37 A Party Won't Hur

*ring ring*

*ring ring*

*clac* I turn off the alarm clock.

Elin is still asleep...

*yawn*

I get out of bed and go to shower.

*chirp*

I go down the stairs and grab an apple and vegetables from the fridge.

*krrruf* I bite the apple.

I give the vegetables to the bunnies and I sit on the sofa to finish the apple.

*click* I turn on the television.

"Today's weather will be clear, but it will rain during the afternoon, so be careful-"

*krrruf*

"As of today, the temperature will drop considerably and more rain is expected. We recommend-"

*krrruf*

I don't have clothes for the cold. I should tell them.

*click* I turn off the television.

*krrruf*

I throw what remains of the apple and go out into the yard.

"Ahh..." I sigh.

I do a quick warm up to go to the park.

*breath* *breath*

I can already go to the park jogging without getting tired.

Kuno told me yesterday that today he would take the day and stay at home, so I came alone.

I arrive at the park and warm up a bit more before using the exercise machines.

I do my usual routine.

After an hour, I finish and decide to go back home.

Hm? Those kids…

Across the park, two teenagers are sitting on the sidewalk.

Are they?

I walk towards them.

It seems they're asking for money...

"Hello... Are you-?"

I see their faces.

They are... scared?

"I wanted to apologize for-"

"Get away from us!" the boy says.

What?

"But I just want to-" I stretch out my hand to offer an apology, but the boy hits me to push it away.

"I told you to get away, monster!"

...

"I get it. I'm sorry, it was something I did without thinking, even if you stabbed me... Anyway, if you ever need help, you know where I live..."

I go to leave them alone and go home.

"I'm home" I say when entering.

"Oh, Alex, how was your exercise?" Kuno is coming downstairs.

"Good. Hm?" I hear noises in the kitchen.

"Dai is cooking?"

"Yes"

"Good, I'm hungry"

We eat egg and bacon that Dai cooked and some time passes.

I'm in the yard, standing, under the cloudy sky.

*breath*

*hoooo~* the wind sounds.

Come on Alex, just remember the feeling...

*breath*

...

*hoooo~*

Dammit! I only have-! Oh?

The heat returns to my chest.

Yes! Now, I have to visualize it in my body...

In my head appears a silhouette of my body, with a white mark on my chest.

I must try to move... the mark towards... my abdomen...

I imagine that the mark moves down slowly.

I feel how... the heat is-

*plip*

Hm? A drop…

*plip* *plip* *plop* *plip*

I enter the house and go to the living room.

"It's already raining. Elin got an umbrella?"

"Yeah, Dai reminded her before she left" Kuno responds.

Although Kuno is not in university, he doesn't stop studying in his free time.

"What are you doing?" I ask him.

"I try to solve calculus problems"

I see the notebook in which he's writing.

"Woah... I think I read a bit about that"

"You'll see something very basic about this in high school. At least your knowledge is at the level"

"Yes, I am a sponge for the theory, but a rock to solve problems. Dad suffered with me teaching me to do it, but he looked very excited when was doing it, especially with Chemistry"

"Alex, I don't know if I should ask you this, but, don't you know what your dad did before you were born?"

"No... I don't know anything about him..."

"When we return to Xenon we will find out more about him"

"Return to Xenon?"

"If everything is good, we can go this summer"

"Yes!"

I go up to my room, grab the book 'The Support Magic' to study and I lie in bed.

A couple hours pass by.

I don't understand, how can I differentiate the Elemental with the Support-? Hm?

I hear several voices on the floor below.

I think guests have already arrived...

"What will you wear for the party?" yesterday, Kuno asked me at the mall.

"Well, my usual clothes"

"Take this"

"Money?"

"Buy something decent"

"But I don't know what-"

"Ask a store worker"

"But-!"

Ahh... Well, I'll put it on...

I grab the shopping bag and lock the door.

*click*

I go downstairs.

I arrive at the living room.

Elin turns while drinking juice.

"Pffffff!" she spits out all the juice he had in her mouth.

*cough* *cough*

"Hahaha! Elin, what's wrong?" a girl asks, laughing at her.

Elin approaches me.

"Alex... *cough* and that *cough* dress?" she asks perplexed.

"K- Kuno told me to- buy something for the party... Do- does it look good on me?"

The top part is braces with a little neckline, while the bottom is a short skirt, barely reaching my knees.

"Extremely well…"

"A- are you okay? You have blood in your nose..."

"Very okay! Oh, guys, she's the one I talked about, Alexandria. It is also her party" presents me before everyone.

Everyone is watching me.

*ba-dum* *ba-dum* *ba-dum* *ba-dum*

*gulp*

"He- hello..." I say timidly.

"She's too cute!" the girls shout.

"She's too sexy!" the guys scream with blood on their nose.

"It's nice to meet you, Alexandria, my name is Aiko" one of the girls says.

"Y- yes..."

