I'm sitting in Tomoe's living room and Ako looks happy. She runs to me and Tomoe.

"Hi sis hi Ran! Oooh there's this really cool game I want to show you! Ever hear of Overkill?"

"Alright, we can play Overkill."

The game loads and I go into the practice range and oh my gosh is that a gorilla? I select the gorilla.

I leap with him and, wait why can't I headshot with him? Aww he's so funny too.

We try other characters and I smile at Tomoe, "out of like 30 characters isn't it funny how many of them are over 40?"

"And somehow all right handed too."

"Can I pretend the hamster's left handed?"

"But Ran you're right handed."

I practice on the hamster and I feel like such a tetherball this has so much potential to be fun.

Ako takes my place since she wants to us her playing. She picks a really really tall woman dressed like a cyberpunk sorceress Ako's right she does look really cool. Ako does that thing where she pretends to be evil by narrowing her eyes and putting her hand over her mouth. "Heh he heh, by the power of the gods of darkness Evilrella shall keep her team at full health!"

Yeah, I'm gonna disable chat it's really inappropriate.

"Ran! Their toxicity could inspire one of our songs?"

"Oh yeah."

The archer on her team looks so gross. I ask Ako who he is and she sighs. "That's Handsoapy. He's like never second best and I'm like well for you it would be since 28th best would be too hard for you too." Her voice flattens. "I can't stand him."

Tomoe asks, "Will you kill him off in one of your stories?"

"You know I usually have a policy where I don't kill off canon characters but I hate him so much I'm so going to. Handsoapy is such a conceited gross jerk and they never switch whenever it isn't working out. Oh and he tried killing his brother," Ako's voice gets cheerier, "who's actually sooooo cool!"

Tomoe says, "Of the 30 characters this game has why does one of the characters from Japan have to be a conceited buttface?"

I say, "Hey at least the cyborg ninja makes up for him."

"Victory!" A feminine robot voice announces.

Ako hops off her chair and enthusiastically yells, "Woo hoo!" Is she playing invisible drums?

Sunlight peeps through the blinds, a slight breeze caresses the potted clustering lady palm and potted miniature date palm on one of her shelves. We sit in the living room for tea. I like white or green personally, especially matcha.

Ako tells us, "You wouldn't believe how bad some of the maps are. It's like one mode attack gets so many chances but defense spawns really close to the point so either way it's not fun. But we got a good map so we won!"

Me and Tomoe say, "Hi Rinko!" She was on Zapper the whole time and we heard Ako and Rinko talking to each other on voice chat.

I ask her, "Say what's that other game you and Rinko play? You know the one like Minecraft because it has money and trading in it

Tomoe asks Ako, "Does your band have practice? Because we're scheduled and we can walk to Circle together."

"Mmm hmm."

"So about my Overkill fic, should I add time travel? I'm afraid it'll solve too much like what's to stop anyone from going back in time and ruining stuff or the good guys solving everything too easy?"

"Hey you're already doing better than many real writers."

Ako smiles, "Thanks. So no time travel?"

I tell her, "I wouldn't but it's your story."

"So should I have the old guy boss upload his mind to a computer then into in a 16 year old version of himself so he can go to school with them?"

"Umm, yeah, no."

Crowds walk by, just the usual tourists, people selling stuff to them, and families. Coffee and perfume aromas fill the sidewalk. People complain about not finding parking and how expensive it is. I give one of the homeless guys money and we keep walking.

We turn a few corners and notice more guys and girls our age.

I look at Tomoe, "What are they looking at?"

"We're outcasts, they have a problem with just us existing."

I ask Tomoe, "Why do these guys keep staring weirdly at us?"

"They probably want to be our boyfriends."

"Yeah well it's creeping me out. Like remember one of those times a guy yelled something inappropriate to a girl? If everyone knows people hate it then why do they keep doing that? And we're outcast so why would anyone want to date us?"

Oh no, is that guy running to us? Okay Ran think how can you let him down gently? Tomoe won't let anything happen to us and we can say we're meeting a boyfriend I don't even have.

Ugh, here he is. "Hey, I was just wondering if."

That's it he has to know now, "Look, ever since I was 8 I could look up how not to get kidnapped wherever I was, and my parents are pretty big on safety. I also have noonlight and gps and friends who'll know I'm missing so you really don't want to kidnap us." I gently yet threateningly stroke my phone with my thumb.

Wow did I say all that to him? Not as gentle as I hoped why couldn't I remember?

Tomoe tells him, "Plus she can scream really loud."

