I honestly forgot that I work on Saturdays. You know how the day doesn’t really start until after you wake up? I wake up just before midnight and don’t acknowledge the next day until I get home from work, go to sleep, and wake up later in the mid-day.
This is all to say… I work on Saturday.
My eyes wandered here and there. It's not as busy, just as I expected, but we did get a few more customers throughout the evening than we do through the weekday.
My gaze soon landed on a blond-haired youth. Hair that I’ve become ever more familiar with than I thought I ever would. This hair, of course, belongs to Rainy. She was hiding behind the front counter while thumbing through her phone.
“So… I thought your father only hired me because of the morning rush.”
She looked up from her phone. Her smile was soft, and her eyes had a bit of droopiness to them. I’ve become used to her voice. It was different from Minty’s. Soft-spoken with a sense of grace to it. While Minty’s voice is pleasant to the ears, an idol singing is anything but soft-spoken.
“Dad likes being awake when we’re home. So he normally sleeps while we’re at school. But today is special.”
“Is it now? Father-daughter bonding?”
Rainy puffed out her cheeks. The resemblance between Minty and Rainy became a little more apparent. Her VTuber model does it when she becomes upset, so you see it a lot through her Nuzlocke streams.
“Dad has the neighborhood meeting in a few hours, and Bridget has her job at the library.”
“I see… so what brings you down here so early in the morning? Your shift isn’t for another two hours.”
“Aw~ Don’t be silly. I wanted to hang out with you.”
“Please don’t say things like that. I don’t want people getting the wrong idea.”
She made a goofy smirk with a hint of evil in her eyes.
“Hehehe, why don’t you just transform? Then we’d just be two high school girls hanging out at work.”
There were two other people in the store with us. They mainly seemed preoccupied with their light shopping. I’ve noticed that some people come here without a goal in mind. They just want a reason to get out.
“You know I can’t just come into work like that… Also, does your father know?”
“He doesn’t. He knows about my idol stuff, but he just thinks it's special effects. And when we talk about things at home, he thinks we’re talking about anime and video games.”
“I see…”
Even though she said she wanted to hang out, she spent most of her time on her phone. It's fine, I guess. It's not as if I don’t have work to do. It also helps that she’s back there since it gives me time to restock.
Items were stocked, there wasn’t anyone else in the shop, she was on her phone… I might as well check mine. It's been going off for a while now.
“Hm!!”
A lot of these notifications were from the Minty fan server. Everyone was going crazy over new pictures of Lily Mint and what’s been dubbed ‘a new idol!’.
“Uh… Rainy… Could you explain to me what I’m looking at?”
“Do you like them? I thought I’d upload them to my socials.”
Pictures of Minty and myself as Kyrie were flooding my feed. There were even video shorts. And that’s when I saw another post.
‘Not Just an Idol! An Actress!’ It was a grainy video of my fight against those two girls the other day. That could be bad… Oh, I have fan art… For a moment, I was in awe of the illustrations, but then I started to notice an alarming trend.
“My fans seem pretty smitten with those sweater melons of yours.”
I tried to hide my embarrassment by shooting a glare at her. She made another cheeky grin while hiding behind her phone in a faux sense of fear. These two sisters are going to be the death of me.
***
I kept my room dark using blackout curtains. I wanted to use cardboard over the window, but the landlord was against it. Light is the natural enemy of any nocturnal being.
Unfortunately, I can’t keep ignoring my phone forever. I’ve been putting the do not disturb setting to use during my sleep hours—
“Will you answer your phone already!”
“Do you have no respect for locks?”
“So you’re already awake.”
I actually heard her come in moments ago after the most recent call. At least her teleporting keeps people from noticing that a high school girl keeps coming to my apartment.
Realizing I was awake, Bridget didn’t waste time throwing my curtains open.
Ha! Foolish mortal! Using magic to open the curtains, not realizing that my TV also blocks the window!
“I am neither foolish nor a mortal. I took your TV, and I’m not giving it back until you complete my request.”
I peeked passed my sheets to see the truth for myself. My TV was indeed missing…
“Alright, what is it you want?”
I sat up from my futon while pretending to still be tired.
“Dad wanted to know if you wanted to play basketball with him and the uncles. However, if you wish for me to return your television, you will accept his invitation.”
“You truly are evil.”
“I drink from the chalice of suffrage and malice every morning. Your sweats are fine, so hurry up.”
I threw up one of the mats. Various boots, shoes, and combat gear were neatly arranged.
“It’s just a basketball game. I don’t think you need any of that.”
“It’s just the shoes. They were made special to help me grab the Earth…”
Bridget stared at me as I put my shoes on, waiting for further explanation.
“Sorry, the tread and material help when I need to pivot, even on slippery terrain. And the sole is durable, too. So I don’t have to worry about destroying my shoes.”
“You’re not a normal person, are you?”
“You flatter my ego, but it's more like I failed at being an exceptional person.”
“Is that why you left everything behind and came to Lancaster.”
I chuckled and didn’t bother answering her. The timing also happened that we managed to arrive at the basketball court as she asked.
“Yo! Lawrence. These are some of the other business owners around the neighborhood. Everyone, this is Lawrence. He tends to the midnight zombies.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Lawrence. I’m Greg. I own the Bass & Trout Tavern across the street from Ryce. I also represent our neighborhood at the chamber of commerce. If anyone from the city gives you any trouble, feel free to come to me.”
“I’ll be sure to, sir. Thank you.”
“Haha, just call me Greg. No need to be stiff. Anyway, let’s start making teams now that we have enough people for a proper five versus five. Ryce, Lawrence will be on my team.”
