An Arrival of a Rival. CH 27

(Previous Chapter: https://touchfluffytail.org/story/an-arrival-of-a-rival-ch-26/)

Chapter 27

Familiar sights of the past.

“Holy crap! This place is so bussin!” Standing at one of the most popular tourist spots in Japan at three in the afternoon, Karika was in awe at the sheer number of anime-themed stores in Akihabara. Leaving Reiza and Faulkner behind by several paces, the two watched Karika as she hustled from one storefront to another, ogling the anime figures on display. Wearing a black vest over a white T-shirt, long black stretch pants, and white sneakers, it was easy to spot Karika even amongst the crowd.

“Doesn’t she mean this place is bustling?” Yawning from lack of sleep, Faulkner hadn’t fully recovered from the physical and mental exhaustion that came the day before and earlier in the morning. Aside from his long-sleeve blue shirt with black stripes, he wore the same cargo pants and shoes he had worn yesterday.

“No, I’m pretty sure she knew exactly what she said. Porky’s picked up some gen alpha shit…” Reiza cringed at the slang Karika recently picked up. Reiza chose to wear casual torn blue jeans and black shoes to go with the blue flame hoodie, which Faulkner bought for her over her black blouse. Embarrassed by Karika’s behavior, Reiza approached from behind, slapping her on the back of the head.

“Ow! Wh-what was that for?” The smack barely hurt her, but Karika acted as if it did by rubbing the back of her head.

“First, don’t ever use Gen Alpha slang. Second, you need to stick close to us so we don’t get separated. The last thing we need is to look for your dumbass in this crowd.” Too enamored by the sights before her, Karika had just noticed the eyes on her after Reiza pointed them out. Most were staring at her with amusement, while a few locals looked away.

“Oh…ehehe…sorry.” Karika garnered more attention than she realized, bowing in apology afterward. The locals seemed to acknowledge her apology as they waved their hands dismissively.

“It’s not a big deal. The locals are probably used to tourists acting out like that. Akihabara is one of the more popular tourist spots here.” Faulkner, having caught up with the Karika and Reiza, slings his arms around their shoulders. “Do we even know where we want to go first? Reiza. You’re more familiar with this place than Karika and me. Are there any places in particular you recommend?”

“Hmm…” Thinking aloud, there were a few places Reiza had seen, but never went due to her previous occupation with Meredith. “There are a few places that come to mind. Come on, follow my lead.” Karika and Faulkner follow Reiza from behind, noticing that Reiza is looking around more than usual. Noticing this, Karika leaned close to Faulkner’s right ear to whisper.

“Is it just me, or does Reiza look nervous to you?”

“Don’t forget, Reiza’s been to Japan before. If I had to guess, she’s probably remembering all the spots she’s been to. And I want to guess not all of her memories here are something she wants to remember.”

“Oh…that’s right…” Keeping their voices low, Reiza was preoccupied listing all the places she’s been to or wants to go to hear Karika and Faulkner from behind.

“Okay. Here’s one spot I remember. Heh…it hasn’t changed a bit…” Turning around with a smile on her face, Reiza points at the store’s sign from above. “This store’s called Animate. It’s a nice store with a crap ton of anime merch. It’s not the biggest store from its branch, but there’s a lot to see in it.”

“Look at all of this weeb shit!” Karika was absolutely flabbergasted by the front entrance alone. Lining the front were rows of Gachapons filled with the latest anime goods, ranging from keychains to mini figs. “Hey, I recognize this one! The one with the Michael Jackson looking dude! Faulkner, you got some spare change?”

“Heh, funny you should say that…” With plenty of coins in his person from his trip to the arcade with Nala and Mala, Faulkner hands Karika a small coin purse stuffed with coins. “I still have a fair bit from my outing with Nala and Mala. Make sure you leave some for Reiza and me.” Taking the coin purse, Karika bounces it in her right hand, feeling the heft as the coins jingle inside.

“Fine, I got it.” Karika jumps straight for the gachapon machines with the stuff she wants while Faulkner and Reiza watch.

“Sheesh…if Porky’s freaking out over a small store like this, I wonder what she’ll do when we get to the other ones…”

“Other ones?”

“Yeah. There’s Don Quijote, Volks, and Ami Ami. There’s even one store called Radio Kaikan that’s ten stories tall.” Faulkner raised his right brow in surprise. He’d done his research before they left, so he knew about Don Quijote.

“There’s a store with ten floors of just anime-themed merch?”

“Oh yeah. I’m going off on memory, though, so I’m not sure if those places stayed the same compared to now.”

“Agh! Come on! Why did I get the same thing three times?!” Breaking their conversation short, Reiza and Faulkner turn their attention to Karika, who was preoccupied with one of the gacha machines. “I’m getting tired of getting dupes.” Before Karika could spend more coins, Reiza smacked Karika behind the head. “Ow!” Karika only slightly flinched from the hit, clutching the ten or so capsules she got from the gachapon machine.

“Didn’t Faulkner just say to leave some coins for us?!”

“Tsk. Relax, small tits. There’s still plenty of coins inside.”

“Great. Hand me the coin purse. There’s a Gachapon or two I want to get stuff from.”

“Not until I get what I want on this one!” Arguing like usual, Reiza bumps her forehead against Karika.

“Knowing your shitty luck, Porky, you’ll go through three bags worth of coins before you get what you’re looking for!” Karika pushed back, unfazed by Reiza’s taunt.

“Oh yeah?! Remind me, who lost over a hundred dollars on a recent horse gatcha game trying to get the banner girl again? Cuz I’m fairly certain it wasn’t me!” Sparking Reiza’s ire, the flames on her horn flare with black flames.

“Come on, stop it, you two. We’re not even in the store yet.” Faulkner knew their argument wasn’t anything serious, so he pats them on the head to calm them down. “I’m pretty sure we can just buy most of the crap they sell in these gachapons in the store anyway.” Realizing he was right, Karika’s ears perked up before pulling her head away.

“Oh yeah…that’s true…”

“Then let’s go. There are lots of plushies in there, too, you know?”

“Plushies?!” Tossing the coin purse at Reiza, Reiza barely manages to catch it without dropping the coins inside before Karika runs straight into the store.

“You know…I just realized…we might have to make frequent stops at the hotel to drop off all the plushies Karika’s going to buy here…” Faulkner groaned, realizing the massive collection of plushies they already have in their house would grow even larger after their trip here.

“I’ll try to keep her impulse buying in check…” Faulkner and Reiza follow Karika before they lose sight of her. From there, they found all sorts of anime-related merch inside. Before Karika could buy the whole stock of plushies, Faulkner enforced a five-plushie limit, causing Karika to agonize over her choices.

Reiza was more interested in novelty keychains and figures, but not because they were for herself. Rather, they’re gifts she plans on saving to give her friends when their birthdays come or when Christmas comes around. Seeing the basket of gifts Reiza is planning on buying, Faulkner walks over to her and places his right hand on her left shoulder.

“You’re spending quite a bit already, Reiza. I can pay for some of these if you want?”

“I appreciate the gesture, Faulkner. But it’s fine. I have plenty of cash stored up. Besides, this is only one shop. There are a few more to go. Not to mention the electronics and gaming stores, too.”

“Let’s hope Karika remembers that before going all out on one shop…” Making it through their first stop, Karika ended up with a haul of anime figures and plushies, carrying them on two large bags. Reiza bought a good amount as well, but most were small items that fit in one bag.

“So, where to next?” Humming an upbeat tune, Karika bought a decent haul of plushies she’s been searching for online. One of which was from a Japanese exclusive line of monster girl plushies.

“You might want to take it easy, Porky. That was just one stop, and you already have a bag filled with merchandise.”

“Hey, at least I stuck to the five plushie limit. There were a few more there that I really wanted. Hopefully I’ll find them in the next stores…” Following Karika and Reiza, Faulkner was, in hindsight, glad that Nala and Mala paid for their hotel room. The next place they went to was the Don Quijote store.

“Whoa…” Standing in front of the store, Karika was amazed yet again. There are seven floors in total. The top two floors are an entertainment center filled with arcade and claw machines. The rest of the floors are dedicated to various goods, from stationery items to foodstuffs. The store wasn’t entirely focused on anime figures. Rather, it carried anime-themed merch.

“Don Quijote. Seven floors in all. It’s got nearly everything you could want. Though, considering we’re tourists, we should head for the fourth floor first.” Reiza is well familiar with Don Quijote as she’s been there before with Meredith, so she knows the building’s layout and what each floor offers.

“Why the fourth floor?” Faulkner made sure to keep an eye on Karika, who was eyeing the food stalls around the first-floor area.

“The fourth floor is where we’ll find all the souvenirs. I’m also interested in the third floor since that’s where they have the stationery stuff and toys. The second floor is dedicated to food and cosmetics. And the first floor is for food stalls.”

“What about the fifth, sixth, and seventh floors?”

“The sixth and seventh floors are the arcade floors. It’s run by a different company, so it technically doesn’t count as part of the Don Quijote brand. As for the fifth…” Before Reiza could finish, Karika returned to Reiza and Faulkner. She held her stomach in a dramatic fashion, as if she were starving.

“Hey, what’s the hold up, you two? How can you just stand there when there are so many good places to eat? And speaking of, let’s eat first. The breakfast at the hotel wasn’t filling at all.” The breakfast portions in Japan are fairly small compared to what Karika’s used to, so she’s already hungry only an hour and a half after their departure.

“True. Even I’m not fully satisfied myself.” Faulkner wasn’t as hungry, but he definitely could use something to eat.

“Relax. There’s a place we can eat AND have a novel experience at the same time.”

“Oh? Where’s that?” Rather than answer Karika, Reiza walks past her before beckoning her and Faulkner to follow.

“As I was explaining to Faulkner before you interrupted, the fifth floor has a maid cafe. In fact, it’s considered THE maid cafe of Akihabara. It’s way different than the Gritty Kitty cafe back home.” Piquing her curiosity, Karika’s eyes sparkled with anticipation before she grabbed Faulkner’s right wrist.

“Maid cafe?! Fuck yeah, let’s go!” Dragging Faulkner along, Reiza follows from behind as they get into the elevator to reach the 5th floor. As they arrived, Karika’s eyes widened in surprise. The fifth floor’s interior looked like they had walked into a castle. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, lighting the halls alongside wall lamps. And on the walls themselves were framed pictures of all the maids working there. “Wow…you wouldn’t think the interior looks like this, given the exterior…”

“It’s certainly different from Porshka’s cafe…” Having voluntarily worked at Gritty Kitty cafe before, Faulkner thought he’d know what to expect. But the sheer volume of framed photos was staggering.

“Yup. I like Gritty Kitty Cafe, but here in Japan, where the trend originated, they take their cafes VERY seriously. The framed photos are all of the maids who have and are currently working here.”

“You say that like it’s no big deal, but…there are so many photos…” Karika took a few moments to gander at each one. There were some photos showing the same girls in group photos, but there were a staggering number on each wall.

“Of course, there’s also a merch shop where you can buy photos of the maids. There are also cosplay costumes that they sell here, which include maid outfits.” Hearing the word ‘cosplay,’ Karika’s ears perked up before she turned to face Reiza and Faulkner.

“Cosplay?! Oh! We gotta look at what they have!” As she says that, Karika’s stomach audibly growls. “Eh…after we eat, that is…”

“That’s why we’re here. Come on.” Leading Faulkner and Karika toward the maid cafe. Gold-colored rope guard rails lined the entrance. A human woman dressed in a brown vest over a white business shirt and dress pants approaches them from the pink carpet leading to the cafe.

“Konichiwa! Welcome to the at-home maid cafe, master, princesses!” Wearing a mask over her face, her friendly tone and greeting weren’t too dissimilar to Gritty Kitty Cafe. “Before you walk in, please read the cafe system pamphlet to familiarize yourselves with how it works.”

