The afternoon Sun forced them under hats, even though the shade of clouds were present. The bricks of whites and browns made the streets.
City lamps of tal blared reflective light onto onlookers; the citizens went about their business as if it were any other day. "This is all the sa as before," Jotou looked from under a hat made of straw.
The city that took up a lot of land, buildings and shops, alleyways apart. The housing area they explored, just so Jotou could check everything—tightly packed and alleys were dirt rather than brick.
Bicycles and carts passed, much like Kria, though, one thing had not occured—yet. A blue parasol she held when Jotou glanced over... ’Our fun little talk.’ Jotou smiled for a mont, but why hadn’t Hotaru approached with the parasol yet?
"Hey," Hotaru called over, "I know you don’t like the heat, co stand in the shade."
"That, changed..." Jotou whispered to herself, but she made no ntion of it to Hotaru and went over to stand under the umbrella. "How d’you know I don’t like the heat?"
"I, rember when we talked outside your master’s place. You said you prefer the cold. And you don’t exactly look comfortable; then again, it might be you’re rembering sothing in the future," her dour stare, glanced at the traffic.
"Yeah," Jotou turned away, "I hate the heat..."
"Don’t worry, the province of Cravolta and Cravolta City aren’t this hot. Only Galuvit and Alsham are primarily. Northern Cravolta’s actually colder than Kria."
"I didn’t know the umbrella ca with a geography lesson."
"Hmh," an amused grin that barely opened or even curled her lips. The redhead’s ears were not all the way up and her tail rely shifted from side to side.
They stood there, the silence only broken by the people and wheels roaming around them. "So, did you know our driver’s na?" Jotou attempted to make conversation.
"No. I just hired soone who frequents this path back and forth. He wasn’t the most expensive to hire, not the cheapest either. That was nice of you to ask though; it’s a bit rude we didn’t, now that I think about it."
"Yeah," and another few minutes of silence passed, under a parasol; the two barely gave a glance at the other.
"Drumroll!" Asobi ran out of the shop, illusory drums beating to the side. "Presenting, the brand new, Fuko Namora!!!"
"Ta-da!" Fuko walked out, showing off her newly cut hair that was cut till a little past her chin, two locks flowed past her ears a little longer and the hair framing her face still not held back by her headband; but it had been cut shorter.
"How do I look?"
"Nice," Hotaru smiled, "You look much neater."
"Jotou?" she ekly looked over, her eyes barely gave off a lustre.
’Where’s the red carpet? And that’s definitely not how short she cut it last ti...’ "Cute," Jotou tilted her head, "But did the barber accidentally cut it too short?"
"You don’t like it?" Fuko’s brows furrowed, not out of anger, rather in thinking, "You said that I got my hair cut, right?"
"Yeah, but into twin-tails, not that short. As long as you’re happy," Jotou shook her head.
"Whatever," Fuko brushed aside, "It feels much lighter. What’s next on the list?"
"I think it’s shopping for us ko. Let’s get you the best outfits!" Asobi held Fuko’s wrist tightly.
"Hang on, you need money," Hotaru reached into her purse and gave Fuko four platinum pieces, "Make sure to get clothes, then go eat whatever you want."
"Whatever I want!?" the brunette’s eyes widened.
"Sure, just don’t spend it all and save so of it. Okay?"
Jotou turned—Hotaru about to leave with her. Soone held Jotou’s coat, the blonde hair whipped back. It was the elf, "We’ll see you at the minister’s office. Have fun alright?" Sothing about Asobi’s smile seed... off...
"I’m not sure about fun in a governnt office, but I’ll try."
_
The two wandered the streets, Jotou having a sense of where to go once the police station was in sight. Hotaru walked at least three or so footsteps away from Jotou.
’She hasn’t said a word...’ "Hey," Jotou glanced over, "When we get to the minister’s office, they’ll give us so refreshnts—including chocolate."
The redhead’s ears bristled, eting Jotou’s gaze with her tail in a shock. "Just a fair warning, you might want to control yourself just a tiny bit," Jotou’s lips cocked to the side.
"Wait, does that an?"
"You finished the entire plate within a quarter of a minute, yes. I didn’t tell this earlier to everyone cause, well, you can guess why."
Hotaru hid her face with a hand, "I must’ve looked like an absolute pig..."