What does he thinks so funny? "No girls, I'm just here because my daughter wants an autograph. She's 8."

Aww what a sweet kid. How did I not see her? I squat a little and sign her coloring book.

Tomoe says, "Already signing? At this rate we'll tour with Billie Eilish."

"And no problem about thinking I wanted to date you. I bet guys try stopping you all the time. Sorry, we'll go and thanks for my daughter's autograph."

Tomoe looks down to me and says, "He has no idea. Think we'll almost cause an accident again?"

We walk by Himari playing a rhythm game. All these guys are watching her play. She slays in that game.

A guy with short spikey hair asks her, "Woah you're pretty good! Can I carry your bag?"

"And can I carry your, uhh, small koala plush! It's so cute too!"

Himari smiles and tells them, "Sorry guys, I have plans. We're going to Circle."

"Please can I carry stuff?"

Himari looks at Tomoe smiling with big eyes. She walks over and says, "Me and Ran are here."

The guys and Himari race in front of us.

"Careful Himari, don't hurt yourself carrying that koala plush."

She thanks the guys for carrying her stuff.

"Himari?! What was that all about who are they?"

"Oh, they're just my fanclub." She touches her chin. "I just don't get it, what's so special about me? They really want to be my friend so bad. Is it because I'm cool?"

Me and Tomoe look at each other and snort because we're holding back a laugh.

"Because I'm popular?"

She puts her bag down then gasp in that oh my gosh I got it way. "I know! They know I'm not doing good in one of my classes!"

"You go to an all girls school like the rest of us."

Himari looks down sighing. "Oh yeah. Maybe they like my amazing ideas that you guys don't appreciate?"

I tell her, "I don't think so Himari."

"Maybe they want to protect me on the train?"

"No!"

Tomoe tells her, "Yeah it's really not smart to go by yourself and especially with guys you don't really know."

Himari sips her water. "I'd never dream of it."

Yay Moca's here! She's with Lisa.

Lisa excitedly runs to us. "Hi Afterglow! Oh, you guys wouldn't believe who's in our part of town!"

Well she is really into makeup and fashion. If it wasn't for Afterglow's manager I bet Lisa would already be an Instagram baddie. She's so talented on bass, I hope she doesn't make Himari feel insecure about her bass skill.

Lisa rapidly slaps our table like she's drumming and takes a big gasp. "Goche and Dufucana! And guess what? Eve booked a job with them! Aaah she'll be here any minute and between you and me I'm pretty jealous but don't tell her okay?"

Eve walks in, dragging her feet with her eyes almost closed.

She sits with us and Lisa looks at us and rest her hand on Eve's shoulder. "Eve? What's wrong?"

Her eyes move up, peeking from her arms resting on the table. She sobs, shedding a few tears.

Lisa pats her back holding her. "You don't have to tell us but I won't think less of you if…oh my gosh did something happen on the train?"

I sit next to her, "We won't judge you. You aren't responsible for someone else being a per…"

Eve sniffs and tells us, "It's not that at all. My boss wanted us to wear dreadlocks. It just doesn't feel right for me."

Moca asks, "What's wrong with that?"

"People are told they can't wear their traditional hairstyles while people not them wear them and get complimented for being sooo cool and fashionable. And I'm half Finnish so I don't know if it's even worse for me to wear them. It's not fair to them how they're thought of differently for their own styles but if we take them we get complimented on it."

Roselia changed the song they're rehearsing. Eve takes a sip of her tea. "Like I sort of know why it's inappropriate but not really all I know is I know it upsets so many people and how somethings are too sacred to turn into a costume or just to make money."

Moca tells her. "Not to mention locs would look ridiculous on Eve."

"Moca!"

Eve tells her, "No, Ran's right." Eve wipes a tear and seems to be calming. Poor Eve.

Himari's eyes brighten and she smiles. Wonder what idea we'll have to tease her for this time? "Maybe you can wear cute fluffy hats instead? And get pics with you and the other models raising your hands jumping at the same time. What do you think Moca?"

"Hmm, oops sorry I wasn't listening."

"You're so mean Moca!"

Eve stands up and eats a slice of bitter melon then says. "They choose that for you Himari." Eve sighs sadly then says, "My bushido spirit tells me appropriation is wrong."

Chisato walks over, "We're ready for rehearsal. Is everything okay?"

Eve tells her she'll tell her later.

Miranda tells us we're up so we practice. Tomoe's really banging those drums hard, me and Moca follow her beat. Something doesn't sound right…"Aaah!" Tomoe's drumstick just flies out of her hand breaking a few lights and they fall on her drum set. Oof. I feel my pulse race and just want to die somewhere well before Miranda gets the chance at least. We can't show ourselves here ever again.

