"Hey, where are you going?"

"Is that any of your business?"

Sindri released an annoyed snort, shifting his legs onto the couch. "Whatever, take your key this time. Keep your earbuds out, too. It's dangerous to walk with them in."

"Thanks for the advice, Dad. I think I'll be fine." Eve answered, twirling the earbud around her ear.

"You're heading to East Tokyo High, right? For the exam information?"

"Pretty much."

Sindri snorted again, deciding to cut their conversation at that.

As Eve headed for the door and opened it, a girl waited outside it, like she'd been expecting them. She had heterochromic eyes, wavy hair, and a school uniform. A messenger bag strapped across her shoulder. She appeared mostly friendly. "Um, do I know you?"

"No, but I know you!" she chirped, which reminded her of Lilja. Sundance bound to her side, bumping into her side. "I'm friends with Phil and Kyo. They've told me many things about you both! Eve and Sundance, right? It's so nice to meet you!"

Eve looked away, wondering if she was successfully masking her disdain. Sundance beamed. "Nice to meet you! Uh. What's your name?" Sundance asked, laughing.

"Fuuma!" she announced, her grin a beacon of light. She unzipped her bag and retrieved two separate plastic casings, one noticeably gigantic. Eve noticed a hint of something tucked in her bag. A spellbook. If Sundance noticed it too, he hid his surprise masterly. "I made cookies. Since Sundance has a mamodo appetite, I made a few extra. I work part-time in an orphanage, so I obviously know about picky eaters. Not that I'm saying you are. There's a little bit of everything in yours, Eve. Gluten-free, sugar-free, chocolate chip, white chocolate, pecan, oatmeal-raisin. But if you don't like any of them, that's totally okay, too!"

Sundance and Eve accepted their tins, the latter hesitantly. "Thanks, Fuuma!"

"Maybe we can all get together sometime? I have–"

"Yeah, cool. It's nice to meet you and all, but I have to go. See you later, Sundance." Eve stated, heading down the hall.

Sundance frowned, watching his partner leave and tempted to follow. Fuuma grinned. "It's okay," Fuuma insisted, furiously waving a hand. "Another day, maybe?"

Superbia waited in a nearby tree, overlooking the street and traffic. Fuuma insisted she wait outside the building. To not frighten the other mamodo or human. Whatever.

A girl exited the building hastily and Superbia jumped at the familiar scent, then deflated when she saw it wasn't Fuuma. She was carrying one of the tins. It must've been the owner of the spellbook. Brown-blonde hair and an acidic scowl.

Superbia was halfway out of the tree, hoping to greet her when she saw the girl fling Fuuma's cookies in the trash, place on her sunglasses, and continue walking.

"Well," Superbia muttered, clinging to a low branch. "So much for a peace offering."

"Does the air feel different or is it just me?"

"Just you." Kyo and Resh assured, then shared a grin at their simultaneous response. They were sitting at the park and Phil was skipping stones in the pond. He selected a sparkling oval stone from the grass and carefully flung it.

Phil stared at the pond for a silent moment. "I don't know. It's just…since that whole Ophelia debacle–"

"You're still talking about that?" Kyo asked, scratching his temple.

Resh giggled. "He is!"

Phil didn't respond immediately. When he did, his response was stuttery. Careful. "Yeah, I don't know. It's been weird. Too calm."

"That's called having a normal life. Just enjoy while it lasts. Another mamodo is soon to strike soon enough and you'll need to be prepared." Kyo instructed, lifting a hand to exaggerate his point. Resh nodded.

"Hi all!"

"Speaking of which," Kyo said, smiling at the appearance of Superbia and Fuuma. Phil turned and smiled, too. Resh studied her partner's expression. There appeared to be something on his mind, still. "It's great to see you two."

"You too!" Fuuma chirped, settling on the bench beside Kyo. Superbia lingered close. "We were at that girl's house. The one you told us about? We met her mamodo. Sundance? He was super nice. Eccentric. Crazy appetite, too!"

"Yeah, his partner wasn't all too welcoming," Superbia muttered with a cryptic laugh. "Fuuma made her cookies and she flung them in the trash."

"In front of her? How cruel."

Phil scoffed wordlessly.

"No, I mean…it's not her fault. Maybe she was busy or not a sweets person. She was on her way out. I shouldn't have barged in on her apartment, anyway. I'm sure she's a really nice person," Fuuma insisted, batting a hand.

Resh slumped. "Those poor cookies…"

"It's okay. I can always make more!" Fuuma reassured brightly, reaching into her bag for a manila envelope and tearing it open. What appeared were five equally small envelopes. "Magic show tickets! They were giving away tickets at my school and I just had to take a few. I attempted to invite Sundance, but he said no."

"Typical," Phil muttered, scoffing again. Resh shushed him.

If Fuuma heard the response, she ignored it. She was becoming fine-tuned to the group. "A magic show! It's called Demetria's Magical Surprise."