"Riyu, introduce yourself" Aiko tells the girl who is sitting next to her.

"I... I'm Riyu..." she replies.

"Hello Alexandria!" Naomi greets me.

"Hi- hi, Naomi"

"We already met at the park, but I'm Frank and he's Rio" he says, both sitting on the floor.

"Yes…"

"And she is Emi, she works with us" points to the woman sitting on the couch.

"Hello! I finally get know you, Kuno talks a lot about you..."

She looks very mature... And her breasts are huge... I should... stop looking at them...

"Anyway, I hope we get along"

"Ye- yes..."

"Come on Alex, sit down" Elin pushes me towards the sofa.

"He- hey!"

I sit down, holding the bottom of my dress.

"You don't have to be so shy, we don't bite" Aiko tells me.

"It- it's not just that... I've never used something like this..."

"You look amazing! Look, the guys don't stop looking at you"

I turn to see them and they don't stop looking at me, trying to be discreet.

"That- that made me more uncomfortable..."

"You must take advantage of the body you have-"

"Aiko, don't teach her those things" Elin interrupts her.

"Fine, sorry hehe..."

"Alex, why did you choose that dress?" Elin asks me.

"A- a worker at the clothing store helped me... She said it looked amazing on me..."

"She was very right" Frank says.

"..."

I'm looking for Kuno all over the place, but I don't see him.

"Whe- where is Kuno?"

"He's in the bathroom" Naomi replies.

"And Dai?"

"In his room, as always" Elin says.

"I see…"

"By the way, Alexandria, Riyu is also very shy, you will get along" Aiko tells me.

Riyu and I look at each other, without saying a word.

"..."

"..."

"They'll get along" Aiko says uncomfortably.

"I'm back, sorry for taking so long" Kuno arrives in the room.

He is wearing a button-down shirt and jeans.

Woah... he looks very good...

Kuno sees me.

"Hmpf!" he is stunned.

"Now that the birthday boy came back, let's start with the beers" Emi says and goes to the fridge for them.

"Beers?" I ask surprised.

"Obviously only for adults... How old are you?" Emi asks me.

"18..."

"Perfect! Here!" she gives me one.

"Eeeh... I don't want to!"

"At least try it. Frank, Rio, take"

"Thanks" Frank thanks her.

"Take one, Kuno... Kuno?" Emi tries to give Kuno a beer, but he's still paralyzed seeing me.

"Earth calling Kuno" moves her hand in front of his face to make him react.

"You have blood in your nose" she says.

"Oh, sorry. Thanks... Wait! Beer!?" Kuno is surprised.

"Sure, it's a party and we're adults-"

"I should have imagined that you would do this. Take, I don't want- Alex!?"

"She- she gave it to me!"

"You're being a bad influence, Emi"

"You're a party pooper..."

"You can drink, but I will not. Alex, it's your decision if you want to do it, you're 18"

"Y- yes..."

Dad once mentioned that it was illegal to drink alcohol before 18, but I'm already 18.

I look at the beer.

I don't want to do it, but... I'm curious... No, I will resist!

A few hours pass. We all talk and some drink beer.

We play some board games, but I lose on all of them.

"Well, what do you say if we play 'Truth or Dare'?" Emi says.

"Good idea!" Aiko responds.

"Sure" Naomi says.

"Let's play a little" Kuno says.

"What is that?" I ask.

"It's a game where one person has to ask the other something personal, but that person has the option to say the truth or to accept a dare" Elin explains.

"I think I understand…"

"It's to get to know each other and have fun. There will only be one rule: we can't ask for details" Emi says.

The game begins.

"I will spin a bottle in the center to decide the first turn. Ready?" Emi says and spins the bottle.

*fuw fuw* *fuw fuw* *fuw*

"Naomi, you go first"

"Yeah. Humm... Kuno, truth or dare?"

"What? Why me! All right... Truth"

"How old were you in your first kiss?"

"I... I haven't kissed anyone..."

"Aww... Now choose who you want" Emi feels sorry for him.

"A-"

Me- me?

"A- Aiko, truth or dare?"

"Oh? I want a dare"

"Seriously? I had not thought of one..."

...

He takes a lot...

"I know. Handstand for ten seconds "

"Eeeeeh? But I can't…"

"You can use the wall"

"Okay"

Aiko approaches the wall and bends down.

"Here I go!"

She pushes herself with her legs, but it isn't enough and she falls to the floor.

"Ouchouch... Could someone help me?"

"I- I can..." Riyu says and approaches Aiko.

"Thank you. Hold my ankles and when I jump you move them towards the wall"

"Y- yes"

She prepares to try again.

"Now!"

Her feet separate from the floor and Riyu pushes them towards the wall.

"Pe-perfect! Now I just have to-! Eh?"

Her blouse starts to slip.

"Noooooo-!" Everything seems to go in slow motion.

"Yeeeeeee-!" Frank and Rio shout.

