Sneakers En Pointe

Chapter Eight: Aoi Setsuna

So lately I've been spending more time with the crazy café gang. I've definitely been seeing them a lot more in class... Either we got put in the same classes this semester or now that I know their faces, I can recognize them in the class room.

I don't know. It's weird.

Even today. I was paired with Raikou Inoue for a project for Creative Writing and he insisted we do the project at my house.

Which was totally okay with my mom, but my brother...

"If you dare touch Aoi in anyway that makes her uncomfortable, I will personally escort you out of this house and do EXACTLY what you did to her," Raiden warned.

"Y-yes sir. I won't, I promise!" Poor Raikou said.

In the kitchen, my little sister Noemi was giggling like mad, having over heard Raiden's threat. I just rolled my eyes and pulled a trembling Raikou into the den so we could get to work.

Man, if only you could see his artwork. It was strange and wonderful at the same time... While we talked over ideas, he would take out his sketch book and doodle or flip through his pages... My favorite was a drawing of a prince walking away from a tall tower with a princess in it. It was a bit sloppier, but he said he and his little sister Nova drew it a few weeks ago.

His eyes definitely lit up when he talked about Nova. It was sweet...

Two hours later, we decided to take a break in the Kitchen. While I finished up a bit of homework, Raikou continued to add to his collection of sketches.

"Can you- Nevermind... That's a dumb question," He mumbled, shoving a few grapes into his mouth.

I raised a brow. "I'm curious now. Go on."

Raikou fiddled with his fingers. "Can you, like... Taste colors?"

"What?"

"Like you can obviously tell the difference between a green grape and a red grape, right? But can you tell- I mean, um..." Raikou puffed his cheeks. "I know it sounds weird, but if you ate a piece of lettuce and a green grape, can't you taste the green? There's a distinct taste that every green food has... Same goes for red, white, yellow foods... But it only works for food. I can't lick a paint sample as say 'Yeah! This tastes like Scenic Blue!'" He blushed and gave a small chuckle.

I stared at him for a second then shook my head and smiled. "I think you have waaaay too much creativity bottled up inside you."

Raikou looked like he was about to say more, but the door bell interrupted him.

"Onee-San! Onee-San!" Riku called. The toddler made his way into the kitchen and tugged at my shirt. Noemi came running in too, hiding behind me after she saw Raikou. "Ding-Dong!" Riku cheered.

I ruffled both their heads and smiled gently. "I'll be right back," I told Raikou before getting up to answer the door.

"Aoi-Chaaaaaaan!" A bright voice greeted me.

"Why," is all I said.

Remy was there, standing at my door way with Hinata, Shin, Michio, Orochi, and Akira behind him. "We're here to see how Raikou is doing."

All of them?

Hinata and Levi stood there, hands folded, Michio looked anxious, Orochi was barking at the neighbor's dog, and Akira looked like he didn't care.

I crossed my arms and gently tapped Noemi's hand twice. She nodded and took Riku upstairs to get mom. "And how did you get my address?"

"Raikou told us," Michio said bluntly. 

"Michio made me!" Raikou defended himself.

"No he didn't," Orochi said. "He just asked you. You could have said no."

"No he couldn't," Hinata muttered, pretending to cough.

Remy shrugged. "But even if Raikou did say no, Akira could have gotten it for us... Since he has access to everyone's school records and such." He chuckled.

Akira gently shoved Remy. "Shush."

"Oh." Remy chuckled again. "Oops."

Before I could scream at all of them, mom came downstairs, carrying Riku. "Oh..." She looked at me, confused, then handed Riku to me. "Are you all of Aoi's friends?" She gave a wary smile. "Come in... I just made biscuits. Would you all like some?"

"Mom, no-" 

"Why thank you, miss." I watched as Remy stepped in front of me to kiss my mother's hand.

Hinata stepped forward and offered a wrapped box. "We heard you were from England, so we thought you'd like this... It's a sample box of different English blends."

Orochi pushed his hair back and smiled. Suddenly his posture improved and he didn't look so trouble-makerish. "Thank you for inviting us in."

One by one, the boys introduced themselves, all acting waaaay more classy and charming than they usually are.

The Prince Act.

My mom gave a small laugh and curtsied in response to Levi's bow. She gave me another funny look then held the door open. "Well come on in then... Noemi, get the guest cups out, please!"

As everyone walked in, I glared at Akira. "I bet you planned this."

"I never do anything without a plan," he said.