Play Date

{AN: I returned from my holidays, so I will try to return to my usual routine of 3 or 4 chapters a week, here's the first one.

This chapter and the next one are difficult ones as it's complicated to do slice of life chapters between the actions and profound interactions.

If you have any idea to how to continue, I would be glad as while I thought about the important points, these ones between them no.}

"A Delusion?" Allen's said surprised.

"I thought that you were already aware of it."

"I knew that every Harbinger has one, but I thought that yours would be hidden and that" Allen signaled the gemstone "it was a Vision."

"Delusions are kind of different entities, so it's difficult to know about them. While some are clearly different, mine can easily be confused as a Vision." Tomoki explained.

"You explained to me about the Visions but how do the Delusions work?" Allen asked curiously.

"They work completely differently. If Visions are the gifts of gods, Delusions are blasphemy to them. To take the most of their power, you must let yourself be engulfed in it, but you can be swallowed in the process" Tomoki stopped as he looked at Allen's expectant face "Anyway they are not something that you should focus on, Delusions are curses engraved in one soul and you better avoid them. Every power comes with a price and you may not be able to afford it."

"But, you are already aware of my circumstances. I'll need to become a Harbinger if I want to stay with Ellen. Wouldn't that mean that I'll be using a Delusion if I accomplish it?" Allen asked "If that's the case, wouldn't knowing about them be beneficial."

"Allen" Tomoki sighed and declared "I'm not training you to become a Harbinger."

"But-!"

"I'm training you for two motives, the first is my own interest, for a dream of mine, and the second is for you to become strong enough to follow your own path."

"So you think that I shouldn't become a Harbinger?" Allen said seriously.

"I will teach you and yours would be the decision of your path ahead." Tomoki explained "I won't stop you, but I don't want you to blindly follow one path. For now, train, learn and live."

"Okay..." Allen nodded thoughtfully.

...

In the afternoon after the training, Allen found himself in front of the Kamisato State, being guided by Tomoki.

"Hey, Tomoki" From inside the main house, two young men surged. One of them was Thoma while the other one was a handsome pale blue-haired young man with light purple eyes with a mole under his mouth.

He moved himself with elegance and dignity, but couldn't hide from his eyes his fatigue and sadness as the world was pressing against him.

"So you are Tomoki's adopted brother?" The blue-haired young man said analyzing from the bottom to top Allen "I am Kamisato Ayato. It's a pleasure."

"I am A-Niwa Allen. It's a pleasure" Allen was about to bow his head, knowing that the other as the future head of the leading clan had a higher standing, but was stopped by Ayato.

"There's no need for that. As Tomoki's family you are a friend, so there's no need for formalities" Ayato smiled.

"Since we are gathered, why don't have something to drink while the children are in their play date?" Thoma suggested.

"Play date?" Allen turned to Tomoki with an inquisitory look "That's your way of teaching 'life'?" he whispered to Tomoki.

"You need to spend more time with people of your age and Ayaka is a bright little girl with similar standing and lives nearby. I'm sure that you would become good friends." Tomoki whispered to Allen and before Allen was able to answer, he stepped forward taking Thoma and Ayato by the shoulders.

"Let's go to eat something!" Tomoki pushed them inside the manor, leaving a grumbling Allen.

"This way young master Niwa" A servant stepped forward, politely guiding Allen towards a part of the garden.

...

Inside a room over the manor, Tomoki, Thoma and Ayato stood around a table full of food and drinks.

"Did you really think that he would be able to cheer Ayaka?" Ayato said worriedly and sadly "She is passing a bad time while I am unable to do anything for her."

"You shouldn't push and blame yourself, young master" Thoma tried to cheer him "You are working very hard for the clan and the little miss."

"Yes, looking at you. I think the one that needs to cheer up the most is you" Tomoki said "And about Allen, who knows? I look forward to the result" He said smiling.

"You are worrying me" Ayato said "Ayaka never had any friend, always too protected from the outside. I'm afraid she won't be able to open herself to make one with other children."

"If it's about that, you shouldn't worry about Allen" Tomoki said shaking his hand "He is nothing like other children."

"In what meaning?" Ayato asked warily.

"In the way that he acts as an old man with a mind of a cunning merchant"

"What are you thinking in presenting him to Ayaka?!" Ayato stood up offended and angrily "Ayaka had already had her experiences with people only interested in her for the clan, I can possibly let someone like that approach her!"

