The Emerald Soulmate

09. Make up

Zou and Kyo arrive early at Ten's house. They agreed to wait for the others there before heading to the training ground. Three years ago, the village built an exercise dojo at the suggestion of Midorizawa Ken, Ten's father. Because all the citizens agreed, they agreed to raise funds to build a training dojo.

His initial goal was to train young people to learn karate and martial arts. But since there was still room left, it was used for additional exercises, such as playing wooden swords and archery.

"Where's Hiro and Kai? The dojo is almost open and we have to go there as soon as possible, or the archery in the dojo will be full" Kyo said anxiously.

"Kyo, relax. I'm sure they'll come" Zou replied. But he was actually no less worried about Kyo.

"Rather than us waiting here without certainty, how about we catch up to Kai and Hiro's house? After that we immediately leave," proposes Ten.

Kyo and Zou nodded together. "Come on."

They walk through the path to Hiro's house first, as Ten's house is closer to Hiro's than Kai's.

"Excuse me, Hiro. Hiroo," call Kyo as soon as he arrives at Hiro's yard.

"Is Hiro around?" zou shouted as he put his hands on both sides of his mouth, forming a shouting gesture.

Hiro came out of the house. "Oh, you guys," Hiro said.

"Hiro, let's quickly head to the dojo for archery. If it's a little late, then the full dojo will know the taste," said Kyo once Hiro's nose is visible.

"Yes, we haven't come to Kai either. We have to hurry now" said Ten.

Hiro was confused to respond one by one to the words of his friends. He rubbed his back. "Uhm, guys. Aren't you guys mad at me for yesterday's trouble? I made that mess" said Hiro Lirih.

Zou shook his head. "This is not the time to talk about it. We don't have much time left, let's go now," immediately Zou pulled Hiro's wrist and ran. Kyo and Ten followed behind.

Zou runs towards Kai's house. Hiro who was still being pulled by Zou understood where they were going. "Wait a minute, are we going to Kai's house? Why?" hiro asked confused, apparently from earlier he had not focused and did not realize that his friend was lacking one.

"Of course, approaching him, he hasn't gathered with us yet" Zou replied as he glanced slightly back.

Suddenly Hiro stopped his running. Zou who was still holding Hiro reflex's hand stopped. Kyo and Ten were the same, they stopped too.

"What's wrong?" ask Ten. "Why stop?"

"I didn't dare meet Kai, I felt so guilty about him. Although we always fought, but last night when we pondered, I realized, I was really outrageous to him. Perhaps my mistake was unforgivable, hence I deserve to be scolded by Kai yesterday," Hiro said in a bowed manner.

Zou, Ten and Kyo sighed. The three of them had already put an end to the matter yesterday, hoping for the five to make up soon, but it didn't seem that easy.

"I told you, it's not a good time to talk about this. Just save it for later after we've finished archery, we're being chased for time now," again Zou pulled Hiro's wrist without approval.

Kyo and Ten followed behind. Ten slightly accelerated his pace to match the position next to Hiro.

"Hiro, listen to me," still while running, Hiro turned to the side where Ten was talking. "Just yesterday, don't feel too guilty. It's all our fault together, don't be burdened. You have to focus on archery in a moment, it's not good to think about the problem" Ten continued.

Kyo chimed in from behind, "Yes. Eliminate the thought of the matter for a while, only then can we talk about it."

Hiro nodded. And they've reached Kai's fence. Incidentally, Mother Kai was watering plants in the yard, so they did not have to bother shouting for Kai like they did at Hiro's house earlier.

"Excuse me, Aunt Han. We're looking for Kai, is Kai there?" ask Zou politely.

Because the five of them had been together so much, Mother Kai was no longer a stranger to the faces of her four son's friends.

"Who? Kai's been gone since then, haven't you met yet?" Aunt Han stopped her watering activity.

Aunt Han seemed to be thinking, "So she seemed to be saying goodbye to going archery, did she forget her promise to you guys and go to the dojo first?"

"It seems so," said Kyo.

"Then we'll leave first, Aunt Han. Sorry for interrupting your time," Zou lowered his head for a bit and followed the others.

Han, Kai's mother just smiled. "It's okay, be careful on the street," he waved his hand.

Without further ado, they immediately darted to their destination, the dojo. Most likely Kai had already gotten there first.

Actually they agreed to gather at Ten's house because Ten's house was the closest to the dojo. But as they approach Hiro and Kai's house, they move further away from the dojo. As a result, they traveled twice as far and wasted time.

And sure enough, when they got in front of the dojo. They were prevented from getting inside by a Sensei² on duty. That means, in the dojo is full of people who practice.

"Well, what I said, we're late" said Zou who was still bored. The others nodded, with conditions not much different from Zou's.

"Then we have to how is this? Is Kai inside?" ask Kyo. Ten tried to think of a solution, before a sound managed to make the four of them startled.

"You're late," the four of them immediately turned to the origin of the sound source that was behind them, and found Kai with a flat look.

"Don't you know I've been waiting here a long time?" Kai folded his hands to his chest. "Do you intend to do the same as yesterday?" ask Kai cynically.

"Kai enough," cried Zou. "Don't keep getting emotional."

Kyo walked up to Kai, "Yesterday's incident was our fault. I know you deserve to be angry and take it out on us. But please don't overdo it, it makes the atmosphere even more complicated."

"So it's my fault?" the high tone of Kai managed to make some attention of people glancing towards them standing up.

Ten hinted for them to go pick a quieter place. Zou understood, he immediately dragged Hiro's hand again. And Kyo did the same thing to Kai.

Kai threw Kyo's handrails off his arm as soon as Ten stopped walking.

"Well, today we can't shoot because the dojo is full. Then, we have to solve all these problems" said Ten firmly.

"So? What are you saying?" kai asked as he spread his gaze around, unwilling to look at the faces of his friends.

Hiro advancing. "It's purely my fault. If only I hadn't followed my ego and thought more about your feelings. Maybe none of this will happen, so I apologize profusely" Hiro said, bowing his body 90 degrees.

"Especially Kai. You can hit me all you want if you're angry you can't vent your frustration yet" Hiro continued.

Kai wore a cynical smile, "Heh, you realize your mistake was that big, huh?"

"It's my and Kyo's fault, too, if we hadn't played for long yesterday, maybe Hiro wouldn't have made that retaliatory plan, you could have hit us, Kai," zou said as he lowered his head and stood next to Hiro. Kyo followed what Zou did.

"It's my fault, too, if I hadn't suggested him enjoying the game, maybe Hiro wouldn't have taken the time. And it's my fault that even though I know Hiro's plan but I still follow it," Ten lowered his head as well. He stood beside Kyo. "Hit me too, Kai."

Hiro turned his head towards the three friends who were coming down with him. In his heart he was moved, even though his friends were involved in the cause of the action, they knew enough to join in admitting their mistakes.

Kai snorted, he walked over to his four friends who were still down. "Of course, forget. I'm not as angry as yesterday anymore. Looking at you guys that I'm willing to hit for your mistakes, it's enough to prove that you're really sorry for your mistakes, '" Kai took a breath. "You guys, I'm sorry."

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²Sensei \= Master