Anzu walked towards Cafe Cinnamon, hoping to be able to get something quick to eat before she made her way to the airport. In the weeks after Eichi's meeting, she had been busy with her regular jobs and arranging the room that Eichi set aside for her and the new transfer student. While Eichi had said that he would take care of everything, Anzu wanted to help in any way she could. The difference between Eichi and Anzu taking care of things was that Eichi would delegate smaller jobs to other people, while Anzu often wanted to do things on her own.
Anzu decided that it would be good to get something for the international transfer student to eat as well. Eichi said that she was coming from America, and surely traveling to the other side of the world must make one hungry. Besides, Anzu had learned by experience that giving people food was one of the best ways to ensure a friendship. And while she was deciding which meal to buy, she heard the voice of another one of her friends.
"Anzu-chan! It's been a while, how've you been? " Subaru said as he bounced up right next to Anzu.
"Hello, Subaru-kun," Anzu said, "I've been good, how about you?"
"Everything's super sparkly now that you're here! I've been meaning to check in on you more often since you were last hospitalized, but we've both been pretty busy with work. Hey, we should do something together this afternoon! Maybe I can get the rest of Trickstar to come too, it'll be just like the old days!" Subaru's smile grew wider with every word.
"I'm so sorry, Subaru-kun, I really wish I could, but I have an important job this afternoon. In fact, I'll be late if I don't get going soon."
"Aw, that's too bad. What's your job this time?"
"I need to go pick up a transfer student from the airport."
"Oh! Another transfer student? This really takes me back! But why do you need to go to the airport? Was this transfer student on vacation?"
"Oh, sorry, I didn't mention that she's an international transfer student. She's coming from America."
"Oh, that's cool! Hey, is she from Yumenosaki's sister school in New York? I think Sakuma-senpai used to travel there a lot, during the War."
"She's not a producer. She's coming on an internship for the technology sector of the Tenshouin Conglomerate."
"Oh? Then why are you picking her up, if she has nothing to do with idols?"
At this point, Anzu had already said more than she probably should have. The identity of the international transfer student was complicated, and she needed to find a way to satisfy Subaru's curiosity without spoiling all her secrets.
"Eichi-senpai thought that she might feel uneasy to be greeted by a boy, so he asked me to go instead. We're also going to be roommates, so it's best I meet her anyway."
"Could I come too? I have nothing to do this afternoon."
Anzu knew that the transfer student did not want her identity to be known to the masses, and with Subaru being named Top Idol and part of the revolutionary Trickstar, he had enough fame to start a ruckus if he was seen outside. Even when they were still in high school, he would get stopped while doing mundane things, like in the middle of shopping at the mall, to sign autographs and take photos with excited fans. And if he we were seen going to the airport to pick up a foreign girl...unnecessary rumors would begin to spread, harming the both of them.
"I don't think it's a good idea to bring a lot of people on the first day she comes here," Anzu said, "I don't want to overwhelm her. But don't worry, you'll be able to meet her soon. She'll be working with me a lot, so if you ever see us, you can come by and say hi."
"Now I have even more questions. She's not a producer, but she'll be working with you? I don't really get it," Subaru said, "but I see you're really in a rush, so I won't bother you anymore."
"You're not really bothering me. I'm wasting my own time not knowing what to order. I want to get a snack for the transfer student."
"What about one of these cookies? The sugar on top makes them super sparkly ."
"Oh, they do look good. Thanks, Subaru-kun!"
"Hey wait! If you're gonna give her a gift, I wanna give her one too!"
"You don't even know her?"
"That's okay! A friend of Anzu is a friend of mine!" Subaru dug around in his jacket pocket. "Here, give her this!" He handed Anzu a ten yen coin. "Hokke gave it to me this morning, and I met you at lunch, so it's gotta be super lucky!" Subaru explained, "And its super sparkly ! If she ever gets lost, maybe it'll light her way!"
Anzu chuckled. Subaru's love for sparkles was charming, and it brought back old memories of her first year at Yumenosaki. "I'm sure she'll love it," Anzu said. And after receiving her order of food and saying goodbye to her old friend, she made her way to the airport.