Mamoriko sat on her bed, engrossed in the book Lucy had lent her—Titan Core. She reached the part where Cathy and Dave faced strange entities with unnervingly outstretched faces, and she couldn't help but think of Aiji, making one of his goofy expressions.
Cathy: "Who... who's there?" she stated weakly.
???: "Get my brother to safety. I don't know what I would do if he were dead."
The man, now clearly defined to Cathy as Dave's older brother Tavian, leapt up with a battle hammer in hand, smashing the monster's head in, sending it hurtling through a building, then another, then another. It finally stopped on the fourth one, its head hitting the wall with a loud thud, making a crater in the wall behind it. Its head had been split open like a chestnut, its skull being visible.
Tavian: "Cathy, I thought I told you to head out. If more of those things come, I don't know if I'll be able to stop it from killing you two."
Tavian was now even taller than usual—at a staggering 35 feet—and his hair was now lighting up like a glow stick you would buy at a theme park. He had a black suit resembling an army suit without any filler that was emanating a dark blue glow. He had his dark blue battle hammer in his hand, a dark blue plasma gun on his right arm, and a small mini riot shield on his left, with a blue jetpack on his back.
Mamoriko giggled, thrilled by Titan Core.
The author's name was Mod Mayes; he must be quite talented.
Mamoriko: [Lucy-Chan always has the most interesting books.]
Suddenly her phone buzzed. She looked down at it; it was Hayanobu. They were in a talking phase at the moment, but she grabbed it and texted back.
Hayanobu: [Yo what's up?]
Mamoriko: [Nothing much in all honesty, just reading Lucy-Chan's book.]
Hayanobu: [Oh Titan Core?]
Mamoriko: [Oh yeah, didn't think you knew of it.]
Hayanobu: [It's a number one seller; why wouldn't I?]
Mamoriko: [Oh yeah, lol.]
Hayanobu: [Anyway, I got a mission later, see you in due time.]
Mamoriko: [See you later I guess.]
She said, her feet kicking in the air.
She would get up and walk.
Mamoriko, with her feet kicking in the air, would text back.
Mamoriko: [Ok, see ya later I guess.]
Mamoriko would get up, walking out of her room.
Lucy: [Mamoriko-Chan!]
Mamoriko would smile as she would grab Lucy and pick her up.
Lucy: [Ahh, put me down!]
Mamoriko: [Nope, little girl.]
She would spin her around.
Lucy: [Mamoriko!!]
Mamoriko: [Fine...]
Mamoriko gently placed Lucy on the floor.
Lucy: [Jerk...] she said, pouting while crossing her arms.
Mamoriko: [Ahh, sorry. What did you come here for anyway?]
Lucy would tense up and the question looked kinda nervous.
Mamoriko's expression would soften looking directly at Lucy kinda tilting her head.
Mamoriko: [Lucy-Chan.] She'd say more sternly than when speaking to Lucy.
Mamoriko: [We came up together. You can talk to me now, tell me what's wrong.] she'd say sternly once more.
Lucy would look up at her.
Lucy: [Let's go to your room.]
Mamoriko nods pushing Lucy into the room as they'd sit on the bed.
Lucy: [Ok so um I'm having my first bloodwork (Period) and I'm kinda nervous..]
Mamoriko would tilt her head and start laughing.
Mamoriko: [That's what you're worried about loser, it's a natural thing I thought you were telling me you had cancer or something you dork]
Mamoriko would continue frantically laughing barely catching her breath.
Lucy would turn red all flustered.
Lucy: [Stop laughing at me I'm actually upset about it, bleeding every month is..]
Mamoriko: [Ok ok I'm sorry I get it's scary at first.]
Lucy: [Yeah...]
Mamoriko: [Well first.]
She stands up and walks over and opens up her dresser drawer.
Mamoriko: [Here.]
She would pull out a variety of things, Pads, Period panties, tampons, and lay one of each on the bed.
Lucy: [What are these?]
Mamoriko: [These are us ladies' saving grace]
Mamoriko would grab the pad.
Mamoriko: [This is a beginner-friendly option you simply put it in your underwear and it catches and absorbs the bleeding.]
Lucy: [Oh that sure would've been useful this morning...]
Mamoriko would giggle.
Mamoriko: [Yeah I bet.]
Mamoriko would pick up the period panties.
Mamoriko: [These are special underwear with absorbent layers built in—basically underwear with a pad built in. They're usually equivalent to about three pads and must be washed after every use. A bit expensive, yes, but reusable, so a good investment in the long run.]
Lucy: [That's cool I think I'll get those.]