“Thank you.” Reiza bowed before taking the pamphlet from the worker’s hand. “Okay, here’s how it works, you two.” Going into great detail, Reiza explains to Faulkner and Karika how the Maid Cafe here works. “Unlike Gritty Kitty Cafe, a typical stay here is about an hour long. There’s a small admission fee on top of the meals. As for the plans laid out, we can either have a standard experience and simply dine here. Or, we can ask for a care package that includes a photo with the maids.” Before Reiza could explain more, a maid approached them. Like the worker before her, this maid was also human.

“Ara. Welcome, Master, Princesses.” Bowing at them, the maid in question took Reiza by surprise. The mature, almost maternal tone in the maid’s voice and her large, round glasses gave Reiza a clue as to what maid archetype their appointed maid is going for.

“P-Princess?” Karika’s reaction to the maid’s greeting was unexpected for either Reiza or Faulkner, as they saw Karika’s cheeks turn a bright shade of red.

“Yes, Princess. My name’s Kizuka. I’ll be your maid this afternoon.” It wasn’t just the tone she carried. Her long, black, flowing hair ran gracefully down the back of her dress. Her movements were fluid and graceful. And most striking of all, her green green eyes were a gentle sight to behold.

“Thank you for the warm greeting. I’m Reiza.” Reiza introduced herself with a light bow before gesturing at Karika and Faulkner. “And this is my sister, Karika. And our beloved, Faulkner.” Karika chuckled lightly and waved while Faulkner nodded and smiled.

“I see. It’s wonderful to meet you, Princess Reiza, Princess Karika, and Master Faulkner. I take it you’ve decided what package you all would like?” Knowing full well how the process works, Reiza points at the ‘full course’ on the menu.

“Yes. Give us the full course. One for each of us.” Taking the menu from Reiza, Kizuka bowed in acknowledgment.

“Understood. Please, allow me to escort you three to your seats.”

“I…uh…” Stammering on her words, Kizuka knew the moment she saw the three as tourists.

“Thank you very much. We’ll be in your care, Kizuka.” Reiza was familiar with how the maid cafes worked in Japan, so she returned Kizuka’s greeting with a bow.

“Thank you for the hospitality.” Faulkner followed Reiza’s lead, bowing with her.

“Uh…yeah. Thanks.” Karika was the last to bow. She hadn’t expected a greeting from a maid who looked so prim and proper, so it caught her off guard.

“Thank you. This way, please. And watch your step, everyone. These steps are always a deathtrap for the clumsy ones.” Referring to a small series of steps leading to the cafe, Kizuka leads them inside. As she does so, she reaches for a menu and a small bell sitting on a cashier’s desk to her left.

*Ring Ring Ring!*

“Master Faulkner and the princesses Karika and Reiza have arrived! Everyone, make sure to greet them properly.” Inside the cafe, maids of various races and archetypes moved about, tending to their customers. The moment Kizuka rang the bell, however, all the maids momentarily turned to face Faulkner, Karika, and Reiza.

“Welcome home!” Greeted with enthusiastic smiles, Reiza waved back at them with a smile while Faulkner and Karika stood awestruck. Seeing their reactions made Kizuka chuckle before she led them to their seats, warning them about another set of steps before being seated.

“Once again, welcome, Master Faulkner, Princesses Karika and Reiza. I’ll be in charge of you three for today. I’m Kizuka, the head maid. It’s a pleasure.” Kizuka bows once again, showing levels of hospitality neither Faulkner nor Karika were used to.

“Pleasure’s ours, Kizuka.” Reiza, on the other hand, went with the flow and bowed. “You’ll have to forgive my boyfriend and sister here, they’re rather new to this.” Selling them out, Karika’s cheeks flushed red before butting heads with Reiza.

“H-hey!” Finding Karika’s reaction cute, Kizuka noticed the pink ribbon hairband on Karika’s head.

“It’s okay, Princess Reiza. I don’t mind at all. Besides…” Feeling Kizuka’s gaze on her, Karika turns to face her. “It’s quite adorable seeing Princess Karika here acting so Tsun. The pink ribbon really adds to your charm, princess.”

“Haa…I…uh…” Finding herself at a loss for words, Karika could only stammer before Kizuka decided to move on.

“Anyway, would you like me to tell you about what’s on the menu, Master Faulkner, Princess Reiza, Princess Karika?”

“Yes, that’d be helpful, thank you.” Faulkner plays along with the master-and-servant act as Kizuka claps her hands together. Bringing the menu she grabbed earlier into view, the pink, heart-shaped notebook.

“Right then. On the first page are the drinks.” The drinks displayed on the first page were two colorful cocktails. “These are the magic shaker menu. With these drinks, I shake them for you while singing a magic incantation of cuteness to make them taste delicious.”

“Oh, that sounds nice. I didn’t know there were magic spells that could make things taste better.” Karika took what Kizuka said literally. This only added to her cuteness factor for Kizuka, as Karika’s blissful ignorance made her seem innocent.

“Indeed.” Flipping to the next page, the drinks displayed this time were coffee-based drinks. “We have different latte flavors like mocha, matcha, caramel, chai. But I’ll also draw cute little designs on each drink.”

“What can you draw?” Getting excited, Karika enthusiastically put her arms together, eager to know what Kizuka could draw.

“Good question, Princess Karika. I can draw a variety of cute animal faces, like cats and dogs. But I, in particular, can draw lots of characters from various anime and video games.”

“Ooohhh…” Karika nods as she made up her mind at that point.

“Next on the menu is the special food menu.” Looking down at the menu, there really wasn’t much to choose from. The two items on the left page were mostly cutesy, snack-sized meals. “On the left are our cutesy appetizers for those simply looking to snack.”

“These are pretty cute.” Reiza was eyeing the items on the left. As for Karika, the item on the right page caught her interest. Seeing the way Karika nearly drooled at the mere sight of it, Kizuka smiled before pointing at the right page.

“As for the item on the right page, there’s the ‘Pipiyo-Piyopiyo Hiyokosan Rice.'”

“Piyopiyopi Pi…yopipyo…” Karika stumbled hard trying to pronounce it correctly.

“Hehe. There’s no need to try so hard, Princess Karika. To put it simply, it’s Omurice with a cute drawing of Piyo-chan, one of the many cute mascots here.” Knowing what they wanted, Kizuka moved on to the desserts.

“Finally, we have our desserts.” Showing off the dessert menu, the left page shows two decadent-looking sundaes. One blue, one pink. “These desserts are magical sundae imbued with youth-restoring magic. Though it seems you two Princesses don’t need such things, given your youthful appearance.”

“Yeah. We’re not quite as young as we look, but we’re not middle-aged like this guy over here…” With a smug grin, Reiza points her left thumb at Faulkner.

“Hey.”

“Anyways, Kizuka, I thought this spell worked on everyone here. But you seem much older and wiser to be seventeen…” Reiza knew this place well enough to know

“Ehehe. You’re such a tease, Princess Reiza. I’m seventeen by heart. As for the rest of the maids here…” Taking a moment to look at the rest of the maids, various types of monsters from a ditzy lamia to a tsundere harpy served other customers, whether human or monster. “Everyone here feels the same way. However, we’ve had to make some changes to stand out from the other maid cafes out there. We can’t be outdone, after all.”

“That makes sense. Still, it’s nice to have such a headstrong, polite maid to lead them. We’re incredibly lucky to have you as our host today.” Praising Kizuka’s diligence from a roleplay and literal perspective, she blushed in the same way before bowing lightly to Reiza.

“Thank you, Princess Reiza. I shall do my utmost to carry on that image. In any case, I’ll give you, Princess Karika, and Master Faulkner some time to think of what you want to order from the menu. When you’ve decided…” Kizuka pulls out a small bell from a pocket in her apron before placing it on their table. “Just ring this bell, and I’ll come straight to you.”

“Thank you, Kizuka. You’re dismissed for the time being.” Acting out his role as master, Faulkner dismissed Kizuka as she bowed again before leaving them alone.

“Holy crap. This is WAY different from the Gritty Kitty Cafe Porshka runs. It’s all super cutesy. And all the maids play their roles super seriously.”

“Like I said, they take their maid cafes very seriously. It’s a popular way for hard-working Japanese folk to unwind and melt the stress and fatigue of work. The friendly atmosphere and roleplay help them forget about their mundane lives even for a brief moment.”

“Is work fatigue really that bad over here?” Karika’s always heard that Japanese people often work themselves to the bone because of a strong sense of responsibility and honor. So far, she’s only seen the people here from a tourist’s perspective.

“Pretty bad, yeah. The lack of children and the overabundance of elderly folks is a clear sign of that.” Reiza flips back through the menu pages, figuring out what she wants as she speaks. “You probably don’t notice it since we’ve only been here for two days. And I doubt you will for the rest of the week.”

“True. I guess I’d have to be a citizen here to know the struggle.” Karika already knew what she wanted, so the two of them just waited on Faulkner. He noticed Karika and Reiza staring before he shook his head.

“There’s not much to choose from on the menu, so I already know what I want. We’re all ready, right?” Karika and Reiza nod before Faulkner picks up the bell. Ringing it twice, Kizuka calls out to them before swiftly approaching.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting, Princess Karika, Princess Reiza, Master Faulkner. What can I get for you?”

“I’ll get the Magic Shaker Cocktail, the wan-wan curry and rice, and the Fluffy Toy Poodle Cake.” Rather than order the popular Omurice, Reiza wanted something a little spicy to warm her body.

“Sounds good. The wan-wan curry rice is my favorite, too. Good choice. And you, Master Faulkner?”

“I’ll have the Magic Shaker Cocktail, too. But I’ll have the Pipiyo Piyo-piyo Omurice. As for dessert, the Sweet Little Prince Sundae will do.”

“Oh, the Sweet little prince sundae. A fitting dessert for a sweet master.” Kizuka playfully winks at Faulkner before turning her attention to Karika. “And last but certainly not least, Princess Karika, what would our cute little princess like?” Karika was already feeling butterflies in her stomach in anticipation of her turn to order. But when she’s called out by Kizuka afterward, she blushes so much that her whole face turns red.

“Eh? M-me?” Karika fumbles through the menu, even though she already knew what she wanted. “Um…I’ll take the Maid draws Mocha latte, the Piyop…I mean piyopi…” Stammering her words, Kizuka couldn’t help but chuckle, momentarily breaking her character as a calm, dignified maid.

“It’s okay, little princess. The Pipiyo piyo-piyo Omurice. What about dessert?”

“L-little?” Typically, Karika would associate being called little as an insult. But coming from the demure maid, she knew it was a genuine compliment, momentarily catching her off guard. “I’ll have the Little Princess Sundae, please…”

“With pleasure. If that’s all, Princess Karika, Princess Reiza, Master Faulkner, I’ll return with your drinks post-haste.” Kizuka bows again before leaving to fetch their orders. Once she was away from earshot, Karika let out a loud gasp as if she had been holding her breath the whole time.

“Man, I’ve never seen you get so nervous before, Porky. What’s up with that?”

“That…um…” Twiddling her fingers, Faulkner chuckled before speaking for her.

“Considering Karika’s surrounded by all these cute maids and is being treated like a princess, her reaction doesn’t surprise me at all.”

“Faulkner!” Karika tried to be mindful of the people around her and shouted his name as quietly as she could. Still, a few of the maids on duty overheard her. They react to her display of embarrassment with smiles and chuckles, then wave to her. “Ah…s-sorry…”

“Is that a fact? I guess I know how to reduce Porky into a mewling little piglet. I just hate to call her my pweety wittle pwincess…” Reiza was loving this. She got new dirt on how to tease Karika. And given the atmosphere they’re in, she knew Karika couldn’t retaliate the way she usually does without causing a scene.

