⇲ 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐎𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐒𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐄    〉 𝐉𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐍 !
XXXX.      ✿      CIRCA JUNE 2012.
𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐎𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐎𝐅 $
BONE THUGS N HARMONY.
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The dust settled slowly around them, fragments of silence filling the dojo as Odette caught her breath, her pulse steadying after the chaotic rush of energy.

She was still in Ken's arms, the warmth of his steady grip grounding her. As her giggles quieted, she glanced up, meeting his gaze with a spark of amusement in her eyes. His face was tinged with pink, his expression a mix of awe and awkwardness.

After a moment, she tapped his shoulder gently. "Okay... you can let me go now."

Ken stammered, his cheeks darkening as he pulled his hands back quickly, almost tripping over himself as he took a step away. "Oh! Right, yeah, sorry..." He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing around as if the walls might somehow absorb his embarrassment.

Odette gave him a grin, her face still flushed with the exhilaration of what had just happened. She brushed a stray strand of vibrant red hair from her face, feeling a slight thrum of energy lingering beneath her skin.

For the first time, she felt a taste of what her powers could be, but the faint memory of that skull-like mask and the floating sensation left her both thrilled and uneasy.

They both turned to face the dojo, taking in the sight of the space. The polished wooden floors were now scuffed and cracked, thin trails of smoke curling up from the areas where her energy had sparked. The walls had faint marks, and a few of the mats were disheveled, almost as if a gust of wind had rushed through, leaving chaos in its wake.

Ken began to panic, his gaze darting over the lightly damaged training space. "I—I'm so sorry," he muttered, his voice tinged with worry. "This is my fault! I shouldn't have told you to meditate. What if your grandma sees this? She's going to be so mad!"

Odette waved a hand, her voice calm, reassuring. "Hey, don't worry. This isn't your fault. I'm the one who went along with it, right?" She offered him a gentle smile. "Besides, Grandma Mo's cool. She'll understand."

But as if conjured by the very mention of her name, a soft but commanding throat-clearing sounded from the doorway. Both Odette and Ken froze, turning slowly toward the entrance, where Mana Monroè stood, arms folded, her gaze sharp and unwavering.

Her eyes flickered from Odette to Ken, a question clear in her expression as she took in the scene.

Ken let out a small yelp, instinctively stepping closer to Odette and gripping her arm lightly, his hand trembling. His face flushed a deeper shade of red, and he stammered, clearly flustered by her grandmother's sudden arrival.

Mana's expression softened a bit, though her gaze remained firm as she regarded the pair. "Odette... would you like to explain why there's a boy all over you and why my dojo looks like a typhoon ran through it?"

Odette straightened up, her cheeks heating as she brushed Ken's hand off her arm and stepped forward, attempting to mask her embarrassment. "Um... Grandma Mo, this is Ken. He was... well, he wanted to see the shrine, and I thought it'd be okay to show him around. And, uh... we sort of ended up here."

Ken stepped forward quickly, bowing slightly. "I'm sorry, Miss Monroè! I didn't mean for this to happen. I just... I encouraged her to meditate, and I didn't think—" He stumbled over his words, flustered as he gestured toward the dojo. "It's all my fault. I'm really, really sorry."

Odette shot him a sidelong glance, trying not to laugh at his formal tone. "Ken, relax," she whispered, but her grandmother's gaze kept her posture straight, a little nervous despite her best efforts.

Mana's eyes softened as she looked at Ken, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Miss Monroè, hmm?" she murmured, folding her hands in front of her as she turned her attention back to her granddaughter.

"Odette, I gave you simple instructions this morning, didn't I? To explore the city, meditate... and perhaps to clean up the courtyard?" Her voice held a teasing note, but her eyes still held an edge of curiosity.

Odette cleared her throat, her cheeks flushed. "I know, Grandma Mo. I'm sorry. I was planning to clean up, but... well, Ken and I got to talking, and one thing led to another. And then, he kind of dared me to meditate, and... things just... got out of hand."

Mana regarded her for a moment, a knowing look in her eyes, before she let out a quiet sigh. "Very well." She glanced at Ken, who was still standing nervously beside Odette, looking as if he might faint under her gaze. "You look like a good young man, Ken. And I can see that Odette's made a friend who shares her interests. I suppose I can overlook the damage this time."

Ken's face lit up with relief, and he nodded quickly. "Thank you, Miss Monroè. I really am sorry about all of this. I'll be more careful next time."

Odette smirked at his words, feeling a small surge of pride. "Next time, huh? So you're planning on sticking around?"

Ken's cheeks turned pink again, and he stammered, "I mean—well, if that's okay with you..."

She gave him a playful nudge. "Sure thing. It's a big shrine. Could use someone to help me keep it in shape."

Mana let out a small chuckle, then looked at Ken with a hint of amusement. "Ken, you may want to head home. Odette has her responsibilities here, and it seems the two of you have already caused quite enough excitement for one day."

Ken glanced at his watch and nodded, clearly realizing it was time to go. He looked back at Odette, a touch of lingering embarrassment in his gaze. "Well... guess I'll see you around school, then?"

Odette gave him a soft smile. "Yeah. I'll be there." She could see the hint of shyness in his eyes, and it warmed her heart to know that someone as quirky as her had found an unexpected friend in this new place.

He bowed once more, murmuring another quick apology to Mana before hurrying off, his thick-rimmed glasses catching the last rays of sunlight as he walked down the path. Odette watched him go, a small smile on her lips before she turned back to face her grandmother, feeling the weight of her grandmother's steady gaze.