Mamoriko: [Well they are my personal favorites, but I'd recommend only for sleeping and long days like maybe when you're in a fight or something because they do need washing a lot so nothing beats the convenience of pads that you can just throw out.]
Lucy: [Fair enough maybe it's because I'm Lazy.]
Mamoriko: [Yeah Lazy-pants, but finally.]
She'd grab the tampons.
Mamoriko: [These are tampons, you insert them and they catch the menstrual blood internally, it's what people use for sports and stuff, it's more for when you get comfortable with having a period first I wouldn't use it off the jump there's a risk of TSS.]
Lucy would tilt her head.
Lucy: [What's TSS?]
Mamoriko: [It's very rare but it's mostly when you leave it in too long, caused by bacterial toxins. But don't worry too much—if you use tampons correctly, it's rarely an issue."]
Lucy: [Sounds scary though I'm sure I can get one of my Yokai to clear it up.]
Mamoriko: [Perhaps.]
Lucy: [Well thanks Mamoriko-Chan I'll ensure to take good care of these.]
Mamoriko would chuckle.
Mamoriko: [Lucy oh dear Lucy I'm much taller than you, so these won't fit you I'm gonna take you to the store and buy some like the wonderful older sister I am.]
Lucy: [Yes ma'am.] she said teasingly.
Mamoriko would grab her phone and go to Tokihana's contact and begin to text her.
Mamoriko: [Mind teleporting us to the store, little Lucy had her first period.]
Tokihana: [Oh? Is that so she's growing up so fast.]
Mamoriko: [Yeah she's the same height as you even though you're older than her lol couldn't be me.]
Tokihana: [.....]
Tokihana's portal would open up in Mamoriko's room.
Tokihana: [We're going to Kawaramachi Street to the drug store Matsumoto.]
Lucy: [Instead of teleporting I think I want you two to meet someone]
Mamoriko and Tokihana would make a surprised expression?
Mamoriko: [Who is this now?]
Lucy: [You'll see] as she skipped out of the room.
Tokihana and Mamoriko would follow close behind until they arrived at the elevator.
Lucy: [I've alerted him to wait for us down the elevator.]
Mamoriko: "She can do that now?!" Mamoriko thought.
As the 3 girls boarded the elevator they would arrive at the bottom swiftly, and as the doors would creak open and the light of the room and the aura of the person that waited on the other side would spill through.
??: [Hey there young girl, and Lucy-sama.]
There standing on the other side of the door is, Yuki but Mamoriko and Tokihana notice something that Lucy and Aiji did not.
Mamoriko: [This is a cute pelican.]
Lucy would turn: [Nuh uh he's a Swan.]
Mamoriko and Tokihana would face palm.
Tokihana: [His beak is big enough to place you and Aiji-Kun in it, and it's yellow.]
Lucy would become flustered and red in the face.
Lucy: [Aiji-kun didn't bring it up.]
Mamoriko would rub Lucy's head.
Mamoriko: [That's because your little boyfriend is dumb.]
Lucy: [No he isn't!]
Tokihana: [Yes he is.]
As Tokihana would give her a nudge.
Yuki: [I'm happy to meet all of you, Lucy-sama has already given me the whereabouts of the store, hop on and I'll fly you there much faster than lightning can strike.]
Mamoriko: [Ehh you're kinda frecky but sure.]
As the girls would board Yuki he would fly high up above even the clouds as he tore through the sky splitting the clouds that stretched from there to America making a wonderful sight.
Mamoriko: [Wow Yuki-San you are strong.]
Yuki would chuckle.
Yuki: [Nothing compared to Lucy-sama I suppose.]
As he continued to fly until he was far above Matsumoto.
Yuki: [We've arrived.]
He would dive touching the ground before a heartbeat.
Mamoriko: [Whoa scary fast as well.]
As the girls would hop off Yuki he would turn small and turn invisible hopping onto Lucy's shoulder.
Tokihana: [Ok let's go girls.]
They would walk and turn the corner noticing a large group of people blocking the way entirely.
The girls would walk through the crowd getting slightly pushed around but keeping their cool, as they would finally reach the store.
As they would walk into the colorful store Lucy's eyes would light up.
Lucy: [Whoa..]
Mamoriko: [Grace-san took me here when I was your age Lucy I was a little younger when I got my first period though now that I think about it.]
Lucy: [That was extremely nice of her.]
As the girls would walk around Lucy of course, grabbed a bag of chips.
Mamoriko: [Nuh uh Lucy-chan, you may grab that bar of chocolate there they help with periods.]
