I stood outside Emi's house, triple-checking my phone to make sure I had the right address. I was suspicious when, on the flight over, I noticed the houses got bigger and any cars in the driveway got fancier. The house in front of me was no different, being real close in size to a damn mansion. It stood out even among the other houses due to the deep crimson roof and the Mercedes in the driveway. So either Emi's family was fucking loaded or she was playing me for a fool. Given how the Literature Club treated me this past week, my first instinct was to assume the latter. However Emi was not a member of that club and was one of the few people I could unironically call a friend, so I gave her the benefit of the doubt.

That didn't mean I was just gonna walk up to the door and risk embarrassing the shit out of myself. "Hey, I'm outside. You sure you gave me the right address?" I texted Emi.

"Yea, of course! Hang on, I'll be right out." She replied shortly after.

She wasn't fooling after all. The front door soon opened and Emi stepped out, waving at me to come over. "Hey, there you are!" She exclaimed as I approached. "Glad you dropped by, the party almost started without you!"

Party? "It's not that big of a deal. We're just watching anime," I said, following her inside. I mentally noted the scent of pizza and something baking coming from somewhere inside. It smelled sweet. Cake?

Somehow the inside seemed bigger than the outside. The living room itself felt as big as my entire house back in Cloudsdale. Granted, I didn't make a very big one, but still. The decor was surprisingly minimalist, with very little clutter. In the middle of the room, three couches sat around a coffee table. Against the wall was the biggest TV I'd ever seen, with a full entertainment center underneath. I also took note of a Happy Birthday banner hung on the ceiling.

It took me a few moments to take it all in. "Holy... Wow. And here I thought the outside looked impressive. This is a seriously nice place you got here." I really should have guessed her family was wealthy based on how much she spent at the cafe, but it just didn't sink in until now.

"Yeah. It's pretty spacious too, perfect for parties," Emi said.

"I noticed," I remarked, motioning towards the banner. "Happy birthday, I guess."

"Oh, it's not mine."

"Then whose birthday is it?"

Before Emi could answer, we were interrupted by a girl's voice coming from the kitchen. "Hey, cupcakes are done!"

"It would be hers," Emi finally said, motioning to the kitchen as a short pink-haired girl stepped out, holding a plate of cupcakes, each decorated to look like adorable cats and bunnies. The sweet smell intensified, reminding me of an Equestrian bakery. Given how just one cupcake from Sugarcube Corner had enough sugar to put a human into a sugar coma, I became concerned for the well-being of the other girls. My stomach meanwhile was eager for a taste.

The girl put the plate down on the coffee table and looked at me. "Hey, I know you! You're Sayori's friend. What are you doing here?"

I nodded, pointing a wing towards Emi. "Yep. I'm also friends with her and she invited me to get a taste of some anime that I've missed. What she didn't tell me," I said pointedly towards her, eliciting a nervous look from our host, "was that she was also hosting a birthday party."

"I wouldn't really call it a party," Emi said, "more like an anime night that happens to be on someone's birthday. I just thought the banner was a nice touch."

"And I wanted to bake some cupcakes," the short girl said, "since I don't get too many chances to..." She paused, then turned away, crossing her arms. "Nevermind. But hey, since you're friends with Emi and Sayori, I suppose I can let you have one."

"Oh wow, what mighty generosity you have, Your Highness," I said with a bucket of sarcasm.

"Hey! You better show some respect to your Queen or I'll toss you in the dungeon!" she threatened, though the big grin on her face betrayed her emotion.

"What are you the queen of? Cuteness?" I tease, giving her a light nudge.

"I'm not cute!" she shrieks, "I'm obviously the Queen of Cupcakes, of course."

"Ah yes, it's so obvious. How could I be so mistaken? So sorry Milady." I gave a bow and we both shared a laugh as she took a cupcake and sat on the couch. I sat across from her. "So... since you mentioned Sayori, I take it you're Natsuki?"

"The one and only," she said, raising her cupcake in a toast gesture, "and I've seen you around school, Mari. Frankly I dunno what Sayori sees in you. You two are polar opposites."

"Trust me, I'm not sure myself. But we've pretty much always been friends." I didn't really believe it myself, but I still had that old photo, so I pulled it out and showed it to Natsuki.

She studied it for a moment before shrugging and taking a bite of her cupcake. "I guess living in America does things to you. Remind me to stay far away from that place, Emi."

Emi nodded, taking a cupcake of her own and biting into it eagerly. "You make the best cupcakes ever, Natsuki. If you ever want to use my oven again, say the word and I'll make it happen!"

"Thanks, but I'll be fine baking at home," Natsuki dismissed hastily, "besides, Dad would kill me if he found out he was missing out on my cupcakes."

"Aw, okay. Though if you need a cup of sugar or anything, I'll be happy to provide."