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22:00 PM

After a long afternoon filled with shrine duties, cleaning up the courtyard as she was supposed to have done earlier, Odette was ready for dinner. She made her way back inside, setting down her things and stretching as she caught the warm scent of food wafting from the kitchen.

Grandma Mo was there, stirring a pot on the stove, her movements graceful and practiced. The smell of miso and freshly cooked rice filled the room, the air thick with a comforting warmth that made Odette's stomach growl.

Mana turned slightly, glancing at Odette with a raised eyebrow. "I trust you managed to finish your tasks?"

Odette nodded, taking a seat at the kitchen table, feeling her exhaustion settle in. "Yes, ma'am. And... sorry again about the dojo."

Mana let out a small chuckle as she set down two steaming bowls, one for each of them. She took a seat across from Odette, her expression soft but curious. "So... tell me, Odette. What exactly happened in the dojo?"

Odette took a deep breath, letting herself relax as she thought back to the strange, surreal experience. "It's kind of hard to explain. When I started meditating, it was like... I was slipping away. I could feel my body, but it was like I was floating, like I wasn't totally there."

She paused, trying to find the words. "I remember feeling something... on my face, like a mask. Ken said it looked like a skull. And there was this energy—black and red, like an aura, covering me. But after that, it all got kind of blurry. I can't remember much else."

Grandma Mo listened intently, her expression thoughtful. She nodded slowly. "That mask you felt, and the energy you released... it sounds like you've unlocked a fraction of your spirit energy, something deeply connected to our lineage." She stirred the pot again, her eyes distant as she gathered her thoughts. "But it's only a small glimpse, Odette. What you accessed today was powerful, but it's only the beginning."

Odette absorbed this, her curiosity piqued but tempered with caution. "So... there's more?"

"Yes," Grandma Mo replied, giving her a reassuring smile. "Much more. Your training will involve learning how to control that energy, to harness it without it overwhelming you. And tomorrow, we'll be visiting a friend of mine, Seiko Ayase, who has a great deal of experience with these things. She can guide you in ways I can't."

Odette nodded, feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves. "Seiko Ayase... is she a spirit medium?"

"She is," her grandmother replied, a hint of fondness in her tone. "And a rather formidable one. She has a granddaughter as well, so I expect you'll have some company." Grandma Mo gave her a knowing look. "And I'd advise you to look presentable. No 'hobo' fashion tomorrow."

Odette laughed, rolling her eyes. "Got it, Grandma Mo. I'll leave the hoodie at home." She glanced toward the hallway, where a school uniform was hanging on her closet door, freshly pressed and ready for Monday. The sight of it brought a reminder of the responsibilities that lay ahead.

"Monday, you'll be starting school at Kami High," her grandmother continued, ladling stew into bowls and setting them on the table. "It'll be an adjustment, but I think it will be good for you."

Odette took a seat, her fingers tracing the edge of her bowl. "I'm ready, I think," she said, though her voice held a slight uncertainty. "At least... I think I'm ready."

"You are," Grandma Mo assured her, sitting across from her with a gentle smile. "You'll find your path, Odette. One step at a time."

As they ate, Odette felt a calm settle over her, the reassurance of her grandmother's words easing the tension that had built up within her.

She still had questions—about the skull mask, the strange energy, the mysteries that lay within her—but she knew now that she was exactly where she needed to be, with the person who could guide her through it all.

━━━━━

After dinner, Odette helped clean up, washing dishes and wiping down the counters as her grandmother headed to her room to rest. Before disappearing down the hallway, Grandma Mo called over her shoulder, "Don't forget to pick out some clothes for tomorrow, and make sure you wrap your hair before bed!"

Odette laughed, nodding as she dried the last dish. "Yes, ma'am!"

Once the kitchen was tidy, she retreated to her room, her gaze lingering on her closet as she considered her options for the visit to Seiko Ayase. Odette settled on a a vibrant turquoise halter top with colorful detailing, paired with fitted light blue jeans.

Satisfied with her choice, she laid the clothes on her chair and took a deep breath.

She went through her nightly routine, carefully removing her makeup and wrapping her hair in a silk scarf. She slipped into her favorite Hello Kitty pajama shorts, the soft fabric a comforting reminder of home. After a warm shower, she climbed into bed, pulling her laptop onto her lap.

Opening her digital diary, she typed out her thoughts on the day's events, from meeting Ken to the strange energy she'd tapped into. Her fingers flew over the keys as she recorded every detail, wanting to capture the intensity and wonder of it all.

When she finished, she decided to search for information on spirit legends, hoping to find anything that could help her make sense of what she'd experienced.

She stumbled upon an article about a spirit known as "Turbo Granny," a mischievous and slightly terrifying yokai. "Turbo Granny huh? That seems interesting." Intrigued, she bookmarked the page, deciding to dive into it further later.

With a satisfied yawn, she closed her laptop, sinking back into her pillows. Her mind was buzzing with thoughts, but exhaustion soon took over, and she drifted off to sleep, the events of the day swirling in her dreams.

Tomorrow promised new challenges, new discoveries, and—if her grandmother's hints were any indication—plenty of surprises. But for now, wrapped in the quiet comfort of the Monroè family shrine, Odette let herself relax, confident that she was exactly where she was meant to be.