotel room?"
"The bookings have already been done," Benimaru piped up. "We booked you guys a nice cottage, three bedrooms, two of them are en-suite, has a balcony, kitchen, heated floors, jacuzzi—"
"Ooh!" Meitner gasped.
"Yeah, don't fall asleep in it," Shun added before turning back to Benimaru. "Continue, Beni-chan."
Aiko chuckled and clapped her boyfriend on the shoulder. "Beni-chan! That's so cute."
Benimaru turned a bit red as he smiled sheepishly at her. "They see me as a big brother, I guess."
"Wait, so was it Beni-chan or Ben-niichan?" Iori piped up.
Benimaru shrugged. "I dunno." He turned to the teenagers and asked. "Which is it?"
They shrugged too.
"Can we get on with this? I wanna know more of our accommodation," Shingo piped up. "Beni?"
Benimaru chuckled. "Okay, so the place has a jacuzzi, no pool though, and it's a really nice place. It's near the town, though in a relatively isolated area, but I think it should be fine."
Shun nodded. "Is there space to meditate?"
"You can just meditate on the bed or on the heated floors, ya know?" Honoka added, finally speaking after having done with the snacks that Benimaru had distributed.
"What about training?" Meiten added. "Shun-chan loves training whenever he can."
"And you love sleeping at the same time," Benimaru smirked. "The bedroom has a lot of space to practice all of your Kung Fu positions, Shun."
Shun frowned. "But I like training outdoors."
Benimaru gave him a strange look. "Out in the snow?"
"It's not snowing yet..." Shun pointed at the window.
Iori sighed. "Boy, Tokyo gets less snowfall in December. Cannes can get pretty cold despite the beach."
"There's a nice backyard if you want to try," Benimaru offered.
Shun nodded quietly. "Okay."
"And be sure to keep your powers in check," Iori added. "You know I've been through stuff like that before."
Aiko nodded. "He's right. And he was good at it."
Iori smirked at Shun and pointed a thumb at his sister. Shun quickly nodded.
"Alright, Mr Yagami," Shun said. "I'll do my best."
Benimaru nodded proudly and turned to Shingo. "You'll take good care of them?"
Shingo confidently saluted him. "I won't let you down."
"Maybe you should join the Ikari Warriors instead," Honoka added. "They will love your salute."
Shingo chuckled. "When will we be leaving?"

22 December
Shingo walked out of the Cannes Mandelieu Airport with Shun'ei and Meitenkun. It was hard for him to keep the latter from sleeping, especially since he was literally doing so in a standing position.
Even coffee didn't help. Shingo was at a loss with what he would do with the boy.
"Our car is here," Shingo said, grabbing Meiten's arm and jolting him slightly. "Let's go."
"Heh?" Meiten muttered groggily, his eyes barely open.
Shingo pulled him towards Shun. "Help him into the car."
The green-haired boy did as he was told and helped Meiten into the backseat before getting in beside him. Shingo slipped behind the wheel. It was a little trippy, seeing how he had to sit at the left side of the car and he was supposed to drive on the right side of the road when he was so used to doing the exact opposite back in Japan. But it didn't matter, it was still a car, a Citroen C3, and he could drive.
"Shun, can you look up directions to the hotel?" Shingo asked as he pulled into the main road.
"What's the name of the hotel again?" Shun took his phone out to go to the navigation app.
"Riviera de lá Franc du Blanc," Shingo said, almost effortlessly.
Shun looked up for moment. "Umm... what?"
Shingo sighed and repeated it, exaggeratedly slow so that he could catch up.
"How do you spell Riviera again?" Shun asked, much to Shingo's dismay.
To their surprise, Meiten yawned and grabbed the phone from him, flawlessly typing out the name of the resort in an instant before handing the phone back to Shun, and then proceeding to go back to sleep. Shingo was impressed.
"Maybe you guys should find a way to deal with his sleep problem," Shingo said.
"Eh, it's for the best," Shun chuckled.
Shingo drove directly to the cottage that Benimaru had booked for them. The owner was outside, and she welcomed them openly before leading them in and showing them around the house. Shingo's eyes shined as he spotted the jacuzzi, a smile on his face as he imagined himself relaxing in it with the cold weather and all. 
"Enjoy your stay," the chirpy woman said before leaving.
As soon as she did, Meiten turned to Shingo. "Shingo-chan, I'm hungry."
Shingo didn't realise that. "Hey, you're right. We skipped lunch, didn't we?"
"We actually had breakfast?" Shun piped up.
"We didn't," Shingo sighed, leading them out. "Let's get back in the car, maybe we can go to a restaurant. I think I saw one nearby."
Meiten groaned. "Can't we just stay here and order takeaway? I'm tired!"
"So am I, but we need to eat, don't we?" Shingo sighed. "We should have eaten at the airport. Wouldn't it be faster if we went out instead?"
Meiten yawned but nodded as he leaned himself on his bolster. Shun put an arm around him and nodded,
"And maybe we can get some snacks too," Shingo amiably suggested.
He was already wishing he had come alone.