- WRITING COMPETITION ENTRY - - Written by Truly - Characters Belong to Nankidai - I breathed a deep sigh of fresh air. It was cool, biting at my tongue and seeping into my lungs. The fresh grass leaked dew on my shoes, slowly seeping in and soaking them. I didn’t mind, though. I walked at a calm pace, drinking in the beautiful meadow’s scent and admiring the massive cherry tree resting in the center of it all. The wind twirled itself around me, grabbing my fluffy white hair and tossing it in the air like confetti. I raised a bandaged hand to hold my jacket on, all the while my pace not slowing at all. Upon arriving, I saw people all seated in groups around plaid striped blankets, each in their own huddles. They mixed and mingled still, constantly moving to each other’s blankets to engage friendly chatter, or share each other’s different treats and snacks. The blaring sun fell upon the sight of all my friends, lighting them up like stars. I couldn’t help the warmth creeping up in my cheeks as a warm, wholehearted smile split my face. A fair few people called hellos, but one group waving caught my attention quickly. “Ranmaru! You made it!” Joe and Sara chorused, seated directly beneath the base of the ancient cherry tree. They smiled, waving me over to their group of four. The tree was shedding its flowers, the delicate white petals catching the wind and flowing over them like a waterfall. They floated down to the blanket, soaking it more white then it already was. It added a touch of beauty to the already gorgeous scene. Kai poured tea into baby blue teacups, handing one to each of the others sitting near to him. Gin purred a thanks before running off to Kugie and Kanna, whom were holding large, clear magnifying glasses and scouring around for something unseen. “Ranmaru! Want some tea?” Joe asked brightly, talking right over Sara. “You made it! How about a cupcake or...” Sara’s voice got trampled out by Joe’s excitement, glaring daggers at him while he hid behind the small teacup. “S-sorry Sara...” he smiled sheepishly, offering a fallen flower to her. Her cross expression melted away, a small smile spreading her face. “Why is it so impossible to stay mad at you, Joe? Anyway Ranmaru, you can sit over here. No need to stand there forever,” she patted an open room next to her, Kai nodding his greetings while pouring me a cup of tea. “Thanks, Sara. How are y-” my voice cut out in a squeal, I tumbled over on the wet grass and knocked my teacup out of Kai’s outstretched hand. Sharp, thorn-like things stabbed into my bandaged torso, something heavy laying on top of me. “Big bro Ranmaru, meow! You’re here, woof!” Gin squealed, hugging me tightly. “Did I scared you, meow? Sorry, woof!” he pulled back, allowing me to sit up. I ruffled a hand through my fluffy hair, smiling at the oddly dressed kid. “Don’t worry about it, Gin. It’s good to see you,” I patted the boy’s head like a dog. I glanced over to Kai, noticing I’d knocked the teacup over. “It seems you have spilt the tea,” Kai’s expression didn’t waiver from its usual blank calmness. “Let me refill that for you.” “Sorry Kai, and thanks,” I blushed in embarrassment. Joe and Sara snickered, finding the whole situation quite amusing. “Big bro Ranmaru, wanna come treasure hunting with us, meow?” I could see the boy smiling through his usual face mask, his eyes hopeful. I couldn’t resist. “You bet, Gin. Sorry Sara, Joe, Kai. I’ll come hang out later,” they smiled and waved me away, munching on treats as Keiji trotted over to take my place. Gin handed me a magnifying glass much like the ones Kanna and Kugie were using, and we trotted off behind the large cherry tree. I knew this picnic was going to be one amazing time. • Notes • Sorry if Ranmaru is a little ooc at any points, I tried my best but got a little carried away. ^w^ • Total Word Count - 664 • Total Page Count - 4 - Total Counts do not include my notes - • Written by Truly • Characters all belong to Nankidai • Program Used - Pages Hope you enjoyed! Feedback and any constructive criticism is welcome. If you see any typos or other issues let me know! Thanks for reading <3