I couldn't believe it was her. Lilly Avant. I completely forgot her after meeting Mikeyla and later Ranni.
She scanned the crowd and noticed me and my sisters. She looked genuinely surprised, then confused, then she just winked at me and took a seat in the front row.
Cily pinched my side harder than necessary. She was unreasonable; she didn't even know the story.
"Ugh, another one? You can't help yourself or something?" Sistin's voice was venomous, but low enough for only us to hear.
"It's only been five days, and you blocked us in anticipation? You're disgusting. I'm going to hurt you, then heal you up, and keep repeating it," Cily snarled, her voice a dangerous hiss.
"Pffft... I'm a man now. I can take you on both." The words were brave, but my spine was already tingling with flight instinct.
After class ended, I ran outside, shouting to my sisters that I desperately needed to use the restroom. I knew I had to make a run for it. All they needed was some time to garner the adoration of my classmates, and they'd calm down. Talking to Lilly? Definitely not in front of them.
I ended up in a quiet, rarely used part of the school grounds, taking a seat with my back against a big oak tree. My phone vibrated. It was a poetic text sent by Sistin: an emoticon of a chicken. Like I'd fall for her taunts.
I closed my eyes and enjoyed the silence. Thinking about Lilly. I wondered... Ugh, my sisters and Grandfather were both right. I can't help myself, can I?
I mean, I made fun of Tetsuya for liking two girls at once, and now I have a whole host of girls who interest me. I didn't want to sound conceited, but in my mind, it was up to me to choose amongst them, and the faster, the better. Before my more idiotic and possessive self started making sense: Just take them all.
I almost fell asleep, but then I heard a strange sound, like someone repeatedly pulling out a champagne cork. Pop. Pop. Pop.
I went to look for the origin of the noise and found a lanky girl with black, shaggy hair. She was teleporting all over the place, panting like a marathon runner. The air around her distorted, and she seemed to be pulled into a hole, but she didn't travel far—maybe ten feet at a fixed direction. It was the first time seeing Teleportation in person, even if it was clumsy.
I envied that power of absolute freedom on the battlefield. Not the 4th Grade level, obviously.
She turned her face away and rested her hands on her knees, panting heavily. I noticed her features: it was the girl the extras bullied. Mayumi Takumi. She seemed busy and unconcerned about using her ability out in the open. It made me smile; she looked like an avid rule-follower, yet here she was.
I guess you can't judge a book by its cover.
I walked away silently, getting about forty feet from her hiding place. I heard the popping sound right behind me, turned, and caught her falling forward. She took me down with her. I hit my head on the cement edge of some goddamn flower pot and cursed loudly, doing my best to get her off me.
She was so out of breath and pale I didn't know whether to call a healer or what.
She just stared at me, her eyes surprisingly sharp and intelligent. Her demeanor of a bullied victim was nowhere to be seen.
"Are you okay? Are you alright?"
She still didn't answer. "I'm sorry. I got scared. Did someone see me?" she finally managed to ask, her voice surprisingly pleasant.
"Oh, no. I was alone, don't worry. I won't tell. I wasn't spying or anything; I had to hide for a while... heard the noise."
"Who did you have to hide from?" She tilted her head. Huh?
"I... my, umm, sisters. They're mad at me. Anyway... I'll leave you to it."
"Did you do something to make them mad?"
I guess we're doing this.
I took a seat so I didn't have to look down on her. "I suppose I did. My mind is full of... I can't make a decision on something important."
"Then why make it?"
"I... I don't know why. I mean, maybe I'm just overthinking it. Probably not the most important or relevant troubles. Champagne problems, you know." I said, trying to make a joke.
She looked confused. "Chamvaign?"
I guess she was kind of funny. But perhaps she was just a girl growing up poor who had never heard the term.
"It's a bubbly drink made from fruit. Never mind. Never really liked it." What the hell is happening? I should just gently say goodbye and leave. I was about to get up when she grabbed my wrist.
"Thank you... for the other day. I'm not used to people helping when those guys bother me. They don't even look at me anymore, so thanks."
Nobody helps? Not anybody? What about Mikeyla? I couldn't imagine her standing by, or the guidance counselor... someone. Yet, looking back at that day, if I hadn't intervened, would anyone have helped her?
"Is that... a common thing? You getting harassed like that?" I asked.
She smiled for the first time, but it was tainted with sadness. "Sometimes. I thought in time it would pass, but it only got worse."
I felt bad for her. She looked so vulnerable. Has she ever fought back?
"You want my help?"
She just shook her head. "I can't have you ruin your reputation for someone like me... Thank you for offering."
She was ready to leave, but I couldn't just let her go. This time, I grabbed her wrist.