Lucy would roll her eyes.
Lucy: [Fine.]
Lucy would touch her forehead to activate her telepathy.
Lucy: "Yuki eat these bags of chips and spit them out later."
Yuki: "Why not use your own money?"
Lucy: "I spent it all but I promise I'll feel a little bad and bring money back to tip the manager or something."
Yuki: "Fine then"
He would swallow the bag of chips
As the group walked around they would finally get to the women's products aisle.
Mamoriko: [Here.]
They were pads that should be appropriate in size for Lucy.
Lucy: [Oh.]
Mamoriko would grab a few more to last Lucy for around 6 months.
Lucy: [Thanks a lot Mamoriko-chan.]
Mamoriko would smile.
Mamoriko: [No problem little sis]
Ruffling Lucy's hair.
Mamoriko: [Now where are the other things?] she says in an exhausted voice not being able to find them.
Tokihana would spot them.
Tokihana: [Right there.]
Mamoriko: [Oh!]
Before anyone noticed, Swan would grow slightly bigger still invisible, and knock them over into Tokihana's hand.
Yuki: [No need to use your powers while I'm around Mamoriko-san.] He says in a hushed tone.
Mamoriko: [Thanks Yuki-San.]
3 pairs of period panties sat in Tokihana's hands as she tossed them into the cart.
Lucy: [Are we all set?]
Mamoriko: [Yes of course.]
The 3 girls would begin to walk as they arrived at the register.
Cashier: [That'll be ¥28,410]
Mamoriko would sigh, and swipe her debit card slightly tugging on Lucy's ear.
Lucy: [Ow]
Mamoriko: [See how much I love you.]
Lucy: [Duh.]
They would smile at each other.
Tokihana: [Aw the two siblings are so adorable.]
They would become flustered.
Mamoriko: [Shut up.]
The cashier girl would laugh.
Cashier: [Here.]
The cashier would hand them the bag.
Mamoriko: [Alright let's go.]
After grabbing all the pads and period panties, the girls prepared to board Yuki again. The clouds shimmered as they soared, laughter echoing above the city.
Yuki: [Am I too fast?]
He chuckled softly, the wind rushing past them.
Mamoriko rolled her eyes.
Mamoriko: [Slower than Hayanobu-san, he's super fast.]
Tokihana giggled, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
Tokihana: [He's fast huh?]
Mamoriko playfully hit her.
Mamoriko: [Owe.]
Tokihana laughed again, and Mamoriko couldn't help but smile.
Lucy: [Are you guys making a joke I don't understand?]
They would kinda stop and look at Lucy.
Mamoriko: [You'll understand when you're our age you know.]
Lucy would sigh and roll her eyes.
Lucy: [Yeah Yeah whatever.]
Yuki would slow down a little still a mile or 2 from the house.
Lucy would notice
Lucy: [Why did you slow down Yuki?]
Yuki: [Oh you girls seemed to be having fun so I wanted to let you girls mess around a little.]
The girls would smile.
Tokihana: [Thanks I can teach this bitch a lesson.] She'd say clearly joking.
Mamoriko: [Is that so?]
Lucy would giggle.
Lucy: [I have an idea.]
Lucy would touch Yuki and he would grow massive even bigger than the average Japanese house, as they looked around they would see a training ground.
Tokihana would look in amazement.
Tokihana: [Wow Lucy-chan.... You really made this.]
Mamoriko: [Yeah it's amazing...]
??: [Well young girls let's get this show on the road.]
Mamoriko and Tokihana would look and see a mini swan around the size of a German shepherd.
Lucy: [I've managed to duplicate Yuki and transfer his consciousness to this little body the big thing outside is just an empty shell.]
Mamoriko: [Awesome.]
She ruffles Lucy's hair again proud of her as Lucy smiles.
Lucy: [Ok begin.]
Mamoriko and Tokihana would look at each other.
Mamoriko: [17 years old but still the same height as Lucy loser.] She had no venom clearly trying to fire herself and Tokihana up.
Tokihana: [Well that's why you're weaker than I am!] Tokihana yelled yet still no venom.
Mamoriko: [Are you angry still so immature you're almost an adult act like it maybe that's why you don't have a boyfriend.] giggling
Tokihana: [That's why... uhh screw it just fight.]
They would run at each other at first not using their powers they'd punch each other square in the face.
Tokihana was rather frail for her age so she lost balance and fell.
Mamoriko: [What's the matter couldn't keep up?]