"A magic show?"

Superbia grinned, pointing at her book halfheartedly. "A little ironic, don't you think?"

"Yeah, I know," Fuuma answered, sheepish. "We could always use a little fun around here. Plus, I hear the weather is going to be great tomorrow!"

"Fuuma's right!" Resh agreed, nodding in agreement. "What could go wrong?"

Phil snatched another pebble from the grass and flung it across the water. This time, it didn't skip. It simply splashed.

"Hey!"

Eve startled, tearing an earbud manically. A girl ran in front of her and she was regretting not bringing Sundance with her for the first time in her life.

"What…what–"

"Okay, but I love your shoes."

"Wait, what?"

The girl pointed at Eve's shoes. As if she'd forgotten about them. Gladiator sandals. "Your shoes. Love them."

"Yeah, I know. I like them, too." Eve admitted, hesitating. She was regretting not listening to Sindri for the first time in her life, too. A day full of regret. Eve studied the girl's features, trying to recognize her. Curly blonde hair, hazel-green eyes, and enviously long legs. She was wearing a green floral top, cutoff shorts, and flip-flops. "Wait. Do I know you from somewhere?"

"Probably not. I'm not from around here." she answered airily. "Only in town for the weekend. Tokyo is emptier than a tin heart. What's your name? You're really pretty."

Eve was shunned into silence for the first time in years. "Eve Miroashi,"

"Ah. A Miroashi, huh?" the girl repeated, lowering her gaze briefly.

"Do you know my brother or something?"

"Not exactly."

"I feel like this conversation should've ended already."

"That snark!" she said, giggling hysterically. "You're not wrong, though. Sorry for keeping you. What are you even doing in school on a Saturday? That sounds tragic."

"It is. Reapplying for high school."

"Reapplying for high school? More tragic than I thought. Is that even possible?"

Eve was starting to like this girl. She was reminded oddly of herself. "Yeah, pretty much. I have a week to study for some dreadful exam to get back into a school I always hated and figure out a coping mechanism for a student body who probably still can't stand the sight of me."

A second later, Eve felt the impact of her own revelation rubber-band back at her. This girl was still a stranger. She could barely share things with Sindri without regretting them later on.

But surprisingly, she said nothing of it. Lifted an eyebrow only. "Are you busy tomorrow night?"

"Not really…?"

"I'm going to take that as a no." she answered, laughing. "My friends and I are heading back to Nagoya on Monday. We live and work there. We usually come here for…business. A few of my brothers still live here, though. Losers. Nagoya is the place to be."

"Huh."

"I think you're cool, Eve. If you manage to step away from a textbook for five minutes, you should totally stop by my brother's house tomorrow."

"Huh."

"You just spilled that mighty revelation and that's all you got now?"

"No, no, I'm just surprised you live in Nagoya. It's a little…stuffy."

"You ever been?"

"No, but–"

"Don't talk till you see the place. Trust me, it's worth your time." she said, winking confidently and snatching the pen clipped to the pamphlet and paperwork Eve received from East Tokyo High, then promptly scribbling across the front of it. Eve was too startled to react properly. "My brother is seeing us out with a party tomorrow. That's the address. I also wrote down my number, in case you start feeling chickenshit. Would love to see you stop by. I'm sure you'll be crushed to see me leave. If you neglect the great golden book of knowledge for ten minutes, I'm sure a lot of people will gravitate toward you. Alright, it's getting late, so bye!"

Eve blinked, still immensely clueless. "Wait, just like–wait, wait! I never even got your name!"

She twirled around, midstep. "Sloane. Pleasure's all yours."

"Hi Pilot, I'm glad you answered."

"You sure know how to flatter a man, Sloane. As I've always reminded you, this is my private line, and I prefer not to answer this for anyone other than my children. No offense. Whatever you have to say, better be quick and important. I'll give you two minutes."

"Let me know the last time your children actually called you and I'll promise to never call this phone again." Sloane confessed drily, hesitating. "I met Ike Miroashi's daughter today."

"Tell me about it. Ungrateful assholes," he answered, chuckling flatly. "By the way, that doesn't interest me. I met both Miroashi children when they were children. Rude, like their mother. If you told me Ike Miroashi had sold his businesses and oh-so-unfortunately went bankrupt, I just might be interested."

Sloane sighed.

The silence was overwhelming. Sloane checked her phone to check make sure the call was still active. Just when she was about to add something, Pilot cut in. "I'll be back in Tokyo in a few weeks. I owe Ike a little visit, one we'll both regretting, I'm sure. Are you going to be back home in Nagoya before then?"

"Most likely. This place does nothing for me. Too rainy."

"I couldn't have said it better myself."

Thus ends Chapter 32. Who are Sloane and Pilot? Do either of them have bad intentions? Will Eve take Sloane up on her invitation? How will the magic show go for the group? Stay tuned!