“You little…I’ll get you for this later, small tits…” Knowing full well an argument with Reiza would only exacerbate things, Karika held off for now to brainstorm ideas for how to get back at Reiza later.

“I hope you didn’t wait long. Your drinks are ready.” Kizuka calls out to Faulkner, Karika, and Reiza as she returns with their drinks. Carrying them on a metal platter, Kizuka sets it down on the adjacent vacant table before placing two glass cups filled with ice. For the time being, Kizuka left Karika’s Mocha Latte on the platter. “Okay. Let’s get the shakers first. Master Faulkner, Princess Reiza, which of you two wants to go first?”

“I’ll go first if you don’t mind, Kizuka.” Volunteering first to give Faulkner and Karika a chance to see how things play out, Reiza flashes Kizuka a smile.

“Ah, of course, Princess Reiza.” Grabbing one of the shakers on the silver platter, Kizuka presents it in front of Reiza. “Now, before I serve you your drink, I’d like your help with a spell of mine.”

“Ho? A spell? Praytell. What sort of spell is it?”

“Ehehe. It’s a spell to make your drink taste super good. It’ll also make the drink unique for the person casting said spell. Are you ready, Princess?” Reiza’s eyes widen slightly at the new ‘spell.’ It’s usually just roleplay, but Kizuka’s tone implies it’s actually one.

“Oh, an actual spell? That’s new. But alright. How does it work?”

“The process itself is simple. Just follow along with my incantation. So when I say Furi-Furi, you follow along. When I say Shaka-Shaka, you repeat after, and so on.”

“I see. Let’s get started then, Kizuka.”

“Right!” Flashing Reiza a bright smile, Kizuka grabs one of the shakers with one hand on the lid and the other on the bottom. “Furi-Furi…”

“Furi-Furi…”

“Shaka-Shaka…”

“Shaka-Shaka…” Following along, Kizuka would shake the shaker with each incantation. The shaker seemed to glow yellow right before Karika’s eyes as the spell progressed. Whether the glow was due to the actual spell or feeling enamored by the spectacle was up for debate. Seeing Karika’s reaction and how well Reiza played along, Faulkner couldn’t keep himself from smiling.

“Ta-da!” When Kizuka and Reiza’s incantation finished, the shaker glowed a bright flash of yellow for a second before dimming. “Now, let’s see what color your drink turned into.” Pulling the top off the shaker, Kizuka pours into one of the glass cups. The scent of freshly squeezed oranges fills Reiza’s nostrils as her cocktail turns into a fizzy orange drink.

“Huh, that’s unexpected…”

“A bright, citrucy drink with color that matches the setting sun. The fizzy quality of the drink is quite indicative of your personality. Quite beautiful if I say so myself, Princess Reiza.” Taking a tentative sip, Reiza was surprised by the taste of her drink.

“So good. No doubt a byproduct of your tender loving care, Kizuka.”

“Twas nothing. In any case, the drink only turned out that way because you helped.” Seeing Reiza satisfied with her drink, Kizuka turns her attention to Faulkner next. “Now then, Master Faulkne, it’s your turn.” Having watched the spectacle, Faulkner was eager to find out how his drink would turn out.

“Oh, uh…so I just follow along with you, right?”

“That’s right. Let’s begin!”

“Furi-Furi.”

“F-Furi-Furi…” Blushing a deep shade of red, Faulkner didn’t realize how embarrassing it was to sing along until he did it himself, causing him to hesitate and fall a second behind.

“Shaka-Shaka.”

“Shaka…Shaka…” Kizuka, however, played her role as head maid beautifully and patiently waited for Faulkner. Personally, she found his hesitation adorable.

Like before, the shaker glows before their eyes after their incantation. But rather than yellow, the glow was pink. Seemingly knowing what the color would be before even pouring, Kizuka smiles as she pours Faulkner’s personal cocktail into the other glass cup.

“It’s…pink?” Surprised at the color, the pink cocktail smelled of cherries as it filled the glass. Aside from the color, the drink lacked carbonation compared to Reiza’s.

“Yes. Your drink, master, is a rare pink cherry blossom cocktail. The drink has a smooth, comforting taste that’s easy on the palate, like a non-carbonated beverage. It’s quite telling of your gentle personality.” Kizuka’s description of Faulkner’s drink had him blushing in embarrassment. His face only got redder, making Kizuka break out of character for a moment before chuckling. “So cute.”

“A…ahahaha…” Laughing it off, Faulkner took the glass and brought it to his lips. With a light sip, he hummed in surprise at how light yet fragrant the drink was. “It’s good.”

“Of course it is. Given that you aided me, Master, there’s no way it wouldn’t have turned out that way.”

“Y-yes. That’s true, I suppose. Still, I suspect it’s your kind-hearted devotion that made it come out this way, Kizuka. I’m grateful.”

“I’m honored, Master.” Kizuka bows in gratitude, both from a roleplay perspective and genuine thanks for his sincere compliment.

“Hrrmmpphhff…” Having watched in awe as their drinks changed magically before her eyes, Karika was envious of Reiza and Faulkner. Loud as she was at pouting, Karika’s envy didn’t go unnoticed by Kizuka, who swiftly turned her attention to Karika while Faulkner and Reiza tasted each other’s drinks.

“Princess Karika, there’s no need to despair. I haven’t forgotten about you.” With Karika’s mocha latte in her hands, Kizuka places it in front of Karika before picking up the decorating nozzle used to draw on the whipped cream topping. “What would you like me to draw on this, princess?” Holding the nozzle in her hands, Kizuka brings it close to her chest and smiles while waiting for Karika.

“Hmm…” Racking her head for something to draw, it didn’t take long for Karika to think of something. “Kizuka, you’ve heard of the twin Cheshire idols, right?”

“Oh, you must be talking about Natalice and Matilda, correct?”

“Nal-I mean, yeah. Can you draw them?”

“Of course. Leave it to me.” Teaming with confidence, Kizuka began drawing on the latte’s surface. Having lots of experience under her belt, it was almost like magic watching Kizuka draw as she had already finished drawing a chibi version of Natalice’s head.

“Whoa…” The latte’s surface didn’t have much room, yet Kizuka drew not only Natalice but also Matilda with enough detail to tell them apart.

“There. All done. How’d I do, Princess?”

“Amazing. You got their hair lengths right and even the patterns. You’re so good at this! It’s almost a shame to drink out of.”

“Oh, but I insist you do, princess. It’s just as flavorful as master’s or your fellow princess’s drinks.”

“Well…okay.” Taking a hesitant sip, Karika’s eyes lit up at the dark, subtle sweetness of the dark chocolate flavor of her mocha drink. “Yum! It’s so good!” Kizuka hummed contentedly as she saw Karika’s ears flutter in delight.

“I told you. Now then, I’ll leave you three to it. Your meal should be ready soon. As always, if you have need of me, I am but a bell ring away.” With a curtsy bow, Kizuka leaves the three once more to enjoy their drinks.

“Hey, sis. Do you mind if I try your drink?” Karika was happy with her drink, but she was still curious to try Reiza’s.

“Only if you’ll give me a sip of your mocha.”

“F’course.” Switching drinks, they were both surprised at the taste of one another’s drink. It was clear who was enjoying their drinks more, from how cheerfully Karika was humming. “Wow. Your drink’s really something. It’s so bright with just the right amount of tart. It’s like an orange energy drink.”

“Yeah. It’s good, ain’t it? Hey, wait. Stop sipping already!” Reiza takes her drink back after Karika took a few too many sips.

“Aww…sorry. I couldn’t help it…” After reclaiming her mohca, Karika was already eyeing Faulkner’s cocktail. Her penetrating gaze didn’t go unnoticed before he relinquished his drink.

“Here…”

“Thank you.” Taking her drink as compensation, the mocha was definitely flavorful, but he was more preoccupied with watching Karika’s reaction.

“It’s mellow in a good way. The cherry flavor’s there, but it’s light. That’s it. We have to come here at least one more time before we go back home. I want to try the magic cocktail too.”

“I had a feeling you’d say that.” Reiza already knew the answer, but she glanced at Faulkner anyway for his response.

“Sure. We can probably come here again the day before we head back.” Handing their drinks back to each other, they held off on drinking the rest until their meals arrived.

“Thank you for the wait…” Coming at just the right time, Kizuka came with a silver platter of their meals. “I have two Pipiyo-Piyopiyo Hiyokosan Rice and one Wan-Wan Curry and Rice.” Setting their meals, Reiza smirked at the cute curry order in the shape of a puppy. The white rice was the head with soft, colorful breading shaped into the puppy’s nose, eyes, and mouth. Two pieces of hamburger steak were cleverly used as the floppy ears. All surrounded by a mild curry sauce with star-shaped carrot pieces on top. “Here’s your Wan-Wan Curry and Rice, Princess Reiza.”

“Thank you, Kizuka. It’s absolutely adorable.” Kizuka returns Reiza’s smile with hers before handing the two Pipiyo-Piyopiyo Hiyokusan Rice dishes to Faulkner and Karika.

“Oh man, that looks so good…” Karika’s stomach rumbled at the sight of her meal. A medley of various veggies lined the right side of the plate alongside a scoop of mashed potatoes and two pieces of bread. On the left is the omurice with a perfectly cooked, fluffy omelet on top of rice seasoned with ketchup.

“Of course, Princess Karika. Only the best for Master Faulkner and his lovers.” While talking, Kizuka slices the omelet in the middle, causing it to split open as it unfurls to reveal a steamy, fluffy interior. The exterior folds wrapped around the rice, covering it entirely.

“Here you are, Master Faulkner, Princess Karika. For the finishing touch, I’ll draw a picture on your omurice.” That’s when Kizua turns her attention to Karika. “Princess, what would you like me to draw this time?”

“Oh, uh…” Put on the spot, Karika tried to think of something else for Kizuka to draw. She could go the easy route and ask for the Pipiyo mascot. But that was too generic, she thought. And as Karika struggled to come to a consensus in her head, she was unaware of how much she was fidgeting and groaning. Kizuka couldn’t help but giggle, breaking character once more for a brief moment. “Ah! I know! Kizuka, I want you to draw the cutest thing you can think of.”

“The cutest thing I can think of…” Kizuka pretends to be in deep thought before she starts drawing. At first, Karika couldn’t make out what it was. But after drawing the initial outlines, her eyes widened and gleamed with joy as the picture came together.

“W-wait…is that?” Daring not to finish the sentence out of fear of jumping the gun, Faulkner and Reiza had the same thought as Kizuka finished drawing.

“Just as you’ve requested, Princess Karika, I drew the cutest thing I could think of, you.” Drawing a chibi face of Karika, Kizuka drew diagonal lines across Karika’s cheeks to convey shyness and added wiggle effects to her ears. As for the bottom text, Kizuka wrote, ‘The cutest High Orc I’ve ever seen!’

“Oh…ahaha…th-thank you…so much.” Karika was flattered to the point of near-speechlessness. C-can I take a picture of it?”

“Of course. I’m happy you like it so much.” Taking her phone out, Karika snaps a photo of her omurice to share with the group chat for later. Kizuka turned her attention to Faulkner after, ready to draw something for him as well. “And what about you, master? What would you like me to draw?”

“Well…since you’ve drawn such a master piece for Karika, why don’t you draw one for Princess Reiza for mine?” The flames on Reiza’s horns and tail turned a reddish-pink. Her reaction only motivated Kizuka.

