Kiriyama Fuu
A quarter of an hour later, I was to be found leading the Electrumites on a tour of the camp facilities, which was quickly followed by a quick jaunt across to the living quarters. Although the Electrumites did have the decency to look suitably embarrassed by their foul-up, I was in no mood to be appeased by a couple of shifty glances and sheepish laughs; after all, I was the one who ended up on cleaning duty.
It would have been an understatement to say that I was in a bad mood. In fact, I was so pissed off at having to clean up the ungodly ... mess in the reception that I was having trouble keeping my emotions in check. I ended up having a half-assed plastic smile plastered on my face throughout the tour; which only relaxed by degrees as we neared the end of our little tour of the complex.
As we made our winding path through the complex, I was a bit stiff; indeed, I led the Electrumites through the place rather mechanically, with none of my usual infectious enthusiasm; I engaged in only the most perfunctory of gestures and explanations as I padded ahead of them. Suffice to say that I was in no mood for amiable banter after that ... fiasco of an arrival. I maintained the most frigid of dispositions as I forged ahead remorselessly, thoroughly ignoring any attempt on the Electrumites' part to make conversation or raise points of interest with me.
As a result, we finished the tour in record time - and after I grudgingly relented and allowed the Electrumite party a brief ten-minute break, we all trooped back to the living quarters. Despite the mist of rain that lingered in the air, I did not make use of an umbrella; and evidently the Electrumites were too abashed to ask their hostess for one, as they fell into crocodile fashion behind me without a single word of complaint.
We completed the entire ten-minute trek in relative silence; save for some muffled snatches of conversation amongst themselves, the Electrumites did not attempt to engage me in conversation. Soon enough, we arrived at the living quarters; and I quickly led my guests to the third floor of the building, which - by Kaede's orders - had been reserved for the Electrumites and the Jeckish guests we would be receiving shortly. Craning my neck over the rest of the Electrumites for a sight of Kaede and her Jeckish troops, I was sorely disappointed; and was instead greeted by the cheerful sight of that rascal Mitch Watkins making a spirited dash for the nearest bathroom after a hurried consultation with the official in charge, who I assumed was Shigaraki.
Sighing, I turned and finally got my first good look at the Electrumites. A perfunctory sweep had already told me that there were four of them - not counting the rascal moaning in the bathroom right about now. I could tell that Shigaraki, still visibly disturbed by the less-than-positive first impression her charges had made upon me, was gathering her resolve - for what, I did not know, and did not wish to know. However, just as I was about to address them, Shigaraki got herself together and spoke up.
"Hello, nice to meet you, they're your problem now... there's five of us."
A quick glance in the general direction of Mitch Watkins caused her to pause for a brief moment.
"Oh I'm sorry, four of us... another one in the toilet."
I heaved another weary sigh - I could understand why Kaede made a habit out of sighing now. Dealing with these foreigners was a pain in the neck; and I was beginning to regret ever thinking up my hare-brained scheme of inviting the Jeckish and the Electrumites to our happy little camp.
"Yes, I believe this is the first time we've met, Shigaraki-san ... or should I call you Risa? Yes, let's go with Risa. And before you say another word on the subject, I'm already well aware that Watkins suffers from - how do you put it - problems, of a gastrointestinal persuasion."
I shrugged.
"Well, we can deal with the rascal later. I'll make sure to work his socks off for leaving that god damn mess in the reception ... for now, I guess you need to deposit your belongings somewhere ..." - I took a quick look at my phone, checking the itinerary Kaede had laid out for me - " ... before you join us for a lunch break in the communal dining room. I'm sure you're all famished; especially the rascal who deposited half his breakfast in the reception ... "
Even as I finished my little rant, I spotted the three other members of the Electrumite party troop in and shuffle around behind Shigaraki.
"Oh, you three, I guess you need to be led to your rooms."
I cleared my throat and called for Miyashiro, who, with her usual efficiency, popped her head around the corner in a matter of seconds and led the Electrumite players away to their rooms.
A period of brief silence followed their departure. I was just about to break the silence by guiding Shigaraki to her lodgings in the staff quarters when she broke in ahead of me yet again -
"Who is she?"
"Oh, Miyashiro? She's the captain of the team - by which I mean the Mizuyuki U21s. Been with us for the last four years now ... that's her right there." Rummaging in my pockets for a picture, I retrieved a crumpled photograph of a nine-year-old Miyashiro and showed it to my Electrumite counterpart.
"That's her right there."
"Ah. But look! How young are these kids next to her?"
I took my time thinking before responding.
"Huh ... I can't say for sure, but this photograph was taken some five years ago, when Miyashiro first joined us. If I had to guess, though, I'd say thirteen... or maybe fourteen. Most of our kids are around that age, why?"
Shigaraki was apparently struck dumb by my statement, although I couldn't think why she would be. It was perfectly normal for us to do the rounds, as they said - send our scouts all around Mizuyuki and invite the most promising talents to our camp, where they could be assured of a top-notch footballing education. I couldn't be sure, but I heard from Kaede that there was an ambitious project put in place by the MFA in conjunction with the government; they were going to set up a cluster school focused on athletics and sports in the general vicinity of Kinokomura soon, so that aspiring athletes would have a chance to train under the instruction of Mizuyuki's top coaches while enjoying specialised education of their choice.
I returned my attentions to Shigaraki, who had remained silent during my pontifications.
"As a general rule of thumb, we only take those below the age of fifteen - any player who doesn't meet the age requirement generally gets packed off to Shirakiin's people in Kirayuki. Oh, I suppose I should mention that Shirakiin's the manager of the senior Mizuyukian team. She'll be joining us later in the day, I believe."
I flashed her a winning smile.
"Now, why don't you follow me to the training complex? I think there's time for a quick kickabout before Kaede gets back with the Jeckish chaps. You can leave your luggage and stuff right here: I'll get someone to deliver it to your room later."
Without bothering to wait for a reply, I swept out of the room.
Fun? Fun.
