"Hng.." Feeling rays of sunlight reflecting on my face, the fleeting sensation of sleep had transpired within my mind. By the warmth of the soft mattress coupled with tatami mats spacing the large floor, I could tell that I was laying on a futon. It has been a while since I laid on a futon.. Turning my head to the right and peering around, I figured this was one of Yoko's guest rooms situated in her traditional home.
"Old brown wood coupled with dated white paint." It had natural hallmarks of housing built during the 1900's, alongside modern renovation.
"I must have passed out from exhaustion yesterday evening. Was it because of the fortune teller..?" For a moment, my mind remembered the mysterious fortune teller.
"!" Wait, how did I even get back to the store again..? I was falling through an endless black void one instance, and the next in front of Aeon again..
'Agh! Nothing makes sense as of this moment..' Ruffling my already dishevelled bed hair, it did not last long as a soft but stingy voice suddenly spoke.
"..You're finally awake." Looking over my right shoulder, on the wood flooring, an unknown girl that looked to be of the same age was sitting next to me. She was holding a light wooden tray filled with a spout and teacups.
She wore a sun patterned black and orange kimono alongside her sleek hanging navy blue hair. Her bangs were non symmetrical with one side having flatter arcs than the other. Although for some reason, her bright orange eyes seemed to be glaring quite intensely at me.
Bringing myself up in an upright position, she started pouring tea into one of many cherry blossom patterned cups. Impressively, not a single drop appeared to be spilling nor bubbling. Her technique was indubitably graceful and beautiful.
But the real issue at hand would be..
"Uhm, who are you?"
"Isn't it rude to ask for someone's name without introducing yourself first?" Ah, get it together Yukihime.. Where are my manners? Mornings are the worst..
"My sincerest apologies. My name is-"
"Shinano Yukihime. I know. My mom told me about you the night before." I will pretend nothing just happened. And what is with that smug face!?
"Right.. Nice to meet you, may I inquire regarding your name?"
"Hisano Ito. Pleased to make your acquaintance." Handing over the cup filled with green tea, it tasted quite nice, especially during the slow and cumbersome morning.
"Thank you for the tea. The herbs really manage to bring out the sweet deep aroma, it is quite delicious." Despite her personality being intriguing, I can not turn a blind eye to the exquisite taste of this tea. Therefore the least I can do is to show my appreciation and gratitude.
"Hmph, Just so you know, I'm only doing this because my mom told me so."
"I appreciate your sentiment.." Although I am starting to second guess it..
"I was wondering, what time is it currently?
"It's 6:30 in the morning." Whew, I have time to do my daily quiz today.
'Lucky me~'
Finishing my teacup in rapid time, I set it aside on the floor and made my way to the sky blue suitcase. Opening it up and searching one compartment, I eventually found the quizlet.
"Ah, found it!" My dearest Quizlet, I will never let you go.
"Hm? What are you holding?" Appearing to be interested in what I was holding, Ito laid down her tray and waltzed closer to me.
"Heh, did my quizlet spark your interest?" Although, this is my quizlet for today~
Before I could notice, the book filled with questions ceased to exist in front of my hands.
'..Eh? Where did my book suddenly go?' How did it even disappear?
"Hey, is this a quiz? If so! Let's compete on who can get the most questions right..!"
Wait, no. Noooo, my quizlet..! I wanted to complete it by myself today.. I was looking forward to it.. Not to mention the gall to forfeit it from my hands as well! You know what!?
"Bring it on!"
Before I came to my senses, I found myself sitting opposite to the same girl that had previously poured my tea, competing.
"…" Pure Silence engulfed every corner of the room with only cicadas and birds talking outside.
"Alright, first question.. How many occupied seats are currently residing within our world?" Easy as the winds breeze!
"Four, the fifth is unoccupied." Since I studied the source material, I have confidence in my abilities.
"That's right. Alright, your turn Yukihime-san." Ito's expression remains unchanging.. Is she alive?
"My pleasure." Nonetheless, this question ought to be easy.
"What elemental attribute does Zeus possess?"
"Hah! Is that all from this measly quiz? Even 1st graders would know this!" You have quite the hot mouth, do you not? And do not speak ill of my beloved quizlet!
"It's thunder!" I do admit that you are knowledgeable, but will you be able to answer the later questions?
"You would be correct. It is now your-"
"Next question. Who has the most MVP awards in history?" Why do you keep interrupting me..
"That would be Amaterasu Hiroku. She just won her 20th." Seriously.. This girl.
…
07:00.
…
"Hah.. It would seem our scores are tied." Did the both of us suddenly work up a sweat? Or is the room lacking an air conditioner? We have been competing for an hour now.
"Huhuehe, the last one wins it all." Our eyes met with fierce intensity before the last question. If I answer correctly, I win. And if the question goes unanswered or incorrectly answered, it becomes forwarded to her.
"Last question, Shinano Yukihime-san.." I got this! Bring it on, Hisano Ito!
"Does Amaterasu have any related family/siblings? If so, how many?" Yes, I won! It is my victory! My hard earned victory at last!
"Victory has been clenched from the jaws of defeat. The answer to your question is.. Yes. She had two siblings." My mom once taught me years ago that Amaterasu had two siblings. Susanoo and-
"Wrong, she only had one." That is correct. Wait.. What?
"What, no!?" I loudly exclaimed.
"I win! Hehe, it was a tough battle, but it seems that I'm more knowledgeable than you." Her face is beaming with confidence, although it feels more akin to arrogance compared to satisfaction.
"I would like to refute your statement. You are the one in the wrong. She did in fact, not have only one sibling!"
"Uh, yes she did. Amaterasu and Susano. That's two people. How can you not know that? We're practically the same age. Seriously, have you been paying attention in school at all, miss Yukihime-chan?"
"I am telling you that she had two!" Why will you not listen to me!?
"Objection! She didn't! Just accept the loss with grace! Or could it be.. That you can't handle the thought of defeat?" She is seriously proficient at getting on my nerves..
"Why, you..!"
"Heh, I'll let you know that I am trained in martial arts!" She began rolling her sleeves up. Likewise, I reciprocated in kind.
Lunging head first towards me with her arms wide open to try and grab me, I quickly answered by moving forward, locking my hands with hers to kill all momentum.
"Thump!" In the end, we wound up wrestling on the tatami mats while arguing who was correct. As time passed on, it got loud enough to the point two voices could be heard outside of the room rapidly approaching our location.
"Hey! What's happening over there?"
"Are you both okay?" Sliding both doors open at the same time, both Ayanami and Yoko were met with a sight unbecoming of their family heritage.
"Yoko-san, I thought you told me that they would both get along.. I seem to have been proven wrong.."
"They're just playfully fighting each other right? Right..?" To their realisation, we weren't.
"Hey, both of you stop! Break it up!"
"I've never seen this side of my daughter before.."