[center]WHEN THE SUN SETS WE GO HOME TOGETHER EPISODE HOTARU - CHAPTER 0 [img]https://i.imgur.com/M5DuOtF.png[/img][/center][center] [sup][h1] [color=black]CRIES FROM THE MOON VALLEY [/color] [color=white]CRIES FROM THE MOON VALLEY[/color] [/h1][/sup] [/center] It was too much of an awkward dinner to be graced by the beautiful backdrop of Konoha’s night time cityscape. The twinkling view wasted on the Morino family, just like the 3 Michelin starred meal they were having. Even the steak’s, still sizzling deliciously on their plates, appeared disappointed at the current turn of events. Of course, this was all from the perspective of the Morino parents, who had hard expressions on their faces as they went through the motions of eating. This dinner was supposed to be in celebration of their oldest daughter’s graduation and, now, it was tainted by the embarrassment she had suffered them through. On the other hand, the children had none of their parents’ fretting expressions. Souichirou, the youngest, was secretly gloating at how his older sister, the shining beacon of their family, had finally been caught; relief poured from within him at the thought their parents might finally cut him a break. Sayuri, however, didn’t really look that worried. She had been skipping school for years now and she’d never really tried to hide it or anything; she didn’t have a clue what all the fuss was about anyway. [color=DCDCDC]“Sayuri,”[/color] her mother spoke tentatively, voice soft as she looked upon her oldest child. [color=DCDCDC]“Your father and I have been discussing what happened during your graduation and we…”[/color] [color=DCDCDC]“Frankly, we’re worried,”[/color] the father finished for her. He had none of the softness, however, only sternness. [color=DCDCDC]“Your actions show nothing but disregard about your education and, in the world we currently live in, without one you’re as good as worthless.”[/color] Sayuri just stared ahead, not really sure where this was headed but not wanting to interrupt. The fact that they were having this talk in public raised some alarm bells inside her, since her parents were always so careful about the family’s social standing, but she couldn’t really see them do much more than give her a small slap on the wrist. Her father cleared his throat. [color=DCDCDC]“As you’ve expressed no interest in proceeding with your studies...”[/color] [color=DCDCDC]“Which we would have fully supported, if that was your decision,”[/color] her mother interjected suddenly, reaching out to hold Sayuri’s hand. They were right in that regard. Sayuri had no interest in seeking superior education. She fully intended to live inside her greenhouse, doing nothing but watering her plants, feeding the cats and drinking tea. No future sounded more prestigious than that. [color=DCDCDC]“Your mother and I have taken arranging you a comfortable future into our hands,”[/color] her father explained, pausing to take a small sip of his red wine. [color=DCDCDC]“This will also be helping our family so I trust you will have no complaints.”[/color] The bells inside Sayuri were singing a storm by the time he was done talking, and she stood a lot more serious now. She threw her little brother a side glance but, for all that Souichirou was dancing the hula at her sudden defeat, he gave her a small clueless shake of his head. He had no idea what their parents were going on about either. Her mother squeezed her hand. [color=DCDCDC]“We’ve decided to unite our family with the Suzuhara branch,”[/color] her mother announced excitedly, raising her voice just the slightest bit so the surrounding tables could hear. [color=DCDCDC]“You’re to be engaged with their only son, Junjo!”[/color] [i]…goddamnit.[/i] Sayuri raised her glass of water to her lips, giving herself some time to react. Her mother was obviously giddy, if her sparkling eyes were anything to go by, and her father was looking as satisfied as the cat that got the canary. Souichirou was pretty shocked, still a bit too young to understand what marriage really means. Sayuri knows, however. [color=00FA9A]“Ah, how…joyous,”[/color] Sayuri commented, with a small smile. [color=00FA9A]“It is wonderful to not have to worry about my future any longer, as you have kindly taken it out of my own hands. It’ll be an incredible adventure to marry a man I’ve never met, bear his children and do his bidding for the rest of my life.”[/color] She squeezed her mother’s hand. [color=00FA9A]“You’re very thoughtful to worry about this daughter who’s done nothing but fail you.”