“Certainly, Master Faulkner. After all, I’ve just been given a perfect reference to work with, along with the delicious canvas.” Adding more to her embarrassment from the compliment, Reiza grumbled with a quivering smile on her face as Kizuka drew. As more of the drawing’s details became clear, Reiza watched Kizuka mimic the smile Reiza was trying to suppress in chibi form, drawing the flames on Reiza’s cheeks into hearts.

“Oh, this turned out way better than in my head. Nice work, Kizuka.” Taking out his phone before Reiza could react, Faulkner swiftly snapped a photo of the finished art.

“Faulkner…y-you’d better keep that to yourself, alright?” Reiza fought hard against the urge to yell at him, remaining courteous, something Kizuka respected and found adorable.

“Heh, don’t worry. I don’t plan on sharing this with anyone else. Besides…” Taking Reiza and Karika by surprise, he snaps a photo of the two in the same frame. Karika was looking at Reiza with a smug smile on her face, while Reiza’s cheeks had since matched the color of her flames. “This is arguably more precious.”

“Ack! Y-you ass…” Reiza shrugs her embarrassment away before Kizuka finally gets to their desserts.

“I also have your desserts here. The Little Prince and Princess Sundae’s for Master Faulkner and Princess Karika…” Handing the desserts to them, Faulkner’s sundae was blue, topped with whipped cream, marshmallows, white chocolate pieces shaped like a bear, and a maraschino cherry. “For Master Faulkner, a ramune-flavored Little Prince Sundae.” Curious as to the flavor of the sundae, Faulkner took a small scoop of the sundae into his mouth.

“Ramune flavor. That’s an interesting flavor.” Faulkner hummed in pleasant surprise before Kizuka turned her attention to Karika.

“And for you, Princess Karika, here’s your Strawberry-flavored Little Princess Sundae.” Karika’s sundae was much the same as Faulkner’s, aside from the color and flavor, and had a rabbit-shaped chocolate piece rather than a bear.

“Oh. This is cute, too. And so decadent looking.” Karika took a picture of her sundae and Faulkner’s sundae before taking a bite from hers. “Hmm! So sweet!”

“Indeed. Not that you need it, but it’s enchanted in a way that’ll make you seventeen forever.” Karika chuckled at the idea before Kizuka grabbed the final dessert for Reiza. A soft cake formed the poodle’s face, decorated with oval-shaped chocolate pieces for the eyes, and a pink whipped cream and chocolate drizzle on top for the mouth. Heart-shaped chocolate pieces clustered together form the poodle’s ears with a side of fresh slices of fruit on the bottom.

“Princess Reiza, here’s your dessert. A Cutie Toy Poodle Cake, made with lots of love and sweet wishes.”

“Wow. Looks tasty. Thank you, Kizuka.”

“You’re welcome, Princess. Anyway, I’ll leave you three to enjoy your meal and dessert. Ring the bell if you need me, as always.” With another bow, Kizuka leaves the three to enjoy their meal and desserts.

“Okay. As tempted as I am to spoil my appetite and go for desserts first…” Without hesitation, Karika digs into her meal. Simple as the dish is, it was nonetheless tasty, curbing her hunger as she demolished her meal in less than five minutes.

“That was fast…” Faulkner hadn’t even finished his meal halfway when Karika finished hers.

“Shut up. I’m hungry, alright?” Karika passively takes a scoop of her sundae, squealing in delight with each bite.

“Well, Porky does have the right idea. We don’t have much time, so eating quickly is fine.” Reiza was nearly done with her curry, biting into the last bits of hamburger steak covered in curry sauce. “We’ll be taking a commemorative photo with Kizuka after our meal.” Karika froze just as she was about to take a spoonful of her sundae.

“Ah, that’s right! I wonder what pose I should do?” Karika considered the various poses she could assume with Kizuka. “Maybe a peace sign? Or form a heart with our arms?”

“Heh. I know what I’m doing with mine.” Reiza wouldn’t say what it is, wanting it to be a surprise. “What about you, Faulkner?”

“Hmm…” Finishing his meal, Faulkner took a few scoops of his sundae while he was deep in thought. “I think a heart gesture with our hands will work.” Now that all three of them knew what they wanted, they focused on finishing their meal before the end of their service. Once finished, they all sighed with content before Reiza rings the bell to call for Kizuka. Swift as the wind, Kizuka arrived seconds after the bell was rung.

“Sorry for the wait, Princess Reiza, Princess Karika, Master Faulkner. How was your meal?” Kizuka swiftly takes the empty plates and sundae cups onto a silver platter.

“It was all delicious, Kizuka.” Giving Kizuka their props, Reiza responds by giving her a thumbs up.

“Yeah! Our compliments to the chef. And your magic, of course!” Karika did the same, patting her belly in satisfaction.

“Indeed. The love and care put into the meals and dessert made them taste all the better.” Faulkner finished the trio of compliments with a nod and smile.

“I see. I’m so very happy to hear you all enjoyed yourselves. In just a few minutes, we’ll be calling you over to the stage for your photos. Is there any particular maid you’d like to take pictures with?” Karika, Reiza, and Faulkner all looked at each other with smiles on their faces before turning to face Kizuka. Without even saying it, Kizuka knew who they wanted. “I see. I’m happy to take a picture with all three of you. Just give us a moment before we call for you, Princess Reiza, Princess Karika, Master Faulkner.”

“Sure, take your time.” With a curtsy, Kizuka takes their empty plates and cups before leaving them to prepare for their photos.

“Man, that stuff was good. But I still have some room for more. Too bad an hour is all we get…”

“If you’re still hungry, Porky, they have food stalls on the ground floor for you to try.”

“Ah, right! There was one I saw earlier that I want to go to. That meat skewer place.” Karika only got a whiff of the meat grilled there earlier, but the thought of tasting it already got her salivating.

“Geez. I guess for you, that meal wasn’t enough to fill your stomach.”

“Hey, a woman like me’s gotta eat, Faulkner. That extra protein helps keep my muscles healthy.” Karika boasts by flexing her right bicep.

“Heh, I know. I’m still maintaining my musculature, too, you know?” There was a bit of stomach flab Faulkner still had to burn, but at least he was at a point where his abs were visible again. “Growing old sucks…” Hearing the echo of a microphone turning on, Karika, Reiza, and Faulkner turn their attention to the stage up front.

“Master Faulkner, Princess Karika, and Princess Reiza, please make your way to the stage for a commemorative photo!” At being called up, Karika’s cheeks turn red in anticipation. Noticing it, Reiza takes the first move to take the lead.

“Well, looks like we’re up. Time to go.”

“Right.” Getting off their table, Karika followed Reiza’s lead with Faulkner walking behind her. Once they’ve reached the stage, Kizuka greets the three with a bow.

“Hello, Princess Karika, Princess Reiza, Master Faulkner. Which of you three would like to take a picture with me first?” Stepping forward, Reiza raised her hand.

“I’ll go first.”

“Understood, Princess Reiza. What pose would you like to do with me?”

“Let’s make a heart with our hands together. I’ll put up a peace sign with my other hand.” Kizuka nods affirmatively with a bright smile.

“As you wish, Princess.” Kizuka gestured to a younger maid with twin tails, freckled cheeks, and round glasses, fitting the nerdy girl archetype. On her back were clear, insect-like wings. The tips of which were pink. “Our fairy Jessie here will take our photo. She’ll count one to three before going ‘moe moe!’” Kizuka demonstrated by bouncing in rhythm to the cue.

“Gotcha. Let’s do this.” Standing next to Kizuka, they lean close together before bringing their hands together to form a heart, with Reiza on the left and Kizuka on the right. With their other hand, they each hold up a peace sign before Jessie starts counting down.

“Alright, are you two ready? One, two, three, moe moe!”

*Flash!*

“Great. I got a clear shot!” Jessie shoots them a thumbs-up before Reiza moves out of the frame.

“Alright, your turn, Porky.”

“Eh? Uh…okay…” Nervously standing next to Kizuka, Karika could barely maintain eye contact before looking down to twiddle with her fingers instead.

“Princess Karika?” Patient with Karika, Kizuka waited until Karika mustered the courage to talk.

“Um…I want to do a heart pose too. But, I want us to form the heart with our arms.” Clapping her hands together, Kizuka’s face lit up with a smile.

“What a wonderful suggestion. I’ve never done one of those before.” Approaching Karika, Kizuka bent her hips sideways to the left, stretching her arms out over her head to form the right side of the heart. “This is what you mean, right, Princess Karika?”

“Y-yeah! That’s it!” Joining Kizuka to form the other half of the heart, Jessie quickly gets into position to take their photo.

“Okay. Like before, one, two, three, moe moe!”

*Snap!*

“Nice!” Jessie gave another thumbs-up before Karika stood up straight. Facing Kizuka, she bows to her.

“Thank you, Kizuka.”

“You’re welcome, Princess Karika.” Without even saying so, Faulkner approached her as Karika moved away. “Master Faulkner, what pose would you like to do with me?

“I’d like to do a simple one where we each form a heart with our hands and smile at the camera.”

“Oh? Rather plain, but there’s nothing wrong with that.” Getting into position, Kizuka and Faulkner lean closer together, shoulder to shoulder, with Faulkner on the left side. Each formed a heart with their hands before bringing it close to their chest as Jessie aimed with the camera.

“Alright. One, two, three, moe moe!”

*Snap*

“Okay! The photos are done! I should have them ready in just a few minutes.”

“Thank you, Jessie. Master Faulkner, Princess Karika, Princess Reiza, I’d like you three to wait in your seats while we get your photos ready. I have a special surprise for them.” Kizuka gestured in the direction of their table with her left hand.

“Sure. Thank you.” Faulkner thanked Kizuka, following it with a bow before he, Karika, and Reiza returned to their seats.

“Hmm…she already did so much for us. What surprise does she have in mind?” Having experienced more than she bargained for, Karika was more than satisfied.

“She’s probably doing a doodle along with the picture for a personal touch. Every maid does their own thing here.” Reiza explained, having gone to maid cafes a few times before.

“Huh? I see. I take it other maid cafes do something similar?” Having done volunteer work at Gritty Kitty Cafe, Faulkner asked Reiza whether other maid cafes in Japan have similar routines, as he had never had one like that there. For the most part, he was just eye candy for the female patrons.

“Yup.” A minute later, Kizuka comes back with three cards in hand.

“Thanks for waiting. Master Faulkner, Princess Reiza, Princess Karika, here are your photos.” Handing each card in the order she called them out, they open the cards and find their respective photos.

“Ah, C-cute!” For Karika, Kizuka drew another chibi head of Karika with hearts for cheeks. She also wrote a note in English, calling Karika ‘The cutest Princess she’s ever seen.’ “Thank you so much!”

“Heh…” Reiza smirked when she saw hers. Kizuka drew Chibi Reiza with a cool expression, calling her ‘Cool as a cucumber.’ “I like it.”

“Ah…ahaha…” Finally, Kizuka’s doodle of Chibi Faulkner has him smiling with the words ‘A master of unparalleled charisma.’ “Thank you, Kizuka.”

All of their photos came out great, with another message in Japanese indicating where they were taken.

“You’re all welcome. It was a genuine pleasure serving you three this afternoon.” Kizuka then pulls out one last card from a pocket in her maid’s uniform. “Also, because you three were kind enough to take a photo with me, I give you my maid card as a sign of my appreciation.” The card in Kizuka’s hand has a personal photo of her holding a teapot and pouring it elegantly into a teacup, personifying her elegant, headmaid persona. She then presents the card for Karika to take.

“M-me? Thank you.” Karika took the card with a smile, then bowed in gratitude.

“How’d you enjoy your time here, Master Faulkner, Princess Karika, Princess Reiza? Did you all manage to relax and recharge your batteries?” Looking at one another, Karika, Faulkner, and Reiza all nod in agreement before turning to smile at Kizuka.

