She stared around for a couple of seconds. It was almost as if time had stopped.
-Clap, clap, clap!
Suddenly the classroom erupted! Everyone was clapping and cheering her on, giving her various compliments.
"Well done Yumi!"
"Everything was so clear and easy to follow! You're a natural!"
"You go Yumi! Yay Yumi!"
"You're AMAZING!!"
"Can you also teach us about Amaterasu!?"
"You'll probably do a better job than our teacher!"
"I agree! Wait, what'd you brats just say!??" The teacher was also stunned, although maybe for a different reason.
"Eh?" She looked completely bewildered by the class's reactions. Although she was used to compliments every now and then, Yukhime had never experienced so much attention at the same time.
"Ehm, eh. Thanks ha..ha.ha." Flustered, she tried waving back. Although with each passing second and cheer, her face would turn ever so slightly redder until eventually, hair covered her face.
"Alright class! Quiet down now! That's enough!" The teacher noticed her embarrassment and swiftly tried to calm everyone down.
"Well done Yukihime-chan. You seem to be incredibly knowledgeable regarding our systems and Stabilizers and Entropy."
"I would not say so.. I am still learning, ah hah hahaha.."
"Is it your dream to become a Stabilizer?" He asked with a stern face with arms crossed.
"Mhm!" She nodded her head in confidence.
In response, he just smirked wickedly.
"You have a bright future. Now get back to your seat."
"Understood." As she was walking past, several more classmates handed her quiet compliments alongside thumbs up.
"Now class! As Yumi has explained now. The higher is in fact better. The maximum rating you'll be able to score is always 9.9 on every factor. Although in rare cases, it's possible to exceed such limits and go beyond even 10."
Out of curiosity, one of the young boys reached his arm out. Eager to ask his question.
"Teach, do you know anyone that has one rating over 10.0?" Upon sharing his curiosity throughout the classroom, everyone stared in anticipation.
"Hmm.." Scratching his head somewhat aggressively, he wasn't extremely sure if anyone particularly did. His vague memories of the past weren't willing to cooperate at the moment.
"Don't know! Maybe someone who holds a Cosmo Nebulae?"
'!' Yukihime's eyes widened and her pupils increased in size as she heard those words exit his mouth.
At that precise moment, the bell resonated throughout the school, the week had finally come to a close and the weekend was now upon everyone. Perking up quickly and neatly her backpack with the studybooks, Yumi prepared to head to the shrine. Atypical, her friend Hina decided to ask why it seemed as if she was in a hurry.
"Hey Yukihime-chan! Do you have anywhere to be today?" Turning back and holding her hands together, Yumi stood straight as an arrow.
"Ah, indeed. I am supposed to meet with my mom after school today!" Yumi responded back with a warm smile.
"Oh, so you won't be coming to kendo practice today?"
"Not today unfortunately, although I will be attending on monday as per usual."
"Alright! Goodbye Yumi! Have a nice weekend!" With a quick send off her classmate ran the opposite direction towards practice.
"Hehe, You too."
'Shall I go too?'
Trotting along the previous path as before, the fleeting wind danced alongside roars of jets taking off nearby. Around halfway down the curved mountainous road Yumi proceeded to turn right and continued taking various changes in directions until she eventually reached Miyakoda forest.
Entering through the dense leaves and bushes encapsulating the forest filled with cicada's presence, it was similar to every other time she had navigated through.
'Treacherous but fulfilling every time.' Yumi thought as she reached the Miyakoda Lake. A fairly hidden spot that young locals occasionally would come visit to swim, barbeque and hangout.
The Miyakoda Lake consisted of two separate levels of water pools flowing down alongside the countryside river. Its first level had a riverbed consisting mostly of rocks in various sizes. Furthermore, the water was always at its clearest as Yumi could see the clouds' reflections even from an elevated position.
Between the first and second levels, an intermediate layer laid bare. The water peacefully flowed down through the slightly angled slope, filtering and clearing all water through the tiny pebbles making up the incline.
If you climbed and found yourself on the intermediate layer, you'd even be able to spot small crabs and fish trying to hang on and swim up aiming for the heavens.
Yumi cracked a soft smile as memories of swimming in the lake came flooding
Level one, also known as the highest point of the river, spanned across a dishevelled oval shape surrounded by the forest's vast lush greenery. In spite of the sun's inability to pierce the trees, it more than made up for it by shining a beautiful light across the clear water.
As Yumi walked along the lakeside her eyes laid attention on the final path reaching her destination. Two massive red torii gates separated each end of the forest in front.
Interlinking both opposite ends, was a beautiful wooden bridge constructed decades ago with small lamps hanging off every few metres.
Walking through several torii gates it felt as if she was threading between the boundary of living and dead. That's how it felt every time she walked through the gates.
As water flowed down the river in a harmonised stream, grasshoppers chirped away in the adjacent bushes and the sun's rays of light penetrated the leaves. She felt connected with her surroundings.
By the end of the channel, her mom stood waiting silently with her eyes closed. Behind her was the entrance of a massive Torii gate with the symbol of half a moon.
"Hello dear, you made it in time." Her moms eyes opened slowly and elegantly.
"Yes." Responding back with a soft smile, Yumi's eyes glistened like stars.
"Then as to tradition let us pray for today."
Bowing in front of the gate first before treading hand in hand towards the well, they were both equally silent. That was until they reached a traditional building. When they eventually stood opposite to the saisen box, they offered a few coins of yen and then bowed twice. Thereafter the two clapped their hands once, and then twice, prior to closing their eyes and praying.
[I pray my mom lives a healthy life. I wish to pass the test of compatibility in 1-2 years and live a successful life as a Stabilizer.]
[May our words and wishes find you well. I pray my daughter will live a healthy life and find the true meaning of our world.]
As they both stood still praying, the energy within their surroundings started glowing with a blue and purple hue. The energy rose beautifully and quietly, encapsulated by shining spheres that resembled water droplets. Feeling both of their energy reserves being slightly drained, it was a sign that it reached their goddess.
The bubble encompassing her body slightly glowed. Within her prison she laid, huddled together in a ball, still and unmoving. Her deep blue hair flowed freely and endlessly, silently. Akin to waves moving on the shores and river streams towards the ocean.. She floated between the boundary.
"..."
Finally finishing their prayers, the pair gave one last deep bow before proceeding to travel back home.