Hikari checked to see if they had everyone, then led them back to her team's room. Once everyone was situated and the door was secured, she turned to look at them all. "Okay...it's time I told you all about my brother. Weiss, you might want to listen especially well to this story, considering he may have been your tutor." She started, then launched into the story about her brother.

Weiss heard the comment before Hikari went into full detail about her brother and his ability of 'charm' causing her to be disgusted at herself, having a feeling that he had used this on her father and maybe herself as well. After hearing the story, even if it was out of her character, and hugged the leader of Team HANA. "While that is extremely terrible...and I feel the need of a long shower, thank you for telling us Hikari." she said before turning to the other members of her team after ending the hug. "This gets out and I'm turning the room into a tundra, understand?"

"Whatever you say Elsa, though I'm pretty sure your secret is safe with us," Yang responded with a light smirk. She, too, was a little disgusted about how her brother acted towards Hikari and was able to get away with it due to his semblance. Then another thought came to her and she gave Hikari and Areku her trademark smirk, "So that's why you've been calling her 'fireworks' then. She can create fire similar to me!"

Naruto listened to the story, his ears lowered at the horror of it. "Aw, man...I'm really sorry that happened, Hikari-chan." He said.

Hikari sniffled slightly as she finished her story, and looked around at all her friends who were being so supportive. "No, it's...thank you. I..." She sniffled again, then looked up at Yang in surprise. "Wait, what? Fireworks?" She looked at Ark. "When did you call me that?" This was the first she'd heard of it.

"I think she meant Starlight, though why she thought of fireworks I have no idea." Ark replied honestly.

"Oh..." Hikari nodded in understanding. Suddenly, she smirked. "Maybe it was a slip of the tongue. Maybe someone recently called her fireworks. Well, Yang, am I right? Did you confuse my pet name with yours?"

Blake smirked lightly knowing who had called Yang that, but knew that it wasn't her place to say. Especially since Blake promised Yang that she wouldn't say a word as long as she didn't comment on any of her reading material. No matter what the blonde-haired girl found.

Naruto noticed a certain ice princess blushing, and smirked. "I'm sure we'll find out eventually. I mean, Ruby-chan usually finds out that kind of thing about her team mates." He pointed out.

Ruby scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "You make it sound like I spy on them! I just...make a point to...know the business of my team mates...?"

"You're nosy, in other words. Especially where your sister is concerned."

”True, Ruby is a little defensive when it comes to her older sister. I guess it just runs in the family,” she said, doing her best not to let her own words get to her. Especially since she had failed her sister. Turning to Ruby, the cat faunus gave her leader a deadpan look. “And how did you and I become friends again Ruby? I do believe it’s because you asked me what book I was reading. Though you and your sister were being a little annoying before that,” she chastised but the words held no malice in them.

"Ehehehehe..." Ruby looked sheepish, and had to think fast to come up with an answer for that. "So, I'm outgoing. Friendly. That's not a bad thing...?" She trailed off, clearly not able to validate her own point.

Hikari crossed her arms and nodded, looking like she'd made her point- which, technically, she had. "It's not a bad thing, actually." She said. "At least you have a sibling who cares about you. And your outgoing attitude makes a lot of friends. That's never a bad thing."

"No it isn't. The question though is this: What do we do about Hikari's brother?" Areku asked. "As well as Blake's sister"

Naruto shivered. "I just had an awful thought." He said, unsure whether he should continue. "What if Blake-chan's sister and Hikari-chan's brother end up working together? Add in Sasuke-teme and that snake bastard, and we've got a real problem."

(Kurai, Whitney, Sasuke, Orochimaru. Hm...)

Blake shuddered lightly at that, especially since she wanted to try and save her sister. "I certainly hope not. I'd rather have Whitney back with us rather than against us," she admitted softly. "...Or dead," she added a few seconds later.

Everyone went silent for a moment, sharing that sentiment. No one quite knew what to say. Finally, Hikari broke the silence with a sigh. "Well, I suppose we'll have to worry about it as it comes. Now, since everyone is caught up...any ideas what to do next?" She knew she had to talk to Itachi about unlocking her semblance, but that would take a while. What would they do in the meantime?

"Train perhaps? And probably keep an eye out for trouble," Ruby suggested. "Though I don't think we should let them all ruin our lives by making us fret over it," she added a few seconds later.

"I agree. We can always do some training, but we should also live our lives. We are teenagers after all," he said with a light chuckle.

Naruto nodded. "Yeah! We should have fun while we still can!" He said, jumping up excitedly. "Let the adults worry about stuff, for now we should enjoy being teens!"

Hikari laughed, some of her tension easing away with the boisterous enthusiasm of her friends. "Yeah, you're right. Why don't we all go get some ice cream? We could use it."

Blake giggled lightly at her boyfriend's actions before nodding in agreement. They really did need to act their age every once in a while. "Probably for the best. Otherwise who knows how many sleepless nights we'd have?" the cat faunus asked rhetorically.

"But I thought cats were nocturnal?" Yang asked teasingly.

Hikari chuckled. "I thought cats just slept at random times." She said.

"Foxes can be nocturnal, too." Naruto added excitedly.

"You two are perfect for each other, you know that?" Blake asked with a light shake of the head at the barb to cats. "And yes Ruto, foxes can be nocturnal as well," she added. "Anyways...ice cream?"

"Why, does Kitty..." Yang started to say before being interrupted by her partner.

"Finish that statement and I may just let something slip about who you fancy..." Blake responded, causing Yang's eyes to widen lightly.

Naruto perked up. "Hm? Wait, Blake-chan, you know who Yang-san likes? Who is it?!" He asked brightly.

Hikari chuckled. "That's not our business, Naruto-san." She said. "Now let's go get ice cream!" She commanded, heading for the door.

"I'm sure he'd like to know though so he can tease Yang and the mysterious person relentlessly," Ark said after noticing the slight panic running through Weiss's eyes, but didn't say anything about it, especially since it wasn't his place to tell. But he knew that if/when they came out, he'd support the two wholeheartedly. Following his girlfriend out the door, he laughed lightly at how Naruto was trying to get the info from his girlfriend.

Naruto only relented after he'd tried and failed three times to get information. After that, he turned his attention to more pressing matters. Namely, what flavor of ice cream he wanted. He couldn't seem to decide. The only thing he could decide on was that he insisted on paying for Blake's ice cream.

"If you found out Na-kun, you'd tease Yang and whoever it is for days. And then I'll be caught in the middle." Blake replied and didn't change her mind on the subject even when Naruto asked repeatedly. Heading out, she smiled softly to herself after hearing that Naruto wanted to pay for her, even though he didn't have to.

Having settled on a flavor, Naruto relaxed into idle chatter- something he was rather good at.

With the sound of Naruto babbling on in the background, Hikari found it easier to relax. She tugged on Ark's hand, smiling at him. "Things are going to be okay, aren't they? It looks bad now, but...we'll be alright in the end." She said quietly so that the others couldn't hear.

Blake listened to her boyfriend and responded when she had something to say, but otherwise she enjoyed her ice cream. She was happy to enjoy moments like these, especially since they were few and far in-between.

Areku placed one hand around Hikari's shoulders and gave her a light squeeze. "Good or bad, I know us two teams can get through just about anything." he said softly so that only she could hear.

Hikari snuggled closer to her boyfriend. "Yeah...you're right." She agreed. "I'm glad I have you here with me, Ark. I don't know how I'd get through all this without you."