"I'll tell you what. How do you feel about training, then? I saw some of your ability, and I was amazed. You have an incredible power. I can help if it's something you want," I offered.
She was so confused, and red. I let go of her hand; some people are uncomfortable being touched, and with her story, I understood. I waited until she sat back down and slowly nodded.
"Good. Do you have time today? After school? I'm sure my sisters would love to help. They're nice, I promise."
She nodded again. Strange girl, but I bet she's a hard worker.
"I'll find you after E.T. and we'll skip Imperial Studies. If that's okay."
I didn't want to force her into missing class. She looked like the easily influenced type.
"Hmm... please do."
"Alright then... and don't worry, I'll talk to your teacher about it, if needed." Just in case she was too frightened to say no.
I got up and dusted myself off. Oh, right. I didn't even know her name. "By the way, my name is Stivanstin Avesta, but please call me Stivanstin. It's nice to meet you."
"Ohh... Mayumi. It's Mayumi Takumi. Please call me Mimi. My parents call me that."
"I see... I'll be looking forward to our first training today, Mimi."
This time, she showed me a genuinely happy smile. And I added another problem to my growing list.
~
I got back in the middle of Evolved Training. This time, it was coordinated by each homeroom teacher, picking kids one by one to demonstrate their abilities on dummies.
The students occasionally checked toward the bleachers, where my sisters were in deep conversation, cloaks still intact. I headed straight for them, making eye contact with Ms. Inoue, who just waved me off.
My sisters seemed calmer, at least looking at me.
"Please don't tell me you've been with another girl?" Cily demanded.
I had enough of this witch hunt. Time for some fun.
"Actually, I need you two to find something for tonight. I have a girl coming over after school. We're going to train some, eat a little... maybe train some more," I said without sparing a look for them. "Although I'm sure you two couldn't possibly understand that. Anyway... I guess you can come home tomorrow. Not in the morning, though... we might be in the mood, you know, for early training."
The fact that I had been beaten like a drum and then ran away from them didn't even bother me. My first day at school with my sisters was going great.
~
"I'm serious. I offered to help a girl with her ability. Stop with the insanity, will you? Also, Cily, can you cast some of your healing now? My leg is killing me."
Walking out of school, my uniform looked battle-worn, and my left leg was not doing so well.
""Hmphh..."" they responded in unison.
I wished Mother was here. She wouldn't stand for this and would sentence these two to immediate remedial training.
"Let me help you..."
Before I even saw her, I was enveloped in Ranni's healing ability. I felt that incredible feeling of freshness and full stamina, exactly like a great night's sleep.
I looked behind me and saw Ranni, her hand extended and smiling.
"Thank you for the save, Ranni. Don't tell me you skipped I.S. too?"
"Hmm... I think maybe three kids stayed. Ms. Inoue didn't mind; I think she was playing on her phone... Umm, so..."
She looked a bit fidgety, like she had something important to say but didn't know how to bring it up.
"Did I hear that right? Are you going to privately train someone... in your house? I swear, I'm not a snoop. I was just close..."
I wanted to answer, but Cily kneed me in the back of my thigh again. I lost my balance and tumbled forward. It would have been a nice moment if Ranni had fallen, me catching her, but instead, I was crashing into the dirt.
Even that didn't end well; she sidestepped on instinct, and I saw my carefully cultivated image crash under myself in the dust.
I made a vow, getting up, that her favorite things would slowly disappear like... like a whisper in the night! God, my knees hurt again.
"Stiiiivi... you're being all clumsy now. I guess you need help from just about anyone... you just can't help yourself, can you?"
I almost shed a tear. How the hell am I supposed to fight monsters, not to mention others trying to kill us, when I can't even stand up against my own sisters?
"I'm sorry, Sicily, you are right. By the way, Ranni? Do you happen to know where one could buy a puppy? I always wanted a dog, and since I live all alone... why not?"
Seeing Cily forget how to breathe for a second was everything. Silly little Cily, always folding under the threat of a pet.
"Umm, no... I gue... I can look some up for tomorrow if you want?" Ranni was a bit lost. For the first time, I saw the cool, sexy character drop away slightly.
"You know what? I'll think about it. I'll give you the answer at the party. And yes, I'm tutoring a... rare talent."
"A rare... girl talent?" she asked, a slight edge returning to her voice.
I'm definitely making a move on her tomorrow at the party, I swore. I just smiled and let her fume a little. She looked cute when annoyed. I was careful standing sideways to avoid another sneak attack. Our moment was broken anyway.
"Tchtchtchtch..." my elder sister clicked her tongue. Behave yourself, Sistine. You're better than the puppy lunatic.
"I'm going to go. I promised to tell her teacher, too... umm. Thanks for the help, again. You two go home. I'll be there soon."
I got away before anyone could say anything and went to get Mayumi.