I rush everyone whispering, "Come on let's go."

I hear throat clearing right after we round the corner and it's Marina. Hmm, why us?

She's crossing her arms shaking her head slowly back and forth. "Anything happen, girls?"

Moca says. "Moca can't say."

I turn my head staring daggers at her. "Moca she obviously does! You'll just get us in deeper trouble!"

Please Earth, swallow me whole.

Marina tells us, "Sorry girls, I know it was an accident but you'll have to pay it off."

Tomoe sighs and I look up into her eyes and she tells me, "Ran, hon, you guys can go ahead without me. Me and Tsugu will meet you at Tsugu's coffee shop."

We leave and walk to her coffee shop and we all agree not to mention Tomoe's slip up.

Moca looks at a guy working on his laptop and whispers to us, "He's a famous author so let's not bother him."

Telling me not to bother a famous person? Must, not, narrow, my eyes at Moca for feeling like she had to tell us that. We're not rude ignorant tourists you know.

"Don't bother typing guy, got it." I tell her. What was I thinking this is Moca we're talking about.

We sit down and I text Tomoe to make sure she's okay and she's a minute away. Did I hear one of the girls behind us mention Eve?

A girl says, "Maybe I should write it's not like real work or anything."

A girl with a slightly deeper voice jokes, "Yeah like how hard can it really be to type stuff?"

Yay Tomoe's here!

Ako says with a slight whine, "Oh no I've been posting my stories for free all this time."

I whisper to Ako, "Maybe they're too appropriate? You might even get a Netflix original movie if you make them naughtier."

Tomoe tells her, "Yeah and notice how no one in real life cares about age ratings. Like imagine someone online free from society's judgeyness? I mean our parents let you watch R. Heck not even me and Ran are technically old enough for R."

A girl behind us says in an I can't believe it voice, "I feel bad about Eve. It's like she lost her way."

A girl with a higher voice responds to her, "She does that all the time!"

The first one says, "No I mean she forgot who she is."

The higher voiced one responds, "Like I said."

A third with a calmer deeper voice says, "This is a bad time for her to be acting weird. I mean with Eve not wanting different hair and everything."

"Oh no Ayano!"

"Yes Emiko. Let's be honest, maybe it's time we need someone who'll bring new life to our group."

"But won't that mess with our careers?"

The calmer one says, "Well I for one would welcome someone with a fresh new attitude."

Tomoe excuses herself to get an ice blended.

"Woah she looks so cool!" Emiko says.

Tomoe comes back and those girls were talking about her.

Ayano looks over her seat to our booth and looks at Tomoe and asks, "Ooooo, hey! We couldn't help but notice how cool and edgy you look."

Emiko looks over, "Hi! Yeah, there's just something about you."

I ask them, "Can we help you with anything?"

Ayano asks, "Oh, sorry. We're models and was wondering if you'd like to model with us?"

Tomoe's voice fills with surprise and shock, "Modeling!"

"Don't worry we know our agent will just love you." She looks at the deeper voiced calm one, "So what do you think Hayami?"

Hayami ask Tomoe, "Aren't you one of those Instagram baddies?"

Ayano tells Tomoe, "Either way you're about to go legit."

Tomoe whispers to me and Tsugu, "Ugh, I really don't want to do this but on the other hand I really need the money. If I don't pay off that light and drums I'll be paying that off for the rest of my life?"

I tell her, "Even if they make you wear dreadlocks? I mean they were talking about Eve?"

"I feel like they were all doing different shoots."

She looks up to them, "Can I bring my friends too?"

"Only one friend."

Moca tells Ayano, "Moca can't make it. But I can see why you'd want her with those cute tart crumbs on her face."

Me and Tomoe roll our eyes and smile looking into each other's eyes. Tomoe tells her, "Well you heard Moca she can't make it but Ran can. She's always wanted to be there."

Ayano clasps her hands smiling, "Thank you so much. Can't wait to work with you oh and we're going to need your Insta."

"I'm getting a social media manager aren't I?"

She nods closing her eyes. "Yeah but it's not that bad. We can share snaps but remember, you're going to be…part of a brand with us! Aren't you excited? Our shoots tomorrow see you after school. It was nice meeting all of you."

I look up to Tomoe, "Excited huh?"

"Between you and me I really don't want to do this. Just the thought of being a brand makes me throw up in my mouth."

"Hey I'm here for you."