[/color] Well, she wasn’t running off crying or flipping the table in anger so the Morino parents breathed a sigh of relief. But an idea sparked inside Sayuri’s mind and her smile widened into a grin. [color=00FA9A]“However-”[/color] [center][sup][h1][sup][color=black] [b]▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅[/b][/color] [/sup] [sup][color=181818][b]▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅[/b][/color] [/sup][/h1][/sup][/center] The bells of Midsummer’s front door jingled as Hotaru walked inside the cozy bar. His eyebrows were furrowed and his lips were set in a bitter frown as he pushed his hair back and dropped down to his usual spot at the far corner, next to Chisato, who had his chin popped his left hand and the expression of someone who didn’t want to hear bullshit but was already expecting it anyway. [color=FF4500]“What. Did you drop by the salon for a manicure on your way here or something? Took you long enough.”[/color] Hotaru blew out a sight but checked his fingernails. [color=FF00FF]“No, but heaven knows I could use one right now,”[/color] he wiggled his fingers in Chisato’s face. The blond rolled his eyes but didn’t mock him any further, waiting instead for an answer. Though it seemed Hotaru was going to take some time to give him one. [color=FF00FF]“Mimi, get me the usual!”[/color] Hotaru shouted, loosening his tie so he could undo a couple of buttons of his shirt. [color=FF8C00]“Sure thing, hun!”[/color] The blond shouted, already pulling up a glass from the cupboard behind the counter. The sound of the news on the television served to fill the silence as Hotaru took a few minutes to lay his head back against the wall, chair hanging on its back legs, as he closed his eyes. It was only after he had his own drink and Chisato got yet another refill of his coffee that he finally deigned to open his mouth about the current team status. [color=FF00FF]“We have a new team member.”[/color] [color=FF4500]“What?”[/color] Chisato choked on his coffee. [color=FF4500]“I think I asked for a goddamn B-ranked mission? Not some new kid to get in our way?”[/color] Hotaru rubbed his hands against his face, as if that could rub off how tired he felt after dealing with Shuemura’s bullshit for more than a couple of hours. [color=FF00FF]“Listen, you wanted to climb rank, we’re climbing rank,”[/color] he told Chisato, not sounding any happier about the whole idea. [color=FF00FF]“Shuemura’s arranged for the new team mate to meet us soon. We’re to go on a mission to acclimate and then they’ll give us access to the cooler stuff.”[/color] [color=FF00FF]“It can’t be that bad,”[/color] he sighed, trying to appease his temperamental friend. Hotaru knew Chisato wouldn’t take it well; it had been just the two of them for a long time and the blond wasn’t the sociable sort. However, whatever new dude that got assigned to their team, it couldn’t be so bad that- The door bells jingled again and in came a blue haired poised young lady, long skirt, cashmere jacket and a brown thin envelope held loosely against her chest. [color=FF00FF]“Shit,”[/color] Hotaru whispered, suddenly hearing boss music as he realized who had just walked inside. [color=FF4500]“What?”[/color] Chisato immediately looked around, trying to spot whatever pulled Hotaru’s attention off their conversation. [color=FF4500]“Oh..ha...hahaha...hahahaha!”[/color] He laughed as the girl approached them and grinned cruelly at her. [color=FF4500]“Sorry sweetheart, you missed the convent by a couple of blocks. I can point you in the right direction if you want.”[/color] Hotaru dragged his hands across his face again, a gesture he was sure he’d be repeating a lot these next couple of weeks; the girl, however, looked utterly unbothered and dropped the file onto the table as she took a seat. [color=00FA9A]“Well, Mr. Uchiha, Mr. Hyuuga,”[/color] she greeted them. [color=00FA9A]“It’s not that I was expecting to be placed in any of Konoha’s best teams, but I certainly didn’t consider it would be one as…[i]famous[/i] as yours.”[/color] [color=FF4500]“Oi!”[/color] Chisato’s temper flared up at the tone of her voice. Hotaru had to place a hand on his shoulder to keep him from getting up and throwing the goddamn table at the girl’s face; even though he wasn’t all that averse to it either. She hadn’t even introduced herself and already she’d insulted their team. [color=00FA9A]“You’ll find the details of our next mission enclosed in that envelope,”[/color] she motioned at the object and then rested her chin against her hand, elbow propped on the table. She looked utterly bored. [color=FF4500]“Who the hell are you anyway?”[/color] Chisato demanded but it was Hotaru who answered him instead. [color=FF00FF]“Morino Sayuri, our new team mate,”[/color] he sighed. This was going to be a [i]long[/i] one.