Element Gang: Yo-kai Boosters! Book 1, Axel at the Dupain-Cheng residents

[Dupain-Cheng Residents/Boulangerie Patisserie]

{Axel’s view}
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. “Axel, what are you doing at a bakery?” Well, technically I’m not in the bakery. I’m sleeping above it. Okay, now I guess you’re wondering why I’m sleeping above a bakery. Well, it’s because this is where my host family lives. Yeah, this is how it works. Me and my friends were assigned a host family to live with during our time in Paris. Before I got here, me and my friends got to get a tour of Paris while looking for the homes we would be staying at. I’m not sure who are the host families for Basar and the others, but I hope they’re just as great as the one I got. The family I got was the Dupain-Chengs. The heads of the household are Tom Dupain and his wife Sabine Cheng. Don’t ask how this marriage works. I don’t even know as they said it was a long story. Anyway, Tom and Sabine run the bakery. They live in the apartment above it so that’s why I was sleeping above it. They only had one extra bedroom so that’s why the guys weren’t there with me. Getting into the apartment, I met Tom and Sabine’s daughter Marinette, who was actually my age. As crazy as it sounds, I was actually able to make friends with her pretty well, especially when I introduced her to the miracle of Choco-bars. Though this isn’t the only surprise. When she showed me her room, I was shocked to have found, there lying on desk, the one thing I didn’t expect anyone else besides me and the rest of my team to have: a Yo-kai X Booster! I tried to be discrete and asked her about it and she said it was a gift from her grandmother. I told her it looked pretty cool and she appreciated the compliment and diverted her attention from me as she showed the rest of her room. This allowed me time to talk to Nooroo. As I asked him if he had any idea how Marinette’s grandma got that Yo-kai X Booster, the kwami then told me that, when my grandfather was my age, along with his Element Gang team, there were two other Yo-kai Boosters. He said it could be possible that Marinette’s grandma could’ve been one of those two Yo-kai Boosters.

Pushing that aside, I then decided to use my Yo-kai Watch to see if there was more than a Yo-kai X Booster Marinette around here. Though Nooroo blew it off and said that I was just making assumptions because Marinette had a Yo-kai X Booster. Though he thought differently when I did find something. It turned out my suspicions were correct: Marinette had a Yo-kai living with her. He was sitting right there on her couch. I wasn’t able to see much of how the Yo-kai looked as he was wearing this crimson robe that resembled the hood of Little Red Riding hood. The only things I could see was his face and his tail. From what I could tell he had the head of an eagle with an orange beak and dark blue feathers with light red tips. The expression he was giving was a calm, gentle smile. His tail was actually a lime green snake with a cheerful expression on its face. When he looked at me, boy, was he surprised to find out that I could see him, even though it didn’t show in his eyes, it showed on his mouth. Seeing this guy there actually caused Nooroo to scream in shock, which unfortunately this dragged Marinette’s attention to us and forced the kwami to hide. When Marinette asked if I could see the Yo-kai in her room, I confirmed her suspicions and she was shocked by this. The Yo-kai tried to tell her why and I stopped him because I knew he was gonna reveal my secret to her. After explaining the situation, I had him promise me not to tell her that I was El Dragon until I was ready to let her know. With that, I went on with only one piece of the reason why I could see the Yo-kai: I told her that I had a Yo-kai Watch, a watch-like device that allows people to see Yo-kai. After learning that she knew much about Yo-kai thanks to the one that was in the room with us, I then went on to ask the Yo-kai who he was. From there, he introduced himself as the Yo-kai Calmdou Nue. With that, I then got out my Yo-kai Phone (a phone baring resemblance to the Yo-kai Pad in case you didn’t know what it looks like) and looked him up on the Yo-kai Wiki.

Finding his entry, I saw that rest of appearance consisted of dark grey eagle claws for hands, his upper body fur being the same color as Marinette’s hair. His torso was concealed by this green sweater. His lower body was that of a tiger’s with jet black fur and having white stripes on the thighs. Calmdou Nue was distant relative to the Yo-kai Chymera (a Yo-kai of the Mysterious Tribe). He was a Yo-kai of the Heartful Tribe who made people calm and peaceful. He is responsible for people’s burst of rage diffusing before they even start, even at times that seem unnatural. When Calmdou Nue Inspirits people, they end up going about their day like nothing is wrong and being fine with anything, whether they are good or not. After introducing myself to the Yo-kai, I then asked he and Marinette came across each other. Marinette then told me that she met Calmdou Nue when she was little. She had found him Inspiriting a classmate of hers and making them okay with everything, even the bad stuff. When confronting him, Marinette found out the reason for why Calmdou Nue was doing it and even for Inspiriting people in such a way in the first place. With this, I learned of how Calmdou Nue started out when he was alive: back then was once a house cat and had a loving family. He was always patient with his owners and behaved, especially with their son Gab. Every time the boy went out playing, Calmdou Nue would watch him while the boy’s parents were busy with house chores. Gab was actually the best friend he ever had and Calmdou Nue enjoyed every moment with him. But then something bad happened.