“We had a blast. Thank you for making our time here memorable.” Faulkner was the first to speak up, feeling grateful for Kizuka’s performance and patience.

“Yup. You’re a great hostess, Kizuka. It’s great you’re so enthusiastic, but make sure you get plenty of rest.” Reiza still played the kind princess role. But she also meant it by holding the photo they took together close to her chest.

“Hehe. It was fun. We’ll definitely be back here before the end of the week.” Karika was the last to express her gratitude, eager to come back for a second time.

“Oh? Then I look forward to your next visit, Princess Karika, Princess Reiza, and Master Faulkner. I’m sure you three are very busy, so do come back when you feel exhausted and need a recharge.” Saying her goodbye for now, Kizuka leads them back to the maid cafe’s entrance.

“One last thing…” Reaching for a handbell at the front counter, Kizuka rings it to capture every maid’s attention. “Everyone, Master Faulkner, Princess Karika, and Princess Reiza are leaving for now.” With graceful unity, the maids do a curtsy in perfect synch.

“Take care, Master Faulkner, Princess Karika, Princess Reiza. Have a wonderful day!” Talking in synch just as well, Faulkner, Karika, and Reiza returned the gesture with a bow.

“Take care, Master Faulkner, Princess Karika, Princess Reiza. I’ll eagerly await your return.” Kizuka gave them one last bow before waving goodbye as Faulkner, Reiza, and Karika walked past her. Before leaving, Karika took one last glance at Kizuka. “Princess Karika?”

“Ehehe. You’ve probably heard this more times than you care to, but really, thanks so much for the wonderful time, Kizuka.” While not exclusive to Japanese culture, showing gratitude is ingrained to the point of redundancy. Kizuka’s received plenty of praise and gratitude, both genuine and courteous ones. Yet Karika’s, in particular, were the kind of gratitude one receives only when one has a truly memorable experience.

“Thank you so much, Princess Karika.” Kizuka bowed deeper this time, showing her the utmost respect.

“Well, that was fun. Way different from how Mrs. Porshka runs the Gritty Kitty Cafe.” Faulkner left not only with a full stomach but also with a recharged body after experiencing a true maid cafe.

“Right? I know Mrs. Porshka’s working on attracting more customers, but she’ll have to step up her game after that experience.” Similar to Faulkner, Reiza left the cafe feeling refreshed.

However, their experience doesn’t compare to the elation Karika felt.

“Totally! I’m definitely going to tell her everything they do here. I’d love to see the girls there acting all cutesy. Though I guess it does clash with the ‘Gritty’ aspect of Mrs. Porshka’s cafe, wouldn’t it?” Just as Karika was lost in thought, she spotted a small gift shop section near the cafe with merchandise from the maids who worked there. “Oh, hey, what’re those?” Looking at where Karika was pointing, Reiza answers her.

“Hmm? That’s a gift shop that sells knick-knacks and souvenirs related to the maid cafe. The ones you’re looking at in particular include a photo that best personifies the individual maid, along with a keychain and photo holder.”

“Oh! Cool! Hey, let’s go buy one related to Kizuka!” Dashing straight for the gift shop, Karika sorts through a display showcasing all the maids that currently work at the cafe.

“So many. I’m seeing quite a few that I haven’t seen today.”

“They’re probably maids that work different shifts, Faulkner.” Reiza watched Karika scan the individual maids until she found Kizuka.

“There she is!” The Kizuka merch includes a picture of Kizuka sitting by a window, showing a controlled and composed disposition. Karika swiftly heads to the self-checkout register and buys it. “Yay!” Putting the merchandise in their bag, they went all the way back to the ground floor of Don Quijote.

“Welp, where do we go now?” Not even a minute passed before Karika’s nose went to work. Locating the wonderful scent of grilled meat, she went straight for the BBQ skewer stand. “Of course she goes straight for the meat…”

“She did say she was still hungry.” Faulkner chuckled before looking down at the four full bags of merch they bought around Akihabara so far. “Gosh…with all the stuff we have already, how much more are we gonna carry between all of us?”

“Who knows? I do have some other souvenirs to get for my friends still.” Reiza had a few ideas of what to get, mainly for Kilala.

“Right. I wonder if there’s a place that sells good booze here? Can I even take it back with me? I should be able to.” Just as he was about to pull his phone out to look for a place to find booze, a meat skewer was shoved between his face and his phone. “Wah?!”

“Hehe! Here you go, Faulkner!”

“Oh, thank you.” Karika handed another one to Reiza, leaving Karika with two for herself.

“Mind telling us what kind of skewers these are?”

“Beef. Well, okay. They’re the wagyu skewers, so I’m sure these’ll taste leagues better than any meat skewers we’ve had before.”

“Man, we just ate. And you want us to eat something this fatty?” Reiza was close to full, while Faulkner had a little more room for food.

“It’s just one stick. Plus, the portions are pretty small. Why’d you think I got two?” Karika happily munches on one of the skewers already, humming in bliss with each bite.

“Heh. Well, judging from Karika’s reaction, it does seem worth it.” Taking a bite himself, Faulkner’s eyes lit up at how the beef melts in his mouth. “Oh damn, this is good…”

“Sheesh. You two are incorrigible.” Reiza was the last to bite into her skewer. Despite her initial hesitation, the colorful flare of bright orange flames on her horns and tail gave away how she felt on the first bite.

“See? It’s good, isn’t it?” When Karika called Reiza out, all she did in response was scoff. “Anyways, there’s somewhere else I’d like us to go at midnight.”

“Midnight? Where would you possibly want to go at midnight?” Faulkner was curious to know where Karika wanted to go, while Reiza had an idea of what Karika was going for.

“Oh, come on. We’re in Japan, aren’t we? While we’re here, we might as well visit the infamous red light districts around here. Specifically, the Kabukicho area in Shinjuku.”

“Red light…you mean, like one of those sketchy districts you go to late at night?” Faulkner was half done with his skewer before staring Karika right in the face. “Karika, you understand what you’re saying, right?”

“Yeah. The closest thing we have to a red light district back home is some alleyway filled with drugged-up hookers. At least here in Japan, the people have more tact, right? Besides, the main reason I want to go is to see what the clubs are like. That and maybe spend a few hours at a love hotel.” Karika winked suggestively at Faulkner and Reiza. Her mind wandered to the fun they’d have rather than the implications of going there.

“I know where you’re getting at, Karika. But do you think Reiza would want to go there? In all likelihood, she’s probably already been…” Faulkner couldn’t bring himself to finish his sentence, knowing Reiza must’ve been to places like Kabukicho before. It took Karika a moment to think before she realized that.

“Oh…crap. Um…s-sorry, I was just so-”

“It’s fine. We can go if Porky wants to go there.” Cutting Karika off, she and Faulkner turned to Reiza, astonished that she agreed to go.

“Eh, what?! Seriously, you don’t mind going, sis?”

“I don’t mind at all. And yes, I’ve been there before, so I can definitely point us at bar clubs that’re still relatively safe and have fun at the same time.”

“Reiza…are you absolutely sure?” Staring back at Faulkner, Reiza finished off her skewer before tossing the stick into a trash can nearby.

“I’m sure. To be honest, I’m just as curious as Karika is. Place must’ve changed since I’ve been gone.”

“Huh…alright. If you say it’s okay, great.” Karika polished off her two meat skewers and tossed them in the trash.

“Though…if we’re going, we’ll need to do some prep first.”

“Prep?” Faulkner was the last to finish his skewer before Reiza grabbed Karika’s right hand.

“If we’re going to Kabukicho, then we’ll need to dress the part. So you and I will go for a little shopping spree to find the right clothes.”

“Eh? But we have plenty of clothes we brought from home.”

“Yeah, and those won’t work. At least the ones YOU brought with you.” Reiza makes a point by pointing at Karika’s clothes. “The clothes you’re wearing now won’t do. Besides, this is a rare chance to glam up wearing clothes you can only get in Japan.”

“I-I guess that’s fine…” Karika nervously, but ultimately agrees before Reiza turns her attention to Faulkner.

“As for you, Faulkner. Why don’t you do us a favor and go back to the Tokyo Dome Hotel? I’m sure you’d rather drop off all the crap we bought here in Akihabara.”

“True. Are you two going to be alright by yourselves? I mean…I know you have Karika, but…”

“It’s alright, Faulkner. We’re staying here in Akihabara, so it’s not like you won’t know where to find us. That being said, I actually want you to wait for us at the hotel.”

“Alright, try not to take too lo-…wait, what?! How long do you expect me to wait?”

“Hmm…I dunno. Give or take, two or three hours?”

“Okay, can I ask why?”

“Simple. I want to surprise you with how we look later. And you’d spoil it by coming back here and seeing what type of clothes we’re getting. Just play along and wait for us in the hotel room. We’ll probably get some sleep before leaving anyway, so just take a nap if you want to.” There was a brief silence of hesitation from Faulkner’s part before Karika nodded and agreed with Reiza.

“It’s alright, Faulkner. I’ll keep an eye on small tits here.” Considering nothing happened yesterday when he was preoccupied with Nala and Mala, it put Faulkner at ease knowing they’re close by should Karika and Reiza need him.

“Alright. Don’t take too long. And call me if something happens.”

“We will.” Reiza gave Faulkner a wave before pulling Karika along. “Okay, time for a shopping spree!” Reiza pumped her fists high in excitement, dragging the nervous Karika with her. Once they disappeared within the crowd, Faulkner sighed and turned around to head back to the hotel room.

“Uh…” Karika was completely lost. She waited for Reiza to elaborate now that Faulkner’s gone. “Now that Faulkner’s gone, you mind explaining WHY we’re shopping for more clothes when we already bought a lot earlier?”

“How much do you know about Kabukicho? Aside from the fact that it’s the most notorious red light district in Japan?”

“Um…”

“You didn’t even bother to read into it, did you? Kabukicho’s a HUGE tourist trap waiting to happen. If we show up there the way we are now, we’ll get SWARMED by Touts.”

“Touts?” Karika cocked her head, unaware of the term.

“They’re employees who sit outside of their establishments. They try to lure people walking by into their bars to drink and party. Sometimes, they’ll even put drugs in your drinks, so you spend more money than you should. There are host bars, too, but that’s more of a tourist trap for women. So not like we have to worry about that.”

“Okay, I get that getting harassed by workers would be annoying, but we can just walk by and say no, right? What else is there to worry about?” Narrowing her gaze, Reiza took a serious tone. The flames on her horns and tail dimmed into a grayish-black color.

“Prostitutes.”

“Eh?!” Karika’s ears and tail stood on end from disbelief. “Isn’t prostitution illegal? I mean, it’s illegal nearly all over, but especially here in Japan.”

“You’d think so, but police in Japan tend to look the other way when prostitution’s about in red light district areas. The biggest reasons for it are likely due to the Yakuza’s influence. That or the prostitutes have something to gain from the police, or vice versa. The point is, as long as the prostitution happens in red light district areas, they’re likely to be fine and ignored by the police. And trust me, I’d know, I used to…be one.”

“Ah…right. There’s the Yakuza too. I guess we shouldn’t go then?” Expecting Reiza to agree, she instead shook her head.

“No. It’s fine if we go. Like I said earlier, we can’t go there looking the way we do now. So we’ll freshen up and change clothes.” Cracking a somewhat sinister smile, Reiza pulls Karika along as they head for the second floor. “Now come on! We’ve got a lot of shopping to do. We don’t want to keep Faulkner waiting for too long.”

“Agh! Alright, I’m coming!”