"You seed really happy and enjoying yourself. You actually looked quite adorable. I don’t bla you, we are in the chocolate capital of the world after all; which you neglected to tell ," a soft smirk grew.
Hotaru blushed, a childish pout under her hiding ears, "Don’t make fun of !"
"I’m not!" she stifled a giggle.
"Yes you are!" the redhead’s hand withdrew from her face, revealing the fanged grin and bent eyebrows.
"Maybe," Jotou shrugged, "Your mouth did look like a chipmunk’s."
"Stop!"
Jotou laughed it off. "It didn’t matter though," she looked ahead, "After that, you went full-lawyer-mode and made the minister speechless. You were still amazing in the end, embarrassing mont or not."
Hotaru blushed, "Thank you. Well, I’ll do my best again then," her tail wagged a smidgen, having absentmindedly walked closer.
"I had no doubts Aru."
_
Jotou and Hotaru sat in cushioned sofas whilst a fan spun overhead. The guards kept an eye while one of them brought glasses of juice and a plate of chocolates before them.
"If you see eating one, please grab the rest away from ," Hotaru whispered.
"Wow, I would not have believed it if I didn’t see her myself," he walked out from behind them. "Thundering Blade, your news spreads wide across Cravolta. It’s a pleasure to et you, I’m Eustace Saady, the Minister of Hartamat," he gave his hand.
They stood up. Jotou shook his hand, "Nice to et you too, Jotou Howllett; Jotou will do."
"Please, sit Jotou. Make yourselves comfortable," he moved his hand to the other.
"Hotaru Kinoshita, adventurer."
They all sat down, "So, I hear you have been caught up in the travel ban?"
"Yeah. We were wondering if you could maybe give us a pass forward," Jotou sat up, signalling Hotaru with a glance.
"I’m so sorry," he threw his hands up, "It’s a bit of a conundrum; lots of important people go in and out of here, but unless it’s the Princess of Cravolta herself I can’t let anyone through."
The redhead composed herself, ears standing up, relaying the sa argunt as she did before, much to the blonde’s amusent. Her voice never quivered, sharp as a tack, her brilliant blue eyes glittered like pools of water.
By the ti Jotou took to admire her companion, the argunt was coming to the point it was before "Hotaru," Jotou put an arm out, "Let the man breathe..."
"I see why... the Velatos Case was handled so, efficiently," he laid a hand on his chest, taking a breather.
"I assure you," Jotou gazed to Hotaru, "She’s quite amazing."
Her ears twitched back and forth, snapping out of the mories of being in court. The corner of her eyes gazed to Jotou; that complint ant much to her.
The guards around kept watch on him, more so cautious of Hotaru, they stood sowhat straighter. "I can’t lie, part of this is to protect my reputation.
If soone were to disappear or die while the ban is up, it may also affect the reputation of Hartamat. Not to ntion, I don’t wish for anyone’s death within this region. So, if we can keep this quiet for now."
"I understand," Jotou faced the minister, "Let’s keep this simple, legal and illegal. I’m the Thundering Blade of Kria. I’ve had dealings with the Trailon Regi. What can you tell about this battalion and how can I assist to speed up the process?"
The sa deal was struck, walking out the office with their commission. "Did that go according to-?" Hotaru halted to see the two figures in front of her.
Asobi wore a silk blouse of whites and blacks, a long skirt of the sa make till her feet, leaving her slender midriff exposed as she hung around Fuko’s shoulder.
A giant purple beret, a magenta shirt, collar stiff as cardboard hiding half her face and oversized for her figure.
A purple scarf-coat that encased her neck till her lower back and sat behind like a cape that could be unravelled by pulling forward.
And two puffy purple pants that ended in shoes that glowed purple. "Save from this elf already..." the brunette had seen enough parlour tricks for today.
A stifle from the redhead. Though Jotou shook her head, trying not to... the laughter erupted, "Even the second ti."
"What!?" Fuko looked up to the two.
"You picked the exact sa clothes twice!?" Jotou managed to gasp for long enough.
"I’m not sweating at least! It’ll do."
"For a clown?" Hotaru held her stomach.
"Don’t worry ko! You look phantasmagorical!" Asobi assured with a thumbs up from a glowing white hand.
Fuko swatted at the illusion wrathfully, "Can we move on already!? Did you two get the commission!?"
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