12 Upcoming

"Hey, wake up..." The voice was still somewhat friendly and warm.

"I said, get up already!" Now it was an angry tone, and the volume was definitely higher than before.

Jin slowly opened his eyes and then sat up. He was still extraordinarily exasperated and yawned hugely in response to her still nagging voice. When he finished, he put his gaze at the person that was now glaring at him.

"Morning, Matsuri.", said Jin slowly and was still fighting his drowsiness.

"Yeah, right. Get up already." Then she walked over to her brother. "And you as well! WAKE UP!!" Matsuri still was somewhat annoyed by Jin´s slow waking. And now Fujimaru was still not budging even an inch under his blanket.

So she performed a slightly strong and simple kick to Fujimaru´s butt.

"Calm down. We are already awake, aren't we?"

"That is what you say, but if I don't keep my eyes on you, then you will probably go back to sleep in no time. And Fujimaru is still not moving."

Just when she said that Fujimaru started to move and showed his face underneath the blanket.

"But, sis. Lady Konoka told us it is alright to sleep until one is completely rested.", groaned Fujimaru and tried to complain.

"Stop bringing up excuses. Just because Lady Konoka said that out of her kindness, it doesn't mean you should become a sloth. And you as well, Jin. How did you end up getting the same trait as my brother? You used to wake up so early in the morning. And mostly even sooner than anyone else in this house. Why is it that I have to drag you both out of bed now?", complained Matsuri.

"Well, I just got used to sleeping longer. And just like your brother said. It's not anything to worry about, right?", he said while rubbing his eyes softly with his palms and stretching.

"That is what you think! But you know as well as me that today is our entrance day into the academy. How can you even still be like this? From today onward we will have to wake up according to schedule."

"We are going to be at dormitories at that point. Stop worrying. What time is it anyway?", asked Jin.

"Late enough that even Lady Konoka said that you need to get up...", she answered.

"Oh, crap." Fujimaru instantly stood up and went over to the closet with his clothing.

"Fine, then get out of the room. We are going to change. Or are you trying to peek on us?", smiled Jin now.

Matsuri became red. "As if!" She denied it and stomped out of the room.

"Do you need to tease her like that?", asked Fujimaru now while bringing Jin his clothing and uniform.

"Thanks." He took them and started changing into the academy clothing, which was basically a Shihakusho with a white top and grayish blue bottom. The woman had a read bottom to differentiate gender.

"Well, it is fun to do. So why not. Besides, Matsuri started to get more open with me. And for you, it may be normal because you are already her brother. But she does forget that we are boys, after all."

Fujimaru chuckled a little. "True enough. Alright, I am done."

Jin nodded after being finished as well. "Then let's go."

Both of them walked into the dining room and saw that Seigen, Konoka, and Matsuri were already sitting there.

"Finally, up? Good, then let's eat, shall we?", said Seigen to the two and indicated them to sit and eat.

"The time finally came for you to enter the academy. But by the looks of it, you two are very relaxed. Unlike Matsuri, that is."

"Is there a reason for us to be excited? It is still six years until we become full-fledged Shinigami after all.", asked Jin him back.

"It's still a unique occasion, no? And once again. Please behave while you attend the academy."

"Seigen, I don't think they will cause so much trouble.", reassured Konoka him with a smile and started to chuckle at the two. "Just make sure to wake up in time."

"Matsuri will probably haunt us if we ever miss classes anyway. We will do our best.", smiled Jin back and then looked at Matsuri.

"No, I won't play your babysitter. It is up to you then.", she rejected that notion. He was asking her to failsafe them if they ever overslept.

"Well, then let's hope Fujimaru can keep up. After all, I am not the worst with waking up at dawn."

"Hey, I can manage just fine. And who knows, maybe we will end up as roommates."

"...."

"That would spell catastrophe.", mentioned Matsuri. Those were precisely the words Jin was thinking.

"I am slightly worried about that as well. I should probably use my authority to interject there.", said Seigen now. Also, if you are having problems of any kind, tell them when you come and visit."

Then Seigen´s face became solemn. "You will come by from time to time, right?"

Jin started to laugh wryly, "Of course we will. What do you think of us? We are not that ungrateful."

"Never going to miss a chance to eat some of Lady Konoka´s cooking!", answered Fujimaru in a prideful manner.

Matsuri frowned and grabbed her brother´s ear and twisted it. "Is that what you are mainly thinking about? Maybe I should take care of that?"

Both Fujimaru and Jin became pale. "Please don't! Don't take that little bit of pleasure as well.", said Fujimaru in slight horror.

"What do you mean with that, huh?" Now Matsuri was angry. She did have her pride in that matter herself.

Jin only looked at Konoka and shook his head. She noticed that and chuckled.

"It´s alright, Matsuri. I will make sure to make something when you visit. Being together with the family is always something to enjoy, no? Even Seigen thinks the same. He is just not saying it.", replied Konoka.

At those words, the face of Seigen became a little bit red in embarrassment. "Well, I can make some visits to the academy, but you are mostly on your own. So I am just making sure you don't forget to come back and visit."

Jin just smiled. "Don't worry about that. We are family, after all." His smile became a grin.

"Right, we will always see this as our home." chimed Fujimaru into the conversation.

Matsuri also nodded. "We may leave for now, but as soon as we are finished we can be together again, right?"

"Hmm, and here I thought you would be leaving as soon as you could. It is good to hear you consider us like that. It only has been a few months now that you have joined, but I believe it was the right thing now.", mentioned Seigen and also thought about the time they met. Since then, time sure flew by, and they started to get to know each other better.

But now those three had to leave most of the time and would train to become Shinigami. Even he as a Captain has not that much of time to visit them in the academy.

"By the way, Lady Konoka. Is it really necessary that we wear these?" Jin pointed at an earring in the shape of a black and white cross that was dangling from his left earlobe. Matsuri also had a red hairband with a white flower at the top of her head. Fujimaru was also no exception and wore a sort of red ribbon in his hair that cascaded down and lay atop his left shoulder.

"Yes..." answered Konoka with a smile that was about all that Jin would receive.

"...Alright."

With that morning routine done the trio went ahead and left the estate and came to the academy grounds. They could see how a lot of other Shinigami to be were walking to the same spot.