____________________

“…” Meanwhile, at the Tokyo Dome Hotel, Faulkner had just gotten back to their room to drop off the four bags of merch they bought. “Hmm…it’s five-thirty in the afternoon now. I wonder if Trisha’s still awake?” Looking at his phone, he checked the time zones and saw that it was already two-thirty in the morning back in California. “Nah. It’s Wednesday over there already. I should probably wait until later at night here before calling her. That said…” With only a rough two to three hour estimation of when Karika and Reiza would come back, that gave Faulkner plenty of time to himself. He could take a nap as they suggested, but he’d rather wait until after Karika and Reiza got back before doing so.

“Maybe I can go visit that Skytree Tower place Reiza, Karika, and Fereida went to while I wait? Or maybe I’ll go to Tokyo Tower instead? They’re both around an hour and a half from here by walking.” Weighing his options, Faulkner decided to go to Tokyo Tower since there are souvenirs he can only get there. That, and there’s more time slot availability there than at the Skytree tower. After making reservations online on his phone, Faulkner made his way out of Tokyo Dome Hotel to Tokyo Tower.

“…” Without Karika and Reiza in tow, Faulkner was free to observe his surroundings as he walked the streets of Japan. “It really is surreal to see the difference. The streets are so clean.” Aside from the cleanliness, the groups of people walking about definitely leaned toward Asian ethnicity, though there were some tourists and other residents of different races walking about as well. That includes monsters, of course.

However, the variety of monsters moving about seemed to share the locals’ ethnicity, leaning toward Asian folklore monsters, such as a Yuki-Onna, Inari, Kappa, and even a Karakasa-Okabe, a monster Faulkner hadn’t seen in person yet.

“I wonder how many foreign monsters will come to TMRC by next year? Speaking of, I wonder how Dorephine’s doing? I need to bring back something for her as thanks. Maybe they have something in Tokyo Tower I can get?” Now that Faulkner had an idea of what to get, he strode onward to Tokyo Tower to experience a wonderful view and grab some souvenirs.

____________________

“Okay, that’ll come out to sixty-four thousand yen.” Moving from shop to shop, Reiza and Karika are at their last stop, paying for clothes Reiza picked out for herself and Karika.

“Here you go.” Reiza hands the money to the Red Oni manning the register. Karika had Reiza carry the bags from their shopping spree.

“Sis…are you sure these clothes are…necessary?” Raising the bags of clothes in her right hand, Karika tilted her head in doubt.

“Definitely. Those clothes will help us blend in best.” Taking her receipt, she exchanges a bow with the cashier before leaving. “Anyway, I’ll go text Faulkner and see where he’s at. Assuming he didn’t just stay in the hotel room and nap, anyway.” Giving Faulkner a quick text, he replies almost instantly. “Oh? I guess not. Apparently, he just finished going to Tokyo Tower. He bought some souvenirs for Dorephine while he was there.”

“Tokyo Tower, huh? I guess he wanted to go somewhere different than Skytree Tower.”

“It’s probably because of the merch. If I had to guess, Faulkner probably got some snacks that were only sold there. They’re pretty good.”

“Ah, back when you were here with Meredith, right?”

“Uh-huh. A couple of jackasses who wanted to be romantic and insisted on taking us on a tour before banging. It was a nice distraction.” From Reiza’s unenthused tone, she only brought up the topic since that was her last memory of tasting the snacks sold at Tokyo Tower.

“Well…at least you’re here with us now. That’s all that matters.” Immediately after, Reiza turns to Karika, giving her a soft, sincere smile.

“I wouldn’t have come back if it weren’t for you two making me feel so safe. So let’s just focus on having fun while we’re here, yeah?” The sincerity behind her smile caught Karika off guard, and her cheeks turned bright red.

“Ah…ahaha…sheesh.” Once they made it back to the room at Tokyo Dome hotel, they found Faulkner splayed on the bed with his arms and legs stretched out. The souvenirs are in small bags next to him. Just from looking, they could tell he was exhausted.

“Whoa, you look like shit, Faulkner.” Turning to Reiza’s voice, he didn’t even raise his hands to greet them. He was that exhausted.

“H-hey. Welcome back, you two. I see two hours was enough time to get what you needed.”

“Yup. Karika and I finished shopping. The only thing to do now is to wait till midnight.” Karika joins Faulkner on the bed, pulling him effortlessly into her arms.

“Geezus, Faulkner. You’re as limp as a noodle. The fuck you do?”

“Ugh…so you know how I went to Tokyo Tower, right? Well, I thought it’d be neat to use the stairs to walk up to the tower rather than take the elevator.”

“Wait, you went up AND down the stairs? You fucking masochist.” Reiza joins them on the bed, clinging to Faulkner from behind. Faulkner would stiffen if his arms and legs weren’t so sore. “Let’s get some sleep while we can. It’s around seven-thirty right now. Let’s wake up around eleven-thirty.”

“That gives us about four hours to sleep then.” Pulling Faulkner closer, Karika wedged his head between her boobs.

“Hmppf! Puwah! Don’t pull so much! I need to breathe. Ah?!” From behind, Reiza rubbed her boobs up and down on his back. She slips her right arm under his body to embrace his stomach, while slinging her left arm over his waist. “Reiza…you too?”

“Stop complaining. Just use my titties as warm pillows.”

“And I’ll keep your back nice and toasty.” Sandwiched between Karika and Reiza, Faulkner couldn’t push them off, even if he wanted to.

“How do you expect me to fall asleep like…” Before he could finish his sentence, Faulkner felt a wave of soothing warmth flowing into him from behind. “O-oh…that feels nice…”

“I figured your leg muscles are all fatigued from that walking. So this should help you relax.”

“Thanks, Reiza. I’m feeling better already.” Feeling slightly envious, Karika squishes Faulkner’s face between her boobs again.

“Yeah, yeah. Go to sleep already.”

“I know…” Settling in, the three close their eyes, falling asleep a few minutes later.

____________________

“Ugh…” *Yawn* Stretching his arms out, Faulkner woke up alone on the bed. “Karika, Reiza?” Hearing rushing water nearby, he sat up and looked in the direction of the bathroom. The room was dark, save for the little bit of light bleeding through the bottom of the bathroom door. “Oh…they’re taking a shower…” Looking at the bedside table, the alarm clock showed that it was eleven thirteen at night. “Heh…just a little less before the time we’re supposed to wake up…” Looking at the clock again, Faulkner yawns once more before lying down on the bed. “I can probably sneak in another-”

“Wh-what?! All of this?!” Bolting up from the bed, Faulkner turned back to the bathroom after hearing Karika yell.

“What the hell’s going on…” Curiosity overpowered his reluctance to leave the soft bed as he got up and walked toward the bathroom door.

*Knock knock*

“Hey, what’s going on in there?” As soon as Faulkner calls out to them, the other side of the bathroom turns silent, save for whispers between Karika and Reiza that were too quiet for Faulkner to make out. A few seconds later, Reiza is the one who cracks the door open. She had nothing but a towel over her head and body.

“Oh, you’re awake. Did we wake you?” With what little Faulkner could see, he saw an array of makeup sitting on the bathroom sink.

“Uh…no. I woke up about a minute before Karika yelled. What’s with all the makeup?”

“Isn’t it obvious? If we’re going somewhere like Kabukicho, we gotta glam up before going to a bar to party. And speaking of, why don’t you do us a favor and wait for us in the lobby?”

“Huh?! Why would I wait for you there?”

“Because we want to surprise you with how we look when we’re finished. Give us like…I dunno, thirty minutes?”

“Thirty? In that case, let me take a shower first.” Aside from makeup, Reiza had already brought the clothes she and Karika would wear in there. Faulkner would’ve spoiled the surprise if he walked in now. So before he could open the door, Reiza pushed him on his chest. “What gives?”

“Like I said, I want it to be a surprise. We have our clothes here, so just wait. You can take a shower AFTER.” Leaving Faulkner no time to argue, she closes the door on him.

“Ugh…fine. Try not to take too long…” Leaning against the door, Reiza pressed her left ear against it, waiting to hear the room door opening and closing. Once Faulkner left, she turned around to a baffled Karika.

“Isn’t all this a bit much?! Not to mention the clothes…”

“Hey, you’re the one who wanted to go to Kabukicho. So suck it up, buttercup. I guarantee that when Faulkner sees us, his jaw’s going to hit the floor.” With a devious grin, Reiza got to work applying makeup on Karika and herself.

Meanwhile, Faulkner got himself a small, hot coffee. He got sufficient rest, but a bit of caffeine wouldn’t hurt either.

“Man…the coffee actually comes out hot. Vending machines in Japan are something else…” Finding a comfortable single sofa to sit on, he scrolls through his phone, checking his emails while taking sips of his coffee.

“Hmm…I wonder if Trisha’s awake?” Checking the world clock on his phone, it was seven in the morning back in California, sixteen hours behind Japan. “At this time…she should be at TMRC…” Choosing whether to call her or not, his boredom ultimately won, calling her soon after.

[ *Ring, Ring.*

“Faulkner?”

“Hey, Trisha. I’m not calling at a bad time, am I?” Just as Faulkner guessed, Trisha was already at TMRC by the time he called her.

“I mean…I’m at TMRC right now. But at the moment, I’m at my office doing paperwork. What’s up?”

“Not much. I’m just wondering how things are going at TMRC. Specifically, if Dorephine’s having any issues.” Trisha raised her right brow, wondering why Faulkner would ask.

“Uh…it’s barely been what…three days? Dorephine’s doing fine, Faulkner. Everyone in class is going through their usual routine. Nothing new.”

“Okay. That’s good. Workload hasn’t been too bad for you either, right?”

“Not at all. Perfectly manageable.” Trisha paused for a moment, chuckling as she realized why he had suddenly called her. “You must be really bored to call me out of nowhere…”

“Wh-what? I’m not bored…” Faulkner tries to laugh it off at first. But, as the deafening silence on the other side of his phone grows, he stops and sighs. “Yeah. Kinda…”

“Geez. Well, since you called, I might as well indulge you. How’s your vacation so far? Did’ja get my booze yet?”

“Hah! Why am I not surprised you’d ask that? No, not yet. It’s mostly Karika and Reiza who have bought souvenirs so far. However, I did get something for Dorephine at the Tokyo Tower shop.”

“Ooohhh. Let me guess, you got the Tokyo Bananas, didn’t you?”

“Ah…yeah. How’d you know?”

“Heh. They’re good stuff. Dorephine’ll appreciate them. What about Nala and Mala? Have you seen them yet?”

“I did. The moment they knew we were coming, they personally came to greet us at the Tokyo Dome Hotel.” Faulkner paused, sighing in frustration. “Then, they immediately paid for a week’s stay. At the premium floors, no less.”

“It only shows how much they appreciate you. Considering their jobs and who they’re working under, I imagine money’s not an issue.”

“Right. As if that wasn’t enough, Nala and Mala showed their gratitude in ways I couldn’t imagine…” From the tone in Faulkner’s voice, Trisha’s curiosity piqued as she flashed a toothy grin.

“In what way?”

“Ah?!” Realizing what he’s insinuating was a delicate matter, Faulkner backtracks. “Um. Nothing much. They just wanted to spend the day with me. So we went to an arcade and did some karaoke.”

“…And…” Trisha knew Faulkner was hiding something from her.

“And…th-that’s it. I got to see them and see how much they’ve grown. They’ve really come far from their days in TMRC.”

“Uh-huh. I take it whatever you’re hiding is best saved for later?” Finding no point in hiding it, Faulkner sighs again in resignation.

“Yeah. It’s something I’d rather talk to you about in person.”

“Got it. Other than that, anything else on your agenda? If I have it right, it should be close to midnight on your end.”

“Yeah, actually. Karika wants us to go to Kabukicho.”

“Kabukicho? As in the red light district, Kabukicho? The one in Shinjuku?”

“That’s the one.” Trisha goes silent for a few too long seconds for Faulkner’s liking. “Trisha?”