But, then one rainy day, Gab’s parents started arguing with each other and it seemed like it wouldn’t end. The fight was so stressful that it cause Gab to run away, straight into the pouring rain. Calmdou Nue tried to get his owners to stop and find Gab, but the boy’s parents were too busy fighting with each other to even pay attention or even notice that their child was gone. Within that moment, seeing as he could not get their help, Calmdou Nue ventured off on his own to find the boy. He pushed the cold hard rain and searched everywhere for the boy, not once taking a moment’s rest. He finally found Gab, but saw that he was in trouble as an angry dog chased him down an alley. Seeing the boy cornered with no way to escape or defend himself, Calmdou Nue rushed right in and attacked the dog. It was a hard battle, but Calmdou Nue managed to scare the dog away and save Gab. Unfortunately, fighting the dog took a toll on him and Calmdou Nue was severely injured. While held in Gab’s arms, Calmdou Nue had no regret for what he had done for he could rest in peace knowing that his best friend would be okay. While the boy cried, Gab’s parents managed to find him and the three of them took Calmdou Nue to the nearest vet in an effort to save him. But it was too late. With all that could be done, Calmdou Nue’s injuries were too server for him to recover. With that, the last thing Gab did for him was give him a hug before Calmdou Nue finally passed away. The next thing Calmdou Nue knew, he was a Yo-kai. Seeing as to how all this anger caused his friend to have so much pain, he then swore that he would rid people’s anger to ensure that no one would have to suffer like Gab. I honestly got to tell you, that was truly a tragic story. I was even brought to tears with it. After my little episode there, Calmdou Nue then told me that, when he met Marinette, he decided that forcing others to be calm all the time was not the best way to make things better. So he decided that he would help others by helping them with their anger.

Marinette finished it off by saying that Calmdou Nue didn’t have a home and let him to stay with her. Ever since then, they had been friends. It was in that moment Calmdou Nue surprised me by giving me his Yo-kai Medal, officially become my friend as well. That was a great day. My first day in Paris and I already made a new human friend and a new Yo-kai friend. I even got full moved in. Well, I got everything for my stay in Paris thanks to Mirapo. With his teleporting powers, moving to new places is a breeze.

But, once it was nightfall, things got pretty rough. The first parts of routine went like usual: I got up after everyone was fast asleep, I got my YB (short for Yo-kai Booster) suit and mask on for when I’m going out, summoned Jibanyan and we both got ready to take the streets and meet up with the others so I could summon their Yo-kai partners (since I’m the only one with a Yo-kai Watch), but Jibanyan and I were shocked when we took a look outside. All around, Yo-kai were flooding the streets! There were tons of Yo-kai everywhere, coming in left and right. Only a few of the Yo-kai I saw that were the innocent kind were running around while being chased by either trouble-making Yo-kai or evil Yo-kai. Fighting our way through it, it was like trying to get through traffic. Never had I ever seen so many Yo-kai out on Terror Time before. It was like we ran into a bad Yo-kai convention. Jibanyan and I were lucky to have even gotten to the others through that madness. Even with using our full strength together, me and the team agreed that it was the longest Terror Time we’ve ever had. By the time it was over, we were all exhausted, both elementals and Yo-kai. This time, Jibanyan earned a good, long nap. After having Mirapo take Jibanyan and the other Yo-kai back home, we then used him to get back to our host family residents to get some sleep for our first day of school here in Paris was tomorrow.

Though things weren’t easy the next morning when I woke up. I was a little groggy but I was able to hear what Nooroo was saying.

“Axel, wake up!” Nooroo said to me as I yawned and sat up in bed. “Hurry and get dressed! You’re gonna be late for your first day of school!”

I was shocked to hear and see that I only had a few hours left before school starts.

“Sweet mother of flames!” I shouted as I went to my drawer, plucked out my clothes, and put them on with my super speed. “I can’t believe I overslept!”

“I can’t either.” Nooroo said as he watched me run around the room. “This isn’t like you. But I guess it was a long Terror Time. Still have no idea why so many were out.”

“Well, we can figure it out after school.” I said as I was about to go out the door, dressed in a striped shirt of two different shades of blue, a pair of blue pants, my blue frame glasses, one white sock with red spots on my right foot, one black with a toe patch and a heel patch in navy blue on my left foot, and my Yo-kai Watch on my left wrist.

“Axel, wait!” Nooroo said as he stopped me, just I put my hand on the door knob. “Your tail!”

“Oh, right!” I said as I realize my Fire Dragon tail was still out, quickly using my metalbending to conceal it.