I made a mental note of Natsuki's behavior and filed it away for later. There was no reason to start digging now, but given our mutual connection with Sayori and Emi, we were bound to meet again. It wouldn't hurt to suss out a secret or two just in case.

...Why was I suddenly filled with a sense of foreboding?

As Emi picked out the first show for us to watch, I noticed Natsuki making the occasional glance towards me and then the plate of cupcakes. I pretended not to notice and turned my attention to the anime, which was about some rough-and-tumble girl who reminded me a lot of myself who worked in a maid cafe. Her strange love interest gave me a familiar feeling, but I also had the desire to stab him. Still, it was cute and innocent enough that I found myself enjoying it.

After watching a couple episodes Emi started looking for a second show and I once again noticed Natsuki sneaking glances. Suppressing a sigh, I gave in and grabbed a cupcake. "This better be real sugar..." Natsuki's eyes were fixated on me as took a bite and paused. "Holy shit, this is real sugar." Not only that, but the cupcake was fluffier than almost any other cupcake I've ever had. The frosting too was so good it almost felt illegal. Like the food police was gonna bust down the door and arrest us all for having a cupcake that was too good to be consumed by humans.

Thank goodness I was still a pony.

I looked towards Natsuki, checking her reaction. Based on the way she was now just blatantly staring, this was what she was waiting for this whole time. The unspoken words "what did you think?" were hanging in the air.

"Maybe you really are the Queen of Cupcakes," I said, quickly finishing the sweet treat. "Been a while since I've had a cupcake that good."

"Well duh," she responded with smug satisfaction, "I make the best cupcakes in town!"

"It's true," Emi interjected, "I even compared it with that new maid cafe. Even my mom thinks Natsuki's cupcakes are better."

"Sounds like worthy competition for one bakery I know," I mused. Sugarcube Corner was not a place I visited too often, but it was damn near the best bakery in Equestria. Of course, the reason for that is also the reason I typically stayed away. "Do you do catering?" She shook her head. "Damn."

"Sorry. I only serve a very exclusive clientele," Natsuki said.

"Your friends?" I guessed.

Natsuki nodded, as if there could be any other answer. "Yep. Who knows, play your cards right and you may get the chance to join our little club. You already have an in with Sayori, so all you gotta do is not break anyone's arm."

I wanted to groan at that little reminder, but I found myself laughing instead. "Hah! Alright Nat, you got a deal."

"Good. If you join us just for the cupcakes though, I'll be super pissed." She gave me a stern look that seemed more cute than threatening, though something about her reaction rubbed me the wrong way. "Wait, Nat?"

I shrugged it off. It was probably just my lingering resentment. "Don't worry about that. I'll even bring my own books if that helps."

Natsuki scrutinized me for a while longer before relenting. "Alright fine, I guess you won't be a total disaster to have around."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I responded dryly.

"Just don't let it get to your head."

The conversation died off as Emi found another show. This was one that they both apparently liked very much. It was about a bunch of teenagers who got isekai'd to another world, became magical girls (the fact that two of them were guys brought on a few laughs from me), and decided to bring peace to the land by forming a mafia. The premise seemed pretty absurd to me, but over the couple episodes we watched I started to notice the little interactions between the lead characters. How some would take charge to support the others, how each girl (and guy) dealt with the reality of their situation, and their struggles to manage their new responsibilities. I also got some good schadenfreude out of it. Something about seeing other people go through the same crisis I did gives me no small amount of enjoyment.

After the second episode, I checked the time. It was starting to get late, and as much as I wanted to continue, I had a new job tomorrow. "Hey Emi," I said, grabbing her attention, "I know you wanted to show me some more anime, but I should get going. I have work tomorrow."

Emi looked disappointed but nodded in understanding. "You can stay the night if you want. I have a guest room you can use."

I shook my head. "As tempting as that offer is, I'll have to pass. I'd still need to go home anyway to get ready. Maybe another time."

"I suppose I'll see you Monday then?" Natsuki asked.

"Well I already promised I'd give your club one more shot, so yeah," I said with a nod, "I'll see ya both later."

With that, I grabbed one more cupcake for the road and took to the air once more, enjoying the cool autumn breeze as I soared over the homes and streets. Creating my own shortcuts was of the perks of being a pegasus.

When I got back home, I started getting ready for bed when I was interrupted by a call. The caller ID was unknown, which set off a red flag in my head before I remembered I had given my number to that girl I met at lunch one time. Still seemed to be rather late to be calling, but what the hell.

I answered the call. "Hello? Who is this?"

"It's me," the girl's voice came from the other end, "I was wondering if you still needed help with unpacking." She sounded nervous, as if she had to work up the courage to call me. Considering how late it was, it must have taken her a while. Odd.

Eh, whatever. I could use the distraction.