“Faulkner…how much do you know about Kabukicho?”

“I know a little bit about it from scrolling through the internet on my phone earlier. It’s basically a place for bar and hostess clubs. And yes, I know there’s a risk of being drugged at bars, so if we end up going to one, we’ll be vigilant.”

“For the most part, yeah. But be careful of the prostitutes, too, Faulkner. They won’t hesitate to pounce on someone like you. And they’ll use all sorts of coercive methods to do so.”

“I appreciate the warning, but considering Karika and Reiza stick to me like glue, I doubt that’d be the issue.”

“Heh, fair enough. Also, whatever you do, don’t cause a scene over there. The Yakuza have tight control over red light districts. And unless murder’s involved, they have ways to coerce the police to look the other way.”

“Huh? That’s…concerning. Do the Yakuza really have THAT much influence?”

“They do. And that’s with locals. Foreigners like you three have it worse since the police will almost never take sides with you. That said, they do have a strict honor-bound rule. So as long as you respect that, you’ll be left alone.”

“Okay, got it.” Just then, Faulkner hears Reiza from behind, clearing her throat.

“*Ahem.* We’re ready. Sorry for the way.”

“About time. You two took thirty-eh?!” Hearing Faulkner yell from her phone, followed by a tumbling noise, Trisha raised her right brow, waiting for a few seconds before calling out to him.

“Uh…Faulkner, you alright?” Faulkner fumbled for a few seconds, sitting back on the lounge chair before picking up his which he dropped from said tumble earlier.

“Trisha, I’ll call you back later.” Without explaining further, Faulkner hung up on Trisha.

“I wonder what that was all about?” Shrugging, Trisha figured he’d explain later and focused back on her task.]

“Hey, what’s with that slack-jawed expression, Faulkner? It’s almost hitting the ground, you know?”

“Y-you know why. Wh-what’s with your guy’s clothes?!” Utterly stunned at what he’s seeing, Reiza and Karika had changed into gyaru-themed wear. Reiza’s ensemble consists of a yellow zipper hoodie with the front open, exposing a bold black bra, the only article of clothing underneath that complements her bust and contrasts with the bright color of her hoodie. For her bottom, a bold booty shorts jeans hugs her butt seamlessly, accentuating its roundness. And while there isn’t too much skin exposure, the bottom was lowered slightly below the hip, exposing a bit of her black g-string panties. To draw attention to her slender legs, Reiza wore leg garters that connected to her black-and-red flat heels. Finally, a touch of black eyeliner adds to the smoky look of the black flames of her horns and tail.

However, Karika’s ensemble took the cake. Wearing a white Layla wrap tie crop top, the leopard-print bra was slightly visible through the thin fabric, showing plenty of skin that brought special attention to Karika’s toned abs. For the bottom, Reiza lent one of her waist jackets, wrapping it around a black-and-white checker-patterned skirt. The length of which barely covers her upper thighs. To help keep herself warm, Reiza had Karika wear long, white leg warmers that came up just below her knees. To walk around comfortably in, Reiza pairs the leg warmers Karika’s wearing with black platform boots with a pink camo pattern on the toes. Adorned with a few colorful bracelets on both of Karika’s wrists, the whole Gyaru aesthetic wouldn’t be complete without some makeup, something Karika initially strongly abstained from.

“What do you mean? We’re here to have fun, right? So might as well go all out and dress the part. Or…let me guess? You’re still trying to wipe the drool off your lips after seeing Porky’s dramatic transformation?” With a bit of convincing from Reiza, she managed to apply some light blue eyeliner on Karika, bringing a subtle, yet tasteful color that clashed well with her dark skin.

“Th-this is so embarrassing. I can feel the air blowing beneath my legs. Are you sure this skirt isn’t showing too much skin?!” Clenching her fingers around the front of her skirt, the pink blush on Karika’s cheeks only adds to the color of her face, making her look even cuter than Faulkner normally sees her as.

“That’s what the waist jacket’s for. It covers your butt plenty, so stop bitching.” Uncaring of the attention they’re garnering, the hotel patrons all couldn’t help but take at least a peek at Karika and Reiza. Reiza took one glance before the onlookers turned to look away. “Heh. What matters is we’re dressed for success. If it meant going to Kabukicho, you agreed to let me dress you however I wanted.”

“I know that! It’s just…I didn’t think I’d look so…” Seeing Karika still apprehensive about her new look, Reiza found only one solution to convince her otherwise.

“Don’t just stand there like an idiot, Faulkner. What do you think about Karika’s look?” Barely able to look at Faulkner on his face, he smiled warmly, knowing that despite her radical change in appearance, she was still the same Karika he knew.

“I’ll admit, I was taken aback, but you look gorgeous, Karika. Really.” Fixing her gaze on Faulkner, the blush on his face made it evident he found her attractive.

“O-okay. I guess this is alright then.”

“You are. Also…” Regardless of what they wore, the one thing that always stayed consistent was the hair accessories he got for them. “Doesn’t the pink ribbon headband and black ribbon hair tie clash with your two’s clothes?” Glancing at one another’s ribbons, they smiled and shook their heads.

“You know damn well we do. Doesn’t matter what clothes we wear.”

“What Karika said. These hair accessories mean the world to us. Unless we’re bathing or sleeping, we’ll never take them off.” Reiza does a twirl to show off her bow while Karika reaches for hers and touches it.

“Hah, alright. I guess you’re going to dress me up too?” Faulkner chuckled, wondering what kind of clothes Reiza had in mind for him. Instead, she thrusts her right hand forward with her palm out.

“Nope. You’ll do just fine dressed the way you are now.”

“Okay, I’m confused. You two got gussied up, but I’m supposed to wear this?”

“Kinda. Basically, I want you to dress as usual. Don’t try to look hip. Just be yourself. But it wouldn’t hurt for you to take a quick shower. Come on.” Grabbing his arm, Reiza tugs him along with her as they make their way back to their hotel room.

“Hey, wait for me.” Karika follows suit as Faulkner takes a quick shower, changing into similar clothes that consist of a white branded T-shirt, blue jeans, and brown shoes. Reiza gives him a once-over before giving him a thumbs-up.

“Okay, now that I’m dressed, mind explaining why I’m dressed like usual while you two aren’t?”

“Simple. Karika and I wear gyaru-style fashion and makeup to blend in. It’s easier for us to blend in with the crowd. But you…no matter how you dress, it’ll be obvious to everyone at Kabukicho that you’re a foreigner. Instead, we’ll take advantage of how well you stand out and cling to you, pretending that we’ve taken you. That way, there are fewer chances of ‘Touts’ approaching us.”

“Oh, Touts. That makes sense. Less chances of being harassed if I already look like I’m a taken customer.” Faulkner’s quite familiar with Touts, as there’s an abundance of them in shopping malls. They’re simply doing their job, but most don’t like being ‘coerced’ into entering a shop they’re conveniently passing through.

“Yup. It’ll also lessen the chances of prostitutes approaching us since to them, it’ll look like Faulkner’s already taken.”

“I was talking to Trisha about that just now, actually. She seemed to know a lot about Kabukicho.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me. Maybe she’s been to Japan? Either way, it looks like we’re ready.” Looking at the time, it was ten minutes to midnight. “If we go now from the Karakuen train station, we should make it to Kabukicho twenty before one in the morning.” Taking his left arm, Reiza wedged his forearm between her chest.

“Ah?”

“Now then, Gaijin-san, let’s go.” Narrowing her gaze, Reiza wastes no time getting into their role as a gyaru prostitute chaperoning Faulkner.

“H-hey, no fair!” Not wanting to be left behind, Karika takes Faulkner’s right arm, pulling herself closer to him, wedging his right shoulder between her chest. The height difference between Karika and Reiza meant that Faulkner felt their pillow mounds at different heights.

“Ack…we haven’t even left the hotel room yet…” Faulkner sighed, knowing this was going to persist the whole night as they made their way to Karakuen train station.

____________________

“Whoa…so this is the place…” After a quiet, but still awkward train ride from Karakuen train station to Shinjuku train station and a short walk, Faulkner, Karika, and Reiza stand in front of Kabukicho’s front gate. The bright, neon lights strewn about the gate were only a preview of many other bright lights and signs to come.

“During the day, Kabukicho’s fairly normal. It’s at midnight when this place shines.” Memories of old came rushing back to Reiza as she saw apparitions of her past self and Meredith walking through the gates, looking for eager men to sleep with. Before she could dwell on it for too long, she felt Faulkner being tugged toward Karika on the right.

“Okay, G-Gaijin-sama. Let’s have some fun…” Mimicking Reiza from earlier, Karika does her best to flash a snarky smile. Despite said efforts, the way her body is shaking and her clear discomfort with wearing the skirt

“Stop being so nervous, Porky. You gotta look confident if you want to make that outfit work.”

“Easy for you to say. You’ve always dressed like this! I’m like one bad breeze away from flashing total strangers…” While Karika clung to Faulkner, she used her right hand to keep her skirt down.

“Come on. I already told you that jacket I lent you is covering your ass, right? Let’s go.”

“Ugh…we haven’t even passed the gate, and you two are already bickering…” Faulkner noticed the attention they garnered already, with many simply chuckling in their drunken stupor. They drag him along, moving unevenly due to Karika and Reiza constantly tugging at Faulkner.

“…wow, check those babes out…”

“Lucky gaijin. He hit the jackpot with those two…” All around them, they hear whispers of overworked businessmen, young and old, leering at Faulkner enviously. Karika ignored them, simply focused on Faulkner.

Reiza, on the other hand, played her role as his escort well, staring back and grinning at them as if she caught herself a prize.

“Gaijin-san, enough walking around already. Isn’t there a bar you want to settle down in? I’d LOVE to get to know you better…” Using her tail, Reiza brings the spade close to his cheek, caressing it before dipping into his shirt. The warmth radiating from her flames seeped into his body, causing Faulkner’s body to heat up in arousal.

“Wh-what’re you doing this for now, Reiza? I can’t walk straight if you force a boner on me.”

“Aha! Gaijin-san is so weak. But that’s okay, I’m into coddling too if that’s what turns you on…” Leaning closer, Reiza brought her lips close to his left ear. “I’d say you’re doing well playing along, but man, you really are weak to this kind of teasing, aren’t you, Faulkner? I should do this more often…” Before Faulkner could respond, Karika retaliated by yanking him to her side. Though it embarrassed her more than she could ever say, Karika swallowed her embarrassment, grabbing his right wrist before pulling his hand toward her chest, forcing him to grope her out in the open. And with as close as she was to Faulkner, the scent of arousal in her body spoke volumes of her desire for him.

“Don’t forget about me, Gaijin-sama. Unlike small tits over there, mine can choke a chicken, if you get my meaning…” Reiza would normally meet Karika’s insult with her own. Instead, her genuine surprise at how well Karika delivered her line from her body language and sultry tone overshadowed it.

“Heh, not bad. Tell you what, partner. Let’s get Gaijin-san here piss drunk. Whoever he picks after is the winner.” Meeting Reiza’s challenge, Karika faces her and smiles.

“I don’t mind. I already know Gaijin-sama will pick me sober. This’ll just give you a fighting chance.” Even when acting, Karika and Reiza found a way to bicker and settle their argument in some ridiculous fashion, leaving Faulkner the hapless victim of it all.

But, before they could go…

“Yo! Looking fresh, girl! I didn’t know there was a new Pyrow here!” Knowing she was specifically called out, Reiza was the first to turn her head, seeing another Pyrow wearing a long, cream-white turtleneck sweater with a cleavage window and a long, purple skirt calling out to her from behind. Her painted nails and a side ponytail hairstyle were quite the standouts.