Ayato walked to the door, decided to stop the meeting of the children.

"Calm down" Before Ayato was able to reach the door, Tomoki had already moved, completely blocking his path "While it's true that Allen is a little too grown up, he is not a bad boy and I can assure that now, he doesn't have any bad intention with your sister."

"How can you be so sure?!"

"To tell you the truth, it's me who had forced the meeting, Allen preferring to train or simply be alone" Tomoki said sadly "Allen had a rough life that had forced that character in him to survive and continue forward. I want him to forget about it and open himself, living a good life."

"So you are using my little sister for that?" Ayato said angrily.

"Saying it like that, makes me look like a monster" Tomoki said offended "I only think that it would be good for the both of them, both needing friends."

Ayato stopped thoughtfully. He knew about the pressure that the surroundings could cause over one, needing to throw away even your own childhood and grow earlier. He could empathize with Allen, but he didn't want Ayaka to also pass through it, wanting her to be happy.

'But I am unable to cheer Ayaka, if he is able...' "Okay, you win Tomoki" Ayato calmed and sat again, Tomoki following him, sitting. "But if I see something wrong, I will punish him, no matter if he is your family."

"Of course" Tomoki smiled, but for an instant that wasn't caught by the others, he avoided their gaze 'Please, Allen. Don't do anything strange.'

...

Allen finally was guided inside a room. Inside it, Ayaka was already waiting for him "It is a pleasure to meet you. Sorry for not presenting myself the last time. I am Kamisato Ayaka" She said bowing a little.

The polite salute surprised Allen a little, making him not immediately answer, creating an awkward silence. Allen could accept the grown-ups being like that, but in such young children that he had even seen crying it somewhat seemed wrong. Moreover, he could see some flaws in it.

"Oh, sorry. I also didn't tell my name the other. I am Niwa Allen now as the other day I wasn't part of the Niwa family."

"Eh?" Ayaka blinked confused not expecting that answer.

"I have been adopted just the other day, so if I am not very familiar with the Inazuman customs. So sorry beforehand." Allen said with a smile.

Ayaka was aware of Allen's identity and adoption, her big brother already informing her. However, what shocked her was how easily Allen talked about it, not minding it at all when it should be an awkward matter difficult to talk about.

"So, what have you planned to do?" Allen asked, seeing the table full of utensils.

"As you are new to this land, I prepared a tea ceremony." Ayaka answered "It is the way that the Kamisato Clan greet new guests." Ayaka signaled a coffin on the floor "Please, take a seat."

After sitting, Ayaka started the ceremony, sitting in seiza while preparing the ingredients and utensils, focusing on them.

Looking at her, Allen wondered how many hours she had spent learning it. Her movements were refined but a little too rigid showing some flaws here and there and her tension for making it perfect.

"Sorry, but can I ask one thing?" "Eh!?" Ayaka jumped surprised, too focused on the tea "Yes! Yes, of course." Ayaka answered leaving the Chawan with the tea powder on the table.

"Do you like to do a tea ceremony?" Allen asked.

"The tea ceremony is a very important custom with a great history in Inazuma. I am proud of doing it as part of the Kamisato Clan." Ayaka answered seriously.

"I'm not asking if you are proud, do you enjoy it?" Allen asked again "Do you like preparing it, sitting like that and doing all this long ceremony?"

Ayaka blinked again, surprised by the question. She had been taught all her life that customs and etiquette were extremely important, but nobody have asked if she liked them. Thinking profoundly about it, Ayaka answered.

"No, I am not really fond of it" Ayaka said "It is slow and tiring and my feet hurt at the end of it. Also, I do not really like tea, is too bitter."

"So what are you doing it? This is a play date, shouldn't we be playing or at least something enjoyable?"

Ayaka blinked again, not able to negate it.

"What do you usually do to spend the time?" Allen asked.

"I learn etiquette, calligraphy, painting, train with the sword, reading..."

"You can stop" Allen interjected, knowing where she was going. Essentially, she only studied, focusing on it most of her time. "Let's try to do something funny."

"What can we do?" Ayaka asked curiously.

"I don't know, but for now..." Allen took Ayaka by the hand, dragging her to stand up "Let's have a walk!"