Tokihana would pout as she'd kick Mamoriko's legs and Mamoriko would fall but quickly recover, just as she'd try to jump onto Tokihana, Tokihana would disappear into the ground reappearing behind Mamoriko quickly hitting her.
Mamoriko: [Oh you're good] she'd giggle.
Tokihana would smile as Mamoriko would use telekinesis to pull Tokihana to her slamming her.
Mamoriko: [I got yo—]
Tokihana would summon a portal to off-balance Mamoriko's footing as she'd get up to hit her but Mamoriko quickly caught herself catching Tokihana and clocking her square in the face
Tokihana: [Shit.]
Mamoriko: [Nice try.]
She'd grab Tokihana with telekinesis, throwing her up and down across the room and every time Tokihana would use her portals to escape Mamoriko would grab her once again the moment she exited through a new portal, throwing her around the room again she essentially trapped her in an infinite cycle.
As that battle raged on Lucy would grab her sides kinda leaning forward and wincing in pain
Yuki: [Are you ok Lucy-sama?]
Lucy: [Yes I'm quite alright.] she said her voice indicating her immense pain.
Mamoriko while having Tokihana in a rear neck choke would look over to Lucy.
Mamoriko: [You ok Lucy-chan?]
Lucy: [Yes I'm fi—]
Lucy would lean forward some more.
Mamoriko: [Oh shit period cramps.]
Mamoriko would let Tokihana go who would catch her balance as they would both run over.
Tokihana: [Worse part of periods well actually I hate discharge more since my cramps aren't bad but it's up to the person I guess.]
Tokihana would be trying to lighten to mood a little as Mamoriko would hug Lucy.
Mamoriko: [Good thing I grabbed these.]
She'd grab a bottle from the plastic bag it was Loxonin (Think of it as Japanese Ibuprofen).
Lucy would take it and around 30 or so minutes later she would notice the pain start to settle still there but she could stand again.
Lucy: [Thanks a lot.]
Mamoriko: [Of course and here shake it up and put it in your pocket.]
She'd throw Lucy a Kairo (pocket warmer) and Lucy would shake and place it in her pocket feeling the warmth.
Lucy: [Wow I'm much better now.]
Mamoriko: [Well I've kicked Toki's butt enough let's get going.]
Tokihana would roll her eyes embarrassed.
Tokihana: [whatever.]
Lucy would snap her fingers and they're on Yuki again right above the mansion as Yuki would soar down and all sound would break for a split second once again touching the ground instantly.
Lucy and others would hop off.
Lucy: [Thanks a lot Yuki.]
Yuki would bow.
Yuki: [It is my greatest honor to assist you Lucy-sama.]
Mamoriko: [You two are so adorable servant and master.]
The 4 of them would walk inside and Aiji would approach quickly hugging Lucy.
Aiji: [Where were you Lucy-chan]
Lucy would look at Tokihana and Mamoriko and then back at Aiji.
Lucy: [Women's things.]
The 3 girls would giggle.
Aiji: [Whatever let's just hang out.] he laughed
Lucy: [Of course but I got other things to do.]
Now those other things in question I won't go into detail on we'll just call them "woman things."
As Aiji and Lucy went off Tokihana and Mamoriko looked at each other.
Mamoriko: [Well I'll see you around.]
Tokihana would nod
Tokihana: [Yeah.]
They'd hug as they went their separate ways.
Mamoriko would ride the elevator up arriving at her room and just as she opened the door she was immediately grabbed.
Mamoriko would jump but notice it was just the fastest man alive Hayanobu.
Hayanobu leaned in, a playful grin on his face. He held out a bouquet, the petals glowing faintly under the soft light of the room.
Hayanobu: [Heh... did I startle you? That was the intention.]
Hayanobu: [Had to run all around New Zealand to get these. Had to limit myself to Mach 4... didn't want to damage them.]
Mamoriko's eyes widened as she saw the flowers—the rare Middlemist's Red Camellia, delicate and impossibly vibrant.
Mamoriko: [Oh... you actually got these for me?]
Hayanobu shrugged casually, one hand reaching up to mess with a strand of her hair.
Hayanobu: [Of course. You're worth it.]
Mamoriko hugged him, heart thumping loudly.
Mamoriko: [You're the best boyfriend I could ever ask for.]
He smirked, leaning a little closer, eyes twinkling with mischief.
Hayanobu: [So... Toki made fun of me, huh? 'He's fast.']
Mamoriko's cheeks flamed.
Mamoriko: [Y-yeah...]
Hayanobu: [Wanna find out?]
Mamoriko's heart skipped, leaving her speechless as the teasing grin before her made her stomach flutter.