“Oh. Nice catch. A tall, handsome foreigner. Kinda plain looking though.” Deep down, Reiza knew there was a slight risk of being recognized by others at Kabukicho. That’s why she went out of her way to dress the way she did, along with Karika. But her plan not only failed but backfired horribly.

“Oh, uh…yeah. Heh. Lucky catch for me, you know? Anyway, I gotta take Gaijin-san to a good time now. I’ll be seeing yah.”

“That’s right. We can’t keep our client waiting…” Following Reiza’s lead, Karika and Faulkner adapted right away, letting Reiza lead them away from the other Pyrow.

“Whoa, slow down there!” However, before they could get away, the Pyrow gets in their way again, moving in front of the three. “A fellow gyaru, eh? Can’t say I expected a High Orc of all monsters to dress like us. As for you, mister. Looking for a good place to drink? Cuz I know a place.”

“Ahaha, th-thank you for the offer, but we’re good. Honestly, I can’t wait to get my hands on these two, so I’d rather not delay it anymore.” To sell the point, Faulkner pulls Reiza and Karika closer to himself.

“I see, you’re quite eager, aren’t you, mister?” Getting annoyed with the Pyrow’s pestering, Karika tightened her hold on Faulkner.

“Look, can you just mo-”

“Yo, Andrea, what’s holding you? You’ve got a client request.” From behind, Faulkner, Karika, and Reiza hear another voice calling out to the Pyrow harassing them.

“Oh, I do? Sorry about that, boss. I just found a fellow Pyrow and got distracted.”

“A fellow Pyrow, hmm?”

“Damn…if it’s not one woman, it’s another, come on Faulkner, Reiza, let’s…” Karika whispered in annoyance, eager to ignore the two women harassing them. But something was amiss. Faulkner wasn’t moving, and it wasn’t until Karika noticed Reiza that she saw why.

“?!” Standing perfectly still, Reiza’s face turns pale. The flames on her horns and tail shrink, turning into a faded black color. It’s when the other woman in question comes into view that Faulkner and Karika understand why Reiza was so stiff.

“Wow, she’s pretty fashionable. Definitely a catch.” Standing even taller than Karika at six-foot-five, her tanned skin tone was nearly identical to a Pyrow’s. Yet, that was the only discernible similarity, as her pitch-black horns were much larger. Several bright orange rings were etched around the horn’s circumference, glowing as if radiating intense heat.

‘H-Holy crap. She’s tall…’ Karika wasn’t nearly attuned to feeling the level of mana around her as Reiza. Even so, she could tell the woman before them was strong. There was only one other person Karika could compare this sort of pressure to.

“Right? Is she a recruit, boss?”

“No. I’d definitely remember someone like her if I did.” It wasn’t just her horns. Her wings were more than twice the size of a Pyrow’s, large enough to fly with. Her bold choice of clothing left little to the imagination. The sheer lingerie left her skin visible through the thin, black fabric. Beneath her lingerie was a red, thin V-strap that barely covered her nipples, tapering down to cover her groin. Accentuating her confidence, her short, black cape skirt left her groin exposed, showing off a womb tattoo below her stomach. Black pom-pom stockings adorned her slender, yet muscular legs, leading down to hooves that high-ranking demons often possess. Finally, to maintain some modesty, she wears a long-sleeved leather jacket that falls just above her thighs, covering her body when needed.

“Oh? Maybe we can recruit her, boss! I’m sure she’ll be even more stunning under your guidance. Just like the rest of us.” Referred to by the other Pyrow as boss, Karika and Faulkner noticed a group of Pyrow’s nearby. Seeing the group and sensing the woman’s dense mana, Reiza could only think of one monster she could be.

Balrogs. Once feared as high-level demons in the old era, they’re considered one of the few walking natural disasters, as their flame mana is as intense as volcanic eruptions. Tempered by intense flames, it’s said their mantle of hellfire incinerates those they consider their enemies. In a sense, Balrogs are an evolved monster of Pyrows.

“Maybe. But I think she’s more interested in entertaining her client here.” The woman didn’t even notice Karika, honing in on Faulkner, who himself was more concerned with Reiza as he could feel her trembling. To comfort her, Faulkner holds her right hand with his left, calming her down enough to speak.

“That’s right. I appreciate the offer, but I’m good. Come on, Gaijin-san.” Moving out of their way, Reiza, Karika, and Faulkner walk away from the Balrog woman and her Pyrow minions.

“Sis…are you alright? Who was that chick? I felt my skin tingle the closer she got.” Karika glanced back at the Balrog behind them, curious as to why Reiza was so nervous around her.

“I don’t know her personally, but she’s someone we shouldn’t mess with.”

“I’ve only seen them in pictures and videos, but I think that woman’s a Balrog. It’s my first time meeting one in person.” Faulkner also read about them when researching monster species when he first worked for TMRC.

“Balrogs are incredibly powerful. We shouldn’t cause a scene with her around.” Reiza focused her attention on Karika, prompting her to nod.

“For now, let’s get out of sight. She’s still staring at us from behind.” Faulkner noticed the Balrog woman staring longer than normal.

“Welp, there goes another potential recruit. Oh well…” The Pyrow, Andrea, turned around and walked back to join the other Pyrows close by, but stopped short when she turned and noticed her boss wasn’t following. “Boss? What’s the hold up?”

“Hmm…” Squinting, the Balrog woman saw something familiar about Reiza and focused her gaze on the black ribbon hair tie. “Ah! Hold it, Reiza!”

“Ah!” Faulkner, Karika, and Reiza all froze in shock. At that moment, all three were thinking the same thing. How’d she know Reiza’s name? They didn’t even have time to contemplate it as the Balrog started approaching them again.

“I thought you looked familiar, but you changed your look just enough that I couldn’t recognize you at first. But you’re that Pyroy chick that got raped and gangbanged, aren’t you?” The other Pyrows gasped in unison, whispering amongst themselves.

“Oh yeah, she’s that chick from that court case in the US.”

“It was so unheard of that it made international news.” Hearing her minions in the back talking, the Balrog’s smile widened before she closed the distance between Faulkner, Karika, and Reiza.

“Of course…” Without warning, the Balrog pats Reiza on her left shoulder, leaning down and bringing her face close to Reiza’s. “I already heard of you even before that court case. After all, you and Meredith used to parade yourselves here in Kabukicho.”

“Y-you know about that?” Reiza’s voice trembled. She knew there was a small risk of someone noticing her. But she didn’t think it’d happen this quickly.

“Yup. There are former clients of yours and Meredith here even now. You two are part of the reason why Pyrow’s became popular monsters to scout, you know? So in a way, I have you two to thank for that. Heck, I even admire you and Meredith’s work. Even if it’s Meredith that most of the clients talk about.” Moving in front of Reiza, the Balrog runs her fingers along Reiza’s shoulder, creeping upward over her neck until she is touching Reiza’s cheek. “So…you came back to selling your body…”

“Hey…” Ignoring Reiza’s warning, Karika’s right hand shot forward, grabbing onto the Balrog woman’s right wrist before yanking it away from Reiza’s cheek. “We’re here on vacation, cunt. Why don’t you fuck off and leave us alone?” Completely unfazed, the Balrog woman took a few seconds to turn her attention to Karika.

“Oh? Sorry, I didn’t even notice you there. Who the fuck are you?” Acting oblivious to taunt Karika, she didn’t even flinch at the sight of Karika’s hostile gaze.

“I’m Karika. Reiza’s sister. And you are?”

“Sister?” Looking back and forth between Reiza and Karika, she repeated this process more times than needed before chuckling. “That’s cute. Doesn’t matter how you dress. You two look nothing alike. As for who I am, I’m Helleina.”

“Well, Helleina, we don’t have to be related to consider one another family.”

“True. But personally, I wouldn’t want to be associated with a pig, let alone have one as a stepsister…” Bringing her attention back to Faulkner, Helleina stares at him as if to assess him. “Nice catch. Almost too good for someone like you, Reiza. Is he your latest client?”

“Th-that’s not my life anymore. This is my boyfriend…”

“Boyfriend?” Raising her right brow in disbelief, Helleina stared at Faulkner for confirmation.

“I’m Faulkner. And yes, Reiza and Karika here are my girlfriends. I’d appreciate it if you apologize to Karika for what you said to her and leave us be.”

“Faulkner, hmm?” Without a shred of care for Karika, Helleina’s eyes roam Faulkner’s form, almost as if she’s undressing him with them. “I see. You’ve spent a good amount of time with these two, yet you’ve yet to fully incubize. You have good potential.” Shifting her focus to Faulkner, Helleina reached out with her left hand, placing it over Faulkner’s chest.

“Wh-what’re you…”

“What do you say, handsome? Why don’t you ditch these two and come with me?” Helleina was unapologetically crass, flirting with Faulkner despite Reiza and Karika being right there. “I can unlock your full potential overnight.” Pushing her patience past their limits, Karika’s teeth creaked as she grit them in a failed attempt to rein in her anger.

“Get your hands off him, cunt!” Tensing her right arm, Karika’s muscles flex and bulge as she tightens her grip on Helleina’s right wrist. “First, you insult my sister. And now, you’re flirting with our man in front of us?! You’re just asking to get punched, aren’t you?!” It was clear Karika wasn’t holding back as the sounds of her tendons tightening. But Helleina didn’t seem fazed at all. And Karika’s grip strength peaks at over two hundred kilograms.

“Hmm? Oh, do you want to shake hands, pig?” Helleina’s right hand, which was loose up until now, flexes before she grabs hold of Karika’s wrist. “We normally bow for greetings, but I suppose a handshake works.” Tightening her grip, Karika’s face tenses in pain.

“Ack! Wh-what the?!” Growing a sinister grin, Helleina took delight at the sight of Karika’s face twisting in pain. Effortlessly matching Karika’s strength, she incrementally increased her grip, reaching over two hundred and thirty kilograms. What’s more shocking is the fact that Helleina didn’t seem like she was trying at all. “Wipe that smug grin off your face…” Tensing her arm even more, the veins on Karika’s arms start to protrude, pushing past Hellleina’s grip by ten kilograms.

“*Whistle* Hey, not bad. I can actually feel that.” Sensing the possibility of a fight, Karika pushes Faulkner and Reiza away. While Faulkner knew to stay back, Reiza jumped straight back, hugging Karika and putting herself between Karika and Helleina.

“Karika, don’t! I told you not to mess with her, didn’t I?” Karika didn’t even seem to hear Reiza, growling at Helleina. “We’re here on vacation, Karika. We can’t afford to get into trouble here!”

“Trouble? If you’re worried about the police getting involved, then don’t worry.”

“What?!” Reiza turns her head to look at Helleina, who was smiling back at her.

“This part of Kabukicho and the eleven blocks all around it are under my jurisdiction. In other words, anything short of murder’s fair game.” Helleina then stares at Karika again, noticing Karika clenching her left fist, pulling her arm back, and readying it for a straight. “Besides, it looks like your ‘sister’ here’s raring to go…” In response to Karika’s show of aggression, Helleina raised her tail. Even when looped with a metal clasp, her tail was easily three times as long as Reiza’s. The texture of her tail looked like leather before combusting into hot flames. Generating enough heat to create a heat haze, the surrounding air became arid.

“What do you say, little piggy? You wanna tussle with me?” Pushing Reiza off her waist, Karika looks at her, shooting her an apologetic smile before turning to face Helleina.

“Damn straight! I’m going to make you gargle your teeth…”

“You’re welcome to try. And don’t worry, as I said earlier, murder’s out of the question, so you’ll survive. But I can’t guarantee you’ll make it out of this without a broken limb. Or…several.”

(Next Chapter: https://touchfluffytail.org/story/an-arrival-of-a-rival-ch-28/)

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