But before anything that shouldn't be revealed is revealed, Elin arrives and grabs her blouse.

"Ouh..." Frank and Rio are disappointed.

"Tha- thanks Elin. Only five seconds more!"

She succeeds and returns to normal standing.

"Done! I didn't think you were like that, Kuno"

"N- no! I didn't do it for that!"

"Aiko, choose someone" Emi says.

"Yes. Elin, truth or dare?"

"Truth"

"Oh? It seems you have confidence. Well, have you kissed another girl?"

...

"I prefer a dare..."

Eh?

"Really? Tell me who was it!" Aiko is surprised.

"We can't ask for details" Emi says.

"Yes..." Aiko is sad.

"Elin, who do you choose?" Aiko interrupts Emi.

"She hasn't answered!"

"Yes, I have. I choose..."

Several turns pass without choosing me or Riyu.

"That was easy. Now, I choose-" Frank says, but is interrupted.

"Are you playing that stupid game?" Dai comes downstairs.

"Dai! Why don't you play with us? It's fun!" Emi tries to invite him.

"No thanks-"

Emi gets up from the couch and goes with Dai. She holds him by the shoulders.

"Pleaseeeee!"

"Oh? You're really close. Fine, I have nothing better to do..."

She convinced him…

"Cool. Dai, since we don't know each other very much, I choose you. Truth or dare?" Frank says.

"Dare" Dai answers instantly.

"Eh? But-"

"I said dare"

"Fi- fine. I dare you to choose truth"

"That's not allowed" Emi says.

"Well... I challenge you to hit Kuno"

"What? Why me!"

Dai approaches Kuno and punches him in the stomach.

Kuno doesn't even blink.

"Done"

His hand is swollen!

"Dai, you can choose-"

"Alex, truth or dare?" Dai doesn't even think about it.

"Eh? M- me? Well... ehh... truth..."

I don't like dares...

"Do you like someone?"

...

"Eeeh!"

I didn't expect that question... Everyone is watching me...

"I- I... I'm not sure-"

"Yes or no!" Dai is impatient.

"Calm down Dai, don't push her" Emi says.

"Then... I…"

A memory comes to my mind.

"How... how can I know if someone attracts me?"

"Well... you can feel... weird near that person. Your heart beats faster or you feel your body burn. People usually express it as butterflies in their stomachs"

Butterflies...

"I... I think... I'm not sure..."

"Answer yes or no-!"

"Dai, leave her alone" Elin says.

"All right…"

I'm not sure... Maybe what I felt was anxiety, but it's also possible that...

The afternoon passes, we continue playing for a while and then we just talk.

Emi and Frank are already somewhat drunk.

The rain stopped.

"And then I told him~ Why- why not- *hip!* we go to...?" Emi is talking about her love life, but Riyu leaves the house without anyone noticing.

Hm?

I follow her.

She is lying on the lawn.

"Ri- Riyu?"

"Oh! I- I'm sorry, I didn't want to make a fuss!"

"No... only I saw you"

"Oh..."

"Why did you go out?"

"Ehh... well... I don't like being around a lot of people..."

"Really? Me too... And this dress doesn't help..."

"But you look very sexy... I mean, you're very pretty and- and the dress looks good!"

I can't help but blush.

"Tha- thanks... Everyone has told me that... but I'm very uncomfortable... And... what are you doing?"

"I see the stars. It relaxes me a lot"

"Yes... Do you mind if I join?"

"N- no..."

I lie next to her.

...

"I... I've seen them since I was little... It was one of the few things I could do..." I say.

"Seriously? Me too... They're beautiful..." Riyu responds.

"Yes... I could say they saved my life... Partly..."

"Oh?"

"It's a long story…"

...

"Your- your name is Alexandria, right?"

"Yes"

"Elin told us a lot about you... She said you were too shy too"

"Yes... It's something I'm trying to improve..."

"Me too, but it's impossible..."

"So it seems... but I think I have improved. If- if you want we can improve together..."

"I- I'd love to!"

...

Our hands rub against each other by accident.

"I- I'm sorry!" we both apologize.

...

"Why did you follow me?"

"Eh? Well... I don't know…"

"But thanks…"

"..."

*hoooooo~*

"I- I wanted to tell you that I'm also-" Riyu starts to say.

*click*

Elin opens the door.

"We're going to... I'm interrupting something?"

"What? No!" I answer.

"But you're holding hands"

We turn to see our hands, and they are totally tight.

"Ah! I- I'm sorry!" I apologize.

"N- no! I didn't notice!" Riyu apologizes.

Elin smiles.

"We're going to eat the cakes, but first you have to put out the candles"

"I- I'm coming..."

We enter the house and at the table there are two cakes, one for Kuno and one for me.

First I put out the candles, but they push me towards it and my face fills with cake.

Then Kuno puts them out, they all try to push him, but it's impossible.

The party ends and everyone goes home happy.