“Ah, hey! He’s my worker.”
Mr. Ericson was easily the best player here. That wasn’t too surprising. Myself and the other uncles were couch potatoes compared to him.
***
“I see that my beloved sister has lured the dragon from their den.”
“Rainy? Whose watching the shop?”
“I left Sprig to watch it. He’ll let me know if any customers show up.”
Bridget seemed to be watching the game pretty intently. It looks like she’s having a lot of fun but was slightly upset. Dad and his team seemed to be winning, but I’ve never seen him have to work so hard.
“Ryce! I’m open! Over here!”
One of Dad’s teammates had broken free of their guard. Dad made a one-eighty turn, but Lawrence was already in front of him again. Lawrence doesn’t come off as athletic, but his broad shoulders and footwork are holding down Dad’s team.
“Who do you think is going to win… Bridget?”
My sister didn’t hear me. Her frustration seemed to be growing.
“You alright, Bridget?”
“Not that I think Lawrence can win, but he should be doing better than this… Watch his eyes.”
Ah, I see what she means. Lawrence is only defending. His eyes betray him every so often. He can see the opening for an offensive, but he never takes it. Oh, Dad managed to land the pass…
He’s quick, too. From Dad to Dad’s teammate before they could even react. Lawrence was already defending against him. Lawrence had taken the ball and immediately passed it to someone else.
“Does it bother you that he’s holding back?”
“No… It bothers me that he’s already given up. He knows he can’t win against Dad, so he’s not taking it seriously.”
“... So long as he’s having fun, right?”
“I just want him to believe in himself more. Look, he could have gone for the layup but went for a pass instead.”
Uncle Greg had the ball now, but of all the uncles out here, uncle Greg is well passed his years. That is to say, Dad took the ball from him and was able to break passed Lawrence.
Dad couldn’t risk a throw with Lawence pressuring him. Dad got ready for a layup, and Lawrence relaxed his posture. He wasn’t going to try.
“Come on, Lawerence! You can do it!”
“Ah! Rainy, the betrayal.”
I couldn’t help but giggle and Dad’s silly face. Lawrence saw the opportunity. Even Bridget was making a funny face. It's not often my sister is surprised. It's a cute face.
“Dad always wins, don’t let him get away this time!”
His posture shifted, and he stole the ball. But he’s over-extended. Two people on him and his teammates were too far away.
I opened my mouth and began to use my magical cheer skill again, but what came next was surprising.
***
“That was a good game, everyone. Same time Monday?”
“Sure thing, Ryce.”
I watched as the uncles engaged in good sportsmanship and merriment. I watched from the bench as they eventually dispersed.
“Yo, Lawrence! There you are. Did the girls go home already?”
“Sorry, Mr. Ericson, just a little tired. And, yeah. They left before the game ended.”
“Come on. I thought I already told you. Just call me Ryce.”
“Heh, I’ll try.”
Ryce took a seat next to me and passed me a water. We sat silently for a moment, but he eventually spoke.
“So why did you hold back?”
I wasn’t sure how to answer that question. It was a little embarrassing that he noticed, but I'm sure everyone noticed after that shot I pulled. I honestly don’t know what got into me.
“I guess I’m still a child. I told myself that if I didn’t try, I wouldn’t need to feel bad when I lost.”
There was another brief moment of silence.
“You know. I wanted you to join our game so that I could get to know you better. If you’re going to be working at my shop, it can’t be helped that you’ll be around my girls.”
“... I think your girls are more interested in making this old man’s life difficult.”
I tried to play this off with a laugh. He didn’t seem to find it too amusing.
“I’m being serious now. I need to know that you’re someone I can trust. Right now, I’m wondering if I can trust a guy who hides his true self from others.”
I couldn’t help but hang my head. I was ashamed and embarrassed. Honestly, I think the person I’m hiding from is myself. But how could I tell everyone else that?
I hate how broad my shoulders are. I have large calf and forearm muscles. I have more endurance than most people. I was always stronger than most of my classmates.
A big strong man. That’s what I am, I guess…
I raised my head to take a look at the scoreboard. I felt a twinge of pride and smiled to myself.
“Then, can you trust the guy who beat you at your own game?”
“Ha, cheeky kid. You guys won by one point, and thanks to a hail mary at that!”
***
“That’s the man who defeated you two?”
“Yes. He’s the one who made Chris cry.”
“I-I didn’t cry!”
Lawrence Hargrave. He moved to Lancaster not more than a week ago, and already he’s stirred up with much trouble… The man next to him… That’s Ryce Ericson. Could Ryce be Darkness? No, that would make much sense. He’s too old.
It would be unwise to take on an enemy we don’t yet understand.
“Rainy. If I’m not mistaken, that’s your father down there?”
“Yep, and our recent hire. He’s pretty diligent. Dad seems to like him.”
He’s already seen Chris and Elma’s faces. That’s not to say he doesn’t know that Rainy and Minty are the same person at this point…
“How much do you know about him?”
“I know that he is a magical girl. We’ve taken pictures together, see.”
Rainy showed me her phone. A collection of pictures of her, her sister, and another girl. Was this his transformation?
“Does he know that you’re a magical girl, also?”
“I doubt it. He’s a fan, though. Calls himself Kyrie in that form, and he’s friends with my sister. We decided to do a bit of girl bonding when he came over last night.”
If he doesn’t know, then we can use this to our advantage…
“Rainy, I want you to keep an eye on him. Since he has the Crystal Heart, there is no doubt that he is the key to finding Darkness’ avatar.”