A sleepover for new and old friends

JUST WANNA HAVE SOME FUN

The letter mage stood at the window, looking out at familiar surroundings that felt like a long lost memory somehow. It had been a long time since she’d been back here, huh… Nostalgia welled up within her chest, memories of wobblingly coming up those very stairs and entering the hall for the first time appearing in her mind’s eye. She could see it unfolding before her, the winged girl and the awkwardly suited man warmly welcoming her to the good. Apollo… Where was he now, and what could he be doing? The letter mage missed the former ace greatly, for ever since his abrupt disappearance, there was no longer that shoulder she had to lean on whenever things got tougher. So many of her friends had begun to fade away… She hadn’t talked with Gamon and Hana in ages. Turning, a sigh escaped the child’s mouth, and she flopped back down on the cot, vision fading to black.

She lifted her head form the bed, eyelids fluttering open as Hoshi’s chipper voice resonated throughout the room. “Sorano~!” The exceed zipped into the area, depositing a letter into the girl’s lap. “Julius sent a letter! I wonder what he’s asking now?” For once, the tabby was in a shockingly good mood, bouncing around in glee, a complete fliparound from her usual frightened personality. Slowly, slowly, the person to whom the words were addressed forced her head up from the sheets, brushing bangs out of her eyes. “Eh?” The voice was a surly grumble, extreme annoyance detected in her tone of voice. “What is it now, cat…” Chika glared through half-closed eyes at the feline, then lifted the letter up towards the light. “Ahhh, what is this now…” A fingernail sliced through the sealing, and an invitation to a sleepover party in Hosenka would be revealed.

“Huh? What the heck is this? Who’s Julius again?” A yawn broke through mid-sentence, and Hoshi took a step back in surprise. What was up with her friend? Sorano… This wasn’t how the stoic and aloof guild master acted… Could it be that something had happened? But before she could even properly react, an out-of-character squeal erupted form the bed, where Chika now bounced about in joy. “It’s a sleepover, cat! A sleepover! Am I invited? Am I invited?” A sudden change in attitude would cause Hoshi’s face to crease in confusion - there was definitely something wrong with Sorano, wasn’t there?

But despite Hoshi’s doubts, the two soon arrived in Hosenka, opening up the door to the room that Julius had rented out. Already within was Julius himself, wearing an unusually formal suit, as well as an Asian woman and Mura, someone who Chika felt like she might have met before. But despite the fact that she barely knew them, it was no problem for the fun-loving Koizumi. “Heyy, people, glad to be invited~!” She waved energetically at everyone. “I’m Chika, who are all of you?”

JUST WANNA HAVE SOME FUN

Well, wasn’t this rude of them all. While the invite had made Julius seem like a cool person at first, now the pigtailed girl was rethinking her former opinion. They all stared at her awkwardly, as if having no idea who she was. But, then again… She looked down at the invitation, seeing the name “Sorano” printed in fine letters. Sorano, huh? Was that who she had stolen the spot of? Well… It didn’t seem as though this Sorano girl was coming, so she and the weirdo cat that followed her everywhere could have fun instead! Grinning satisfactorily, Chika clapped her hands together, ignoring the awkward and uncertain introductions. The name Sorano now set a deep and uncomfortable feeling in her heart, one she didn’t really like. There was just something about… It felt so familiar, such a natural word that could roll easily off of her tongue. But those were un-fun thoughts, thoughts that Chika simply couldn’t have herself following along! She was here for fun, and nothing else.

“So where do we start with this party, huh?” Arms crossed, Chika took a look around at the others in the room. There was this presumed Julius guy, tall and blonde, someone who surely caught many a girl’s eye. He seemed fairly chill, but the fact that his greeting had been rather bland sent a frown up her face. Irritating. Ignoring him, she turned to the other male, a mousey-haired teen who appeared to be only slightly older than herself. He had been awkward and uncertain when approaching him, and somehow, even though the boy was continuously polite, she could tell that there was something about the sight of herself that got him all worked up. That’s odd, she never knew she was so perceptive before. Unsure of what to make about this startling new discovery, Chika then turned to head to the only remotely interesting thing in the room.

An older Midian woman stood in the corner, wearing an oriental green dress with a man and three fairies buzzing enthusiastically around her. Aha! Here was someone who could be fun! Rushing up to Summer almost immediately, Chika extended a hand, ready to pump the others’ up and down excitedly. “Ahhh, your fairies are gorgeous, miss!” Jumping around to try and catch one in deft fingers, Chika slipped slightly, knocking a knee against a table. “Ite~” A short grumble of discomfort was emitted from her lips, but she brushed it off quickly. Effectively ignoring the open-mouthed stare the exceed was shooting over at her, she faced the others, wanting to see what happened next.