Teasing Back
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The atmosphere around them changed, the air filled with shared warmth and admiration. With their unique cloud flowers, the girls gazed at Ryomaru, their childish crush on him evident in their radiant smiles.
"Karui," Ryomaru called out, his voice just above a whisper, "Your turn."
She looked up from the cloud rose, her fiery gaze meeting his ice-blue one. "My turn?" she echoed, confusion lining her brows.
Ryomaru simply nodded, a playful glint in his eyes. He reached out, carefully taking back the cloud rose. He held it up, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Time to test your theory," he said, his voice filled with suppressed laughter.
Karui blinked at him, her confusion swiftly replaced by realization. "You don't mean…" she started, her voice trailing off as she watched Ryomaru break off a tiny petal from the cloud rose. He extended the petal towards her, his smile widening. "Here, taste it."
She stared at the wispy petal, her eyes wide in disbelief. Then she looked back at Ryomaru, a hint of nervousness creeping into her gaze. "What if it tastes bad?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
Ryomaru chuckled at her concern, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "Then I guess you were wrong," he retorted, his words teasing.
A moment of silence hung between them, tension building in the air. Then, with a huff of resignation, Karui reached out to take the petal from Ryomaru. She held it up, eyeing it warily, before slowly bringing it towards her lips.
Ryomaru watched her with anticipation, his heart pounding in his chest. He held his breath as she placed the petal on her tongue, her face scrunching up in anticipation of an unpleasant taste.
But the taste never came. Instead, Karui's eyes widened in surprise, her lips curling into a smile. "It…" she started, her voice filled with awe, "it tastes like… like candy floss!"
Ryomaru's eyes widened in surprise, his mouth dropping open slightly. He blinked at her, struggling to process her words. "It… what?"
Karui nodded, a spark of excitement lighting up her eyes. "It tastes like candy floss, Ryo! I was right!"
Ryomaru stared at her in disbelief, his mind racing. "That's… that's impossible," he said, his words slow and deliberate.
Karui simply shrugged, her grin widening. "Taste it yourself," she said, holding out the cloud rose to him. "See?"
Ryomaru hesitated, glancing from the rose to Karui. He could see the eagerness in her gaze, her excitement palpable. With a soft sigh, he reached out to take a petal, bringing it towards his mouth.
As the small piece of cloud made contact with his tongue, Ryomaru anticipated an explosion of sweetness, a burst of sugary delight. Yet, it was as if he'd put a droplet of water in his mouth. The taste was neutral, clean, lacking any trace of the sugary fluff Karui had claimed.
He furrowed his brows, pulling the petal away from his mouth. The sensation was...odd. Not unpleasant, but definitely not candy floss. Ryomaru glanced up, about to refute Karui's claim, when he caught sight of her face.
She was biting her bottom lip, her fiery eyes filled with a twinkling light. It was a look he'd seen before, usually right before one of her mischievous pranks. Recognition dawned on him, followed by a wave of amusement. Karui had played a trick on him, and he had fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.
Ryomaru burst into laughter, the sound echoing off the surrounding trees. "You trickster!" he exclaimed, grinning at Karui. "I should have known you were pulling my leg!"
Karui's fiery gaze met his, her lips curling into a victorious smirk. "You fell for it, Ryo!" she taunted, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I can't believe you actually thought it tasted like candy floss!"
Shiromi and Tatsuki watched the banter, their faces lighting up with amusement. "That was a good one, Karui!" Tatsuki said, grinning broadly.
"You really had us going there for a moment," Shiromi added, her soft giggles floating through the air.
The laughter rang out, filling the mountain with a sense of camaraderie and warmth. Their shared mirth echoed through the trees, the vibrant energy permeating the very air they breathed.
"Alright, alright," Ryomaru finally conceded, wiping a tear from his eye. "You got me, Karui. I'll give you that. But remember, payback's a—"
He was interrupted by a sudden rustling in the underbrush. Their laughter died down, replaced by a tense silence. The four of them stood still, their senses on high alert. Whatever was in the bushes didn't sound like a small creature.
Suddenly, a large figure burst forth from the foliage, sending leaves flying. Four pairs of eyes widened in surprise as they found themselves staring at a monstrous man.
"Aye, look at you!" B's booming voice echoed through the stillness of the forest, his towering figure emerging from the underbrush. His skin gleamed under the sunlight, the tattoos decorating his muscular body making him look even more intimidating. "You little casanova, already collecting hearts like they're badges."
The playful accusation made the three girls blush, their cheeks tinting a pretty shade of pink. Tatsuki huffed, crossing her arms over her chest and trying to hide her embarrassment. Shiromi glanced down, her hands nervously playing with the cloud blossom. And Karui? She shot a feisty glare at B, the fiery girl not one to back down from a challenge.
"Hey! Don't tease him like that," Karui retorted, earning a hearty laugh from B.
Ryomaru just grinned, a sparkle of mischief lighting up his ice-blue eyes. He wasn't fazed by B's sudden appearance or his teasing, having grown used to the latter's playful banter.
"Aw, c'mon Karui," he said, his voice taking on a teasing lilt. "Can't handle a bit of competition?"
That only seemed to make Karui's blush deepen, and she shot him a flustered glare, earning another round of laughter from B. Even Shiromi and Tatsuki couldn't suppress their giggles, the atmosphere lightening considerably.
"Aye, the boy's got guts, I'll give him that," B chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. But then, his expression softened, his gaze turning serious as he looked at Ryomaru. "Your momma's worried sick, little Ryo. You've been out here all day."
Ryomaru's grin faded, replaced by a look of concern. Miori, his mother, was the cornerstone of his life, her love and guidance having shaped him into the young boy he was. The last thing he wanted was to worry her.
"I... I didn't mean to make her worry," he admitted, his gaze dropping to the ground. "I just lost track of time."
B's response was a soft laugh. He placed a hand on Ryomaru's head, ruffling his black hair affectionately. "Aye, I know, kiddo," he reassured. "Just remember, she cares about you, a lot. Next time, try to head back before the sun sets, okay?"
Ryomaru nodded, his eyes meeting B's. There was a determination burning in his gaze, a promise to do better. "I will," he pledged. "I don't want to worry mom anymore."
"Good lad," B praised, his hand falling away from Ryomaru's head. He looked at Karui, Shiromi, and Tatsuki, who had been silently observing their exchange. "Time to head back, little ladies. Your folks must be worried, too."
The three girls nodded, their faces lighting up with a mix of relief and anticipation. They seemed eager to head home, yet there was a hint of reluctance in their expressions, as if they didn't want to part ways just yet.
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