Kirby's first stop was Adeleine's home in the forest. Despite having not visited the girl in a while — and thinking about that fact made Kirby a bit guilty — he remembered the way perfectly.

Her home was a simple log cabin. It was small, but very cozy. Kirby recalled a time when he and Adeleine would spend time together in there, the artist painting Kirby all types of wonderful food for him to eat (they only tasted a little bit like paint). He resolved to see her more often after the ball.

Kirby knocked on the door a couple of times and waited. Five minutes passed, and he knocked again. After another five minutes passed, Kirby turned to leave. As he walked away, he spied something on Adeleine's easel, which was set up on a tree stump outside her shack.

It was a note written in black paint saying that Adeleine had left to go soul searching. Under the words was a small painting of Adeleine herself, appearing to be waving goodbye. It was rather well-done.

Kirby took one look at the note and scoffed. "'Soul searching?' Pfft. Artists," he grumbled, leaving the house.

—

Somewhere up in the mountains…

A painter suddenly turned her head towards the sky with an odd expression on her face.

"I don't know why, but I feel like smacking Kirby when I get back," she said to nobody in particular.

—

Kirby's next destination was also in the woods. It took him a bit longer to find this place, but soon enough he came across it; a huge tree with a doorway-like hole carved into the stump. There was no actual door, so Kirby knocked on the bark of the stump.

This time, someone answered. A small, green bird greeted Kirby.

"Hey, Kirb, long time no see, huh?" Pitch chirped.

Kirby smiled at his old friend. "Yeah, totally!"

"So, what brings you to this neck of the woods?"

"Is your mother nearby?" Kirby asked, peering into the tree slightly. Pitch looked confused.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Well, I was invited to a dance, and I was supposed to bring a female friend," Kirby explained completely innocently.

Pitch's eyes bugged out. "And your first choice was my mom?! Dude, that's really weird!"

"She was my second choice, actually," he said mumbled, then said out loud, "but she's a girl, right?"

"Yeah, I guess, but… she's my MOM, dude. Go find somebody your age, Kirby." And with that, Pitch reentered his home, feathers ruffled.

Kirby left, puzzled at this whole exchange.

—

The puffball had just made it to the edge of the forest when he first heard it:

"Kirby!"

Before he could react, something landed on his head, smothering him slightly. When Kirby opened his eyes — which he had shut during the assault — he seemed to be looking at the world through pink bars.

"Hello, Chuchu," he sighed, brushing the octopus's tentacles away from his eyes.

"I heard you were going to a ball! Why didn't you ask me first?" Chuchu demanded to know.

"Because you're a psychopath stalker. How did you even know that I was going to a ball?" was what Kirby really wanted to say, but he couldn't bring himself to. Despite his short patience with Chuchu, he felt that would be a bit harsh, even for her, who managed to bounce back from Kirby's constant rejection like a Bubbles high on caffeine.

"I, uh… f-forgot?" Kirby finally stuttered. He soon regretted this claim.

"WHAT?! You forgot?" the girl shrieked indignantly, detaching from Kirby's cranium and glaring at him. "Kirby… whatever-your-last-name-is, I am offended!"

"Sorry," Kirby said simply, then turned to leave. He didn't feel like dealing with this one right now.

"Kirby, you get back here and invite me to the dance! Or I'll… I'll…"

But he was already gone.

—

Having run out of immediate options, Kirby found himself resorting to his cellular device to call somebody. He hadn't used it since that escapade in the Mirror World, but it didn't take much brain power to figure out. It only made calls, for crying out loud.

After thinking about who to contact first for a moment, Kirby selected the number from his list. He would just have to go down the line, he supposed.

The phone rang once. Then twice. Three times. Finally, the person Kirby had called picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hi Grill!"

"Kirby? Oh man, it's been a while, huh? Haven't seen you since that big Star Stacking tournament years ago!"

"Yeah… how's that going for you, by the way? The Star Stacking, I mean."

"Pretty good, if I do say so myself. I've got a streak going: haven't lost a single tournament yet! Well, besides the one you beat me in."

"That's great! Hey, um… I called to ask you something."

"Hm?"

"Do you wanna… go to a ball with me? Like, as a friend?"

"Eh… that's not really my thing, but I'll go for you, Squirt. When is it?"

"Tomorrow night."

"Ooh… no can do, little buddy. I've got a big match coming up then. Sorry!"

"No, it's fine! I'll ask somebody else."

"Gee, I'm sorry for bursting your bubble, Squirt. Maybe next time, yeah?"

"Yeah. Sure."

Kirby hung up.

—

Next. Kirby thought grimly. Would he ever get somebody to go with him? Frowning, he chose the next contact. The phone only rang once this time.

"Hello?"

"Hey Elline."

"Oh, hello Kirby! How are you?"

"Fine. Hey, are you busy?"

"Not really. Why, do you need something?"

"Yeah, kinda. I was invited to a dance on Ripple Star, and I wanted to know if you would come."

"Oh, gee, that's sweet, Kirby. But, uh… I'm not really, um… sorry, I can't."

"But I thought you said you weren't busy."

"I did, but I'm actually really busy. Like, so busy you wouldn't even believe it. Sorry."

"It's fine. What about Claycia?"

"She's really super busy as well! Sorry!"

"It's fine. Bye."

How odd, Kirby thought, hanging up again.

—

Last one. Kirby selected the final contact. As the phone rang, the voice of Bandana Dee echoed in his mind.

Remember: lay on the charm… charm… charm… The Waddle Dee's voice reverberated before disappearing. Kirby thought the echo effect was a bit unnecessary, but he appreciated the advice. By then, whoever he was calling had picked up.

"Who is this? How did you get this number?"

"Hi—" Kirby said, then stopped. That wasn't a very charming greeting, was it? He would have to shift into irresistible heartthrob mode, just like in the movies!

"I mean… what's going on, baby?" Kirby lowered his voice an octave in an effort to sound suave. It didn't work.

"…Kirby? Why are you calling me? …how are you calling me? And why did you just call me 'baby'?"

"Because… you're pretty, and nice! Do you wanna go to a dance with me? Baby?"

Click.

Kirby stared at his cell incredulously.

—

Somewhere on Shiver Star…

Susie had hung up her communicator, still wondering how Kirby could have possibly gotten her number. Of course, he hadn't answered her question and had been saying something about a dance. At least, that's what she thought she heard; she was too baffled at Kirby calling her "baby." If she didn't know any better, she would think the boy was coming onto her.

Shaking her head, Susie put away her communicator and continued to propel her mech through the snow. Suddenly, a beeping noise sounded as the machine stopped moving, almost toppling over due to its momentum.

Susie swore as she read the energy level of her mech, which had hit zero. There was nowhere she could find an energy source out here.

Or was there? The young lady spied a large structure in the distance that looked like an abandoned factory. She started towards it on foot.

She probably fought a giant robot in there or something, but we've deviated enough from the main story. Back to Pop Star.

—

Kirby sighed, putting away his cell phone. That was every girl he knew, and none of them could come with him to the ball. Well, except Chuchu, but Kirby didn't really fancy taking her along.

"Guess I'm going alone," Kirby said aloud, slumping into bed to sleep his sorrows away.