With that, I then rushed out of my room and into the bathroom, where I was ready to obtain my proper oral hygiene. Though, thanks to the panic I had, I would’ve made a mistake with putting deodorant on my teeth and brushing my armpits if Nooroo didn’t tell me.

“Marinette! Your alarm has been going on for fifteen minutes!” I heard Sabine yell out as I brushed my teeth and put deodorant on. “You’re going to be late for your first day back at school!”

After the sound of alarm on Marinette’s phone stopped, I then heard Marinette groan out “Got it, Mom.”

“Perfect.” I said as after I got done with brushing my teeth (also after checking to see my healthy smile). “All right. Got dressed, got my teeth brushed.” From there, I then realized what I had to do. “Oh, wait. My binder. My backpack!”  I then rushed back to my room, grabbed my binder and my backpack, and then got to getting them all packed for school. “Marinette, come on!” I yelled out to my fellow teen as I continued to get everything ready for school. “We only got a few hours left and school’s on practically on the other side of the city!”

“Coming!” Marinette said as I then got to checking my inventory.

“Okay. Note book? Check. Pencils? Check. Erasers? Check. Note cards? Check.” I said as checked off all the things I needed for today. “Folders? Check. Agenda? Check. Snack for lunch? Check. Yo-kai Phone? Check. Portable charger for Yo-kai Phone? Check. Yo-kai Device Exchanger? Check. All ready to go.” I said as I zipped up my green military backpack and buckled up my black binder before I looked to Nooroo, holding open the backpack pocket for him to rid in. “Come on, Nooroo.”

After Nooroo got into the pocket, I put on my backpack, grabbed my binder, and rushed out of my room to get some breakfast, putting my binder on the counter (behind the bowl of fruit) and quickly getting myself a bowl of cereal.

“Good morning, Axel.” Sabine kindly said to me as I poured some milk into my bowl of cereal.

“Good morning, Mrs. Cheng.” I said to her before I then took my backpack off, set it down, sat down at the counter, and then started eating my breakfast as fast as I could to make sure I got out the door and got to class on time.

{Marinette’s view}
After getting putting on my second pigtail done, I then headed downstairs for some breakfast.

“Axel, slow down!” I heard my mom say as I got down there and saw Axel eating cereal like a maniac. “You have time to eat and get to school.”

“Good morning.” I said before I hugged and kissed my mom.

After I sat down, I saw Axel looking at me weird, like there was something wrong.

“What?” I asked him.

“Seriously?” Axel said to me as he ate his cereal. “I’m already set to go and all you did was get your hair done instead of getting dressed?”

After I looking at my own pajamas before looking back at him and said “Well, I haven’t eaten breakfast yet, have I?”

“You’re not Inspirited, are you?” He asked me.

“Axel, I told you I don’t Inspirit people randomly anymore.” Calmdou Nue said as he sat beside the counter, drinking his morning tea. “What you are seeing is just how Marinette acts normally.”

“Okay. I guess I can get that.” Axel said as he got done with breakfast and took his bowl over to the sink. “But, Marinette, I’m just saying that it wouldn’t hurt for you to be more prepared.”

“No offense, Axel, but I’m not exactly much of a fan of school as much as you.” I said to him before I then pour some milk into my bowl. “Especially with Chloé. I bet you anything she will be in my class again.”

“4 years in a row?” My mom said with surprise before I then got some cereal in my bowl. “Is that possible?”

“Definitely.” I said before I held the cereal box. “Lucky me.”

“Oh, come on, Marinette.” Axel said as he rinsed down his bowl before washing it. “Getting back to school isn’t gonna be that bad.”

“Axel is right. It’s the start of a new year.” My mom said to me, what those two said did make me feel better. “I’m sure everything will be fine.”

“And, if she’s bothers you, I’ll help you with her.” Axel said to me.

“Thanks, Axel.” I said to him before I put the cereal box back on the counter.

But, when I did, an orange rolled out of the bowl, down a slice of bread, went across the butter knife like a seesaw, and knocked over the milk. I looked away when the cereal box fell back and turned back to see the orange knock over a cup of yogurt and it landed on Calmdou’s hood. Yeah, that’s me, Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Just a normal girl who is completely clumsy.

“Wow, Marinette.” Axel said after he got done washing his bowl and started walking to the other side of the counter. “You really are a safety hazard—Aah!” After he fell back on the floor, I saw that he slipped on spilled milk on the floor. “I’m okay. Ow.”

“Ugh, kids.” Calmdou groaned as I saw him take the yogurt cup off his hood and put it in the trash.

After my mom was able to cheer me up from that, Axel left to get a fresh sock to replace his milk-soaked one, and I got done with breakfast, I decided to go ahead and get ready for school. Get my teeth brush, dressed, all that.